What's murder between friends by Meg Gatland-Veness

Meg Gatland-Veness author of I had such friends and When only one, has written a gripping combination of a murder mystery and the life of drama students preparing a school musical that will keep readers glued to the page, wanting to finish the book as quickly as possible. Hallie and her friends, all keen Drama students, are on a high school scavenger hunt when they find the body of their teacher, Ms Lovelace. They thought that they were the only ones in the school grounds but they discover that Adam Tolentino, the school’s football star was also there. Hallie is tasked with finding out what he was doing at school. Could he be the murderer? The group is determined to find out. In the meantime, the show must go on and in between investigations, are rehearsals for the school production.

Told in the voice of Hallie, the reader gets to know the members of the group very well as they plan their investigation and prepare for the show. Hallie believes she is the best in the class, with Dorothy managing to hold it together after her sister’s suicide, and Penny defying her parents with her emo appearance. Dimitri is bright but doesn’t work hard and Walter has been Hallie’s best friend for years.

Gatland-Veness brings her background as a teacher to give an authentic feel to the teen characters and the angst of budding romances. I enjoyed reading about the ins and outs of producing a school musical. The suspense was built up gradually with many twists and turns as Walter starts to believe a member of the group is the killer. And the twist at the end will have readers going back to check if they have read the last paragraph properly!

Fans of murder mysteries like Eleanor Jones is not a murder by Amy Doak and books by Karen McManus are sure to enjoy What's Murder Between Friends.

Themes: Murder, Drama, School productions, Friendship.

Pat Pledger