Jo Dykstra and Dana McFarlane have been best friends for decades. When Jo found herself divorced and unemployed, Dana came to the rescue and got her a job at the prestigious school her twin sons attend. Jo could provide a life for her five-year-old daughter and have playdates with Dana and her daughter of the same age. So when Dana calls Jo in the middle of the night panicking and begging for help, Jo feels obligated to come to her aid. But when Jo arrives at the house, she can’t believe what Dana needs help with; Her husband Stan is dead, there’s blood everywhere, and Dana admits to killing him. Dana claims it was in self-defense after years of abuse, but she refuses to call the police. So the two women dump the body, clean up the mess, and come up with a plan to avoid suspicion. But in addition to the investigation by the local law enforcement, the women have to navigate gossipy neighbors, their children’s exposure to the situation, possible blackmail, and even their own friendship. A Friend Indeed by Elka Ray is a suspense novel that explores how far someone might go to help a friend in need, even if doing so risks their own livelihood.
Book
Once the women dispose of the body and evidence, the difficult part begins – keeping their stories straight and names clear of suspicion. But Jo witnesses a hit-and-run and gets involved in that investigation. And Dana can’t control what other kids are saying at her twins’ high school. Plus, neither of them can be sure that no one saw them that night – especially when Dana receives ominous letters from someone demanding money in exchange for their silence. As the police continue their investigation and gather up clues, Jo realizes that Dana might not have told her the whole truth. Was Stan having an affair? Was Dana unfaithful? Is there more than one murder weapon? Do the kids know what really happened? Once all is said and done, will their friendship remain the same?
Review
Ray delivers a well-paced and suspenseful ride in A Friend Indeed. Readers are plunged into the action from the first page and continue anxiously as the women try to stay out of jail. But since the story switches between Jo and Dana’s POVs, their voices are too similar at times. Plus, Dana is a bit insufferable as a character – she continues to make horrible choices and hides things from the one person who saved her from going to jail. Even so, with timely reveals, shady characters, and growing mistrust between the friends, readers won’t be sure what actually led up to Stan’s death until the final page.
Elka Ray joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about how she approached this story and what she would do in Jo’s shoes. Keep an ear out for the interview and order A Friend Indeed, available now.
