The Accomplice by Lisa Lutz

​   Owen and Luna are best friends. Bffs supreme, reigning from college to present day, which is nearly two decades later. Proving everyone that a platonic friendship between two heterosexual individuals of opposite gender is, indeed, a possibility. And sure, their friendship can get somewhat claustrophobic in its closeness or even toxic in its nature and sure some people might drop dead around them, but that’s just one of those things, a regrettable byproduct of their cojoined awesomeness. Or is it?
    Well, that and many other theories get put to the test when Owen’s wife is found gunned down one day. The woman was also Luna’s friend and also they are neighbors, because, you know, close like that. So naturally the spouse is the first suspect and what makes it all the more suspicious is that Owen already had someone who loved him die under mysterious circumstances back in college.
   So while the cops are investigating all around them, Owen and Luna are having their own soul searching party, reevaluating their very special relationship, past and present, uncovering years fraught with well intended misunderstandings and yet, always, unwavering devotion to each other.
    And then, of course, there’s Luna’s secret, something she is desperate to hide from the world and yet the only practical thing she did about it was change her last name from Brown to Grey. Because Luna Grey would fool everyone. Not very smart, Luna. But then again, it won’t be the first of your mistakes. Or Owen’s.
      So technically this is a thriller and it has all the right components, the split timelines, the shifting narratives, the plot twists, etc. And there is a proper murder mystery, too, in fact. But the overall effect is very much that of a literally novel about a friendship, albeit spiced up with a murder or two. In fact, it’s weirdly jaunty about it, especially the ending.
      But it’s interesting too, such a meticulous undoing and studying layer by layer such a close friendship and the way it both buoys and sinks one’s canoe, because of the inherent power exchange dynamics in such situations. Can you ever know someone too well? Are there intrinsic dangers to such a relationship? Can it turn deadly?
      Well, get his book and find out. It’s worth a read, certainly. This was my first introduction to a popular genre author with a series and a number of standalones (of which this book is one) and it’s definitely a favorable one. The writing is very good, even the college age characters were tolerable, although it stands to mention the plotting was really convoluted, most likely to surprise the readers all the more. So nicely done on the literary drama side, competently twisted on the thriller side, mostly not predictable (which is always good) and an entertaining read all around. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.