I loved reading this book. Eccentric cast of characters and witty banter abounds. I read it in one sitting. A really fun read.

I read this in two nights! It had friendship, mystery, and a little romance with engaging characters. I found the idea of a multi-generational same name club that solved crimes an interesting premise and the author executed it well. At first the dates were a bit confusing but once I realized the timeline shifted back and forth, I paid better attention at the beginning of the chapter to the dates

MAKING FRIENDS CAN BE MURDER is a cozy mystery with a unique premise. It revolves around a group of women ages 17 to 69, all named Sarah Jones, or so they think. When one of Sarah Jones is murdered, this group of unique personalities decides to go sleuthing to solve the case themselves, well, maybe with the help of a nun (with a mysterious past) and a couple of FBI agents because, of course, it is not just about murder.

The chapters, narrated by different members of The Sarah Jones Project, were a little confusing at the beginning, but then each Sarah Jones gets a nickname: their age. The main Sarah character, 30,  is a gym trainer, new to town, loves being part of TSJP, and works as an undercover agent for the FBI, all while getting tangled up in a fraud case. The other Sarahs include a crime blogger (69), two teachers (39 and 44), a nanny (27), and a high school kid (17). Their diverse backgrounds add a delightful touch of humor, making the story an entertaining and enjoyable read.

I thank BookBrowse and NetGalley for generously providing me with an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review. And, of course, a big thank you to Kathleen West for creating this delightful read!

Lots of Sarah Jones in this book, lol. The characters were fun. This book had it all with a murder, a mystery, a little drama and romance. This was fast paced and cozy. I would read a sequel if it was made.

What a fantastic read. With a cast of unique characters, all of whom I would like to be friends with (yes, including 27), and a plot with as many colorful threads as the opening yarn bomb, I zipped through this book, reaching the end before I was ready. What I love most about Kathleen West books (and Making Friends Can Be Murder in particular) is her ability to write with empathy, showcasing the good, the bad, and the ugly of humankind all while giving readers the space to care, even when they think they shouldn't.

As the world falls apart and readers look for more cozy mysteries to pad the bad, I hope this book finds its way into as many hands as possible.

A solid mystery that isn’t too dark or twisty. The premise of the book is great and the book lives up to it. This would be great for someone who loves a good mystery but can’t handle anything super dark. The Sarah Jones Project leads a group of women with the same name on quite the adventure attempting to solve a murder of a Sarah Jones who wasn’t one of their own. A handsome “Clark Kent” FBI with a connection to a decades long missing person make for a fun read!

What a fun book. A little mystery, a little romance, a little comedy and a life lesson about finding oneself. What's not to love. All made this a very enjoyable book. At first, I was thinking what have I committed to, but I was quickly drawn into the story when the FBI came into the picture. Oh, to be named Sarah Jones and be able to socialize with this diverse group of women. I also enjoyed the different generations represented in this book not to mention the different backgrounds of the characters, which I felt were well developed. I mean come on; Sister Mary Theresa was the icing on the cake. This book showed how important friendships can be and how important family can be.

This was a great murder mystery. I love that there are charters all caught up in the case. Sarah is our main character, and she just moved to the new town. However, she becomes part of the investigation, and we are sent through trying to solve this mystery. It's a fun thriller in a small town that I really like. Cannot wait to purchase my book trophy it comes out.

Step aside, Nancy Drew—there's a new detective squad in town, and they all go by the name Sarah Jones! In Kathleen West's delightful mix of humor and mystery, "Making Friends Can Be Murder," we’re treated to a charmingly twisty tale where mistaken identity leads to unexpected camaraderie, secret discoveries, and, oh yes, murder.

It all begins innocently enough: Sarah Jones, fresh off a canceled engagement and new to Minneapolis, lucks into a club called “The Sarah Jones Project,” where women (and a few brave men) who share her very common name gather to bond over art, coffee, and camaraderie. But when one of their own is shockingly found dead under a local bridge, it’s time for this merry band of misfits to trade coffee mugs for magnifying glasses.

Enter a colorful cast of support— a handsome FBI agent, a savvy nanny, and a nun with a past juicier than a crime noir. As new friendships blossom and quirky alliances form, this eclectic crew dives headlong into solving a mystery rich with sinister secrets, potential fraud, and maybe even a little romance.

Kathleen West spins an endearing yarn where the narrative threads of mystery, humor, and heartfelt character development weave effortlessly together. The Sarah Joneses are each fleshed out with distinct personalities and relatable flaws, making their collective sleuthing adventure all the more captivating. With a tone both lively and tender, you’ll find yourself eagerly cheering on this cast of characters as they navigate the hilarious complexities of mistaken identity and unexpected danger.

Twists and turns abound, yet the plot remains charmingly light, making "Making Friends Can Be Murder" the very definition of a cozy mystery. The group text messages and vlog transcripts add a modern twist to the quaint intrigue, while avoiding the usual pitfalls of over-techy storytelling.

If you’re on the lookout for a cozy mystery packed with warmth, wit, and a heaping dose of heart, then grab your reading glasses and settle in—it’s time to join The Sarah Jones Project and see where this whirlwind of mystery and fun takes you. Just prepare to laugh, puzzle, and perhaps even lend a hand in unraveling a few secrets—for there's never a dull moment with Sarah Jones & Co. at the helm! 📚🔍💕

I loved this book! It is a fast paced modern day cozy mystery. I was slightly confused at first keeping all the characters straight but that was quickly resolved.

I liked the characters, it was plot based but with enough character development to make sure I cared about the characters. I even liked the romance in the story, it was sweet and interesting and had me hoping for a good outcome for the characters involved.

