I was lucky enough to be one of the few chosen to read a sampler of this novel in November 2016. I rated the sample as 5/5 and I am very pleased to say now that I have read the full novel I would again recommend this as a fascinating 5 star read.

My review of the sampler can be viewed here: http://momobookdiary.com/2016/11/25/the-girl-before-by-jp-delaney

The book is cleverly told from two different people, at two different times….but their stories are linked in such a way that you just have to keep reading to find out what comes next!

I found myself dreaming of living in One Folgate Street, where one rule is that nothing is lying around – everything is tidy. Well my house isn’t like that but I would love for it to be… but then I enjoy my things around me and I am sure I would find it much more difficult that Emma or Jane did.

Thanks to JP Delaney, Quercus Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the sampler and the full novel. Highly recommended reading!!

I would like to thank netgalley and penguin random house for this ARC in return for an honest review.
This is a psychological thriller that had me hooked from page one. The story is told in alternate chapters bouncing from Emma in the past and Jane in the present. Both women rent the same house and they are very similar at the beginning and it did take me about a quarter of the book to sort out who was who in my head properly, maybe I was reading too fast but I did feel they were similar stories. I flew through the book as I couldn't wait to find out how Emma had died in this weird overly ruled house and if Jane was going to follow in her footsteps. I preferred Jane to Emma as I found Emma a total fake in everything she did, Jane was a little but was a stronger character. Edward the owner of the house was just plain weird.
This was a different story and I found it enjoyable and think it would make a good film or a mini series on tv. I haven't read anything by John Delaney before but will be on the lookout for that name in the future.

I enjoyed this book from the first page and kept picking it up when I should have been doing other things. The house (almost a character in itself), so white, minimalist and perfect, was a striking contrast to my own cottage which became messier the more time I spent reading when I should have been doing chores! This was a book to get lost in - an entertaining, absorbing and distinctive thriller with many twists and turns. It's well written and easy to read, with the story divided neatly into 'Then: Emma' and 'Now: Jane'. I will recommend it to my friends.

A thriller about a house that’s always watching and what that can do to your mind, this book weaves together the lives of two residents past and present into a complex mystery. As Jane starts to discover Emma’s lies, we see how the life of the girl before went into decline before she was found dead, and question what we know about both of them. The truth of whether it was suicide or murder will keep you guessing until the concluding pages, making this a thriller worth reading. I’d say this was a 3.5 star read.

*Full review available on the blog*

Be very careful about what you sign up for, something Emma (then) and Jane (now) should have been when they agreed to rent a property owned by Edward, the architect who designed it. It's a very strange house, extremely minimalist and then there are the huge amount of rules and regulations which ought to have set the alarm bells ringing loud and clear! This was a very easy book to get into, a great yarn which kept my attention throughout. A few villains appeared here and there to spice things up and it was fast paced with plenty to get your teeth into which is all that is required from a good thriller and thrill it did!

I loved the originality of this plot, it's a slow burner and I loved hearing the stories from both sides. Each illustrating more of Edwards character. The suspense kept me guessing until the end. I have been recommending this book to all of my friends and family.

Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.



Without doubt this is a hot contender to be 2017's "Girl" book (previous title holders include gone, on a train, with a tattoo, up a tree, late for a meeting & with unblended bronzer...) this story is creepy, addictive and beautifully written. Big thanks to Netgalley & the lovely publishers for my review copy.

Minimalism and simplifying is fast becoming a growing trend as our lives get noisier and busier. Excess "stuff" brings stress and when Emma & Simon are the victims of a break-in they immediately start searching for a new home.

Then - finding a gloriously designed modern dream house which is affordable seems like a gift until they are told about the owner's particular set of rules and clauses within the tenancy agreement. Can Emma & Simon live by minimal architect Edward Monkford's strict commandments?

Now - Jane is viewing One Folgate Street and is undeniably impressed with the building's elegant, sleek style. At first, the tenant selection process seems intrusive and excessive but she soon finds herself magnetically attracted to the property, it's murky past and it's unique designer. When people start commenting on her startling resemblance to the house's previous occupant, Jane cannot help wondering what happened to the girl before?

The story is told in short alternating chapters - then and now - as Emma and Jane's stories unfold almost simultaneously. This gives the book a really pacey feel and adds the lethal "just one more chapter" factor which means you *might* end up reading until the wee small hours to race to the conclusion.

I really enjoyed this book and the alternating voices really moved the story along excitingly fast. Some repetition added an extra-creepy element and wasn't annoying at all. For me, there were still a few loose ends remaining at the end of the book which hadn't been addressed but perhaps I'm just not great at sniffing out the storyline red herrings!

