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Bury Your Friends
From bestselling and award-winning author Benjamin Dean comes a dark, decadent and deadly YA thriller following the perfectly privileged lives of spoilt rich kids and the messy, murderous things they'll do to get what they want. For fans of How to Die Famous, One of Us is Lying and Five Survive.
Ten friends. One night. A classy celebration. A deranged killer. Lots of murder.
Noah and his best friends are finally graduating from Woodthorn Academy with the world and all its promises laid out before them. To celebrate exam results day, they’re hosting a party weekend at Black Stone, an opulent country estate, for the whole school to attend. But for one night only, the ten friends will have a low-key celebration – after all, it’s how the upper echelons begin their futures.
But things take a sinister turn when they find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer making one simple every hour, one person must be evicted from the house or someone inside the house will die.
With nowhere to run and a killer on the prowl, choices must be made. But, as people inside the house start to go missing too, it soon becomes clear that nobody is safe. By the time morning comes, who will have survived the night? And is the killer much closer than they realised . . .
PRAISE FOR BENJAMIN DEAN
‘A scandalous thriller.’ The Guardian
‘Benjamin Dean has written a royal triumph.’ Juno Dawson, author of Clean
‘Scandalous, funny, and deliciously compelling!’ Catherine Doyle, co-author of Twin Crowns
‘All hail this exquisitely twisty, delightfully queer mystery.’ Chelsea Pitcher, author of This Lie Will Kill You
‘A compelling thriller that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First
‘More jaw-dropping, OMG-twists than even the most salacious tabloid journalist could create.’ Erik J. Brown, author of All That's Left in the World
‘One page-burning scandal after another. Benjamin Dean is YA royalty.’ Femi Fadugba, author of The Upper World
‘A scandalous, twisty mystery that had me on the edge of my seat gasping for more.’ Kate Weston, author of Murder on a School Night
‘A twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.’ Lex Croucher, author of Gwen and Art are Not in Love
‘Addictive, compelling, and utterly delicious.’ Simon James Green, author of Noah Can’t Even
Ten friends. One night. A classy celebration. A deranged killer. Lots of murder.
Noah and his best friends are finally graduating from Woodthorn Academy with the world and all its promises laid out before them. To celebrate exam results day, they’re hosting a party weekend at Black Stone, an opulent country estate, for the whole school to attend. But for one night only, the ten friends will have a low-key celebration – after all, it’s how the upper echelons begin their futures.
But things take a sinister turn when they find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer making one simple every hour, one person must be evicted from the house or someone inside the house will die.
With nowhere to run and a killer on the prowl, choices must be made. But, as people inside the house start to go missing too, it soon becomes clear that nobody is safe. By the time morning comes, who will have survived the night? And is the killer much closer than they realised . . .
PRAISE FOR BENJAMIN DEAN
‘A scandalous thriller.’ The Guardian
‘Benjamin Dean has written a royal triumph.’ Juno Dawson, author of Clean
‘Scandalous, funny, and deliciously compelling!’ Catherine Doyle, co-author of Twin Crowns
‘All hail this exquisitely twisty, delightfully queer mystery.’ Chelsea Pitcher, author of This Lie Will Kill You
‘A compelling thriller that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First
‘More jaw-dropping, OMG-twists than even the most salacious tabloid journalist could create.’ Erik J. Brown, author of All That's Left in the World
‘One page-burning scandal after another. Benjamin Dean is YA royalty.’ Femi Fadugba, author of The Upper World
‘A scandalous, twisty mystery that had me on the edge of my seat gasping for more.’ Kate Weston, author of Murder on a School Night
‘A twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.’ Lex Croucher, author of Gwen and Art are Not in Love
‘Addictive, compelling, and utterly delicious.’ Simon James Green, author of Noah Can’t Even
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 14, 2025
this was so entertaining!!! Feel like it got me out of my reading slump 🙌🏼
October 6, 2025
those kids were way too casual about everything happening to them lmao
August 11, 2025
That’s was crazy, I can’t denyyyy. I know whodunnit now and I can honestly say I did not see that coming.
Did I have a slight inkling about Win, honestly, yes. Buddy boys behavior was sus, and then his death was so vague and out of left field, I thought he was still alive the whole time. Did I think he had smthn to do with Patrick, high-key yes (I’m a mastermind I know… Jks I’m just lucky I followed that train of thought).
But when it comes to BABY?!?! Upon reflection the signs were very much there (and sometimes I did question things) but did I fully pick up on them or dig deeper? Hell no. Girlie pop was deranged on a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. Her reasoning was WILD to say the least.
All to say, this was so well written, and hilarious, and honestly just a fun journey. Slay. Very enjoyable.
Did I have a slight inkling about Win, honestly, yes. Buddy boys behavior was sus, and then his death was so vague and out of left field, I thought he was still alive the whole time. Did I think he had smthn to do with Patrick, high-key yes (I’m a mastermind I know… Jks I’m just lucky I followed that train of thought).
But when it comes to BABY?!?! Upon reflection the signs were very much there (and sometimes I did question things) but did I fully pick up on them or dig deeper? Hell no. Girlie pop was deranged on a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. Her reasoning was WILD to say the least.
All to say, this was so well written, and hilarious, and honestly just a fun journey. Slay. Very enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2026
There's a horrified gasp, a whimper of absolute grief, a trembling sob. But they're nothing compared to the roar in my ears, the piercing stabs of utter pain as my heart shatters and breaks apart. This isn't a joke. The game is real."
Weeks ago, Noah went missing alongside his school's golden boy Patrick, only to appear at his own vigil without any memories of what happened to him. Now, he and his nine friends are going to celebrate the end of their time at school at a lavish countryside mansion. But it's not the fun party weekend they hoped it would be: not only are tensions are running high and grudges rising to the surface, someone is out there, determined to hurt them. Who will survive the night and escape the vengeful wrath of a serial killer?
