The New Friend

by Rona Halsall

She seems too good to be true…

When Meg meets Tina, it’s like the most perfect meeting of minds. Their friendship feels naturally joyful – like they’ve had a space waiting in their lives for each other. And, with both being survivors of the same illness, there is an instant bond.

But Tina’s not all she seems to be. She has another name. And secrets that are destined to find their way to the surface, creating a danger that Meg could never have predicted.

In Meg’s world, Tina isn’t the only person who is lying. And someone is about to become an unwitting pawn in a complicated – and deadly – game.

Genres: Mystery

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2026

About the author

Rona is the #1 best selling author of twisty psychological thrillers and loves to create mayhem in her characters' lives to keep her readers guessing. She lives halfway up a mountain in Snowdonia, North Wales with her three dogs - Maid, Evie and Sandy who are the writing support team.

She is an outdoorsy person, who loves nothing better than stomping up a mountain, and wandering round forests and woodlands while she's plotting her next book. Outside is where the ideas are!

The peak of her writing career was being short-listed for the International Thriller Writers Awards 2024, for THE BIGAMIST. The translation was also shortlisted for an award in Holland.

For the latest news and information on all her books you can check out her website: https://ronahalsall.org/

You can also sign up to her newsletter here:
https://bit.ly/RonaHalsallNews

Also...If you follow her Author page on Amazon, you'll get notifications when a new book is out. You can have a look here:

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Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't have trust issues before reading The New Friend, you’ll definitely have them afterward. Deception is the name of the game and red flags are everywhere. Who can you trust when everyone is shady and questionable? The plot is perfectly paced with building suspense and unexpected reveals. Entertaining, intriguing, emotional, and twisted describe this addictive thriller. Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think you could never be scammed? Rona Halsall’s latest thriller will make you second-guess everyone in your life

I went into this knowing I'd be getting a brilliant read and came out completely wrung out, in the best way.

Rona Halsall does something clever with Meg and Tina's friendship, it feels so real and easy at first that you almost forget you're reading a psychological thriller, which makes the fallout hit even harder.

What really got me was watching Meg start to unravel right alongside the plot. Every conversation, every small inconsistency, you can feel her second-guessing people she trusted completely, and I found myself doing the same thing, side-eyeing every character on the page. That slow creep of paranoia, where nobody feels safe anymore, is where the book really earns its tension.

There's also something quietly important underneath all the twists, about how easily someone can exploit trust, especially when that trust is built on something as vulnerable as shared experience. It never feels preachy, and it really stuck with me.

And then there's the ending stretch, where the women who've been wronged stop being victims and start pushing back together. I was rooting for every one of them. It's satisfying in a way that a lot of thrillers don't bother earning.

Twisty, tense, and genuinely hard to put down. One of Halsall's best.

My thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC. All views are my own.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quite good story. An unexpected ending. A cat and mouse game in the middle. 3 🌟. Actually a 3 1/2 ⭐️ read. This was one of Rona’s better books.

[WENDY LANE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Another book from
..Rona Halsall that was really good ..kept me interested and in suspense from start to finish .. Well worth a read

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Meg meets Tina, it feels like the ultimate meeting of minds. Their connection is effortless and joyful, almost as if they had each been saving a spot in their lives for a friend just like this. Shared experience as survivors of the same illness creates an instant, unbreakable bond between them.

However, Tina is hiding a dark truth. She operates under another name, harbouring secrets that are bound to rise to the surface and bring unforeseen danger straight to Meg’s doorstep. Yet Tina isn’t the only one weaving web of deceit in Meg’s circle. As hidden motives collide, someone is about to be drawn into a complex and lethal game without even realizing it.

This is a fantastic psychological thriller that completely grabbed hold of me right from the very beginning. The plot builds tension effortlessly and keeps you hooked as the web of secrets starts to unravel. It was so completely absorbing that I ended up reading the entire thing in a single sitting! The relationship between Meg and Tina feels wonderfully grounded at first, which makes the growing sense of unease even more effective. Watching the multi-layered deceptions play out among the cast makes for an addictive, suspenseful read.

The New Friend is a gripping, fast-moving thriller that is nearly impossible to put down. If you love a story full of secrets, twists, and high-stakes drama, this is definitely one to add to your reading list. A solid four-star read from me!

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who can you trust???

