Dark thriller that had you hooked from the off. The book was very well written. Great plot. Very exciting. Fast paced to get your heart racing. Loved this book. It had me hooked from the beginning.

A good read
Was hooked from page one
Plenty of twists
You will not see the ending coming
Thanks NetGalley

There’s nothing I enjoy better than a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing…

And The Loyal Friend is certainly that – it’s a story about four women (psychological thrillers generally are, aren’t they? Men are much less complicated, although there are exceptions, obviously! I’m instantly thinking of Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley as an example.) There’s Jade, who’s an instructor at a fitness class three times a week, and the story concerns three regulars at these classes: Grace, Natalie, and Susan. Jade seems almost perfect – she’s generous, has lots of friends, is attractive, and just a generally lovely person. So why on earth would someone engineer her disappearance – possibly murder? And could it be one of her (so-called!) friends? I must say, I loved the tagline for this book – “She has your back. And may stab you in it.” It perfectly sums up this book, which I whizzed through, putting off all sorts of chores to read just…one…more…chapter… And isn’t that so the definition of a really juicy psychological thriller…?!

So spill the beans on this disappearance…

When one day Jade doesn’t turn up to take her usual class, Natalie seems the only one concerned enough to call round on her. Her car is outside but, getting no reply, Natalie uses keys she has to let herself in. There’s no sign of Jade, but there’s blood in her bathroom and an abandoned mobile.

DI Donovan Bailey and DS Javid Singh are given the case, and the story unwinds with chapters told from the perspective of the four main characters. The three class members are very different. Susan is pampered, spoilt, and likes to boast about her easy life, in which she pays people to do all the awkward things in life. She’s easy to dislike. Natalie is in her late 20s, works in a library and has little confidence, but is finding her life is getting better under Jade’s encouragement to come to the fitness class, which is helping her lose weight. Grace is somewhat put upon – she tries to be a devoted wife and mother, as well as caring for an elderly parent, but is struggling to keep it all together – understandably. They make an unusual loose group of friends, but that could all unravel with Jade’s disappearance, as her class was the reason for this friendship.

And all the women have secrets, don’t they?

They have indeed – and they definitely don’t want them revealed! And when rumours spread that Jade has a diary where she writes everything she hears, the trio are worried that their secrets will not stay hidden for much longer. But does one of them have a secret that’s so explosive it’s worth killing to keep under wraps…?

Wow! This really does sound like a cracking psychological thriller!

Believe me, it is! It’s been a flooded market since Gone Girl, but this is one of the most compelling psychological thrillers I’ve read for a long time! A.A. Chaudhari wrote the well-received She’s Mine, and is a name to seek out if you’re a fan of books that keep you guessing – and changing your mind, and guessing again – until the very last page…!

Superb stuff! Clear your diary!

This was such a good thriller! It kept me guessing and intrigued the whole time! The characters were likable and well developed. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hera Books for the e-ARC. Ugggg the build up in the book was amazeballs I loved everything about it. It kept me on my toes and the author released just the right amount of information for you to thing yes for sure this person did it but then you were like no it was this person and so on until the perfect ending.

The Loyal Friend by A.A. Chaudhuri was another excellent book and I was hooked from the beginning till the end. This was a book that just kept me guessing till the end which made it a great holiday read. The ending!!! WoW Brilliant! I loved it! and one of best books of the 2022 I have read. Just like her last book "She's Mine"

I highly recommend this latest book by A.A. Chaudhuri.

Wow! This book has taken me on one hell of.a roller-coaster that never seemed to end. Every time I thought I had it figured out another twist is revealed and my head feels like I'm on a tilt a whirl.

A A Chaudhuri is a fantastic writer and her style of writing and the way she drups feeds clues(including red herrings, pulls you in to her novels and grips you til the last page.

The complexity of the characters makes them so relatable, throughout the book I root for them all at different points. This is because throughout the novel the motives to want to harm Jade are revealed. Then on the flip side the characters have redeeming qualities that make you build a strong emotional connection to them.

The ending is so unexpected it will take your breath away, it is such a complex thriller and I love it.

What an interesting mix of 4 different women. Each with their own agendas that contribute to a very twisty mystery. Jade, one of the 4 women has disappeared a trace.
I thought I had it figured out a couple of times but the end came as quite a surprise !!
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review the book. Enjoy !

This was a really riveting thriller! I'm not sure what I was expecting when I requested an eARC of this novel, but I was very happy that I did! The story follows the disappearance of Jade and the investigation of three women who all had reasons to want her gone. What happened to Jade? Did any of the women cause her disappearance? You'll have to read this for yourself (and you WANT to read it for yourself!!!!). AA Chaudhuri, wonderful work! Thank you Netgalley & Hera books for the ARC!

Book review : The Loyal Friend by A.A.Chaudhuri is an immense thrilling book and keeps the reader hooked up till the end.

