Title: THE DEAD FRIEND PROJECT
Author: Joanna Wallace
ISBN: 9781800811348
Publisher: Viper Books
Pages: 336
Source: Private Copy
Everyone needs a hobby…
Things haven’t been going well for Beth. Her husband has left her for one of her friends. Her fellow school mums judge her for swearing too much and not shifting the baby weight. And now she’s stuck in A&E after her son fell off the climbing wall on the first day of school.
In fact, things haven’t been going well for Beth since Charlotte died – her best friend, a favourite at the school pick-ups and the only person to ever run an interesting PTA meeting. But after being hit by a car while on an ill-timed evening jog, Charlotte is no longer there to help Beth pick up the pieces of her increasingly difficult life.
That is, until Beth discovers that Charlotte left her toddler alone in the house during that fatal run. The Charlotte she knew would never do something so irresponsible, and suddenly Beth is questioning whether Charlotte’s death was really an accident. With a newfound purpose and a glass of wine in hand, it’s time for Beth to uncover what really happened to her best friend. And what better place to start than the circle of chatty school mums, who can’t be as perfect as they pretend. But which of them is hiding something? Beth’s determined to find out… once she’s put the kids to bed, of course.
Official Summary
03 September 2025
This book was such a fun, darkly witty, and refreshingly different take on the typical domestic thriller. The Dead Friend Project is part mystery, part messy-life drama, and part laugh-out-loud mockery of modern motherhood — and I absolutely loved the blend.
Beth, the main character, is chaotic, sarcastic, and completely relatable. Her life is a bit of a disaster: her husband’s left her for one of her friends, she feels judged by the other school mums, and she’s barely holding it together while juggling parenting and heartbreak. When her best friend Charlotte dies in a hit-and-run, Beth is devastated — but when she discovers that Charlotte left her toddler home alone that night, she starts to suspect there’s more to the story. And from there, we’re pulled into Beth’s wine-fueled amateur sleuthing as she digs into the secrets hiding beneath the perfectly polished façades of the school mum clique.
What I enjoyed most about this book is Beth’s voice. She’s sharp, funny, and a little unfiltered, which makes the narrative feel authentic and engaging. Her inner monologue had me laughing out loud one moment and feeling genuinely emotional the next. Joanna Wallace has done a brilliant job of balancing humour and heartache, creating a story that’s both entertaining and surprisingly moving.
The mystery itself kept me hooked, with just enough twists and red herrings to keep me guessing without ever feeling overcomplicated. And the dynamics between the school mums — all the cattiness, competition, and quiet scandals simmering under the surface — added another layer of intrigue that made the story even more addictive.
If I had one small complaint, it’s that some parts leaned a little heavily on Beth’s chaotic drinking-and-swearing persona, which at times felt slightly repetitive. But honestly, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment.
The Dead Friend Project is perfect if you like your mysteries with a side of dark humour and messy, flawed characters you can’t help but root for. It’s funny, twisty, and heartfelt — the kind of book you fly through in a couple of sittings because you just have to know what really happened to Charlotte.
Also by Joanna Wallace
YOU’D LOOK BETTER AS A GHOST
I have a gift. I see people as ghosts before they die.
Of course, it helps that I’m the one killing them.
The night after her father’s funeral, Claire meets Lucas in a bar. Lucas doesn’t know it, but it’s not a chance meeting. One thoughtless, mistyped email has put him in the crosshairs of an extremely put-out serial killer. But before they make eye contact, before Claire lets him buy her a drink, even before she takes him home and carves him up into little pieces, something about that night is very wrong. Because someone is watching Claire. Someone who is about to discover her murderous little hobby.
The thing is, it’s not sensible to tangle with a part-time serial killer, even one who is distracted by attending a weekly bereavement support group and trying to get her art career off the ground. Let the games begin…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Joanna Wallace studied law at Birmingham University before working as a commercial litigation solicitor in London, during which time she represented litigants in many fascinating cases and became remarkably proficient at unjamming photocopiers.
Joanna lives near London with her husband, four children and two dogs, and is currently working on her second novel.
I was surprised to discover that it has been two years since I’ve read You’d Look Better As A Ghost. When putting this post together. I am sure you will enjoy this one. Please let me know if you add this to your TBR in the comments below. Until next time… Happy Reading.
Pingback: September in a Nutshell – Featz Reviews