I really enjoyed this book. It flits between 12 months ago and present day but quite clearly and it makes sense to the story. There was a mystery to be solved 12 months ago surrounding the Crowhurst killer and there is an even bigger mystery to be solved now, providing Kirby can survive long enough to get to the bottom of who the new killer in Crowhurst is. The pacing of the book is good and it’s not like anything else I’ve read which is fab. Look forward to more from this author.

Kirby and her flatmates, affectionally known as The Deadbeats live in a town in Surrey which is famous for a murder of a group of teenagers back in 1996.
When Esme arrives, to stay in Flat 4 for a few weeks, to investigate the Crowhurst Killer, Kirby and The deadbeats all get sucked in to the mystery until Esme just disappears in to thin air - and Kirby is the only one who wants to uncover the truth.

When Kirby receives a text from Esme, her ex-flatmake, Kirby decides to ignore it. Mainly because Esme died a year ago. Someone must have got hold of her mobile and is playing a sick joke on her. But then, another old flatmate leaves the WhatsApp group and is then found dead and Kirby is now wondering if the murderer is still alive and for some reason is coming after her and her flatmates.
The book has a dual timeline and we go back and forth between the present day and twelve months before, with Kirby telling the story.

I enjoyed this book and Kirby comes across as a really likeable person. There is plenty of humour and sarcasm and although some of the situations were a bit silly, it was, at times, really good to have a bit of relief from what could have been a bit too heavy.

The "Show Me" app that is a major part of the story, is a fictional app similar to TikTok and certainly gets the author's point across of how dangerous it can be to live your life through social media.

I had no idea of "whodunnit" and there were red herrings galore. I really enjoyed trying to figure it all out and was surprised when we finally found out.

A very enjoyable read.

This was just not very good. Poor character building, predictable plot, silly ending. Just not much fun unfortunately

Despite being categorised as a mystery/thriller this book absolutely isn’t a thriller and the mystery was too easy to work out. In fact it read more as satire and was amusing at times. It took over a week to read as it just didn’t grab my attention and was too easy to put down. This isn’t the book for people wanting a fast paced thriller but if you want an amusing book that seems to be poking fun at the thriller genre give it a go.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This book actually has two storylines running through it: the present day storyline which is what is mentioned in the blurb, where the MC gets a text message from a dead girl, and a past storyline, that shows the events from twelve months ago and explains how this dead girl came into the MC’s life and what happened to her.

This book started off with a bang. The MC is working abroad in a job she clearly hates. The writing was engaging and the MC’s voice was sassy and self-deprecating and kept me entertained. The ending of the first chapter, where the MC receives a text from the dead girl had me hooked. But when we dive into back story. It was quite clear this was the story of how the MC and her friends met the dead girl and what happened to her. It started out a little slow, especially after the explosive ending of chapter one. It was, however, entertaining once it got going, and there were a few twists that I was not expecting.

The present day storyline, which was what the blurb promised, actually only accounted for about ten percent of the book (might have been a bit more, but it was definitely not enough). It also didn’t feel fully fleshed out. We basically got a few chapters scattered throughout where the MC barely does anything proactive, until we get to the end and the real killer is identified and the two storylines finally connect. I don’t think this storyline was explored as well as it could have been, and it felt like it was only included so the book could be compared to ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. It felt like an afterthought, so it’s a shame that the blurb chose to focus on this rather than the main storyline (which was a great storyline in its own right, just different).

I think if you go into this book with little to no expectations, you might like it. It was certainly an entertaining read about finding the truth about an old murder. But if you’re expecting a storyline that focuses on the text message and want the friends to discover who knows their secret and how to keep it hidden, you will be disappointed.

Love the mismatched flatmates, the awful but oh, so realistic landlord and the not very well respected town serial killer!
it is rare for a thriller to have funny moments but this one really does and they add to the plot! Several red herrings, a respectable pile of bodies and some great twists!

This is the epitome of a small town murder mystery. The cast of characters was good, and the inclusion of the WhatsApp messages was great at building suspense. This was a decent quick read for me but I was a little disappointed with the ending even though it absolutely did make sense! I'm not sure if this book was a tongue in cheek poke at the genre or if that was unintentional, but it was quite amusing!

