When a beloved teacher is murdered in cold blood, and the killer is released after only serving 2 years due to a mistrial, pandemonium and fear take over the community. There are those who are against the Hanson’s, practically the entire community, and then there are Henry and Ally. Henry Hanson cannot accept that his older brother could be a killer. Ally Copeland still cannot believe that Grace, Henry and her’s ex-best friend, testified that she saw Jake in their teachers yard the night she was murdered. And, after 2 years of being cutoff from her friends, Grace Topham wonders if she made a mistake that night, if she really saw Jake. A fun, drama-packed story of friendship, mystery, lies, and lots of twists and turn.

This was my first book from this author and she definitely did not disappoint! It was jam packed with twists and turns, absolutely the way I love it!!! I’m definitely a fan of YA thrillers!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!!

This was the first book I read from this author and it definitely won’t be the last. It was a great mystery that grabbed me from the first chapter. I love books that do that. It was a great mystery with many twists and turns that had me guessing to the end. I really enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend reading this. I will absolutely read more from this author
Thank you Net Galley and random house children’s, delacorte press for this ARC.

This book is RIGHT up my alley! Murder, suspense, romance… you literally cannot go wrong. It reminded me of How to Get Away with Murder which is one of my absolute favorite shows. Thank you so much for this arc, and I will be buying this for my shelf!

I requested this book for multiple reasons, mostly because of the author, but additionally because the synopsis sounded really good! I am always a sucker for YA mysteries, and I will die on the hill that they are better than adult mysteries (most of the time). I believe that people judge YA mysteries too harshly, but this one was fantastic.

📖 Book Review 📖 Liz Lawson comes in with hot with a delightful new thriller that reminds us never to discount the young adult genre for an amazing read! Two years after the murder of a local high school teacher and the arrest and conviction of a neighborhood boy rocks a community, his release turns their world upside down again. Did they put the actual killer behind bars the first time around? Murder Between Friends is a thoughtfully suspenseful whodunnit that touches deeply on relationships with both family and friends, leaving this group to question who they can truly trust. Lawson leaves the reader furiously turning the pages in bated breath until the very end…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Murder Between Friends was an interesting YA thriller with minimal gore and enough going on to keep a reader drawn in. It also unfortunately shares enough similarities to a current popular YA series that I worry fans of the other series may be distracted by comparing the two.

What did I like about this book? I think the general plot was solid. There were enough side plots that all come together in the end to keep things interesting. There were a lot of characters but they were all easy to keep track of and easily differentiated. With three different narrators, Murder Between Friends also benefited from perspective changes that keep the storytelling fresh.

Now, unfortunately for me, I found 2/3 of our narrator main characters to be unlikeable. They were self absorbed and while they had growth by the end of the novel, I wish there had been even more. I struggle with books where I don't find my narrators likable. We all relate to different people though and that may not be something other readers note.

It's also worth noting that Murder Between Friends shares many similarities with a currently very popular series andI think fans of the other series may be turned off when reading this novel. Some similarities can't be avoided because there are certain tropes that are fairly common in these types of thrillers, and I can see where Ms. Lawson tried to create differences in her work (which I appreciate), but unfortunately there are so many similarities that the comparisons will be unavoidable.

I think this book is worth a read. The plot is solid and it comes together well in the end, if a little rushed. It's age appropriate for the intended audience and benefits from multiple narrators. Unfortunately, I think the comparisons of this book to other popular YA thrillers may end up being a problem for some readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

Two years before, there was a brutal murder that tore friendships apart. Now, the killer has been released from jail as everyone else faces the past. The book alternates between the three friends Grace, Henry, and Ally to show how the murder has changed their lives.

Absolutely loved this one. The three POVs were used brilliantly, upping the tension and pacing. I loved the complexities of the relationships between these characters. The reveals were so well timed and the twist on the twist was perfectly executed. Also, the teens feel like teens and I love that in a YA thriller.

Amazing book will definitely recommend to friends and family loved the character development. Loved the plot line. It was a little predictable but that is par for the course when you read so much

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that explores the darker side of friendship and trust. With its compelling characters and relentless twists, Lawson weaves a tale of betrayal and secrets that keeps readers guessing until the very last page. Perfect for fans of suspenseful mysteries with heart.

Teenagers doing illegal stuff and pretty much acting like Mystery Inc. is my actual favorite thing ever!!

I enjoyed Liz Lawson writing and the pacing of this book, unfortunately i absolutely despised Ally for 75% of the book. Female characters like her feel extremely one dimensional to me and I truly felt like she could’ve been handled in a far better way while still being a stubborn character.

