This book starts off on fire. Literally. Well, not the actual book, but one of the characters seems to be the main course at the community bonfire.
We then go back and meet Margo, Anna, and Liv. Each of them has secrets, and wow, they are mind blowing, life altering, no way, she did not just do that, secrets.
Margo’s motto is: What Margo wants, Margo should get. But what does she really deserve?
Liv just wants her new business to succeed. But how did she find the necessary funds to make her dream become reality?
Anna is the nice one. Unassuming without a mean thing to say about anyone. They do say, though, look out for the quiet ones.
Which one of these women is the main course on the bonfire menu? You will have to read this book to find out.
When everything comes together, and I thought I had gasped my last, ‘what’, the author pulled the rug out from under me with the ending. Holy smokes, I would not have been surprised if my Kindle caught on fire. I was flipping the pages so fast, that my hand got a Charlie horse. I did not even know that could happen.
Characters that do the most awful things, but somehow I still rooted for each of them at different times. Well, except for one woman who shall remain nameless. Another great read by John Marrs.

Well, not all is as it seems in this one. I buddy read it with 2 others that managed to get a copy too and we all felt the same throughout which was good. A really good gripping read, though a car crash waiting to happen! I guessed that Drew was Anna’s brother quite early on. None of the characters were particularly likeable nor trustable but I think that was the aim. By the end I figured someone would kill them all. Very far fetched reading but enjoyable. From early on it gave me vibes of Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough. I think I’d have found this one more striking had I not read that one years ago. I did find it a bit confusing as to who I was reading at times, I had to flick back to see whether it was Anna, Liv or Margot. I found they all read (sounded) similarly.

'𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?'
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞.
'𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.'

OH. MY. GOD.

No one, and I mean NO ONE can write catty, b*tchy women like John Marrs! When I wasn't cackling like a witch at some of this dialogue, I was on the verge of hyperventilating because I was so tense!

The prologue opens with a woman trapped inside a bonfire. As she regains consciousness, she has no recollection of how she got there and how she will get out. Then the flames close in around here, and the story begins.

This thriller centers around three women, each with a very distinct personality. There's Margot, still desperately trying to live in the fading shadows of the fame she knew years before; there's Anna, who is on the receiving end of all the passive-aggressive comments from Margot; and there's Liv, the stylish, flawless newcomer to the neighborhood who drops some of the BEST one-liners I've ever heard.

When the differing personalities of these three women converge, you would expect there to be sparks, but it's when you understand how they're all connected that the real explosion materializes. Because it's John Marrs, it's going to be dark, but this was a different kind of thriller. It was fun; dare I say 𝒈𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍 in some parts, but the pièce de résistance was that he pulled off something that other thriller writers have attempted and failed at miserably. It was clever and brilliantly executed. This one had me under a spell from the first sentence, and it kept me guessing until the very end. Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the early copy. At the time this review was written, this book was expected to publish March 11, 2025.

All the stars from me! Another twisty and unpredictable ride from John Marrs. Margot and Anna are neighbours when the glamorous Liv moves into their street; but they all have some dark secrets which slowly unfold

Such a fantastic unique thriller. The three strong female leads are brilliantly portrayed each with distinct voices and personalties.

Liv and Anna are multilayered and equally engaging but Margot is the star of the show. Sarcastic, bitchy and funny- she's the perfect person to enjoy hating but Marr's skillfull writing also draws empathy fro.m the reader despite her personality and misdeeds.

The plotting is meticulous and results in twist after twist making the reading experience breathless and exciting. I laughed and gasped throughout and found it highly entertaining.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 4th March 2025. Wow, where do I even begin?! This was a tense, chilling and electrifying plot! I was immediately gripped after the prologue dying to know what would happen next.

The characters were likeable I think my favourite one was Margot and her witty humour I loved it!

There was many invigorating twists throughout I didn’t guess any of them and they were a great surprise! As at times whilst reading I was doubting everything and trying to play detective on a few occasions.

Overall, an exhilarating plot and one to definitely keep you glued to your kindle!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I loved this book and was so excited to get an early copy. It did not disappoint. This may be my favorite John Marrs book. If you liked the TV show Desperate Housewives or books by Liane Moriarty, pick up this book.

The prologue was FANTASTIC and drew me in immediately. It's a book that I want to immediately re-read.

Whoa! Holy-Mother-of-gawd! John pulled out all the punches with this one! From the moment I started this… I absolutely COULD NOT STOP!

Three women - Margot, Anna and Liv. Liv and her family just moved into the neighborhood. Soon, these women will go to great lengths to impress the next. Who has what, how they got there, where they came from…. You get the gist. Only, they are about to find out THEY HAVE NO IDEA!!!!

I would classify this as his first popcorn thriller and the ride WAS WILD AS HELL! Marrs does something he has NEVER done before and it was absolutely brilliant! He pulled it off beautifully! Other authors have tried this and it just didn’t work for me. Ever. Finally, someone nailed it!!

Bravo John Marrs! Bravo!
5 brilliant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you John for your creative mind! Many thanks to Amazon Publishing (Thomas&Mercer) and NetGalley for the opportunity!!

I loved this book so much that I didn’t want to finish it but at the same time I couldn’t wait to finish it.

This felt like a really good John Marrs book with a touch of Liane Moriarty.

John Marrs has shown his great sense of humour throughout this book. I’m still laughing over “It’s like comforting a chopstick” when referring to hugging someone really thin 😂

The characters were likeable, unlikable and just plain crazy.

Like all good psychological thrillers this book was interesting from the start, fast paced and don’t get me started on all the twists I didn’t see coming. I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I think I just found my new favourite John Marrs book!

This book’s characters were fabulous to follow- from ultimate bitch Margot to quiet, friendly Anna. I absolutely loved their stories and how the plot intertwined throughout.

