A friend in the Dark is a twisty and exhilarating ride - Samantha’s best book yet.

Sam Bailey became an auto-buy author for me after her first book, Woman on the Edge, which I literally could not put down. I remember reading it, sitting on the side of my bed wrapped in a towel fresh out of the shower because I couldn’t stop falling into the story. Sam captivates the reader because her books are spooky, creepy and oh-so-real. These are the stories that could happen to someone you know. Or you.

Sam’s latest book features Eden - at 45, suddenly separated from her husband and with a daughter acting out in her first year of university - all she wants is some support and care. And then she stumbles onto a crush from university—someone she desired but who ghosted her after a messy party. Eden gets attention from him, and it feels so good to do naughty things over the phone. We get caught up in Eden’s emotions and, turmoil and needs. And then, she meets Lila at an open house she’s hosting. And they keep running into each other. And Eden can’t help but feel that she’s being watched.

And then, her separated husband gets into a car accident, and her daughter goes missing, and Eden is suddenly not sure what is happening. A Friend in the Dark is told from two different points of view and really looks at the basis of a relationship - how much do we know about the people we marry and live beside? Both Eden and Lila have big secrets, and their partners are not who they seem. What makes a perfect relationship? And what do we tell those we love, and what do we tell our friends?

And do we ever really know the people we trust with our intimate secrets?

A Friend in the Dark is intimate and dark. I couldn’t put it down, and I didn’t want to leave Eden, Lila and their angst and fragile lives. I liked how the book, although it was super fast-paced, also focused on the past when Eden was in university and went to a final house party that got out of control. It was also when a good friend of hers went missing and never was found. I loved how Sam weaves past and present and reminds us about the people we carry with us even when they are gone. How much do certain parts and people in our lives affect us? How much are we defined by them? Sam asks these questions and has both Eden and Lila answer the questions, whether they want to or not.

If you loved the TV show, Desperate Housewives, then you will devour A Friend in the Dark.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this and it didn’t disappoint. I read it in two sitting, staying up way to late - since it was psychological/domestic thriller that gave Verity vibes. There was some spice early on in the book, which was unexpected for a thriller, but I loved it! I enjoyed the dual POV, but would have loved some more POV from the past.

As the reader, it was tough watching Eden miss all the red flags with Justin, but it made the twist that much better.
At times, it was a little predictable, but I was so into the story that it didn’t bother me.

What a quick and fun read! I really enjoy this author’s writing. The characters and their multiple POV’s kept me hooked. There is a lot of drama and suspense with some spice too!

A new novel from one of my favourite authors, the amazing Samantha Bailey, is always cause for celebration!! So when I got the chance to read an early ARC of her latest thriller, A Friend in the Dark (out March 1/24) I jumped at it. And let me say, it is so good!!

This is a dark, twisty, action-packed ride about a relatable middle-aged main character, Eden, whose husband has asked for a divorce and who is also struggling in her relationship with her teenage daughter. Eden decides to reconnect with an old college flame and gets caught up in events that turn her and her family’s lives upside down. Just who and what has she invited into their lives?

This is a fast-paced story that grips you immediately and keeps up the intensity to the very end. The writing is so smooth and easy to read that the pages practically turn themselves. The story flows seamlessly between dual viewpoints and the twists and turns and reveals keep coming one after the other. It’s so dark and twisty and suspenseful! It’s another winner from this author!

If you love fast-paced, gripping thrillers that keep you turning the pages well into the night, then make sure to pick up A Friend in the Dark when it’s out next March! Can’t wait for this author’s next novel!!

A huge thanks to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Thomas and Mercer and the author for my advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This book was such a quick read. I was consumed from page one. I cant believe I haven't read anything by this author. Her writing is truly a treat. She grabs you and takes you on a wild goose chase.

𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕....

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloverspromotions @sbaileybooks and @amazonpublishing for this 𝓔𝔁𝓬𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓿𝓮 tour and ARC.

MY REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was so f*cked-up, but in a good way, it left me wanting more. I was so intrigued and captivated that I had to physically make myself stop and sleep because I had to catch a plane the next day (but of course, I finished it on the plane).
The spiciness was added extra feature that I personally loved. And the twists - had 👏🏼 me 👏🏼 shook 👏🏼.

I think if you love a great twisty thriller with some spiciness , this one will be PERFECT!

PUB DATE:
March 1, 2024

QOTD❓️⁉️❓️ Have you ever reached out to an old flame to see if the heat is still there?

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#afriendinthedark #samanthambailey #thrillerbookloverpromotionsexclusivetour
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4,5 stars

Wow, this was such a pleasant surprise! Fortunately the blurb didn't reveal much, so I literally went into this book blind, thinking it was going to go in one direction, when in fact it went in a completely different one.