What a fab read, I love all of Rona's books so gripping!

[alisdiscovers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The New Friend by Rona Halsall is a psychological thriller that had me questioning people and their motives from the very beginning.
This book screamed ‘No’ right from the start. There was something about the situation that immediately made me uneasy, and I found myself wondering who I could trust, and whether I could trust anyone at all.
What I particularly enjoyed was the quiet tension running through the story. It wasn’t a constant sense of panic or drama; instead, there was an underlying feeling that something wasn’t quite right. With every page turn, I felt that things could change, and that uncertainty kept me reading.
I liked the way Rona Halsall gradually built that feeling of suspicion. Just when I thought I had worked something out, another detail would make me question my assumptions. I was constantly weighing up what I was being told and trying to decide which characters were genuine and which might be hiding something.
For me, that is what made the psychological element work so well. It wasn’t simply about wondering what would happen next, but about wondering who was telling the truth.
A cleverly paced psychological thriller with an unsettling atmosphere and plenty of reasons to keep questioning what you think you know. If you enjoy stories where trust is fragile and nothing feels quite as straightforward as it first appears, The New Friend is one to add to your reading list.

[Stephen Clynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg stops two women fighting against a lone woman on the pavement. Meg safely leads the lone young woman away and conversations between them start, with Tina becoming “The New Friend”. But is Meg okay to trust this new friend?

The New Friend is a British psychological thriller set mostly around Skipton in North Yorkshire. Meg and Tina are the main characters in this novel and their character development is very good. I liked how doubts were thrown throughout this story whether people could be trusted? Were people always getting the full picture or were some people lying to mislead their victim? As always the best lies are those with elements of truth.

This story is very up to date and current, dealing with scammers of all types and the use of AI. The prospect of romance scammers is covered, making Meg question if her new boyfriend is genuine.

I enjoyed reading The New Friend which has a good plot making this an ENTERTAINING 4 star read. This is the second book I have read from this author and I consider it far better than her One Mistake which was written 6 years ago. Nice to note that her storytelling has improved over time, so I will now be interested in reading later novels from Rona Halsall.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for passing me an ARC on the understanding that I post a review.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The New Friend by Rona Halsall was another excellent psychological thriller and once you read any of Rona's books you know you are going to be in for a rocky roller coaster ride and this book was no different! it was full of brilliant twists and turns throughout that will have you hooked from the very beginning till the end, I could not turn the pages over on my kindle to find out what happens next especially to the main two characters Meg and Tina. they were great. Tina is not all she seems to be, and she has another name she goes by. Plus, she has so many dark secrets that are slowly coming to the surface which is creating a danger that Meg could never have predicted.

WoW, this book was so good I ended up reading it all day until I had finished.

Another superb read by Rona Halsall and I recommend this book.
5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ read.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.

[SleuthingChapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening of the book, already takes you in. As the story unfolded so does the mystery. Swiping across the pages, taking in every paragraph as it comes. Strong characters, their personas executed so well. Easy to follow and connecting well together. I had suspicions in my mind as I was reading along. Who is telling the truth and who is lying? Twists kept coming, no page left unturned. I really enjoyed the finger pointing and the drama that came along with it. The pacing of the book, was so well done! Consistency of this never dropped. Never a boring moment! The quality of the writing was addictive! Manipulation at its finest! What a read! Plot, characters, pacing and the twists – I couldn’t fault it.

[Lyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! Was well written & kept me wondering what was happening with Tina & who was actually the baddie! Little disappointed with the ending but still a fab read 📚

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a psychological thriller. This story had me swirling in twists and turns. I like when the author pulls me into the story as if I was one of the characters. This story did not disappoint me. You'll love it!

[Anisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unpredictable

Held my interest....not all together predictable like some of the similar books. Entertaining and well written. I'll be reading more of the author's books.

[angela norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great tropical read looking into the subject of scammers - scammers in many forms, carers, relationship, charity etc. They were good strong female characters in this book and it really kept you guessing as to who was telling the truth. It was a good page turner and kept me reading until the end as I was desperate to know how everything turned out.

[Maja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you very much Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Say what you want, in my opinion, Rona Halsall books can not disappoint. If she writes it, I will read it! I do enjoy the writing style and the short chapters, and her stories always have just the right pace to keep it interesting and to hold my attention.

