The new friend is a brilliant read. Well written you are drawn in from page one. The description and the characters make it easy to get right into the story. My only criticism is that I couldn’t put it down. Make sure you’ve got time to read this you won’t be disappointed. A well deserved five stars.

I am such a fan of this authors books and she just keeps getting better and better!

Whilst part of the story is set in sunny Spain, the majority of the story is centred in Glasgow. Glasgow can be such a lovely city but as with any city, it isn’t without it’s issues. Rife with drink and drugs, it isn’t helped with all the gang warfare going on.

Roxanne was a character who I couldn’t quite make my mind up with. She hasn’t had the best of starts to life and at times I felt sorry for her and wanted to try and understand her but the more we get to see of her, the less empathy I started to feel towards her.

There are quite a few characters in the story as we get to know a bit more about the men in these women’s lives. All seem to be hiding secrets and it makes for some enthralling reading learning more about each character. The more we learn, the more sinister the story gets.

The New Friend will make you think twice about making new friends and have you questioning yourself at how well you really know the people in your life. With every chapter it felt like there was a new revelation that could not only rock the characters’ worlds but it sure shook up the readers also. It makes for a tense read that kept me on edge as to how it would end for everyone involved. The one thing you can be sure of is that nothing good ever comes out of a life of crime! Dark, tense and thrilling, loved it!

Arabella MacQueen had a tough start. Growing up surrounded by drugs and alcohol, getting into trouble as a teen, she's now in her late twenties and has turned her life around. Until the fateful night that sees her imprisoned for ten months. She unexpectedly forges a bond with cellmate Roxanne McPhail that lasts beyond the prison walls. Now both women are free, and Arabella is excited about the future with boyfriend Eddie, with Roxanne by her side. But Arabella does not know the truth about her new best friend; that Roxanne is the head of Glasgow's gangland.

Arabella was brought up mostly in the care system. She's just been released after spending a short time in prison where she met and made a good friend in Roxanne. When Roxanne is liberated, she goes in search of Arabella and her boyfriend Eddie. Eddie had given a hairdressing saloon to Arabella on her release.. Arabella has learned to trust people again. But who can you really trust.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #AlexKane for my ARC of #TheNewFriend in exchange for an honest review.

In another time, in another place, this could be a classical Tragedy (Shakespearean or even Greek), a story of relentless revenge and nemesis, driven by hubris. Instead, it's 2001 as the book starts and 2021 as the story ends, and it's set in gangster areas of Glasgow and Mallorca. It is a tale of young people escaping from their no prospects, poverty-stricken, abusive lives in housing schemes around Glasgow, in the hope of finding better lives.
Jez and Billy, friends since childhood, are in Mallorca on holiday when Jez gets the opportunity to work in a club. A tragic, drug and drink fuelled assault by Billy forces them apart and he returns to Glasgow, while Jez becomes the owner of a chain of clubs.
Charlotte and Roxanne, also friends since childhood, are in Mallorca at the same time, working by day and clubbing by night. until they clash over Jez. As a result, Roxanne ends up back in Glasgow and married to Jake, a small-time criminal gang master, while Charlotte marries Jez.
Arabella, dragged up (rather than brought up) in a broken home by a drunken, junkie mother, was taken into care at eight, so is about ten years younger than, and unconnected to, the others. She remained in Glasgow but now, married to Eddie, a self-made businessman, she seems to have a secure life ahead. until a drunken, drug fuelled evening gets her into trouble with the law.
The catalyst for the tragedy comes in the form of Cole, a London gangster, whose ambition is to set up a Scottish drug empire. The implementation of this plan inadvertently brings all the protagonists into a final conflict.
The author, Alex Kane, is a Glaswegian, as is this reviewer, so the city, its people, and its language, are all very authentic. The plot follows the typical trajectory of a tragedy and comes to an ending which is perfectly in keeping with that classical model. The writing of the set piece events, flows in an enjoyable way – but I have an issue with the continuity sections. Clearly, plot details and character motivations need to be explained and occasionally reinforced to keep the reader on track but here, especially in the first half, this is carried to excess and could have been more tightly edited.
I would like to thank Net Galley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

Set mainly in Glasgow, the story centres around Arabella, who was brought up in the care system. Filled with selfish criminal characters, I failed to like any of them! The plot was predictable, drug dealing and violence, but an enjoyable summer read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What a fantastic read this book was . I really hope Alex brings back one of the characters . I would highly recommend this book and author to everyone.

A book crammed with horrible, deceitful characters and their devilish schemes - fabulous! Well written but quite a slow plot that didn't really amount to much. However, the book was definitely an enjoyable read.

