Danny Evans is struggling with events in his life, his daughter is in a coma after attempting to take her own life after being sexually groomed, he's living in a hotel after his wife told him she couldn't cope with his excessive drinking. He is approached in the pub by a nan who states he knows who groomed his daughter. This sets up a chain of events that continues like a cat and mouse chase throughout the book. Di Morris us called in to solve the crimes, with a new colleague. This was a great book, a well written thriller.
I received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review

Well done Charlie Gallagher! Another superb read! In my opinion, this book started differently to most of Charlie’s others in that it was a slower start - then 15% into the book - I was completely hooked!

The books starts with a young girl overdosing in a park. Then jumps a month to a ‘has been’ footballer being approached by a stranger in a bar who later tells him he knows why his daughter overdosed and who caused her to do so............and that starts a roller coaster ride for Danny Evans, the footballer and later Richard Maddox an older man in mourning for his wife who was knocked down and killed by a hit and run driver! That’s all I’m going to say about the plot, you can get more (if you need it!) from others or the book itself but suffice to say that there’s a lot more to the plot than you first believe!

This book pushes the boundaries for these men......how much and how far would you go to get revenge? That’s what these guys soon find out, thanks to that stranger in the bar! It’s a white-knuckle ride from then on right to the exciting end of the this book! I think it’s Charlie Gallagher’s forte and mission to test how long I (and doubtless other readers) can hold our breath at the end of his books!

I have read reviews by others who say this book is better suited to men but I, for one, don’t feel that at all. I absolutely loved it and I’m very grateful to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in return for an honest review.

Honestly - read it! You won’t regret it! And you’ll get better at holding your breath - great for underwater handstands in the summer!

Once again, well done Charlie Gallagher, you’ve done it again!

Thank you Netgalley for the advance copy of this gripping page turner. A totally unique storyline of manipulation and revenge. This is the first murder investigation DI Joel Norris has led on and what a case it is! Absolutely brilliantly written with twists and turns. My first taste of a Charlie Gallagher thriller definitely won't be my last. Highly recommended.

Wow!

What an addictive, totally engrossing book! I literally could not put this book down.

Wonderful storyline that keeps you guessing. So well written.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ARC

This is my first read by this author. I enjoyed the twists and turns. It was a great book and I will be looking for more by this author ASAP!

Excellent read, such a different plot and style from previous books. It had me totally engaged right from the start with twists and turns that kept me guessing right to the end. The concept of the plot was unique and so cleverly written I recommend you set aside time as you will not want to put it down.

A heart pounding thriller filled with so many unexpected twists that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

The Friend shows it’s readers that one would do anything for their loved ones, even if it means murder.

This thriller begins with the victim, Callie Evans, a young teenage girl who is riddled with so much trauma that taking her life is the only solution she thinks is available. Instead, she is hospitalized after her suicide attempt and is surrounded by her family rallying behind her. Callie’s father, Danny Evans, is hailed as a local celebrity. But Callie’s suicide attempt makes him spiral out of control as he seeks vengeance for those involved in the acts that led his daughter into this dark place. This father’s quest for vengeance is complicated and his life quickly becomes intertwined with many others who all share one common goal: Justice.

There are so many twists and turns that you really cannot piece the whole case together until the very end. I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book pre-publication.

If I had not previously read Charlie Gallagher's books I could have been a bit concerned that what he was trying to do would work. There were so many sub plots. In fact it takes a while to figure out what the actual plot is.
But I have read all of Charlie's books and I know that he is a master at this. He can take seemingly dangling threads and leave the reader with a denouement as tidy and awesome as a bride's French braid.
This, in my opinion, is his best book yet. We have the rough, tough ex TSG commander coming back from stress to take over a new 'flying squad' that will take a role above CID and MIT. Only he has no squad and no resources, just a bunch of new murders that cannot possibly be connected and he's billy no mates with colleagues.
Cyber bullying by paedophiles. Attempted suicide. Mental breakdowns. Washed up football players (well it is Dover). Old soldiers AND a six year old daughter who beats him at laser quest.
One thing I like about Charlie's books is he doesn't use red herrings. Evertthing you read has meaning.

I love this authors books and so I had great expectations of this latest one and it surpassed every one of them. Gritty and gripping with an intense and unusual storyline (you can read the description on the blurb of the book) it drew me in from the beginning and kept me guessing throughout. A must read for all crime lovers and a huge 5* from me. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Avon books for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book. From doing sending out the mirror review well

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Danny and Sharon's daughter attempted suicide. Her parents were trying to figure out why. This book captured my attention from the beginning

I enjoyed this book for the twists and turns of the plot and the underlying theme about how vulnerable and flawed individuals can be manipulated by determined and motivated psychopaths. The reader is introduced to the victims first: a young girl whose shame at the hands of an online abuser leads her to want to take her own life and then her father, Danny Evans, a former local football legend, who is offered a tempting opportunity for vengeance and justice by a stranger. The detective investigating the outcome of these events is introduced later when things start getting deeper and darker and in many ways the investigation itself is much less interesting than the compelling account of how Danny and his family are pulled into a complex plot of revenge and subterfuge. This is the first time I have read this author and I will certainly seek him out again. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read it pre-publication

The Friend was one of those books that had me hooked from page1. I was thoroughly invested in the characters and was constantly on the edge of my seat reading about what was happening to them. I read this in one sitting as I couldn't put it down, however I did find it a tough read in places.

PHENOMENAL! STUPENDOUS!
7⭐!
THE FRIEND kicks off with a horrendous, heartbreaking, inexplicable incident. This leads to a different sort of horrifying event and then yet another. Perilous, heart-stopping entanglements spiral out of all control. An atmosphere of spine-tingling malevolence permeates the pages with heart-pounding, terrifying suspense. The heinous machinations being orchestrated point to a hair-raising mysterious plot of Machiavellian proportions that is chilling to the bone. As the menacing situation escalates pieces of the mind-boggling puzzle begin to fit together, culminating in a dynamite revelation and explosive finish that you'll never see coming.

THE FRIEND IS A MUST READ!

Once again Charlie Gallagher has provided another brilliant book. I have followed this author since his first book and he just keeps getting better and better. Another gripping story that had me on the edge of my seat with many oh my gosh moments when I was taken aback by what was happening. A great duo of new detectives who I hope we will see their relationship develop n future books, The story itself held my attention throughout the book, it really is a wild ride, quite dark but very cleverly put together. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

An outstanding new offering from a brilliant crime author!!
I really hope this is the first in a new series; engaging characters, tightly plotted and with a clever storyline this is Gallagher on top form.

Getting into the story, this book is very dark,
as we start a new series, Danny Evans is such a mixed up man in his life. I did find however that I wasn't suited to reading this book It's more in a man's world, but above all from this author it is definitely full of action.

New characters as we are introduced to DI Joel Norris and the team, ex footballer known as The Beast who was Danny Evans is still coaching for Dover Athletic is a troubled man, living away now from his family his wife and children he spends all his time mostly in the Duke Inn Pub drinking his daughter Callie is still fighting an overdose and in a coma in hospital a stranger has done this to them all and Danny is out for murder. Above all I think this book is more suitable as a man's read, as I did tend to struggle along the chapters, as a big fan of this authors work, I did find this one a bit hard going for me.

Why did their happy daughter try and 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?

Thus is a good thriller mystery novel. The writing was on point.
As I kept reading it did get a little predictable to me.
Overall I loved the characters. I felt for them.

I love this thriller. It actually kept me on the edge of my seat the entire read wondering what was going to happen next. I felt like I knew the characters it was actually afraid for them. I highly recommend this one.