When Meg rescues Tina, she thought she had found a new friend in the other woman. But some things do not add up. Can Meg really trust Tina? And what about the two women who did attack her new friend? A read full of twists were you never know whom you can trust. But trust me when I tell you to go and read the book! I can recommend it!

[Rups!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Friends by Rona Halsall

What if you’re simply walking down the road, stop to help someone being beaten up, become friends with them… only to realise that you’ve been conned?

The New Friends by Rona Halsall is an interesting psychological thriller filled with suspense, twists and multiple perspectives. What begins as an unexpected act of kindness slowly turns into something much more complicated, leaving you questioning who can actually be trusted.

📚 Multiple viewpoints that work:
The story is told through around three different viewpoints, and I really enjoyed seeing the same events from different perspectives. Each viewpoint adds something new to the story and makes the characters and their actions easier to understand.

📚 A believable plot:
What I liked most was how believable the story felt from different angles. The characters have their own reasons, histories and motivations, which make the different sides of the story work well together.

📚 Thrill and suspense:
There is a good amount of suspense, especially when the characters start trying to track down the person behind the con. The chase keeps the story moving. At a few points, though, I felt the characters could have planned their moves a little better.

📚 Smooth storytelling:
The story moves between the present and the past while also shifting between viewpoints. Despite these changes, the narrative never felt confusing or rushed. The transitions worked naturally and kept me engaged.

📚 Well-developed characters:
There are quite a few characters, but each one has a reasonably well-developed past and present. Their backgrounds add depth to the story without making it feel overloaded.

⭐ Final Thoughts

The New Friends is a quick and engaging read with plenty of twists, suspense and changing perspectives. I enjoyed how the same story gradually takes on a different meaning depending on whose viewpoint you are following.

If you’re looking for a thriller that is easy to get into, keeps you guessing and has enough twists and turns to keep you reading, this one is worth picking up.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[Teresa Nikolic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meg comes to the rescue of a young woman after witnessing an incident in the street and takes her back home where they bond over a coffee, she and Tina have much in common, not least that they are both survivors of the same illness and they become friends but, not everything is as it seems, because Tina is hiding a big secret that will impact not just on Meg's life but others that Tina has been associated with too and the outcome of her game becomes deadly.

The New Friend is the latest thriller by Halsall amd this one hits the ground running, told in four parts from the perspectives of three of the characters. Meg and Tina's friendship starts off well and they quickly form a tight bond but, alarm bells started ringing quite early on for me and the old saying 'if it seems too good to be true, it usually is' was certainly right on this occasion and pretty soon poor, naive Meg began to learn the truth about her 'new friend' when, the two women she saved Tina from, came knocking on her door and revealed what Tina had done. Realising that she too had become a pawn in Tina's game she was determined to find her before it happened again. This story has a great premise, with fantastic characters created by Halsall and some great twists along the way, the underlying message here is that it's very easy to be taken in by people that appear genuine on the outside but equally, to then become suspicious of everyone around you, because you don't know who to trust anymore, I know this from personal experience. This is a fast paced tale with short chapters, just how I like them and all culminates with a very satisfactory ending, another hit for me from Halsall which had me totally invested from start to finish.

I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

[Ripley's Recommended Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this book, we follow Meg, who witnesses a brutal two-on-one attack in the street. Being the good Samaritan that she is, she steps in to help the girl, Tina, who is being assaulted, and even takes her home for a nice cup of tea.

Once Meg discovers that they are both cancer survivors, an instant bond forms and a friendship begins to blossom. But who really is Tina? Can she be trusted? In fact, can anyone in this story be trusted as each character carries an air of suspicion that will have you questioning their motives left, right and centre.

Now, perhaps it’s because I’m not a particularly trusting person to begin with, but I really struggled to get on board with just how naïve Meg was and later in the story, when she begins to take her power back, some of the events felt a little far-fetched, which did take away from my enjoyment somewhat.

That being said, I have to give the author credit because I didn’t feel like everything fell into place until around the 80% mark. There were some clever surprises along the way, and the constant uncertainty over who could and couldn’t be trusted certainly kept me on my toes.

While I did have some issues with Meg’s character and found some of the later events a little hard to believe, I still enjoyed trying to piece everything together and working out who was really pulling the strings. A solid 3 stars.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Meg meets Tina, It's like the most perfect meeting of minds. Their friendship feels naturally joyful - like they've had space waiting in their lives for each other. And with them both being survivors of the same illness, there is an instant bond. But Tina's not all she seems to be. She has another name. And secrets that are destined to find there way to the surface, creating danger that Meg could never have predicted. In Meg's world, Tina isn't the only person who is lying. And someone is about to become an unwitting pawn in a complicated - and deadly - game.

When a lonely woman helps out a stranger who was being attacked, soon becomes wrapped up in a web of deceit and lies. Meg takes the woman home with her. The two women quickly become friends.

This story covers what most of us fear - being scammed and manipulated - by someone you trust. I was instantly pulled into this story. The more I found out about Tina, I knew I didn't trust her. There's so much I want to say about this book, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. All I will say is, grab yourself a copy, you won't be disappointed.

Published 7th September 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RonaHalsall for my ARC of #TheNewFriend in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Friend is about Meg, who meets Tina and they instantly click. They have something pretty major in common - they’ve both been through the same illness and their friendship quickly becomes really close. 🥰

But unfortunately, Tina isn’t who she claims to be… so what secrets is she hiding? 😱

Meg starts to realise that she can’t trust anyone around her when she discovers that everyone is lying to her. Someone is about to get caught up in something far more sinister than they could ever have imagined… 🫣

I really enjoyed this one! I was completely hooked and flew through it, finishing it in under 24 hours! 📖👀

What really got me with this story was how easily someone can be manipulated when they completely trust the wrong person. The more I discovered about Tina, the more suspicious I became, and I just knew there was something seriously not right about her! 🤔

This was my first book by Rona, and I really enjoyed discovering her writing! There were so many secrets, lies and twists that kept me turning the pages because I just had to know what was really going on! 🤯

I’ll definitely be picking up more from Rona! 📚

Thank you to Rona and Ace Book Tours for letting me take part in this tour and for the digital copy. ♥️

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Meg meets Tina, it feels like it was meant to be and is the friendship she’s always wanted. With lots in common there is an instance bond. But Tina is not all she seems. She has another name and secrets that are destined to come to the surface, creating a danger Meg could never have imagined.

I love a Rona Halsall thriller and was really drawn to the bold, colourful cover of this one, as well as the description. This ended up being another entertaining, twisty read, with a simple, engaging premise. Although slow to get started, by the 20% mark it started to speed up and I was really keen to see where it would go, unsure who to trust. I enjoyed that there were lots of red herrings and some of the twists were fun to discover.

The characters were well written and although I didn’t completely connect to all, it was interesting seeing how their dynamics would play out. Even though this wasn’t my favourite book I’ve read by this author, it was still an enjoyable, quick, easy read and I can’t wait for more! Thanks to a NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[Eva Edge · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 mind-bending stars
"The New Friend" by Rona Halsall is a sneaky, jaw-dropping, and expertly crafted psychological thriller that turns every expectation on its head.

The narrative begins on deceptively quiet footing, slowly dropping readers into what appears to be a straightforward story before completely pulling the rug out from under them. As the tangled web of secrets unravels, Halsall masterfully manipulates perspective and trust, making it impossible to pin down where the true danger lies or who is actually pulling the strings. The genius formatting and pacing force you to question every character's hidden motives, building a suffocating layer of suspense where nobody is innocent and everyone feels like a potential villain.

Ultimately, the book delivers a masterclass in psychological misdirection, completely reversing early doubts and exploding into a series of shocking revelations. It serves up a dizzying payoff that proves Halsall is operating at the absolute top of her game. A brilliant, unpredictable ride, earning a solid 5 mind-bending stars.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read started and finished in one day as the plot was well written, interesting and with characters that made you want to keep turning the pages to find out what was happening.

What starts as a lonely woman helping out a stranger being attacked becomes the centre of a web of deceit and lies so complex that it is difficult to see the wood from the trees. Many interspersed stories featuring false identity, fraud, coercion and even murder show how easy it is to fall for someone who looks like they need help or are offering it.

Very well written and easy to keep turning the pages to unfold more layers of the complex plot and see exactly who is coming who and how.

Very enjoyable read with characters who are not who or what they seem, which keeps the reader guessing right to the end.

