Following the intense, toxic friendship of two kindred spirits across their lifetimes, The Best Friend is a dark, suspenseful novel and first standalone from Jessica Fellowes, New York Times bestselling author of the Mitford Murders series and the companion Downton Abbey books.
Bella and Kate. Kate and Bella. From childhood they were bosom friends, Bella sensible and cautious, Kate gregarious and just a little dangerous.
Yet in spite of their intimacy, their trust is fragile. Men came into their lives and things changed: a black seed was set in the heart of their relationship. Over decades, acts of both cruelty and love ferment until one shocking event tests them more than ever. Neither will escape unscathed.
Reminiscent of Elena Ferrante and Sally Rooney, and for readers of Leila Slimani’s The Perfect Nanny and Ashley Audrain’s The Push, The Best Friend explores the darkest corners of female friendship, a place where loyalty and betrayal intersect with deadly consequences.
"This is a gripping story of a decades-long friendship that hints at obsession, dark secrets, and desperation and yet is also joyous, moving, and heart-breaking. A gripping, unsettling page-turner."
Booklist
"Riveting."
PopSugar, "Best Thriller and Mystery Books of 2022"
"The Best Friend takes an unusual route to illustrate a destructive friendship leading to fatal turns along the way. Fellowes' use of revealing dialogue lends an eavesdropping vibe that delves into the girls' personalities as they age and, finally, become women in their 80s."