Bury Your Friends was a blast to read. It was both funny and creepy, and Dean did a great job making me care about the characters and really understand their dynamics before ramping up the tension and introducing the serial killer -aspect of the book. This is really important because if I don't care about the people in peril, a horror/thriller book won't make me desperate to keep turning the pages and figure out who survives and who doesn't. And I cared, while reading this book. I flew through it and was engaged by the story from page one. The various different mysteries – what happened to Noah, what happened to Patrick, what is happening now and who is hunting them – and how they were all tied together in the end was really satisfying, and I liked the central twists and I liked the reveals regarding the killer. I liked that we got the
The thriller/horror vibes of the book were topnotch. This book had so many of my fave tropes – I love a story about a fracturing group of friends that love each other but also occasionally hate each other getting together at a remote setting and being stalked by a killer who is picking them off one by one. I love a creepy mansion with secret rooms, doors that won't budge and lights that go out. Dean created a really tense atmosphere that didn't let up until the end. What I also loved was how, even though the book was real creepy, he managed to inject some small moments of humour in there: the characters crack jokes to alleviate their panic, they don't stop being petty rich entitled kids just because someone is trying to kill them (Tabitha, Verity and Miles refusing to let go of their little love triangle was so frustrating, but in a fun way) and there's a running gag of the characters only ever finding the worst objects to use as weapons: Cam wields busts of Shakespeare and Nefertiti, Noah once finds only a fake cactus and Baby, when scared, grabs something to protect herself with only to realise what she is wielding is a tiny spoon. There was also the running gag of Those humorous bits offered the reader time to take a breath amidst all the horrors. And there were some truly horrid shit happening. Noah keeps finding people dead, seeing people die and witnessing stuff like
One of the major themes of this book is friendship, growing up and how these kinds of transitional periods affect your friendships, how you can grow apart from your friends and how you can still love someone while acknowledging they are no longer the person you once befriended, that if you met today, you wouldn't like them at all. I liked how Dean gave us these really sweet moments – like all of them jumping in the pool and pushing each other in and cackling – while also giving us genuinely gut wrenching moments that make you realise these people really aren't friends at all, not deep down. They are just people who are tied together through years of history and who are desperately trying to hold on to the magic they once had. When things get tough, the cracks begin to show: when Hugo is challenged by Noah But even though this group is splintering, there are true friendships within it that I really enjoyed. Cam, Griffin, Fliss and Noah were a fun quarter, and it was nice how they, as the four out queer members of the group, have each other's backs. Cam's fierce ride-or-die vibe with Noah was especially sweet. I also enjoyed Wim and Noah's connection and how
Another major theme was privilege, nepotism, class and the way wealth, connections, power and the like warp you, make you unable to understand the real world and, more often than not, make a real asshole out of you. The characters all have varying layers of privilege and some of them are able to acknowledge it, while some live in their own bubble. Hugo breaks a bottle just so he can exert his power and make a waiter clean up after him, Tabitha is planning to live off her trust fund as a socialite for the rest of her life and Baby, though she claims to be an ally to all marginalized groups, does her allyship in the cringiest, most unnatural way possible and Griffin, Cam and Fliss all have wealthy parents, but they are much more down-to-earth and understanding of their own privileges. Griffin and Cam, for example, as black queer kids (just like Noah), understand the realities and hierarchies of the world way better than a straight white guy like Miles, whose planning to live off his daddy's money, is casually racist (without realising it) and thinks the world should cater to him. I liked how not all the kids were equally dickish and entitled: they all have their moments, but some way more than others. I also liked the inclusion of the character of Alex,
I liked all the central characters (well, I didn't like many of them as people but I enjoyed them as characters) and I thought Dean did a great job giving them all crucial moments in the story, a real personality and some complexity to them. Noah, the actor, was an engaging main character and it was intriguing seeing him struggle with what happened to him, trying his best to remember, beginning to worry if he did something truly abysmal and finally figuring out the truth. For a while I did wonder if he had I liked the up and coming tennis star, Cam, and I found her sarcasm, her fierceness and her ability to keep her wits about her in crisis really endearing. Griffin, ever the charmer, was a delightful boy. Fliss, the last member of the queer quartet, was perhaps the one character I wish had gotten more depth and page-time. I don't feel like I quite got to know her like I did the others. The aloof, haughty, proud and utterly egotistical Tabitha was fun to read about though she was also insufferable – she makes nasty quips about new money (she herself is an aristocrat with family ties to the royal family), doesn't seem to realise people cannot just go to the Maldives for a few months cause they need a break and so on. She turns on her best friend Verity real quick, over a boy. Verity and Hugo were also insufferable – rich assholes who are fighting over whom their abusive (though only to Wim) dad loves the most – but man did I love reading about them. I do love a horrible, annoying character sometimes. My fave scene with the two of them was Baby, the "woke ally" who comes out as an ally (the A in LGBTQIA as she put it, much to the chagrin of her queer friends and me, her queer reader), was hilariously stupid at times. Miles with his accidental racism, his stupid jokes and his girlfriend drama was perhaps my least fave character – he wasn't the worst person, I'd say, but he was the most boringly annoying, though, he too had his moments. When Wim was one of my favorite characters. I felt real bad for him, as you very quickly realise his triplets do not really care about him and that their father is emotionally and physically abusive to him. I wanted to throttle their dad, who Wim's story was perhaps the most moving out of all the arcs in the book, with him
As to why I am not giving this book a higher rating than 4 despite clearly really liking it, well, it just feels like a really strong 4/5 star novel. I enjoyed the characters, the horror elements and the themes, but it just wasn't a new all-time favorite. It did, however, remind me of just how much I love YA horror books and thrillers and make me want to pick up Dean's other books. I would happily recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, character-driven, addictive story about privilege, serial killers, toxic and genuine friendships, and kids on the cusp of adulthood. It's a real good time.
Weeks ago, Noah went missing alongside his school's golden boy Patrick, only to appear at his own vigil without any memories of what happened to him. Now, he and his nine friends are going to celebrate the end of their time at school at a lavish countryside mansion. But it's not the fun party weekend they hoped it would be: not only are tensions are running high and grudges rising to the surface, someone is out there, determined to hurt them. Who will survive the night and escape the vengeful wrath of a serial killer?
