Keep Your Friends Close

Author Cynthia Murphy
Narrator Alexandra Boulton
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Publish Date 11 September 2025
Run Time 11 hours and 12 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction: Horror and ghost stories, chillers, Children’s / Teenage fiction: School stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Thrillers, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Death and bereavement.

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What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

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.

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 . . . ?

‘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

© Cynthia Murphy 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critics Review

'An intensely readable dark academia thriller, ideal for fans of Holly Jackson.'

The Guardian

‘Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive. Keep Your Friends Close will be your next obsession.’

Karen M. McManus, author of One of Us is Lying

‘Whenever I pick up a Cynthia Murphy book, I know I'm in for a wild ride. Keep Your Friends Close is no exception – an intricately crafted YA thriller that I cannot wait to read again.’

Bill Wood, author of Let’s Split Up

‘Keep Your Friends Close is 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

‘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

‘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

‘Delicious 90s Scream vibes, a vicious teen secret society and bodies piling up around every corner . . . We’re back at Morton Academy, and there’s never been a more terrifying time to be a student. This is Cynthia Murphy at her absolute best.’

Kat Ellis, author of Harrow Lake

‘Keep Your Friends Close is dark, viciously fun and dangerously addictive. It’ll punch the breath out of you. 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, Keep Your Friends Close is the perfect blend of 90s nostalgia and twisty, compelling murder mystery. Cynthia Murphy never misses but this is her best yet.’

Laura Wood, author of The Agency for Scandal

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