Started off strong, fell super flat towards the end. Chapters alternate between one year ago to present time. Present time chapters were the killer for me im afraid. Not as compelling or thrilling as I had hoped for. Characters were a BLAST though. I really enjoyed their dynamic. .

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was well paced, entertaining and I couldn't put it down!

I loved the authors writing style.

Thank you to the publisher for this advanced reader copy.

😵 Everyone In The Group Chat Dies • L. M. Chilton 😵
★★★

Read if you enjoy:
😵 Millennial thrillers
😵 True crime tiktokers
😵 Small town mysteries
😵 I Know What You Did Last Summer
😵 Humour and suspense
😵 Dual timelines

Clare ‘Kirby’ Cornell escaped the small town of Crowhurst a year ago. But when a message from her and her old flatmates’ group chat pops up saying ‘everyone in this group chat dies’, Kirby realises she cannot outrun this. Especially since it was sent by Esme, who died a year ago.

This is a fun mixture of humour and suspense with a dual timeline presenting the reader with what happened a year ago, and what is happening in present day. This gives me suchhh I Know What You Did Last Summer. Except instead of a teenage slasher, it’s a group of whatsapping millennials that die for their kept secrets. Despite this sinister excitement, I found that I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, nor as much as I enjoyed the author’s other thriller. For me, I found that the MC has a resigned sense of inertia to her character that was frustrating to me. Her narrative tone was overtly negative and this made it hard to keep reading despite the injected humour. I did really enjoy the exploration of the toxic culture of amateur true crime investigating and by extension, social media.

Everyone in the Group Chat Dies, by L.M. Chilton is a modern, twisty, and quick-witted thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s fast-paced with plenty of dialogue, making it a breeze to get through. I was constantly guessing (and second-guessing) who the killer might be — and let's just say I did not get it right, but that’s part of the fun!

The characters were great, with hilarious group banter that added charm even amid the suspense. I also loved the inclusion of “Show Me,” a fictional app reminiscent of TikTok. It really captured the impact and risks of social media trends. The story had enough twists and clues to take it in multiple directions, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece it all together.

30 something Kirby is a journalist for a local newspaper and lives in a shared house with a group of single friends. When Esme a glamorous new housemate turns up she reveals that she is a successful true crime vlogger and introduces Kirby to the world of Show Me, a new social media platform like Tiktok. However, when Esme goes missing Kirby is drawn unto the investigation of a serial killer from thr 1990s...

This was a fun read that had lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing!

This book was really good fun! I liked the main character Kirby and enjoyed following her as she tried to solve the mystery of the 'Crowhurst Killer', both in the present and flashbacks to 12 months ago. I thought the setting of a rubbish flatshare in a rubbish town was brilliant, and the story was funny and interesting in equal measures.

All of the characters felt believable, and it was fun following the clues about what happened 30 years ago and what was happening now. Parts I guessed, parts I didn't, but the journey was really enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this one, I loved the fresh, new style of the way this is written.
This is a fast paced, interesting read, that is using the concept of newer apps to tell the story.
It’s entertaining & gripping whilst having a sense of humour about it,
I’m really looking forward to reading more like this in the future and more from this author.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Would highly recommend this one.

it. It was a kindle book which I read in bed and I kept sleeping late because I always wanted to keep reading.
It did give me YA vibes but I didn’t mind that.

I liked the dual time POV’s, getting to go back and ‘relive’ what happened, but also read the ‘now’ and see Kirby process and come to terms with everything.

I liked the different twists and turns, and how it worked out in the end, even though one of the twists was guessable.

I would recommend this book and also read more from this author.

First of all, a big thanks to Aria & Aries and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

2 stars

The most annoying part about this book was the newer language and apps mentioned. This might be solely my opinion but I just don't like it when they're talked about because it seems awkward, and one of the main characters was all centred around social media, which made it slightly cringey to read.
Other than that, I found the plot quite interesting though I feel like it didn't hit as hard because I predicted some of it, but that may just be because I am more of a true crime person. It dragged at moments, and I did feel like dnf-ing it, but when I passed the first half it picked up the pace.
This may be going against what I said before, but I just didn't like the main characters, I didn't feel like I could relate to them and also didn't like the way they had no character development or proper background.

With that said, I wouldn't recommend this book but some may try it and like it.
Thank you again :)

Thank you to Head of Zeus | Aries Fiction and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

I was pleasantly surprised and hooked by the plot and it's characters. The dynamics of the group felt so real and I found myself connecting with them , as the converations felt so natural.

I don't usually enjoy switching timelines but I found that it fit perfectly with the pace of the story and I couldn't wait to switch back to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together.

I was truly surprised by the ending and would recommend this to anyone who wants a fast paced, small town mystery with lots of twists and turns, that will keep you guessing until the very end

The writing is extremely modern, twisty and quick witted, I enjoyed the concept of ‘show me’ a fictional online/app similar to TikTok. I felt the book was in line with current trends, and the impact and dangers of having an online presence.
I’d recommend this if you’re after a good “who done it” read.

I really enjoyed L.M. Chilton's other books, so I was really excited to be able to read this. I was really glad to not be left disappointed. I hope Chilton's has more books to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this ARC.

Thirty years ago, Peter Doyle killed a handful of teenagers at the annual Crawe Fayre in Crowhurst, a small town in Surrey, then threw himself off the cliffs at Staker Point. It's what Crowhurst is still most famous notorious for - that and sausage rolls.