Bury Your Friends was a blast to read. It was both funny and creepy, and Dean did a great job making me care about the characters and really understand their dynamics before ramping up the tension and introducing the serial killer -aspect of the book. This is really important because if I don't care about the people in peril, a horror/thriller book won't make me desperate to keep turning the pages and figure out who survives and who doesn't. And I cared, while reading this book. I flew through it and was engaged by the story from page one. The various different mysteries – what happened to Noah, what happened to Patrick, what is happening now and who is hunting them – and how they were all tied together in the end was really satisfying, and I liked the central twists and I liked the reveals regarding the killer. I liked that we got the
The thriller/horror vibes of the book were topnotch. This book had so many of my fave tropes – I love a story about a fracturing group of friends that love each other but also occasionally hate each other getting together at a remote setting and being stalked by a killer who is picking them off one by one. I love a creepy mansion with secret rooms, doors that won't budge and lights that go out. Dean created a really tense atmosphere that didn't let up until the end. What I also loved was how, even though the book was real creepy, he managed to inject some small moments of humour in there: the characters crack jokes to alleviate their panic, they don't stop being petty rich entitled kids just because someone is trying to kill them (Tabitha, Verity and Miles refusing to let go of their little love triangle was so frustrating, but in a fun way) and there's a running gag of the characters only ever finding the worst objects to use as weapons: Cam wields busts of Shakespeare and Nefertiti, Noah once finds only a fake cactus and Baby, when scared, grabs something to protect herself with only to realise what she is wielding is a tiny spoon. There was also the running gag of Those humorous bits offered the reader time to take a breath amidst all the horrors. And there were some truly horrid shit happening. Noah keeps finding people dead, seeing people die and witnessing stuff like
One of the major themes of this book is friendship, growing up and how these kinds of transitional periods affect your friendships, how you can grow apart from your friends and how you can still love someone while acknowledging they are no longer the person you once befriended, that if you met today, you wouldn't like them at all. I liked how Dean gave us these really sweet moments – like all of them jumping in the pool and pushing each other in and cackling – while also giving us genuinely gut wrenching moments that make you realise these people really aren't friends at all, not deep down. They are just people who are tied together through years of history and who are desperately trying to hold on to the magic they once had. When things get tough, the cracks begin to show: when Hugo is challenged by Noah But even though this group is splintering, there are true friendships within it that I really enjoyed. Cam, Griffin, Fliss and Noah were a fun quarter, and it was nice how they, as the four out queer members of the group, have each other's backs. Cam's fierce ride-or-die vibe with Noah was especially sweet. I also enjoyed Wim and Noah's connection and how
Another major theme was privilege, nepotism, class and the way wealth, connections, power and the like warp you, make you unable to understand the real world and, more often than not, make a real asshole out of you. The characters all have varying layers of privilege and some of them are able to acknowledge it, while some live in their own bubble. Hugo breaks a bottle just so he can exert his power and make a waiter clean up after him, Tabitha is planning to live off her trust fund as a socialite for the rest of her life and Baby, though she claims to be an ally to all marginalized groups, does her allyship in the cringiest, most unnatural way possible and Griffin, Cam and Fliss all have wealthy parents, but they are much more down-to-earth and understanding of their own privileges. Griffin and Cam, for example, as black queer kids (just like Noah), understand the realities and hierarchies of the world way better than a straight white guy like Miles, whose planning to live off his daddy's money, is casually racist (without realising it) and thinks the world should cater to him. I liked how not all the kids were equally dickish and entitled: they all have their moments, but some way more than others. I also liked the inclusion of the character of Alex,
I liked all the central characters (well, I didn't like many of them as people but I enjoyed them as characters) and I thought Dean did a great job giving them all crucial moments in the story, a real personality and some complexity to them. Noah, the actor, was an engaging main character and it was intriguing seeing him struggle with what happened to him, trying his best to remember, beginning to worry if he did something truly abysmal and finally figuring out the truth. For a while I did wonder if he had I liked the up and coming tennis star, Cam, and I found her sarcasm, her fierceness and her ability to keep her wits about her in crisis really endearing. Griffin, ever the charmer, was a delightful boy. Fliss, the last member of the queer quartet, was perhaps the one character I wish had gotten more depth and page-time. I don't feel like I quite got to know her like I did the others. The aloof, haughty, proud and utterly egotistical Tabitha was fun to read about though she was also insufferable – she makes nasty quips about new money (she herself is an aristocrat with family ties to the royal family), doesn't seem to realise people cannot just go to the Maldives for a few months cause they need a break and so on. She turns on her best friend Verity real quick, over a boy. Verity and Hugo were also insufferable – rich assholes who are fighting over whom their abusive (though only to Wim) dad loves the most – but man did I love reading about them. I do love a horrible, annoying character sometimes. My fave scene with the two of them was Baby, the "woke ally" who comes out as an ally (the A in LGBTQIA as she put it, much to the chagrin of her queer friends and me, her queer reader), was hilariously stupid at times. Miles with his accidental racism, his stupid jokes and his girlfriend drama was perhaps my least fave character – he wasn't the worst person, I'd say, but he was the most boringly annoying, though, he too had his moments. When Wim was one of my favorite characters. I felt real bad for him, as you very quickly realise his triplets do not really care about him and that their father is emotionally and physically abusive to him. I wanted to throttle their dad, who Wim's story was perhaps the most moving out of all the arcs in the book, with him
As to why I am not giving this book a higher rating than 4 despite clearly really liking it, well, it just feels like a really strong 4/5 star novel. I enjoyed the characters, the horror elements and the themes, but it just wasn't a new all-time favorite. It did, however, remind me of just how much I love YA horror books and thrillers and make me want to pick up Dean's other books. I would happily recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced, character-driven, addictive story about privilege, serial killers, toxic and genuine friendships, and kids on the cusp of adulthood. It's a real good time.
January 10, 2026
Well this was rather a let down.
