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Making Friends Can Be Murder
Thirty-year-old Sarah Jones gets caught up solving a murder in her new neighborhood after unknowingly befriending a dangerous con artist (who’s nothing like what she seems) in this playful, twisty mystery from acclaimed author Kathleen West.
It feels like kismet when Sarah Jones, newly relocated to Minneapolis after abruptly calling off her engagement, gets invited to join a group of women who share her same very common name. For years Sarah has received all types of correspondence intended for different Sarah Joneses, but now it seems that this mistake has given her the opportunity for an instant community.
What starts as a low-stakes meet-up called “The Sarah Jones Project” soon turns sinister when another local Sarah Jones is found dead, under suspicious circumstances, at the base of the downtown Minneapolis bridge. After fielding numerous calls from concerned loved ones ruling out their Sarah as the victim, the surviving Sarahs decide to take matters into their own hands. Aided by the dead woman’s nanny, a newly commissioned (and very handsome and eligible) FBI agent, and a cloistered nun with a complicated past, the motley crew of unlikely friends are determined to get to the bottom of the murder of one of their own.
Between a budding romance and best friendship, Sarah feels like she’s in the right place at the right time, right up until the facts of the murder case begin stacking up too close to home. Can their team piece together where the deceptions lead before the killer silences someone else?
It feels like kismet when Sarah Jones, newly relocated to Minneapolis after abruptly calling off her engagement, gets invited to join a group of women who share her same very common name. For years Sarah has received all types of correspondence intended for different Sarah Joneses, but now it seems that this mistake has given her the opportunity for an instant community.
What starts as a low-stakes meet-up called “The Sarah Jones Project” soon turns sinister when another local Sarah Jones is found dead, under suspicious circumstances, at the base of the downtown Minneapolis bridge. After fielding numerous calls from concerned loved ones ruling out their Sarah as the victim, the surviving Sarahs decide to take matters into their own hands. Aided by the dead woman’s nanny, a newly commissioned (and very handsome and eligible) FBI agent, and a cloistered nun with a complicated past, the motley crew of unlikely friends are determined to get to the bottom of the murder of one of their own.
Between a budding romance and best friendship, Sarah feels like she’s in the right place at the right time, right up until the facts of the murder case begin stacking up too close to home. Can their team piece together where the deceptions lead before the killer silences someone else?
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2025
108 people are currently reading
15875 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
June 10, 2025
Well, this was fun!
As ADORABLE as its book cover this COZY mystery has something for everyone! A cold case from the past, a murder mystery in the present, and a possible romance-all wrapped up in a unique and entertaining premise! 💝
“The Sarah Jones Project” was born after 17 year old Sarah Jones gets in trouble at her all girls school, Sacred Heart, for some negative social media posts on Instagram. To keep her record clean, Sister Mary Theresa agrees to let her make amends by allowing her to create a “social media project” that would have a positive impact. As a “whimsical social experiment” she asks for other women who share her same “common name” to join her group.
Sarah Jones, age 30, has newly relocated to Minneapolis after ending her engagement, and dropping out of medical school. It turns out that fainting whenever you see blood is not a good sign for future success in the medical field. For years Sarah has been confused with other “Sarah Joneses” but now her common name has given her the opportunity for an instant community of new friends.
Rounding out the group are two teachers, Sarah Jones age 39 and Sarah Jones, age 44, retired attorney and “Murder She Wrote” blogger “Sarah Jones age 69, and Sarah Jones age 27 who is a nanny to another Sarah Jones, their shared name helping her to get hired for the job.
The women agree to identify themselves by their ages, to simplify things-which isn’t as difficult to follow as it sounds and they end up garnering quite the Social Media following after they “yarn bomb” an Iconic Cottonwood tree in the Crosby Farm Regional Park and a reporter from the local newspaper is sent to cover the story.
Their Notoriety grows even more when the nanny’s employer, chairman of the Federal Reserve “Sarah Jones” is found dead at the base of the downtown Minneapolis bridge under suspicious circumstances.
What’s a girl named “ Sarah Jones” to do?
Well, investigate of course-enlisting all of the new friends who share your same name, to be fellow amateur detectives!
The story unfolds through mostly through the POV of Sarah Jones (30) and uses a mixed media format of the Video Transcript of Sarah Jones (17), group chat text messages, and transcripts of both Police and FBI interviews which worked really well, keeping the pace fast-so don’t let the 432 page length scare you.
This DELIGHTFUL story was filled with HUMOR and SURPRISES, making it a book I looked forward to picking up whenever I could.
A buddy read with MarilynW-was she charmed by it as well? Be sure to watch for her review!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
As ADORABLE as its book cover this COZY mystery has something for everyone! A cold case from the past, a murder mystery in the present, and a possible romance-all wrapped up in a unique and entertaining premise! 💝
“The Sarah Jones Project” was born after 17 year old Sarah Jones gets in trouble at her all girls school, Sacred Heart, for some negative social media posts on Instagram. To keep her record clean, Sister Mary Theresa agrees to let her make amends by allowing her to create a “social media project” that would have a positive impact. As a “whimsical social experiment” she asks for other women who share her same “common name” to join her group.
Sarah Jones, age 30, has newly relocated to Minneapolis after ending her engagement, and dropping out of medical school. It turns out that fainting whenever you see blood is not a good sign for future success in the medical field. For years Sarah has been confused with other “Sarah Joneses” but now her common name has given her the opportunity for an instant community of new friends.
Rounding out the group are two teachers, Sarah Jones age 39 and Sarah Jones, age 44, retired attorney and “Murder She Wrote” blogger “Sarah Jones age 69, and Sarah Jones age 27 who is a nanny to another Sarah Jones, their shared name helping her to get hired for the job.
