So. Much. Fun…
Just who exactly is the Crowhurst Killer? A group of flatmates, an obnoxious landlord, a dead end town, a chat group, social media sleuthing galore and the odd local spree killer. Kirby Cornell, local journalist finds herself in a whole heap of deadly trouble in this murderous romp with a deftly drawn cast of eclectic characters and a fast moving plot populated with much dark comedy and quirky one liners. Compelling and just.. so much fun.

Another enjoyable and fast-paced thriller from L.M. Chilton deals with the ramifications of social media, cancel culture, and journalistic ethics, all while telling a 'I Know What You Did Last Summer'-esque whodunit about a group of former flatmates being picked off following a traumatic incident one year prior. The characterisation outside of the lead isn't the strongest, but the mystery is strong and it has the hallmarks of another fun murder mystery from Chilton,

"Everyone in the group chat dies" is a mystery/thriller book that keeps you hooked until the end. I couldn't stop reading and formulating my own ideas about the plot and where things were going.
The book is really well written and it made me laugh at times, feel excited in other moments and even cry a bit.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for people who love a good story surrounded by mystery and with well written characters.

I enjoyed this book, it was a fast paced thriller with an interesting concept. I found the focus on armchair and online detectives to be novel and added an extra layer of intrigue to the plot.

I very much enjoyed this writer's previous novel about the perils of online dating, and this new story is no less entertaining. Not to mention, topical in its treatment of issues such as our social media activities and obsessions with true crime and podcasts.

When the MC receives a message in the nearly-defunct group chat that she shares with her ex-flatmates, the warning that everyone on the group chat will die is bad enough. But it is made considerably worse by the fact that the apparent sender of the message died a year ago!

Fast-paced and funny, you'll glide through this one, giggling frequently along the way.

Thank the Crow I was selected for an ARC of this book. I loved Don't Swipe Right so leapt at the chance to read this new book early. I was definitely not disappointed!

It is set in 2 time periods (present and one year earlier) which I really liked and kept the intrigue going as present day Kirby would allude to things that past Kirby was going to experience.

Overall, the setting had a very Hot Fuzz meets Making a Murderer small town feel to it, which I really enjoyed as that's always an eerie setting, and I was kept guessing right to the end about the murderer's identity.

This is the first book I've read by this author but certainly won't be the last!

I really enjoyed the writing style of this and am a big fan of the first person POV used. It really helped draw the reader in and made me feel like I was trying to help solve the mystery.

The chapters were short which really helped with the pacing and this was a quick easy read. The use of two different timelines really helped build up the tension. I liked the snippets of WhatsApp messages every now and then to break up the text.

The plot made me think of a early 00's slasher movie. It had lots of twists and turns and plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing! Some parts did feel a little rushed but it didn't take away from the enjoyment.

This felt very British with it's references which I really liked. The characters were personable and varied enough to keep me interested in all their different roles and their group dynamics.

This also looks at how social media influences situations, people's perceptions and has the reader questioning how they might behave in a similar situation.

Overall this is a fun mystery and I look forward to reading more from the author in the future!

I loved Don’t Swipe Right, and thought this was a must read, I wasn’t disappointed! Funny, murderous and just a bloody good read! This is told across the present day and 12 months ago, going back and forward throughout which works well, some great characters in there with very individualised personalities! That twist at the end though 😳 loved it!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

This was so much fun (if an urban legend / horror film in real life can be called "fun"). I liked the setting, it felt so realistic of small villages and the weird stuff that happens there for tradition's sake. The modern elements of being in the group chat, live streaming, internet "crime fans" and living with a group of strangers felt realistic. The friendships were extremely relatable. I loved the plot overall and found it so interesting and twisty. Will definitely read more LM Chilton books!

What did I just read?!? Absolutely loved it! It was a crazy, crazy ride but so many cliffhangers and WTF moments. Would recommend.

I’m so glad I gave this book a chance because it had me laughing and playing the armchair detective from the get-go.

Set in a little town in Surrey called Crowhurst, Kirby reflects through a dual-timeline perspective. After an unexpected visitor enters her life and comes to a terrible end 12 months ago, the last thing Kirby expects is a group chat message from them, resulting in the main character throwing herself into the role of local detective to uncover the towns 3-decade long mystery.

“If New York is the city that never sleeps, then Crowhurst was the town with chronic narcolepsy.”

Crowhurst is famous for one thing and one thing only. A gruesome murder of a group of teenagers at their annual fayre back in the 90’s. But when Esme turns up to Kirby’s flat, and is welcomed by herself and her flatmates, known as ‘The Deadbeats’, things begin to get sinister very quickly.

