Expertly layered suspense with a brilliantly complex cast of characters you can’t get enough of!
If you enjoy psychological thrillers that ooze toxicity from their pages, keep you guessing right to the final paragraph and then explore a wealth of relevant themes, The Loyal Friend is a book you must read. A. A. Chaudhuri has written a novel that twists and turns, coiling it’s readers in its grasp and not letting them go until the final page is turned. I was completely gripped by this book and that was down to the accomplished blend of characters and plot. I was immediately hooked on wanting to discover what had happened to Jade, but as I read on, I found that I was equally invested in discovering the truth about the three women at the centre of the narrative (Natalie, Susan and Grace). Told from each of their perspectives, very quickly we understand that each of them has a number of dark secrets that they do not want to be revealed. This really ramped up the tension whilst reading and I was constantly trying to work out how each of these women’s lives intertwined beyond attending the same exercise class and how that might interplay with Jade’s disappearance. Chaudhuri is exceptional at weaving swathes of secrets, complex relationships, hidden meanings and veiled truths throughout her narrative. She sprinkles clues throughout and I enjoyed picking up on some of these and being able to work out a few of the reveals, but I did not see the final revelations and direction the novel took coming! Chaudhuri is a master of misdirection and I loved how she allowed me to think I was working things out, only to rip the rug out from under me and completely surprise me with the ending. That has made this a really memorable read for me.
I also really enjoyed the cacophony of different themes that meander their way through the plot. Chaudhuri tackles a number of issues, making this a really thought-provoking book, as well as an enjoyable thriller. The main theme that ran prominently through the book for me, was mental health. All of the women at the core of this story have some kind of mental health challenges - whether subtle or overt - and these are often cushioned by other themes important to the narrative and both unify and distance the characters from each other. Natalie is the most obvious sufferer, with her tortured past and her unsettling behaviour whilst sleeping. Her difficult childhood unites her with Jade, who has also suffered abuse when young. Both of these women have had impacts on their mental health because of their childhood. Susan and Grace are both impacted by events at their hands, but are similarly impaired and desperate for their past actions to remain hidden. For Susan, much of her mental health is wrapped up in image, status, wealth and the impression of privilege she gives to others. When this is threatened, she primarily turns to alcohol, but her actions can become unspeakable. Similarly, Grace is primarily concerned with image and the illusion of her life to others. She has a tragic past and will desperately try to keep the truth of it from becoming known. Her desperation to keep her dark past hidden has directly impacted her mental health. Whilst all of these themes are fascinating in their own right, the way Chaudhuri stitches them all together through these characters’ relationships is nothing short of exceptional writing abilities. I was enraptured by these characters and the multiple layers of their lives. They aren’t always likeable and they are certainly all complex, but they are all three-dimensional and wholly human. I defy anyone who reads this to not feel some kind of impact from them.
I’m looking forward to reading more from A. A. Chaudhuri!