3 stars

This book took a while for me to get into, but I am glad I stuck with it and I look forward to reading more. The main character has such a hard time of it and you can't help but root for her - although she will absolutely enrage you with her self-sabotaging! I kind of hated all of the characters, other than the dog!

An interesting mystery that keeps you guessing, but this was actually a lot sadder than I was expecting with the themes of the impact of grief and betrayal, and the importance of the people around you. However, the humour that was scattered throughout certainly helped soften this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Almost a year ago, Beth's best friend, Charlotte was killed and she then found out that her husband was having an affair with another of her friends.

Is it any wonder that Beth chooses to hide away from the world and finds solace in alcohol?

Now it's the start of a new school term and Beth finds herself back at the school gates. If you have ever spent time collecting a child from school you will no doubt recognise a lot of the characters here.
When one of the mum's mentions something to Beth about Charlotte, it seems completely out of character to Beth and she begins to dig a little deeper.

The story is told over a duel timeline, with many of the memories being on the lead up to the death of Charlotte.

Some of Beth's inner monologue is quite witty and probably similar to things that we have all thought when faced with yet another PTA meeting but that's not to take away the fact that there are some fairly hard - hitting subjects exposed within this book

A laugh-out-loud funny and authentic cosy mystery centred around the school-gate. Single mum of three, Beth is struggling a year on, from the death of her best friend Charlotte and the betrayal of her ex-husband with another friend. But when Beth begins to suspect murder it sets her on a trail for answers. A rapid-fire read.

A fab mixture of comedy & death. School mum drama, partner leaving you for your bestie and a suspicious death which you know has more to it than meets the eye. I really enjoyed this one and recommended it to my best friend who loved it also 😀 kept me interested throughout and was a fun ride!

This was way funnier than I expected!! Love the main characters and all the shenanigans she went through. I didn't guess the plot twists and I'm usually pretty good!

A mix of domestic thriller, women's fiction that mixes well. There's humour but there's also a lot of sadness as Beth, the FMC, is an alcoholic.
It's a not a story full of likeable characters as there's a lot of hidden truths, secrets, and life that are not as perfect as they seem.
A possible murder, a woman who want to understand what happened to her best friend.
It was a bit depressing at time, other parts were very funny.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A fantastic novel which balances humour with darkness perfectly. I loved the evocation of mothers at the school gates and the drama of all that comes with it.
An unreliable narrator, a cast of characters that leap off the page and a mystery begging to be solved make 'The Dead Friend Project' a must-read.

Beth’s life is falling apart. Her husband has left her for her best friend, another close friend died, she feels like all the other school mums are judging her for swearing too much and her drinking has gotten out of control.
Over time Beth learns some things about her friend Charlotte’s death and believes there was foul play. Beth is sure the group of school mums has the information she needs so with a plan and some wine, she is determined to find out what happened.

💭 This book really did have the premise to be a fantastic read but I felt it fell flat in some places. There were a good number of times that I laughed out loud but it ended up not being the mystery I thought it would be (or could be) because Beth’s alcoholism overshadowed some of the narrative and it ended up being quite repetitive.
None of the characters were particularly likeable (except Ana and Harry) which is fine but even sober I would end up telling some of them to ‘shut the f**k up’ 🤣
The twists were good and I didn’t see all of them coming which added to the enjoyable of reading. I was eager to find out what happened to Charlotte. It just didn’t meet my expectations.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC. I look forward to reading her other book.

This was a gripping and emotionally complex novel that explores the boundaries between friendship, grief, and guilt. The story unfolds in a suspenseful way, keeping the reader hooked with its twists and the deep emotional connections between the characters. The author does an excellent job of balancing dark themes with moments of raw vulnerability, making it both a thrilling and heart-wrenching read. Though the pacing slows in some areas, the strong character development and the haunting atmosphere more than make up for it. A must-read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers with a poignant edge.

I love these kind of plots- without giving anything away; it’s a unique way of storytelling and I throughly enjoyed it!

A delightful read that blends cozy crime, character-driven drama, and humor seamlessly.