Through an accurate representation of today’s generation of armchair detectives who attempt to solve crimes over social media, journalist in the making, Kirby, uses the events to dip her foot in and give it a go. Esme goes missing, the Crowhurst killer is suspected to be making a comeback, and Kirby takes to social media to try and solve the mystery.

“As Frida Kahlo once said, ‘I tried to drown my sorrows, but the bastards learned how to swim’. So now I just feed my demons instead and get them nice and chunky.”

If you’re looking for a hilarious mystery set in a small-town, this is the perfect book for you. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely devoured this book. It was so so so well written. Constantly keeps you guessing and I did not pick the ending at all. I love thriller/horror stories that have multiple time lines so you’re going back and forth between before the event and afterwards being able to see them unfold alongside each other. I loved all of the main characters so much and wow I’m just in love with this book. thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for being given the opportunity to get an ARC of this book.

This was a fun read with a lovely combination of humor and 'proper mystery'. The initial concept is great and the author then lives up to it. Recommended.

I absolutely loved this book. Way more than I expected to be honest. A definite hidden gem

The book follows Kirby Cornell in a duel storyline. Kirby lives in small town Crowhurst with her flatmates the deadbeats. Their flatmate Esme a social media sleuth who is re-investigating Crowhurst's serial killer from 30 years ago. Esme goes missing and is found dead. In the other timeline Kirby receives a text from the deadbeats group chat and it's from Esme but it can't be, she was killed 12 months previous.

This book made me laugh out loud, I loved the dual storyline, the texts and I liked all the characters. I would love to read another book about Kirby. She was a character I really enjoyed. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity.

I loved this book! I was lucky enough to get an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley - thank you!

The plot was a lot of fun and I liked the two timelines within the book, revealing just enough at a time to make it intriguing. I liked the characters, they were well fleshed out and interesting. I love the concepts of weird insular towns where everyone knows each other’s business and keeps their weird traditions, the Wicker Man references were fun! I wasn’t sure where the ending would go and it wasn’t what I expected! A fun read.

This is the second book by L.M Chilton and I would highly recommend both books. A dark, funny modern day story, that had me hooked throughout. It's rare these days to find a good psychological thriller that makes you scared and giggle simultaneously, but here it is. Highly recommended xx

I started reading this during my lunch breaks at work and about a third of the way in, I regretted the choice immediately because I wanted to continue to read and not put it down until the next day. I was surprised -- but in the best way -- at how much I really enjoyed the story and the characters and the pacing of it. If there is one thing this book isn't, it's boring. The fast pace keeps you wanting more at the end of every chapter and the twist is something I didn't see coming and almost audibly gasped out loud at the reveal. The characters are likeable and if not likeable, then certainly interesting enough to keep going and I really enjoyed the past and present POV -- it really helped with telling the story.

Would absolutely recommend this book!

This book gave me I know what do you did last summer vibes. The characters are likeable, the story is interesting and it’s a great, easy read. I did not predict the ending.

If you are in the mood for a dual-timeline small-town murder mystery with elements of humour, self-depreciating protagonist, odd flatmates, serial-killer/horror thrills and social-media sleuths, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies might be for you. Journalist Kirby Cornell works in a dead-end job after leaving a mess in her wake. She lives with her slobby friends (in a flat owned by a right creep) – and they share a secret about their ex-flatmate and social-media sleuth Esme who died twelve months ago. So how can Esme be messaging in their group chat? And how seriously should they take the words “Everyone in the group chat will die”? They should take it dead seriously. The story rolls out via a then and now narrative and has a very current generation vibe. You’ll be wondering how the heck is it going to end?
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies hit the spot for me. Fast paced, quirky/funny, suspenseful, twisty and current. Recommended.

I absolutely loved this book. I was wary at the start that it was just a bit farfetched and outlandish, but the more I read, the more invested I got and I whizzed through the last half. Could not put it down. It's utterly implausible but the best fun and I would read this again in a heartbeat. Thoroughly recommended:)

Set in a dual timeline of 12 months prior to present, we meet Kirby and her fellow flatmates. There is a sudden arrival of a new flatmate with an obsession of a local killing spree back in 1996, who subsequently vanishes but pops back up again in the group chat. Kirby is determined to find out what is going on before it’s too late!

I found this to be a really fast paced read which had me trying to figure out what was happening throughout. I was so invested I had to read this in one day. There was a lot of humour and I really enjoyed the social media aspect that spoke of “armchair detectives”, it gave a really insight into how the media takes over.

