A review by abookwormwithwine
A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Why I waited so long to read a book by Samantha M. Bailey I will never know, but A Friend in the Dark made me an instant fan! I loved the setup of the book, and even though I had part of it figured out, I was blown away by everything that ended up happening. Eden is a hot mess and makes some questionable choices, but it is a train wreck you won’t want to look away from. I loved the family dynamic aspect to the storyline, and even though this is a thriller, I just really wanted Eden and Dave to work things out.

I loved A Friend in the Dark but I especially loved it on audio and I thought Alex Picard and Libby McKnight were the perfect narrators to bring this dual narration to life. The pacing moves so quickly that you could easily read or listen to this in one sitting, and I would have if I could have. It kept me on the edge of my seat and Bailey delivered on both tension and mysteriousness. I wish she had a more extensive backlist for me to read, but I love that she is finally living her dream and writing damn good thrillers. Read this if you love fast pacing, twisty twists, and books you can’t help but binge!