Friend, Lover, Killer

by S.E. Green

She writes about killers. She never meant to become one. Lola Dahl is a bestselling thriller author whose career is quietly unraveling. Her last book flopped. Her publisher is losing patience. And the words—the good ones—have stopped coming. Then Lola kills someone. It isn't planned. It isn't justified. But something terrifying happens in the her creativity roars back to life. The story pours out of her. The pages fly. For the first time in years, she feels unstoppable.

As Lola channels her darkest impulses into a new manuscript about a vigilante named Nyx—a woman hunting those who profit from human suffering—the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur. Each death sharpens her focus. Each secret pushes her closer to discovery. And somewhere out there, someone may be watching her far more closely than she realizes.

"Friend, Lover, Killer" is a chilling psychological thriller about obsession, moral rot, and the dangerous thrill of getting away with murder. Told through an intimate first-person voice, it dares you to root for a protagonist you should never trust—and won't be able to forget. Some stories are worth killing for.

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2026

About the author

S. E. Green is the award-winning and best-selling author of young adult and adult books. She grew up in Tennessee where she dreaded all things reading and writing. She didn’t even read her first book for enjoyment until she was twenty-five. After that, she was hooked! When she’s not writing, she's usually traveling or hanging out with a rogue armadillo that frequents her backyard.

Reviews

[Eileen Murphy-Schmehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lola writes dark thrillers. She’s successful, but her last book was a flop. Her publisher wants a new book right away. Lola has to get out of her slump, but has no ideas… until she begins to research old enemies . Is there a new story there?

A crazy tale of a writer who will go to any lengths for her next novel. A great read, for sure.

I received an advance copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mishkaat ‎♡‧₊˚✧ ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა ✧˚₊‧♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 4.5-star read for me.

In the makings of a serial killer, my general idea was that being abused or neglected by parents was what made a person behave that way. Apparently, searching for inspiration for the next bestseller is also a probable cause.

This is my first S.E. Green novel, and I loved reading it. It's written well; the pacing of events, the anticipation of the MC's next "unhinged" move, and its justification kept me turning pages for more. Plus, bonus points, I got to read two stories in one.

The premise of the story is quite believable; honestly, it's a perfect cover. Now, we just need to make sure that a thriller writer keeps their novel at a comfortable mid-length, steering clear of those hefty 700-800 page tomes.

[Jenny Hebert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SUCH a dark and twisted read! Honestly, I was hooked by the concept alone. You have a thriller writer who accidentally kills someone, and instead of falling apart, it basically unlocks her creativity again. Like WHAT?? From there she turns into this vigilante killer, only going after people who got away with horrible crimes, and every kill fuels her writing. It is messed up but also weirdly fascinating to watch unfold. PEAK ADDICTIVE ENERGY. 📖🔥

I really liked the structure of this book too. You get her real life chapters and then the chapters from the book she is writing, and the way those start blending together is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD. It makes everything feel more intense and a little unhinged in the best way. It is a total mind trip! And then there is the whole stalker element? The drawings showing scenes from her past books and the messages after each murder had me like okay wait, who is watching her?? That added a whole extra layer of tension that was FREAKING INTENSE. 🎨👣

Lola as a character is a LOT. She has a rough past, and while you understand parts of her, you also know she is completely spiraling. It is one of those books where you are kind of rooting for her but also like “this is VERY wrong” at the same time. The audacity of her transition into a vigilante is wild! It is clever, engaging, and pulls you right into her messed-up head. IT’S THE REAL DEAL. 🧠💀

If you like dark thrillers, vigilante justice vibes, and morally messed up main characters, this is definitely worth picking up. It is creepy, addictive, and keeps you questioning everything until the very end. I could not put it down! It is a total win for anyone who loves a gritty, psychological story with no filler!!!!!!!! 🌟🔪

TOTAL 8/10. A TWISTED MUST-READ! A1. 🏆🖤

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cyndi Fulco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friend Lover, Killer moved quickly, kept me engaged, unfolded in ways I saw coming, and I still enjoyed it! At times, it felt a little far-fetched, but honestly, I didn't care. I was having too much fun with the ride.

What really made this book work for me were the characters. I found myself invested in all of them, flaws and all, and watching the story unravel piece by piece was incredibly entertaining. Every twist seemed to arrive at just the right moment, keeping me turning pages long after I planned to stop.