A gripping, pacy and funny read, I would 100% recommend this to murder mystery fans!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

I love a good small town mystery, with twists aplenty, and the odd red herring. I also love an injection of humour. Everyone In The Group Chat Dies provided both. 📱
I'm going to assume that you have read the blurb, so I'm not going to rehash it. The story is told from the POV of Claire 'Kirby' Cornell, and is told across two timelines; present day, and twelve months ago.
It's fast paced, and an oh so entertaining, quick read.
All of the characters are likeable, even the bad guy. When the big reveal came, let me just say, I did not see that coming! 😮
I loved this book. I devoured this book. Would I recommend it to everyone? You bet I would.
Thanks to Aries Fiction, Head of Zeus and Netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I recently finished reading "Everyone in the Group Chat Dies" by L.M. Chilton, and I can confidently say it’s my new favourite guilty pleasure. This book caught my eye with its intriguing premise; let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
Kirby Cornell, our relatable protagonist, is in desperate need of a break from her humdrum life in Crowhurst—an unremarkable town that somehow boasts both award-winning sausage rolls and a notorious 90s serial killer. As someone who can sympathise with wanting to escape the familiar grind, I found Kirby's frustrations with her sleazy landlord, slobbish housemates, and dead-end job deeply amusing and, at times, painfully familiar. But it’s the dark cloud of their shared secret that looms ominously over them, thick with tension and regret.
The turning point in Kirby's life comes when a message pings in their old group chat: “Everyone in the group chat will die.” A casual, albeit chilling, message from Esme, her ex-flatmate who shouldn’t even be texting anyone since she died the previous year! This twist had me hooked from the beginning. I’m a sucker for a good mystery, and the first-person perspective pulled me in completely, making me feel like I was right there with Kirby, frantically trying to piece together the clues.
Chilton’s writing style is witty and engaging, perfectly capturing Kirby’s dry humour and the absurdity of her situation. The short chapters added to the brisk pacing, making it an effortless read that I barely put down. I particularly enjoyed the use of dual timelines, which kept upping the stakes and building tension throughout the story. The WhatsApp messages sprinkled in were a clever way to break up the narrative and provided a contemporary touch that felt very much in tune with today’s digital age.
The plot was reminiscent of those early 2000s slasher flicks, complete with unexpected twists and the constant presence of red herrings that kept me on my toes. Sure, there were times when events felt a little rushed, but honestly, it didn’t dampen my enjoyment at all. I revelled in every page, laughing out loud at Kirby’s musings while also feeling the weight of suspense build around her.
And can we talk about how quintessentially British this novel feels? The references and character dynamics added to the charm. Kirby and her crew, dubbed ‘The Deadbeats,’ were a motley bunch, and I found their interactions genuinely entertaining. Each character was unique, adding to the complexity of their relationships and the group’s collective mystery.
Moreover, the book weaves in an exploration of social media's impact on communication and perception, which really made me reflect on how I might react in a similar situation. It’s not just a mystery; it’s a clever commentary on our digital age.
In conclusion, "Everyone in the Group Chat Dies" is a delightful blend of humour and mystery that had me laughing, guessing, and rooting for Kirby from start to finish. If you're in the mood for a light yet thrilling read—perfect for an afternoon escape—look no further. I’m so glad I picked up this book, and I can’t wait to see what L.M. Chilton has in store for us next!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

First of all, this book flew by! I was so invested in solving the mystery that I just had to keep reading until the end. Kirby makes some silly decisions on her quest to solve Esme’s disappearance and discover what really happened in Crowhurst thirty years before, but it comes from a desire to help Esme.

I enjoyed the banter of the friend group but found that at times the humour was a little grating and didn’t add to the story. Toned down I think would improve the flow of the book itself. I also really liked the tidbits that came back to the conclusion of the mystery. You have to be looking for the red herrings but they’re most definitely there.

All in all I enjoyed this mystery and would highly recommend anyone looking to put a new mystery on their to-be-read list to try this one!

Much like the author's previous book, this is a fun, funny, easy read. There is obviously a murder and 'whodunnit' element but it's fun and lighthearted (presuming you can say that about murder) and almost secondary to the character based antics. I love the chatty tone of the book, written from main character Kirby’s POV which alternates between now and then. The dynamics between the characters (or flatmates) adds to this feeling, with their relatable humour and banter. I also enjoyed the nostalgic references to things like video shops and claw machines. Definitely recommend if you like comedic murder mysteries.