Great thriller with a visually appealing cover to entice the reader in.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cover as always for this authors books

The title kinda tells you the ‘new friend’ is bad news but Meg doesn’t realise when acting as a good samaritan and neighbour to Tina just how much ‘badness’ she is inviting in…..Meg will pay dearly for involving herself with Tina

The book shows how easy someone who appears to be doing good can actually be doing evil and get away it under the guise of helping those less fortunate and how easily, surprisingly easily people can be manipulated and fooled

But then when the manipulator becomes a victim too and the tables turn the whole story takes to another level

It’s a look a trust, friendship, scams and vulnerability and how when one thing leads to another before you know it your whole life is/can be ruined

Good characters, well written, food for thought and a emotive story ( stories )

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Boldwood Books for approving my request to read this book.

Meg is returning home from her night shift dreaming of her breakfast when she sees a woman being viciously attacked by two others. Stepping in to help Meg saves the day and sends the other two women on their way and takes the other in to her home to help her. The two quickly become friends after their chance encounter but is Megs new friend all she seems?

This is the first book I've read by this author and I loved it with it relentless pace and multiple twists that really kept me guessing, I had no idea who could be trusted in this book if anyone. I found this book impossible to put down and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. I'd highly recommend this one to my fellow psychological thriller fans.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Meg plays good Samaritan and helps rescue a woman that is being attacked by two women. It is a start of a beautiful friendship or so she thinks. The pair come very good friends until Meg finds out how Tina really is and taking her life savings with her.
I am a big fan of Rona Halsall, and I read all her books yet again she doesn’t disappoint with her new novel ‘The new friend’ This is an exciting, gripping read that kept me gripped through out to find out where Tina is and her missing money. This such a good entertaining read that I read to the small hours of the morning because I didn’t want to stop reading. I kind of guessed what was going to happen at the end, but it didn’t spoil the enjoyment of this. I highly recommend.
Thank you Boldwood for a copy of My New friend. 5 stars from me.

[Joan Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meg is very much in need of a friend when she meets Tina. They are both cancer survivors and that helps deepen their bond. Meg soon learns that Tina is not all that she appears to be, and that causes Meg to also question the fledgling relationship with her boyfriend, Liam.

Meg, a weakling, at least at first, made a lot of mistakes and was not an admirable person. That made it difficult for me to enjoy the book. The pace of the book picked up some as Meg closed in on Tina's true identity. The book had a natural ending when Tina, and another fraudster, were taken into custody but unfortunately there were several more chapters that were didn't seem very realistic and left a lot of loose ends, perhaps for a sequel? I don't know, but the book would have been better had it ended sooner.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was an absolute corker of a story, I was captivated from start to finish.

The storyline was unique and kept me engaged, not to mention kept me guessing when trying to finish out how everything fitted together. The whole story was brilliantly written, not predictable in any way, really quite cleverly done.

The characters were believable and bought to life within those pages. I enjoyed getting to know Meg and all of the other characters, there were a couple of characters whom I literally wasn’t sure if they could be trusted or not. This story certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat in eager anticipation of what will happen next.

So another great story from Rona, who really does know how to tell a story and leave her readers wanting more and more.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of avanced copy received from NetGalley.

A fun read!

The New Friend by Rona Halsall will have you feeling as though you have been deposited right in the middle of an episode of Cluedo.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the shifting goalposts. Halsall has the reader suspecting every character of deception and duplicity. With so many conflicting dubious events it becomes impossible to know who to trust.

I liked the way the novel explored confidence tricksters, romance scams and misleading identities. It raises questions about how vulnerabilities can be manipulated and exploited. Meg is a warm and likeable character and, by the end of the novel, the reader is firmly rooting for her.
This will appeal to readers who enjoy twisty whodunnits with an emotional dimension.

[Marianne Crichton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I whizzed through this book, as the chapters are quite short which encouraged me to just keep reading!
The big question throughout the book…who is the scammer?
Is it the two attackers?
Is it their victim?
Is it maybe the rescuer?
Is it the rescuer’s online boyfriend?
Is it one of them, all of them, or some of them?
I didn’t know who I could trust…which built up my anxiety levels as the book progressed!
What I especially liked about this book is that often with stories like this, the main character is portrayed as clueless and the reader can get frustrated by the fact they are being naïve. However, in this story it’s completely the opposite…Meg suspects everyone, which means the reader does too.
A well deserved 5 stars from me, plenty of unexpected twists.