I liked everything about this book except the ending (might have given it an extra star if it played out differently!)

Four random folk share a flat. A mixed bunch, the flat mates get on well, each with their own little idiosyncrasies. There is the dental nurse, the pub chef, a chap known as the The Legend for some obscure reason that I must have missed, and our main protagonist, the shamed journalist. Whilst they like nothing better than to bicker over the tv remote, slob around the flat in various stages of undress, and inebriate themselves regularly at the Red Lion, life does seem to be passing them all by. There is a fifth member of the Deadbeats Group Chat, Max, who has a year’s secondment some distance away, so his room is empty, awaiting his return. When a beautiful young woman lets herself into the flat one evening, the flatmates are more than a little surprised. However, she assures them that the empty room has been sub let to her from Max, just for the summer whilst he is away. Needless to say, boring nights in front of the tv are now a thing of the past.

This was an ok read, but definitely needed some work. It all seemed a little bland, too long and very mediocre. I do think this would work much better as a YA book. Some of the “funny” bits were very cringy. I did finish reading as I wanted confirmation of who Jack Daw was, as it was pretty obvious from early on.

Not one for though I’m sure it will find its niche.

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus.

Everyone in the Group Chat Dies was a super interesting take on a mystery thriller! The characters were believably in their late 20s and our protagonist had her flaws, to the point where at times she was almost unlikeable, which a lot of authors are anxious to do.

The start of the story was a little slow, but I was hooked from about halfway onwards. There weren't too many twists to mess up the pacing, just a few sprinkled in to keep you interested. While dual timelines aren't my favourite thing to read about in a thriller, I did appreciate it in this book and think it added the necessary context.

This was definitely a fun read and one which I flew through once I was hooked - I'm looking forward to reading more of the author's work!

I really enjoyed this one. The title was the appealing factor and it didn’t disappoint. I really liked Kirby, her determination to keep finding out what happened was interesting to read. The ending wasn’t where I thought it would go, but I wouldn’t have been able to come up with a different ending that made sense. If you like a good thriller, then you’ll love this.

I liked it, but I was lost about half the first quarter of the book. I wish there was a bit more context and setting the scene. Additionally , the end was rushed and that didn’t help with the book.
Overall, I still finished and didn’t hate it.

It's not a secret that mystery thriller as a genre is quite formulaic but when it's executed well, a seasoned reader is still able to enjoy the ride the author decided to take them on.

"Everyone in the Group Chat Dies" is not one of those enjoyable books, even though the idea had a potentia. Maybe it's the undeveloped characters, including the protagonist whose first-person narrative sounded clunky. Maybe it's the nature of the mistery, Maybe it's the anticlimactic ending.

For me this novel was a time wasted, unfortunately.

This is the second book of L.M. Chilton’s that I’ve read and the second that I’ve absolutely adored. His skill of writing empathetic and flawed characters honestly makes his novels a joy to read. Whilst the time skips back and forward could be confusing, they’re done with a deft hand.
I wish I could have another book with the adventures of the Deadbeats but for now I’ll settle for this joyous and deadly romp through Surrey.
One for Millenials and murder mystery fans alike.

L.M. Chilton's "Everyone in the Group Chat Dies" offers a captivating mix of humor and suspense, set in the quaint yet troubled town of Crowhurst, England. The narrative centers on Kirby Cornell, a local journalist who receives a disturbing message in her old group chat: “Everyone in the group chat will die.” This unsettling text comes from Esme, her former flatmate who passed away a year earlier, thrusting Kirby into a complex investigation linked to a long-buried murder case from the 1990s.

The atmosphere of the novel is both quirky and unsettling, effectively capturing the duality of Crowhurst—a town celebrated for its award-winning sausage rolls yet infamous for its history of crime. Chilton skillfully juxtaposes humor with an undercurrent of dread, creating a vivid portrayal of this sleepy locale. As Kirby grapples with her past while navigating the unfolding chaos, the narrative is imbued with nostalgia, evoking a spectrum of emotions ranging from laughter at her self-deprecating wit to tension as she races against time to uncover the truth.