The women agree to identify themselves by their ages, to simplify things-which isn’t as difficult to follow as it sounds and they end up garnering quite the Social Media following after they “yarn bomb” an Iconic Cottonwood tree in the Crosby Farm Regional Park and a reporter from the local newspaper is sent to cover the story.
Their Notoriety grows even more when the nanny’s employer, chairman of the Federal Reserve “Sarah Jones” is found dead at the base of the downtown Minneapolis bridge under suspicious circumstances.
What’s a girl named “ Sarah Jones” to do?
Well, investigate of course-enlisting all of the new friends who share your same name, to be fellow amateur detectives!
The story unfolds through mostly through the POV of Sarah Jones (30) and uses a mixed media format of the Video Transcript of Sarah Jones (17), group chat text messages, and transcripts of both Police and FBI interviews which worked really well, keeping the pace fast-so don’t let the 432 page length scare you.
This DELIGHTFUL story was filled with HUMOR and SURPRISES, making it a book I looked forward to picking up whenever I could.
A buddy read with MarilynW-was she charmed by it as well? Be sure to watch for her review!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
December 27, 2025
I’m not sure what happened to my review.
This was a fun book to read!
This was a fun book to read!
February 17, 2025
I had a great time reading Making Friends Can Be Murder by Kathleen West! The premise—a group of women, all named Sarah Jones, getting tangled up in a murder case—was fresh and fun, and the mystery kept me hooked. Sarah, the main character, is new to town and just looking for community, but she ends up in the middle of a fraud case, an FBI investigation, and a decades-old cold case with ties to a summer camp. There’s a great mix of humor, suspense, and quirky characters (a nun with a mysterious past? Yes, please!). It’s entertaining, light, and twisty—perfect for a weekend read.
Fans of character-driven mysteries, light thrillers with humor, and stories about small-town secrets will enjoy this one. Releases June 10.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Fans of character-driven mysteries, light thrillers with humor, and stories about small-town secrets will enjoy this one. Releases June 10.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 10, 2025
June 10, 2025 Update:
Happy publishing date! This unique and cozy mystery featuring a group of women who share the same name (Sarah Jones) is out now!
May 31, 2025 Review:
3.5/5
Connecting with a group of people who share the same name as you is cute and fun until one of them is found dead and the other is a primary suspect...
This story follows a group of women who all share the same common name - Sarah Jones. It was a bit confusing at first but all you need to know is that most of them go by their age. The key characters are also as follows:
• Thirty - the main character and a fitness trainer/runner who recently moved to Minneapolis
• Twenty-Seven - a nanny whose employer is also called Sarah Jones (aka Fed Sarah). She's also Thirty's best friend.
• Seventeen - the founder of The Sarah Jones Project (TSJP) that connected all the SJs together.
• Sixty-Nine - the oldest Sarah in the group, and possibly the nosiest?
• Dead/Fed Sarah - Twenty-Seven's employer and chairman of the Federal Reserve who was found dead. Foul play is suspected.
• George Nightingale - a newly minted FBI agent working on the fraud squad who befriends Thirty but has his own side agenda as to why he joined the agency and why he chose to approach Thirty.
• Sister Mary Theresa - a Catholic nun who directed the Upper School at Seventeen's Sacred Heart Academy who mandated that Seventeen use social media for positive means as part of a rehabilitative disciplinary proceeding. This sparked the creation of TSJP. She's also a pretty cool nun and very memorable side character.
There are a few other Sarah Jones but they're not as important to the story so you can ignore them. Focusing on the Sarahs noted above makes it easier to follow the story.
The story is primarily told in third person alternating between Thirty and George's POVs, with occasional video transcripts from Seventeen, text threads amongst the TSJP, interview transcripts from ongoing investigations, and Twenty-Seven's occasional POV.
To add to the confusion of all the different Sarahs, there's a fraud case, a murder mystery, and a 20-year unsolved missing persons case that is also weaved into the story. There's a lot going on and it all comes together and is resolved nicely in the end but it can be confusing and hard to keep track of all the moving parts at times... I suppose that's what made this story fun to read!
Overall, the premise was unique and although the mystery was unsurprising, it was cozy, charming, and enjoyable.
**I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
Happy publishing date! This unique and cozy mystery featuring a group of women who share the same name (Sarah Jones) is out now!
May 31, 2025 Review:
3.5/5
Connecting with a group of people who share the same name as you is cute and fun until one of them is found dead and the other is a primary suspect...
This story follows a group of women who all share the same common name - Sarah Jones. It was a bit confusing at first but all you need to know is that most of them go by their age. The key characters are also as follows:
• Thirty - the main character and a fitness trainer/runner who recently moved to Minneapolis
• Twenty-Seven - a nanny whose employer is also called Sarah Jones (aka Fed Sarah). She's also Thirty's best friend.
• Seventeen - the founder of The Sarah Jones Project (TSJP) that connected all the SJs together.
• Sixty-Nine - the oldest Sarah in the group, and possibly the nosiest?
• Dead/Fed Sarah - Twenty-Seven's employer and chairman of the Federal Reserve who was found dead. Foul play is suspected.
• George Nightingale - a newly minted FBI agent working on the fraud squad who befriends Thirty but has his own side agenda as to why he joined the agency and why he chose to approach Thirty.
• Sister Mary Theresa - a Catholic nun who directed the Upper School at Seventeen's Sacred Heart Academy who mandated that Seventeen use social media for positive means as part of a rehabilitative disciplinary proceeding. This sparked the creation of TSJP. She's also a pretty cool nun and very memorable side character.
There are a few other Sarah Jones but they're not as important to the story so you can ignore them. Focusing on the Sarahs noted above makes it easier to follow the story.
The story is primarily told in third person alternating between Thirty and George's POVs, with occasional video transcripts from Seventeen, text threads amongst the TSJP, interview transcripts from ongoing investigations, and Twenty-Seven's occasional POV.
