If you love fast-paced, gripping thrillers that keep you turning the pages well into the night, then make sure to pick up A Friend in the Dark when it’s out next March! Can’t wait for this author’s next novel!!

I was skeptical of a thriller that was only 200 pages, but I was proven so wrong. I thought this story was well-developed and had ample time for all of the twists to be explored.

The premise is that Eden's husband separated from her suddenly and she's lonely so she turns to her college crush and starts to message him on Facebook. She starts an emotional and sexual online relationship with him but weird things start to happen...

Overall I really enjoyed this thriller--it was a very quick read (about 1.5-2 hours), very fast-paced, and kept me interested the whole time.

I got an ARC of this from NetGalley for free, but I think the book has already been published? Anyway, thank you for the ARC!

Wow! This was such a great book! I finally see why Samantha M. Bailey has such a strong following. I finished this book in a single day. Partly because it was such a fast paced, quick, read and partly because I just couldn't put it down! I need to start reading more from Samantha M. Bailey!
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

A Friend in the Dark is a thriller. Some twists but nothing earth shattering. A lonely woman reaches out to a high school crush as her own marriage is crumbling. In an online romance that is discovered by her teen daughter, the complexity of the situation unravels. Lot of emotions involved but no triggers.

Would recommend to a friend for a quick, easy read.

Thank you Netgalley, Samantha M Bailey and Thomas & Mercer publishers for the eArc of A friend in the Dark.

After Edens Husband Dave, blindsided her asking for a divorce. Eden decides to escape to the past to avoid the present and sends an old crush a friend request and Justin Ward accepts. One night 23 years ago at a party, a door was swung shut on Justin with Eden, and opened the door for Dave. Will Justin get a do over?

What's the old saying? If the past comes a knocking, don't answer the door. It has nothing new to say. This is what came to mind with this domestic thriller but it's not till near the end you realise what the past had to say!!

I really enjoyed A Friend In the Dark. It's a quick read as its medium paced with a nice character build up at the beginning. This is a duel point of view narrative, Eden and Olivia and it becomes very apparent early on who Olivia is. There are plenty of little twists and turns, a few sexual moments and the play off I felt was well executed. I can definitely relate to Eden and.really liked her. Justin, well, you have to read to find out who and what he is!

I had the pleasure of also listening to the audio version. Alex Picard and Libby McKnight did an ok job of narrating but did feel that they didn't quite have the right pacing for this book which let it down a little.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Amazon/Netgalley/ Goodreads

Eden and her husband Dan had just dropped their daughter off at college when Dan drops the bomb that he wants a divorce. Eden has no clue who exactly she is without her daughter and husband. She is lonely and reaches out to the guy she liked during college. He start messaging her right away and is in a similar boat as Eden. Justin is also still technically married, but going through a divorce and clearly unhappy. Eden can't help the strange feeling that someone is watching her every move. Eden is determined to start living for herself , even though she's not sure what she wants.

I had no idea what to expect from this book but I could never have guessed how it turned out. I really enjoyed getting to see Eden start to discover herself again, because as a mom I can relate completely. I really liked how the story was told and the characters were developed well too.

I started this book first by listening to the audiobook and the two female narrators for this book were awful. The narrator for Eden’s part was extremely monotone. The narrator for Olivia’s part was even worse because she was basically whispering through that whole part. The audio kind of ruined this book for me, I might have liked it better if it was narrated better. I did end up reading the last half of the book. But this book also drove me nuts, the main character Eden, was extremely desperate for male attention, to the point that it was pathetic. The book did keep me engaged and I was not expecting the twists and turns. Overall not terrible but if you’re going to read it, do not listen to the audiobook.

“𝐈𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫?”

Samantha M. Bailey's 2022 release Watch Out For Her was a enjoyable cat-and-mouse domestic suspense read, and so I was excited to dive into her latest (plus I love reading a Canadian author!)

Bailey crafts a page turning story about the dangers of desire and loneliness. Protagonist Eden is at a crossroads in her life: she's used to looking out for others first, and pretending things are fine when they are not. Her daughter has left for college, her husband has asked for a divorce, and her friends feel far away. Being lonely and vulnerable, she reconnects online with her college crush, Justin, and starts making some risky decisions. Eden's overwhelmed feelings as she navigates change are relatable, while also questioning who she is at this point in her life. Some of the decisions she makes were both concerning and understandable, as she gets swept up in the possibilities this relationship creates. The narrative feels intoxicating narrative full of characters that create a lot of doubt on their trustworthiness. I was surprised that there was a shift in perspective partway through, but it helps drive home Bailey's point that looks can be deceiving. Some pieces are over-the-top (especially in the second part), yet still dances on the edge of being fully believable.

A Friend In The Dark is a story of pretending, loneliness, relationships, and subterfuge. I think it may be Bailey's strongest novel yet that offers mixes the right amount of spice and darkness with foreboding and unease. It would make a perfect binge read, especially in the summer by a pool or beach. Thank you to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was one of those quick reads that I read in a whole two sittings- not necessarily because it was short, but because I read it well into the night, then picked it right back up upon waking the next morning. I legitimately didn't see the curveball coming that was thrown halfway- I figured Justin was just another jerk. Once Olivia and Eden's narratives converged, I sped through this book, eager to see the outcome. (Which, again, I didn't see coming). I'll definitely be recommending this book (easily), and will obviously be looking for future books by Samantha M. Bailey. (Hello Juliet is already on my Barnes and Noble/Amazon wish list.).

