I was in the mood for a mystery and also a little biased with this author's name as my name is Paula Phillips and as a nickname my dad used to call me when I was little Paulie which sounds like Polly. This book though written by an Aussie author is set in the UK as it used words like commons and pub/ bistros. The book starts with Becs - one of my main female characters finding her best friend Izzy's body at the bottom of the stairs. She leaves as she knows if she sticks around, she would be considered a prime suspect as hours earlier they argued. The book then jumps back to about a month earlier and we can already see cracks slowly forming in the friendship I felt sorry for Becs as she saw Izzy as her best friend since they were teenagers. As the book goes along, I came to hate Izzy as despite being "the amazing one" she is a jealous cow and manipulative and just a downright bully to Becs. It's like Becs has had rose coloured glasses on when it comes to Izzy. That is until now as Izzy is starting to show her true colours and Bec is noticing little digs at her. The thing though is that it's not just Becs who is over Izzy's rubbish, there are a few more people out there who would love to see Izzy knocked down a few pegs or in this case chucked down a flight of stairs. Becs knows she didn't kill Izzy, so which one of her friends/family members is the killer? Find out in My Best Friend's Murder - a great thriller by Polly Phillips today.

This book explores friendships even as it presents a compelling murder / thriller. I found the writing style very good - clear, concise and descriptive. I felt very immersed in the book right for the first page. The character are the kind you love to hate and I found myself wanting to leap through the pages to shake them sometimes. I think this author has all the ingredients of a best seller here.

I would rate this book 3.75 out of 5 stars

This one didn't turn out to be too much of a mystery but really just more of a look at toxic friendship and almost the slow unravelling of it - which I loved! You guys know toxic friendships is one of my favourite themes to read about in books.

I also did find parts of the ending surprising which I also enjoyed.

Definitely recommend checking out.

Book blurb…
You’re lying, sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, legs bent, arms wide.
If I squint, you could be playing Sleeping Bunnies. Or maybe Twister.

I wish I could tell you how the blood pooling around your head looks like a halo.
But you’re past listening.

I need to let the paramedics in. And then I have to be careful.
Because as the energy trickles out of your body it’s pumping into mine.
And while this could be a tragic accident, if anyone’s got a motive to hurt you, it’s me.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. They’ve been through a lot together – the death of Bec’s mother, the birth of Izzy’s daughter, Bec’s engagement.
But there’s a darker side to their friendship, too – and Bec is about to reach breaking point.

Then Izzy is found broken and bloodied at the bottom of the stairs.
It could have been an accident – perhaps she fell – but if the police decide to look for a killer, then Bec is sure to be their prime suspect.

My thoughts…
This story had me wondering from the very beginning, and the plot and structure and the questions raised that relate to Izzy's death were terrific hooks. I was fully engaged and kept guessing. The characters were all admirable (almost) and all had very good reasons why they may want a life different to the one they are currently living.

Not a lot more I can say - or should say - because the story tells it better!!

This book is about a toxic friendship. There is so many twists and turns in this book. It had me guessing right up until the end, dont get too comfortable because what you think isnt going to happen.

3.5 stars

This was a fun page turner with some great thriller elements in the mi.x. Strong characters, toxic relationships and a constantly changing pace had me gripped throughout the entire book and by the end, I found myself questioning who the real victim was. Unique and easy to read, My Best Friend's Murder has a little something for everyone.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends for years, but it seems as though their relationship is at the end of the road. There is jealousy and competitiveness between them, and when Izzy is found dead, Bec has the motive to be behind it. But who killed Izzy and why?
I thought that this was a pretty great read. It had the element of mystery and I was suspecting many of the characters throughout. It kept me interested and I read it in a few days.

Need a page turner of a thriller? My Best Friends Murder is an addictive story that kept me guessing right until the end. Just when you think you know what is happening, plot twist! Unlikeable char and fast paced, this was a winner for me.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends for years. It is a lopsided relationship with Bec being passive and quiet while Izzy is aggressive and controlling. They have been through a lot together but Bec is finally seeing Izzy’s true colours and has had enough. But she is not the only one. When Izzy is found, broken at the bottom of the stairs did she fall or was she pushed? And who is involved?

You don’t want to miss this one. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for my advanced copy of this book to read.

🌹My Best Friend’s Murder by Polly Phillips 🌹
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.2/5 - If you’re in the mood for a mystery, but not in the mood to be so freaked out that you’re checking under the bed, then I’ve found the book for you! My Best Friend’s Murder is a clever, palatable mystery which I’d recommend to anyone new to the genre, or if you’re a bit of a scaredy-cat!

What’s this book about?
Passive Bec and controlling Izzy have been best friends for years, but everything in Bec’s life is jeopardised when her best friend dies under mysterious circumstances. Because despite being best friends, if anybody has a motive to kill Izzy, it’s Bec...

Best bits:
🏡 I enjoyed the way the author spent the start of the book constructing the relationships between the characters. It added depth and complexity to the narrative, and made for a good whodunnit (everyone was a suspect in my eyes!).
🏡 The setting of the book was vivid, and the contrast between Bec and Izzy’s lives was cleverly juxtaposed. Each character was flawed and imperfect (which I loved!).
🏡 Female friendships, particularly toxic ones, don’t often get much airtime, and I could certainly relate to parts of Izzy and Bec’s flawed and problematic relationship. It was refreshing to read a mystery centred around best friends.

Final thoughts:
🏡 I was definitely taken by surprise by the ending, and did not see it coming at all! However I felt the ending was wrapped up a little abruptly, and would have liked if it had been fleshed out a bit more.
🏡 I would categorise this as a “soft mystery” - I really enjoyed it, but it didn’t have the full “creep factor” that a true thriller usually has.
🏡Overall, an easy and worthwhile read that kept me interested the whole way through.

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Verity by Colleen Hoover
An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen