Getting Away With Murder

by Shari Lapena

The new twisty and playfully addictive thriller from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Everyone Here is Lying and The Couple Next Door.

She loves her husband.
But she might love their house more.

Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.

So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?

The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder.

As long as they trust each other.

And as long as there are no surprises . . .

' A modern master of the psychological thriller.' STEVE CAVANAGH
'The queen of page-turners' ANDREA MARA
'Shari Lapena is the undisputed queen of dysfunctional families.' CLARE MACKINTOSH

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Adult, Thriller Suspense

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 28, 2026

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I’ll admit it right away — I’m not usually a big fan of unlikable main characters, especially when they’re ruthless, power-hungry, money-obsessed murderers who plan to get away with it. But here’s the thing: when a story pulls off that kind of dynamic this well, I simply cannot resist. The perfectly executed cat-and-mouse game, the nonstop pacing, the taut, nerve-wracking tension — it’s impossible to look away. Each twist hit like a lightning strike, and by the halfway mark, I could practically feel the walls closing in! More popcorn and wine, please, because I stayed up all night devouring this thriller. It just kept getting better with every chapter until that juicy, explosive final epilogue had me whispering, “Hell yeah, that was good!”

It might not be my all-time favorite Shari Lapena novel, but it still delivers a wickedly fun, hyperventilating, mind-bending ride full of sharp twists and relentless suspense that will make you question everyone and trust no one.
Jill and Ted — the so-called power couple at the center of the chaos — are a perfect study in greed and moral decay. Let’s be honest: they don’t really deserve the glamorous lives they’ve built. Ted, a spoiled heir who inherited his father’s fortune, has the business sense of a potato. His stunning wife Jill, the classic trophy spouse, escaped her rough, working-class upbringing (with an alcoholic father and a string of disappointments) by marrying into money. She now works at an art gallery and dreams of opening her own — naturally expecting Ted to bankroll the whole thing.
But when Ted’s reckless investments implode and they’re suddenly on the verge of losing everything — including their elegant Brooklyn brownstone house — desperation takes hold. A visit to Ted’s arrogant, loaded brother Greg ends in rejection, and from there, Ted decides on a solution only a sociopath could justify: if Greg dies, he inherits everything. Forty million dollars, to be exact.

So the couple plots the perfect crime. A simple boating trip, a few too many glasses of champagne, a conveniently absent life vest — and Greg is gone, swallowed by the sea. The cover story? Smooth, polished, and believable... or so they think. But they didn’t count on Officer Ramirez, the relentless investigator who smells deceit from the start. Add to that Lara, Jill’s suspicious best friend, John, Ted’s unsettling old acquaintance who suddenly reappears, and Nadya, the cleaning lady with moral dilemmas of her own when her son falls in with dangerous company — and you have a tangled web of lies, guilt, and manipulation.

Then come the messages. Anonymous. Chilling. Someone out there knows what they did. Someone might even have proof. The tension skyrockets as paranoia takes over — and the price of their newfound wealth might just demand the ultimate redemption.

Overall: This was one of the fastest-paced mysteries I’ve read in ages — I devoured it in a single sitting! Addictive, sharp, and full of gasp-worthy moments, it’s a smart, entertaining thriller that keeps your pulse racing until the very last page. Shari Lapena once again proves she knows exactly how to deliver a slick, twist-filled psychological ride.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin / Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with this addictive, highly anticipated thriller’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Laura Lovesreading]

EEEEEEEEK! My fave domestic suspense author!
I must find a way to get my hands on this one sooner!
I cant get enough of Shari's pen game!
💛🤍💛🤍

[Carrie Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.

I don't think I've ever read a book so quickly. This story was made to be devoured and was the very definition of a dark, delicious thriller.

