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Diane Jeffrey
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The Silent Friend: An utterly gripping psychological thriller from the author of bestsellers including The Guilty Mother Kindle Edition

by Diane Jeffrey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,197 ratings

‘Fans of The Dilemma and Three Hours will love this.’ John Marrs, bestselling author of The One

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 then Sandrine replies to her message, and 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…

Readers LOVE The Silent Friend:

'A thought-provoking and gripping read.’ Roz Watkins, author of the DI Meg Dalton series

‘Heartbreaking and nuanced – with a clever twist but so much more than a thriller… beautifully written and gripping.’ Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The Chalet

‘WOW! This is one of the most incredible books I have read in a long time… I went through every emotion possible. Jeffrey throws in twist after twist.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘If you only read one novel a year, this is the one to choose. This novel blew me away…’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘One of the most complex, hard-hitting books I have ever read… A brilliant book… Gripping and thought provoking.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Will stay with me for a long time. It is such a thought-provoking read… I loved it.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘This was quite the emotional rollercoaster… The end results are gripping!’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wow! This was a thrill ride of a book… Had me on the edge of my seat. I had to remind myself to breathe as I kept holding my breath.’ NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars

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  1. Print length
    353 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HQ Digital
  4. Publication date
    November 4, 2020
  5. File size
    1.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'A thoughtful drama exploring an unlikely friendship. Fans of The Dilemma and Three Hours will love this.’ John Marrs, bestselling author of The One and The Passenger

'A thought-provoking and gripping read.’ Roz Watkins, author of the DI Meg Dalton series

‘Superb… Maps the complex territory of female friendship with great insight, and kept me gripped from the very start.' Kate Rhodes, author of the DI Ben Kitto series

‘Heartbreaking and nuanced – with a clever twist but so much more than a thriller… beautifully written and gripping.’ Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The Chalet

‘An intriguing concept and an addictive read.’ Annabel Kantaria, author of I Know You and The Disappearance

‘Powerful and painful, gripping and compassionate’ Platinum Magazine

About the Author

Diane Jeffrey is a USA Today bestselling author. She grew up in North Devon, in the United Kingdom. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.

Diane is an English teacher. When she’s not working or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays. Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08J6M97LP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HQ Digital (November 4, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.7 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 353 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,197 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Diane Jeffrey

Diane Jeffrey

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Diane Jeffrey is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author.

She grew up in North Devon and Northern Ireland. She now lives in Lyon, France, with her husband and their three children, Labrador and cat.

Diane has written seven psychological thrillers, all published by HQ / HarperCollins.

THE GUILTY MOTHER, Diane's third book, was a USA Today bestseller and her fourth novel, THE SILENT FRIEND, was a Karin Slaughter Killer Reads pick for ASDA. Her fifth psychological thriller, THE COUPLE AT CAUSEWAY COTTAGE, won the 2023 International Thriller Writers award for the best ebook original novel.

THE CRIME WRITER is Diane's latest psychological thriller and will be released in March 2025 in ebook, audiobook and paperback.

Diane is an English teacher. When she's not working or writing, she likes swimming, running and reading. She loves chocolate, beer and holidays.

Above all, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Readers can follow Diane on Instagram, X, Facebook, Bluesky and contact her or sign up to her newsletter via her website.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,197 global ratings

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A brilliantly topical novel with shocking secrets
5 out of 5 stars
A brilliantly topical novel with shocking secrets
This suspenseful novel about a horrific event that leads to an unusual friendship between two women will keep you turning the pages as their secrets unfold.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • CJaneRun
    5.0 out of 5 stars Grief & Loss
    Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Losing a family member, friend or associate is a painful aspect of being human.
    This story takes you into a senseless terrorist attack at a concert.
    So many lost. Emotional grief... physical damages that render grief of that physical loss.
    Two women linked by their grief. PTSD being Googled to find support groups.
    So much pain in this story.
    The author gives rich descriptions of the women's lives and trying to get through to the next day!!
    I admit that there were times my PTSD was triggered... but I pushed through and finished the story.
    Ms. Jeffrey. Thank you
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Ms. Magnolia
    4.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2022
    The Silent Friend is difficult to describe, honestly. It is as if Jeffrey took headlines and created a story around them. One thing The Silent Friend does is make the reader thing.

