Between the Lines: Five women. One killer. And a dead friend who left the answer hidden in plain sight.

by Maya O’Neill

They spent a year studying how to get away with murder... now, one of them is putting the theory into practice.

Nora Gallagher prefers the quiet of her workshop, where broken things stay fixed and the past stays buried. But when her close friend Pam is found dead, the peace of Cranthorpe village is shattered. The crime scene is chillingly familiar - not because Nora has seen it in the news, but because she just read about it in her weekly book club.

The murder is a carbon copy of the case they discussed over wine and shortbread just days before.

While the police focus on the grieving husband, Nora discovers a secret Pam left specifically for her: a coded clue hidden in a glasses case that points to a betrayal decades in the making. Alongside a cynical young journalist and a sharp-eyed archivist, Nora begins to pull at a thread that connects their reading list to a string of local secrets. They soon realize the books weren't just suggestions - they were a curriculum for the perfect crime.

In a club where everyone is an expert on forensic errors and investigative failures, Nora is no longer just a reader. She’s a target.

The deeper she digs, the clearer it becomes that their curated "Murder Club" has a killer at the head of the table. Someone has been using the group to field-test a map for murder, and they’ve spent eight months ensuring the ending remains unwritten. As the line between fiction and reality vanishes, Nora realizes that the person she’s trusted for years is the one most desperate to close the book on her - for good.

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

Storytelling has always been at the heart of what I do. I write novels that blend mystery, suspense, thriller elements, and occasionally light science fiction, always centered on compelling female protagonists navigating extraordinary circumstances.

I am drawn to stories about secrets, identity, resilience, and the choices that shape our lives. My characters are often women facing hidden truths, unexpected challenges, and pivotal moments that force them to redefine who they are and what they stand for. Whether the story begins with a buried secret, a quiet conspiracy, a mysterious disappearance, or an impossible premise, the heart of the narrative is always human.

My novels combine layered characters, emotional depth, and thought-provoking questions with page-turning plots designed to keep readers engaged until the very last page. I believe the most memorable stories are those that entertain while exploring something deeper about who we are, what we fear, and what we hope for.

When I'm not writing, I'm usually researching unusual ideas, exploring "what if" questions, and searching for the next story that refuses to leave me alone.

Reviews

[ChapterAddict Aka Kelly Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this ebook copy of Between the Lines from the author, Maya O’Neill, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

When Pam suddenly dies, Nora and the other women in their book club begin noticing clues that do not add up. What starts with grief soon turns into a clever murder mystery filled with hidden notes, buried secrets, suspicious choices, and a truth someone wants left alone.

This is a steady character driven mystery where every small detail matters. Nora is a strong lead, and the friendship between the women gives the story real heart. The clues are smart without making the mystery overly complicated.

Between the Lines is a sharp and emotional mystery about books, friendship, grief, and the dangerous secrets people hide in plain sight.

I give it a 4 outta 5 catfish!

[Tianna Rule-Daghaghleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, I found the writing to be relatively good. I give 4 instead of 5 stars because there were some sections that just kept repeating themselves and I felt the story could use less of that. But overall was a good book!