My best friend's murder by Polly Phillips

Bec and Izzy have been best friends since school - a friendship that has seen them through good times and bad.  When Bec's mother died Izzy stuck by her, when all the other kids at school avoided and shunned her because they didn't know how to deal with the death of a parent.  Through thick and thin they have been together, and it seems like nothing is going to change that.  Bec has seen Izzy marry Rich and have their beautiful daughter Tilly, and now she is engaged to Ed and looking forward to starting a family of their own.  It's only natural that Izzy and Rich through an engagement party for Bec and Ed, but it seems as though the good deed is not going to go unpunished.

Bec's brother Rob isn't shy about challenging her relationship with Izzy, he's never been shy about saying the relationship is toxic - but Bec has never seen it before, until now.  Suddenly little things pop up that make Bec question their relationship, is Izzy really her friend or their relationship something else?  When Izzy is discovered at the bottom of the stairs, inches from death, Bec can barely believe it when the Police swoop in to search for a killer.  What really happened to cause Izzy to fall, and what part did Bec play in what happened?

My best friend's murder is a psychological thriller that is challenging to review because I don't want to risk revealing clues or spoilers about what happens.  The relationship between Bec and Izzy is a interesting one, and I would bet that most people have had a similar relationship at some point in their lives - a relationship where one of the friends plays second fiddle and seems to be a way to make the other person feel better about their life.  Izzy is, on the surface, the dominant friend - she is successful and seems to have the perfect life, and she's not afraid to show Bec how much Bec depends on her.  In contrast Bec is the grateful friend, who owes her sanity and success to her friend - or does she?  

My best friend's murder is well written and I was compelled to read it in one sitting to keep pace with the story.  As you read their story you uncover layers of their friendship and history that make you question what you know about Bec and Izzy - their friendship, their present lives, and their motivations and secrets.  There are some interesting twists and turns through this character driven story, and I am not going to spoil them for you.  A fantastic find, and hopefully Phillips will be continue to write similar books as well written psychological thrillers are hard to come by.

If you like this book then try:

• The vanishing season by Joanna Schaffhausen
• The nowhere child by Christian White
• Good me bad me by Ali Land
• Crimson Lake by Candice Fox
• Vodka doesn't freeze by Leah Giarratano
• The coast to coast murders by James Patterson and J.D.Barker
• Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
• The tattoo thief by Alison Belsham
• Sticks and stones by Katherine Firkin
• The liar's daughter by Claire Allan
• Safe by S.K. Barnett

Reviewed by Brilla