You Killed Me First by John Marrs

 

Margot, a faded pop star, thinks of herself as top dog in the sleepy village she lives in. Life is turned upside down when Liv becomes her new neighbour.

You Killed Me First is the first book I've read from author John Marrs. I have no idea why I haven't read anything previously by the author as the style is exactly what I like; mystery, thrills, dark humor, twists galore and layers of secrets.

The prologue immediately grabs your attention as we witness a woman waking to find herself inside a bonfire that has just been lit. Tightly bound, she is unable to escape and the noise around makes it impossible for anyone to hear her cries for help. Through a Bluetooth earpiece, she is mocked and informed "You killed me first". Those final words make you desperately want to know more.

The story then jumps back in time almost a year and we slowly learn of the uneasy friendship of Margot, Anna, and newcomer, Liv. Margot was once part of an extremely successful pop group. The split of the group saw her fame decline until she was offered a chance at redemption by taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. Things didn't quite go to plan and she's been vilified by the press and public ever since. Despite keeping a low profile she still flounces around as if she's an A-lister. 

Anna is Margot's neighbour and couldn't be more different. Quite, unassuming and meek; she's constantly at Margot's beck and call. New neighbour Liv cannot understand why Anna puts up with the way Margot treats her

Liv has left a job in banking for a quieter life. Liv and Margot immediately dislike each other, they have very similar personalities. I loved the bitchiness between the pair and the way Margot is consumed by jealousy. You just know that this isn't a friendship that will last. Over ten months we learn that all three women are hiding secrets. The pace never lets up thanks to chapters that alternate between the three women over the ten months.

The bitchiness and gloss are all superficial; below the surface, everything is murkier. As the secrets are slowly revealed we learn of despicable acts in this sinister and complex story. The title, combined with a surreal element, makes you question who can be trusted. This uneasiness builds as we get closer and closer to the events in the prologue with added ambiguity every now and again from a nameless voice. Even when secrets are revealed there are still more twists to come in this intricate tale of lies and deceit.

You Killed Me First by John Marrs will be published on 4th March 2025 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a review copy.

Author Details

John Marrs is an author and former journalist based in London and Northamptonshire. After spending his career interviewing celebrities from the worlds of television, film and music for numerous national newspapers and magazines, he is now a full-time author. His books include No1 bestseller and Netflix series The One, The Passengers, award winning What Lies Between Us and The Good Samaritan.