Returning to work after stress leave, DI Joel Norris is tasked to set up a new team to investigate the murder of a headless corpse. The case takes a different turn when the apparent suicide of a local hero and the grooming of his daughter take the investigation on a more sinister path. Terrific story, feels like the start of a new crime fighting partnership.

this book was pretty good, though a bit too masculine in style for me. interesting concept and we sat and watched while more and more of the characters we knew we were in danger and watching the work of an unknown master manipulator and the two detectives that were trying to put the pieces together

Another masterpiece by Charlie Gallagher.
I could not put this book down! A fast paced crime thriller.
Just brilliant!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of The Friend, the first novel to feature DI Joel Morris of the Kent Police.

When a headless body washes up on Dover beach newly promoted DI Joel Morris is asked to investigate and then another death adds to his caseload, although he’s the only one seeing a link. In the meantime professional footballer Danny Evans is struggling to cope with his teenage daughter’s overdose and is tempted, despite his wife’s reservations when a stranger offers a chance for revenge.

I have read and enjoyed all Mr Gallagher’s previous novels but I must admit that I initially struggled to get involved with The Friend. The premise is intriguing, but it moves frequently between characters and doesn’t really give the reader time to settle in and grasp exactly what is going on. There are too many threads and no early reveals, but once it gets going, just before the half way mark, with reveals and the police investigation, boy, does it go and becomes quite compulsive.

This is a novel about grief, the corrosive anger it evokes in some men and their need to blame someone, but mostly it is about manipulation. I spent much of the novel shaking my head at how easily Danny Evans was manipulated into taking a stranger’s word about events, but, then, I’ve never been in his situation. The author does a great job of explaining his feelings and thoughts, but I can’t get it, that overpowering need to act. It simply didn’t resonate with me.

Although it is slow to start, requiring a lot of groundwork and scene setting, the plot is absorbing and warped in the mindset of the perpetrator. I really hope that it is the product of the author’s twisted imagination, rather than something he has seen in the course of his duties, as I wouldn’t like to think that there are real people like that.

I liked spending time with DI Joel Morris and his sidekick DS Lucy Rose. As the only members of a proposed elite crime squad it is unusual to see such a small investigative team, but there are hints of growth to come so perhaps there will be a more standard type of investigation in the future. They have a good dynamic with the occasional funny line and lots of insubordination from Rose.

The Friend is a good read after a slow start.

This book had a really interesting premise but ended up being a disappointment. It slow, sort of repetitive, sometimes confusing, and boring. I felt very close to put it down for good. I think it had the potential to be way better and more compelling but it lacked and turned more police procedure.

I do think if you want a more detective story, not character driven and more thrilling, you'll enjoy it.

When Danny and Sharon's daughter kills herself, her grief struck parents are left with a lot of answers.

In order to find questions, Danny makes decisions that determine the course of the story.

I really enjoyed reading this one, I love a good thriller with twists.

This is a new series featuring DI Joel Norris and his team. I have thoroughly enjoyed all the books by Charlie Gallagher and I certainly enjoyed this thriller. It's dark, full of menace and suspense, and very clever writing. Although slow to start, the pace and action quickly picked up and drew me in. Danny, a footballer, is sucked in to a plot full of revenge and manipulation. The book is very well written, with an original storyline and I would recommend it to lovers of thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Gore score 🗡
#1 in the DI Joel Norris series.
Danny and Sharon’s daughter is lying in a coma after trying to take her own life after being groomed and then blackmailed. Their marriage is firmly in the rocks, Danny is in a downward spiral he has lost his career as a professional footballer, and is seeking solace in the bottom of an empty bottle when he is is offered answers and a solution by someone who befriends him in a bar.
Joel is in a new team having returned from sick leave following stress caused by a previous case. His character develops nicely throughout the book, and I really took to him, he really cares.
His partner is DS Rose who is a strong feisty no nonsense cop. She is a part of the team strictly with her own agenda.
I like the light tone of the easy reading writing style.
It grabbed my attention quickly.
It’s fast paced. OMG what a cleverly intertwined plot.
I engaged with Richard. My heart went out to him.

I loved the way the book started in the prologue. That description of evil had me hooked.

What followe'd was a parents emotional journey from a grief-stricken tragedy.

Wow! This is an amazing, compelling and entertaining thriller that had me gripped from the first page, with twists and turns throughout that I never saw coming. I absolutely loved this, as it kept me on the edge of my seat, and fully engaged as the drama unfolded. A true definition of “page turner!” I found it difficult to put this down and read it within two sessions.

The best part of this for me was the fact the locations and scene settings were all places that I knew in Kent, making it so much easier to visualise whilst reading. I’d love to see an adaptation of this for TV or film.

A fast paced, explosive read that must be read. This is the first book I have read by this author but I am already a fan and can’t wait to read more!

This was my first Charlie Gallagher book and I really wanted to like it. I'm usually a big fan of thrillers and the premise sounded great, but unfortunately this was a bit slow for me and I just couldn't get into it. The writing seemed flat, the characters not that likeable, and I saw the twists coming. Fans of creepy, slower burn thrillers will probably like this more than I did! Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A very unique storyline! With brilliant twists and turns, i highly recommend! I was gripped the entire way through, it was very well written and not what i was expecting as my first book from this author.
And hands down what got me gripped was it was not predictable!
You will never see the end coming, even as you begin fitting the puzzle pieces together.
The Friend is a must read for all!