I knew going in that it was a teen book but had heard the "twist" was amazing and unguessable however that seems untrue as I guessed the culprit and was 90% right on everything else early on. Also the language used and the characters over use of sarcasm became insufferable as is at odds with what happens in the plot.
Most characters apart from our first person narrator were truly unlikable therefore I hoped they would die just to be rid of them and on that note, 10 friends is too many, this could have been easily cut to 8 with no effect on the story. It would have actually benefited the reader as 8 instead of 10 gives you more time to learn about these characters and their back stories, many of which were non-existent.
The storyline/plot did not live up to the original premise I bought into from the blurb. The initial idea that one friend must be evicted from the house every hour to the "killer" was an exciting notion as it eludes to in-fighting, drama, secrets being revealed, alliances being formed etc, however this book quickly turned into a run of the mill "slasher" story shortly after the first death which is not unique or original. Showing it had potential at the halfway point then quickly went downhill from there.
My final gripe is the killers reasoning for doing what they did - absolutely ridiculous and stupid - ruined what could have been a witty and clever plan.
Reading this has taught me that if I need good crime/murder mystery stories in future, best to look into adult books, giving this 2 stars is fairly generous.
I knew going in that it was a teen book but had heard the "twist" was amazing and unguessable however that seems untrue as I guessed the culprit and was 90% right on everything else early on. Also the language used and the characters over use of sarcasm became insufferable as is at odds with what happens in the plot.
Most characters apart from our first person narrator were truly unlikable therefore I hoped they would die just to be rid of them and on that note, 10 friends is too many, this could have been easily cut to 8 with no effect on the story. It would have actually benefited the reader as 8 instead of 10 gives you more time to learn about these characters and their back stories, many of which were non-existent.
The storyline/plot did not live up to the original premise I bought into from the blurb. The initial idea that one friend must be evicted from the house every hour to the "killer" was an exciting notion as it eludes to in-fighting, drama, secrets being revealed, alliances being formed etc, however this book quickly turned into a run of the mill "slasher" story shortly after the first death which is not unique or original. Showing it had potential at the halfway point then quickly went downhill from there.
My final gripe is the killers reasoning for doing what they did - absolutely ridiculous and stupid - ruined what could have been a witty and clever plan.
Reading this has taught me that if I need good crime/murder mystery stories in future, best to look into adult books, giving this 2 stars is fairly generous.
August 30, 2025
3.5 (rounded up)
It's queer, it's entitled, it's messy but most importantly, it's murderous.....
If you know me, you know I love a slasher, and reading about a bunch of nepo Baby Teens getting slashed was SO entertaining to read
It's A-Level results day for Noah and his group of rich friends in this queer teen slasher. They all head to Black Stone, a mansion in the country, to celebrate their results.
But when the house is locked and there is no way out, a mysterious killer demands that every hour, they must evict one friend from the house to die....
A book of fractured friendships, secrets, a missing friend, and forgotten memories. By the morning, who will have survived?
This is definitely a big recommendation if you love slasher movies or books such as "You're not supposed to die tonight" and "Heads Will Roll"
It's queer, it's entitled, it's messy but most importantly, it's murderous.....
If you know me, you know I love a slasher, and reading about a bunch of nepo Baby Teens getting slashed was SO entertaining to read
It's A-Level results day for Noah and his group of rich friends in this queer teen slasher. They all head to Black Stone, a mansion in the country, to celebrate their results.
But when the house is locked and there is no way out, a mysterious killer demands that every hour, they must evict one friend from the house to die....
A book of fractured friendships, secrets, a missing friend, and forgotten memories. By the morning, who will have survived?
This is definitely a big recommendation if you love slasher movies or books such as "You're not supposed to die tonight" and "Heads Will Roll"
May 22, 2026
Really enjoyed the story to this one. I was half right about who it was that was murdering their friends. I had a inkling but I was suprised at who the main murderer was! It was fast paced, really easy to read and I flew through this book. Loved the characters, the diversity and their friendships, but it really made it clear in the end on who truly valued their friendships.
May 26, 2026
A totally bat-sh1t crazy YA thriller/horror/slasher novel that draws you in to this crazy world & doesn't let go until the end. The ending was too open-ended for me (hence the 4 star rating) but, as a one-off read, thus is worth a look. Suspend all your disbelief & just enjoy the ride.
May 3, 2026
Every chapter had a new twist and I didn’t want to stop reading it
August 11, 2025
Dit boek was zo leuk, ik heb het binnen1 dag uitgelezen.
Niet alleen zijn de karakters goed (dit is precies hoe rijke tieners zijn, vooral Baby), maar ik had echt nooit geraden hoe het nou zou eindigen.
Tijdens het lezen had ik zo veel theorieën over hoe alles tot stand zou komen, maar ik kwam nooit helemaal terecht. #iloveit
(ik kwam wel een paar keer dichtbij, dus ik vind dat ik daarvoor wel punten verdien)
Maar als je nog een makkelijk te lezen YA thriller zoekt, is dit een perfecte start
Niet alleen zijn de karakters goed (dit is precies hoe rijke tieners zijn, vooral Baby), maar ik had echt nooit geraden hoe het nou zou eindigen.
Tijdens het lezen had ik zo veel theorieën over hoe alles tot stand zou komen, maar ik kwam nooit helemaal terecht. #iloveit
(ik kwam wel een paar keer dichtbij, dus ik vind dat ik daarvoor wel punten verdien)
Maar als je nog een makkelijk te lezen YA thriller zoekt, is dit een perfecte start
September 15, 2025
“If we all stepped in and stopped his cruelties instead of brushing them off as things that were harmless as long as they weren’t happening to us...”
Benjamin Dean’s Bury Your Friends hooked me right from the prologue, and by the time I reached the first four chapters I was completely immersed. The scene-setting is atmospheric, the build-up tense, and despite a cast of ten friends — Cameron, Fliss, Noah, Griffin, Hugo, Verity, Wim, Miles, Tabitha and Baby — each one stands out with a strong, defined personality. You can see the friendship groups form easily, but lurking beneath the surface are secrets, shifting loyalties and hidden agendas.