Eden is still struggling with the end of her marriage when she impulsively decides to send a friend request to Justin Ward, her college crush. To her surprise, not only does he respond promptly, but soon she finds herself having an online relationship with him. This not only awakens all sorts of desires in her, but also reminds her of a painful time some twenty years ago when her friend Tyler disappeared the same night she went out with Justin. Too bad she was too wasted to remember what had happened.

I loved how this kept me on my toes!

The beginning was a bit slow as we got to know Eden and her marital problems, but then the story picks up speed and I couldn't put the book down! What happened the night Tyler disappeared is crucial to the development of the plot and the ending was a crescendo of dread that kept me on the edge of my seat!

Thanks to @thrillerbookloverspromotions & @sbaileybooks for having me on the exclusive tour.

I flew through the pages of this book. Dave tells Eden he wants a divorce on the day they drop Ava off at college. Eden is stunned. Although Dave has been distant she did not see it coming. Eden starts to think about what could have been with an old college flame. They reconnect or so she thinks, but is Justin who she remembers? Odd things start to happen. Then her soon to be ex-husband gets hit by a car and Ava goes missing. Pieces of her past are front and center. Can she save herself and her daughter?

You will definitely want to add this one to your TBR!

I’m so excited to share my review with you today. This one isn’t even on NetGalley yet. You need to add this to your tbr as it’s wild.

As I started reading I thought the main character was a little needy but still likable. I grew to like and relate to her midlife identity crisis. And unlike most domestic suspense books I’ve read lately this one had danger. I could not figure out where the danger was coming from. My heart raced in a couple of spots and more than once I wanted to shout WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!! Danger. Danger.

It was fast paced and I did not want to put this one down. Full of secrets and a few twists, this was a heck of a ride!

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by Thomas & Mercer. The opinions given are my own and freely given.

The day that Eden takes her daughter, Ava to school, at the same college that she and her husband, Dave went, her husband tells her he wants a divorce. On her birthday, after a few drinks, sitting at home alone, and feeling sorry for herself, she decides to look up the "one that got away", Justin, on social media. They exchange messages back and forth and become very intimate, without having met up in person. Eden meets Lila at an open house, where Eden is the selling realtor. She then runs into her while shopping. They become friends.

In the meantime, Olivia, Justin's wife is stuck in an abusive, controlling marriage, with no way out. Everyone thinks that Justin is GREAT and so she can't rely on anyone, but her brother. Eden also starts finding out things about Dave, and how he had changed in the few months prior to his request for a divorce and she starts investigating.

This is the story of a woman who wants to reconnect, a wife who wants out and a daughter her wants her parents back together.

This book is not what I expected at all. There are mental health issues, abusive husbands, cheating husbands, an illicit club and the daughter that blames her mom for everything.

I recommend this book.

This will be posted to Instagram @kuhlreads on 10/22/23

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I was thrilled to be given a very early copy of this book and to be participating in an exclusive book tour to help promote this upcoming book of Samantha Bailey’s. I loved her first one, Woman on the Edge, and while I still need to read her second book, Watch Out for Her, she is definitely an author I want to read more from…and this new one totally exceeded my expectations and then some!

I totally binged this book in one sitting – it is so addictive and twisty that I just could not put it down. It moves so fast and pulls you in right away and I totally got some Verity vibes from it, which kept me totally intrigued. This book delves into obsession and secrets and pushes some boundaries but you just can’t stop reading. The characters are all flawed and I loved that. Reading about a female in the later part of her life is so refreshing as I can relate to that…I’m right there with her, though I don’t find myself wanting to make any of the choices Eden does here – just saying!

This is a dark, complex story that went in directions I was not expecting and I could not have loved it more. It had twists I didn’t see coming and an ending I felt was completely satisfying. This is one thriller you don’t want to miss!

Wow! Do I need to say anything more!

I loved this book and devoured it so fast. There is just something about Bailey’s writing that immediately hooks you and doesn’t let go until the very end. I loved the dual POV and it really increased the suspense. There were so many plot twists that left my jaw on the floor! I highly recommend that you add this to your TBR because is this one you don’t want to miss! If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!!!!!

Many thanks to Samantha Bailey and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for allowing me to be apart of this exclusive tour!

I will be posting my review on Instagram (@thriller_book_sisters) on 10/27/23.

What did I just read? This story has so many twists and turns that I had a hard time keeping track. This had me swiping on my kindle until all my questions were answered. I love theo books where we get one character's side of the story, and then it switches to another character's side. I will say that I didn’t know where this was going at some points, but it all came together beautifully in the end. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Don’t miss out on this one when it comes out in March! You will be on the edge of your seat reading just like me!

WOW it’s giving Housemaid and Verity vibes!

I loved this and devoured it right up until the very end. It was fast-paced, short chapters, dual POV, and LOTS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TWISTS! Exactly how I love my books and now Samantha is an absolute must read author for me.

I thought at first it might be difficult to relate to a middle-aged FMC with a college-aged kid and marital problems but Samantha did an amazing job at making the FMC relatable and likable to anyone regardless.

