Keep Your Friends Close

By: Paula Daly

Narrated by: Janine Birkett

Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Natty and Sean Wainwright are happily married. Rock solid in fact. So when Natty's oldest friend, Eve Dalladay, appears - just as their daughter collapses on a school trip in France - Natty has no qualms about leaving Eve with Sean to help out at home.

Two weeks later and Natty finds Eve has slotted into family life too well - her husband has fallen in love with Eve. He's sorry, he tells her, but their marriage is over. With no option but to put a brave face on things for the sake of the children, Natty embarks on building a new life for herself. And then she receives the note. Eve has done this before, more than once, and with fatal consequences...

©2014 Paula Daly (P)2014 Isis Publishing Ltd

Collapse of a family

Any additional comments?

The Wainwrights, on the surface, are an ideal family. Sean and Natty have been together since they were teenagers and after nearly 20 years have a successful business and two delightful daughters so what could go wrong? The answer is the arrival of Natty's old friend, Eve, I experienced rage on Natty's behalf, anger at her sometime stupid behaviour and disgust at the way that Sean handled the problems. Listening to this book was an emotional roller-coaster, right up to the final twist. Janine Birkett was an ideal narrator.

Enjoyable read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I think so. It's a good combination of analysing relationships, marriage and family combined with a psychological thriller set against an everyday family background . A very enjoyable read

What did you like best about this story?

The portrayal of the 'friend' and how her manipulative nature and past background unfolded.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The ending - but I wouldn't reveal this so as not to spoil for others

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes - if I could have done, I would!

A good thriller.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it. I like books set in ordinary settings in England. The descriptions of the Lake District were enticing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Probably the younger daughter who witnessed a horrible scene and saw through her father's new girlfriend.

Have you listened to any of Janine Birkett’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, this was the first. I wasn't keen on the accent but perhaps I have a prejudice against Lake District accents which I didn't know about. However, another Paula Daly book, narrated by a different person did not have the same effect on me. I felt that Janine Birkett's voice and accent sounded like an older person than the main character was meant to be.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Many, this story had me enthralled all the way through.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this so much I immediately downloaded another book by the author Paula Daly which was just as good. This was 'Just what kind of a mother are you?'

Consumed in One Sitting!!

Another Paula Daly audio book that I would gladly have paid more than one credit to listen to.

As with the previous book, it is well written with a realistic storyline. What also made it an additive listen, is the narration - various characters - including males - were excellently portrayed.

Well done!! I look forward to the next book.

Well worth listening too

I was surprised how good this was, the story was excellent, and the narrator superb.
bringing the story and characters to life. Well recommended and very enjoyable, and the book will stay with you. I listened over 2 days.

Brilliant book with excellent narration

I really did enjoy this listen and finished it in record time! Not the usual gorey thriller I go for and came across it by accident.

The story of one family with some deep secrets- I won't give anything away - well worth a listen!

Page Turner

Great fast paced and gripping story which I really did enjoy. The only anomalie which really was at times a bit annoying was: the narrator who is playing Naty the main character is supposed to be from Cumbria but has a distinct North Eastern accent which is way out of line from Cambrian accent. I found this accentuated North East voice a bit annoying. Also the narrator gives the impression that Natasha is a much older woman that she actually is.
Otherwise can highly recommend.

Excellent Thriller

This was a proper thriller, not just a detective story. We are told the story from the perspective of both the victim and the perpetrator, so we are slightly ahead of the victim most of the time, having some idea what may be coming.
The story from the detective's perspective is also given, but much less so.
Information is delivered to us the reader in a measured way all through the book, developments are continuous which maintains our interest.
I might have liked a more thorough wrapping up of the story at the end though. (DC Aspinal's breast reduction saga has spanned two books now - maybe she'll get herself sorted in the third book?)
Excellent narration by Janine Birkett. What a teriffic range of accents, voices and inflections she is able to deliver.

Just brilliant!

Any additional comments?

Janine Birkett was simply brilliant narrating this! She brought everything to it you want when listening to an audible book! Every character was so good! Great story with things we can all relate to in every day life as a woman! Thank you Paula Daly...I simply loved it! And Janine for bringing it to life for me! :-)

Enjoyable listen

I really enjoyed this book and found it very easy to listen to. The narrator was brilliant and made it all the better.

The thing about this listen is it makes you question your own life, but on the same slightly negative note it also is very stereotypical in its character design.

Anyway would still recommend a listen and I will try further books from this author.