The Silent Friend by Alison Stockham

Release: July 24, 2023
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Source: Rachel’s Random ResourcesFind it at: Goodreads, Amazon,

When it comes to saving yourself, who will you betray?
Louise has a shadowy past that she wants to break free from . And when she develops an unlikely friendship with Isabelle, her neighbour, she finally finds the family she’s always yearned for. But Louise knows more about Isabelle than her new friend realises. It is more specifically about her imprisoned husband – and the circumstances behind his arrest. Louise is faced with a to continue lying to her only friend or tell the truth and ruin any chance she has of starting over…

About the Author:

Alison has always written, training with the Script Factory as a script editor, working in film drama before moving into TV documentary production for the BBC and Channel 4. Whilst working in television, Alison continued to write and her first full-length novel, The Cuckoo Sister, was long listed for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize 2020 and was published by Boldwood Books in February 2023. Her second novel, The Silent Friend is due to publish in July 2023.

She works for the Cambridge Literary Festival. She lives in the city with her husband and children and is working on her next novel.

You can find her on Twitter at @AlisonStockham.

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The Silent Friend Review:

Firstly, I was captivated by the author’s skill in portraying the intricate dynamics between Louise, Isabelle, and their respective family members. Louise’s recollections of her challenging childhood and deep affection for her grandfather resonated with me. At the same time, Isabelle’s tense encounters with her mother, Sandra, regarding Lottie added a layer of intrigue to the story. Moreover, the gradual development of Louise and Isabelle’s strong friendship was one of the story’s strengths.

Secondly, I admired how the author captured Louise’s conflicting emotions toward Isabelle and Carl. The constant awareness of the potential consequences she could face if her past were exposed created a real dilemma that genuinely stood out in the story. Louise’s character is intriguing, and as the narrative unfolds, you can’t help but develop a fondness for her. Personally, some of the memorable moments were when Louise visited Carl in prison and when she started receiving threatening letters.

However, there are some unresolved plot threads in the story. Certain mystery elements are left to speculation without clear confirmation, and I would have appreciated a sense of closure. It’s possible that the author intends to leave room for a potential sequel due to the open-ended nature of the main plot. However, in this case, the climax felt incomplete. Furthermore, the story shifts from being a thrilling suspense tale to resembling more of a profound “Thelma and Louise”-esque exploration of friendship.

Nevertheless, I still find “The Silent Friend” compelling with its unique and non-conventional plot, setting it apart from typical thrillers. The main character, Louise, carries the narrative with her effective presence, making the book well worth experiencing at least once.