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Just Between Us
Not yet published
Expected 30 Mar 26Six friends. One storm. A secret to die for…
We arrived at the beautiful, sprawling Spanish villa ready to celebrate – over twenty years of friendship, and of course, Alexis’s big birthday. It’s paradise. Alexis has pulled out all the stops, and like always, I know we’re meant to be grateful…
But the tensions begin on the very first night.
The workaholic slipping off to take mysterious calls.
The people pleaser afraid to speak out.
The quiet observer snidely analysing every move we make.
The former life of the party knocking back wine to forget it all.
Even I, the peacekeeper, have secrets…
And of course, Alexis, the Queen Bee – furious that, as a summer storm descends, her perfect trip isn’t working out like she planned… Her fury makes it feel like she’s hiding something. Like her schemes are unravelling…
I thought our secrets finally emerging might be the biggest threat on this trip. But on the last night, I wake up on the cold floor of the locked wine cellar, a knife clutched in my hand and Alexis’s body unmoving beside me.
I want to scream, to cry, to run, but with the floodwater rising, we’re trapped. My friends all think I killed her. But I know I didn’t, which means someone else here did…
An addictive, deliciously juicy and twisty psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of The Wives, The Holiday and One of the Girls.
Readers love Barbara
‘I just read my new favourite book… ALL THE STARS!… I'm in awe… I was so flipped around by the end!… READ THIS BOOK!… *INSERT STANDING OVATION HERE*’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘One of the best books I have read… Gripping… Left me completely hooked… Packed with twists and turns on nearly every page… will leave you stunned.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘WOW – I am speechless… I am absolutely blown away by this book… Really, really got under my skin… I feel slightly dizzy now and need a lie down with a soft pillow and lots of chocolate.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘OMFG!!… Just blew everything else out of the water. Seriously. This book had me on edge… My poor nerves were shattered. Buy it, read it, love it! This book gets ALL the stars from me!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Spectacular. I was totally blindsided by the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it so much I read it in one sitting.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘This book!!! What do I even say?? Where do I even begin??!! I am so in awe… Left me reeling even hours after reading it…
We arrived at the beautiful, sprawling Spanish villa ready to celebrate – over twenty years of friendship, and of course, Alexis’s big birthday. It’s paradise. Alexis has pulled out all the stops, and like always, I know we’re meant to be grateful…
But the tensions begin on the very first night.
The workaholic slipping off to take mysterious calls.
The people pleaser afraid to speak out.
The quiet observer snidely analysing every move we make.
The former life of the party knocking back wine to forget it all.
Even I, the peacekeeper, have secrets…
And of course, Alexis, the Queen Bee – furious that, as a summer storm descends, her perfect trip isn’t working out like she planned… Her fury makes it feel like she’s hiding something. Like her schemes are unravelling…
I thought our secrets finally emerging might be the biggest threat on this trip. But on the last night, I wake up on the cold floor of the locked wine cellar, a knife clutched in my hand and Alexis’s body unmoving beside me.
I want to scream, to cry, to run, but with the floodwater rising, we’re trapped. My friends all think I killed her. But I know I didn’t, which means someone else here did…
An addictive, deliciously juicy and twisty psychological thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night. Perfect for fans of The Wives, The Holiday and One of the Girls.
Readers love Barbara
‘I just read my new favourite book… ALL THE STARS!… I'm in awe… I was so flipped around by the end!… READ THIS BOOK!… *INSERT STANDING OVATION HERE*’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘One of the best books I have read… Gripping… Left me completely hooked… Packed with twists and turns on nearly every page… will leave you stunned.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘WOW – I am speechless… I am absolutely blown away by this book… Really, really got under my skin… I feel slightly dizzy now and need a lie down with a soft pillow and lots of chocolate.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘OMFG!!… Just blew everything else out of the water. Seriously. This book had me on edge… My poor nerves were shattered. Buy it, read it, love it! This book gets ALL the stars from me!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Spectacular. I was totally blindsided by the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it so much I read it in one sitting.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘This book!!! What do I even say?? Where do I even begin??!! I am so in awe… Left me reeling even hours after reading it…
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 30, 2026
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Copperthwaite
12 books292 followersWhat people say about Barbara's books:
"Will have you looking over your shoulder and under your bed... Original, gripping, with a deep psychological impact," Sunday Mirror
"Enthralling, tense and moving," Real People magazine
"Totally gripping, and scarily believable," Bella magazine
Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, HER LAST SECRET, and THE PERFECT FRIEND. Her new book, THE GIRL IN THE MISSING POSTER, is out on 23 February but available to pre-order now!