I absolutely despised the main characters, Jill and Ted. The back story of how they ended up together will fill you with glee in its perfect execution. These two vapid people adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children or their pets, of which they have neither. They have painstakingly renovated every square inch, importing all the best finishes, the most expensive luxuries, to craft a dwelling that was just perfectly 'them.' Ted is living on borrowed time as he has blown through his inheritance and tanked what little was left with a bad investment. He finally comes clean to Jill, telling her the only choice was to sell the brownstone. She would rather die than lose the home she so painstakingly created, so they resort to a desperate plan.

They visit Ted’s brother Greg, who has much better business acumen than Ted. He's worth upwards of $40 million, and the pair figures if they can swindle a small loan (which they decide they will never repay) from him, they can keep their beloved home. Their request ends in cruel rejection, and from there, Greg's fate is decided. Ted knows that after Greg's marriage ended, he is the sole heir of Greg's fortune. All they need to do is plan the perfect crime.

But crimes of this magnitude are rarely perfect, even though it starts off that way. A trip on Greg's sailboat in turbulent weather, an egomaniac with a history of never wearing a life jacket and bragging about his skill navigating the water--well, it's hardly shocking when he plunges overboard. The couple gleefully celebrates their good fortune, but they didn't count on what was to come. The red herrings were plentiful with the supporting cast: Officer Ramirez, the relentless investigator who suspects foul play immediately; Jill's best friend Lara, who has known her for years and notices her shift in behavior; Nadya, the couple's cleaner who spends her days removing the dirt from the opulent dwellings of others while she is left to sit alone in her humble home to worry about the fate of her son, whom she fears is destined for prison thanks to the new crowd he has decided to run with, and John, a former acquaintance of Ted who suddenly reappears at a most opportune time with a 'business proposition' that's a sure thing.

Then the text messages begin: "I know what you did," and from there, all the lies, deceit, and manipulation converge into a shocking, explosive finale. Will Jill and Ted turn on each other? Will they get what's coming to them, or will they walk away from what they've done unscathed? This is going to be one of the top thrillers of 2026. Many thanks to Viking/Pamela Dorman Books for this early read. Expected publication date is July 16, 2026.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to win this book from a Goodreads giveaway! This book is excellent, hard to put down as the twists and turns keep coming. I highly recommend it!

[Karen Casale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off good but nothing really happened. Why should I care about a bunch of rich people getting richer? Where’s the story arc? Where’s the character growth and development?
The last third. Ugh! The ending ugh!

[Madis Mysteries · Rating 3 out of 5]

I personally think Shari’s last few have been so so good that one had to be a miss for me and that was this one. HOWEVER, it was still quite good and kept me hooked but I think I rated her last two books 5 stars (I think) so this had some steep competition. Her writing style is always compelling and that wasn’t any different here but it was the plot that didn’t do it for me.

This one follows the story of a couple in financial trouble who kill their only living family member to inherit his fortune. You find out about the murder in the first or second chapter so you know (1) who died and (2) who did it so I wouldn’t classify this as a whodunnit which is usually Lapena’s bread and butter. It was more of an along for the ride thriller where you weren’t trying to guess anything but were just observing the characters panic.

I think because that was more of the plot I would’ve wanted a couple or at least one character that I loved and was rooting for but the characters were largely intentionally unlikable so I kind of wanted them to be caught?

Anyways, this one was good but not great!

[Jindi (readingwithcaffeine) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read just one of Shari Lapena’s books in the past, I actually had no idea what to expect when starting this one - but I was pleasantly surprised! It’s super fast paced, with seriously DIABOLICAL characters and whilst there’s no massive twists or shocking moments, it was great for getting me out of my reading slump.

Packed with unlikable characters all with their own hidden agendas, it’s hard to find anyone to root for in this book but I was still entertained enough to see it through until the end. It begins with a planned murder and then we follow our main characters over the next 300 pages as they try to hide their crimes.