The story kicks off when Noah and Patrick go missing after a Friday night party at the Tessier estate. By Sunday, Noah resurfaces covered in mud and blood, but Patrick is still missing. From there, the mystery spirals into a dark, thrilling ride that reminded me of One of Us Is Lying, but with its own unique edge. It’s highly engrossing and full of shocking twists that kept me desperately turning the pages. I genuinely struggled to put it down.
The dynamics between the characters are fascinating — Hugo and Verity are simply awful, their toxic sibling behaviour hard to stomach, while Wim’s role adds even more unease. Yet there are pockets of warmth, particularly with Cameron, whose comedic moments bring light relief and balance out the tension. Cameron, Noah, Griffin and Fliss together gave off serious squad goals vibes — their friendship felt genuine, supportive, and a perfect counterbalance to the darker elements of the book. Their on-page interactions had a natural flow that made me smile even as the tension built.
Dean’s writing is wonderfully self-aware too, unpicking themes of allyship and the dangers of letting friends get away with cruelty simply because it isn’t directed at you. Noah’s realisation by the end of the book is powerful, and that quote at the start of my review stuck with me long after I turned the final page. It forces you to reflect on the consequences of silence in the face of abuse.
And then — the reveal of the killer mastermind. What. A. Twist. Completely unexpected and brilliantly done. I was genuinely shocked, which doesn’t happen often in YA thrillers.
Overall, Bury Your Friends is thrilling, layered, and impossible to second-guess. It has all the ingredients of a standout YA mystery series: a strong ensemble cast, sharp writing, shocking reveals, and deeper themes that give it weight beyond the twists. Bravo, Benjamin Dean — you’ve delivered a thriller that’s as thought-provoking as it is unputdownable.
Benjamin Dean’s Bury Your Friends hooked me right from the prologue, and by the time I reached the first four chapters I was completely immersed. The scene-setting is atmospheric, the build-up tense, and despite a cast of ten friends — Cameron, Fliss, Noah, Griffin, Hugo, Verity, Wim, Miles, Tabitha and Baby — each one stands out with a strong, defined personality. You can see the friendship groups form easily, but lurking beneath the surface are secrets, shifting loyalties and hidden agendas.
The story kicks off when Noah and Patrick go missing after a Friday night party at the Tessier estate. By Sunday, Noah resurfaces covered in mud and blood, but Patrick is still missing. From there, the mystery spirals into a dark, thrilling ride that reminded me of One of Us Is Lying, but with its own unique edge. It’s highly engrossing and full of shocking twists that kept me desperately turning the pages. I genuinely struggled to put it down.
The dynamics between the characters are fascinating — Hugo and Verity are simply awful, their toxic sibling behaviour hard to stomach, while Wim’s role adds even more unease. Yet there are pockets of warmth, particularly with Cameron, whose comedic moments bring light relief and balance out the tension. Cameron, Noah, Griffin and Fliss together gave off serious squad goals vibes — their friendship felt genuine, supportive, and a perfect counterbalance to the darker elements of the book. Their on-page interactions had a natural flow that made me smile even as the tension built.
Dean’s writing is wonderfully self-aware too, unpicking themes of allyship and the dangers of letting friends get away with cruelty simply because it isn’t directed at you. Noah’s realisation by the end of the book is powerful, and that quote at the start of my review stuck with me long after I turned the final page. It forces you to reflect on the consequences of silence in the face of abuse.
And then — the reveal of the killer mastermind. What. A. Twist. Completely unexpected and brilliantly done. I was genuinely shocked, which doesn’t happen often in YA thrillers.
Overall, Bury Your Friends is thrilling, layered, and impossible to second-guess. It has all the ingredients of a standout YA mystery series: a strong ensemble cast, sharp writing, shocking reveals, and deeper themes that give it weight beyond the twists. Bravo, Benjamin Dean — you’ve delivered a thriller that’s as thought-provoking as it is unputdownable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2025
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
4.5 stars
BURY YOUR FRIENDS is a funny thriller-cum-slasher about privilege and a murder fest at a rich kids' sleepover party.
This book is so funny. It's a slasher about a bunch of rich kids who cannot see their own privilege (even the ones who think they can absolutely can't.) They are sniping at one another constantly even though it's the most inappropriate time to be doing so. The whole thing is so hilarious, and yet the things they're worrying about or getting outraged at ring unfortunately true.
This is definitely a slasher. It starts off with a missing guy and a lot of questions but then descends into a murder fest at a rich kid sleepover. The body count is impressive and the methods gory at times. I was a bit surprised at the fact we ended in a slasher given Benjamin Dean's other YAs are firmly in the thriller category, but I loved how unhinged it all felt (particularly when the villain was revealed as I did not see that coming!)
The mystery about the period Noah was missing is threaded through, putting serious doubts in the reader's mind about how reliable a narrator he is. After all, he is introduced to us through other people's interviews (which was such a well-crafted prologue) and they tell us he is a good actor. I love it when you don't know how much you can trust your narrator from the get go - and I really liked how it played out as it wasn't as I expected.
It is also full of pinpoint accurate jabs at the obliviousness of those with privilege (particularly those who think they can see it) and the difference between what opens doors and what some people think opens doors. It's sharp and insightful and often uses humour to score the points, pointing out just how absurd these people can be.
In all, this is another brilliant YA from Benjamin Dean.
4.5 stars
BURY YOUR FRIENDS is a funny thriller-cum-slasher about privilege and a murder fest at a rich kids' sleepover party.
This book is so funny. It's a slasher about a bunch of rich kids who cannot see their own privilege (even the ones who think they can absolutely can't.) They are sniping at one another constantly even though it's the most inappropriate time to be doing so. The whole thing is so hilarious, and yet the things they're worrying about or getting outraged at ring unfortunately true.
