Keep Your Friends Close

When Chloe Roberts is cheated out of being Head Girl at Morton Academy by her supposed best friend, Nikhita Patel, everything changes. No longer assured the benefits which this position brings and having been dumped by her boyfriend, she finds herself clinging to her position in the school’s secret society, Jewel and Bone. Then Chloe stumbles upon the ‘Book of Crime and Punishment’, the misdeeds committed by Morton students recorded along with a fitting punishment, and suddenly it seems as if certain marked entries match up with the deaths of members of Jewel and Bone. And it looks as if Chloe is next…

Pacy and tense, ‘Keep Your Friends Close’ is a compelling, ‘can’t put it down until finished’ read!

Hardworking and competitive, Chloe has her sights set on the bright future offered by being a member of Jewel and Bone and being Head Girl of Morton Academy. Having spent the previous year on course for the top spot, she is devastated when one of the girls in her friendship circle deprives her of this by cheating. Pushed to the fringes of the group and finding herself sharing a room with girls who are not part of the ‘elite’, Chloe realises how unpleasant Nikhita can be and, to her horror, is forced to acknowledge that she (Chloe) has also behaved badly towards others. Knowing that her only course of action now is to work harder than ever to secure the future she longs for, she tries to adapt to her new life at school, making friends with her new room mates.

Readers are kept guessing as Chloe strives to unpick the mystery. As the tension mounts and sinister event follows sinister event, her nerves are stretched to breaking point, leading to a twisted ending. The story poses many questions about power and privilege and how far people are prepared to go gain and keep these, offering plenty to think about.

Set in 1999, the book is set at Morton Academy which some readers will recognise as the setting for ‘Win, Lose, Kill, Die’. ‘Keep Your Friends Close’ works perfectly well as a stand alone, although true fans will enjoy recognising some details.

A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Keep Your Friends Close

Cynthia Murphy

Penguin ISBN: 978-0241712788

Circle of Liars

When seven teenagers arrive for a school retreat, they find themselves at the Motel Loba, abandoned and rundown, not the top location they were expecting. But things only get worse when they find they are trapped and forced to play a game where every hour they must vote one person out, deciding who is to live and who to die. For each one of the seven has a secret about a school fire which ended in tragedy…and only one can survive.

A tense, dramatic read, ‘Circle of Liars’ is absolutely unputdownable! Reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s ‘And then there were none’, it is full of twists and turns sure to keep the reader on the edge of their seat!

Told from different viewpoints, the story unfolds, highlighting the thoughts and feelings of certain characters as the truth about everyone’s involvement in and responsibility for the fire. The story not only explores how the different players deal with their feelings of culpability, but also how far they will go to save themselves, manipulating and coercing others, so that they will survive, sure to make readers wonder how they would act in a similar situation.

It is hard to review a book like this without spoiling it for others so suffice it to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and would readily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a pacy, compelling read with plenty of action and plenty to think about!

Circle of Liars

Kate Francis

Usborne ISBN: 978-1836042389

Mondays are Murder

After the death of her friend, Ivy, Kay thought she had left Longrove for good. However, when her parents go on a cruse to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary, she finds herself sent back there, ‘dumped’ on her Uncle Dara and her cousin, Nikki. Just as she thinks things can’t get any worse, she finds a letter on her bed, a letter telling her that there will be a thrill on Tuesday, a wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday - and her murder on Monday.

From the first page, ‘Mondays are Murder’ is a gripping read, full of red herrings and twists which all build to a very satisfying conclusion.

As well as the death of Ivy, Longrove is also full of memories of her Aunt Sandra, Nikki’s mother, idolised by Kay for her ability to solve puzzles and the work she used to do as a detective. Whilst looking through some of her things, Kay and Nikki discover a notebook which suggests that Aunt Sandra was conducting her own investigation into Ivy’s death, adding another layer of intrigue and mystery to the story, intertwining with the girls’ determination to discover the identity of Monday and prevent Kay’s predicted murder.

Flashbacks to past events are interspersed through the action, affording readers a glimpse of the events which led to Ivy’s death and offering clues and misdirection along the way. The plot is skilfully constructed, combining murder mystery with thriller whilst exploring family dynamics, relationships and grief. Dark in places, the combination of compelling action, appealing characters and an atmospheric setting make this a compulsive read!

Mondays are Murder

Ravena Guron

Usborne ISBN: 978-1805075707

Lie or Die

Feeling guilty for kissing her best friend Thea’s ex, Kass Kennedy is tricked into auditioning for a new reality TV show, Lie or Die, where contestants are pitted against each other as they try to discover who is a murderous agent and who is innocent. However, when players start dying, Kass realises that this is a fight for survival.

From the outset ‘Lie or Die’ is an absorbing read, exciting and gripping. Reluctant to appear before the camera but determined to show Thea that she is a real friend, Kass quickly finds herself caught up in the excitement of the game. She is an excellent protagonist, observant and quick-witted- and a loyal friend! The other characters are equally well considered, making an interesting mix for the Lie or Die game show where you can ‘trust no one’.

Combining the current fixation for reality television shows and a locked room mystery, the plot builds a claustrophobic feeling of tension as realisation dawns on the contestants that they are trapped in the ‘game’. As events unfold, there are little twists which make the reader reassess their burgeoning suspicions, constantly keeping them on their toes alongside the characters!

Dark and twisting, Lie or Die is a brilliant read!

Lie or Die A J Clack

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1915444417

Published 7th March 2024

S.T.E.A.L.T.H. Access Denied

Arriving at school one day, Arun and his friend, Sam, are accosted by Donna, a girl in their year, who claims there are police at Arun’s house. Leaving school to discover what is happening, the unlikely team are thrown headlong into an action-packed thriller of a day like no other!

With each chapter heading indicating the ticking of time, this is a fast paced, non-stop blast of a book, bursting with action. Events unfold quickly, plunging the children into the thick of the proceedings, resulting in a lot of quick thinking and direct action from Arun, Sam and Donna.

Although Sam and Arun are already friends, Donna is all but unknown to them. The boys soon learn that they have misjudged her, quickly valuing the skills she brings to the team. All three children are very intelligent, resourceful and determined, although Sam is sometimes less keen to wade into action than the others. Each brings something different and together, they are a force to be reckoned with!

My son loved the ‘Kuromori’ books by Jason Rohan when he was younger and he would have loved this too. Instantly exciting, the story thrusts the reader into the thick of the action, making it perfect for those reluctant readers who can be put off by books with a slower build-up. A wealth of gadgets, technology and dodgy dealing mean there is plenty happening, but questions around morality, misconceptions and family also offer though-provoking moments.

Espionage, thrills and explosive action- what’s not to love?!

S.T.E.A.L.T.H. Access Denied Jason Rohan

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839943386