More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).
Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers' eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.
When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.
To find out more about Barbara's novels, go to www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCoppert... or follow @BCopperthwait on Twitter. To find out more about Barbara go to www.barbaracopperthwaite.com
"Will have you looking over your shoulder and under your bed... Original, gripping, with a deep psychological impact," Sunday Mirror
"Enthralling, tense and moving," Real People magazine
"Totally gripping, and scarily believable," Bella magazine
Barbara is the Amazon and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, HER LAST SECRET, and THE PERFECT FRIEND. Her new book, THE GIRL IN THE MISSING POSTER, is out on 23 February but available to pre-order now!
More importantly, she loves cakes, wildlife photography and, last but definitely not least, her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy (who force her to throw tennis balls for them for hours).
Having spent over twenty years as a national newspaper and magazine journalist, Barbara has interviewed the real victims of crime - and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers' eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.
When not writing feverishly, she is often found hiding behind a camera, taking wildlife photographs.
To find out more about Barbara's novels, go to www.facebook.com/AuthorBarbaraCoppert... or follow @BCopperthwait on Twitter. To find out more about Barbara go to www.barbaracopperthwaite.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm a big fan of locked-room whodunits, so I went into this novel with high expectations and in many ways, it delivered exactly what I love about the genre. The classic setup of a closed circle of suspects cut off from the outside world immediately drew me in.
One of the book’s strongest elements was the gradual unveiling of each character’s secrets. I particularly enjoyed how these revelations were layered throughout the story, allowing tensions to simmer and alliances to shift. The atmosphere of mistrust felt authentic and kept the stakes high.
The pacing was another highlight. The story moved briskly without feeling rushed and clues were revealed at just the right moments to keep me engaged.
However, despite the strong premise and structure, I struggled at times to clearly distinguish between the six central characters. While they each had secrets, their personalities and voices sometimes blended together, which made it difficult to fully invest in them as individuals. With more distinct characterisation and deeper development the emotional impact of the story could have been even stronger.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and cleverly constructed locked-room mystery. While the characters could have been developed further to make them more memorable and distinct, the well-paced narrative and unfolding secrets made it a compelling and entertaining read.
One of the book’s strongest elements was the gradual unveiling of each character’s secrets. I particularly enjoyed how these revelations were layered throughout the story, allowing tensions to simmer and alliances to shift. The atmosphere of mistrust felt authentic and kept the stakes high.
The pacing was another highlight. The story moved briskly without feeling rushed and clues were revealed at just the right moments to keep me engaged.
However, despite the strong premise and structure, I struggled at times to clearly distinguish between the six central characters. While they each had secrets, their personalities and voices sometimes blended together, which made it difficult to fully invest in them as individuals. With more distinct characterisation and deeper development the emotional impact of the story could have been even stronger.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and cleverly constructed locked-room mystery. While the characters could have been developed further to make them more memorable and distinct, the well-paced narrative and unfolding secrets made it a compelling and entertaining read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a locked-room mystery lover, this one immediately had my attention. A closed-off setting, a tight circle of suspects, and a murder to unravel? Yes please.
The suspenseful atmosphere was strong from the start. I really enjoyed the investigative feel of the story and slowly piecing together what happened to Alexis. The whodunnit element was handled well, and the steady drip of secrets kept the tension building in a way that made it hard to put down.
One of the things I liked most was how information was revealed in layers. Just when you thought you had a read on someone, another detail would shift your perspective. The pacing moved quickly without feeling chaotic, and that momentum kept me engaged throughout.
Where I struggled a bit was with the cast of characters. With six central figures, I occasionally found their voices and personalities blending together. While they all had motives and hidden truths, I wanted clearer distinctions between them to deepen the emotional impact.
Overall, this was a solid and entertaining psychological thriller with strong atmosphere and a compelling mystery at its core. It didn’t completely blow me away, but it definitely delivered an enjoyable locked-room read.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC opportunity 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first book by Barbara in quite a while and it did not disappoint! Alexis books a villa and invites her friends to Spain to celebrate her 40th birthday. Some of the women have secrets they a guarding but when someone dies hidden secrets start to come out. Will anyone else die? Is someone trying to get revenge? This twisty thriller will keep you on your toes and guessing who did it. I really enjoyed this book, it held my interest right from the first page. Highly recommend this book!
Publication date 30 March 2026
Publication date 30 March 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the first book by this author and I have to be honest it took me ages to get into the book. I stuck with it and finished it but it didn't really grab my attention
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews