Diane Jeffrey – The Silent Friend

Another book to be published in paperback today! Congratulations, Diane! I hope you all enjoy my review of this fab book

‘The Silent Friend’ by Diane Jeffrey is a psychological thriller that is a heartbreaking and powerful story.

The story is told from Sandy and Laura’s perspectives and it swaps between both women throughout. They have both suffered and had their lives turned upside down after a tragic event. Laura looks for help and she ends up in contact with Sandy. What Laura doesn’t know is exactly how Sandy is connected to this tragedy. Will Sandy ever be able to tell her or will the truth damage their friendship?

An emotional and heartbreaking story with a set of really well-developed characters that Diane Jeffrey has written so well. Along with the subject matter that is horrifying enough just to see or read on the news, never mind how people who are witnesses to the event feel.

The story is told over a timeline of a few months before the event moving on to the actual event and then after the event. This is a little different to a straight psychological thriller. This deals with the psychological impact on the women and how they deal with them, this is the main issue throughout the book. We are slowly drawn into their lives and before we know it we are truly immersed in this story and before we realise it things start to connect and leave us in shock!

A unique book with a plot that is not the norm. I found myself captivated by these two women and their experiences. In a way this story made me think even more about survivors and people linked to traumatic events. My friend and her daughter were at the Manchester Arena bombing as was my grandson’s friend. My friend still suffers to this day and my grandsons friend died there, so I was really touched by this book and understood a lot.

This is a book people should read if only to gain insight. Diane Jeffrey has written a story that definitely needed telling.

Thanks to Damp Pebbles Blog Tours, HQ and Netgalley for the copy of the book