Precious Friends by Frank Spinelli

An absolute delight! Precious Friends is more than a suspenseful murder mystery. Full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this entertaining read is set in the high society of the Hamptons, where public opinion turns deadly. 

Reeling from real-life issues of illness, infidelity, and the possibility of becoming a single parent, the main character, JB, faces exclusion from social events. He tells potential suitors that he’s responsible for the deaths of his husband Mike’s former lovers to keep them away from Mike, informing his friends that he’s just joking. But when the body of Mike’s current lover is found in the pool during the party of the season, and he becomes the prime suspect, it’s no longer funny.  

From the start, author Spinelli creates doubt about whether JB is guilty or innocent. Suspicion surrounds him as he grapples with husband Mike’s behaviour, who flaunts his lovers in public and ignores his husband’s and son’s needs. Although his close friends stand by JB, distrust creeps into his relationships. 

The suspense builds with urgency as suspicion zings back and forth between characters. Revelations keep coming, with clues cleverly pointing to different suspects, as JB tries to keep his family intact. The climactic reveal of the killer comes as a shock, with aftereffects as all the loose ends are resolved. 

Although Precious Friends is book 3 in a series, it works perfectly as a stand-alone read. Great storyline, excellent characterization, and real-life issues. Such a fun read! Each time I was forced to put down the book to attend to my own real-life responsibilities, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. Spinelli’s smooth writing style and finesse at doling out snippets of information at a time kept me wanting more. Drama, romance, and mystery all rolled into an enjoyable read with a satisfying conclusion.