This is definitely a slasher. It starts off with a missing guy and a lot of questions but then descends into a murder fest at a rich kid sleepover. The body count is impressive and the methods gory at times. I was a bit surprised at the fact we ended in a slasher given Benjamin Dean's other YAs are firmly in the thriller category, but I loved how unhinged it all felt (particularly when the villain was revealed as I did not see that coming!)
The mystery about the period Noah was missing is threaded through, putting serious doubts in the reader's mind about how reliable a narrator he is. After all, he is introduced to us through other people's interviews (which was such a well-crafted prologue) and they tell us he is a good actor. I love it when you don't know how much you can trust your narrator from the get go - and I really liked how it played out as it wasn't as I expected.
It is also full of pinpoint accurate jabs at the obliviousness of those with privilege (particularly those who think they can see it) and the difference between what opens doors and what some people think opens doors. It's sharp and insightful and often uses humour to score the points, pointing out just how absurd these people can be.
In all, this is another brilliant YA from Benjamin Dean.
August 21, 2025
I’m a huge fan of Benjamin Dean’s work and I couldn’t wait to dive into this one! Noah’s attending an end of the school year party and enjoying himself but the party ends with Noah and another kid going missing. Two days later Noah turns up at a vigil with no memory of how he got there, where he’s been, or what happened to him. And the other kid is still missing. Weeks later the students are finally getting the results of their exams and seeing if they got into University. Noah and his friends decided to have a gathering to review their results. Noah is the only one of his friends who isn’t rich. He’s one of a few queer kids in his friendship group and one of an even fewer black kids in the friend group. He is however a talented actor whose recent show is a huge hit, though some think it’s because of all the publicity his disappearance and reappearance got. Reluctant to go to another party that in a remote countryside he thinks he’ll be fine because it’s just him and his 9 closest friends. The only problem is he has secrets about his disappearance and it seems like someone knows. And the anger and jealousy in the group runs deeper then they thought. A party full of bickering and pettiness turns deadly when an anonymous stranger locks them in the house and tells them that each hour they have to send someone out it to be killed or the killer will come in. Who is doing this to them? Is it one of the friends? And how does it connect to Noah’s disappearance? I was completely hooked and I couldn’t put it down! I’ll be honest most of Noah’s friends were awful but I loved the queer four! It’s full of twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing at how it all fit together! Highly recommend if you love a good mystery!
September 21, 2025
"I’m poor…And Black. And gay. They probably have my photo up on a board, throwing darts at my face.”
“Greedy. Couldn’t you just pick one struggle,” Griffin teases.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
I don’t often read this genre of book, but when I saw this described as a YA nepo-baby thriller, I was immediately intrigued. This book also reminded me why I need to read more thrillers, as I do love them!
💜 What I liked about it 💜
🔪 I loved the messy friendship dynamic between this group of privileged teens. Seeing them interact and the cracks that were forming between them as a result of them starting to grow apart was very entertaining!
🔪 I enjoyed the dual mysteries of who was behind the slasher fest at the house, as well as what happened when Noah went missing at the start of the book, and how these intertwined
🔪 This isn’t just about a game of survival - this book also looks at privilege and prejudice. We see characters who abuse their power, those who are just so desperate to be oppressed themselves and those who feel like they don’t belong in this group of spoilt, rich kids
🔪 This is a highly addictive, fast-paced and high-stakes book that I flew through
I did have an inkling of who was responsible for the murderous scheme early on, but it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story.
✨️ What to expect ✨️
💔 Fractured friendships
🤫 Secrets, lies and forgotten memories
💰 Nepo babies fighting for survival
🩸 YA slasher
🔍 Murder mystery
💫 Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
💌 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @jodierosereads
“Greedy. Couldn’t you just pick one struggle,” Griffin teases.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
I don’t often read this genre of book, but when I saw this described as a YA nepo-baby thriller, I was immediately intrigued. This book also reminded me why I need to read more thrillers, as I do love them!
💜 What I liked about it 💜
🔪 I loved the messy friendship dynamic between this group of privileged teens. Seeing them interact and the cracks that were forming between them as a result of them starting to grow apart was very entertaining!
🔪 I enjoyed the dual mysteries of who was behind the slasher fest at the house, as well as what happened when Noah went missing at the start of the book, and how these intertwined
🔪 This isn’t just about a game of survival - this book also looks at privilege and prejudice. We see characters who abuse their power, those who are just so desperate to be oppressed themselves and those who feel like they don’t belong in this group of spoilt, rich kids
🔪 This is a highly addictive, fast-paced and high-stakes book that I flew through
I did have an inkling of who was responsible for the murderous scheme early on, but it didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the story.
✨️ What to expect ✨️
💔 Fractured friendships
🤫 Secrets, lies and forgotten memories
💰 Nepo babies fighting for survival
🩸 YA slasher
🔍 Murder mystery
💫 Thank you to Pride Book Tours and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
💌 Follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @jodierosereads
March 15, 2026
🩷 Blurb-
Ten friends. One night. A classy celebration. A deranged killer. Lots of murder.
Noah and his best friends are finally graduating from Woodthorn Academy with the world and all its promises laid out before them. To celebrate exam results day, they’re hosting a party weekend at Black Stone, an opulent country estate, for the whole school to attend. But for one night only, the ten friends will have a low-key celebration – after all, it’s how the upper echelons begin their futures.
But things take a sinister turn when they find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer making one simple every hour, one person must be evicted from the house or someone inside the house will die.
With nowhere to run and a killer on the prowl, choices must be made. But, as people inside the house start to go missing too, it soon becomes clear that nobody is safe. By the time morning comes, who will have survived the night? And is the killer much closer than they realised . . .
🩵 Review -
This was such an enjoyable read. From the very first page I was hooked and entertained until the end. The story was easy to follow with plenty of twists and turns and content to keep me interested and reading until the end. Even though this was a YA thriller novel, I found that it can be read by adults to. This was the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. I highly recommend it to other readers.
Ten friends. One night. A classy celebration. A deranged killer. Lots of murder.
Noah and his best friends are finally graduating from Woodthorn Academy with the world and all its promises laid out before them. To celebrate exam results day, they’re hosting a party weekend at Black Stone, an opulent country estate, for the whole school to attend. But for one night only, the ten friends will have a low-key celebration – after all, it’s how the upper echelons begin their futures.
