A great book about friendship, lies and deceit, the characters were well developed, the storyline was really good, definitely recommend

Louise has just moved to a new flat when she meets her neighbour Isabelle whose husband is carted off by the police. The two women form a friendship but Louise is keeping secrets...
The Silent Friend is a psychological thriller and domestic drama.
Louise and Isabelle make friends as Louise supports Isabelle when Carl is sent to prison. Isabelle is pregnant and reeling from Carl's situation so is vulnerable. Most of the book is written in the present day to show the developing friendship between Louise and Isabelle. However some chapters show the past including Louise's sad childhood which has had a major impact on her life.
A fifth of the way through there is a big twist which shows the women's friendship in a new light and makes you rethink your opinion of the main characters.  It's hard to review without big spoilers but I love the change in dynamic when we know Louise's secret. I enjoyed the tension as we wait for events to unfold and wonder how the truth will be revealed.
There are elements of psychological thriller but the domestic drama aspect takes precedence in my opinion. Knowing Louise's unhappy childhood aligns us with her at first but then her behaviour takes on a more sinister angle when we know her secret. Isabelle has plenty of concerns about her situation being pregnant and worrying about Carl. The writing style is easy to read and builds the tension and plot layers.
The Silent Friend is an entertaining novel with secrets, lies and emotions.

“The Silent Friend” by Alison Stockham is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into secrets, betrayal, and the complexities of friendship.

Louise, haunted by a shadowy past, yearns for a fresh start. When she befriends her neighbor, Isabelle, she discovers the family she’s always longed for. However, Louise harbors a significant secret: she knows more about Isabelle’s imprisoned husband than she lets on. As their friendship deepens, Louise faces a dilemma—continue lying or reveal the truth and risk everything.

Louise is a complicated main character. Her tough life doesn’t excuse her actions, but it provides perspective, allowing sympathy to creep in. Isabelle, too, undergoes growth—from sheltered to self-discovery and strength.

The relationship between Louise and Isabelle is heartwarming, despite its complications. The novel beautifully explores platonic love and unconventional family bonds. By the end, I found myself rooting for both characters, hoping they’d find redemption and happiness.

This was my 1st book by Alison Stockham & I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was full of intrigue & deception which kept me entertained throughout the whole book!

This is a good, solid thriller. Louise and Isabelle are well written, multi-layered characters and the author skilfully takes us through their individual struggles. It’s an engaging ride of a read, I really enjoyed it.

This one had a lot of depth to it. While it was kind of a thriller it is also very much a story about friendship and the damage and complication of lies. I really enjoyed it, found myself sucked into the story, and recommend it for a quick but thoughtful read.

A page turner of betrayal, deciet , secrets and plenty of lies. It's enough to make you feel crazy but twist will leave you breathless.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Well written characters and a fantastic storyline. I'd recommend to friends.

This is a book about friendship. I loved how it kept me on my toes. Even though the pace was a bit slow, It kept me entertained the whole way through.

Another gripping thriller from @astockhamauthor that is filled with lies, betrayal and a whole load of tension.

This is a fast paced and easy read. I found myself very quickly pulled in and unwilling to put this one down. I ended up devouring this in just one sitting.

Louise has a very colourful background and her friendship with Isabelle is unexpected. I’ve loved the rollercoaster of this.

This is a book that is filled with mystery and suspense. I love that as a reader we have known the secrets before they unfold.

This is my favourite book by this author to date and I already cannot wait to see what is coming next.

This is a must for the TBR.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Silent Friend by Alison Stockham was an excellent psychological thriller, this was a book that gripped me from the beginning till the end, especially as it was hard to put down once I started to read it. It was a fast paced with great twists and turns throughout that had a excellent ending.

I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book wasn’t bad by any means but it left me wanting more…. I will still recommend it and I think it was a good ‘beach read’

Unfortunately this was a struggle for me and I ended up not finishing it. I didn't feel gripped. I'm sure many others will love this. It just wasn't for me

A psychological thriller with twists and turns, This is a book I enjoyed but I must say didn't WOW me. Having said that it had the good characters, suspense, thrills and intrigue. I found it entertaining and kept me reading which is always a good thing.

Louise is trying to escape her past mistakes but this may not be possible with her new friend's husband being someone for her past. This is a tense and interesting plot for a thriller and it works well as does the way it is written. I really enjoyed it, it was quick and easy to read but just missed a little bit of oomph for me. 3 1/2 stars for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a good book. I wasn't fond of the characters, but that's probably what kept me reading, to find something good about them. I wasn't disappointed.
Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the chance to read this advanced copy.

This was a very good enjoyable psychological thriller, with plenty of twists and turns throughout. The characters were great, the story was suspenseful and the style of writing was perfect. The have read a few of this authors books and have loved them all, looking forward to the next one out. I would highly recommend this for anyone who likes reading this genre.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

Ive read plenty of thrillers but this one seems different to others ive read before and I throughly enjoyed every page! It’s full of intrigue and deception and the synopsis is so very well written. If you like dark suspense then this is the book for you!

This was my first book by Alison Stockham and I loved it! Louise has a past and has moved into a new home when she becomes friends with Isabelle. It was a pretty familiar tripe with Louise seeming to have a muddy background and her new friend with the seemingly perfect life. Even though it’s a common trope the premise of this book was different and it was very well done. It had great plot development and well-developed characters. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is different to any domestic thriller I have read before and I loved it. The plot is so well written, full of intrigue and deception. I was left wondering what the truth actually was. I can't say too much without spoiling this wonderful book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dark domestic suspense.

Alison Stockham explores the complexities of female friendships, the secrets we keep and the darkness within in her chilling novel, The Silent Friend.

Louise’s past has been weighing her down for as long as can remember. She yearns to break free and to unshackle herself once and for all from the overwhelming consequences of her old mistakes. Having spent most of her life on the outside looking in, when Louise makes her neighbour Isabelle’s acquaintance and the two become fast friends, she is absolutely delighted. At long last, Louise feels as if she has finally found somewhere she belongs and the family she has always wanted. However, Louise hasn’t been completely honest with her new friend…

Louise knows far more about Isabelle than her new friend realises. She knows the reason why Isabelle’s husband has been imprisoned – and who was behind his arrest. Forced to make an impossible decision, Louise finds herself at a crossroads. Should she continue lying to her new friend? Or should she confess and put paid to any hope she might have had of leaving the past behind her and starting over for good?

Alison Stockham’s The Silent Friend is a cleverly written and deftly plotted thriller full of hair-raising suspense, nail-biting tension and plenty of moments that pull the rug out from under your feet and leave you with your jaw on the floor. Twisted, shocking and gripping from beginning to end, The Silent Friend is an excellent thriller from a writer to watch out for: Alison Stockham.