To add to the confusion of all the different Sarahs, there's a fraud case, a murder mystery, and a 20-year unsolved missing persons case that is also weaved into the story. There's a lot going on and it all comes together and is resolved nicely in the end but it can be confusing and hard to keep track of all the moving parts at times... I suppose that's what made this story fun to read!
Overall, the premise was unique and although the mystery was unsurprising, it was cozy, charming, and enjoyable.
**I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
Want to read
February 11, 2025Hate the cover but I’ll bite this sounds interesting
July 10, 2025
I'm pretty sure this is a "it's me, I'm the problem" scenario, but also omg this book drove me nuts. The main Sarah in this book was annoyingly naive and trusting, and constantly made the dumbest decisions. "Oh boohoo I've been dumped and now I'm such a little sad sack that I'm going to latch onto the first person that tries to be my friend and not believe THE MULTIPLE PEOPLE--including the FBI--telling me that something is weird about my BFF because it's not possible that she's a murderer/fraud even though I'm sitting on over $800k in a trust fund and she's asking me for weird favors." GIRL GET A GRIP.
May 24, 2025
Seventeen-year-old Sarah Jones conceives of The Sarah Jones Project as a way of redeeming herself at her Catholic High School after some episodes of cyberbullying. She recruits five other Sarah Jones of various ages from 69 to her own 17. They get together, get to know each other, and plan an event which gives them newspaper recognition.
Among the Sarah Jones are a pair of elementary school teachers who teach next door to each other, a new transplant to Minneapolis, and a nanny who is working for still another Sarah Jones who isn't part of the group.
The transplant, 30 to distinguish her from the others, and 27 who is the nanny become best friends. But all is not well. 27 is a con woman who is in town to con money from her boss and 30 to pay to drug dealers who are threatening her young brother.
But things go fatally wrong when Fed Sarah, 27's boss, falls from a Minneapolis bridge and dies. It's murder. And 27 is somehow involved.
Then there is new FBI Special Agent George Nightingale who has requested assignment in Minneapolis and is put on the fraud squad. His assignment is to get close to 30 in order to find evidence to convict 27 of fraud. He doesn't expect to fall for 30. Nor does he expect to find himself in a murder investigation.
George has a reason to leave his family business - a summer camp in Northern Minnesota - and join the FBI. When he was in fifth grade, his best friend Henry disappeared with George being the last to see him alive. The case remains unsolved, and George is determined to finally solve it. Coincidentally, 30's mother who died when 30 was eleven was a counselor at the camp for three summers.
This was an engaging story filled with interesting characters. I liked the way the story was told. There were multiple viewpoints with 17's being the one that provides the framework detailing how a social project goes from a yarn-bombing to solving a murder.
Among the Sarah Jones are a pair of elementary school teachers who teach next door to each other, a new transplant to Minneapolis, and a nanny who is working for still another Sarah Jones who isn't part of the group.
The transplant, 30 to distinguish her from the others, and 27 who is the nanny become best friends. But all is not well. 27 is a con woman who is in town to con money from her boss and 30 to pay to drug dealers who are threatening her young brother.
But things go fatally wrong when Fed Sarah, 27's boss, falls from a Minneapolis bridge and dies. It's murder. And 27 is somehow involved.
Then there is new FBI Special Agent George Nightingale who has requested assignment in Minneapolis and is put on the fraud squad. His assignment is to get close to 30 in order to find evidence to convict 27 of fraud. He doesn't expect to fall for 30. Nor does he expect to find himself in a murder investigation.
George has a reason to leave his family business - a summer camp in Northern Minnesota - and join the FBI. When he was in fifth grade, his best friend Henry disappeared with George being the last to see him alive. The case remains unsolved, and George is determined to finally solve it. Coincidentally, 30's mother who died when 30 was eleven was a counselor at the camp for three summers.
This was an engaging story filled with interesting characters. I liked the way the story was told. There were multiple viewpoints with 17's being the one that provides the framework detailing how a social project goes from a yarn-bombing to solving a murder.
Read
May 25, 2025Sarah Jones is new to town, but pleased to find likeminded friends rather quickly. In fact, it’s more than meeting new women to relate to. These women all have something not so special in common that, in turn, brings them together in a special way-they are all named Sarah Jones.
The Sarah Joneses begin to meet up as “The Sarah Jones Project”, finding their unique way of connecting oddly comforting. In an effort to differentiate amongst the Sarahs in their own group, they begin to refer to each other with different qualifiers like their ages. They also know that with a name so common, they’ve merely scratched the so-called Sarah surface.
Then the unthinkable happens and a Sarah Jones is found dead. Only this Sarah Jones is not one of THE Sarahs. But still, the women who came together in name alone can’t help but be drawn to the case. So the living Sarahs, along with a cast of side characters, set out to solve the murder of the outlying Sarah, for all Sarah Joneses sake.
Making Friends Can Be Murder has a super unique premise in creating a world of women who come together for a fun reason. However, as a reader this premise quickly proves to be a challenge, trying to keep all the Sarahs straight. It’s a pitch that sounds good in theory, but is harder to make stick in execution.
But if keeping all the Sarahs in line isn’t hard enough, West folds in even more confusion, adding extra characters with their own motivations and missions. As a result, this book turns into the long winded embodiment of a tongue twister, throwing the reader for a literal, literary loop. My head spinning, I applaud West’s concept, but have to say it made Making Friends Can Be Murder a true killjoy.
The Sarah Joneses begin to meet up as “The Sarah Jones Project”, finding their unique way of connecting oddly comforting. In an effort to differentiate amongst the Sarahs in their own group, they begin to refer to each other with different qualifiers like their ages. They also know that with a name so common, they’ve merely scratched the so-called Sarah surface.