And while I certainly don't condone murder, the fact that the killer's victims were pedophiles and sex traffickers added a layer of satisfaction that I wasn't expecting. It definitely complicated the moral lines in interesting ways and made me think more about justice, revenge, and who we choose to root for.

A fast-paced, twisty read with memorable characters, unexpected turns, and plenty to keep you entertained.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark thriller writer accidentally kills a man, then she goes on a spree as a vigilante killer, murdering only those who have committed major crimes that slipped through the cracks of the justice system. These murders ignite her inspiration for her latest novel that everyone from her agent to the publisher is saying it is her best work yet. Will she be caught for these crimes?

In between her chapters are the chapters she is writing for her latest book. She is also being sent drawings of images depicting scenes from her previous books and then sent messages after each of her real-life killings. Is she being stalked?

I would recommend this book if you like vigilante killings and a woman with a horrible childhood that has made a life for herself

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lola always had rage inside her, against her parents, especially against her mother who had an alcohol addiction and allowed her to be raped at 12 yo. Now she uses that rage to write her books, that only are successful when she "lives" the killings and wrongdoings she describes in her novels. She has difficulty to settle down, to trust, make friends, and goes on a violence spree after she decides to make people pay for their wrongdoings. Dark. sad, full of action and a bit of romance, Friend, Lover, Killer is one of those books that once you start reading you just cannot stop. It has an end that I did not see coming!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was wild. Lola needing inspiration for a new book since her last one flopped, ends up ending someone’s life. But it was thrilling and invigorating for her. The words start pouring into the pages. A story develops, and she feels a new sense of being a thriller writer. She continue med to unalive people but only those who have committed crimes and managed to slip through the cracks of the justice system. But it keeps her creative juices flowing. I was so invested in this one, I couldn’t put it down. It was intense and captivating. The twists and turns were awesome. This is a first time author for me, and I’ll definitely be reading more.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friend. Lover. Killer is a thriller by S E Green. I feel that this book is a serial killer/author, thriller, and a horror story rolled into a very well written book. When Lola has writers block, she commits a murder and the words flow. In my opinion, the author really describes the victim well and gets inside Lola's mind while she is murdering. I feel the book is dark and if horror/thrillers are books you enjoy… I believe that this story is one you will enjoy. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING!

Holy shizz, Ms. Green! I haven’t read all of your work, but now plan to dig into the back catalogue. This book? It is EVERYTHING. (Especially topical these days. ) Funny, as I was finishing this today, my ex texted me and asked if he had left his baseball bat here when he moved out two weeks ago. It is now sitting next to me on the couch. I told him to come and get it. 😉 Thanks for a fantastic read! All the stars, highly recommended!

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! Brutal, bloody, fantastic! Lola is a writer of dark thrillers currently writing about a serial killer seeking vengeance against a group of people who had trafficked her. Lola finds her muse through extensive hands-on research. Lola is gruesome but still a sympathetic character. Certainly not for everyone since there is a lot of very descriptive brutal murders. Plus the subject of human trafficking is the main issue. But if you're up for it, this is a great book!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watch how one author becomes a killer to get her writers cramp become more powerful. Seeing her go from an author to a killer for a story is incredible powerful as you wonder if she will finally get caught. Seeing just what she gets up to
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a compelling read

[Jeff Bradford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cool idea for a plot involving the author and the unique ways she gets her ideas for the story. The events are dark but tastefully written and the twist kept me guessing to the shocking end. I enjoyed reading this and will recommend it to fellow readers.

[Debbie Benton · Rating 5 out of 5]

S.E. Green never disappoints. Her thrillers are AWESOME - lots of surprises and so entertaining. They all will have you at the edge of your seat as you read. I'm making my way through all of her books. I highly recommend you do too!

[Cherie Melbourne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if I'm a fan of this story, it's very hard to be able to relate to the main character when their character develops into a serial killer that gets away with it. The twists at the end are very dark.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

[Aly L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feels like a 4⭐… but just barely 🤔

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ It just missed the mark for me. Not enough time was spent on the characters to help develop the story that was being told. It definitely had potential.

[Paul Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Really good book. Keeps you reading into the night. Hard to put down. Will look for more from this author.