Keep Your Friends Close

Starred review from March 11, 2024
A woman’s contentious divorce takes on murderous new stakes in Konen’s surprise-packed latest (after You Should Have Told Me). After Mary Haywood files for divorce from her wealthy, controlling husband, she moves with her two-year-old son from Brooklyn to Woodstock, N.Y., to be closer to her family. On her first day Upstate, she’s shocked to run into Willa, a friend from Brooklyn she hasn’t heard from in months—especially when Willa insists her name is Annie, and that she and Mary have never met. Meanwhile, Mary’s husband, George, arrives in Woodstock with his sights set on winning her back. Soon thereafter, Mary finds George murdered in his brother’s house, with “Die Rich Pig” painted on the wall above him. After notifying the police, Mary becomes the primary suspect in his murder. Soon thereafter, Willa drops the “Annie” facade and explains to Mary that she, too, has come to Woodstock to start over—in her case, after an affair gone wrong. The women reconcile, but the more Mary looks into the stories Willa tells her, the less trustworthy she seems. From there, Konen provides a tantalizing IV drip of revelations about the women’s pasts until they come face-to-face with George’s killer. Even seasoned genre veterans won’t be able to predict where this supercharged spine-tingler ends up. Agent: Elisabeth Weed, Book Group.

May 31, 2024

Mary lost both friends and family during her bitter divorce and custody battle, so when the beautiful, breezy Willa enters her life, she's like a breath of fresh air. Mary finally has someone to confide in and lean on; then, just as quickly as she entered her life, Willa disappears, taking all of Mary's secrets with her. Mary decides to start over in a new town, away from the connections and control of her affluent ex. She soon finds that she can't outrun her past, and when her ex ends up dead, she realizes that nothing--least of all Willa--was what it seemed. Konen (You Should Have Told Me) presents fast-paced, plot-driven psychological suspense. An intricate plot, unreliable narrators, and a nonlinear timeline intensify the tension and twists. Narrators Reba Buhr and Karissa Vacker have similar voices, making them difficult to distinguish between at some points in the dual narrative. Still, their expressive performances enhance the novel's atmospheric tone and yield an exhilarating listen. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking twisting psychological suspense about wealth and deception. Recommended for fans of Laura Dave, Mary Kubica, and Lisa Jewell.--Lauren Hackert

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.