Three friends with almost perfect lives are on a weekly fancy class. Then their beautiful trainer Jade disappears, putting into motion a well of unluck and hidden secrets. In a couple of twists, everything that we envied dearly at those three ladies is an illusion.
As in her previous book - She´s Mine (hopefully will be able to post a review soon) - A.A.Chaudhuri created in The Loyal Friend a story out of bits and constant switches of points of view, a technique confusing the reader and increasing the suspense until the very (unexpected) ending. It is like a breathless race against the clock, that does not need to be set in an exquisite location or to display an unique cast of characters. You want to read the story until the very end of it, because both the characters and flow of events are at a certain extent relatable. We all had the chance to meet maybe once or even twice women like Susan, Grace or Natalie. There is an average human drama unfolding and this is more confusing than we have to deal with open psychopats or murderers.
When I usually read a thriller or a crime novel, I love to have my own predictions and bet on an ending or another. But - unfortunately for me, as a winner-lover, and a great point for the author - I hardly had any idea about how both novels will end.
Chaudhuri is an elegant skilled master of the plot, which may be sometimes a risky bet in terms of the depth of the characters, but nevertheless, a flawless architect of an intricated story. In order to build and control all the story fine details, it requires a super literary power that she is owning with grace and mystery.
The Loyal Friend is the perfect adrenaline-loaded book for an eventful day of the mind. It´s hard to put it down therefore, be sure that you are having the day only for it. At the end of it, your definition of loyalty may be challenged, among other things.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the blog tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own
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