Susan is living the perfect life in leafy Kingston. She’ll never let anyone see the darkness she’s concealing behind the diamonds and rosé. Grace is new to the group, seemingly the perfect wife and mum. Yet no one knows the truth of what’s happening behind closed doors. Loner Natalie hides the pain of her childhood behind a carefully ordered life. But how long can the past stay hidden? Three unlikely friends, brought together for a weekly class run by beautiful, friendly, instructor, Jade. But when Jade goes missing in mysterious circumstances, the group starts to unravel. And as their darkest secrets come to light, it seems that no one can be trusted. Even their closest friends…

The author has beautifully en-crafted the characters and it keeps the readers totally involved and in a grip of the story that one cannot leave it at all. The language used is beginner's friendly. The way story unfolds and unravels lots of secrets was really relishing.

I enjoyed every bit of the story and taught me a lesson trust only yourself. no-one knows who changes at what time leading you in which direction. I recommend this thrilling story to all thriller book lovers.

I am thankful to netgalley and hero publishers for giving me this book in return of an honest review.
Happy Reading!

Wow! This book has taken me on some ride. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another layer of complexity is revealed and my head is spinning off in another direction again!

A A Chaudhuri is a talented writer and I particularly am intrigued by the characters she creates, and the back stories she builds for them. We get to hear from all the characters involved in this story, though we are left waiting to hear from some, which definitely adds to the tension and suspense.

One thing that really strikes me as standing out in this book is that the characters, in my opinion, are both one level dislikeable and on another level possibly even admirable. Natalie’s strength of character, and her ability to trust Jade, after all she had been through, really struck me as an incredible sign of her strength of character. Though you are left wondering whether her damaged past could have caused violent tendencies…

Susan is also a complex character. Seemingly leading a perfect, life full of wealth and freedom, when you peel back the layers you find there’s much more to her story. I actually found myself feeling quite sorry for her too, at points.

Grace and Jade have suffered a lot, too. Though on one level an exciting and gripping thriller, these characters also bring to the fore an important and sensitive commentary on mental health issues and childhood trauma.

This book grabs hold of you by the scruff of the neck and never really let’s go. Just when you think it’s reaching the climax, another twist is thrown in and the tension ramps up again.

Overall, an exciting and addictive read by a skilfull author. I wish her every success with this book, and would recommend her book to fans of Mel Sherratt, Shari Lapena and Shalini Boland. I’m off to buy copies for my friends!!

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of The Loyal Friend by A.A. Chaudhuri from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I really, really enjoyed this book! I loved all the twists and turns and how it kept me guessing on what was going to happen next. Just when you think you figured it out - nope, another twist happens and you will be wrong..again! I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to Hera Books and the author, A.A.Chaudhuri, for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

Wow! Just finished reading 'The Loyal Friend' by A.A. Chaudhuri and was thoroughly gripped by it!

If you like thrillers with good prose, this book is for you! I love this author's writing and her ability to not over-explain things.

The book is written chapter by chapter from the different perspectives of the female characters within this novel - some of whom are likeable and some, not quite so likeable! The author well and truly captures your attention as the drama involving these complex, secretive women unfolds and keeps you intrigued throughout the book.

A twisty thriller that will keep you addicted to reading it right to the very end! A great summer, psychological thriller.

She has your back.
And may stab you in it.
Wealthy, pampered Susan is living the perfect life in leafy Kingston. She’ll never let anyone see the darkness she’s concealing behind the diamonds and rosé.
Grace is new to the group, seemingly the perfect wife and mum. Yet no one knows the truth of what’s happening behind closed doors.
Loner Natalie hides the pain of her childhood behind a carefully ordered life. But how long can the past stay hidden?
Three unlikely friends, brought together for a weekly class run by beautiful, friendly, instructor, Jade.
But when Jade goes missing in mysterious circumstances, the group starts to unravel. And as their darkest secrets come to light, it seems that no one can be trusted. Even their closest friends…

Wow!!! Just wow; this book is so thrilling.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

The Loyal Friend by A.A.Choudhuri is a mystery/thriller peopled with characters with psychological problems, including one true psychopath. Jade is the common thread. She’s a yoga instructor at the local health club and when she disappears her own dysfunction becomes apparent as does the dysfunction of several of her students. Jade had met Natalie when she was leaving flyers at public places when she first came on board. Natalie worked at the public library and was kind of dumpy and dowdy for her 30 years. She was being bullied by a co-worker named Sam and Jade jumped in to tell Sam off. She convinced Natalie to come to her class and a year later, they were best friends and Natalie had lost some weight and was in much better shape and she had a friend. She could now walk and go up stairs without breathing hard. She loved it. Susan and Grace are the two other women most often mentioned. Both had odd relationships, rooted in the past, with Jade as well as being yoga students. They were all at class one night except Jade. She had never not shown up before. Natalie thought she had been acting funny at the last class and she hadn’t seen her since. Grace and Susan noticed nothing off. Natalie decided to go check. When she arrived a Jade’s it was mostly as it should have been. But, in the bedroom, drawers had been left open, and in the bathroom was Jade’s phone, clothes on the floor, and blood on the bathmat. She called the police.

