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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
"They say there are three sides to every story: mine, yours and the truth. So, which one do you want?"
Dark humour royalty returns with a devilishly funny, slightly absurd thriller starting with a warning from a dead friend.
Our narrator is a self confessed hot mess, and they’re an absolute riot who was more relatable that I’d have comfortably liked. I was hooked the moment we met, from their casual, speech like storytelling to their insane thoughts and dry witty commentary. This author is also one of the only male authors I’ve read that can write as a messy, confused woman without resorting to sexist stereotypes so I always love their characters.
Jumping between the present day chaos and a year before when our texting harbinger of doom was still alive, we get up close and personal with Claire, or Kirby, and her friends, watching two very different lives play out in the before and after. Watching friendships and loves form who aren’t recognisable now.
Both timelines had something compelling about them, solving very different but parallel mysteries of Esme's death and supposed resurrection. Every single time a new message appeared in the chat, I wanted to put the damn book in the freezer and curse out Mr Chilton for making my emotions jump through hoops like this. Twists, reveals, ideas, historical plots and conspiracies - it just kept going with a fast, lively pace and always growing the story with some flair and darkly fabulous drama.
This book also touches on true crime consumption and creators who monetise tragedy, balancing on the thin line between human curiosity and marketing murders for profit.
A high stakes, cinematic tale of murder and conspiracy in a small town with an unforgettable cast of characters.
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies, by L.M. Chilton is a modern, twisty, and quick-witted thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s fast-paced with plenty of dialogue, making it a breeze to get through. I was constantly guessing (and second-guessing) who the killer might be — and let's just say I did not get it right, but that’s part of the fun!
The characters were great, with hilarious group banter that added charm even amid the suspense. I also loved the inclusion of “Show Me,” a fictional app reminiscent of TikTok. It really captured the impact and risks of social media trends. The story had enough twists and clues to take it in multiple directions, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece it all together.
The characters were great, with hilarious group banter that added charm even amid the suspense. I also loved the inclusion of “Show Me,” a fictional app reminiscent of TikTok. It really captured the impact and risks of social media trends. The story had enough twists and clues to take it in multiple directions, and I genuinely enjoyed trying to piece it all together.
This was a fast paced, small town mystery that was utterly compelling. It kept me guessing throughout and my theories were definitely not on point lol.
The characters were fabulous, the group banter was comical and I enjoyed that slight injection of humour. Even the 'baddie' was likable and I can't honestly remember when I found the bad guy of a book likable. Kirby was a great main character, she was unintentionally sassy and that added the humour to the narrative.
I liked the presence of social media, and the sofa detectives, it was all ver very relevant and believable. After all aren't we all sofa sleuths these days!
Overall a superb, twisty, mysterious yet fun read that's likely to have you kept in the dark until the very end.
The characters were fabulous, the group banter was comical and I enjoyed that slight injection of humour. Even the 'baddie' was likable and I can't honestly remember when I found the bad guy of a book likable. Kirby was a great main character, she was unintentionally sassy and that added the humour to the narrative.
I liked the presence of social media, and the sofa detectives, it was all ver very relevant and believable. After all aren't we all sofa sleuths these days!
Overall a superb, twisty, mysterious yet fun read that's likely to have you kept in the dark until the very end.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for this ARC.
Thirty years ago, Peter Doyle killed a handful of teenagers at the annual Crawe Fayre in Crowhurst, a small town in Surrey, then threw himself off the cliffs at Staker Point. It's what Crowhurst is still mostfamous notorious for - that and sausage rolls.
Twelve months ago, a girl called Esme joined the four flatmates Kirby, Dave, Dylan and Seema who were calling themselves The Deadbeats in their WhatsApp group, at their run-down flat in Crowhurst, with the intent of investigating the spree killer via a true crime video site called ShowMe ("Tik Tok is so last year").
In the present day, Kirby and the others seem to have left Crowhurst behind, but suddenly a strange message hits the old group chat. It's from Esme - but Esme died a year ago. Slowly Kirby, the journalist, begins to piece together not only what happened twelve months ago but also 30 years ago. Is Peter Doyle still alive and now coming for the former flatmates? Because someone is killing them off one by one.
Unfortunately, I don't seem to be the target audience for this. I couldn't connect to the young hip characters and their constant need for validation via followers. The humour seems forced and childish and is certainly not laugh-out-loud funny. Also, calling a 42" TV a mega beast felt needlessly melodramatic.
I found the dual timelines confusing and irritating, and the present day killings didn't make sense as there seemed no need for them. Even the explanation we got seemed unhinged. We got some heavy hinting throughout (Fitbit! Broken necklace! Noisy, vibrating printer press!) but none of it pointed to something really important.
I liked the twelve months ago narration but every time I got into it, the timeline changed to the less interesting present day timeline. The whole thing strongly reminded me of slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer so maybe read it if that is your thing.
Thirty years ago, Peter Doyle killed a handful of teenagers at the annual Crawe Fayre in Crowhurst, a small town in Surrey, then threw himself off the cliffs at Staker Point. It's what Crowhurst is still most
Twelve months ago, a girl called Esme joined the four flatmates Kirby, Dave, Dylan and Seema who were calling themselves The Deadbeats in their WhatsApp group, at their run-down flat in Crowhurst, with the intent of investigating the spree killer via a true crime video site called ShowMe ("Tik Tok is so last year").