I did enjoy it and it was easy to get through but if I’m honest, it was nothing too special. As someone who reads thriller books non-stop, it ended up being just “okay” for me. 3.5 stars

[Kristina]

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced copy!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

have never been so excited to have been approved for a book as I was for Getting Away With Murder. I have consistently read each and every book Shari Lapena releases as soon as they are published. This was the first time I have ever gotten an early copy, so when I say I savored each chapter, I truly mean it!

Our main characters in the book, Jill and Ted are horrible people. Selfish, arrogant, rich, and not all that smart at times. They make a horrific decision at the very start of the book, and the fallout and consequences of that mistake are about to turn their whole world apart.

I was glued into this book from the get go! I absolutely loved the way the action happened right at the beginning. I wasn’t expecting the first couple of chapters to get right down to business, but they did- and I’m not complaining. There was a great cast of characters throughout the story who played pivotal roles in the book, and as a reader I didn’t know who to trust. The pacing and the suspense were perfect. There are scenes that will have your jaw on the floor, including the unexpected banister scene (not a spoiler) among others. What I love most about Shari Lapena is her books are just perfect. She leaves no stone unturned and everything always comes together beautifully at the end of her books.

I found all of the characters in the book to be really interesting, especially Jill’s best friend Lara. I couldn’t peg her for being a true friend or not. And Ted. Oh Ted! His famous last words were “I will figure it out” each time he and Jill were thrown yet another plot twist or hurdle. The ending was very unexpected! It was one of the most surprising parts of the story obviously, mainly because I just never saw it coming.

Shari Lapena crafts the most interesting and fun thrillers of any author out there. If you want a book that’s clever, fast paced and always ends with a perfect twist then she’s your girl! I highly recommend other readers read this book when available. All the stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and also Viking/Pamela Dorman for the opportunity to read this book in advance. It was a privilege to do so!

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jill and Ted are living the dream - an expensive brownstone in Brooklyn, high-powered jobs, and an inheritance from Ted’s father. But when bad investments and uncontrolled spending put them on the brink of bankruptcy, they hatch a plan that will solve all their problems. Getting Away With Murder held a lot of promise, but that optimism quickly faded after only a few chapters as this highly anticipated book fails to deliver. The dialogue is stilted, the plot goes around in circles amid repetitive chapters and recaps, and not one remotely likable character made this a chore to get through. There’s no real suspense and some plot lines just come out of nowhere, and it fails to capture the imagination. Given this author’s past books, this was a huge disappointment. I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[booked.with.julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do to protect the life you’ve built? Jill and Ted have the dream brownstone, the picture perfect marriage… and absolutely no money left. When a bad investment puts everything at risk, they start to plan… if one wealthy family member dies, they will inherit millions. What if murder is the answer and what if they can actually get away with it?

This one had me hooked fast. The trust between Jill and Ted starts cracking, and you realize just how far people will go to protect their status. It’s messy and the characters are definitely unlikeable.

I loved watching the unraveling: the paranoia,the panic. Short chapters, dark and twisty!

[M Soh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and Pamela Dorman Books for providing this book, with my honest review below.

How does Shari Lapena have to know her readers and fans of the thriller genre so well to be a step ahead of them? Getting Away with Murder is for those fans who love the genre and are getting a bit sick of the formula, capitalizing on the mystery and suspense we all love but taking a different approach. In this book, Jill and Ted are a very well off couple in NYC who have spent more than even they have. The obvious solution to them is to off Ted’s brother Greg, but when they throw themselves under suspicion all the people around them seem to know and one in particular is out to get them. When I tell you Jill and Ted are the worst and deserve every drawn out moment of terror they’ll do themselves in, it’s easy to believe within a few pages, but the way the book plays with its audience getting to who did it and what comes from the culmination of events, you should be more surprised.

Kudos to Shari for once again anticipating what readers want before they may realize it themselves.

