A powerful, gripping and immersive psychological thriller - in every sense

Reading this book was such an intense experience, it had my complete attention almost immediately. I don't recommend you read this while trying to work on an assignment- I had to finish the book, before I could think of anything else. And even now, I don't think I can stop thinking about it. Talk about needing self discipline.

The narrative revolves around a building- One Folgate Street. It's a revolutionary property, sleek and minimalistic. I've always seen the appeal of minimalism, 'the freeing yourself from all unnecessary clutter' so the story immediately had me. Jane has a lot of 'baggage' and some 'moving on' to do, so this property understandably appeals to her as well. She just has to apply, agree to all the dominating terms, and the place is hers. The place and its tragic past...All hers.

No one can resist giving in to curiosity, perhaps that is what leads to Jane's undoing? Perhaps it leads to more? The landlord is an enigma, a character we only possess a vague idea of. Just an entity not fully known, possessed or possessing. To an extent he reminded me of David Clayton Roger's character in the film Uncanny (2015) and I was also reminded of the boy in the film 'The Boy' (2016). It was especially different that the story didn't strictly revolve around the landlord.

This book is excellently crafted, it has you following convincing leads obsessively and come up empty every time. An immersive experience, one that invites you into a dangerous life.

Now, I'm off to finish my assignment.

I received this book through NetGalley.

An enjoyable page-turner. With this genre (domestic noir/thriller), you know what you are getting - or at least you hope you do. And this book delivers. An easy, satisfying - if not necessarily memorable - read.

I really was swept along with The Girl Before and got caught up in its intense and claustrophobic atmosphere. The premise of this ultra modern house really captured my imagination and I got so engrossed in the story that I actually kept dreaming about the house and waking up with a racing heart at the thought of being trapped inside. Delaney has written a taut and well constructed tale that winds tighter and tighter as the past and present begin to echo each other. I really thought that I had everything worked out fairly early on, but the book managed to lull me into a false sense of security, let's say and kept me rapidly turning pages as I raced towards the end. I know that the 'books with girl in the title' backlash has already begun, but this is one 'girl' that you don't want to miss! A red hot summer read that I'll be recommending to everyone. Hopefully the dreams will stop soon!

The book is about a property a special property with all the gadgets and everything you'd need...the book is relayed by Emma and Jane, Emma lived there in the past and Jane lives there now, I didn't like either of them, however this didn't stop me enjoying the book!

Kinda middle pace I thought but didn't drag, didn't whizz along either but I didn't enjoy the book and can see why it's going to be made into a film, a funny but interesting plot I thought. I'd have been outta there long ago though and would have known something wasn't right (because I read books like this haha), a good solid mystery I thought which delivered as it should.

I think I had such high expectations after all the rave reviews that I was bound to feel a bit let down. The storyline seemed implausible at times and I am tired of unreliable narrators. It just wasn't for me but someone else might love it.

I really enjoyed this book. With the current trend if books focussing on girls, this is up there as one of my favourites. I found myself racing through it, as I wanted to solve it myself, however there were a quite a few twists and surprises I didn't see coming. All in all, The girl before is definitely worth reading and I look forward to reading more books from the author.

I thought this book was super great and it encompassed everything you need for a fantastic thriller,

A clean and minimalist read that matches the architecture of the location. I loved the dual narrative - two woman who get entangled with the same architect as they live in a very strict house he designed, set years apart - but I didn't really connect with the characters. Part of the plot is centred around their similarities, but I just found this made them both quite bland.

A pacy read if you're looking for a good thriller, though.

The Girl Before is very much inspired by the current trend of female-led, 'domestic', page-turning thrillers. A pacy read, it alternates between the viewpoints of two women, one before and one after. The plot centres around a house that first Emma and subsequently Jane have signed up to live in, despite a hefty set of unusual rules, and an owner who may not be quite what he seems.

It kept me interested and was a quick, easy read, with some good shock moments peppered throughout, and the obligatory 'twist' at the end. Overall, however, it wasn't outstanding. I didn't really care for either of the main characters, or anyone else in the book, for that matter, but then in all of the thrillers I have read in this vein, that has been the case.

It is a light, entertaining read probably suited to fans of the other big players in this sub-genre (Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train etc. etc.) but aside from one or two well written creepy moments, it won't be one you can't stop thinking about. I do feel it could have been elevated to provide a higher shock factor if Jane had made a different decision towards the end of the book, and indeed this lack of decision is the only element that has stayed with me after finishing reading.

I hear it has been picked up for a film version, and it reads like it was written with just that intention. Worth a read, just don't expect to be raving about it to everyone you see.

An interesting premise, a chance to live in a minimalist house with all the mid cons as long as you abide by a long list of house rules.
Two girls, live there as tenants but 3 years apart, Jane and the girl before Emma. Both become involved with the cold and controlling landlord Edward.
I like the short chapters that interwove the two girls different but similar stories. However, two thirds of the way through I felt it was getting repetitive and the ending I felt was a huge let down.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Whilst it is well written and a good concept I felt the 2nd half of the book was a little weak
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

<i>You're sent an ARC of The Girl Before by J P Delaney. On finishing, did you feel that it was a unique story experience, with exceptional twists and turns, making it an absolute must-read in this genre?

a) Yes [ ]
b) No [ ]
c) Maybe [x]</i>

I don't know about this book. Part of me liked it very much, a big part. But I've got some niggles with it, and in writing this review, it might help me understand my feels a bit.

<u>Liked</u>

The state-of-the-art home where our two protagonists lived. It was a breathtakingly impressive place, which had all the gizmos and gadgets cleverly hidden away to create a perfect minimalistic living space. I'd have to break some rules to live there though. Books and cushions.

