Lisa Lutz’s The Accomplice is a gripping psychological thriller that deftly explores the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and the shadows of the past. The novel centers around Owen and Luna, best friends since college, whose lives are forever altered when they become entangled in a murder investigation. Lutz’s narrative is as much about the dynamics of their friendship as it is about the mystery that binds them, making for a compelling read that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

From the very beginning, Lutz draws readers into the enigmatic world of her protagonists. Owen and Luna's bond is unique, marked by a deep, almost telepathic understanding of each other. They are each other’s anchors, yet their relationship is not without its secrets and dark undertones. Lutz skillfully peels back the layers of their past, revealing the traumas and experiences that have shaped them, and the lengths they are willing to go to protect each other.

The novel is structured around a dual timeline, alternating between their college days and the present. This format allows Lutz to build suspense gradually, as each chapter unveils new pieces of the puzzle. The interplay between past and present keeps readers on edge, as the true nature of the characters' relationship and the extent of their involvement in the murder slowly come to light.

Lutz’s writing is sharp and witty, with well-drawn characters and dialogue that feels authentic. Her portrayal of Owen and Luna's college years is particularly evocative, capturing the intensity and turbulence of that period in life. The supporting characters are equally well-crafted, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The idyllic college setting contrasts starkly with the dark events that unfold, enhancing the story's tension and intrigue.

One of the standout aspects of The Accomplice is Lutz’s exploration of moral ambiguity. The characters are flawed and multifaceted, challenging readers to question their own perceptions of right and wrong. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide, and the lines between victim and perpetrator blur in fascinating ways.

The pacing of the novel is expertly managed, with Lutz maintaining a steady buildup of suspense. The twists and turns are well-placed, keeping readers guessing without feeling contrived. The resolution of the mystery is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers with lingering questions about the nature of friendship and the cost of loyalty.

In conclusion, The Accomplice is a masterfully crafted thriller that delves deep into the human psyche. Lisa Lutz has created a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful, offering readers a captivating journey through the dark corridors of friendship and deceit. Whether you are a fan of psychological thrillers or simply looking for a compelling read, The Accomplice is a novel that should not be missed.

Owen and Luna have been best friends since college. A decade has passed since then and they’re now both married and live in the same neighborhood. The pair never dated and are the only constant in each other’s lives.
There’s two main storylines: of the friendship, and of two murder investigations— a girl Owen hooked up with in college, and Owen’s wife in the present day.
The characters are somewhat unlikable, and the plot drags in places, but overall this is a fun read with plenty of twists!

I was really hoping that it was going to be a thriller and I kept waiting for something exciting to happen. The couple of twists were not exciting and the path to get there was very SLOW.

If you enjoy slow burns, maybe this book is for you.

When the unconventional friendship between Owen and Luna meet the conventional murder mystery, readers are treated to a fast moving investigation where the perceptions from all angles are shared. The friendship has survived through many years, now it will be stretched as Luna tries to decide if the Owen she knows is the Owen who murdered his wife.

My introduction to Lisa Lutz was through the Spellman Files, a series that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was hesitant to check out her other books because I didn’t think they could live up to it – well guess what? I was wrong, so very wrong. This is the second book of Lutz’s that I’ve read after the Spellman Files and I’ve loved both. The Accomplice was fantastic! Lutz gives a fresh take on the usual murder-mystery theme. There are shared bonds, long-kept secrets, very bad luck, and of course, murder. The story alternates between time periods, the younger college days and the older, settled, married years. The book kept me guessing and second guessing the entire time until the very end. Great book, I’m so happy I gave it a chance.

I've read Lisa Lutz's "Spellman" books and loved loved loved. How exciting to read her in a different genre. Luna and Owen are BFF's since college and remain friends for life. Or so we think at the onset of this book. Murder follows them as well as deceit. You will not be disappointed by this tense and oh so satisfying read.

A stunning and intriguing thriller. There is suspense and mystery, and the plot keeps you guessing throughout the book. The characters are intriguing and all in all, if you are looking for an interesting read with a mystery. This is the book for you.

What a fantastic read!

When Owen and Luna meet in college they quickly become best friends and inseparable. Then a death occurs and rocks their inner circle. Years later Owen's wife is murdered and they find themselves involved in another mystery.

