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Making Friends Can Be Murder by Kathleen West

Making Friends Can Be Murder

by Kathleen West

  • Critics' Consensus (7):
  • Published:
  • Jun 2025, 432 pages
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  • Roberta L. (San Jose, CA)
    Making Friends Can Be Murder
    I recently read Making Friends Can Be Murder and found it to be a very enjoyable read. I like how there were 3 plot lines: a romance, a murder and a missing child. The author neatly tied all this together at the end of the book. I also liked how the "detectives" were members of a club of women who all shared the same name - Sarah Jones. I thought this was a really original idea to have a club of women all with the same name be the ones to solve the mystery.

    The women were all different ages from a teenager to a senior citizen. To differentiate themselves they called each other by their ages. For example, 17 for the teenage Sarah and 69 for the oldest Sarah. My one suggestion would be to give the eldest Sarah a different age is 69 is so suggestive of other things. The romance between one of the Sarahs and an FBI agent sparked my interest.

    The murder took a while to puzzle out and made sense at the end. And of course the case of the missing child gets resolved. I liked this story and would recommend it to others who like cozy mysteries.
  • WDH - Kentucky
    A Little Bit of Everything
    This was an easy read with a a bit of everything that makes a good overall story. A group of women all with the same common name was made clever by using age/numbers to ensure characters were kept straight. There's a mystery to solve and plenty of characters to suspect and eliminate. I like this type of light, easy to read book as a nice break between heavier subject reads.
  • Anke V. (Portland, OR)
    MAKING FRIENDS CAN BE MURDER
    Making Friends Can Be Murder is a cozy mystery with a unique premise. It revolves around a group of women ages 17 to 69, all named Sarah Jones, or so they think. When one of Sarah Jones is murdered, this group of unique personalities decides to go sleuthing to solve the case themselves, well, maybe with the help of a nun (with a mysterious past) and a couple of FBI agents because, of course, it is not just about murder.

    The chapters, narrated by different members of The Sarah Jones Project, were a little confusing at the beginning, but then each Sarah Jones gets a nickname: their age. The main Sarah character, 30,  is a gym trainer, new to town, loves being part of TSJP, and works as an undercover agent for the FBI, all while getting tangled up in a fraud case. The other Sarahs include a crime blogger (69), two teachers (39 and 44), a nanny (27), and a high school kid (17). Their diverse backgrounds add a delightful touch of humor, making the story an entertaining and enjoyable read.

    I thank BookBrowse and NetGalley for generously providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review. And, of course, a big thank you to Kathleen West for creating to this delightful read!
  • Linnie M. (Mansfield, TX)
    I wish my name was Sarah Jones
    What a fun book. A little mystery, a little romance, a little comedy and a life lesson about finding oneself. What's not to love. All made this a very enjoyable book. At first, I was thinking what have I committed to, but I was quickly drawn into the story when the FBI came into the picture. Oh, to be named Sarah Jones and be able to socialize with this diverse group of women.

    I also enjoyed the different generations represented in this book not to mention the different backgrounds of the characters, which I felt were well developed. I mean come on; Sister Mary Theresa was the icing on the cake. This book showed how important friendships can be and how important family can be.
  • Phyllis P. (Memphis, TN)
    Perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries
    Loved this book. It had all the things that I like in a cozy--well written with quirky, interesting characters, a fun and twisty plot, plus a little romance and a satisfying ending. Looking forward to reading more from this author!
  • Donna M. (Kennesaw, GA)
    Truly entertaining read.
    I received the novel knowing nothing but the title—Making Friends Can Be Murder, and I didn't expect much. How surprising to find an absorbing and complicated mystery! It was a very fun read and an instant stress reliever.
  • Susan J. (Meriden, CT)
    Cozy Mystery in modern times
    I loved this book! It is a fast paced modern day cozy mystery. I was slightly confused at first keeping all the characters straight but that was quickly resolved.

    I liked the characters, it was plot based but with enough character development to make sure I cared about the characters. I even liked the romance in the story, it was sweet and interesting and had me hoping for a good outcome for the characters involved.

    Great story, highly recommended.
    Thanks to Book Browse and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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