I loved Kirby - although sometimes she was a bit much - and all the twists and the mistery. The story felt a bit like "I knew what you did last summer", and I loved that kind of movies when I was a teen, it was a great way to remember that time. .
I'm going to keep reading L.M. Chilton books for sure.

This mystery thriller is a captivating read that kept me hooked from the very first page until the surprising conclusion. The narrative unfolds across two timelines – the present day and twelve months prior – effectively building suspense and driving Kirby's relentless pursuit of the truth behind her friend Esme's disappearance.
Kirby's determination to uncover the truth is the heart of the story. Her unwavering dedication fuels the plot, propelling her through a series of twists and turns. The friendship dynamics between the characters are well-developed and engaging, with witty banter adding a layer of realism and keeping the atmosphere lighthearted despite the underlying darkness of the mystery.
The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with subtle clues woven throughout the narrative. Readers will need to pay close attention to these subtle hints to piece together the puzzle and anticipate the shocking revelations. The author masterfully maintains suspense, leaving readers guessing until the very end.
Highly recommended for
fans of mystery novels, this book is a captivating read with a well-crafted mystery that will leave a lasting impression.

Kirby Cornell, stuck in a dull life in Crowhurst, receives a chilling message in her old group chat from her dead ex-flatmate: “Everyone in the group chat will die.”
The book’s witty, engaging style and clever use of dual timelines and WhatsApp messages made it an entertaining and gripping read. It's packs plenty of humour and suspense and I loved how it touches on the dangers of social media. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a light yet gripping escape! Great cover too!

The story is set in the small town of Crowhurst, which saw the killing of five young people 30 years earlier. The murderer killed himself after being discovered...or did he? When Esme turns up at their flat, Kirby, Dave, Seema and Dylan are caught up in her social media investigation - she believes the accused is still alive.

An interesting dual timeline story, with small amounts of information given each time the narrative changes period. A quick entertaining read, with some amusing sections, and some interesting characters. It makes you think about social media and its influence - and makes you realise you never really know people!

I really enjoyed this one, I loved the fresh, new style of the way this is written.
This is a fast paced, interesting read, that is using the concept of newer apps to tell the story.
It’s entertaining & gripping whilst having a sense of humour about it,
I’m really looking forward to reading more like this in the future and more from this author.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Would highly recommend this one.

I really enjoyed L.M. Chilton's other books, so I was really excited to be able to read this. I was really glad to not be left disappointed. I hope Chilton's has more books to come.

This was a brilliant fast paced and addictive read. I love the angle of the dark humour combined with the whodunnit. The split dual timeline wasn’t too confusing and helped the book flow and the plot unfold. I was really impressed. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Witty and twisting! Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a fantastic comedy/mystery highlighting the dangers of social media addiction and toxic online hate. We follow Clare (Kirby) Cornell and her group of "Deadbeat" flatmates soon to become just Dead flatmates. Two timelines in the book - one set in the past where we follow Clare unearth the mystery of her flatmate Esme's disappearance/death, and the second set in the present where the rest of the flatmates are being slowly picked off by a very suddenly, supposedly alive Esme.

It's gripping, it's pacy, it's funny! 100% recommend this to fellow murder mystery fans!

Slow start at the beginning for me but once it got going, I was hooked and wanting to find out more quickly. Fast paced indeed and I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know who the killer was.

The 2 timelines went hand in hand - loved it

Great characters and good plot with twists/turns. I enjoyed the writing style too - perfect. Full of suspense, thriller, horror and funny in places

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus

L.M. Chilton’s Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a darkly captivating, twisty thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Centered around a tight-knit group of friends who bond over their group chat, the story takes a chilling turn when one by one, each member begins to fall victim to a series of increasingly sinister events. Chilton expertly builds suspense, weaving together themes of trust, betrayal, and the dangers lurking behind the screens we think we know so well. With sharp, witty dialogue and a plot that never lets up, this book is an exhilarating ride through the world of social media, secrets, and the unsettling realization that sometimes, the most dangerous connections are the ones we don’t even see coming. It’s a thrilling, cautionary tale that will leave you questioning everything about your own online relationships.

Loved this book. Kept you guessing but entertained the whole way through. I didnt even see the twist at the end and I read a lot of crime. Brought the crime genre up to date.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of the book.

Kirby and her friends live in a small town famous for a murder in the mid 90's. Kirby moves into a flat to look into the murder, and brings her friends into it the investigation, until eventually kirby is the only one still investigating. Kirby gets a whatsapp from esme, only esme died a year ago, and when her friends leave the whatsapp group, they end up dead too, so now kirby is trying to find out what happened all those years ago, what's happened to her friends and whether or not she will be next.

