Liz Lawson’s standalone young adult thriller, Murder Between Friends, weaves a captivating tale of three former best friends forced to confront their shared past when a murder conviction is overturned. With methodical pacing and a narrative that alternates between characters, Lawson has crafted a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final shocking revelation.
Fractured Friendships and a Town Divided
The sleepy town of Brawner, Virginia serves as the perfect backdrop for this tense narrative. Two years after English teacher Miriam Appelbaum’s murder, the conviction of Jake Hanson is vacated due to a scandal involving the presiding judge and prosecutor. This legal technicality sends ripples through the community, particularly affecting three former best friends: Grace Topham, Henry Hanson, and Ally Copeland.
Lawson expertly establishes the complex history between these characters from the opening chapters. Grace’s testimony helped convict Jake, Henry’s brother, creating an irreparable rift between her and her former friends. Now with Jake’s impending release, Grace begins to question what she actually witnessed that night, while Henry struggles with guilt over his own secrets regarding the case.
“This isn’t going to stop, is it, Al? Not unless Jake is proven innocent.” This line encapsulates the driving tension that propels the narrative forward as the three teens independently decide to reinvestigate Appelbaum’s murder before Jake’s retrial.
Multiple Perspectives Create a Rich Tapestry
One of Lawson’s strengths in Murder Between Friends is her command of multiple perspectives. The story alternates between Grace, Henry, and Ally’s viewpoints, with each character offering unique insights and emotional stakes. This narrative structure works particularly well for a mystery, as readers piece together information alongside the protagonists.
Grace’s internal struggle with her testimony and her complicated relationship with her seemingly perfect older sister Lara provides some of the novel’s most compelling moments. Meanwhile, Ally’s grief over her father’s death two years earlier adds emotional depth to her fierce determination to help Jake. Henry’s guilt over protecting a secret about the investigation creates a fascinating moral conflict at the heart of his character.
Lawson balances these perspectives skillfully, ensuring each protagonist has a distinct voice while maintaining the novel’s brisk pace.
The Investigation Unfolds with Methodical Tension
As the three former friends reluctantly join forces to reinvestigate Appelbaum’s murder, Lawson crafts a compelling investigation narrative. The teens methodically interview witnesses, research connections, and explore locations related to the case.
Particularly effective is Lawson’s portrayal of a high school drug ring operated by a seemingly upstanding English teacher, Mr. Berkeley, which creates an unexpected dimension to the mystery. The investigation leads to several well-executed reveals, including the discovery of duplicitous relationships that connect key characters in surprising ways.
By the final act, when the three teens break into Appelbaum’s abandoned house, the tension has built to a genuinely unsettling level, demonstrating Lawson’s ability to craft suspenseful set pieces.
A Shocking Final Twist
Without revealing too much, the novel’s climactic twist is genuinely surprising while remaining grounded in the narrative groundwork Lawson has carefully laid. The resolution challenges readers’ assumptions and raises compelling questions about family loyalty and manipulation.
The novel’s final revelations feel earned rather than contrived—the hallmark of effective mystery writing—and leave readers with a satisfying conclusion that ties together the various narrative threads.
Strengths: Character Development and Small-Town Dynamics
Lawson excels at portraying the complexities of small-town life, where everyone knows everyone and reputations can be destroyed overnight. The portrayal of how quickly the town turns against Jake and his family rings true, as does the arbitrary nature of high school social hierarchies.
The complex dynamics between the three protagonists are particularly well-realized. Their shared history feels authentic, as do their conflicted feelings toward one another. Henry and Grace’s unresolved romantic tension provides an emotional anchor amid the mystery, while Ally’s fierce loyalty to Henry creates compelling interpersonal conflict.
Character highlight: Ally Copeland
- Determined and stubborn journalist-in-training
- Still grieving her father’s unexpected death
- Loyal to a fault, especially to Henry
- Often abrasive but deeply vulnerable beneath her tough exterior
The teen characters feel believably flawed yet sympathetic—they make mistakes, harbor resentments, and sometimes act selfishly, but their motivations remain understandable throughout.
Areas for Improvement: Pacing and Adult Characters
While generally well-paced, the middle section occasionally lags, with some investigative developments feeling somewhat repetitive. A tighter focus might have heightened the tension throughout.
The adult characters in the novel, with few exceptions, tend to be less fully realized than the teen protagonists. Many serve primarily as obstacles or information sources rather than complex individuals with their own agency. The exception is Lara, Grace’s older sister, whose characterization becomes increasingly nuanced as the story progresses.
The romantic subplot between Grace and Henry, while sweet, sometimes feels underdeveloped compared to the mystery elements. Their rekindling relationship could have benefited from more exploration beyond a few key scenes.
Comparison to Lawson’s Previous Work
Readers familiar with Lawson’s debut, The Lucky Ones, will recognize her talent for examining the aftermath of tragedy and the complicated process of healing. While The Lucky Ones focused on the aftermath of a school shooting, Murder Between Friends explores similar themes of trauma, guilt, and community reaction to violence.
Fans of Lawson’s co-written series with Kathleen Glasgow, The Agathas and The Night in Question, will appreciate the mystery elements here, though Murder Between Friends takes a darker, more personal approach to its investigation plot.
Who Will Enjoy This Book?
Murder Between Friends will appeal to readers who enjoy:
- Character-driven YA mysteries with authentic teen voices
- Narratives that explore the complex aftermath of violence
- Stories about fractured friendships and the possibility of redemption
- Mysteries with genuine twists that challenge readers’ assumptions
- Small-town settings where secrets lurk beneath seemingly ordinary facades
Fans of authors like Karen M. McManus (Such Charming Liars), Holly Jackson (The Reappearance of Rachel Price), and Elle Cosimano (Finlay Donovan series) will find much to appreciate in Lawson’s latest thriller.
Final Verdict: A Compelling Mystery With Heart
Murder Between Friends offers more than just a satisfying whodunit—it presents a thoughtful exploration of how tragedy can fracture relationships and communities. The compelling mystery is enhanced by Lawson’s nuanced character work and authentic portrayal of teen perspectives.
While the novel’s middle section could have been tightened and some adult characters feel underdeveloped, the strengths far outweigh these minor issues. The emotional core of the story—the broken friendship between Grace, Henry, and Ally—provides a rich backdrop for the mystery elements.
Lawson delivers a genuinely surprising final twist that recontextualizes everything that came before it without feeling cheap or unearned. The resolution is both satisfying from a plot perspective and emotionally resonant.
Murder Between Friends confirms Lawson’s place as a skilled writer of teen-centered mysteries that don’t sacrifice emotional depth for plot twists. It’s a compelling read that will keep you guessing until the final shocking revelation.
Key Takeaways
- Standout elements: Multiple well-developed teen perspectives, authentic portrayal of fractured friendship, genuinely surprising twist ending
- Who will enjoy it: Fans of character-driven YA mysteries with authentic teen voices
- Similar works: Karen M. McManus’s Such Charming Liars, Holly Jackson’s The Reappearance of Rachel Price
- Reading experience: Engrossing mystery with emotional depth that keeps readers guessing until the final reveal
With its exploration of truth, loyalty, and the possibility of redemption, Murder Between Friends offers readers both a compelling mystery and an emotionally resonant story about the complicated nature of friendship in the wake of tragedy.