Then the unthinkable happens and a Sarah Jones is found dead. Only this Sarah Jones is not one of THE Sarahs. But still, the women who came together in name alone can’t help but be drawn to the case. So the living Sarahs, along with a cast of side characters, set out to solve the murder of the outlying Sarah, for all Sarah Joneses sake.
Making Friends Can Be Murder has a super unique premise in creating a world of women who come together for a fun reason. However, as a reader this premise quickly proves to be a challenge, trying to keep all the Sarahs straight. It’s a pitch that sounds good in theory, but is harder to make stick in execution.
But if keeping all the Sarahs in line isn’t hard enough, West folds in even more confusion, adding extra characters with their own motivations and missions. As a result, this book turns into the long winded embodiment of a tongue twister, throwing the reader for a literal, literary loop. My head spinning, I applaud West’s concept, but have to say it made Making Friends Can Be Murder a true killjoy.
September 25, 2025
4,5 echt heel erg genoten vooral
July 14, 2025
An interesting mix of cozy and complicated, it really does lie somewhere in between, with a publicized murder on one end for the amateurs to dive into and a devastating cold case on the other end still haunting several characters. Add in a budding romance with a messy trajectory, a wide mix of women (and teen) named Sarah, and a nun. What results is a delightfully complex but character driven and entertaining mystery novel. Definitely recommend giving it a try.
* I received a free copy from the publisher
* I received a free copy from the publisher
May 4, 2025
Unfortunately, Making Friends Can Be Murder ended up being a DNF (Did Not Finish) for me. I gave it several tries over an extended period, but I struggled to stay engaged with the story. Despite my efforts, it just didn’t hold my attention.
One of the challenges I faced was the frequent repetition of information. At times, it felt like the same points were being rephrased and restated in quick succession, which disrupted the flow for me.
Additionally, although I knew going in that there would be multiple characters with the same name, I found it difficult to distinguish between them, which made it harder to stay connected to the narrative
That said, I appreciate the effort that goes into writing a novel, and while this one didn’t work for me personally, I’m sure it may appeal to readers who enjoy a different narrative style or structure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.
One of the challenges I faced was the frequent repetition of information. At times, it felt like the same points were being rephrased and restated in quick succession, which disrupted the flow for me.
Additionally, although I knew going in that there would be multiple characters with the same name, I found it difficult to distinguish between them, which made it harder to stay connected to the narrative
That said, I appreciate the effort that goes into writing a novel, and while this one didn’t work for me personally, I’m sure it may appeal to readers who enjoy a different narrative style or structure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 23, 2025
couldnt decide between 3 and 4 stars on this one. really loved that it took place in mpls & being able to picture many of the mentioned locations. none of the twists took me by huge surprise, but still enjoyed reading this one — cozy mystery def feels like the correct description.
April 2, 2025
I loved meeting all the Sarah Joneses. I thought the concept of this book was unique. It was a quick easy cozy mystery with some romance thrown in.
February 2, 2026
Dit boek echt verslonden!! Heel geinig 🪪
July 14, 2025
More like a 3.5 rating, for me. It was a fun premise -- multiple characters all known as Sarah Jones -- and the Sarah's were certainly an interesting lot of women, all unique and easily identifiable after just a few chapters, despite the fact they all had the same name. The male lead was too precious to be entirely believable, but this is fiction, after all. There were numerous story threads weaving throughout this novel, adding complexity, but I never got lost, and they were all satisfactorily resolved by the ending. It was clever, it was entertaining, it was fun. I could recommend it to friends without hesitation.
June 30, 2025
This was a treat! Sweet, poignant, and funny - but still murder-y. This book is everything you could ask for from a cozy mystery, and more!
June 21, 2025
In an era where genuine human connection feels increasingly elusive, Kathleen West's latest offering, "Making Friends Can Be Murder," explores the desperate lengths people will go to belong—and the devastating consequences when trust is weaponized. This cozy mystery with thriller undertones marks West's bold venture into the mystery genre, delivering a story that's equal parts heartwarming and harrowing.
The Premise: Identity, Coincidence, and Community
Sarah Jones arrives in Minneapolis nursing a broken engagement and seeking a fresh start. When a teenage Sarah Jones reaches out through social media to form "The Sarah Jones Project"—a whimsical group for women sharing this frustratingly common name—it seems like kismet. The concept is both endearing and absurd: what are the odds that multiple Sarah Joneses would find each other in the same city, united by little more than a shared moniker and the universal human need for connection?
West's genius lies in taking this seemingly innocent premise and gradually peeling back its layers to reveal something much darker underneath. The group includes a retired grandmother (Sixty-Nine), a spirited Catholic school student (Seventeen), a personal trainer from Vermont (Thirty), and a graduate student who serves as nanny to two wealthy teens (Twenty-Seven). The numerical nicknames based on their ages add a playful element that masks the sinister undercurrents building beneath the surface.
Character Development: Authentic Voices Across Generations
Sarah Elizabeth Jones: The Heart of the Story
West's protagonist emerges as refreshingly authentic—a woman grappling with genuine uncertainty about her life's direction. Having fled Vermont after calling off her engagement to childhood sweetheart Brian, Sarah embodies the modern woman's struggle to define herself outside traditional expectations. Her work as a personal trainer provides more than just a paycheck; it offers structure and purpose in a life that feels temporarily unmoored.
What makes Sarah compelling is her ordinariness. She's neither exceptionally brilliant nor tragically flawed—just human enough to make poor decisions while maintaining our sympathy. Her attraction to FBI agent George Nightingale develops naturally, though the deception underlying their relationship creates genuine tension that propels the narrative forward.