[Anderson McKean · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The amazing Shari Lapena has earned her title as the Queen of the One-Sit read once again! GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER had me riveted from the first chapter to the very end. It has all the elements I love in Lapena’s thrillers — morally gray characters, diligent detectives and unpredictable twists. Good luck trying to solve the case before the last satisfying page!”

[Unsolved ☕︎ Mystery]

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you.

Review to follow....

[Jennifer Barton · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

She did not disappoint !!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I requested this because I generally dig Shari Lapena’s thrillers - is it weird to say this is reminiscent of The Couple Next Door if I don’t actually *remember* very much about that book? Either way, the vibes are the same - very much a domestic thriller. It also reminded me of a less annoying version of Kill Your Darlings, since it’s told chronologically (that book was fine, but the timeline gimmick was hiding a not very interesting plot).

Ted and Jill Wescott are having money problems (though for months only Ted is aware of them), so they decide that the best solution is to kill his brother Greg. As Greg’s sole heir, Ted will get all of his money which will solve all of their problems. This goes about as well as you might expect - they’re able to pull off the actual murder part, but as always, it’s keeping it covered up that presents the most problems.

There’s a bit of jumping around at first - we open with the three of them on the boat, the day of Greg’s “accident,” and then jump back a few months, then forward, then back again…and then we’re just staying in the present. I get why authors do this - catch your attention right away with the crime, then jump back to fill in the gaps - but it’s starting to get old. It’s a common tv trope as well, and it’s just exhausting to get sucked into something and then see the dreaded “4 months ago” card and know that it’ll be a while before you get back to anything interesting. In this case, the flashbacks fill in the expected blanks - Ted and Greg both had trust funds, but Ted isn’t great with money and keeps throwing what he has left into bad investments in the hopes of getting it all back. He doesn’t fill his wife in on any of this until it’s too late and he’s in debt to a loan shark, and it takes shockingly little convincing to get her on board with murdering Greg.

Their idea of the “perfect” crime is to take him out on his boat (where he’s known for being reckless and never wearing a life jacket), get him a little drunk and then push him overboard. It works more or less as planned - they leave him to drown, drive away and THEN call the Coast Guard, going through all of the motions of having lost him in the storm. But of course that’s not the end of it - someone seems to know what they’ve done, and they start getting threatening texts, which hint that someone is watching them. Plus the Coast Guard investigator won’t stop sniffing around. As you might expect, Ted and Jill get more and more paranoid as the story progresses, to the point where you’re expecting them to turn on each other at any moment.

Like all of Lapena’s novels, this one moves quickly and is hard to put down. I didn’t love the unraveling in the end (I was expecting one last twist), but it was a fun ride nonetheless.

[Jodi P · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

** This review contains spoilers **

This was an interesting thriller. More than just a typical mystery, it dealt with the common scenario of those with means being able to get away with all sorts of illegal behavior - or, in this case, literal murder.

I loved the opening of the book. It had me hooked from the very beginning. At first, I thought that Jill was going to be a character that we liked and sympathized with. However, it was soon revealed that she was just as horrible as her husband, Ted. That right there might lead in to what my biggest problem of the story was - there was no character with any "good" who you were able to root for. Even the victim had a "he had it coming" vibe to him.

Of course, most frustratingly, was the ending. Truly seeing people get away with murder and blackmail and all other sorts of crimes and not facing any justice feels uncomfortably unfair from the reader's perspective (well, at least this reader). Knowing that there will be no more rich friends, fancy parties or vanity jobs did not seem to be a fair punishment.

The other thing that I have to mention is the house. The brownstone that Jill and Ted live in, and essentially becomes the catalyst for their choices and downfall, is almost another character in the story. The vivid descriptions of the rooms and the upgrades almost read like some kind of tantalizing HGTV porn or like fanfic devoted entirely to the home interiors of a Nancy Meyers movie. Sometimes I found it intriguing, other times distracting and, most of all, overdone. That and how many times it is referenced that the couple made coffee. If they had actually named the brand of coffee maker, I would have assumed there was a paid partnership.