In the present day, Kirby and the others seem to have left Crowhurst behind, but suddenly a strange message hits the old group chat. It's from Esme - but Esme died a year ago. Slowly Kirby, the journalist, begins to piece together not only what happened twelve months ago but also 30 years ago. Is Peter Doyle still alive and now coming for the former flatmates? Because someone is killing them off one by one.
Unfortunately, I don't seem to be the target audience for this. I couldn't connect to the young hip characters and their constant need for validation via followers. The humour seems forced and childish and is certainly not laugh-out-loud funny. Also, calling a 42" TV a mega beast felt needlessly melodramatic.
I found the dual timelines confusing and irritating, and the present day killings didn't make sense as there seemed no need for them. Even the explanation we got seemed unhinged. We got some heavy hinting throughout (Fitbit! Broken necklace! Noisy, vibrating printer press!) but none of it pointed to something really important.
I liked the twelve months ago narration but every time I got into it, the timeline changed to the less interesting present day timeline. The whole thing strongly reminded me of slasher film I Know What You Did Last Summer so maybe read it if that is your thing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol
L.M. Chilton’s Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a fast-paced, twisty tale that hooks you with its unique premise: a dead friend texting from beyond the grave, threatening doom on a group of former flatmates harboring dark secrets. Set in the sleepy (and slightly sinister) town of Crowhurst, the story is laced with sardonic humor, witty observations, and an ominous undercurrent of dread.
The book is likely to resonate most with younger readers who thrive on the rhythm of social media and meme culture. Chilton leans into the quirks of modern communication—group chats, digital sleuthing, and the unspoken rules of online interactions—to craft a story that feels very "of the moment."
The dual-timeline structure adds layers to the narrative, peeling back the mystery of what the group “did” while tying it to the haunting reappearance of Esme. However, while the plot has plenty of intrigue and humor, I found it hard to connect with the characters. They’re sharp and snarky, but their emotional depth often feels secondary to the banter and twists.
Maybe I’m just outside the target audience, but the characters’ decisions sometimes felt frustrating or unrelatable. The humor, while enjoyable, couldn’t entirely compensate for the lack of emotional weight or development that might have made the reveals more impactful.
That said, Everyone in the Group Chat Dies is a quick and entertaining read for fans of dark comedy, suspense, and tech-infused storytelling. It won’t stay with you long after the last page, but it’s an enjoyable enough ride while it lasts.
Blessed to read the arc (thank you so much!) in October - doomed for the book to be released in March 2025? (This is really suited for an autumn release in my opinion it literally features a harvest festival!!!!)
This has everything we, readers in the mid 2020s, have come to understand: social media platforms, Whatsapp group chats, dirty houseshares, uninspiring jobs in dying small towns and armchair detectives.
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies follows two alternating timelines, 12 months prior and present day, as we watch Kirby stumble her way through her new flatmates disappearance, multiple deaths of those around her and uncovering the truth behind a 20 plus year serial murder.
This book is zingy, current and has that sarcastic narrative voice adopted by quite a few recent murder mystery releases. You know the exact voice, it’s very millennial.
This has everything we, readers in the mid 2020s, have come to understand: social media platforms, Whatsapp group chats, dirty houseshares, uninspiring jobs in dying small towns and armchair detectives.
Everyone in the Group Chat Dies follows two alternating timelines, 12 months prior and present day, as we watch Kirby stumble her way through her new flatmates disappearance, multiple deaths of those around her and uncovering the truth behind a 20 plus year serial murder.
This book is zingy, current and has that sarcastic narrative voice adopted by quite a few recent murder mystery releases. You know the exact voice, it’s very millennial.
medium-paced
This book is set over 2 timeliness, current and 12 months ago. It follows a group of flatmates. 12 months ago a new flatmate joined unannounced the promptly disappeared the next day.
This book was enjoyable but a little slow in places
This book was enjoyable but a little slow in places
.
This definitely keeps you in suspense with a surprise or two along the way. I did feel for Kirby who, for the most part, was just trying to find her way through life and do the right thing!
This is an interesting read and kept my attention throughout. I liked the dynamics between Kirby and her friends although I did want to learn more about them. They seemed interesting characters and all very different but somehow worked together. Esme did shake things up and with what seemed to be very little effort. Annoying but effective which I think was the point particularly given her vocation!!
I'm glad it ended the way it did (without giving too much away) although I did feel Kirby deserved a little more in her life... More of an holistic happy ending although maybe I'm being too optimistic or maybe there'll be a sequel!!
This definitely keeps you in suspense with a surprise or two along the way. I did feel for Kirby who, for the most part, was just trying to find her way through life and do the right thing!
This is an interesting read and kept my attention throughout. I liked the dynamics between Kirby and her friends although I did want to learn more about them. They seemed interesting characters and all very different but somehow worked together. Esme did shake things up and with what seemed to be very little effort. Annoying but effective which I think was the point particularly given her vocation!!
I'm glad it ended the way it did (without giving too much away) although I did feel Kirby deserved a little more in her life... More of an holistic happy ending although maybe I'm being too optimistic or maybe there'll be a sequel!!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Loved the title and the cover, but I really didn't care for this book. The humour wasn't funny to me, and the switching of timelines across chapters didn't have the tension-building effect that it can have when used well. It almost felt laborious to read to the end just to know for sure whodunnit. I've given it two stars because it wasn't bad, per se; it was just too bland for my liking.