The Ensemble: A Tapestry of Motivations
West demonstrates remarkable skill in crafting distinct voices across generations. Seventeen (the teenage Sarah) crackles with authentic adolescent energy—impulsive, occasionally cruel, but ultimately seeking validation and belonging. Her social media mishap that leads to the creation of TSJP feels genuinely modern, as does her complicated relationship with technology and identity.
Sister Mary Theresa emerges as perhaps the most intriguing character, a cloistered nun with a law enforcement background who becomes the group's unlikely detective. Her presence adds both gravitas and unexpected humor, particularly in her interactions with the tech-savvy teenager.
Sixty-Nine, the retired grandmother, provides warmth and wisdom while avoiding the trap of becoming a stereotypical elder mentor. Her enthusiasm for yarn-bombing and community engagement feels authentic rather than forced.
The Mystery: Layers of Deception
Gabriella Johnson: The Con Artist We Almost Root For
The revelation that Twenty-Seven is actually Gabriella Johnson—a professional con artist with a tragic backstory—transforms the entire narrative. West avoids the temptation to make Gabriella a cartoonish villain. Instead, she's a woman driven by desperation to save her brother Oscar, whose addiction has made him vulnerable to dangerous creditors.
Gabriella's methods are calculating yet motivated by love. She infiltrates Sarah Jones's life as the Federal Reserve chair's nanny, slowly gaining access to the family's wealth and trust. The yellow diamond necklace becomes both McGuffin and symbol—representing the generational wealth that Gabriella lacks and desperately needs.
The Murder: Federal Reserve Chair Sarah Jones
The death of Sarah Jones, Federal Reserve chair and mother to Ruby and Lula, serves as the story's central mystery. West handles the investigation with surprising sophistication, weaving together FBI procedures, family dynamics, and personal vendettas. The revelation that the victim had her own dark secrets—including the suspicious death of her mother—adds moral complexity to what could have been a straightforward victim narrative.
The bridge confrontation between Gabriella and the Federal Reserve chair crackles with tension. Both women are backed into corners: Gabriella faces her brother's potential murder by creditors, while Sarah Jones confronts the exposure of her matricide. The physical fight that ensues feels visceral and desperate rather than choreographed.
Romance Subplot: Love Built on Lies
George Nightingale's relationship with Sarah Elizabeth creates the novel's emotional core while serving the plot's investigative needs. As a junior FBI agent tasked with developing Sarah as an informant to catch Gabriella, George faces an impossible ethical dilemma. His genuine feelings for Sarah clash with his professional obligations, creating tension that West handles with surprising nuance.
The romance avoids many genre pitfalls by acknowledging the problematic foundation of their relationship. Sarah's eventual discovery of George's deception feels earned rather than melodramatic, and her struggle to forgive him resonates with anyone who's questioned whether love can survive fundamental betrayal.
Genre Balance: Cozy Meets Thriller
West's transition from contemporary fiction to mystery proves largely successful, though not without some growing pains. The cozy mystery elements—quirky characters, community setting, amateur detection—sit comfortably alongside more serious thriller components like FBI investigations and violent crime.
The yarn-bombing subplot exemplifies this balance perfectly. What begins as whimsical community art transforms into a metaphor for how appearances can deceive and how public acts can mask private desperation.
Strengths That Elevate the Narrative
Authentic Dialogue and Modern Sensibilities
West's background in contemporary fiction serves her well in crafting believable dialogue across age groups. The text messages and social media interactions feel authentic rather than forced, and the generational differences in communication styles add depth to character development.
The exploration of social media's role in both connection and deception feels particularly timely. Seventeen's initial cyberbullying incident that sparks TSJP's creation, Gabriella's carefully curated online presence, and the group's use of technology for detection all reflect our complicated relationship with digital identity.
Moral Complexity
West avoids easy answers about guilt and redemption. Gabriella's crimes stem from love and desperation rather than greed. The Federal Reserve chair's death, while tragic, involves a woman who committed matricide. Even sympathetic characters like Sarah Elizabeth make questionable decisions driven by loneliness and the desire to belong.
This moral ambiguity elevates the story beyond simple good-versus-evil dynamics, forcing readers to grapple with questions about justice, forgiveness, and the prices we pay for love.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Inconsistencies
The novel's middle section occasionally loses momentum as West balances multiple plotlines and character perspectives. While the ensemble approach allows for rich character development, it sometimes dilutes narrative tension at crucial moments.
The FBI investigation, while generally well-researched, occasionally feels procedurally heavy in ways that slow the emotional momentum. Some technical details about con artistry and federal law enforcement, while interesting, don't always serve the story's central themes about friendship and belonging.
Resolution and Redemption
The ending, while satisfying on plot levels, feels somewhat rushed in addressing the emotional consequences of Gabriella's actions. Her five-year sentence for manslaughter and fraud seems appropriate legally, but the novel could have spent more time exploring how the surviving characters process their betrayal and loss.
George and Sarah's potential reconciliation, hinted at in the epilogue, might benefit from more explicit examination of how they rebuild trust after such fundamental deception.
Final Verdict: A Promising New Direction
"Making Friends Can Be Murder" succeeds as both an entertaining mystery and a thoughtful exploration of human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. While West's genre transition isn't flawless, her strengths—authentic character development, sharp dialogue, and emotional depth—translate beautifully to mystery fiction.
The novel works best when it focuses on the characters' emotional journeys rather than procedural details. West's ability to find humor and warmth even in dark circumstances prevents the story from becoming overwhelmingly bleak, while her refusal to offer easy absolution gives the narrative genuine weight.
The Premise: Identity, Coincidence, and Community
Sarah Jones arrives in Minneapolis nursing a broken engagement and seeking a fresh start. When a teenage Sarah Jones reaches out through social media to form "The Sarah Jones Project"—a whimsical group for women sharing this frustratingly common name—it seems like kismet. The concept is both endearing and absurd: what are the odds that multiple Sarah Joneses would find each other in the same city, united by little more than a shared moniker and the universal human need for connection?
