United States Publication: June 10, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

High-schooler Sarah Jones has asked other Sarah Jones in her local area to form a group as part of a project she's doing - reluctantly. It turns out that Sarah Jones is a really common name, and the group that responds to the teenage Sarah's advertisement is a multi-generational group that forms a unique friendship with one another, despite their varied ages, socioeconomic status, and other variables. When Sarah Jones, who isn't part of the group, is found dead, the “The Sarah Jones Project” sets out to figure out what happened to one of their own - even if she wasn't part of the project. But her nanny, Sarah Jones, is part of the group, so they can get access to information that would be otherwise hard to obtain. Suddenly, teenage Sarah Jones' group project takes on a whole new reason for existing.

My summary doesn't do this title justice, so I'm hoping my review makes up for it. This was a really fun read. Each Sarah Jones was so fun and interesting, and when they all came together, it was very entertaining. The additional characters in the book, those aiding The Sarah Jones Project - knowingly and unknowingly - were also great additions to the story. Given the numerous Sarah Jones characters in the book, West chose one to use as the POV and to call Sarah, and gave the others nicknames. Each of the other Sarah Joneses had a nickname that was simply their current age. That was very clever. I also loved that it was a teenage Sarah Jones who started the group due to a punishment she received at school, and that the group was so diverse. West gives the reader a two-for-one story, as there are two mysteries to solve within its pages—a cold case and a current case—and the FBI agent is involved in both. I've not read any of West's titles until this one, but after reading this one, I added her previous works to my TBR. I enjoyed this one so much that I'm hoping to enjoy her other titles just as much.

What happens when a group of women all with the same name get together? Sarah Elizabeth Jones recently moved to Minneapolis. Upon her arrival she quickly joins a group of Sarah Jones' ranging from teen to nearly 70 the group is a combination. When a Sarah Jones is found dead, their group decides to take on sleuthing. The Sarahs will have to flesh out the truth and decide what happened. Along for the ride is FBI agent George Nightingale and Sister Mary Conaty. This group needs to buckle up because this ride's about to get bumpy.

Kathleen West has created a character driven story. The interactions between characters is what makes this book interesting. The base of the plot is simple, fraud and murder. It's what she does with it that makes it more interesting. There are a couple points where the plot slowed down, but you are learning more about the characters, so it equals out. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the advanced copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this one! The premise around a group of people with the same name forming a quirky support group was such a fun hook, and the story delivered way more depth than I expected. There are three main storylines woven throughout, and honestly, they were all solid and kept me turning the pages. This is a great pick for fans of character-driven mysteries and light thrillers . It’s more complex than your average cozy (and definitely a bit less “cozy” in tone), which I actually really appreciated. Bonus points for the Minnesota setting.. and I especially loved that two of the main characters are runners!

Making Friends can be murder was a delightfully fun read. I never knew how much I'd enjoy the SAME NAME trope. The Sarah Joneses made me laugh and I'm definitely getting really into the cozy mystery genre because of books like this!!

What happens when you get a bunch of women named Sarah Jones in one room? Murder, naturally!

Sarah Jones, aged 30, has moved to Minneapolis to escape her former life. Sarah Jones, aged 17, is a bit of a discipline problem for the nuns that run her school. So, they tell her that she needs to channel her energy into a project that helps people. She does so by finding other women with her common name and embarking on a social enhancement project.

But then things begin to go wrong. One of the members (aged 27) turns out to be someone other than represented. Sarah Jones isn't even her name! She's a con artist. But one of her cons goes wrong. Now she is a murderer.

The other Sarah Jones set out to solve the murder. A newly-minted FBI agent is also working on the solution. While slowly falling for 30.

In this well-written mystery, the plot is intriguing. The characters are lots of fun. And the action is addictive.

Keeping Up With the Sarahs

A social experiment by a group of women named Sarah Jones turns deadly when one of their own is murdered and another one becomes the prime suspect. Investigating the case is a young, newly-minted FBI guy who falls for another Sarah, a personal trainer, who he enlists as an informant in another crime that may or may not also be committed by the prime suspect.

What follows is a mystery romance with a good premise but is hard to follow as the many Sarahs are only referred to by their age—Sarah 20, Sarah 17, Sarah 27, and so on. The book is also predictable, not just in the boy-meets-girl department. So many plot details, not breadcrumbs, are dished out that the book deprives the readers of the biggest joy of reading a murder mystery—using their brains to follow the clues and solve the crime.