Character development stands out as one of Chilton's strengths. Kirby is a relatable and flawed protagonist who embodies the challenges faced by many young adults, particularly as she confronts her previous mistakes. Her interactions with her eccentric flatmates—collectively dubbed "The Deadbeats"—provide both depth and comic relief. Each character is well-crafted, contributing to the humor and suspense as they collectively grapple with their secret regarding Esme.

Chilton's writing style is engaging and approachable, combining sharp dialogue with insightful commentary on contemporary life and friendships. His talent for weaving humor into darker themes creates a distinctive tone that keeps readers engaged. However, I found that at times the narrative felt somewhat disjointed and predictable, which somewhat detracted from my overall enjoyment.

Chilton has crafted a story that resonates with anyone who has ever felt ensnared by their past or overwhelmed by the intricacies of adult friendships, inviting readers to contemplate their own experiences and connections

For me, the book felt somewhat disjointed and a bit predictable.

I really enjoyed this book and would love to read more from this author. A book full of plenty of twists and turns.

I’m a big fan of a good small town mystery, and Everyone in the Group Chat Dies did not disappoint!

It took me a little bit to become fully absorbed in the story, as the first chapter seemed out of place. But once I was past that, I was gripped! I needed to know everything about what had happened in Crowhurst, and why they were so obsessed with their weird town mascot.

I managed to pick up on a few clues throughout, and really enjoyed how it all came together at the end.

EVERYONE in the Group Chat Dies is the perfect blend of black humour, that dreaded group WhatsApp chat you haven't got round to deleting, a smidge of 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and is set in a dreary forgotten English town and it's utterly brilliant,

I laughed, cringed, turned the big light on when it got a bit too creepy, and did not guess the killer until the final chapters.

Thank you for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

New to the author and not disappointed, Everyone In the Group Chat Dies is a story for the 2020s. Revolving around WhatsApp chat, the story follows Kirby Cornell; daughter of a TV star, wannabe journalist and flatmate.

Esme turns up in Crowhurst, lets herself in with a key and announced herself as the new flatmate, but Dave, Dylan, Seema and Kirby (aka The Deadbeats) don’t have any idea who has let her rent the room. 24 hours later she’s gone again, vanished without a trace.

The book is told in 2 timelines, present day and 12 months ago, which nicely links together the relationships between the characters as slowly, everyone in the group chat dies…

As someone who has grown up in the age of social media, the title of this book immediately caught my attention and I wasn’t disappointed. ‘Everyone in the Group Chat Dies’ is a fun, modern, small town murder mystery with plenty of twists and turns.

The book is told with two alternating timelines: 12 months ago, and the present day. In the first, we see aspiring reporter Kirby investigate the disappearance of her new flatmate Esme, who had arrived less than 24 hours beforehand with the intention of investigating a decades old murder.

In the present day, Kirby and her former flatmates have dispersed and drifted apart following the events of the previous year. Their group chat is idle, until a message from the supposedly-dead Esme wakes it up. Now, one by one, Kirby’s friends start turning up dead, and she’s determined to find out why.

With a chatty, first person narrative and a fast pace, it’s a quick and easy read which could definitely be started and finished in a single sitting.

If you are in the mood for a dual-timeline small-town murder mystery with elements of humour, self-depreciating protagonist, odd flatmates, serial-killer/horror thrills and social-media sleuths, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies might be for you. Journalist Kirby Cornell works in a dead-end job after leaving a mess in her wake. She lives with her slobby friends (in a flat owned by a right creep) – and they share a secret about their ex-flatmate and social-media sleuth Esme who died twelve months ago. So how can Esme be messaging in their group chat? And how seriously should they take the words “Everyone in the group chat will die”? They should take it dead seriously. The story rolls out via a then and now narrative and has a very current generation vibe. You’ll be wondering how the heck is it going to end?
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies hit the spot for me. Fast paced, quirky/funny, suspenseful, twisty and current. Recommended.