It was an easy book to read and normally when a story jumps between different dates it can get confusing but this story was easy to follow, it's a great read.

After reading L.M Chiltons last book, this was a very anticipated read and I was over the moon to get the chance to read a copy from NetGalley.
Another fantastic book, possibly funnier than the last too considering the storyline. Characters are always well written so you know exactly who is who and a bit about them. Conclusive ending too not leaving any questions. I look forward to the next book by this author!

I really enjoyed this book. It flits between 12 months ago and present day but quite clearly and it makes sense to the story. There was a mystery to be solved 12 months ago surrounding the Crowhurst killer and there is an even bigger mystery to be solved now, providing Kirby can survive long enough to get to the bottom of who the new killer in Crowhurst is. The pacing of the book is good and it’s not like anything else I’ve read which is fab. Look forward to more from this author.

Love the mismatched flatmates, the awful but oh, so realistic landlord and the not very well respected town serial killer!
it is rare for a thriller to have funny moments but this one really does and they add to the plot! Several red herrings, a respectable pile of bodies and some great twists!

This is the second book of L.M. Chilton’s that I’ve read and the second that I’ve absolutely adored. His skill of writing empathetic and flawed characters honestly makes his novels a joy to read. Whilst the time skips back and forward could be confusing, they’re done with a deft hand.
I wish I could have another book with the adventures of the Deadbeats but for now I’ll settle for this joyous and deadly romp through Surrey.
One for Millenials and murder mystery fans alike.

I’m a big fan of a good small town mystery, and Everyone in the Group Chat Dies did not disappoint!

It took me a little bit to become fully absorbed in the story, as the first chapter seemed out of place. But once I was past that, I was gripped! I needed to know everything about what had happened in Crowhurst, and why they were so obsessed with their weird town mascot.

I managed to pick up on a few clues throughout, and really enjoyed how it all came together at the end.

I received this book for free, as an Arc, in exchange for an honest review.

The language used in this story was very much on par with how I talk, so I was able to be enveloped within the book from the very start.

The story follows Kirby, an almost 30 year old minor journalist who wants to make it big. She shares a flat with three other people, and they're known as "The Deadbeats".

One day, a young woman by the name of Esme enters the flat, and this is where the story gets interesting. Esme is a social media influencer, who reports on cold case crimes, and this is what brought her to the sleepy, quiet village of Crowhurst.

When Esme goes missing, just after 24 hours of being in the village, Kirby knows there's something sinister going on.

Could the rumours be true, that the spree killer of 1996 never actually died, and has come back to stop the chitter chatter?

A gripping, addictive read that I finished in one sitting.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for this great ARC. I loved this book, it is written with wit and humour and has a fast paced narrative that means you cannot put it down. I loved the story and the sense of mystery with a modern day focus on socials and online presence. A great read.

Having enjoyed 'Swiped' I devoured this book over two nights.

We meet Kirby Connel who, whilst working on a 18-30 type holiday, gets a text from her old flatmate Esme, only problem is Esme died the previous year.

The story moves between present day and a year ago where Kirby lives in a dreary Surrey in her shared flat with her 3 flatmates, they call themselves The Deadbeats and have a group chat to discuss things such as dinner time and who broke the toilet flush.

One night Esme turns up stating she's renting out the temporarily vacated boxroom. Esme is popular on video sharing app Showme (tiktok is sooo last year), investigating various crimes and mysteries. She's in town to investigate a serial killer from 30 years ago (that's the 90s btw). A bunch of teenagers are murdered and the killer threw himself off a cliff, case closed...Esme is here to open it back up, was he really the killer?

An enjoyable, fast moving read, funny in parts, certain events skimmed over and a slightly rushed ending but I liked it.

Thank you very much Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in advance.

We follow Kirby in two different timelines. She used to live with some good friends and when we meet her she is in a dead end job, but what happened in between?

I loved this book, it was clever, the friendships were relatable and in amongst it all there is a slasher/horror/mystery/thriller! You truly couldn’t ask for more.

The author has weaved a story that starts with a new housemate and ends in secrets, lies and a serial killer.

Truly brilliant and definitely one for anyone that enjoys thrills with a really good story.

I received this eARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review, which this is.

I found lm Chilton last year and have been waiting for ages for a new book. I love the writing and story and whilst not 100% my go to genre, I loved every second of this story.