But things take a sinister turn when they find themselves in the crosshairs of a killer making one simple every hour, one person must be evicted from the house or someone inside the house will die.
With nowhere to run and a killer on the prowl, choices must be made. But, as people inside the house start to go missing too, it soon becomes clear that nobody is safe. By the time morning comes, who will have survived the night? And is the killer much closer than they realised . . .
🩵 Review -
This was such an enjoyable read. From the very first page I was hooked and entertained until the end. The story was easy to follow with plenty of twists and turns and content to keep me interested and reading until the end. Even though this was a YA thriller novel, I found that it can be read by adults to. This was the first book that I have read by the author and I will definitely be reading more by them. I highly recommend it to other readers.
July 23, 2025
This is the first Ben Dean book I've read, but it definitely won't be the last.
The book starts with an anoymous confession before the most brilliant collection of witness statements ever laid to paper.
This is a slasher/thriller but my goodness is it funny. Both I and my friend (we're on holiday we both have eARCs so we buddy read) killed ourselves laughing almost every other page.
The story follows scholarship student, Noah, in the final days before A-Level results day, planning one last hurrah with his friends at the country estate of his friends. They plan one night of low-key celebration before the whole school joins them. But then they find themselves at the mercy of a merciless killer who demands they eject some one from the house evey hour or one of them will die.
Choices must be made but as friends inside the house start to go missing, who will survive the night.
The conceit was so good and the killer was a genuine surprise all my guesses were so wrong but it all made so much sense and if I have one complaint I it's that I never find out what the name Wim is short for xD
The book starts with an anoymous confession before the most brilliant collection of witness statements ever laid to paper.
This is a slasher/thriller but my goodness is it funny. Both I and my friend (we're on holiday we both have eARCs so we buddy read) killed ourselves laughing almost every other page.
The story follows scholarship student, Noah, in the final days before A-Level results day, planning one last hurrah with his friends at the country estate of his friends. They plan one night of low-key celebration before the whole school joins them. But then they find themselves at the mercy of a merciless killer who demands they eject some one from the house evey hour or one of them will die.
Choices must be made but as friends inside the house start to go missing, who will survive the night.
The conceit was so good and the killer was a genuine surprise all my guesses were so wrong but it all made so much sense and if I have one complaint I it's that I never find out what the name Wim is short for xD
October 27, 2025
What a rollercoaster of emotions. I was so shocked while reading this book.
While I liked some of the characters, I really hated most of them. Their entitlement was so hard to read, and it felt like the author also gave up on them, just killing them off-camera and barely seeing them.
I also felt that the motivation behind everything fell flat, like it was not fully thought through. I wish we had gotten more from Wim to build everything up. It felt so rushed at the end, and especially because he disappeared off-screen so early on. I did enjoy reading the twist in Baby, though even if her motivations made little sense.
While there were parts that disappointed me, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and it had me on the edge of my seat all through reading this book. I felt it was really well written and built up the suspense so well. I think if I had not read Circle of Liars right before this, I would have enjoyed this book so much more because both books felt so similar in certain ways, which meant I just kept comparing them.
Overall, I think this book is really well done and I thoroughly enjoy reading this book.
While I liked some of the characters, I really hated most of them. Their entitlement was so hard to read, and it felt like the author also gave up on them, just killing them off-camera and barely seeing them.
I also felt that the motivation behind everything fell flat, like it was not fully thought through. I wish we had gotten more from Wim to build everything up. It felt so rushed at the end, and especially because he disappeared off-screen so early on. I did enjoy reading the twist in Baby, though even if her motivations made little sense.
While there were parts that disappointed me, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and it had me on the edge of my seat all through reading this book. I felt it was really well written and built up the suspense so well. I think if I had not read Circle of Liars right before this, I would have enjoyed this book so much more because both books felt so similar in certain ways, which meant I just kept comparing them.
Overall, I think this book is really well done and I thoroughly enjoy reading this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
Ten friends, almost all privileged rich brats, select a luxury location at which to celebrate their imminent graduation from the prestigious Woodthorn Academy. But before the main celebration - in which all the other students will participate - takes place, the smaller friend group plans to enjoy the venue for a little while.
Except things don't quite go according to plan! When it seems as though a killer is on their trail, they find themselves instructed to send one person out every hour or risk someone inside the house being killed. It's not much of a choice - least of all when it seems the killer may not keep their word anyway...
An engaging and suspenseful piece of story telling, this one will entertain most readers very effectively! It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Except things don't quite go according to plan! When it seems as though a killer is on their trail, they find themselves instructed to send one person out every hour or risk someone inside the house being killed. It's not much of a choice - least of all when it seems the killer may not keep their word anyway...
An engaging and suspenseful piece of story telling, this one will entertain most readers very effectively! It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
August 13, 2025
3.5/5
Noah and Patrick both go missing on the same night. Noah returns home safe and Patrick is still missing. To celebrate graduating Woodthorn Academy, Noah and his friends go away to an opulent country estate. What should be a classy evening ends up being a night where a killer is killing them off, one by one.
I am in need of easy reads at the moment and this being a YA thriller book, did the job. This was a little slow to start off but then the pace really picks up.
I also love rich people behaving badly and this ticked a lot of boxes for me! I flew through this quite quickly so this is definitely a book I would suggest for a beach read!
I was intrigued as to how the story would pan out and I enjoyed how everything unraveled.
Overall an easy read where not too much brain power is required!
Noah and Patrick both go missing on the same night. Noah returns home safe and Patrick is still missing. To celebrate graduating Woodthorn Academy, Noah and his friends go away to an opulent country estate. What should be a classy evening ends up being a night where a killer is killing them off, one by one.
I am in need of easy reads at the moment and this being a YA thriller book, did the job. This was a little slow to start off but then the pace really picks up.
I also love rich people behaving badly and this ticked a lot of boxes for me! I flew through this quite quickly so this is definitely a book I would suggest for a beach read!
