Marrs knows how to write compelling premises that ask great what-ifs. However, I must confess, I am more a fan of his SFish books than the thrillers, and this firmly falls into the second category.

The main characters are three different women - neighbours who are barely polite to one another yet pretend to be friends. We know one of them will end up enroute to burning to death on a bonfire. But who will it be and why? Along the way we find out their secrets, why they keep them, and why some of them might even kill to ensure they stay that way.

It's a fast-paced read - Marrs knows what he's doing - but I didn't particularly like any of the characters. I went along for the ride, but I wouldn't climb back on (apologies for the mangled metaphor). I will however happily look out for his next book!

Margot, Liv and Anna live on the same street and quickly forge a pretence of friendship. Each holds a secret and soon cracks begin to appear. When one woman wakes up tied in the middle of a bonfire it becomes apparent that some secrets can be deadly.

I love a John Marr’s thriller as they are always dark, shocking and twisty. This is definitely no exception! Although this one starts a bit more slowly than his usual books, it soon picks up and I found myself hooked to the pages, especially when the craziness and twists start. The author did a great job building an intricate, clever plot that all comes together in a shocking way.

The story is told in the point of view of each of the main characters. Although some were hugely unlikeable, they were entertaining to read and each had their own unique voice, where you could easily distinguish them all. I will admit that I had a good few shock moments when the multiple twists arrive. Overall I had great fun reading this entertaining, wild, multilayered thriller and I would certainly recommend. 4.5 stars rounded down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I’ve read most of John Marss’s books, and this one is up there with my favorites. I loved the alternating time frames and it kept me guessing throughout the whole book.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Wow... John Marrs NEVER disappoints and You Killed Me First was no exception.

The first chapter of the book sets you up for utter intrigue and every chapter thereafter left me completely wanting more.

3 women, all 'close friends' but hiding JUICY secrets from each other... I'm sold!

*Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book before release*.

Thank you to John Marrs and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!!
This book will be released March 4, 2025. Be sure to grab a copy!!

At this point, I don't think John can execute a bad book. This one was another page-turner.
Three women. Soooo many secrets. So much deceit. Twisty, dark, and surprising!

John Marrs never fails to come up with mind-boggling stories. You Killed Me First is next in line.

We see the story through three women, Margot, Anna, and Liv. Every woman has a secret. But now one of those three is burning in a bonfire with no way of escape. Will they be able to escape? Or will some unsaid secrets tumble out?

I loved Margot. She is the queen of backhanded compliments - so crabby and petty. It is the level I wish to reach some day. Another thing I really liked about the book is that the voices of all the three protagonists are different and remain so until the end.

Of course, there should be some suspension of disbelief. But it's John Marrs so he can write the moon is blue and I would swallow it.

4 stars!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

I am a huge John Marrs fan, and have loved all of his previous books. I thought this one was good, but not great. The problems I had have to do with the length of the story. It was a little too long, and the beginning of the book was very confusing. I don't normally mind being a little confused, but there was too much to keep track of, and I found myself having to backtrack and re-read things. This may be why the book felt longer to me.
Towards the second half of the book, things did begin to come together and make sense. I thought the plot twists were great! John Marrs always has the most unique plot twists, and clever storylines. This story does move rather quickly. I enjoyed that the story was told from multiple POV's. It kept me engaged.
Overall, this was a good read. I didn't feel the need to DNF, as I was invested in the story and characters, and wanted to know the outcome. Even with it's flaws. I would recommend this book and rate it closer to a 3.5.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

This book literally had my jaw on the floor multiple times, I LOVED the cattiness of this!
Definitely recommend!

Great!! Love john marrs and this does not disappoint. Loved this from start to end. A great read overall.

What an absolute banger! If I didn’t actually have to occasionally adult I would have finished it quicker. John Marrs has a way of producing characters that you love/hate and love to hate! Everyone has secrets and skeletons and you never know what they’re going to do next.

The story revolves around 3 women who are neighbours, all with delicious secrets they keep hidden while portraying the perfect life. Margot is the ex pop star who still acts like a B grade celebrity but lives a lifestyle further down the alphabet. Then there’s Anna, the quiet housewife who is often the punching bag for Margot’s sharp tongue. And then there’s the new girl on the block Liv, perfect Liv. A gorgeous husband, 2 perfect children, a house to die for and is just about to open up a new wellness retreat.

There’s bitchiness, there’s secrets, there’s conniving, there’s sex and of course there’s murder!

You won’t know what’s what until you read til the end.
John Marrs you’ve done it again. This might even be my new favourite!

Thankyou to NetGalley for providing me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book will be released 4th March 2025

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer, NetGalley, and John Marrs for the copy of You Killed Me First.

This was yet another great read by John Marrs. I have come to enjoy his work and while different from his typical books, I still enjoyed this one. And those acknowledgements were really Chapter 39ing great!!

Another brilliant book written by one of my favourite authors John Marrs. This book had me hooked from the first page and I finished the book within two days- such an addictive book!

The story follows Margot and Anna, two neighbours who are polar opposites of each other. Margot is very vain and manipulative, married with two step children. Anna is very timid and in an unhappy relationship. A new neighbour joins the neighbourhood, Liv, has the perfect husband, the perfect kids, the perfect house and the perfect life. They become the most unlikeliest trio but everyone are harbouring a secret.