West's genius lies in taking this seemingly innocent premise and gradually peeling back its layers to reveal something much darker underneath. The group includes a retired grandmother (Sixty-Nine), a spirited Catholic school student (Seventeen), a personal trainer from Vermont (Thirty), and a graduate student who serves as nanny to two wealthy teens (Twenty-Seven). The numerical nicknames based on their ages add a playful element that masks the sinister undercurrents building beneath the surface.
Character Development: Authentic Voices Across Generations
Sarah Elizabeth Jones: The Heart of the Story
West's protagonist emerges as refreshingly authentic—a woman grappling with genuine uncertainty about her life's direction. Having fled Vermont after calling off her engagement to childhood sweetheart Brian, Sarah embodies the modern woman's struggle to define herself outside traditional expectations. Her work as a personal trainer provides more than just a paycheck; it offers structure and purpose in a life that feels temporarily unmoored.
What makes Sarah compelling is her ordinariness. She's neither exceptionally brilliant nor tragically flawed—just human enough to make poor decisions while maintaining our sympathy. Her attraction to FBI agent George Nightingale develops naturally, though the deception underlying their relationship creates genuine tension that propels the narrative forward.
The Ensemble: A Tapestry of Motivations
West demonstrates remarkable skill in crafting distinct voices across generations. Seventeen (the teenage Sarah) crackles with authentic adolescent energy—impulsive, occasionally cruel, but ultimately seeking validation and belonging. Her social media mishap that leads to the creation of TSJP feels genuinely modern, as does her complicated relationship with technology and identity.
Sister Mary Theresa emerges as perhaps the most intriguing character, a cloistered nun with a law enforcement background who becomes the group's unlikely detective. Her presence adds both gravitas and unexpected humor, particularly in her interactions with the tech-savvy teenager.
Sixty-Nine, the retired grandmother, provides warmth and wisdom while avoiding the trap of becoming a stereotypical elder mentor. Her enthusiasm for yarn-bombing and community engagement feels authentic rather than forced.
The Mystery: Layers of Deception
Gabriella Johnson: The Con Artist We Almost Root For
The revelation that Twenty-Seven is actually Gabriella Johnson—a professional con artist with a tragic backstory—transforms the entire narrative. West avoids the temptation to make Gabriella a cartoonish villain. Instead, she's a woman driven by desperation to save her brother Oscar, whose addiction has made him vulnerable to dangerous creditors.
Gabriella's methods are calculating yet motivated by love. She infiltrates Sarah Jones's life as the Federal Reserve chair's nanny, slowly gaining access to the family's wealth and trust. The yellow diamond necklace becomes both McGuffin and symbol—representing the generational wealth that Gabriella lacks and desperately needs.
The Murder: Federal Reserve Chair Sarah Jones
The death of Sarah Jones, Federal Reserve chair and mother to Ruby and Lula, serves as the story's central mystery. West handles the investigation with surprising sophistication, weaving together FBI procedures, family dynamics, and personal vendettas. The revelation that the victim had her own dark secrets—including the suspicious death of her mother—adds moral complexity to what could have been a straightforward victim narrative.
The bridge confrontation between Gabriella and the Federal Reserve chair crackles with tension. Both women are backed into corners: Gabriella faces her brother's potential murder by creditors, while Sarah Jones confronts the exposure of her matricide. The physical fight that ensues feels visceral and desperate rather than choreographed.
Romance Subplot: Love Built on Lies
George Nightingale's relationship with Sarah Elizabeth creates the novel's emotional core while serving the plot's investigative needs. As a junior FBI agent tasked with developing Sarah as an informant to catch Gabriella, George faces an impossible ethical dilemma. His genuine feelings for Sarah clash with his professional obligations, creating tension that West handles with surprising nuance.
The romance avoids many genre pitfalls by acknowledging the problematic foundation of their relationship. Sarah's eventual discovery of George's deception feels earned rather than melodramatic, and her struggle to forgive him resonates with anyone who's questioned whether love can survive fundamental betrayal.
Genre Balance: Cozy Meets Thriller
West's transition from contemporary fiction to mystery proves largely successful, though not without some growing pains. The cozy mystery elements—quirky characters, community setting, amateur detection—sit comfortably alongside more serious thriller components like FBI investigations and violent crime.
The yarn-bombing subplot exemplifies this balance perfectly. What begins as whimsical community art transforms into a metaphor for how appearances can deceive and how public acts can mask private desperation.
Strengths That Elevate the Narrative
Authentic Dialogue and Modern Sensibilities
West's background in contemporary fiction serves her well in crafting believable dialogue across age groups. The text messages and social media interactions feel authentic rather than forced, and the generational differences in communication styles add depth to character development.
The exploration of social media's role in both connection and deception feels particularly timely. Seventeen's initial cyberbullying incident that sparks TSJP's creation, Gabriella's carefully curated online presence, and the group's use of technology for detection all reflect our complicated relationship with digital identity.
Moral Complexity
West avoids easy answers about guilt and redemption. Gabriella's crimes stem from love and desperation rather than greed. The Federal Reserve chair's death, while tragic, involves a woman who committed matricide. Even sympathetic characters like Sarah Elizabeth make questionable decisions driven by loneliness and the desire to belong.
This moral ambiguity elevates the story beyond simple good-versus-evil dynamics, forcing readers to grapple with questions about justice, forgiveness, and the prices we pay for love.
Areas for Improvement
Pacing Inconsistencies
The novel's middle section occasionally loses momentum as West balances multiple plotlines and character perspectives. While the ensemble approach allows for rich character development, it sometimes dilutes narrative tension at crucial moments.