Twelve months ago, a girl called Esme joined the four flatmates Kirby, Dave, Dylan and Seema who were calling themselves The Deadbeats in their WhatsApp group, at their run-down flat in Crowhurst, with the intent of investigating the spree killer via a true crime video site called ShowMe ("Tik Tok is so last year").

In the present day, Kirby and the others seem to have left Crowhurst behind, but suddenly a strange message hits the old group chat. It's from Esme - but Esme died a year ago. Slowly Kirby, the journalist, begins to piece together not only what happened twelve months ago but also 30 years ago. Is Peter Doyle still alive and now coming for the former flatmates? Because someone is killing them off one by one.

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be the target audience for this. I couldn't connect to the young hip characters and their constant need for validation via followers. The humour seems forced and childish and is certainly not laugh-out-loud funny. Also, calling a 42" TV a mega beast felt needlessly melodramatic.

I found the dual timelines confusing and irritating, and the present day killings didn't make sense as there seemed no need for them. Even the explanation we got seemed unhinged. We got some heavy hinting throughout (Fitbit! Broken necklace! Noisy, vibrating printer press!) but none of it pointed to something really important.

I liked the twelve months ago narration but every time I got into it, the timeline changed to the less interesting present day timeline. The whole thing strongly reminded me of slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer so maybe read it if that is your thing.

When a message is received in a group chat from someone who died 12 months ago it would certainly cause a stir especially as the person who sent it died 12 months ago!

This is an easy read ‘who done it’ set it a quiet English town which only sees action once a year at the Annual Crowhurst Festival where 30 years ago a serial killer was on the rampage allegedly

The plot is good and it has lots of twists and turns and kept me thinking and guessing throughout. I have to admit I did guess some of the ending but not all of them.

I read this ARC via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This mystery thriller is a captivating read that kept me hooked from the very first page until the surprising conclusion. The narrative unfolds across two timelines – the present day and twelve months prior – effectively building suspense and driving Kirby's relentless pursuit of the truth behind her friend Esme's disappearance.
Kirby's determination to uncover the truth is the heart of the story. Her unwavering dedication fuels the plot, propelling her through a series of twists and turns. The friendship dynamics between the characters are well-developed and engaging, with witty banter adding a layer of realism and keeping the atmosphere lighthearted despite the underlying darkness of the mystery.
The mystery itself is cleverly constructed, with subtle clues woven throughout the narrative. Readers will need to pay close attention to these subtle hints to piece together the puzzle and anticipate the shocking revelations. The author masterfully maintains suspense, leaving readers guessing until the very end.
Highly recommended for
fans of mystery novels, this book is a captivating read with a well-crafted mystery that will leave a lasting impression.

Kirby Cornell, stuck in a dull life in Crowhurst, receives a chilling message in her old group chat from her dead ex-flatmate: “Everyone in the group chat will die.”
The book’s witty, engaging style and clever use of dual timelines and WhatsApp messages made it an entertaining and gripping read. It's packs plenty of humour and suspense and I loved how it touches on the dangers of social media. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a light yet gripping escape! Great cover too!

The story is set in the small town of Crowhurst, which saw the killing of five young people 30 years earlier. The murderer killed himself after being discovered...or did he? When Esme turns up at their flat, Kirby, Dave, Seema and Dylan are caught up in her social media investigation - she believes the accused is still alive.

An interesting dual timeline story, with small amounts of information given each time the narrative changes period. A quick entertaining read, with some amusing sections, and some interesting characters. It makes you think about social media and its influence - and makes you realise you never really know people!

I loved Kirby - although sometimes she was a bit much - and all the twists and the mistery. The story felt a bit like "I knew what you did last summer", and I loved that kind of movies when I was a teen, it was a great way to remember that time. .
I'm going to keep reading L.M. Chilton books for sure.

L.M. Chilton’s Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a fast-paced, twisty tale that hooks you with its unique premise: a dead friend texting from beyond the grave, threatening doom on a group of former flatmates harboring dark secrets. Set in the sleepy (and slightly sinister) town of Crowhurst, the story is laced with sardonic humor, witty observations, and an ominous undercurrent of dread.

The book is likely to resonate most with younger readers who thrive on the rhythm of social media and meme culture. Chilton leans into the quirks of modern communication—group chats, digital sleuthing, and the unspoken rules of online interactions—to craft a story that feels very "of the moment."

The dual-timeline structure adds layers to the narrative, peeling back the mystery of what the group “did” while tying it to the haunting reappearance of Esme. However, while the plot has plenty of intrigue and humor, I found it hard to connect with the characters. They’re sharp and snarky, but their emotional depth often feels secondary to the banter and twists.

Maybe I’m just outside the target audience, but the characters’ decisions sometimes felt frustrating or unrelatable. The humor, while enjoyable, couldn’t entirely compensate for the lack of emotional weight or development that might have made the reveals more impactful.

That said, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a quick and entertaining read for fans of dark comedy, suspense, and tech-infused storytelling. It won’t stay with you long after the last page, but it’s an enjoyable enough ride while it lasts.

Much like the author's previous book, this is a fun, funny, easy read. There is obviously a murder and 'whodunnit' element but it's fun and lighthearted (presuming you can say that about murder) and almost secondary to the character based antics. I love the chatty tone of the book, written from main character Kirby’s POV which alternates between now and then. The dynamics between the characters (or flatmates) adds to this feeling, with their relatable humour and banter. I also enjoyed the nostalgic references to things like video shops and claw machines. Definitely recommend if you like comedic murder mysteries.