I always love a Shari Lapena book. Especially the last few ones she's put out. However, this one just didn't do it for me. Now, it might be a credit to her writing because she made those characters so incredibly terrible that they kind of ruined the story for me. Also, reading is an escape for me and unfortunately this one hit too close to reality when showing how money and power can buy your way out of consequences.

Nonetheless, this is a definite purchase for the library and one to recommend to those looking for a mystery/thriller to read. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Olivia Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

*thank you to NetGalley and Viking for a copy of this eARC*

When Ted and Jill come up with the idea to kill Ted's wealthy brother Greg for the inheritance money, it seems like the perfect plan. They've thought of everything: evidence, the body, where to do it so it seems like an accident...nothing can go wrong. But when the couple starts receiving anonymous texts declaring their guilt--and the tapes to prove it--the perfect crime becomes the perfect nightmare. Suddenly their 40 million dollar windfall is quickly dwindling with more and more blackmail promises and debts, their best friends are now suspects, and there are even cameras in their living room. Will the truth prevail, or will Jill and Ted go down for what they did?

I am usually a big fan of Shari Lapena's mysteries, but Getting Away with Murder fell a little flat for me. Maybe it was because the main characters were the villains with no redeeming qualities, or maybe it was the lack of payoff in the end, but something about this latest thriller didn't grip me as much as her previous novels. However, if you're looking to read a mystery from the antagonists' point of view, or a book where the good guys never seem to win, this is great! The writing is still strong, the characters are still fleshed out, and Lapena's classic multiple POV storytelling is still well-done, it's just the karmic justice that fails, which is maybe the point. After all, aren't we seeing karmic justice fail every day in the news?

[Madeline Church · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars! Getting Away with Murder falls in the middle in terms of Shari Lapena books I've read. This one was a very fast-paced one, and it can definitely be read in one or two sittings!

I truly loved the setting in this one. Jill and Ted live in a New York brownstone; Shari Lapena actually made you feel as if you were there. Especially in the beginning, the scene was set perfectly. She described the brownstone in great detail, and I loved every second of it. I think this is something that lacks in a lot of thrillers. The story usually jumps straight into it without setting the scene.

The novel doesn't rank as higher as other Shari Lapena's to me because of the characters. It was hard to care about the story for some time. The reasoning for this is that the characters are so unlikeable!!! It's definitely that way for a reason, but wow, every single character makes me feel that way.

For the first 50% of the story, I thought I had it all figured out. In true Shari Lapena fashion, of course I didn't!! I was genuinely surprised at multiple points, and Getting Away with Murder is no doubt another great story by this author.

Thank you NetGalley, Pamela Dorman Books, & Shari Lapena for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Getting Away with Murder is released on July 28, 2026!

[Farnham68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your brother were rich and you needed Money desperately and he wouldn’t lend it to you, and not only that, made fun of you because he had more Money and you did not, would you kill him to get it?

That’s what happened in this book. Of course, the Plot is in the title….. but what makes it great is that the author makes it so realistic. I felt like it could be my brother. She made it seem so easy! What kept the pages turning though is that they thought it was the Perfect murder bc there was no evidence, and they’d certainly get away with it, but they made a huge mistake and kept talking about it in their own home. Bragging even….. and someone was listening. But who??? How??? Then once you find out who it was you keep thinking they get closer to figuring it out, or you just want to see how far they’ll go with accusing the wrong person.

This book was page after page of surprises and new twists. I couldn’t put it down. When I couldn’t sit and read, I’d turn on speak screen on my phone and listen to it in the car. I played it all the time! Lapena does it again! I just love everything she writes. She always knows how to capture the reader and keep them engaged. You’re gonna love this one too!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this Galley in exchange for my honest review.

