REVIEW: The New Friends by Daniel Hurst

The New Friends by Daniel Hurst

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 18th December 2021

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Published: 12th December 2021

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

They are fun, wealthy, fabulous. Pray you never meet them.

 

Becky and Jamie are an ordinary hard-working couple trapped in the daily grind, dreaming of an easier life. On one of their rare vacations, they meet a wealthy couple, Phil and Mel, who seem to have it all – they are fun, well travelled, and very generous with their money.

 

But they are also very, very dangerous.

 

Because Phil and Mel are not who they say they are. And this is no random vacation friendship, they have chosen Jamie and Becky carefully, seducing them with the promise of a lifestyle just like theirs.

 

By the time Jamie and Becky realise what their new friends really want, it’s too late, they’ve lost everything, their hopes and dreams lie shattered.

 

The only question now is how far will they go to get even?

 

The New Friends – the stunning psychological thriller from the bestselling author of The Passenger, The Boyfriend and The Promotion.

MY REVIEW:

This is the first book by Daniel Hurst I have read and I was not disappointed. Whilst I had read the premise to begin with and it sounded intriguing, sometimes it doesn't always live up to the hype. But in this case, I'm glad to say that it most certainly did. Oh my goodness, it was a fast paced thriller of a different kind that held my attention throughout.

It's been said that if it's too good to be true then it usually is. Such is the case in this gripping thriller THE NEW FRIENDS.

Thirtysomething couple Becky and Jamie have been married for ten years and after the daily grind of everyday life, they decided they deserved a short holiday abroad in Spain for five days, post-peak season for a cheaper rate. Becky is a teaching assistant and Jamie is a warehouse worker and while they are not flush with money, the both earn a modest income. This holiday comes as a well-earned and well-deserved break for the couple as they lap up the sunshine before heading back to the bleak and miserable British weather of northern England. Five days of pretending they can afford holidays like these more often than not before returning to the daily grind.

On their last night in Spain, Jamie begs Becky for a night out in town before flying out in the morning and while she was reluctant to spend their last one hundred euros on extravagances they could barely afford, Becky agreed that it would be nice to treat themselves. How they would live to regret that last night out to come...

They instantly attract the attention of another couple, Phil and Mel, seemingly on holiday and the foursome soon strike up a conversation together sharing in the champagne that Phil has flowing on tap. The couples click immediately and before the night is over, they exchange phone numbers and plans to keep in touch upon returning to England.

Before they have even touched down in Britain, Jamie is languishing over the stories Phil regaled them with of their lavish lifestyle all over the world. Somehow his modest warehousing job seems to pale in significance and despite his stash of secret savings he's set aside for when they start a family, Jamie cannot help but be a little envious that he has to return to a mundane job to earn a modest living while their new friends have all but retired and live a life of luxury...all because of some wise investments Phil had made when working in the finance world. 

It isn't long before a message from Phil stirs that longing in Jamie once again and soon they organise a weekend get together at their modest home where they will play host to their new friends. As soon as Phil and Mel arrive, Jamie and Becky cannot help but notice the stylish sports car they have arrived in...and compare it to their outdated barely roadworthy car. But Phil is quick to reassure Jamie that he has a good life with a beautiful wife in a lovely house.

Over dinner as Phil regales them with stories of his time in the finance world, Jamie and Becky cannot help but be seduced by the lavish lifestyle their new friends appear to enjoy in their early retirement. And while he was always happy with what they had before, now that they have seen how the other half live, that is Phil and Mel, Jamie wants a taste of that too. I mean, who wants to work hard for such little reward? That opportunity comes when Phil invites Jamie out for a sneaky cigar.

Excited by the ideas flowing through his mind, Jamie cannot wait to share them with Becky but is deflated when she doesn't seem to share his excitement. In fact, Becky is reluctant to take the step that could lead them down the same path as Phil and Mel. It's risky, but the higher the risk the higher the return, right? Becky's not so sure. Especially as Mel didn't appear to be very happy and she isn't sure that all is as rosy as Phil claims.

If only they knew...

The new friends the young couple made on their modest holiday aren't who they thought they were.

Phil and Mel are accomplished at what they do so when they spot Jamie and Becky, a couple of modest means with ambitious dreams, the deceptive couple soon insinuate themselves into Becky and Jamie's lives just long enough to relinquish them of their hard earned savings...every last penny. Mission accomplished.

THE NEW FRIENDS is a dark and suspenseful read with a disturbing truth woven into its plot. Just how easily it is to fall under the spell of seemingly genuine "friends" and while Becky and Jamie may seem a little naive, I think its safe to say that the onus is on those pulling the con and how incredibly clever they are. Otherwise they wouldn't get away with what they do, would they? 

What I especially love about this book, besides its steady pace throughout and its engaging style, is the fact that we get the story from the perspectives of all four players - Becky, Jamie, Phil and Mel. And although we are privy to the con from the onset it doesn't detract the level of heartpounding tension that fills us as we devour every last scrap of the story. The way it is written we are meant to sympathise not only with Becky and Jamie but also Mel...and it is cleverly done.

THE NEW FRIENDS moves along at such a steady pace that it is indeed a quick read that I could have easily devoured in one sitting...had it not been for the need to sleep in between. I was so absorbed in the story I just couldn't wait to see how it all panned out.

THE NEW FRIENDS is such a unique thriller I cannot compare it to any other, but if you like your thrillers different, pacy and engaging then give this one a go!

I would like to thank #DanielHurst, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheNewFriends in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Daniel Hurst writes psychological thrillers and loves to tell tales about unusual things happening to normal people. He has written all his life, making the progression from handing scribbled stories to his parents as a boy to writing full length novels in his thirties. He lives in the North West of England and when he isn’t writing, he is usually watching a game of football in a pub where his wife can’t find him.

Daniel writes psychological thrillers. The New Friends will be his fourth novel published with Inkubator Books.

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