Characters with unlikable traits. Yeah, I do like that. I enjoy their flawed and twisted personas and trying to fathom them out.

The subtle hint of kink. Yep, these were not <i>vanilla</i> folk. The author brought just enough to give it some sizzle, without too much detail. Some things are best left to the readers imagination.

Learning about Japanese cuisine. There's far more to it than sushi and friggin hot wasabi. (See also 'Disliked')

How the two MC's POV's and stories merged as the story progressed.

<u>Disliked</u>

The first 30-40%. I just couldn't get to grips with it! Those two girls, both with simple names, Jane and Emma. I couldn't for the life of me distinguish between them initially. I resorted to having a scrap of paper by my side whilst reading, with 'Jane, - present, Emma, - past' scribbled on it so I knew whose voice I was hearing. It's mad, it could of been just me, but I really had issues with those names. Both four letters, both very British, both rather samey. I dunno. *shrugs*

It had a half-way-through-major-eyeball-rolling-moment. It was predictable and typical.

Learning about Japanese cuisine. Urghhhh! Is that shit for real? No way. Nope. Stay away from my mouth.

So, my conclusion is, that, yes, it was a unique story experience, with twists that kept me engrossed until the end, but it wasn't sensational.

<b>Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.</b>

I am in two-minds over this book, I enjoyed the premise which featured a claustrophobic house with its own set of rules you had to live by. I also enjoyed the mystery of what happened to the Girl Before 'Emma' and liked the character of Jane.
I did find at times the sex scenes very unnecessary which reminded me of something which could have been from an Erotic Fiction book. I enjoyed the two narrators but when I found out about Emma's lies and how she had lead us all up the garden path, I lost some sympathy for the character and actually didn't care about her fate.
I found the ending was very rushed and I'm still confused what Jane's decision was in the end. I also felt the author tried to cram in too much with this novel which overpowered the main narrative.
Overall, I still enjoyed reading this novel.

Very enjoyable book, capturing plot with good pacing, although the ending was predictable.

A really good psychological thriller. It's not surprising that The Girl Before is the talk of so many on-line book clubs & is so well recommended.

This book was gripping, thrilling and intriguing all at the same time! From Emma in the past to Jane in the present, The Girl Before, centres on both women's experiences living in the sleek but minimalistic plush residence of Number One Folgate Street. With both women entering into a relationship with the delicious yet power controlling architect of Number One, Edward Monkford, it's a cat and mouse game as to what happens to each woman and by whom!

​Initially, the storyline took a while to get started, with points of view of both women going back and forth but once it started to pick up the pace it was nail biting all the way.

​The ending had a good twist and it's well worth continuing to read to find out what happens in the end.

​A good read if you like psychological thrillers and one to look out for in 2017.

Despite my growing aversion to anything with "Girl" in the title (or sister, husband or missing, come to that), The Girl Before has proved that I was wrong to judge a book by its cover (or title in this case). It was a big hit!

Narrated in turn by Emma (Then) and Jane (Now), the story is centred around a unique home at 1, Folgate Street in London. Jane moves into what she thinks is her dream home (beautiful, uncluttered and a pittance for what it is) to help get over a tragedy she has just suffered. Desperate to start a clean slate, she isn't put off sending in her application for the most beautiful house where everything is controlled by an app, despite a list of 200 psychometric questions that have to be answered. Most people, the Agent says, don't get a look in. Only a select few ever make the cut. But once Jane is settled she finds out that Emma, the girl before, died in mysterious circumstances right there in the home.

I had many reservations about this book before reading, and having Girl in the title was only one of them. I had seen mixed reviews, with many stating that it was Fifty-Shades-of-Gray-esque which was enough to put me off all on its own. Now, I haven't actually read Fifty Shades but I did sit through the most excruciatingly boring 2 hours of my life once when I was persuaded to watch it with a friend. I can see the parallels alright - the controlling, emotionally stunted, control freak who is the Landlord and women who apparently fall at his feet. These bits I didn't particularly like, and in fact, I had a hard time warming to most of the characters, but yet I was gripped from the start and compelled to keep reading on.

Verdict:

I found this to be a real page-turner and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The chapters are short, there are unreliable narrators so you're never really clear on what's real and what's not. It was pacy and entertaining and I give it a big thumbs up.

This was an excellent read and a brilliant storyline, it grabs you from page one. But vegetarians and vegans beware, it won't be a pleasant experience when you come across the main characters dining out. It totally spoiled it for me and the descriptions haunted me for quite a while afterwards. I felt it just wasn't necessary to include this in what was otherwise a highly rated novel.

After reading this book I'm still not comfortable with the whole premise in that I thought that, all the way through, this is a familiar storyline and may have been done before. Suffice to say that, whilst the writing was good and the characters were quite well presented, I was looking for more and a more revealing and surprising end. It didn't do it for me so on the whole I can't give it a positive review.

The blurb:

Enter the world of One Folgate Street and discover perfection . . . but can you pay the price?

Jane stumbles on the rental opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to live in a beautiful ultra-minimalist house designed by an enigmatic architect, on condition she abides by a long list of exacting rules. After moving in, she discovers that a previous tenant, Emma, met a mysterious death there - and starts to wonder if her own story will be a re-run of the girl before. As twist after twist catches the reader off guard, Emma's past and Jane's present become inexorably entwined in this tense, page-turning portrayal of psychological obsession.

This book starts off quite normally. Jane decides to move to One Folgate Street and abide by the harsh rules. Gradually the tension builds up as she compares her life with a previous tenant. At times it was hard to breathe with the tension, and I definitely wasn’t expecting the sideswipe that made this book so different and wow! I won’t give anything more away about the plot, but would thoroughly recommend this book. 5*