The FBI investigation, while generally well-researched, occasionally feels procedurally heavy in ways that slow the emotional momentum. Some technical details about con artistry and federal law enforcement, while interesting, don't always serve the story's central themes about friendship and belonging.
Resolution and Redemption
The ending, while satisfying on plot levels, feels somewhat rushed in addressing the emotional consequences of Gabriella's actions. Her five-year sentence for manslaughter and fraud seems appropriate legally, but the novel could have spent more time exploring how the surviving characters process their betrayal and loss.
George and Sarah's potential reconciliation, hinted at in the epilogue, might benefit from more explicit examination of how they rebuild trust after such fundamental deception.
Final Verdict: A Promising New Direction
"Making Friends Can Be Murder" succeeds as both an entertaining mystery and a thoughtful exploration of human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. While West's genre transition isn't flawless, her strengths—authentic character development, sharp dialogue, and emotional depth—translate beautifully to mystery fiction.
The novel works best when it focuses on the characters' emotional journeys rather than procedural details. West's ability to find humor and warmth even in dark circumstances prevents the story from becoming overwhelmingly bleak, while her refusal to offer easy absolution gives the narrative genuine weight.
August 10, 2025
OH this was fun!! 🤩 Thank you @berkleypub #berkleypartner for the free book!! 🥰I jumped back and forth between the audiobook and the physical and both were great. Although I found the audio to be highly entertaining. 😉
Sooo how many Sarah Jones does it take to solve a mystery?? ALOT!! This group of newly formed friends are ALL named Sarah Jones. 😳 Right?? WTF? 😬 😂🤷♀️ The Sarah Jones Project was an attempt to bring together people on so social media. All with a common name.. you guessed it.. Sarah Jones… 😂
I was listening and thinking how fun but seriously cray this was… and then I had an OHH moment. 😮🤔😳 When I suddenly realized that this whole situation was more than it seemed.
What did I love?
✅ The witty one liners
✅ How this was way more than I expected
✅ Murder 😳
✅ The nun Sarah Jones screaming- Get in the car loser 😂
✅ Fun, entertaining, crazy. Oh and they all go by their age because… there just was too many Sarah Jones to keep track of. 😬😉
Sooo how many Sarah Jones does it take to solve a mystery?? ALOT!! This group of newly formed friends are ALL named Sarah Jones. 😳 Right?? WTF? 😬 😂🤷♀️ The Sarah Jones Project was an attempt to bring together people on so social media. All with a common name.. you guessed it.. Sarah Jones… 😂
I was listening and thinking how fun but seriously cray this was… and then I had an OHH moment. 😮🤔😳 When I suddenly realized that this whole situation was more than it seemed.
What did I love?
✅ The witty one liners
✅ How this was way more than I expected
✅ Murder 😳
✅ The nun Sarah Jones screaming- Get in the car loser 😂
✅ Fun, entertaining, crazy. Oh and they all go by their age because… there just was too many Sarah Jones to keep track of. 😬😉
February 18, 2025
I loved this book! It is a fast paced modern day cozy mystery. I was slightly confused at first keeping all the characters straight but that was quickly resolved.
I liked the characters, it was plot based but with enough character development to make sure I cared about the characters. I even liked the romance in the story, it was sweet and interesting and had me hoping for a good outcome for the characters involved.
Great story, highly recommended.
Thanks to Book Browse and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the characters, it was plot based but with enough character development to make sure I cared about the characters. I even liked the romance in the story, it was sweet and interesting and had me hoping for a good outcome for the characters involved.
Great story, highly recommended.
Thanks to Book Browse and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2025
3.75/5 rounded up
Thank you Berkley Books for the advanced reading copy & PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy!
This was a fun read and I enjoyed this overall! What a clever premise -- gathering all the "Sarah Jones" in Minneapolis for a social club and making the best out of a super common name. While this one dragged a little bit in places, it was entertaining and surprising! I really like the way this story was told -- with multiple perspectives, time jumps and some interview features. It's always fun to have a multitude of timelines going in my opinion, and this added a lot to the intrigue of the story overall.
The characters were a lot of fun, and a joy to get to know. 30's dynamic with George was really sweet, despite being complicated. Their romance added some fun, intrigue and drama to the main mystery at hand. All of the characters had a lot of depth, which created more emotional ties to them than I would have expected. This was great on audio, though I do think it could have been enhanced with multiple narrators!
While this one wasn't perfect or super fast-paced, it was definitely entertaining and had a very satisfying ending! I enjoyed this overall and hope to see more from the Sarahs in the future!
Thank you Berkley Books for the advanced reading copy & PRH Audio for the advanced listening copy!
This was a fun read and I enjoyed this overall! What a clever premise -- gathering all the "Sarah Jones" in Minneapolis for a social club and making the best out of a super common name. While this one dragged a little bit in places, it was entertaining and surprising! I really like the way this story was told -- with multiple perspectives, time jumps and some interview features. It's always fun to have a multitude of timelines going in my opinion, and this added a lot to the intrigue of the story overall.
The characters were a lot of fun, and a joy to get to know. 30's dynamic with George was really sweet, despite being complicated. Their romance added some fun, intrigue and drama to the main mystery at hand. All of the characters had a lot of depth, which created more emotional ties to them than I would have expected. This was great on audio, though I do think it could have been enhanced with multiple narrators!
While this one wasn't perfect or super fast-paced, it was definitely entertaining and had a very satisfying ending! I enjoyed this overall and hope to see more from the Sarahs in the future!
June 11, 2025
This was such a fun and different cozy murder mystery novel! A group of women of all ages who are all named Sarah Jones come together as part of a 17 year old's school social project entitled "The Sarah Jones Project." They are at the end of the assignment when another Sarah Jones ends up murdered and they are on the hunt for the killer - but is the killer among them using a false identity?
