Nicki`s Life of Crime : BLOG TOUR, BOOK REVIEW - My Best Friends Murder by Polly Phillips

BOOK DESCRIPTION

There are so many ways to kill a friendship . . .

You’re lying, sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, legs bent, arms wide.
And while this could be a tragic accident, if anyone’s got a motive to hurt you, it’s me.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. They have been through a lot together – from the death of Bec’s mother to the birth of Izzy’s daughter. But there’s a darker side to their friendship, and once it has been exposed, there is no turning back.

So when Izzy’s body is found, Bec knows that if the police decide to look for a killer, she will be the prime suspect. Because those closest to you are the ones who can hurt you the most . . .

Frienemy..... Someone who is both friend and enemy, a relationship that is both mutually beneficial or dependent while being competitive, fraught with risk and mistrust.

Friendships can be diverse, some are close and loyal,some can last for years and some can be short lived. You can believe that someone is your friend but in reality they are stabbing you in the back at every opportunity and then they are suddenly ghosting you. And then there are the toxic friendships like the one between the two characters in this captivating debut thriller.

Bec and Izzy have been best friends since primary school and have supported each other throughout the ups and downs of the roller coaster ride that is also known as life. But as the story unfolds the reader learns that their friendship is rather toxic and appears to mean more to one of the women than it does to the other. The women were complete opposites when it came to their backgrounds, lifestyles, personalities and social standings, they say that opposites attract but that definitely didn't appear to be the case with this relationship. They were each in a relationship, Bec was living with Ed whilst Izzy was married to Rich who was also very close friends with Bec,something that Izzy didn't like one tiny little bit. Izzy and Rich had a lovely three year old daughter called Tilly although I think that Izzy viewed her as more of a fashion statement that a daughter. Tilly was such a sweet little girl and I felt so sorry for her during the chapters that were set on Christmas Day. I can't honestly say that I thought either of the woman were very likeable for various reasons although Bec did have a few redeemable qualities, I liked her caring nature when she was interacting with her dog Missy and little Tilly and I loved the interactions between Bec and her brother Rob. I thought was Rich was a really nice character and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why he put up with Izzy but as they say, appearances can be deceptive. Was he really the lovely person that he appeared to be or was he hiding his true nature behind a mask? Did he push his beautiful wife down the stairs? Had Bec finally had enough of her so called best friend? Was Izzy's death a tragic accident or a case of cold blooded murder?

Mostly domestic drama with elements of a mystery/thriller this is a addictive,well written debut that opens with a prologue that hooks the reader in and draws you into the story. It's a compelling study into the complexities of the relationships between the realistic characters,a tale of revenge,deception, jealousy,betrayal and manipulation that keeps the reader guessing and glued to your kindle. It's perfectly paced and when the truth is revealed it is a genuinely unexpected surprise.I really enjoyed this gripping thriller and look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.

AUTHOR BIO

Hi, I'm Polly Phillips. My Best Friend's Murder is my debut novel and it's a twisty suspenseful psychological thriller inspired by a toxic friendship in my own life. Don't worry, no friends were harmed during the making of the book but some of my older friends might recognise themselves (and scenes from our schooldays in the novel). Hopefully they won't blush too much!

I'd always dreamed of being a full time writer but somehow life got in the way, until I left London and had my daughter. Then I had a sort of 'do or die' moment. I started writing while looking after her and working part time as a freelance journalist and living in Copenhagen. Since then, I've lived in London, Dubai and Perth, where I am currently. I'm toying with swapping the mean streets of South London for the beachy suburbs of Western Australia in my third book. I'd love to know what you think.

When I'm not writing, I enjoy running and cycling, and spend far too much time trying to convince our disobedient dog to love and obey me (some of her antics also find their way among their pages!). I also have a husband and daughter, both of whom tolerate playing second fiddle to my furry first love...

My next novel, The Reunion, is due for publication in 2022.