Omg I love, love, loved this story!!just the fact that the plot was a bit different to the same old story that has been rewritten a million times before. Really enjoyable summer read

Another absolutely brilliant, gut wrenching gangland thriller. I've read all of Alex Kanes books and not one of them have ever let me down. I was gripped from page one and had sleepless nights because I couldn't put it down. I would highly recommend it as I would all of Alex Kanes books. Worth way more than five stars.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Arabella has had a rough life. She grew up in foster care because her mom was unable to care for her. Arabella met a girl in jail and became friends quickly. I liked the many characters in this book.

It was brilliant book about gangsters and drugs
Roxanne went to Spain for a holiday and she stayed there with her best friend Charlene
But she came back home because they were both seeing the same bloke some one called Jed
Charlene was pregnant by him
I had an ARC

Another brilliant book by Alex Kane, who is very much now one of my go to authors. Great story which demonstrates how friendship can be both the most amazing thing in the world but also can be extremely destructive. I loved the character of Arabella, she comes from very humble and hard beginnings in life and has done it tough. Growing up and wanting to fit in with the crowd and find a place to belong, she finds herself imprisoned after a series of stupid mistakes. Here she meets Roxanne and this friendship gets her through the dark days in prison. But are darker days to come? Arabella really knows nothing about Roxanne and by the time she does it may be too late. A raft of other great characters portrayed in the book, each enhancing the plot which rumbles a long at a relatively fast pace. Once again I read this book in an afternoon, turning the pages at a rapid speed to see what was going to happen. A great ending that wrapped up the story nicely. Thank you to Netgalley , the author and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Alex Kane you have done it again
I absolutely loved this book , could not put it down and the twist at the end .... wow
Brilliant writing once again
Can't wait for the next book
Well done
5 stars ✨

Arabella Macqueen has a hard life her mother is an alcoholic who spends all her money on drink and has no time for her daughter.At 8 years old she is taken into care and years later she finds herself in prison.
Roxanne is coming to the end of a 10 year sentence and she takes Arabella under her wing when they become cell mates and friends.
On Arabellas release her boyfriend Eddie is there waiting for her and tells her his bought a hair salon for her things are looking up at last and she's excited for the future.
Roxannne is out and wastes no time in catching up with her new friend,but is she all see seems and who can
Arabella really trust
What a brilliant read I could'nt put it down and can't wait to read the next book by Alex Kane.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hera Books for the ARC

Wow.......loved it, loved it roxanne and arabella become close friends whilst in prison and vow to remain friends when they are released. Roxanne and charlene are seeing the same man, will they find out? Will he have to choose?. Loved all of the characters, i couldnt put this book down, it was exciting to read, highley recommend

Glasgow, Arabella MacQueen is called Trampabella at school she has no friends, her mother a alcoholic never has any money then social services turn up and put her in care she is only eight years old.
Years go by and Roxanne McPhail is her new friend they are sharing a cell in Kirktonhill womens prison and after Arabella is released her boyfriend Eddie Corringan hands over the hair dressing salon Hair Envy to her to run, then Roxanne gets in touch after been released is she truly her best friend?.
What a fab story this is. Arabella has learned how to trust the people she is surrounded with even if they only care for themselves but none of them deserve sympathy, this book is all about who do you trust and payback, and I loved and enjoyed every single chapter, It's a brilliant read. 5 ****** stars.

Arabella had a poor start in life her mother was an alcoholic . Arabella is bullied in school and one day she has enough and faces her bully . but has drastic consequence s . all Arabella wants is a true friend . Roxanne has had enough of her mum and life and decides to leave Glasgow and go to her friend Charlene in Spain but ends up all going wrong for Roxanne as she has been seeing her friends boyfriend without knowing was Charlene s man Jez who becomes a known crime face . Arabella ends up in prison her boyfriend Eddie stands buy her and Roxanne is her cell mate and when they get out things spiral out of control for Arabella and Eddie , and Jez has a score to settle and drags an old friend in to it and Charlene has a score to settle wont say no more

Wow ! That was a twisted tale! Lol the characters were so interwoven with each other I don't know how the author kept it straight?! Lol what a book! This book had suspense intrigue and so many twists and turns it was crazy! But good crazy! I was definitely glued to my kindle with this one! Some of these characters were a mind f well you know! Lol geez the bad guys were really bad! But I loved the characters! They were all so interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The New Friend by Alex Kane

Arabella got in with a bad crowd as a younger girl , but turned her life around . Then a few years later she finds herself in prison.
Roxanne is her cell mate and they quickly become firm friends and remain so when they get out. However , for Arabella this might not be such a good idea as Roxanne has her uses for Arabella , and not in such a good way.
I really liked the way the author gave us just enough of the tense moments to keep us on the edge of our seats as Roxanne was edging ever closer to get Araballa to do her bidding.
I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this book , even the not so nice ones.

Having read Alex Kane's previous books i was looking forward to this but sadly i had to stop as i found it boring it just seemed to waffle on about nothing.This is just my opinion and i dare say others will love it but to me it lacked a strong story.I give it 3* as i like this authors previous works.