    I had to reread the first few chapters before I could continue. The timeline was a bit confusing in the beginning. However, once I understood the timeline of what was happening and the way the author was presenting it, I could not put down the book.

    Laura and Sandrine are two women from two different countries. They have no reason to cross paths and nothing in common. Nonetheless, they do cross paths when they are both affected by a tragedy, but in very different ways. Laura and Sandrine become acquainted through a website created specifically for victims of that fateful night.

    The plot twist surprised me so much that I had to literally put down the book and take a walk to wrap my mind around what I had just read.

    Diane Jeffrey does a splendid job of presenting this tragedy from two very different frames of reference. The question arises as to whether withholding information is a lie. A lie of omission may still be considered a betrayal. When that betrayal is revealed, can it be forgiven.

    The Silent Friend is not only entertaining but also thought-provoking. Anyone, man or woman, could find themselves in Laura’s or Sandrine’s shoes. Diane Jeffrey leaves the reader wondering how she or he might act under the same circumstances.
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  • Donna K.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Different
    Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This story is a very different story. It has you reading, so that you can find out the ending, as soon.
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  • AnneKR
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, realistic read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2022
    When Laura decides to go on holiday with her co-workers to see her favorite band play, she never would have expected the trip to change her life forever. Unable to cope with the devastating events that happened, she turns to an online grief support group and finds solace with one of the members, Sandy. She feels a kinship with Sandy because she lost her son at the same event Laura was at. As time passes Laura feels she can only share personal moments and thoughts with her, as Sandy provides comfort and eases her guilt. What Laura doesn't know is that Sandy hasn't been completely honest with her. And when she discovers who she is, her world will be turned upside down once again.

    I thought this was a sad, heartbreaking read with a subject not too many authors write head-on. I did not know where the storyline was going and if it had a trigger warning I might have been better prepared. It went into detail of Laura's terrifying experience, and as a reader you go through it all with her. The book compares the lives of both Laura and Sandy before and after the event, and both carry so much guilt that they end up providing support for each other. As a mother I felt bad for Sandy and all she dealt with, especially with her thoughts as to why she didn't see the signs. Overall a well-written, thought-provoking book which I thought was more drama than thriller. After having previously read The Guilty Mother, I'm a fan of this author's work and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

    Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital/Harper 360 for the opportunity to read this book.
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  • N. Shaw
    4.0 out of 5 stars Betrayal and Lies
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2020
    Rating: 4.5 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷 1/2
    Book: The Silent Friend
    AVAILABLE NOW- Released November 4, 2020
    Author: Diane Jeffrey
    Genre: Mystery & Thriller/General Fiction/Family Drama
    ⚠️ Trigger Warning: PTSD events (I do not want to give too much away)

    Sipping Synopsis: I went into this book with only the simple synopsis from the author. I did not look at other reviews so I only knew that I would be reading a book based off 2 friends where one had a secret that might tear their friendship apart. I am so glad I did that. I was in for a great surprise and you will be too. It is very clear early on what has happened, and I was reading with bated breath on what would happen next. Just as I thought my heart was wrenching to its fullest, Jeffrey decided to throw another unsuspected, gut punch.

