REVIEW:

Here’s a quick checklist to see if you’ll want to friend The Friend:

• Did you read Harlan Coben’s The Stranger or watch the series on Netflix and like the overall concept but find the execution too far fetched? And/or,

• Were you sucked in by the “game” aspect of J.D. Barker’s A Caller’s Game but disappointed that there was so much explosive over-the-top action? And/or,

• Do you like the central premise of the Saw movies, where a villain puts his victims through tests, but dislike the horror and gore aspects? And/or,

• Did you love Adrian McKinty’s The Chain right up until it ended the lamest way possible?

Personally, my answers were yes, no, yes, yes. And since three outta four ain’t bad, I was very intrigued when I saw early praise for Charlie Gallagher’s latest thriller. He’s a new-to-me author - and the cover for The Friend is certainly generic - but I decided to take a chance on it anyway. Sometimes that pays off, and this was one of those times.

This is a thriller with a great plot, fascinating characters, and plenty of twists. I also love that there’s a police procedural element to it. I believe this is the start of a new series featuring D.I. Joel Norris, and consider me signed up for the sequel.

I received a gifted advance listeners copy of the audiobook courtesy of HarperCollins UK Audio via NetGalley for review. Alexis Rodney did an outstanding job with the narration, capturing each of the character’s moods and emotions in his singular performance.

The Friend is now available in ebook, paperback and audiobook formats.

PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:

A Stranger. A promise. A deadly game.

Danny and Sharon Evans are desperate for answers. Why did their seemingly happy daughter try to take her own life?

When a stranger approaches Danny, saying he knows who’s to blame, Danny is tempted, despite Sharon’s reservations. And when his new friend offers them revenge, how can he walk away?

But little does Danny know he is being invited to play a terrible game. A game that won't just change lives – it will end them.

DI Joel Norris knows this is no ordinary case when two seemingly unconnected murders hit his desk within a matter of days. But how far is he willing to go to solve the puzzle?

Dark, gripping and unforgettable, The Friend will keep fans of Harlan Coben and Mark Billingham on the edge of their seats.