A creepy thriller you're going to want to tell people about, get it here - four cwtches!

After the trauma of giving birth to Isabel her stillborn baby Jane decides as she can't go back to her job for a year due to a replacement having being made for her maternity leave that she's going to change her life.
So after handing in her notice and realising she'd have to move to a more affordable home she comes across a beautiful minimalist house which would be perfect for her the house has Restricted Covenant. There are around 200 restrictions but it's the final one that is the big problem. Meeting Edward Monkford the techno architect who owns the property he must approve the tenant.
When Jane meets Edward she's instantly attracted to him and is very pleased she gets the tenancy.
Once she moves into property she receives beautiful bouquet of lilies 2 days later she receives a second bouquet then a third and forth. It was the next time she met Simon delivering the bouquet that she realised the bouquets were meant for Emma The Girl Before.
I received an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book there was a blend of mystery plus a little romance. Keeps you guessing til the end.

Nothing special about this one, I felt. Not really a stand-out read for me. There has been loads of talk and positivity about this on social media but it left me cold. I found it a bit seedy, an unrealistic premise and I wasn't all that intrigued by the characters either. Disappointing.

Well, this was fun. I raced through it in a day, and it turns out I'm really into architectural thrillers. Is that a genre? It should be. This book is like 50 Shades of Grey (but with Christian as the controlling creep he would be in reality), mixed with a domestic thriller and a dash of haunted house.

Jane is looking for somewhere to live, and is offered a state-of-the-art modern house at a ridiculously low rent, providing that she complies with the many restrictions placed by the owner/architect.
She is suffering from a personal tragedy, and decides that this is the place where she can recover.
She then becomes interested in the previous tenant, Emma.

The book is narrated alternately by Jane (Now) and Emma (Then), and as it unfolds, unsettling similarities appear in their narratives and experiences.
As Jane investigates Emma, and Emma’s story evolves, it comes clear that both narrators have their own secrets and agendas, and both are putting themselves in danger.

In the end, while this was a compelling mystery which kept me glued to the very last page, none of the characters are particularly likeable, and there was one aspect of the ending which I found unnecessary, and upsetting.
So, a compelling, unsettling read, three stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is the story of two women; Emma and Jane, who have one thing in common, Number One Folgate Street, built by the great architect Edward Monkford, a house that can only be lived in once you have completed the lengthy questionnaire, abided by the T&C's and passed the interview with the great man himself.

The story is told over two timelines; Then: Emma and Now: Jane, who are both introduced to this house which is within their budget and seems too good to be true, but what secrets lie behind the door with no letterbox and what happened to Emma, the girl before, Jane is determined to find out.

The author kept me guessing all the way through this story with its many twists and turns. I enjoyed the story but didn't particularly take to any of the characters. I will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon UK & US. Very intriguing read. Thank you to Quercus Books for the approval.

In January I had this desire to read mystery thrillers and when I saw this was pitched to be like Girl on the Train, I knew I had to read it. The Girl Before is an intense and creepy novel with twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat(or bed in my case)

The Girl Before is told from two alternating POV’s (point of view), Jane and Emma. Jane is looking for alternative accommodation after quitting her job. Every where that she has looked has been above her budget and has exhausted all options until she gets told about One Folgate street. One Folgate street is a one bedroom house that was built be a world-renowned architect and is very minimalist with up to date technology. This house is every tech geeks wet dream, I mean the door doesn’t even use a key and the shower only turns on by recognition etc etc. Falling in love with the house and cheap tenancy is great but there is a catch, she has to adhere to the Architects crazy rules and she must fill out forms before she is even considered to be a tenant. Once moved in to the house she discovers that a previous tenant Emma was found mysteriously at the bottom of the stairs dead. During her lease she starts to uncover information about Emma, the architect and others. Jane starts to piece this jigsaw puzzle together and questioning whether she will meet the same fate?

Even though this book is 448 pages it was really quick to read as said previously you have alternating POV’s from Jane (present) and Emma(past) and they were short chapters so it made it much quicker to read. This book is definitely creepy, the architect in this book is cringe and stalker like, the fact that there are possible cameras hidden in the house and he always turns up at the right moment gets you wondering.

This book entwined the characters to deliver our mystery about the death of Emma and whodunnit. It’s very intriguing when Jane starts to realise that there are similarities between herself and the deceased, such as similar looks and events.

The characters in this book were really strong, complex and three-dimensional but also flawed. You had great detail into their backgrounds and nothing was left out so I wasn’t left feeling confused or questioning anything at the end.

