Getting Away With Murder

A delicious twist on the classic whodunnit - we know who did it, but will they get away with it?...

‘Lapena’s books are addictive!’ FREIDA McFADDEN, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Housemaid

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She loves her husband. But she might love their house more . . .

Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.

So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?

The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder.

As long as they trust each other.
And as long as there are no surprises . . .

The new twisty and playfully addictive 2026 thriller from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling 'queen of page-turners', author of She Didn't See it Coming and The Couple Next Door.

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Praise for Getting Away With Murder:

‘A DEVIOUSLY DELICIOUS thriller that kept me turning pages from the intense opening to the shocking conclusion.’ FREIDA MCFADDEN, No.1 Sunday Times & New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid

'I COULDN'T STOP READING, desperate to know how it would all pan out . . . a masterclass of a thriller' CLAIRE DOUGLAS, No.1 bestselling author of The Couple at Number 9

'SPLENDIDLY ENTERTAINING, full of morally dubious characters, I could not have loved this more.’ LIZ NUGENT, bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond

‘Shari Lapena is far and away ONE OF THE BEST psychological thriller writers in the world.' LISA JEWELL, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Don’t Let Him In

‘WICKEDLY FUN, glamourous and chilling.’ CHRIS WHITAKER, Sunday Times & New York Times bestselling author of All the Colours of the Dark

‘A cracking mystery told at BREAKNECK PACE and with such expert timing I was swept away on the wave of every twist. The perfect murder mystery.’
JANICE HALLETT, bestselling author of The Appeal

'It’s no mean feat to get the reader rooting for a pair of heartless killers, but root you will - with every tense, uncomfortable, THRILLING step of Jill and Ted’s criminal journey.' LOUISE CANDLISH, bestselling author of Our House

‘Getting Away With Murder is one of those BRILLIANTLY GRIPPING thrillers you just cannot stop reading. Unfolding in layers it builds to form a compelling and claustrophobic moral dilemma. I was hooked.’ JENNIE GODFREY, No.1 Sunday Times bestseller of The List of Suspicious Things

Shari Lapena is the number one internationally bestselling author of ten stand-alone thrillers. Her debut thriller, The Couple Next Door, was a global phenomenon, selling over four million copies worldwide. It was named WHSmith’s Book of the Year in 2016 and became the UK’s No. 1 bestselling adult fiction title in 2017. Her recent novels include Everyone Here Is Lying and She Didn’t See It Coming. Shari’s thrillers have been Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellers, and four have been selected for the Richard & Judy Book Club. A former lawyer and English teacher, Shari now writes from a farm in Ontario. Her books are published in over forty territories, translated into dozens of languages, and optioned for film and television.

Facebook: /ShariLapena
Instagram: sharilapena

‘Getting Away With Murder is one of those brilliantly gripping thrillers you just cannot stop reading. Unfolding in layers it builds to form a compelling and claustrophobic moral dilemma. I was hooked.’ ― JENNIE GODFREY, No.1 Sunday Times bestseller of The List of Suspicious Things

‘Shari Lapena is far and away one of the best psychological thriller writers in the world today and an absolute auto read author for me. She is never afraid to take risks, never formulaic and always intensely bingeable. I love her.’ ― LISA JEWELL, No.1 Sunday Times bestseller of Don’t Let Him In

‘A chilling and deadly whydunit. Nobody gets beneath the skin of their characters like Shari Lapena, and she does it unflinchingly and with impeccable flair in this sharp, gripping thriller. GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER deftly reveals our deepest, darkest impulses as it asks: when money is the motive, is anyone really who you think they are?’ ― GILLY MACMILLAN

'A thriller to really go overboard for' ― Cara Hunter

'Nobody does it like Shari Lapena, you'll struggle to put this one down' ― Cara Hunter

'You'll struggle to put this one down. A thriller to really go overboard for!’ ― Cara Hunter

‘Wickedly fun, glamourous and chilling. Shari Lapena flips the script masterfully yet retains her trademark twists and killer ending’ ― Chris Whitaker

‘How does Shari Lapena get better and better with each book? I adored this tale of an adoring couple living in their luxury mansion who run out of money and prepare to do the unthinkable to save themselves. Morally bankrupt and utterly selfish, I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.
What does that make me? Splendidly entertaining, full of morally dubious characters, I could not have loved this more.’

― LIZ NUGENT, bestselling author of Strange Sally Diamond (Irish Book Awards crime novel of the year)

'It’s no mean feat to get the reader rooting for a pair of heartless killers, but root you will - with every tense, uncomfortable, thrilling step of Jill and Ted’s criminal journey. Another cracking read from Shari.' ― LOUISE CANDLISH, Sunday Times bestselling author of Our House

'Tense, claustrophobic and relentlessly paced, this is a wickedly fun read. I couldn’t put it down.' ― MARY WATSON, Sunday Times & No.1 Irish Times bestselling author of The Cleaner

Getting Away With Murder by Shari Lapena is a gripping psychological thriller that asks a chilling question: What happens after you commit the perfect crime? Instead of hiding the identity of the killers until the final pages, Lapena reveals the central crime almost immediately. The suspense comes not from discovering who committed the murder, but from watching whether they can live with what they have done—and whether justice, in one form or another, will eventually catch up with them. Filled with tension, moral ambiguity, and unexpected twists, the novel explores how greed can corrupt ordinary people and how guilt has a way of exposing even the most carefully hidden secrets.