There is no doubt that The Accomplice is a compelling psychological thriller that will keep you guessing. It alternates between the early 2000s when Luna and Owen met in college and 2019 when both are married. Despite Luna discovering the brutal murder of Owen's wife, they remain best friends.
I admired Luna and Owen despite my skepticism about their motives. As several characters in the book are suspected of crimes at some point, the plot quickly becomes a guessing game. Everyone keeps secrets from each other which heightens the suspense and keeps you turning the pages with a great deal of interest. This was a slow burn with a pretty deep examination into a unique friendship. It's not often that we read about a coed friendship that is purely platonic, but that's the entire background of the story. The dual timelines was easy to follow despite going back and forth.

The book brilliantly examines the bonds of shared history, what it costs to break them, and what happens when you start wondering how well you know the one person who truly knows you. It was also great to have two detective stories in one.
Definitely recommend this thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this author, and this book did not disappoint. This book was a page turner and as always super enjoyable and suspenseful!

Lisa Lutz is an auto-read author for me. I have read almost all of her books and love how versatile of a writer she is. The Accomplice was an interesting character-driven mystery with some quirky (and at times unlikable) characters. While it was not my favorite Lutz novel, it was enjoyable and kept me reading.

I want to say that whatever these two characters are, they are certainly not normal. Lisa Lutz did an excellent job of keeping the reader captivated throughout this book. I do think the book lost its footing about halfway through, which is a disappointment, but overall, it was a decent read.

With The Accomplice, Lisa Lutz brings readers a multiple POV story of best friends Owen and Luna who have the unfortunate issue of Owen's significant others winding up dead.

While I wanted a little more from this one in terms of suspense, it definitely kept me engaged, and I now want to read The Passenger.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Ride or die? Absolutely. When is it too much? This book was griping and entertaining. There were times I was holding my breath.

Lisa lutz is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

I am a die hard fan of Lisa Lutz.

And truth be told, I can't remember much of this story. I do love that I enjoyed it far more than her last release. I love that I went back and forth with trusting our two main characters and their relationship. I remember enjoying the flow of the story. And overall, I remember feeling like Lisa Lutz got her groove back a little bit.

The Accomplice was a book that I had seen everywhere and sounded like my kind of book.. It is a slower kind of thriller, with the reader being drip fed just enough about the characters and their pasts. It was highly addictive in that way, always leaving you wanting more.

The relationship of Owen and Luna was an interesting one. Best friends since college, they would do anything for each other. People always wondered if there was more to them than friendship. But they have a bond like no other. This bond is put to the test when Owen's wife is found dead, by Luna. It is not the first person to die around them and secrets from the past will rear their ugly head in search of who killed Irene.

I really enjoyed the story, the hidden secrets and intense relationships.

I loved this,, Owen and Luna’s friendship was everything. I would absolutely read anything following these two characters!!!

This was fine. I used to absolutely love Lisa Lutz, but I feel like the quality of her plotlines have declined. May not read the next one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Recently, I read a book with a snarky main character who was absolutely obnoxious. She had no good reason to be as rude as she was. She was wholly unlikeable, and I continually wished for her demise. This book has another snarky character, but it works. Luna has had an extraordinarily difficult life, has a good reason not to trust people, and, even though she keeps people at bay, she’s not rude for no reason. Having her as a main character makes the entire book worth reading.

From Goodreads: Owen Mann is charming, privileged, and chronically dissatisfied. Luna Grey is secretive, cautious, and pragmatic. Despite their differences, they begin forming a bond the moment they meet in college. Their names soon become indivisible–Owen and Luna, Luna and Owen–and stay that way even after an unexplained death rocks their social circle.

Years later, they’re still best friends when Luna finds Owen’s wife brutally murdered. The police investigation sheds some light on long-hidden secrets, but it can’t penetrate the wall of mystery that surrounds Owen. To get to the heart of what happened and why, Luna has to dig up the one secret she’s spent her whole life burying.
The Accomplice examines the bonds of shared history, what it costs to break them, and what happens when you start wondering if you ever truly knew the only person who truly knows you.

I loved that Owen and Luna are best friends and nothing more. There’s no romantic subtext, no googly eyes, no private longing. The twists and turns of the book make sense and even though I was guessing who did all the crimes (there are a few), I always believed the result because Lutz leads you down a plausible path. This is the only book of hers I’ve read, but I’ll definitely be checking out more.

I think this may be my favorite of Lisa Lutz’s books. I adored her Spellman Files and the Quirky Spellman family, this book is evrything I always hope for in a suspense/thriller