I’ve already recommended this to all of my friends and to bookstagram and I can’t wait for it to release so I can make everyone read it!

Thank you SO MUCH to Thomas & Mercer, Samantha, Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, and NetGalley for the advance digital review copy!

Buckle up for this fast paced psychological thriller loaded with twists and a bit of spice! This storyline is gripping and highly excitable never knowing what to expect.

Each character added something unique to the plot that allowed the storyline to play out in unexpected ways! MC Eden is a relatable character as many know someone just like her trying to rebuild after a life-changing upset. I found myself pondering the “what ifs” of the past with the emotional connection Eden felt with Justin with thoughts of the one that got away.

Samantha Bailey has written a powerful novel that kept me engaged throughout with distinctive characters facing intense circumstances.

This book was SOOO bingeable! I finished it in less than 24 hours. This one had me hooked from the start, the chapters were quick, and it had multiple POV’s.

This one is focused around a woman who was blindsided by her husband with wanting a divorce right after they dropped their daughter off at college. Eden, the MC finds herself alone, confused, heartbroken, and questioning everything. After some time, she reaches out to an old crush from her college days and they immediately hit it off. THINGS GET WILD!

Eden drove me crazy, and was very unreliable but I also loved her at the same time! This book was so well written and I loved the twists! An absolute must read, in my opinion!

Eden Miller’s life is in chaos. On the day they drop her daughter off at college, Eden’s husband tells her he wants a divorce. Crushed and lonely, when she comes across an old flame on Facebook, she sends him a friend request. Soon she and Justin are sharing flirty, sexy messages and before she knows it, Eden is in deep. Eventually Eden realizes something’s off about the whole situation – Justin knows way too much about things she never told him. Is Eden’s romance putting her and her family in danger?

Holy CRAP, this book! Fast-paced, twisty, dramatic, and a little steamy, it grabbed me right away and kept me gripped the entire time. I’m only a few years younger than Eden, and even though she’s a bit naïve and makes some bad decisions, she’s also super relatable. The short chapters and non-stop action kept me turning the pages, and I ended up reading this book in just two sittings. I didn’t want it to end, but I also couldn’t stop reading – it’s just that good!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for inviting me to be a party of this exclusive early tour and for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Thank you @sbaileybooks and @thrillerbookloverspromotions for the #gifted copy of this book!

Wooo hoo! This was a wild crazy ride. I flew through this book as it was non stop twists and turns. It starts out with Eden dropping her college daughter off at school and her long time husband Dave promptly asking for a divorce! She was nervous about being an emptynester but wasn’t expecting for her nest to be so empty with no hubby either! As she fumbles her way through the next few weeks she stumbles upon a past love interest online who completely sweeps her off her feet. All the attention makes her feel like she’s 18 and in love for the first time. As time goes on however, Eden senses something is off in her life. Is it her soon to be ex? The new love interest? Or something else all together?

This was my first by this author and what I loved was the action packed storyline! It was stressful to watch the blast from the past obsession unfold and how Eden’s reckless behavior dug her a deeper hole than she could climb out of. The desire to be wanted was definitely a driver here and it felt a bit like watching a midlife crisis unravel. Eek! Without giving away any spoilers I will say there is a very frustrating character that gaslights Eden in a way that I found myself wanting to yell “Run!” the entire time! This was a perfectly bingeable, relatable, dark thrilling book that I flew through. I cannot wait to read more by Ms. Bailey! Make sure to add this one to your TBR!

Ohh this book. It took me a bit to get into it, admittedly. Eden was a frustrating lead character - naive, easily manipulated, and a bit whiny. But about 35% in, I was totally hooked.

Eden's relationship with Justin - a flame sparked after 20 years - was a bit sad but it was also so very entertaining. Eden was clearly desperate for some positive affirmation and fell hook, line and sinker for Justin's charm. Red flags were jumping out at every corner and I was shouting at Eden through the book - ARE YOU STUPID?! But sometimes it's just so fun to be so invested in a protagonist!

I also loved all the little nuggets strewn throughout. Had someone been in Eden's house? Was someone following her? Was something more sinister going on? When the book takes a turn for the darker world of BDSM, I was truly enthralled! I didn't know who or what to trust and kept questioning everything.

While some of this novel was a little bit predictable for the experienced thriller reader, it was such a stellar ride. I had so much fun seeing how everything fit together, experiencing the character growth, and watching the train wreck unfold.

This is one of those books that you can totally binge in a sitting or two, and I definitely recommend doing just that! Once I was hooked, I really didn't want to put it down!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions and Thomas & Mercer for the copy.

A dark, twisty and sexy ride from one of Canadas Thriller Queens. Baileys 3rd novel takes us to Ann Arbor Michigan while our main character Eden struggles with her present and her past. When the two come colliding together, no one is safe! I always enjoy Baileys writing and her ability to switch between narrators. A bit more development on the characters themselves would have been welcomed.