Danny Evans is reeling from his daughters suicide attempt. A former b-list footballer, he is known for his skills on the field and his late night binges afterwards. But when he is approached by a man who has the information about his daughters suicide, and who is responsible, Danny must decide what to do with that information. And when he decides, a giant web of lies and deceit unfurl, and leaves the reader questioning if this man is a friend, or an enemy?

Creepy, edge of your seat crime thriller.
Loved the sound of it and it didn't disappoint.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book

Thank you #Netgalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read this AR+C of The Friend by Charlie Gallagher. I loved the description of this book! I enjoyed Danny’s storyline and sympathized with him. Then the book took a turn and it got strange, and less and less compelling and more police procedural. The description mentioned a “game” so huh? The writing was good and the basic story was good, but it turned out to not be what I expected. I think other people would enjoy this if they like detective-centric stories and are not as concerned with characters.

Charlie Gallagher returns with new main characters.

The Friend is a well paced and very interesting book with two excellent main characters who definitely bounce off each other and have plenty of scope to grow.

The book has a number of twists and picks up the pace until the very end and definitely kept this reader entertained.

Highly recommended

I have reviewed most of Charlie's books so I'm not sure whether I am best positioned to provide a subjective review of The Friend. Not sure an objective review is possible.
I have reviewed many mystery/murder/thriller books and read many before prior to commencement of my reviewing timespan. What I look for in a book to give 5 stars is firstly a really good storyline, secondly 3 dimensional primary characters i.e. not only do you get details of who, what and when events but you also get depth of character so that you can associate with them and understand them more. Thirdly twists and turns that ideally provide me with a ' didn't expect that' reaction.
I found the George Elms books to be superb reading but I did find the Maddie Ives set not as fulfilling and I remember noting in one or two reviews that I just didn't get to know Maddie (3rd dimension).
So I was really pleased to see that for the next book Charlie has provided a new character set but still based in Kent. So is this book a sideways development or a move forward?
Well I would say it is a massive step forward. The book is superb and the characters are beautifully described in the right amount of detail. I also feel it is Charlie's best book and is definitely one of the best I have read.
So it doesn't matter if you haven't read any earlier books please go for this one. I'm sure you will love it

I really enjoyed this book. Being from the area that Charlie Gallagher sets his novels in it’s great to have the opportunity to support a local writer. I felt ‘The Friend’ was a little different to the Maddie Ives and George Elms books and I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot.

This was everything I hoped it would be and more. The story centres on the Evans family whose daughter is in hospital after attempting to commit suicide, and her dad who is approached by a stranger who seems to have the answers as to why she tried to take her own life.

The story shows how easily vulnerable people are to manipulate, and the lengths people will go to for revenge.

The story is dark with a disturbing storyline which is something I have come to expect from this author. I was disappointed when the author ended his previous series, the outstanding DI Maddie Ives series - which I highly recommend, however after reading this book I feel a new, equally exciting and chilling series has just begun.

Fading local football star Danny Evans doesn’t know how to handle what’s happened to his 15-year-old daughter. She’s lying in hospital in an induced coma after trying to take her own life, and Danny can do nothing to solve the problem which caused his little girl to feel such despair. So, when a stranger approaches him to say he might be able to help. That he can do what the police never could and find answers, find someone to blame, it’s not long before Danny takes him up on his offer.

Is this stranger who says he just wants to help get justice for Danny’s daughter really so selfless. Or will Danny have to pay big for this gift of revenge?

For DI Joel Norris the first body was supposed to be a simple case to get him back after his breakdown. Will it be too much to handle as it becomes clearer that his first murder case is part of a much bigger plot?

A clever story which manages to hold multiple separate plotlines and character perspectives together. The pacing is spot on as we gradually unravel what’s happening, and understand who is pulling all the strings. As an introduction to DI Joel Norris and his new regional major case team, it’s an excellent start. DI Norris is a refreshing lead detective. He’s coming back from a breakdown, but is open about his mental wellbeing and not trying to hide that he had to take some time for himself behind any kind of boorish machismo. He’s clever, precise and committed and able to empathise with the victims and witnesses. A bit like Karin Slaughter’s GBA agent Will Trent, but with more self confidence and without the passive aggressive approach to his boss and relationships.

Joel’s female companions could do with a bit more fleshing out, as they are the weak point of this first book. His boss is a strong-willed female Superintendent who has developed the idea of this new squad and put Joel in charge. He doesn’t seem quite sure of her motivation, but also makes it clear that he can use persuasion and confidence to get around the bureaucratic barriers in place, so doesn’t need her shouting the odds as she’s offered to do. That leaves her as quite a flat one-dimensional character who will definitely need more work to be of value to future books.

Joel’s DS, and currently only actual member of Joel’s team, Lucy Rose is slightly better developed, but not by much. She joins the squad because an early victim is a cop and friend of Lucy’s. Lucy makes it quite clear that she thinks her friend is being let down by having a senior investigating officer with no murder case experience in charge. She’s also clear that the assignment to the new squad is temporary. There are some good moments between Joel and Lucy which suggest they could work well together. But, this is mostly the Joel show to give him the opportunity to prove that he’s up for this new challenge, so Lucy’s ability to shine is limited. There’s only one witness with whom Lucy has a better rapport than Joel, but it’s Joel who immediately becomes invested in helping this witness deal with their domestic situation.

Hopefully the next books in the series will help develop these characters more and provide more of a sense of team. There’s definitely a solid foundation here for a new detective series and I’m looking forward to finding out where it goes next.