I enjoyed the characters of this book and how each chapter was written from each of their perspectives.

Holy Chapter 39!!!! You Killed Me First was an incredible read! John Marrs is a master at keeping the reader engaged and this book was so extremely twisted! Margot was an intriguing character for me as she develops in the story! Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. It was like Christmas morning when I saw the FB post from Marrs indicating this was available for download on NetGalley! All opinions are my own. 5 stars! Publication Date: March 04, 2025

This is a must read for anyone who enjoys a good thriller!!
Absolutely loved the characters, the plot, the tension - impossible to put it down.
Certainly recommended!

I always get excited when a new John Marrs book has come out and ‘You killed me first doesn’t disappoint.
The story stars on Bonfire night when a woman wakes up, I finds herself is wrapped in plastic and placed in a middle of a Bonfire and it is on fire. She has a phone next to her and the person on the other end only says that you killed me first.
Several months previously, Liv has moved into a new neighbourhood and has updated the house. No expense is spared. She is also building a Yoga retreat out of the back. She befriends her new neighbours Anna and Margot. Which stars a toxic relationship between the three of them.
This is a story of two one about who is the woman in the Bonfire and how she got there, and about the relationship between Liv, Anna and Margot and the secrets that they are hiding, which when revealed are quite shocking.
This is a great twisty thriller a bit different from his usual speculative thriller. But still a gripping one that I couldn’t put down. The author always write outstanding thrillers. 4.5 stars from me.

Starting with a literal bang, You Killed Me First doesn't let up from start to finish, with those trademark John Marrs twists and WTF moments scattered liberally throughout.

Three women - Margot, Anna and Liv - live in a close community together. Margot is an ex-popstar, married to Nicu, with two stepchildren that she doesn't particularly care for or understand. She loves the finest things in life and expects people to look up to her as a role model. Anna couldn't be more different, downtrodden and mousy, living a beige life with her forgettable husband Drew.

When Liv moves in with her photogenic family and no expenses spared lifestyle, the three of them start hanging out, not always in the friendliest of ways as Margot and Liv fire barbed insults at one another, trying to knock each other down a peg or two in coded ways.

Tensions between the women escalate, relationships wax and wane as time passes. As we read on, we know that they're all hiding major secrets from one another, secrets that could destroy their comfortable lives. We know that at least one of them is in for a terrible reckoning, but which one of the women is it, and what has led to her nerve-shredding situation?

Amongst this already fabulous story, there's a more spiritual other-worldly element, as the soul of a dead person inhabits the body of a living one and takes them over, to violent and murderous ends.

Read it - its great!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. John Marrs has done it again. If you want a twisty, keep you guessing, different type of book, check this one out!

Can this author do any wrong
His writing is something else
All I want to do is turn the page
Gripping, thrilling everything I want from a thriller book!

"You Killed Me First" by John Marrs is a thrilling and intense read that grips you from the very first page. Marrs masterfully intertwines multiple perspectives, creating a complex narrative that keeps you guessing about the true motives of each character. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it a rollercoaster of suspense that is hard to predict.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own secrets and struggles that add depth to the story. Marrs explores themes of betrayal, trust, and the consequences of our actions, all while maintaining a fast-paced and engaging storyline. The author’s ability to build tension and create a sense of urgency is remarkable, making it difficult to put the book down.

Overall, "You Killed Me First" is a gripping psychological thriller that will leave readers questioning everything until the very end. It's a fantastic choice for those who enjoy dark, twisty tales with strong character development and a plot that keeps you on your toes.

This has everything that I love in a great thriller: it’s fast paced, clever, twisty and very well written. I’ve read all of this author’s other books and loved them all. This is definitely one of my favourites and more than worthy of 5 stars!

You Killed Me First begins as a slow burn, but once it gets going, it's a non-stop thrill ride. The unexpected twists keep you hooked, making it a gripping and surprising journey. A highly entertaining read!

John Marrs has kept me engaged once again! The prologue immediately stole my attention. From start to finish there were so many twists, big and small. Every time I came up with a possibility for the ending, I was shocked by another turn of events! This book will keep you guessing from start to finish! Highly recommend to anyone who loves John’s style of thrillers!

This is one of my favourite authors and I have read a few of his other titles.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of his others, however it was a good read that kept me guessing until the end.
Lots of twists and turns, with three strong main characters.
The beginning is mind blowing and very chilling!
Overall I would recommend this book.

WOW! John Marrs is one of my favorite authors and he has once again proven why! I’ve already preordered the physical copy of this book but will probably read the e-book again before March. Every time I thought it was the last twist, there was just one more that came around the corner and slapped me in the face. I read this book in less than 24 hours because I just could not put it down. It held on to me with every single twist and turn until the very end of the book!

This book really was insane and chaotic from the start right to the very end.
I will always read and love every book that John comes out with.

I loved the multiple POV's, it really helped with the mystery and twists,
I absolutely hated most of the main characters but for all the right reasons! They were all toxic and horrible to each other but it was so great to read about.

Thank you to NetGalley and John Marrs for this ARC.

You Killed Me First by John Marrs

Buddy read with @kayleyisreading
Thank you @johnmarrs.author and @netgalley for early access to this! ❤️

10/10 ⭐️

“It’s 5 November, and a woman awakens to a nightmare. Bound and gagged, she lies trapped in the heart of a towering bonfire. As the smoke thickens, panic sets in – she’s moments away from being engulfed in flames. How did it come to this?“ - NetGalley

Wow - unhinged desperate housewives. This book was wild. John Marrs delivers on another excellent read and I really don’t wanna spoil anything but wow.
As always this was fast paced, multiple POV of Margot, Anna and Liv, with stories and entries from the past showing us how we got to the beginning. He builds characters that are instantly loveable/hate-able and make you question if you’re wrong for feeling that way!

Me and @kayleyisreading were absolutely reeling with this one sharing thoughts and idea and losing our minds. John Marrs is always an auto-buy author for me and this book demonstrates why. When you think you have it sussed and a straight storyline it bends and twists like the unreliable character he’s builds and heads in a new direction.
I was surprised by his new venture of personality disorders but he presented it amazingly!

Totally recommend this and can’t wait for this to hit the shelves for everyone else to enjoy!! I can see this being all over TikTok/Bookstagram as a must read.

This is my 3rd John Marrs book and my favourite so far.

Three ladies live together on a cul de sac, they become friends. They all have secrets and they will think nothing of stabbing each other in the back.

This was so good, full of twists and turns. I loved the characters and was fully invested in what happened to them.

Highly recommend reading this, you won't regret it.

LOVED it! ALL THE STARS.

Full review will be added to www.instagram.com/kayleyisreading in October.

Well lets talk about some truly hateable characters. Sweet lord. These 3 women are the woooorrssstttttt (sang like Jean-Ralphio from Parks & Rec). But dang was I hooked from the start. It is hard to give a review without giving anything away but I will say the format mad the plot even more intriguing. Multiple POVs. And I really do mean MULTIPLE. I suspected most of the twists but the last chapter PUNCH was crazy. This was a fast paced thriller, with truly despicable people, twists and turns, murder, revenge, and questionable choices.

The synopsis of this one doesn’t make it sound that exciting, but I know John Marrs’ books well…and he did NOT disappoint! Deliciously dark with characters you’ll love or hate…or love to hate. Once I understood the first of MANY twists, it was off to the races. Seriously unputdownable!

Synopsis: Three women. Three smouldering secrets. Who will make it out alive?

It’s 5th November, and a woman awakens to a nightmare. Bound and gagged, she lies trapped in the heart of a towering bonfire. As the smoke thickens, panic sets in – she’s moments away from being engulfed in flames. How did it come to this?

🔥

2024 is the year that I discovered John Marrs and oh boy, am I obsessed.

I was very fortunate to have received the latest thriller by John Marrs on NetGalley, which is out in March 2025 ✨️
This thriller follows three women who live on the same street. They all appear to be friends and happy neighbours but there are deadly secrets looming.

You get to hear from each character and the chapters are short, so it makes it a gripping, easy read.

The best part of books by John Marrs is just when you think you know everything, it unravels and ends with one final twist. Did not see the last twist coming!

If you want a fiery, twisty thriller pick this one up in March! 🔥

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the ARC copy.