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shut the front door!!! The queen of psychological domestic suspense has floored me with her latest jewel, Getting Away With Murder. Shari Lapena has been a must read author for me since her first book came out, and she has never disappointed me.

Ted and Jill have everything they could possibly want, until they don't. Having spent all their millions living frivolously, they find themselves in financial despair. They concoct a sinister plan to murder the person standing in their way of inheriting millions. Once the plan is executed, they think they're in the clear. But someone knows what they have done and wants their own payday. But who is it, and how do they know?

This gripping thriller is packed with lies, deception, tension and so many secrets. I was turning the pages well into the night unable to stop myself. This is exactly how a great thriller is written. The two main characters are vile, disgusting, and greedy, and I found myself rooting against them. The ending was a huge surprise. It was definitely not what I was expecting. Bravo Shari Lapena, for once again stunning me. I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next!

Thanks to Netgalley and Viking Penguin for the advanced copy

[Donna Krutsinger - Mockingbird Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shari Lapena has become one of my favorite domestic thriller authors. As in many of hers, the mystery isn't who committed the crime, it's the fallout surrounding the crime with supporting characters. Her new one, Getting Away with Murder, follows that format perfectly.

Main characters, Ted and Jill, used to be very well off, but Ted made some unwise business decisions and gave into his wife's every whim as they were redoing their beloved brownstone. There is a surefire way to come into millions though. That would involve doing away with his cocky, well to do, worth millions older brother, Greg. They succeed in doing just that - committing the "perfect" murder - and are in line for inheriting millions, but their problems are just beginning.

As Lapena's plot progresses, we are treated with a cast of even more villainous characters who are interested in greed and blackmail. There is one investigator who tries and tries and tries to get to the bottom of things. This new one by Shari Lapena presents us with so many unlikeable secondary characters. It's an engrossing read to the end as we're trying to find the answer to the question...did they indeed get away with the perfect murder?

Thank you, NetGalley and Viking Penguin, for this new thriller that drops July 28, 2026.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like they say, sometimes it’s not the crime that gets you, but the coverup. These are unlikable, immoral characters who lie, manipulate and murder. Trapped in a net of their own making, I should have been rooting for their comeuppance but instead I kept turning the pages hoping that they’d get away with it. Jill and Ted are immensely wealthy and still living beyond their means. They are about to lose it all, unless Ted’s even richer brother dies. Their plan is perfect! Seriously, the most absolutely flawless scheme to, as the title says, get away with murder. This happens at the beginning of the novel, and the rest are the consequences of their act. I didn’t like Jill and Ted and I couldn’t really sympathize with any other character. I understood them, but there isn’t a single relatable person in the cast. Still, I was engrossed. I loved how the author reflects such an alien world of privilege as the setting of such an ordinary crime. The ugliness of their actions is such a big contrast with their beautiful homes. I’ve always enjoyed the author’s novels and this one is no exception. 4.5 stars, rounded up.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down

I started this book on New Year's Eve and finished it on New Year's Day. It was definitely an easy read, and it was entertaining. I am rating it 3.5 stars and rounding down because it was not Shari Lapena's best work. While I have read books from a villain's POV and found myself sympathetic towards said villain, this was not one of them. Ted was spoiled and irresponsible, and not unlike a kid that eats all his Halloween candy in one night and then expects to have most of his sibling's candy. Jill wasn't much better- she was so vain and materialistic that she felt entitled to have what she wanted, no matter the cost. I honestly can't say that I liked anyone in the entire book. Most of the characters seemed rather flat to me.

If the point of the book was to highlight that one bad choice can snowball and end up negatively affecting a lot of people, then this book succeeded in that. This is a book I would recommend with caveats. I know people that would enjoy this book, and people who would hate it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin / Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Kristie Kieffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting Away with Murder is Shari Lapena doing what she does best: crafting a tightly wound, compulsively readable thriller that keeps you guessing from first page to last. The tension is immediate, the pacing relentless, and every chapter ends with that signature Lapena jolt that makes it impossible to stop reading.