I loved all the little twists and turns and how it all came together at the end- I couldn’t guess the ending no matter how much I tried to work it out! Highly recommend this book!

Rating: 4.0/5

John Marrs consistently writes clever, entertaining novels and "You Killed Me First" is no exception. When proceedings open with a woman finding herself tied up inside a burning bonfire, you know that someone is going to find themselves confronted with a dark, sticky ending. What isn't clear at this stage is who that unfortunate victim is, nor who it is that put her in that predicament. The answers to these questions will become apparent later, but there is an engaging journey of discovery for the reader to take before we get to that point.

Following this intriguing opening, the narrative goes back in time and we are introduced to the three key central protagonists: Anna, Liv and Margot. The story is told from the alternating perspectives of these three ladies and John Marrs deserves credit for producing such well-defined characterisation. There is also a fourth perspective, written in italics, which provides a darker element to proceedings. These chapters seem out of kilter with the humorous "best of frenemies" relationship of the three women. It takes a little time to figure out precisely how this fourth element relates to the overall plot - although it is clear that it must. For the sake of avoiding any potential spoilers I will say no more on the subject.

Although it has some dark themes, the overall impression of "You Killed Me First" is simply that it is great fun. There are twists aplenty, some of which you may see coming, others that you are less likely to foresee. On a slightly critical note, I would have to remark that some of the developments stretch credulity and are certainly at the convenient end of the plotting scale. The author also comes perilously close to pulling a rabbit out of the hat at one point (always a cardinal sin in my book), but just about stays on the legitimate side of the line. Fluently written and a fun way to spend a few hours - just what you have come to expect from John Marrs, really.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

It’s always an exciting time when John Marrs has a new book out, and we’re especially spoilt when he has a psychological thriller AND a speculative fiction out in one year. And since I’ve been kindly gifted this book by John, this makes my third new read this year. 2024 really was the best!

From the very start, this book had me hooked. With a fire at the beginning, somebody about to die (but who?), somebody getting payback (but who?), with the threat that “You killed me first” (but how?). So many questions, so much to unravel!

As with all of Marrs’ books, the characters are brilliantly written and fleshed out, the story is clever and twisty, and the tension is certainly hot, hot, hot!

The only reason I haven’t rated this the ultimate 5-stars is because there’s nothing worse than rich bitchy women, and we have three of them here, so it’s only due to a personal preference! But I just couldn’t believe that these three women wanted to be in the same room as each other. And while I liked their conflicts and how these played into the story, I just felt it wasn’t believable and sometimes a little coincidental. So that’s just me being picky!

But the more unbelievable twist, I believed and loved! There are a number of chapters weaved in between the three women’s perspectives which add another side to the story. They were really confusing for a while, but I loved questioning what the hell was going on! It was definitely a lot of fun!

Overall, you can’t go wrong with a John Marrs thriller. He is top-tier, and this is definitely one to look forward to!!

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

“You Killed Me First” by John Marrs is another twisty-turny psychological thriller from his brilliant mind!

This novel switches POV between Liv, Margo, and Anna — three women, all hiding something from one another. Every time you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t.

This was so good! I will say, I think it lost me a couple times but it came together nicely in the end (as long as you keep your mind open!)

Catch this new release on March 4, 2025! Big thanks to @netgalley and #thomasandmercer for this ARC! #netgalley #youkilledmefirst #johnmarrs

This is the 500th book I have reviewed on Netgalley and what a book to reach that milestone with.

Marrs is one of those authors who conceives of ideas beyond many authors and generally pulls them off. From the blurb, and the opening chapter here, the reader is drawn in to the story of Margot, Anna and newcomer Liv. Margot, former disgraced pop star, and Anna, nice but meek, welcome Liv into their beautiful housing estate.

We know from the opening chapter that a major event takes place on Bonfire night, where one of the women is trapped by another in the middle of the bonfire, almost certainly facing a gruesome death....but who is the victim...and who is the perpetrator?

Marrs then takes us back a year and moves forward to the present day, drawing out each woman's secrets and lies setting up the big reveal.

I won't say much more for fear of spoilers but the twists never stop coming and the ending is perfect!.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A woman wakes up in the centre of a lit bonfire on 5th November, how did this happen?

Three women all living in the same cul de sac are brought together, call it fate, karma or a devious plan. All of them carry dangerous secrets and put on a show to the outside world. Who will make it out alive and just what secrets do they all strive to hide behind well practicised personas?

I loved this book, full of delightful twist and turns. I really didnt see the end coming. All of the main characters are deeply flawed and i found myself shocked at who i was drawn to most.

In typical Marrs fashion the book is well written and paced. The characters although awful at times are all well written and truly believable.

5 stars must read!

Wow! I did not see that coming. John Marrs does it again with this thrilling page turner. Leaving you on edge wondering what will happen next.

Had me hooked from the first page and the short chapters however I got confused with all the different characters and timelines. This won’t stop me from reading more books by the same author though!

I love this author! Love all the twists an turns and I never guess the ending.
I love the writing style and character depth and development. Only criticism is it ended too soon!