Great story, highly recommended.
Thanks to Book Browse and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of the book—a group of women with the same name—attracted me. The assigning of numbers to each of them to tell them apart was necessary but seemed so arbitrary that it became a distraction and a struggle for me to keep them straight. When the explanation was finally given much further into the book, the story became much more cohesive and easier to follow. It took longer than most books I read to hook me and send my reading into the frenzied phase. The characters were easy to relate to and well developed. The dialogue was amusing. Their struggles were relatable. The ending was satisfying. This was a fun read. It includes discussion questions. I must mention two supporting characters who almost stole the show. Sister Mary Theresa and Supervisory Special Agent in Charge Vance delighted me, made me chuckle, and I admired them tremendously. This book would be sorely lacking without them. I would love to see them star in a sequel. (I received an advance electronic copy of this book through BookBrowse and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I thoroughly enjoyed "Making Friends Can Be Murder" as my weekend read. Strengths are the whimsical characters such as 17, 69, and Sister, but a few others were underdeveloped (the two teachers? I could not tell you anything about them). I would enjoy reading a sequel, if that's ever in the works.

Memorable characters made this mystery a fun read. Many were harboring secrets that were revealed as the story developed. I was glad author Kathleen West numbered her characters by age so I could keep them all straight. Also, the multi-generational sleuthing by the Sarahs - which also included the nun/ex-cop was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I had a great time reading Making Friends Can Be Murder by Kathleen West! The premise—a group of women, all named Sarah Jones, getting tangled up in a murder case—was fresh and fun, and the mystery kept me hooked. Sarah, the main character, is new to town and just looking for community, but she ends up in the middle of a fraud case, an FBI investigation, and a decades-old cold case with ties to a summer camp. There’s a great mix of humor, suspense, and quirky characters (a nun with a mysterious past? Yes, please!). It’s entertaining, light, and twisty—perfect for a weekend read.

Fans of character-driven mysteries, light thrillers with humor, and stories about small-town secrets will enjoy this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great read! Checks all the boxes for a cozy mystery: quirky, lovable characters, romance, a believable twisty plot and a satifying ending. Couldn't help but root for all the characters. Looking forward to reading more from this author!

Moving to a new town is scary, but having someone with your name murdered makes it worse! Sarah Jones is enjoying her new friends until one of them dies. This book pulls two mysteries in to be solved, which caused a bit of confusion until I picked up on the connection. The characters were engaging and likeable. A little quicker pace might have helped the plot.

This book took me on an enjoyable adventure into the lives of a group of women (and a man, George) at various stages of their lives. I loved the idea of a group of women of diverse ages getting together in the real and digital worlds to create art, support each other and combat loneliness in the big world. The four most dominant characters (30, 27, 17 and George) are developed well enough to make me see them from all sides, they felt real and got my empathy. Nobody is perfect in this story, except maybe the long dead (I LIKE that).

It is a contemporary story, in that there are a few pages of vlog transcripts and a few more of group text messages, but not too much of that to be annoying.
The romance felt real; there was real caring and real conflict, not just misunderstandings that get “sorted” on the last page. I loved the older women in the story also, the nun and 69 were a hoot. The book is light and funny but not predictable and I appreciated the entertainment value of that. It is not gory or too suspenseful, just enough to keep me coming back to find out what happens, but not too much as to keep me awake at night! The very definition of a cozy mystery, but set in modern times. I hope this mystery solving team gets repeat mysteries to share in a season 2 or 3 of the Sarah Jones Project and we get to know all of the team better.

NOT PART OF REVIEW:1. Loc 703 at 13% of the book:
"Yeah, Twenty-seven sent a picture. Sarah could see her friend's feet in Nike socks and the offer in profile, a woman in uniform who looked about sixteen years old herself." I believe the highlighted word should be officer not offer.

2. Loc 751 at 13% of the book:
The reference to "hobby joggers" in the text is offensive and I don't think a trainer and serious runner would use that term. She (30) is not dismissive of the people she trains no matter their level of expertise, and it doesn't ring true that she'd use that phrase. Just my humble opinion as a 63 year old athlete.

3. Loc 3922 at 68% of the book:
"But George's duplicity made her feel too stupid, too 1."
I don't know if the last letter is the number 1 or the letter l and I don't know what it is supposed to mean or refer to.

When I pasted my review, I did not see a place for errors to be noted and not be part of the review.

This is a cute cosy mystery! Sarah Jones moved to a new town and finds a new group of friends who all have the same name. One of the Sarah Jones dies unexpectedly and a mystery begins. The Sarah Jones’ work together to solve the mystery. I really liked this book. The character development of the different Sarah Jones’ is great. The story kept me interested. The way the Sarah Jones’ solve the mystery is intriguing. I highly recommend this book to someone looking for a fun, easy mystery. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC copy of the book to read and review.

Kathleen West’s Making Friends Can Be Murder is a fresh, witty, and delightfully twisty mystery that turns an unusual coincidence into a thrilling whodunit. When Sarah Jones joins a group of women who share her name, she never expects it to lead to a murder investigation—but after one of their own turns up dead, the surviving Sarahs take justice into their own hands. Packed with eccentric allies—including a charming FBI agent and a nun with secrets—this novel expertly balances humor, intrigue, and heart. West’s sharp writing and clever premise make for an addictive page-turner, perfect for fans of lighthearted mysteries with a sharp edge.

A fun read! I loved the premise of this book--women with the same name (Sarah Jones) but very different backgrounds form a group. I loved getting to know the different characters, and it was fun to see how they interacted with each other.

When another Sarah Jones meets an untimely death that looks a lot like murder, the group turns its attention to crime solving.

I thought the author did a great job of interweaving all the various story lines and keeping things moving. A nice cozy mystery. And I love the book cover!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.