The Best of Friends by Lucinda Berry

☆☆☆☆
ebook, 222 pages
Expected publication: August 18th 2020 by Thomas & Mercer
About the Book:
Best friends Lindsey, Kendra, and Dani endure every parent’s nightmare when a tragic accident befalls their teenage boys, leaving one dead, another in a coma, and a third too traumatized to speak. Reeling from the worst night of their lives, the three mothers plunge into a desperate investigation of the bizarre incident. How could something so horrible happen in their wealthy Southern California suburb? They soon discover that the accident was just the beginning, and troubling discoveries lead to chilling questions: Do they really know their children? Do they even know each other? As more secrets surface, a fog of doubt and suspicion threatens to poison their families, their friendships, and the whole community. With the illusion of happiness and safety long gone, these women must now confront the hazards of heartbreak, the consequences of jealousy, and the dangers of living double lives.

This story was so crushing, I can't imagine being any one of the parents in this book. This is a fairly short read, with short chapters, and I loved that about it and I was hooked from page one. Lucinda Berry's writing is crisp and the story is compelling. I started reading this after dinner and was done before bed. The characters are relatable and the plot twists keep you guessing.

What a hidden gem. A friend I trust referred me to this book and I’m so glad she did, it was exactly what I needed to escape the quarantine blues. The suspense keeps building and there are so many twists and turns, and Ms. Berry has crafted complex and fascinating characters here.

The Best of Friends has everything you want from a domestic, psychological thriller: complicated and believable protagonists; interesting and slightly macho high-school sports stars; a fantastic cast of surrounding characters you’re instantly drawn to but weary of; a story-line which keeps you turning pages and a series of twists which I didn’t see coming.

And finally, my very favorite thing about the book is that while on the surface this is a super compelling domestic and psychological thriller, the author also deals with some serious societal issues in a very sensitive way.

Thank you NetGalley, Lucinda Berry and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

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