The characters are deliciously unreliable—each one hiding something, each one capable of far more than they let on. Lapena expertly plays with suspicion, shifting your theories constantly until you’re not sure who to trust or what to believe. The small, claustrophobic setting only amps up the paranoia and unease.

What really stands out is how cleverly the plot is constructed. Every reveal lands, every twist feels earned, and the story unfolds with perfect timing. The finale is shocking in that classic Lapena way—bold, satisfying, and guaranteed to stick with you long after you close the book.

If you love domestic suspense filled with secrets, sharp turns, and characters you love to suspect, Getting Away with Murder is a must-read.

[Amber Boos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this was a pretty enjoyable book considering I absolutely hated most of the characters! I think we are supposed to, though. Ted and Jill are married. They live in their expensive dream home, and Jill likes to spend lots of money. Oh, and through a series of bad investments, Ted is now seriously in debt. Ted's brother Greg, however, is not. He is worth about $45 million. Oh, and Ted is his beneficiary. Hmm, what to do, what to do? Ted comes up with a plan to murder Greg and Jill is totally onboard. But someone out there knows what happened and wants a piece of the pie. This leads to all sorts of tension, lies, mistrust, you name it. It's not just between Ted and Jill, however. Relatives and "friends" start coming out of the woodwork too! Rich people wanting to stay rich and behaving very badly! Some nice twists and loved the Epilogue! Shari Lapena cannot write a bad book! Can't wait for the next one!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Shari Lapena and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Angie Miale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Shari Lapena so I jumped at the chance to early read this thriller coming out in July 2026. Jill and Ted are greedy, selfish, really unlikable people. When teaching writing, they say, "Show the reader, don't tell them." For me the first 30% of this book was a lot of telling instead of showing. Not a lot of dialogue. An action-packed prologue with a murder, but then it turned into getting the reader to dislike Jill and Ted, and wonder if they were going to get caught. Which we absolutely wanted to happen. More and more characters introduced, which was easy to get them straight, because they were introduced at different times in the story.

This particular story didn't grab me... but you know what? I definitely kept reading until the very last page. And I preordered it anyway. Ha. I will re-read it when it is published in 9 months.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the ARC. Book to be published July 28, 2026

[Jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big thank you to #NetGalley for the early E-ARC of Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena
⭐ 4.5 Stars ⭐
I don’t think Shari Lapena has ever written a book I didn’t absolutely inhale! I'd read her grocery list for fun. Getting Away with Murder is fast, wild, and so impossible to put down that I basically blinked and finished it.
The story jumps right in and never lets up—short chapters, constant tension, and plenty of those “oh no they didn’t” moments. And the characters? Pure chaos in human form. Every single one is the perfect blend of shady, annoying, guilty-looking, or downright suspicious. Truly, a whole cast of “I can’t stand you but please keep talking” people.
It’s quick, addicting, and unforgettable. The only negative was an anti climatic ending. I was hoping for a shock. it was just clean and neat.
If you love Lapena, this one will feel like a treat. If you’re new to her, buckle in—you’re about to lose sleep.
4.5 stars of twisty fun!

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspenseful with compelling plot and action, but flat, stereotypical characters detract from the enjoyability.

Jill and Ted think they have planned the perfect murder, one that will preserve their carefully cultivated, elite lifestyle. But it might not be as easy as they thought, and with no one left to trust, their perfect lives begin to unravel.

I usually love Shari Lapena's books, but this one fell flat for me. The story itself is fairly strong, and the suspense elements are masterfully handled, but the characters are all unlikeable, one-dimensional stereotypes (some of them kind of offensive). Class tensions and the wealth gap are central to this book, but the themes are poorly handled and lack any depth or nuance.

Overall, I couldn't put it down, but I'm not sure I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for access to an Advance Readers' Copy in exchange for an honest review.