Skip to navigation Skip to content
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • facebook
Shop Now
House of Books & Friends
My Account
  • £0.00 0
House of Books & Friends
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Resources for Connection
    • News
  • Shop
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Create Your Own Love Story
    • Coffee & Connections
  • Our CafΓ©
    • Bookish Afternoon Tea
  • Contact
    • Hire Us
    • Accessibility Information
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • Resources for Connection
    • News
  • Shop
  • Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Create Your Own Love Story
    • Coffee & Connections
  • Our CafΓ©
    • Bookish Afternoon Tea
  • Contact
    • Hire Us
    • Accessibility Information

Buy Online

Keep Your Friends Close

£9.99

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down. Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and Punishment – a record of every misdeed committed by Morton students and the fitting penalty. And it’s not long before entries in the book start to match up with murders of Jewel and Bone members. Anyone could be a suspect. Can Chloe get to the bottom of this twisted game before she’s next on the killer’s hit list?

Peek Inside

In Stock

ISBN: 9780241712788 Category: Children's - Young Readers Tags: Children's / Teenage fiction: Horror & ghost stories, chillers, Children's / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children's / Teenage fiction: Thrillers, Children's / Teenage personal & social issues: death & bereavement
  • Description
  • Additional information
  • Reviews (0)

Description

From the bestselling author of BookTok sensation Win Lose Kill Die and ‘CEO of Plot Twists’ comes an explosive dark academia thriller, perfect for fans of Karen M. McManus, Holly Jackson and Mean Girls. Don’t miss out on the limited edition in-world sprayed edge!

‘A thriller author to watch!’ Karen M. McManus, international bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

‘An intensely readable dark academia thriller, ideal for fans of Holly Jackson.’ The Guardian

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down.

Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and Punishment – a record of every misdeed committed by Morton students and the fitting penalty. And it’s not long before entries in the book start to match up with murders of Jewel and Bone members. Anyone could be a suspect.

Can Chloe get to the bottom of this twisted game before she’s next on the killer’s hit list . . . ?

PRAISE FOR KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE:
‘Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive. Your next obsession.’ Karen M. McManus, author of One of Us is Lying

‘An intricately crafted YA thriller that I cannot wait to read again.’ Bill Wood, author of Let’s Split Up

‘A taut and twisty read that takes no prisoners. This captivatingly murderous book will keep you up all night and leave you unsure who you can trust.’ Kathryn Foxfield, author of Good Girls Die First

‘Taut, vicious and edge-of-your-seat thrilling, the queen of YA slashers has created another darkly delicious tale. You won’t be able to put it down!’ Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

‘Chloe Roberts is an ambitious, brilliantly flawed protagonist who fights her way out of the darkest places.’ Sue Wallman, author of I Know You Did It

‘Twists, turns and heartstopping tension, Cynthia Murphy is a thriller author at the top of her game.’ Benjamin Dean, author of How to Die Famous

‘Delicious 90s Scream vibes, a vicious teen secret society and bodies piling up around every corner . . . This is Cynthia Murphy at her absolute best.’ Kat Ellis, author of Harrow Lake

‘Dark, viciously fun and dangerously addictive. Cynthia Murphy writes academia like it’s a blood sport – get ready to play.’ Josh Silver, author of HappyHead

‘Mean Girls meets The Secret History – the perfect blend of 90s nostalgia and twisty, compelling murder mystery.’ Laura Wood, author of The Agency for Scandal

‘An engrossing and cut-throat thriller where mean-girl antics, shifting alliances and a growing web of secrets keep the tension sky-high. Twisty and unputdownable.’ Channelle Desamours, author of Needy Little Things

Read a sample here

Additional information

Weight 0.267 kg
Dimensions 19.7 × 12.9 × 2.3 cm
Author

Murphy, Cynthia

Publisher

Penguin Books

Imprint

Penguin Books

Cover

Paperback

Pages

376

Language

English

Edition

Paperback original

Dewey

823.92 (edition:23)

Readership

Children – juvenile / Code: J

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.

Related products

  • Seeing Red

    £7.99
    Add to basket
  • Happy & Sad & Everything True

    £8.99
    Add to basket
  • The G.O.A.T

    £7.99
    Add to basket

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Jan 9



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18150088630438170


House of Books and Friends is bringing back their 'Lunchtime Lecture' series, and are excited to welcome Professor John Byrne to discuss his book 'Useful Art: How Activist Artists Can Change the World.' The talk will begin at 1pm and last for 1 hour.
Tickets available via the link in our bio 🎟️
Does art have to be beautiful? What if it can be useful instead? In this cutting-edge book, John Byrne shows how the concept of 'Useful Art' is helping artists and communities fight back against the neoliberal takeover of our spaces, services and lives.

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Jan 8



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18108477115639076


We are currently having our New Years sale! All hardbacks with red stickers are 25% off, while books with blue stickers are heavily discounted!

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Jan 7



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 17905423800332098


2026 is the Year of Reading! πŸ“š

A UK-wide campaign, The Year of Reading is here to inspire people to make reading a regular part of their lives in order to expand worlds, sharpen minds, and fuel creativity.

Why not spend 2026 reading into the topics that interest, impact, and influence you.

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Jan 5



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18168070597385133


Are you getting involved with Dry January? Here at House of Books & Friends, we have plenty of sober social events, and are always a fan of a chatter and a chai, rather than a natter and a negroni....

Monday - Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm πŸ“š

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Jan 4



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18103185931690260


LITTLE BOOKWORMS

Thank you for coming along to discuss Champions of the Galaxy today! Our next book club meeting will take place on 1st February, and we will be reading A Box Full of Murders.

Tickets and details available in our bio!

houseofbooksandfriends



View Instagram post by houseofbooksandfriends


Jan 1



Open post by houseofbooksandfriends with ID 18090893308963579


HAPPY NEW YEAR! πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰πŸŽ‰

Thank you to all of our lovely customers for spending 2025 with us. We cannot wait to continue growing our community in 2026! πŸŽ†


Follow on Instagram

You're here, so you must like reading.... our newsletter is akin to a literary classic! We have so many projects, events and plans for House of Books & Friends all of which we will pack in to our newsletter so you can be among the first to find out about all the latest news. Don't worry, we promise not to bombard you!

SUBSCRIBE
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • facebook

Get in Touch

We love to hearing from fellow Bookworms!

Please drop us a message, find out where we are or get directions via our contact page.
Contact Us

 

© House of Books and Friends 2026 / Website designed by Bookswarm

The House of Books and Friends CIC is a community interest company registration number 13909633, the registered office of which is 53 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ. Trading Address - 81 King Street, Manchester M2 4AH. what3words ///stars.wished.papers

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy and Cookies
  • My Account
  • Search
  • Basket 0