The mystery is cleverly crafted, and while the characters are quirky and eccentric, they remain very engaging. Though the plot may feel a bit repetitive as it nears the conclusion, the surprises and twists are both smart and unforeseen.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable and entertaining book.

This was an anticipated read for me and it didn't disappoint. I want to say a huge thanks to Viper Books, the author and Netgalley for allowing me access to this ARC.

I read it within a couple days and I have to say that Beth was a very strong character who wouldn't stop until she found out what happened to her friend.

At times it was a laugh out loud, dark, comical read but it worked. I really enjoyed it.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

“Everyone needs a project”
An entertaining read
Beth was such a great character, as an amateur sleuth trying to find out what happened to her best friend, Charlotte
Her life is a disaster, she is teetering on the brink and you empathise with her to a degree.
It’s a dark, laugh out loud addictive read
I loved the playground dynamics, the hierarchy and one upmanship
Thanks @jowallaceauthor @viper.books & @netaglley for the entertaining read

"The Dead Friend Project" by Joanna Wallace is a haunting and emotionally charged novel that explores the depths of grief, memory, and the complexities of friendship. Wallace's storytelling is both poignant and suspenseful, drawing readers into a world where the past refuses to stay buried. The novel centers on a protagonist who is grappling with the loss of a close friend, only to find that their connection might not be entirely severed. As the story unfolds, secrets from the past emerge, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural. With its rich character development and eerie atmosphere, "The Dead Friend Project" is a compelling read that keeps you hooked until the very end, perfect for those who enjoy a blend of psychological drama and ghostly intrigue.

A brilliant read, I thoroughly enjoyed it and read in a couple of days. Highly recommend. Well written and fast paced.

It took me a while to get around to reading this but once I started I couldn't out it down!

Joanna Wallace gives us a completely dysfunctional main character who you are never entirely sure if what they are thinking and saying is completely accurate. Despite this, she is strangely endearing and you really do begin to root for her even though everyone tries to tell her just get over he best friends death. You have to admire her tenacity!

I must admit, I wasn't entirely sure the direction the story was going to take and I was definitely taken in by a few red herrings that were skillfully dotted around. By the time I had reached the end I actually laughed at how wrong I had actually got it.

A really enjoyable book and I would definitely recommend.

If I could pick one author to explain what dark comedy is, I'd pick Ms Joanna Wallace. Is it a murder mystery? Is it a comedy? Is it an existential crisis about life and death? Is it contemporary womens fiction? Yes, and more. It's full of intrigue, excitement and bloody murder but also full of fun, joy and utter hilarious mishaps. Any book by Wallace has one thing guaranteed - it's gonna be fun.

Beth's life is falling apart- her husband has left her and their three young children for one of her best friends and the two of them are sickeningly in love- and its coming up to the anniversary of the death of her best friend Charlotte in a road accident. Beth is feeling pushed out at school too, all the super enthusiastic mums with their yoga mats and model eco-houses are winding her up and she isn't happy at all. She's also leaning on alcohol more than she should be when her children are with their dad, waking up with empty bottles around her but unable to address that as well as the rest of the nightmare of her life.

When Beth realises that something doesn't sit right about Charlotte's death, she becomes obsessed with trying to find out what she thinks might have happened. Its the only thing she can think about, and when she's alone with wine but without her children, she goes round and round in circles, determined to find a crack in the case that might show her the truth.

In the meantime, her children are pushing her away, preferring to be with their dad and his new partner. Luckily she has a new friend- Ana, who moved into Charlotte's house - who is happy to provide a listening ear and help Beth work through her theories about Charlotte's death.

I really enjoyed The Dead Friend Project, the dark humour neatly cuts through the tragedy of Beth's life- the school mums that she spends time with are hilarious characters who could all have their own books! - and it brings up a lot of issues that aren't always covered in women's fiction.

Looking forward to what Jo writes next!

I absolutely loved this book, which tells the story of Beth who can’t get over the death of her friend Charlotte a year ago. She turns to drink as she discovers one of her friends has been having an affair with her husband. Beth is a hilarious character and the ending of the book is just sublime!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily