Blog Tour: The Silent Friend by Diane Jeffrey

Today is my turn on the blog tour for The Silent Friend by Diane Jeffrey! Thank you to HQ Stories and Damp Pebbles Blog Tours for a digital review copy. The book is out now in digital and audiobook format, and the paperback will be out later this year. You can buy a copy here.

Here’s the synopsis and my review:

Genre: Drama/Thriller
Pages: 312
Author: Diane Jeffrey
Publisher: HQ Stories

Synopsis:

Tragedy brought them together. The truth will tear them apart.

It’s supposed to be Laura’s dream holiday: a trip to France with a group of friends to see their favourite band play live. But the holiday quickly turns to disaster, and Laura is left haunted by terrifying images from the worst night of her life.

When Laura finds an online support group for victims like her, she’s not convinced it will help. But when Sandrine replies to her message, she seems to understand what Laura’s going through, in a way that no one else can.

Soon, Laura and Sandrine are sharing their deepest thoughts and feelings with each other. But one of them has a terrible secret – she isn’t who she says she is. And once the twisted truth is revealed, there’s no going back…

Review:

The Silent Friend brings something different to the thriller genre. It’s a character-driven story following two people affected by the events on a single night. Laura is a timid woman who decides to travel outside of her home in Northern Ireland for the first time. Sandrine is a stay-at-home wife and mother who lives in France. Their paths will collide in unforeseen, tragic circumstances.

Initially, I thought this book would go down the usual thriller routes but it took me to places I didn’t expect. It’s hard to talk about it without spoiling the plot but my advice is to go in without reading any reviews! While the core of the plot involves a violent act, the book is primarily about the aftermath of the event. Both Laura and Sandrine have to cope with what happened in their own ways, and the book makes you care about their situations.

The chapters are short and the writing is easy to digest. Some of the scenes are pretty heart-wrenching and every detail helps to build a clear picture. I thought the book deals with PTSD, guilt, trauma, and grief in a realistic way. I liked that it shows the importance of therapy and having a support system. The characters go through difficult times and it wasn’t always easy to read but it’s compelling. I also liked the supporting characters, like Sandrine’s husband, Sam, and Laura’s cousin, Declan.

While the story is well-crafted, I did want more information with regard to the violent act that occurred. I think the mystery lover inside me wanted to know more! But this is not a story about the bad guys. It’s about the victims and the survivors and the innocent bystanders. It’s about motherhood and friendship and family. It’s about courage and sacrifice, and how to go on living when you’ve been through something unimaginable. The Silent Friend is a powerful, compassionate book that feels true to life and definitely worth a read.

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour!

Content warning: gun violence, racism, PTSD