I was intrigued as to how the story would pan out and I enjoyed how everything unraveled.
Overall an easy read where not too much brain power is required!
September 21, 2025
✨4 stars✨
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! When I got the email for this ARC the publication date stated was the 11/11/25 however this book was actually published in August and I never realised the dates had changed?! Oh well…😂
I really enjoyed this book, even more than How to Die Famous! At first I did struggle to keep up with the 10 main characters in the house for the party. However, once they all clicked in my mind, I found that the pace picked up and I was left on the edge of my seat! I even stayed up to read this even though there were many parts that left me creeped out. Overall, this was a most fast-paced plot with several humorous parts along with the creepy murder aspect. Also, I enjoyed also the British-isms which made this book feel like a nice refresh from all the North American books and authors.
I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! When I got the email for this ARC the publication date stated was the 11/11/25 however this book was actually published in August and I never realised the dates had changed?! Oh well…😂
I really enjoyed this book, even more than How to Die Famous! At first I did struggle to keep up with the 10 main characters in the house for the party. However, once they all clicked in my mind, I found that the pace picked up and I was left on the edge of my seat! I even stayed up to read this even though there were many parts that left me creeped out. Overall, this was a most fast-paced plot with several humorous parts along with the creepy murder aspect. Also, I enjoyed also the British-isms which made this book feel like a nice refresh from all the North American books and authors.
July 24, 2025
Woodthorn Academy is a school for the elite, nepo babies of all kinds from children of the Prime Minister, children of actors and a talented tennis player destined to win Wimbledon.
To celebrate their graduation and the beginning of their bright futures, Noah and his friends decide to have a weekend getaway to Black Stone. It’s quiet, low-key and exclusive the perfect combination for their party, and for what a killer has in store for them.
This was my first read of anything by Benjamin Dean, and it seriously won’t be my last. He’s proven himself to be amazing at building up suspense, even if I had a few ‘wait is this gonna happen…?’ moments along the way.
Releasing on 14th August, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson’s ‘Five Survive’.
To celebrate their graduation and the beginning of their bright futures, Noah and his friends decide to have a weekend getaway to Black Stone. It’s quiet, low-key and exclusive the perfect combination for their party, and for what a killer has in store for them.
This was my first read of anything by Benjamin Dean, and it seriously won’t be my last. He’s proven himself to be amazing at building up suspense, even if I had a few ‘wait is this gonna happen…?’ moments along the way.
Releasing on 14th August, perfect for fans of Holly Jackson’s ‘Five Survive’.
October 22, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.25 stars.
This is a fun YA thriller that moves quickly and has a mystery unravelling in every chapter. It is a who done it type mystery thriller with our MMC at the heart of the story. It definitely makes you question who to trust and if your friends are really your friends.
I did lowkey find some characters annoying, but I feel like that was the point. I think there’s some poor choices and again felt like the point as they are teenagers in the most stressful position. It has some funny moments, some real lows and actually some highs during this story.
Totally worth the read!
This is a fun YA thriller that moves quickly and has a mystery unravelling in every chapter. It is a who done it type mystery thriller with our MMC at the heart of the story. It definitely makes you question who to trust and if your friends are really your friends.
I did lowkey find some characters annoying, but I feel like that was the point. I think there’s some poor choices and again felt like the point as they are teenagers in the most stressful position. It has some funny moments, some real lows and actually some highs during this story.
Totally worth the read!
March 9, 2026
I liked it, honestly.
September 1, 2025
Excellent read. A somewhat different take on the "And Then There Were None" formula, with a bunch of nepo-babies locked up in a mansion, and someone picking them off one by one. I also liked the play on "bury your gays", .
There's a wholly believable Black, gay male main character, and even though I was a bit sceptical of the memory loss angle, I soon forgot about it as I was swept away by the intrigue. Will definitely look up this author for his other work.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
There's a wholly believable Black, gay male main character, and even though I was a bit sceptical of the memory loss angle, I soon forgot about it as I was swept away by the intrigue. Will definitely look up this author for his other work.
(Review copy from NetGalley)
August 10, 2025
This was a delightful and delicious plot twister. I loved the characters in that way that one can love proper horrible characters and characters you want to root for in the same breath. Made me laugh out loud on the plane multiple times. Love the horror tropes interspersed throughout - brought me a lot of joy. I was hooked within the first chapter and as it unravelled (murder, mystery, rich kids, secrets) I was just into it more and more.
December 8, 2025
Ummm, ok. It felt like some effed up crossover of Tiny Pretty Things, Good Girls Die First and Nine Liars.
The rich people striving for power from Tiny Pretty Things, the group dynamic and the way the plot goes from Good Girls Die First and the setting from Nine Liars
I wouldn’t really recommend it to be completely honest but it’s not as bad as Good Girls Die First and the plot twists got me so do with that what you will.
The rich people striving for power from Tiny Pretty Things, the group dynamic and the way the plot goes from Good Girls Die First and the setting from Nine Liars
I wouldn’t really recommend it to be completely honest but it’s not as bad as Good Girls Die First and the plot twists got me so do with that what you will.
December 29, 2025
This book is a complex high stake survival game, commonly seen in a slasher film. It possesses all the ingredients of a standout thriller, with a killer reveal and twist that completely shocked me.
The main characters were equipped with a mixture of different personalities, appearances and motives, which added interest to the story.
I fully immersed myself into the story, feeling a wide range of different emotions throughout.
The main characters were equipped with a mixture of different personalities, appearances and motives, which added interest to the story.
I fully immersed myself into the story, feeling a wide range of different emotions throughout.
March 14, 2026
I loved this book! And I’m sorry the fact that the killer was baby? I totally avoided her even being the killer and wow, that really surprised me! I also liked how it was a twist on classic murder books and in the end the way it all ties together about the Patrick thing.. that is a chef’s kiss! However I love Benjamin deans books but I feel like the characters could have been a bit more upset about fellow friend’s deaths? But all in all, 100% recommend I am lending this to all my friends!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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