⭐️ 2.5/5
Multiple view POVs and narratives, non-linear timelines
Setting: Twin Cities, MN

I thought this originally had a really cool setup with all the Sarah Joneses coming together, and I loved the idea of an intergenerational amateur sleuth group by name alone.
There were definitely some fun, quirky moments, and the characters had potential. I did enjoy the Minnesota tidbits and setting, seeing as I’m located there!

This book begins with Sarah Jones who just moved to Minneapolis after her life kind of fell apart. New city, fresh start, classic setup. She gets roped into this unique but kind of awesome club called The Sarahs, literally a group of women all named Sarah Jones. It’s unique, it’s fun, and it gives her a sense of belonging she didn’t even know she needed.

But of course, things don’t stay cute for long. One of the Sarahs ends up dead under super suspicious circumstances. Sarah (the main one) starts digging into what really happened, and the group starts unraveling secrets, some theirs, some they weren’t supposed to know at all.

There’s also a nun with a sketchy past, a wannabe FBI agent, and a lot of side plots that kind of zigzag all over the place because the story doesn’t follow a strictly linear timeline. It jumps around a bit, there are some flashbacks and shifts in perspective that fill in background details as the mystery unfolds. It’s somewhat disorienting especially with the same name theme and switches from third person POV to first person POV so it does require extra attention to keep track of who’s who and when things are happening.

It’s more about the people than the actual murder, but if you like offbeat characters, mysteries on the lighter more chaotic side with a slightly layered narrative, it’s worth a shot.

Thank you Berkley Publishing Group for this electronic ARC which was provided to me via NetGalley for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Is Making Friends Can Be Murder Worth Your Time? Here’s My Take

Ever wonder what would happen if How to Win Friends and Influence People met Gone Girl? That’s basically what Kathleen West serves up in her new mystery novel, and honestly, I’m here for it.

The setup is deliciously simple: Sarah Jones moves to a new neighborhood, tries to make friends, and somehow ends up tangled in a murder investigation when another Sarah Jones turns up dead. Classic case of “maybe I should’ve just stayed home and watched Netflix.”

What makes this book work isn’t just the whodunit angle (though West keeps you guessing with enough red herrings to stock a Swedish fish market). It’s how she nails the awkward dance of adult friendship-making. You know that feeling when you’re trying to figure out if someone’s genuinely nice or just wants to sell you essential oils? Yeah, it’s like that, except one of these potential friends might be a murderer.

The characters are quirky without trying too hard. There’s this whole cast known only by numbers (like “17” and “69”), which sounds gimmicky but somehow works. And Sarah? She’s refreshingly real – the kind of person who’d definitely stress-text her best friend about whether she’s being paranoid or if her new neighbor is actually suspicious.

West’s writing hits that sweet spot between cozy mystery and psychological thriller. It’s like having a glass of wine with your true crime podcast – comfortable enough to enjoy, but with enough edge to keep you alert. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, and the plot moves faster than neighborhood gossip after an HOA meeting.

Sure, you might need to keep a mental spreadsheet of characters at first, but trust me, it’s worth it. By the time everything clicks together in the end, you’ll be kicking yourself for not seeing it sooner (in a good way).

Bottom line? Making Friends Can Be Murder is a solid 4.5/5 stars. It’s smart, surprisingly funny, and proves that making new friends as an adult is actually scarier than any murder mystery. If you like your suspense with a side of social commentary and genuine laughs, this one’s for you. Maybe you shouldn’t read it right before joining that new neighborhood book club.

I loved meeting all the Sarah Joneses. I thought the concept of this book was unique. It was a quick easy cozy mystery with some romance thrown in.

Having a common name isn't always a good thing. Yes people tend to be able to remember how to pronounce it but is that really worth it?

The Sara Jones club was created by a high school student as a consequence of bullying another student at school. But as the project was ending a Sara Jones, not a member of the club, is murdered. Now all of the Jones's want to solve the murder.

