Keep Your Friends Close

A most-anticipated book in Reader’s Digest, New York Post, Woman’s World, Paste, Brit + Co. and more. 

“Keep Your Friends Close by Leah Konen is a thriller that has an eerie vibe. If you love novels abounding in mystery and best friend drama plot lines, the author’s latest release is the exact fit for you . . . [A] domestic thriller where each chapter will have you hooked onto the next.” —New York Post

“[A] fun, quick read in the twisty vein of Girl on the Train or Gone Girl. It’s the perfect beach bag read if you have plans to take a sunny spring break in 2024.” —Reader’s Digest

“Friendships, divorces and a mystery . . . this novel has it all.” —Woman’s World

“Told from Mary and Willa’s alternate viewpoints, Keep Your Friends Close ultimately comes to a satisfying, though perhaps unexpected, conclusion. It’s a swift, entertaining read that isn’t afraid to examine white female complacency, and the “acceptable” ways in which women are allowed to rebel.” —Criminal Element

“A woman’s contentious divorce takes on murderous new stakes in Konen’s surprise-packed latest. . . . Konen provides a tantalizing IV drip of revelations about the women’s pasts until they come face-to-face with George’s killer. Even seasoned genre veterans won’t be able to predict where this supercharged spine-tingler ends up.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[A] twisty murder mystery, Keep Your Friends Close tackles everything from mom cliques to mom-friend ghosting, and one scene even directly evokes the Mean Girls cafeteria.” —Lit Hub
 
“After really enjoying Leah Konen’s unflinching examination of postpartum anxiety in last year’s You Should Have Told Me, I’m excited for her next work of domestic suspense which also dovetails with every new mom’s next hurdle: making mom friends.” —Paste Magazine

“A tense, fast-paced psychological thriller. . . Fans of twisty, soapy novels will enjoy this one.” –Red Carpet Crash

“Konen is the Patricia Highsmith of domestic suspense, and her fourth thriller might be the twistiest yet. . . . If you like curling up with a whip-smart, feminist thriller, this one’s for you.” —Scary Mommy, “Popular Authors’ Recommended Books”

“[A] fast-paced, plot-driven novel that manages to poke fun at millennial parenting and the culture of wealthy Brooklynites . . . A thrilling and unpredictable hunt for answers that pays off.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Unravels at breakneck speed, careening crazily to the dramatic ending . . . This twisty tale told by an unreliable narrator will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn, Shari Lapena, and Paula Hawkins.” —Library Journal

“Fans of domestic suspense will enjoy the ride.” —Booklist

“Prepare to meet your newest addiction with Leah Konen’s deliciously twisty latest, Keep Your Friends Close. A riveting, deliriously entertaining, and also chilling take on complicated female friendships, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Unbearably tense with masterful plotting, this juicy suspense will have you second-guessing who to trust with each chapter. It’s Highsmith meets Lucy Foley with Konen’s signature whip-smart voice and customary refreshing spin on domestic suspense.” —May Cobb, author of The Hunting Wives

“Gorgeously dark and twisted, Keep Your Friends Close is a slippery, Hitchcockian take on the impossibly heavy burden of the mental load. I ached for Mary as she fought for custody of her son, and questioned whether her friendship with Willa had ever been real. Leah Konen is at the top of her game.” —Danielle Valentine, author of Delicate Condition

“Packed with conniving characters, head-spinning twists, and female friendship at its most toxic, Keep Your Friends Close is a brilliantly constructed murder mystery. I didn’t want it to end!” —Andrea Bartz, author of We Were Never Here

“A twisty, addictive thriller from the foremost domestic suspense novelist of our time. Konen masterfully explores themes of friendship, marriage and family, exposing the fear and rage that can lurk beneath the idyllic surface. I couldn’t put it down.” —Julia Bartz, author of The Writing Retreat