The Friend By Dorothy Koomson

[amazon_link id=”1780895984″ target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’The Friend’ is the latest book by Dorothy Koomson.

After her husband’s big promotion, Cece Solarin arrives in Brighton with their three children, ready to start afresh. But their new neighbourhood has a deadly secret. Three weeks earlier, Yvonne, a very popular parent, was almost murdered in the grounds of the local school – the same school where Cece has unwittingly enrolled her children. Already anxious about making friends when the parents seem so cliquey, Cece is now also worried about her children’s safety. By chance she meets Maxie, Anaya and Hazel, three very different school mothers who make her feel welcome and reassure her about her new life. That is until Cece discovers the police believe one of her new friends tried to kill Yvonne. Reluctant to spy on her friends but determined to discover the truth, Cece must uncover the potential murderer before they strike again.

Dorothy is back with another great book, another story about the complexities of female relationships about love and jealousy and for me, was reminiscent of the style of Liane Moriarty’s writing, author of ‘Big Little Lies’.

The story is about Cece, who was just moved to Brighton with her husband and their three children. She knows no-one and finds it hard to make friends until thankfully, three women take her under their wings and she finally begins to feel at home. But unknown to her, before her family’s arrival to the area, a woman was left almost dead at the school of her children’s school and this woman was the best friend of Cece’s new friends and it seems that all these friends have secrets that they are determined to stay hidden.

The story is seen from the perspective of Cece, as she settles into a strange area. She feels alone as her husband spends so much time at work. She’s grateful for the friendship that Maxie, Hazel and Anaya extend to her but she’s aware that something is wrong with them. Their constantly on age and all seem to want to say something but can’t quite manage it.

It’s also seen from the perspectives of Maxie, Hazel and Anaya and these perspectives of the story are particularly interesting as it seems that all women have far from perfect lives behind closed doors and that their so called best friend Yvonne was not quite the best friend that they were lead to believe. Where, they thought they had a genuine friend, she was looking into their lives and using things they would prefer to be hidden to be used against them.

The story flows at a clever pace with regular twists and turns that keeps the reader on their toes as all three women seem to have valid reasons for leaving their friend for dead.

A suspenseful and addictive story filled with suspicious characters and an inquisitive newcomer. ‘The Friend’ is a gripping story about friendship and just far a person will go to keep a secret hidden.

You can buy [amazon_link id=”1780895984″ target=”_blank” ]The Friend from Amazon [/amazon_link] and will be available to buy from good bookshops.