    Final sipping thoughts: While The Silent Friend is somewhat a mystery and thriller it is much more of a drama. Reading this book will make you feel so sad and empathetic for the characters. The thing I enjoyed the most is how relevant this is to what can and has happened in the real world. This is not a suspend all reality type of book but a face reality and what it might have been like for real people in a situation as this one. I enjoyed Jeffrey’s writing and would love to see what else she has out there.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Suzanne Jolley
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
    Reviewed in Australia on December 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Engaging, suspenseful, couldn’t put it down. Jeffrey’s best yet- highly recommend this one!
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  • YvonneB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive, intriguing and heart-stopping thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I love it when you get a book that gives very little away in the synopsis. It's like going in blind and for The Silent Friend, this was perfect. I got a story that pulled me in very quickly and led me on a journey that I didn't expect at all.

    Given the slim synopsis, my review will also be a bit on the vague side. The story is told from two perspectives. One from a woman who has lost two of her friends and the other from a mother. The two characters share their experiences of an event that happens in France. Both are victims. Both are suffering. Both feel guilty.

    The story is told over a timeline that is shown over the course of a few months before the event, the event itself and then onwards. It gives the thoughts and feeling of both women and of those who are in immediate contact with them. This keeps the character list small and gives a more intimate account.

    There is a psychological aspect to this, but not the usual crime thriller one. Yes, a crime was committed, but it is the psychological impact that the women deal with that becomes the major thread of the story for me. The author very craftily draws the reader into the lives of the women and then delivers some wonderful heart-stopping moments. Things suddenly linked and left me shocked as I didn't really see them coming.

    This was such an addictive read. From initially not really knowing what story was going to unfold I soon found myself flying through this. The author wove a story that is full of intrigue but from different perspectives. It gives an idea of what people go through after a traumatic event and how they cope with living afterwards.

    I loved this story so much. It had me with my heart in my mouth at times and also with the odd tear in my eye as the full picture was brought out. This is one for readers who like a crime mystery read and it is one I would definitely recommend.
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  • D Stuart
    4.0 out of 5 stars Vive La France
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I have been in a bit of a rut readingwise recently, I have been reading several books which seem to feature detectives , of either sex, with troubled personal lives but who seem to stagger to a successful conclusion of the crimes they are investigating. This book is different. The main characters are a young Irish woman and a middle aged French woman. Their stories intertwine after a bombing in Lyon Quite addictive
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  • Jacob Collins
    5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful, heart-breaking read!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Diane Jeffrey’s new novel, The Silent Friend, is a powerful, heart-breaking read. I’ve read all of her books, and I think this is one of her best, it’s also quite different to what she has written before. Focusing on two main characters, Sandy and Laura, Diane Jeffrey, explores how the aftermath of a horrific tragedy, affects those involved. Sandy and Laura both begin to communicate after the event takes place, but what Sandy doesn’t make quite clear to Laura, is how she is really connected to the tragedy. Will the truth damage their growing friendship when it eventually comes out? Will Sandy ever be able to tell Laura the full story?

    I thought Diane Jeffrey developed her characters exceptionally well in this book. It’s horrifying watching a similar tragedy unfold on the news, but it must be even more so for those who were there. In the aftermath of the devastating event, Sandy launches a website to help people who were there, to find someone to talk to, and this is how she meets Laura. But it’s here that I don’t want to talk too much about the plot as I don’t want to spoil anything for you.

    I would describe this book as more of a slow-burner. There are some tense scenes, but this is a book which tackles more of the psychological issues connected to the tragedy. I’m a huge fan of character-driven novels, and I would say that The Silent Friend definitely falls into that category. Laura and Sandy both kept me completely engrossed in the story, and Diane Jeffrey paints clearly how they have been affected by the tragedy that has happened to them.

    This is a book which I’m sure will keep readers thinking, and the characters will stay in your head long after finishing it. I thought the friendship between Sandy and Laura was developed really well, and it does remind you that some good can come out of the darkness.

    Diane Jeffrey has written another brilliant book, and I am looking forward to reading what she writes next.
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  • Margaret Dunne
    3.0 out of 5 stars Depressing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I couldn’t wait to finish this book. I did think about giving up but as I had started it I had to finish it. I love psychological books but this one was not for me. I had never read any of this author before and don’t think I will again.
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