The book was really good fun whilst being shocking at the same time. I couldn’t stop at the end of each chapter. And the twists…….well, I loved them all.

Thank you to John Marrs and NetGalley for allowing me to review this advance copy. It was so enjoyable- I really recommend you give it a go.
5 ⭐️ fabulous!

We open to a woman trapped in the heart of a bonfire, as the smoke engulfs her. Rewind eleven months and we meet Margot, Anna and Liv. All living in the same neighbourhood but all quite different, with secrets and interesting backgrounds. As the story goes it, the author cleverly unwinds their connections and the reason for the person trapped in the bonfire, leading us to a cracking ending.
This one was so entertaining and had a cast of unlikeable characters and lots and lots of secrets. Definitely one of my favourite books by the author so far. 4.5*
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this gifted review copy.

You Killed Me First - John Marrs
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“In my experience, people only admit the truth to ease their conscience. Don’t make yourself feel better by making her feel worse.”

You Killed Me First follows Margot, Anna and Liv, as Liv and her family move into the neighbourhood and the women form the perfect dysfunctional friendship. However, each of them are none the wiser to the other’s deceit and as bonfire night approaches, someone’s secrets - and life - is going to go up in flames.

This has quickly became one of my favourite John Marrs books! The prologue is intense, chilling and completely hooks you from the get go. I love the unreliable narrator point of views and this kept me on my toes, constantly doubting everything and everyone whilst trying to play detective.

There were multiple exhilarating twists both throughout and at the end of the book which meant I flew through it in two sittings, feeling as much hate and distrust as I did enjoyment. I guessed one or two of the twists but I did not mind this at all. I enjoyed the references to the title within the book and I feel like the cover is the very pretty cherry on top.

I also loved the characters and can see why John Marrs said Margot was one of his favourite characters he’s written to date. The bitchiness, wit and humour absolutely made the book for me and in Margot’s wise words:
“I’d rather be a shot of tequila than everyone’s cup of tea.”

Thank you to NetGalley, John Marrs and Thomas & Mercer for sending this advanced copy of You Killed Me First in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
📍This book is out 4th March 2025!

What did I just read?! I have been a huge fan of John Marrs for a long time. I was thrilled to get the ARC! The storyline was so twisted! I loved every single second!
The characters were so well done and you loved and hated every single one. The characters jumped off of the page! The storyline was so twisty and creative I was floored. I expect greatness from Mr. Marrs but this exceeded all of my expectations and then some. The ending was incredible and wrapped up every warped character line. Hit it out of the park again!!
Highly recommend!!

This book was ridiculous!!! (In a good way). I could never tell what was going to happen next. John Marrs has such a way of writing characters. Do I hate them!? Am I rooting for them?! Ugh, great book, probably my favourite by this author

I’ve read every novel Marrs has written, but I don’t think any others have had such unexpected twists! I kept thinking I figured it out, but then he’d manage another seamless surprise. The characterization was perfect; you feel so conflicted because they are all flawed in some way. This may just be my favorite Marrs novel yet! This was my first ARC read, and I couldn’t feel more honored!

Please delete this review, it was made by accident. It was supposed to be on another book. Sorry for the mistake.

I can’t wait to read this book now.

Thank you NetGalley for sharing a digital copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and John Marrs for an ARC of this book. This was my second Marrs book and again I am absolutely floored by how great this book ended up being! The opening of this book was one of the best I’ve read in a long time. He yet again killed it at the character development and backgrounds of each character without losing the plot of the book. His writing style is very quickly becoming one of my favorites! This is exactly what I look for in a psychological thriller. So glad I didn’t have to wait until march for this one!

Where do I even start?!

You Killed Me First, for me, cements John Marrs as one of the best thriller writers. With Desperate Housewives vibes, the claustrophobia of the secrets and lies that are weaved between three neighbours heightens a whole new level of who needs enemies with friends like these?!

We meet three female protagonists, Margot, Anna and Liv, When Liv moves across the road, Margot is immediately there with Anna to welcome (if you want to call it that) her new neighbour, but immediately you get the feeling that this friendship isn't going to be plain sailing.
With characters that aren't particularly likeable (in the best kind of way) we are in for one wild ride of a thriller! Who's keeping secrets? Who's telling lies?

Really well written, and as always for Mr Marrs, a completely bingeable read that will leave you feeling satisfied and needing his next book STAT!

I’m a fan of John Marrs’ Psychological Thrillers and this went straight to the top of the TBR pile.

It’s a bit different from his typical style, starting out a little bit like Big Little Lies, three ladies in the neighbourhood, two are old friends and there’s a new arrival. There’s plenty of bitchy, snarky humour. Margot, the ex-pop star was the standout character for me.

This is John Marrs, of course it’s going to get more twisted, darker and as it progresses it avalanches into a maelstrom of twist after twist after twist.

While not up there for me with some of his classics, this is a very entertaining and enjoyable book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer

Margot and Annie become friends with new neighbour Liv and each have their own secrets that they are trying to hide from each other. Things become toxic between them as slowly things from their past are revealed.

I can't believe how lucky I was to get a chance to get an early read of this book. I've read every John Marrs book so far, all the psychological thrillers and the speculative ones and enjoyed every book. I have to say this one exceeded all my expectations, it was mind blowingly good. The characters were so interesting and well written, genius plot twists and it was a book I really just did not want to end. Each of the three main characters had their own secrets unravelling bit by bit, while also trying to observe and outplay each other, which kept me so hooked I found myself slowing down towards the end to take in everything, there were so many what the chapter 39 moments.
This is now one of my favourite John Marrs books. If you're a fan of thrillers you are in for such a treat with this one.