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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?

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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
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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

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HOBAF WRAPPED 2025 📣
What are our best-sellers? What are our sleeper hits? We couldn't have achieved any ridiculous records without the support from our excellent reading community - here's to another year of books, bakes, and brews!

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✨JANUARY BOOK CLUB ✨

Huge thank you to everyone who has joined us for our book clubs throughout 2025! Next year, we're kicking off with Next Time Will Be Our Turn by Jesse Suntano. Booksellers Lydia and Lily will be hosting this one and they can't wait to see you all! 📚

Tickets and more information available on our website, via the link in our bio, or ask in-store and our booksellers can get you registered. As always, there are three sessions with complimentary tickets available if needed. 🎟️

Swipe along to see some photos from last night's Winter Book Club Social, as well as our gorgeous cake from Munchie Mummy's

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WHAT ARE OUR BOOKWORMS GIFTING THIS SEASON?

Get some inspo from our booksellers for the ultimate winter gift this year - if you really can't decide, don't forget we have Christmas Eve boxes available to order and have shipped to you too!

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CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS! ❄️🎅

We have extended our opening hours over the christmas period to aid in your gift shopping (or for a quick drink refuel drink between busy markets!).

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FESTIVE MENU UPDATE 🎄☕

We have a wide variety of seasonal offerings on the menu this December, from Christmas club sandwiches to mince pie blondies, there is something for eveyone!

We are also now serving Mulled Wine and Baileys (either on its own or in a hot drink) which are the perfect finishing touch to a day full of christmas shopping!*

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House of Books & Friends is thrilled to welcome Rhonda Carrier and Tracey Davies on Thursday 29th January at 6pm to discuss their new book, ‘Wayward Women: Sex, Friendship and the Midlife Reset‘.

Tickets at the link in our bio!

As always, we have a limited amount of complimentary tickets for this event for anyone who needs it. Please contact us directly at bookworms@houseofbooksandfriends.com or call 07597365380.

About the book

Wayward Women is a unique, searingly honest, devastatingly raw two-person memoir about the friendship, travels and sex lives of two fiftysomething women finding their way again after divorce.

It’s an entertaining, emotional and geographical journey that bounces around the world from Florida to India, Lapland to Hong Kong, as the authors -both leading travel writers – relay their experiences as midlife women – love, loss, parenthood, divorce, menopause – along with the tales of the inspirational women they meet along the way, and the growth of their friendship.

@bedfordsq.publishers
@rhondacarriertravels
@traceydangerjourno_comedian


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