The twists to the plot had me off guard and I didn’t see them coming, the actions of some of the characters just left me shocked.

There were a couple of things that I didn’t particularly like about the book and that was the sexual scenes, they were just cringe! Some of the dialogue in these scenes had me literally screwing my face up in disgust. The other is that rape (trigger warning!) was used as plot device and wasn’t very sensitive.

I enjoyed this book and would definitely read other novels by J P Delaney

I rated this 3.5 out of 5 stars

This is a book that I could not put down. It is a well written psychological thriller which I definitely found to be a page turner. I could not find fault with any aspect of the plot and thoroughly recommend it.

The story was full of suspense from the beginning and made me want to keep reading to find out more about 1 Folgate Street and its occupants. 1 Folgate Street is an ultra-modern, minimalist home designed by architect Edward Monkton. For both Emma and Jane it is a refuge from recent events within their lives. However, this home is not for everyone as it comes with a certain number of non-negotiable conditions set by Mr Monkton.
I found the description of Jane's personal tragedy was dealt with in a sensitive and realistic manner. Jane has recently gone through the trauma of having to give birth to her baby girl who died three days earlier.
Jane is looking round flats when we, the reader, are introduced to her.
"I sigh. The flat we've just viewed, in a run-down mansion block off West End Lane is the only one in my price range. And I'd just about persuaded myself it was all right - ignoring the peeling wallpaper, the faint smell of someone else's cooking seeping up from the flat below, the poky bedroom and the mold spattered across the unventilated bathroom, until I'd heard a bell being run nearby, an old-fashioned hand bell, with the noise of children...a familiar pain tugged at my insides."
She loves the home from the beginning and likes the concept of 1 Folgate Street. As the story continues though Jane becomes increasingly obsessed with a girl who previously occupied the house: Emma. Jane knows that Emma died in mysterious circumstances but she doesn't know anything else.
The book begins with Emma and her partner Simon looking at a series of flats together, all of which Emma deems unacceptable for security reasons.
There's a one bed in Queen's Park, the agent says. A bit grotty but...We looked at it, Simon says. In the end we felt it was just a bit too close to that estate. His tone makes it clear that We means She.
"We've already given notice on our old place I hear Simon say. We're running out of options. He lowers his voice. Look mate, we were burgled. Five weeks ago. Two men broke in and threatened Emma with a knife. You can see why she'd be a bit jumpy."
This is when the agent asks if they have heard about 1 Folgate Street. "It's a fantastic property. Absolutely fantastic. In a different league to this. But the landlord...to say he is particular would be putting it mildly. "
1 Folgate Street is a
"low, small construction, a compact cube of pale stone. Notches running along the base of each wall give the impression they're floating in the air. And its empty. Not unfurnished - I can see a stone table in a room to one side, some designery-looking very cool dining chairs, a long, low sofa in a heavy cream fabric - but there's nothing else, nothing for the eye to catch on to. No doors, no cupboards, no pictures, no window frames, no electric sockets that I can see, no light fittings or - I look round, perplexed - even light switches. And although it doesn't feel abandoned or unlived in, there's absolutely no clutter."
The flat has a restrictive covenant on it so that nothing can be altered without agreement and there can be no rugs, carpets, books or anything that can be considered to be clutter. All rules must be adhered to at all time in order to remain living in the house.
When Emma is looking round the house she realises she has had no flashbacks or panic attacks since she has been in the house and she immediately knows she has to live there. Simon is less keen but agrees to go along with her.
Every potential resident has to participate in an interview with Edward Monkton in order to be accepted. Both women are charmed by Edward and want to get to know him better, is he is as charming as he seems?
I wanted to know more about the characters whilst I was reading it and I enjoyed the writing style, The reason I gave this book a 3.9 was that although I enjoyed it at the time it wasn't a 'wow' book but it was a decent read.

A great story, loved the dual timelines, not the normal book i would go for but glad i did, picked up and grabbed me quickly. The sort of book you keep turning the pages because you want to know what is going to happen next.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney
3.5 stars!!!

“Love is always one-sided…”

So, another thriller crossed my kindle this week and this time it was the turn of JP Delaney. This is a pseudonym for an author who has already published fiction under another name and you could tell that this wasn’t their first rodeo so to speak.

The Girl Before is a psychological thriller that will have you guessing from the get go as the present and the past go on an eerily similar journey. This story is told in two point of views, Emma (The Girl Before) and Jane the present.

Emma took up residency at One Folgate Street after an aggravated burglary left her with a crippling fear of living in her old house. The new house had to be high security to give her that “safe” feeling and One Folgate Street was the only property that fitted the bill.