The story was told from the points of view of multiple people and covered years worth of trauma and history. The women were inter-related in so many ways. These relationships became apparent as time went on. What didn’t become apparent is what had happened to Jade. Was she still alive? Misunderstandings and lack of communication, as well as manipulation, reared its head as time wore on. The past confused everyone, even the police who couldn’t begin to figure out where Jade was and why. They went from woman to woman as suspects. It was well-plotted and the characters each had different problems in her past which complicated the entire process. It makes a person worry about the people they know and what may be in their past that is affecting the present and future. It was an interesting book, not her best, though. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Loyal Friend by Hera, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #hera #aachoudhuri #theloyalfriend

Natalie is a quiet and private person, and up until a year ago she has lived a reclusive life.Having had a troubled childhood and with her brother and parents dead, she lives for her job as a librarian and has so friends to speak of. Until one day Jade comes in to the library and tells her she should join her local health centre where she has just began teaching classes. Natalie goes along and the two soon strike up a friendship.
Susan is a wealthy suburban housewife, she doesn’t work, her husband has a high flying job at a top law firm in London, from the outside she has the perfect life, but behind closed doors is another story.
Grace also comes along to the classes, she is a busy wife and mother, holding down a job as a journalist as well as looking after her two boys while her husband takes a sabbatical from teaching to write a book. All though isn’t as it seems, as Grace is also hiding a secret.
Everything is about to change these women’s lives for good, when Jade mysteriously disappears one night, but who is involved, and what has happened to Jade?

I really liked this book, it’s well written and even though it gives the stories of several different characters through their own POV, it’s easy to follow and distinguish between them, and the story comes together beautifully at the end. The characters are well thought through and their stories explained well so nothing is missed out.

Thank you for letting me read this, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I throughly enjoyed this one. It was twisty and kept taking me down dead ends so I had to keep trying to guess what was going to happen. Dark and brooding but very, very good. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It’s no secret I am a huge fan of A. A. Chaudhuri and I love everything that she has written so when this blog tour invite landed in my inbox, I responded at lightening speed. And…..it did not disappoint.
This time we delve into the world of friendships, secrets and questioning how well we really know anybody.
Natalie, Grace and Susan are a group of friends who don’t quite fit together at all however they all attend Jade’s yoga class and on the surface have developed a connection. When Jade goes missing it is revealed that things are not as they seem. Why are the girls so desperate to keep their secrets?
I’m not going to delve into the plot but I adored the way little things were revealed throughout – making me question everything and everybody, constantly changing my opinions etc. The girls have contrasting personalities which makes for fascinating interactions and provides endless pre-conceptions and judgement whilst reading. I enjoyed how each woman had their own story and how these became entwined, with parts twisting and turning along the way.
There’s a sense of malevolence throughout the story too. Sometimes subtle but always there. It builds an atmosphere and tension between the characters and around the disappearance of Jade.
This novel is just thrilling and addictive and I couldn’t put it down. I had loads of fun playing guess who? and really enjoyed the unexpected surprises in the plot.
Chaudhuri has indeed done it again. She has written an astounding and memorable thriller which had me on the edge of my seat. I love her thrillers. I love her crime novels. What is she going to surprise us with next?

Natalie is happy with her wright loss that her friend, Jade, helped her to achieve. Natalie works in a library and lives a very structured life that helps her cope with the problems she had as a child.

Jade met Natalie at the library when she came in to leave some flyers to advertise her yoga classes. That was when she encouraged Natalie to make the first step and join. Now, they have become good friends.

Other yoga members are Susan and Grace. Susan leads a wealthy life and tends to be snide along with drinking too much. Grace is hiding many secrets.

One evening, Jade does not show up to teach the yoga class and everyone is surprised. Natalie is very concerned and using keys that Jade had given her, enters Jade’s apartment to check on her. She finds her cell phone and blood on a rug. That’s when she calls the police. The police begin to investigate this group of women to find out what happened to Jade. They find out much more than they ever thought they would.

This is dark and rather depressing. It delves into the mental health of the characters and we find some real crazies. As the story finally begins to wind down, I had to pay very close attention to the synopsizing by the characters. That was rather tedious. All in all, a tense psychological drama.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Told mainly from Natalie, Grace, Susan and Jades perspective, changing from present day to prior to Jades disappearance. A group of ladies who seemingly know each other through a new yoga class which has started up, is it a coincidence that these ladies are meeting in this place?....

Overall great read, a slow burner with a twist at the end.