I did like this book. I grew up in Minnesota and always enjoy books set there. It really made me think about identity issues too. It just seem so easy for someone to come up with new identities. And having a common name now doesn't seem like a good thing. I didn't like how all of them keep saying that they couldn't imagine the FBI being a real job. The made them seem like real small town thinkers even though this takes place in the cities. The progression was great and I liked the details of each Sara Jones's characters too.

3.75 stars

This offbeat and original mystery is great fun. What can you say about a plot and characters that include half a dozen women with the same name who have group chats and call each other by their age to prevent confusion? Not to mention a nun, who used to be a detective.

Mix in two murders, multiple identity thefts, a love story, some sassy teenagers, and fraud and embezzlement. It's an entertaining story and won't remind you of anything else you've read.

Definitely recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Totally fun read! Start with six women with the same name who differentiate themselves by putting their age at the end of their name. Their lives are as different as their ages, but they all wind up interested in the new FBI agent and his casework. Each Sarah is a real quirky character, not a boring one in the bunch. Laughed my sox off and couldn't put it down!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected digital copy from Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley via NetGalley. Pub Date Jun 10, 2025
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I loved reading this book. Eccentric cast of characters and witty banter abounds. I read it in one sitting. A really fun read.

I read this in two nights! It had friendship, mystery, and a little romance with engaging characters. I found the idea of a multi-generational same name club that solved crimes an interesting premise and the author executed it well. At first the dates were a bit confusing but once I realized the timeline shifted back and forth, I paid better attention at the beginning of the chapter to the dates

MAKING FRIENDS CAN BE MURDER is a cozy mystery with a unique premise. It revolves around a group of women ages 17 to 69, all named Sarah Jones, or so they think. When one of Sarah Jones is murdered, this group of unique personalities decides to go sleuthing to solve the case themselves, well, maybe with the help of a nun (with a mysterious past) and a couple of FBI agents because, of course, it is not just about murder.

The chapters, narrated by different members of The Sarah Jones Project, were a little confusing at the beginning, but then each Sarah Jones gets a nickname: their age. The main Sarah character, 30,  is a gym trainer, new to town, loves being part of TSJP, and works as an undercover agent for the FBI, all while getting tangled up in a fraud case. The other Sarahs include a crime blogger (69), two teachers (39 and 44), a nanny (27), and a high school kid (17). Their diverse backgrounds add a delightful touch of humor, making the story an entertaining and enjoyable read.

I thank BookBrowse and NetGalley for generously providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. And, of course, a big thank you to Kathleen West for creating this delightful read!

Lots of Sarah Jones in this book, lol. The characters were fun. This book had it all with a murder, a mystery, a little drama and romance. This was fast paced and cozy. I would read a sequel if it was made.

What a fantastic read. With a cast of unique characters, all of whom I would like to be friends with (yes, including 27), and a plot with as many colorful threads as the opening yarn bomb, I zipped through this book, reaching the end before I was ready. What I love most about Kathleen West books (and Making Friends Can Be Murder in particular) is her ability to write with empathy, showcasing the good, the bad, and the ugly of humankind all while giving readers the space to care, even when they think they shouldn't.

As the world falls apart and readers look for more cozy mysteries to pad the bad, I hope this book finds its way into as many hands as possible.

A solid mystery that isn’t too dark or twisty. The premise of the book is great and the book lives up to it. This would be great for someone who loves a good mystery but can’t handle anything super dark. The Sarah Jones Project leads a group of women with the same name on quite the adventure attempting to solve a murder of a Sarah Jones who wasn’t one of their own. A handsome “Clark Kent” FBI with a connection to a decades long missing person make for a fun read!

What a fun book. A little mystery, a little romance, a little comedy and a life lesson about finding oneself. What's not to love. All made this a very enjoyable book. At first, I was thinking what have I committed to, but I was quickly drawn into the story when the FBI came into the picture. Oh, to be named Sarah Jones and be able to socialize with this diverse group of women. I also enjoyed the different generations represented in this book not to mention the different backgrounds of the characters, which I felt were well developed. I mean come on; Sister Mary Theresa was the icing on the cake. This book showed how important friendships can be and how important family can be.

This was a great murder mystery. I love that there are charters all caught up in the case. Sarah is our main character, and she just moved to the new town. However, she becomes part of the investigation, and we are sent through trying to solve this mystery. It's a fun thriller in a small town that I really like. Cannot wait to purchase my book trophy it comes out.