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I think the best quote I’ve ever heard about best friends was in an interview where someone talked about hers.
What she basically said was that she has one particular best friend, and she knows they’re close because if she ever called and said, I don’t know what to do – someone is dead, her best friend’s response would be, Where are we burying him?
And honestly, I feel like that’s iconic and criminal, of course.
Now, in the books in this particular post, some of these friends commit a murder together.
Sometimes they’re determined to hide the secret, other times it comes out and while they’re scrambling, more stuff keeps happening.
In some cases, they’re simply trying to stay alive.
But the bottom line is that they’re all so good.
I love a good thriller that revolves around a group of friends, and that’s exactly what I’ve written about here.
I promise I’ve read every book in this post, and they’re all so good, so interesting, and absolutely worth the hours you’ll spend reading.
Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight
Old friendships are full of memories and sometimes secrets that should have stayed buried.
This story brings together six college friends for a weekend reunion in the Catskills, years after a tragedy changed them forever.
One of them, Keith, is barely holding it together and this weekend might be his last shot at saving his life. But he’s not the only one in trouble.
When a car is found in the woods, one friend is missing and another is dead.
Enter Detective Julia, who’s carrying her own pain, but she’s sharp enough to know when a group of friends is hiding something dark.
I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I needed to know who was lying, who was hurting, and what really happened that night.
The Vacation by T.M. Logan
This one had me feeling so uneasy – in the best way.
A dream vacation in sunny France turns into a chilling guessing game when Kate realizes her husband might be cheating with one of her best friends.
I was totally hooked as Kate tries to figure out who she can trust while keeping her cool around their families.
But it’s not just a love triangle – soon, it’s clear someone’s hiding way more than just a secret crush.
There’s danger in the air, and it’s not just the heatwave.
A juicy thriller full of twists, betrayals, and that creeping feeling when you realize not everyone smiling at you is a real friend, you absolutely need to check out this book.
Shiver by Allie Reynolds
I loved the snowy, closed-in setting of this one – it made everything feel ten times more tense.
A group of old snowboarding buddies reunite in the same icy resort where one of them disappeared years ago.
Milla, the main character, is drawn in by old feelings and past regrets, but things quickly turn strange.
Trapped in the mountains with no way out, they’re forced to play twisted games and that’s when secrets from their past start melting into the present.
It’s a story about ambition, friendship, and the dangerous things we hide to win.
The frozen setting gave me chills, and the mystery kept my heart pounding.
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
This one was such a treat – a thriller with sass, smarts, and four incredible women I absolutely rooted for.
These ladies are in their sixties and were once top assassins.
Now retired (sort of), they’re sent on what seems like a vacation but turns out to be a setup – apparently, someone wants them dead.
But they’re not going quietly.
I loved how their friendship and fierce loyalty pulled them through.
It’s exciting, funny, and surprisingly touching.
Seeing older women take charge, kick butt, and solve their own mystery? Yes, please.
A total page-turner that made me cheer them on the whole way.
The Invitation by Rachel Abbott
Old friends, a beautiful seaside house, and a terrible memory – This book had me hooked from the start.
A year after attending a tragic wedding, Jemma and her husband are invited back to the same home by their friend Lucas.
But this time, Lucas has a plan and it’s not just a simple memorial.
He wants the truth to come out. What really happened that night?
Jemma thinks she knows, but secrets have a way of showing up when you least expect them.
I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next, and I was always wrong (which I loved).
This is a haunting, twisty story about what we remember and what we try to forget.
My Summer Darlings by May Cobb
Oh boy, this one was so, so juicy.
Three longtime friends are doing their best to survive suburbia with gossip, wine, and plenty of girl talk.
Then a gorgeous, mysterious man named Will moves into their neighborhood, and suddenly things aren’t so boring anymore.
But Will isn’t just handsome – he’s dangerous.
Each of the women becomes obsessed with him in her own way, and their tight bond starts to unravel.
It’s one of those stories where you know things are going to get messy, but you can’t look away.
I couldn’t help but feel for all three women, even as they made some very questionable choices. So addictive.
The Secret Place by Tana French
A boy was murdered at a girls’ boarding school a year ago, and the case went cold until a note shows up on a secret bulletin board saying someone knows who did it.
Detective Stephen jumps at the chance to solve the mystery, but nothing’s easy when it comes to teenage friendships.
The girls at the school are intense, clever, and very good at hiding things.
The mystery is slow and thoughtful, but also rich and deep.
I found myself totally wrapped up in the drama, the secrets, and the unspoken rules of girlhood.
The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
I love a story where a fancy holiday turns into a murder scene, and this one nailed it.
A group of old college friends reunite at a snowy lodge in Scotland to ring in the New Year.
At first, it’s champagne and laughter, but beneath the surface, there are grudges, jealousy, and secrets just waiting to boil over.
When one of them ends up dead, the question isn’t just who did it? – it’s who didn’t have a reason?
The atmosphere was so cold and eerie, I almost felt like I was there, stuck in the snow with them.
This book was like a grown-up game of Clue, and I loved every twisty moment.
All the Dark Places by Terri Parlato
Imagine throwing a sweet birthday party for your husband and waking up the next morning to find him murdered.
That’s what happens to Molly, and the shock is only the beginning.
As the detective starts digging, it becomes clear that this wasn’t a random crime.
Someone in their close group of friends might be responsible.
I was totally gripped by Molly’s journey – her grief, her confusion, and her slow realization that maybe her husband wasn’t as perfect as she thought.
It’s sad, suspenseful, and seriously addictive.
If you love stories where everyone’s a suspect, this is for you.
How I’ll Kill You by Ren DeStefano
Sissy and her two sisters are not your average girls – they’re triplets who seduce men, make them fall in love, and then kill them.
I know, it sounds dark (and it is!), but the twist is that Sissy has never actually done the killing.
Now it’s her turn, but there’s a problem: she falls in love.
I felt so many things for Sissy – fear, sympathy, even hope – as she tries to break away from her terrifying family while protecting the man she was meant to kill.
It’s creepy, emotional, and surprisingly tender. A dark love story with sharp teeth.
Have you read any fantastic thriller books with a group of friends that you think we’ll enjoy? Let me know in the comments below.
And if you have a ride-or-die, send them this post so you both can pick a book to read together. I promise that you’re going to love it.