I enjoyed both women's stories and the way the story jumped in time and POV as we get to know what happened with each woman's relationship with a bad boy drummer and the fateful frat party that ended with one of their friend's dying.

Edgy, relatable and filled with trauma, catfishing, stalking and tons of twists with a killer ending. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Robyn Harding and Samantha Downing. 7+

I saw someone else’s #review (and I am so sorry because I cannot remember whose it was) about this being one of those #suspensethrillers that you CANNOT put down and will end up finishing in one night. The #bookreview was accurate. It is short and you cannot put it down - it is addicting - albeit laughably unrealistic (although I still would recommend it just for the pure entertainment and fast paced nature of this one). If you need out of a #readingslump and need a #quickfix, this is perfect!

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A woman finds herself in the depths of hell when her husband unexpectedly leaves her and her only child - who appears to blame her and her alone for their failed marriage - leaves for college. She finds herself in a thrilling and unexpected newfound correspondence with the only man she’s ever loved before her husband, however - a combination of “what if” and desperation at rock bottom.

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Unfortunately, everything is not what it seems. And sometimes certain people are better left in the past. And sometimes… the people that enter your life are not who they say are.

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Again, extremely ridiculous at parts, particularly the woman’s appearing to inflate a texting relationship to some sort of deep, endearing love. Still, this one is just so wildly entertaining and holds your attention so well, it is absolutely worth it. Would recommend to anyone if you need a solid non-deep #thriller to spice things up.

They say we never really know who we are talking to online and A Friend in The Dark by Samantha M. Bailey is about to prove that as we first start with a party happening twenty years ago in college where Eden went along hoping to hook up with singer Justin, only to end up in the bathroom blacked out and saved by Dave - her now-husband. The pair have just dropped off their daughter to college and Dave has told Eden he wants a divorce. This drives Eden to hop on Facebook and send a spontaneous friend request to Justin Ward - the guy she believes got away. That party has always stuck in her mind as it's also the party where one of their college friends disappeared and never was found. Of course, some people know what happened and have been hiding the secrets for the past twenty years but like any secret, when that person is pushed- they are willing to go to lengths to have that secret out in the open - no matter what the cost. That cost happens to be Eden as she falls into an online romance with Justin, but is it Justin or someone else from her college past who was also at the party? How deep will Eden fall and will it cost her relationship with her daughter Ava? Find out in A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey. A deadly cat-and-mouse game of catfishing.

I didn't love this one. The plot was very rushed to be believable.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own

Enjoyable light read with a twisty turn. I did guess the twist before it happened but it didn’t spoil the book

This was a 3.5 star read for me. It was a quick read and It is relatively fast paced. It pulled me in right away and I wanted to keep reading.

There were lots of twists in this book. Some twists I figured out right away, but the main twists surprised me.

This book shows that not everybody is what they appear to be and you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC of this book.

This is a fantastic thriller! Immerse yourself into Edens world, a lost, lonely, middle aged woman who just needs a little attention.
Eden finds herself in her 40's newly separated from her husband who is all she has ever known, with a teenage, college aged daughter who appears to hate her.
Eden sends a DM to an almost flame from college and her life spirals from there.
The twist was a bit unexpected, but I should have seen it coming. Great read, fast paced and entertaining!

Eden a 45 year old mother and soon to be ex-wife reconnects with her old college flame.
This dark and twisty book takes readers on a physiological adventure right to the very end.

I am really conflicted with this one, it started off really good, I thought it was set for a 4 or 5 star and I couldn’t put it down but when it got to around 60% I thought it just went downhill and I lost interest. I did finish it and thought the ending was far fetched.
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Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to review this book.

Binge-worthy unputdownable romance thriller (check cons)

Her marriage is a mess, in the brink of a divorce due to reasons she doesn't know, her only child is leaving for college, and the void left along with a few drinks made her add her college ex-situationship on facebook!
And things went tumbling downhill from there.

You should NOT expect a strictly romantic scenario. The writing style and the twists and reveal are very much in the style of the known Freida McFadden ( less the repitition)

Pros:
1- bingeworthy, page turner with a very smooth writing style that keeps you on edge and makes you devour the book in 1 or 2 sittings!

2- Even though i expected the twists, they were really interesting and not at all short of worth it!

3- the pace of the way things are going, the mess that is happening, the problems, the secrets that were revealed, the issues that were uncovered about several characters doesn't leave you any time to get too bored!

4- The action and ending are satisfying, and what is expected of a popcorn thriller (check cons)

Cons:
1- Some of the history revealed was a bit far-fetched, too perfect for my liking!

2- The characters were shallow and slightly dumb (maybe too dumb). Did it get on my nerve? Slightly! But it's not too bad, i mean, it's what i expected from this thriller

3- don't go in expecting great mystery, and masterfully plotter thriller, because you will be disappointed, as i stated its a popcorn thriller, something light and easy to read, not too much thinking is required!

4- Some things did not add up in the book. Some of the coincidences were weird ( when she met him in front of his work as a surprise and the act and excuse that happened after)

This book was absolutely insane! I did not see any of that coming. I really enjoyed the plot and it had several twists and turns. I can't wait to read more from this author. Definitely pick this one up if you love domestic thrillers.