The mystery was good, I enjoyed how all of the characters were equally involved and each had different skills that helped make it feel more real. I did guess the ending after the first few chapters, which I think just happens after you read a lot of ya mysteries/thriller!

Overall, a great fast-paced book with fantastic twist and plot!

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review! :)

Murder between Friends had so much potential but unfortunately the ending felt extremely rushed. I also felt the characters were not developed as much as they could have been. But solid 4 stars.

This was a fast paced thriller. It’s about 3 friends who friendship is rocky after one of them sends a friend’s brother to prison for two years.

Grace suddenly thinks she didn’t see who she thinks that night of their teachers murder. Her friends, Ally and Henry, start to do some digging. This book has a lot of twist and connections with their past that leads to them actually solving their teachers murder and unfortunately sending another loved one to jail.

Solid book with all the elements that you look for in a "murder." I like the tense that this book holds throughout. With its twists figuring out "who done it" was an active exercise throughout the book.

I liked the mystery and especially that there were two mysteries entwined that were solved. I just did not like any of the characters. Henry was okay just trying to get by with all the hate thrown at him for his brother's "guilt". Ally any angry, little snot and Grace, an easily intimidated wet noodle of a person. Maybe that's how I'm supposed to feel about them. Other reviews state that this is a "fast-paced" ride and I disagree with that statement. It took me forever to finish as I found it slow in parts and didn't want to pick it up however it's still good enough that I wanted to finish.

2.5 stars

Thank you to Random House Children for this ARC.

This book started out so good. It was unputdownable. Then the confession happened. No one confesses to murder (accidentally or not) for no reason. The confession felt like it was thrown in just because the book needed to end and it was the easiest way to get there. I was headed for a solid 5 star but because of the last 10% I had to drop it down to a 4.

To start, there were a lot of grammatical errors as well as incorrect words being used. However, I am not holding that against the book because I am hoping the editors will get this fixed before publishing. One of the biggest issues was in the chapter Ally meets Jamel in the coffee shop, at some point Jamel starts being called "Fraser". However, I could not find any explanation as to this change in his name and was confused for a solid minute before realizing they were one in the same.
Now onto the story itself. It was an easy read, albeit a bit predictable. Ally could be quite insufferable at times, and both Grace and Henry had their moments as well. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt in that they are teenagers, so at least the author was true to their age in how self involved they were. Going back to the predictability factor, I was able to guess what Berkley was up to almost from the start. Evan was also flagged as a person of interest from the beginning. I was very surprised by how the book ended, which doesn't happen often since I am an avid mystery reader, so props to the author for that. All in all, I did enjoy the book and it held my interest the entire time because I wanted to see how the puzzle pieces fit. But the characters need work, and the various criminal plot lines need more depth/detail.

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson is a gripping and emotional thriller that pulls readers into a tangled web of mystery, betrayal, and the complexities of friendship. From the very first chapter, the story exudes a sense of intrigue, leaving you questioning where the plot will lead. The initial mystery is masterfully crafted, keeping you hooked as each revelation peels back another layer of the truth.

One of the book’s strongest elements is its exploration of trust and doubt. Grace’s internal struggle is palpable as she questions what she’s always believed to be true. Watching her navigate her conflicting emotions and the shifting dynamics with Henry and Ally is both tense and compelling. The strained relationships between the three former friends are written with depth and nuance, making it easy to empathize with all sides of the conflict.

While the beginning is shrouded in mystery and unpredictability, the ending does lean into more familiar thriller territory. The conclusion, though satisfying, is somewhat predictable for seasoned mystery readers. However, this doesn’t diminish the emotional impact of the journey. The themes of friendship, justice, and redemption remain powerful and resonant.

Liz Lawson’s writing is sharp and emotionally charged, capturing the tension and weight of the characters’ decisions. Her portrayal of teenage friendship—its fragility, loyalty, and betrayals—feels authentic and raw. The pacing is well-executed, with each chapter building on the last, keeping readers engaged until the final page.

Murder Between Friends is a thought-provoking thriller that will appeal to fans of twisty mysteries with emotional depth. While the ending may be more predictable than the setup suggests, the character development and emotional stakes more than make up for it. It’s a story that asks tough questions about trust, memory, and the limits of friendship—and it’s one that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

interesting and engaging mystery with a very straightforward end and not a lot of twists. 3.5 stars, tsym for the arc. rounded up.