The loyal friend by A. A. Choudhury

​"The loyal friend" by A. A. Choudhury - Good one!

This book is published by Hera in 2022 and has 341 pages. 

Jade, the fitness instructor is missing. Natalie, narrator of the story is the only one who’s worried. Police start the investigation. Secrets tumble out. 

Who has the secret? What are the secrets? Are they relevant to the disappearance? What happened to Jade? Who’s the loyal friend?

Jade is 30 and works as fitness instructor. She’s beautiful, humble, friendly, encouraging. From being a PT teacher, she has changed career and become fitness instructor. Natalie, the librarian, has grown up in foster care, a difficult childhood subject to abuse. She’s lost the only person close to her, her brother Jack, at 12. Since then she is taking therapy. Grace and her husband Jim blame each other for the reason their sons are not with them. Jim is an academic and is writing a book. Suzanne is rich and has drinking issues. There is no love between her and her husband Lance any more. They have three grown up children. DI Bailey and DS Khan are the investigators. However most of the investigation is done by DI Bailey. 

Jade has a secret that she wants to protect. Grace also has as secret or two that she has kept from everyone. Suzanne also has a secret that she has revealed to one person. Natalie also has a dangerous secret. All the ladies have their own secret. The question is who’s secret is relevant to the disappearance of Jade?

It’s a slow story. But it still retains your interest because author keeps revealing new facts, little twists and turns all along. This story passes the test of not letting readers guess the mystery. Although, I could guess who, I couldn’t guess why? That comes as a surprise. That’s when little crumbs of clues scattered all over the book fall in place and the Penny drops. To top it up, author gives another shock after the mystery is revealed. This is a new kind of strategy. You close the book with the satisfaction of having read a good mystery. 

The story is narrated in first person by four ladies; Natalie, Grace, Suzanne and Jade. So author puts forth different point of views. Each trying to establish her innocence and casting doubts on others. 

A. A. Chaudhuri is British author with Indian ancestry. She was a solicitor before she became full time writer. 

Why did I read this book? Gooodreads stars. 

What did I like? The mystery. 

What I didn't like? Was final twists necessary?

Recommend reading.