This book is told in multiple viewpoints and includes text message threads and deposition transcripts to fuel the whodunit narrative (which as a true crime junkie, I loved!). In addition to the Sarah Jones mystery, there's also a cold case that is being worked on with some of the same characters having connections to both. I absolutely loved the intertwined plots as you had no idea what was going to happen next! We also have a little bit of romance thrown in this with Thirty (all the Sarahs go by their age to differentiate each other) getting close to the newbie FBI agent involved in the case.
If you're looking for a unique murder mystery and some romance (closed door), then this is a great pick!
Thank you so much to Berkley for the gifted copy! 🖤
This book is told in multiple viewpoints and includes text message threads and deposition transcripts to fuel the whodunit narrative (which as a true crime junkie, I loved!). In addition to the Sarah Jones mystery, there's also a cold case that is being worked on with some of the same characters having connections to both. I absolutely loved the intertwined plots as you had no idea what was going to happen next! We also have a little bit of romance thrown in this with Thirty (all the Sarahs go by their age to differentiate each other) getting close to the newbie FBI agent involved in the case.
If you're looking for a unique murder mystery and some romance (closed door), then this is a great pick!
Thank you so much to Berkley for the gifted copy! 🖤
January 12, 2026
This book really did not work for me on any level. I found the main characters uninteresting and the side characters I were interested in were under developed and underutilized. I also don’t feel like there was any real mystery in either case, there were zero plausible alternatives ever presented, there was just a lot of jumping around between chapters in time and space that created a false sense of mystery with the nonlinear narrative. Even the relationship drama between Sarah and George was overly manufactured and added to my annoyance at the whole story. Overall, it’s not so terrible that I can’t see why people would consider this a fun, cozy mystery, but it definitely was not a fun or interesting read for me.
May 21, 2025
This was fun, if not slightly confusing for a little bit!
This book follows many characters who all have the same name, so it is a little bit confusing until you get in the groove of it. I can definitely see some people getting used to that faster and some people taking practically the whole book to get used to that, but it did create some funny moments (clearly, on purpose).
This a book with a random and unlikely cast of characters who end up having to work together to solve a murder (hopefully before someone else - one of them, possibly - becomes a victim). I always love a reluctant ensemble cast, I like how the characters get to play off of each other and how many jokes tend to come out of it. (We even get a nun with a shady past!)
You get multiple POVs in this book and with multiple timelines. The timelines aren't super clear to where they belong, at least to me, so I was a bit confused by them. That's probably my biggest gripe with this book. It made the story feel like it was jumping around too much, making it quite choppy.
It has a similar tone to Only Murders in the Building, in my opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This book follows many characters who all have the same name, so it is a little bit confusing until you get in the groove of it. I can definitely see some people getting used to that faster and some people taking practically the whole book to get used to that, but it did create some funny moments (clearly, on purpose).
This a book with a random and unlikely cast of characters who end up having to work together to solve a murder (hopefully before someone else - one of them, possibly - becomes a victim). I always love a reluctant ensemble cast, I like how the characters get to play off of each other and how many jokes tend to come out of it. (We even get a nun with a shady past!)
You get multiple POVs in this book and with multiple timelines. The timelines aren't super clear to where they belong, at least to me, so I was a bit confused by them. That's probably my biggest gripe with this book. It made the story feel like it was jumping around too much, making it quite choppy.
It has a similar tone to Only Murders in the Building, in my opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
October 20, 2025
3.5 stars: Very enjoyable, though it did take me a little bit to get into it. It was a little confusing keeping track of the Sarahs, but part of that might have been because I listened to most of it on audio. It was a bit easier when I switched to the print version. The narrator was just ok, so I wouldn’t necessarily say the audio made it a better reading experience. It’s not really much of a mystery but more about watching the experience unfold. Toss in some closed door romance. Overall a good read.
December 17, 2025
Had a hard time distinguishing the different characters even tho they had nicknames in the descriptions. Felt like the third person pov made it even harder to follow unfortunately. I made it through the book but it was a bit of a struggle as it didn’t really hold my attention. Could imagine it being a good book for someone who enjoys the third person pov!
December 17, 2025
Each of these characters had such distinct voices and vibrant personalities; I felt like I was getting to know each and every one of the Sarahs personally and I adored every one. I love the use of mixed media throughout as it truly added to the story. It being based in Minneapolis certainly didn't hurt either but maybe I'm just biased.
June 25, 2025
⭐️2.5⭐️
Man I feel truly sorry for 30, Sarah Jones. Homegirl just needs a good friend. She’s an iced vanilla latte character who has better faith in an MLM scheme than the criminal justice system. I did enjoy the multiple POVs from the story. Don’t expect any crazy punches or psychological twists on these pages. Fun story that leans on the super cozy side of the mystery genre.
Man I feel truly sorry for 30, Sarah Jones. Homegirl just needs a good friend. She’s an iced vanilla latte character who has better faith in an MLM scheme than the criminal justice system. I did enjoy the multiple POVs from the story. Don’t expect any crazy punches or psychological twists on these pages. Fun story that leans on the super cozy side of the mystery genre.
September 9, 2025
*Should* it merit 4.5? Idk. No. Probably not. Definitely not (some underdeveloped characters and missing plot fragments). *Does* it, in this particular instance? Hellz. Yes. (!!!)
It is exactly what I wanted it to be. Cozy. Poignant. Silly. Sad. Sweet. Happily familiar yet distinct. I loved everything about this. And I love calling Minneapolis and Minnesota home.
It is exactly what I wanted it to be. Cozy. Poignant. Silly. Sad. Sweet. Happily familiar yet distinct. I loved everything about this. And I love calling Minneapolis and Minnesota home.
September 17, 2025
This was such a unique take on a murder mystery and I really enjoyed it
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