At the centre of the story are Jill and Ted Westcott, a wealthy New York couple whose luxurious brownstone is more than just a house. It is a symbol of their identity, success, and social standing. They have invested enormous amounts of money into transforming it into their dream home, and it reflects everything they want the world to believe about them. To outsiders, they appear to have a perfect life, complete with financial security and a happy marriage. Beneath that polished surface, however, their world is quietly falling apart.

Ted's inheritance, which has supported their lavish lifestyle for years, is almost gone. Worse still, a disastrous investment leaves them drowning in debt. Bills begin piling up, creditors grow impatient, and the couple realises they are on the verge of losing everything they have worked so hard to build. Selling the house or accepting a simpler lifestyle never feels like an acceptable option. Their pride, fear of failure, and obsession with maintaining appearances push them toward a shocking conclusion.

They convince themselves that there is only one solution.

Ted's wealthy brother, Greg, stands to leave behind a fortune worth millions. If Greg were to die unexpectedly, Ted would inherit enough money to erase all their financial problems overnight. At first, the idea seems unthinkable. But as desperation grows, the impossible slowly begins to seem reasonable. Jill and Ted carefully discuss every detail, gradually crossing moral boundaries they once believed they would never cross. Their conversations reveal how easily ordinary people can justify terrible actions when convinced they have no alternative.

Eventually, they carry out their plan during a sailing trip, believing they have engineered the perfect accident. Greg disappears overboard in rough waters, and every detail appears to support the conclusion that his death was a tragic misfortune rather than murder. With no obvious evidence and no witnesses capable of proving otherwise, Jill and Ted return home believing they have succeeded.

For a brief moment, it appears they truly have.

But Lapena quickly demonstrates that committing murder is far easier than living with it.

Although the police initially accept the death as accidental, subtle questions begin to emerge. Certain investigators notice small inconsistencies that refuse to disappear. Tiny details that seemed insignificant at first slowly attract greater attention. At the same time, Jill and Ted discover that murder creates consequences extending far beyond the crime itself. They expected financial freedom; instead, they find themselves trapped inside a prison of anxiety, suspicion, and fear.

As the investigation continues, unexpected people enter their lives with motives of their own. Friends, acquaintances, business associates, and even strangers seem unusually interested in their sudden change in fortune. Some envy their wealth. Others suspect they are hiding something. Anonymous messages begin appearing, suggesting that someone knows exactly what happened on the sailboat. Whether these messages come from a genuine witness, an opportunistic blackmailer, or someone merely making educated guesses becomes another source of relentless tension.

The greatest threat, however, does not come from the police. It comes from within the marriage itself.

Before the murder, Jill and Ted presented themselves as equal partners united by love and shared ambition. Afterward, the pressure begins exposing cracks they never acknowledged before. Every conversation becomes filled with doubt. Each wonders whether the other will remain loyal if the investigation intensifies. Secrets that have nothing to do with Greg's death also begin surfacing, reminding them that no relationship is entirely built on honesty. Their shared crime, which they believed would strengthen their bond, instead starts pulling them apart.

Lapena skillfully explores how guilt manifests in different ways. Ted becomes increasingly haunted by the weight of what they have done, while Jill remains determined to protect their future at almost any cost. Their contrasting responses create emotional conflict that feels just as dangerous as the criminal investigation. As fear grows, both begin questioning not only each other's loyalty but also their own ability to survive the consequences of their actions.

One of the novel's strongest themes is the corrupting influence of greed. Jill and Ted do not begin as violent criminals. They are intelligent, successful people who gradually convince themselves that murder is simply another financial decision. Lapena shows how easily ethical boundaries can disappear when ambition becomes more important than conscience. The couple repeatedly tells themselves they deserve their luxurious lifestyle, allowing entitlement to replace empathy. Their downfall begins long before the murder itself; it begins the moment they believe that wealth matters more than human life.

Another important theme is appearance versus reality. Nearly every major character presents one face to the world while hiding private fears, resentments, or ambitions. Wealthy families, elegant homes, and sophisticated social circles conceal jealousy, manipulation, and desperation. The novel repeatedly reminds readers that outward success rarely reveals the full truth about a person's life.

As the investigation tightens, new complications arise from directions Jill and Ted never anticipated. Their carefully constructed plan begins collapsing under the weight of unexpected events, hidden motives, and people whose interests conflict with their own. Every attempt to protect themselves creates fresh risks, forcing them into increasingly desperate decisions. The suspense builds not through spectacular action but through psychological pressure, as the couple struggles to stay one step ahead of both the authorities and those seeking to exploit their vulnerability.

Without revealing the novel's major twists, the final chapters deliver a tense and satisfying conclusion that challenges assumptions about justice. Lapena demonstrates that even the most carefully planned crimes cannot eliminate uncertainty. Human behaviour is unpredictable, and every decision creates consequences that extend far beyond what anyone can anticipate. The ending rewards readers with several surprising revelations while remaining true to the novel's central exploration of guilt, deception, and moral responsibility.

Ultimately, Getting Away With Murder is far more than a story about a planned homicide. It is a compelling psychological study of how fear, entitlement, and financial desperation can transform ordinary people into criminals. Through sharp characterization, relentless suspense, and carefully layered plotting, Shari Lapena examines the price people are willing to pay to protect the lives they believe they deserve. The novel leaves readers reflecting on a simple but unsettling truth: escaping punishment is not the same as escaping the consequences of one's choices.