One Folgate Street was the brainchild of top architect, Edward Monkford and was as high spec as they came and extremely minimalist. Only tenants willing to go through an intense veto process and adhere to some two hundred rules could live there and that meant giving up everything that you didn’t need, living with the bare necessities and living clean and tidy. The house had a brain as it were and monitored the residents, adapting to their day to day routines, their preferences and their dislikes. It was a social experiment of sorts and one that the residents knew they were a part of, hence the affordable rent for an otherwise unobtainable property.

“You can make your surroundings as polished and empty as you like. But it doesn’t really matter if you’re still messed up inside.”

Jane is the current resident of One Folgate Street and is currently coming to terms with losing a child and One Folgate Street is her clean break and fresh start. Jane fell in love with the property and is immediately taken by its creator but it is not long before the walls begin to bleed their secrets. Once Jane becomes aware of the tragic past of the property she takes it upon herself to investigate…with startling revelations. Will the present mimic the past?

“There was a time when One Folgate Street seemed like a calm, serene haven. Now it doesn’t. It feels claustrophobic and aggressive. Like the house is angry with me.”

I will say that because Emma and Jane’s stories were so startling similar at times, it did become hard to keep track of whose point of view I was currently reading. I found myself flipping back to the beginning of chapters when the characters began to blur. I did notice that Emma’s point of view did not contain any speech marks, if this was a way of differentiating between the two it didn’t work for me, it only made reading those chapters a tad confusing. It may be that there was a different method behind this style of writing but it wasn’t immediately apparent.

“Never apologize for someone you love, he says quietly. It makes you look like a prick.”

This was an addictive read though, one that I couldn’t put down. JP Delaney cleverly built this story, slowly peeling back his characters like the layers of an onion. As each layer is removed the character’s secrets became fewer, the truth more apparent and I was anxiously waiting to reach the centre. With each chapter, the more engrossed I became and while the beginning is a little slow to get going, it soon becomes apparent that the pacing was deliberate in its lure to totally submerse you in Emma and Jane’s story. This was a clever manipulation of the mind as your brain screams at you to believe one thing, yet your subconscious tells you another. Do you rule with your heart, head or your gut instinct?

I did have a few issues with The Girl Before, hence the rating, but as psychological thrillers went this certainly held my attention from the start and left me with that constant fear of woe throughout. I did feel that the ending was rushed and did not feel any particular closure with Edward and Jane and while I could see where the author wanted to go at the end, its delivery let it down.

While this book does stretch your imagination at times, I am sure that someone, somewhere has already invented a house like this, whether I would want to be a part of it…hell no and I did find myself struggling to come to terms with the residents willing participation. Sometimes though the allure of grandeur knocks all common sense from people and picking on an already vulnerable person was probably the kick starter to garner anyone’s interest. However, it was gripping, it had my mind running a mile a minute, even taking notes as I tried to decipher fact from fiction, truth from lies and throw those red herrings overboard. I am usually wrong, I would be a crap detective but I did get this one right.

“I built something as simple as a mausoleum because that was how I felt at the time. But then I realised that in my madness I’d inadvertently created something extraordinary. A house that would demand a sacrifice from anyone who lived there, but which would repay that sacrifice a thousand-fold. There are some it destroys… But some it makes stronger.”

This is soon to become a film, I can see the allure and personally cannot wait to see how this is depicted on the big screen.

www.theromancecover.com

I liked the way this book was written, with the differing perspectives from the main female characters. At times, though, especially later in the book, I had to keep reminding myself which timeline I was reading. The author does let us know at the start of each chapter, but I just found it a bit confusing at times.

I loved the character of Edward. Finding out little hints as to why he has become the man he has is intriguing. This ties in with the female characters trying to investigate and find out what he is all about. When we find out who the perpetrator is I thought it was very well done. I didn't guess this at all.

Unfortunately, for me at least, the ending was a little off-putting. The initial part of the ending I thought was very good. It would have seemed like a cop out had it gone any other way. However, the final small part right at the end left me wanting more. I think it would have been better ending the story before seeing the flat again. But that's just my opinion obviously.

All in all a really good read, well paced and I enjoyed it. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

This book is so clever and well written. Told in alternating chapters from the points of view of Emma (The Girl Before) and Jane. Both Emma and Jane have lived or are living at One Folgate Street which is a unique flat.
To say there are numerous twists and turns would be an understatement! It's real edge of your seat stuff and a true roller coaster of a ride. I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it.
My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

An enjoyable read once you get your head around the switching from the present resident girl in the house to the past one.