With Friends Like These by Alissa Lee, released via Atria Books, is a solid thriller for those who enjoy high stakes competitions and can overlook a bit of forced conflict.
A group of Harvard roommates and former alums annually play a game where they simulate killing one another until just one is left standing. Circus reminds them of who they used to be, which may be the reason they’ve kept it going for over twenty years. None of them have realized the success they expected, such as Dina, who has yet to make tenure as a professor, and Wesley, who remains dependent on a family trust fund.
This year, Sara wants out, in part because she’s haunted by the tragedy resulting in the long-ago loss of the sixth member of their group when she’d fallen to her death from her dorm’s fifth-floor window. Only Sara knows exactly what happened, as the two were alone; but rumors swirled as the investigation into the mattered opened and closed in short order.
When Sara voices her objection to this year’s Circus, Wesley informs her that thanks to an investment made on the game’s behalf, this year’s winnings pot is close to one million dollars. If they don’t all play, per the contract they’d entered at the game’s inception, the money will be forfeited to Harvard.
As a reader (and an attorney), here’s the issue with this rule: it comes from a contract the characters they drafted themselves. With so much money up for grabs and the slim chance of winning, they could have amended (or disregarded) the contract to allow them to split the amount five ways. One is a high-powered lawyer and it doesn’t appear this simple option occurs to her.
But, had they done that, the main issue in the book–who will win?–would be eliminated thirteen percent in and calamity could not ensue as the characters each stalk, fight, and manipulate one another to claim the pot for themselves.
Our main character, Sara, needs the money because she understands the case around Claudine’s case will be re-opened. The issue with that, however, is that not only is there no appearance from law enforcement, but it’s unclear how this is even possible considering the only evidence linking Sara to foul play is a few long-range eyewitnesses who twenty years ago saw the two in a fifth floor window and gave conflicting statements. What, exactly, is Sara’s concern?
These issues aside, the drama in With Friends Like These is there. There’s the money at stake, the fighting and mistrust amongst long-time friends, and underlying it all the anonymous messages they’ve each received which threaten to unbury old secrets. Forced conflict aside, this shorter novel (240 pages) is a worthy read over a weekend due to the well-written dynamic among the group and unspooling of the competition. It will particularly speak to those of a certain age reflecting on the juxtaposition of where they are and where they expected to be decades after college graduation.
All said and done, Alissa Lee’s debut is a fun twist on an academic thriller.
Sarah Reida only reviews books she overall recommends. A writer of dark comedy thrillers, she is in the process of revising her sophomore novel. Her debut, Neighborhood Watch, received a Kirkus Star and was honored as an Amazon editorial pick as one of the Best Books of the Year So Far 2024. Join Sarah’s elite group of Instagram followers here.
