The Girlfriend

August 1, 2017

Laura Cavendish is well-off, elitist, and distanced from her philandering husband. Her whole world revolves around her grown son, Daniel. When Daniel announces that he has a new love in his life--a gorgeous and ambitious woman named Cherry--Laura can't wait to meet her, if only to size her up. Not surprisingly, Laura doesn't think much of her son's new catch. A psychological roller-coaster ensues as two devious, unlikable women fight for Daniel's attention. The writing jumps from one point of view to another at a moment's notice, often within the same scene. The head-hopping narrative can be unnecessarily distracting as the reader is volleyed back and forth. VERDICT Despite its flaws, this debut novel will appeal to fans of fast-paced psychological thrillers led by deliciously vile female characters.--Erin Entrada Kelly, Philadelphia

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 5, 2018
Successful TV producer Laura Cavendish, the heroine of BBC development executive Frances’s gripping debut, has poured her heart and soul into rearing her only child, Daniel, now a medical student who lives with her in London. The prospect of his moving to his own flat worries her. Laura grows even more anxious when she meets his new girlfriend, Cherry, who was born on the wrong side of the tracks and using any means necessary to claw her way out of poverty. The first encounter between the two most important women in Daniel’s life does not go well. As Laura uncovers Cherry’s lies and ruses, Cherry cunningly retaliates, until a rift results between mother and son. After a near-tragic accident, Laura is convinced that there’s only way to save her son: she must eliminate Cherry. But Cherry is not going to go away quietly. The tension rises as the two women hurtle toward a final confrontation. Fans of psychological thrillers will eagerly look forward to Frances’s next book.