The Dead Friend Project delves into the intricacies of friendship, loss, and grief. This novel is far from indifferent.

Beth has faced numerous hardships - being abandoned by her husband for someone else, being a single mother to three children, and being responsible for both her household and her dog. Since the tragic accident that took her friend Charlotte's life, Beth has felt inadequate among her peers and constantly finds herself in disagreements with herself and others. Life seems to be on a downward spiral. Without Charlotte's positive support, Beth is struggling with her emotions, consumed by grief and anger.

However, everything changes when Beth discovers that Charlotte unintentionally left her toddler home alone during that fatal incident. Beth questions the supposed accident as the responsible and caring Charlotte she knew would never commit such negligence. With newfound determination and a glass of wine in hand, Beth embarks on a mission to uncover the truth behind her best friend's death. And what better place to start than with the circle of talkative school moms, who surely can't be as perfect as they portray themselves to be? But who among them is hiding something? Beth is determined to find out.

The narrative is subtly melancholic and poignant, providing a heartfelt exploration of the profound impact that loss has on one's life.

The atmosphere of the book is both solemn and hopeful, as Beth grapples with her grief and seeks purpose in her journey. The author masterfully captures the essence of loneliness and the struggle to accept the absence of a loved one.

The characters in the novel are well-developed, with Beth as the central figure. Her journey is not only physical but also emotional and psychological, as she navigates through the depths of loss and rediscovers herself. Supporting characters like Emily, Beth's nemesis, add layers of complexity and depth to the story.

While reading the book, the undercurrent of gossip and chatter can be felt, creating an unsettling ambiance. All these elements contribute to a genuine and authentic atmosphere.

Joanna Wallace's writing style is subtle and introspective, allowing readers to fully immerse themselves in the narrative. The author adeptly balances the weightiness of the subject matter with moments of humor and lightness, resulting in a captivating and transparent read.

The overarching theme of the book delves into the human condition and how we cope with loss and grief, even if it means causing harm to ourselves and others in the process.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viper Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off so promising, with a crime and a friend playing amateur detective to solve it. However, getting further into the book I found that the characters were going round in circles, and Beth, the narrator, was insufferable.

However, I did get through the book and was satisfied to find out what had happened, so I have settled on 3*

One of the best books i have read for a long while! A dark and at times tear jerker which also had me laughing out loud. Work that one out? I really thought i had it all worked out until the very end. This would make a great film, i loved every minute of it and i can see me reading it again at some point.
Am off to find some more from this author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

this book started off great, it was just the right amount of “cosy” that i like in a cosy crime. very quickly after, however, i felt like this book just began to go round and round in circles, in the sense that it was the same characters, doing the same things, behaving the same way each time, which got quite tiresome after a few chapters of this. the ending 10% felt quite disjointed, but even though i saw one twist coming, i did not see any of the subsequent ones!!

than you to netgalley and serpent’s tail / viper / profile books for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

A weird cozy mystery that I bizarrely couldn’t put down… I just had to keep reading! What more is there to ask!

This was a little more “cosy” than I’m used to and at times I wondered how on earth anything was going to get done.

I like the plot and the trope of friend investigating the death but this was sometimes treated like an afterthought. Confusing.

The Dead Friend Project by Joanna Wallace is a riotous read and an unexpected delight! I took to the synopsis right away and the thing I really liked about this book, is that you cannot put it in just one genre. Is it a mystery? A cosy? Womens fiction or Chick-lit maybe? It's all of these and more, it is well-rounded, runs at a great pace and is an absolute screamer of a mystery. To cap it all, it is witty and fun while still being honest and vulnerable to the circumstances.

Beth is having a bit of a rough time of things to put it mildly. She lost her Best friend recently, her husband has b*ggered off with another one of her friends, the school run is a nightmare because she just doesn't meet the standards of the other mums and now her son has managed to play daredevil and have an accident on the first day of the new term

However, on top of all of this, Beth has a niggle at the back of her mind in respect of the circumstances of her Bestie Charlottes death, they just do not add up. Charlotte would never leave her baby home alone while she went for a jog, was it really an accident that caused her to be hit by a car. What really happened and where to begin? The mums. The hive of gossipping mums that's where

Joanna Wallace creates an outstanding mystery with just the right amount of humour and drama and every shade of relatability you can imagine. Brilliant!

Thank you very much to Netgalley, Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books, Viper and the author Joanna Wallace for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a fast paced and engaging read. Although the 'dead friend project' felt more like a side plot than the focus of the book, the story was enjoyable and there were some excellent twists.

A totally frenetic story that tore up my Monday and I couldn’t decide if I liked it or loathed it but weirdly I couldn’t put it down.
It couldn’t decide if it was a mystery, whodunnit or chick lit, but I think that was the point.
Thank you Net Galley & Joanna Wallace for an advanced copy.