Woodthorn Academy is a school full of elite teenagers, including children of the Prime Minister, children of famous actors, and even a budding tennis star destined for Wimbeldon. A summer party results in two of the students, Noah and Patrick, going missing, but Noah reappears several days later, in dramatic fashion at a memorial service for Patrick, with no recollection of what happened.
Despite Patrick still being missing, the rest of the group decide to go ahead with their A-level results party at the country house of the now ex-prime minister. However, during the evening, it becomes clear that things are about to take a very dramatic turn for the worst when they discover a killer in the grounds of the house; one who has control of the central electronic operating system for the house, and who is demanding that the friends evict one person every hour or someone inside the house will die. Suddenly, the party atmosphere is gone and everyone is fighting for their lives. With no phone signal and no way out, how many will survive until morning?
I have to admit that I'm a little biased when it comes to Benjamin Dean's books, especially his YA novels as I absolutely love them. Finding Bury Your Friends on Netgalley was a huge plus for me, especially as it fell at the start of my holiday so I could read it almost uninterrupted round the pool!
The book is a dark and brilliantly gripping who done it with great dollop of scandal and twists thrown in for good measure (imagine Made In Chelsea on a murder weekend!). The ten friends realise that this could be their last hurrah together before they all go their separate ways so had planned to reveal their results and onward plans together at a dinner at the country pad of triplets Hugo, Verity and Wim, whose father just happens to have been Prine Minister until a recently leaked video of Wim forced him to resign. Although Patrick remains a missing person, the group are determined to go ahead with the celebrations. There is money in this group (with the exception of Noah who won a scholarship to the school) and this is evident from the start. Their privilege oozes from the page in and there are characters you will love, and definitely some readers will find themselves shouting at!
The book is gripping and creepy, and you never know quite what's going to happen.
Once the 'game' has begun things ramp up and you definitely won't want to put the book down but equally may find yourself reading from behind one hand whilst screaming at the characters on he page! With elements of humour woven in, this is a book that will enthral and captivate readers in equal measure.
However, it's not one to read in a house alone on a dark night unless you're feeling brave.
Publishing on the 14th August (just in time for readers to gobble it up before A-level results day!) , Bury Your Friends is another guaranteed hit for Benjamin Dean... just don't read it alone in the dark!