The Girl Before: A Novel

It was a bit hard to get into initially since each chapter begins with the name of one of the two main girls. At first it's a bit confusing with regard to what is occurring now Vs what occurred in the past. It is a very interesting style of writing that captures your attention with a lot of mystery. It makes you wonder just who the murderer is. Fascinating way to present the characters.

This book is such a page turner. I loved everything about it and couldn't stop reading. Similar in plot/type of story as Girl on the Train and much better than Gone Girl. It has the mystery, suspense of those two novels combined with a lot of sexual tension and intrigue. It is so well-written and satisfying, even with the surprise ending. I won't give anything away . . . . . but would highly recommend it. Now I'm having trouble finding anything to pick up that piques my interest as much as this one. I kept thinking about the plot and characters. I loved the way it combined the stories of two tenants in alternating chapter style. Very compelling read!

The author reportedly spent years researching and writing this book and it shows. She created a truly unique environment for her thriller that's almost like the antithesis of the classic haunted house, but no less creepy. She then populates her one-of-a-kind environment with a host of drastically different characters. JP Delaney was already a successful author prior to writing this, her thriller debut, and her experience shines through. I'm excited to read more of her work.

Famed architect Edward Monkford chooses occupants for a home he rents out very carefully. Each renter must agree to an extensive list of rules in order to live there. Emma is eager to move after the home she lived in with her boyfriend Simon was broken into. She is willing to abide by Edward's rules to live there even though it means giving up almost all of her possessions. Jane has also suffered a personal tragedy and is eager for a fresh start. She finds herself drawn to Edward each time she is around him. But soon Jane starts uncovering some of the secrets of the house and the owner. The story alternates between the characters of Emma when she lived in the house and Jane who lived in the house after Emma.I thought this was a good book in terms of having quite a few twists and turns and catching the reader off guard. It was a big page turner for me because I wasn't really ever sure where the author was going with the story. It definitely has a creepy factor to it and I'm not surprised to hear that the book is being developed into a movie.Without getting into spoilers, I can see however why the book has stirred up some controversy. If you are looking for a fictional read that is a bit dark and keeps you in suspense, than I recommend this book. However, I would pass on this book if you have been unhappy with how women have been portrayed recently in mystery/suspense books. If it's a hot button issue for you, I can't imagine you would like this book.

What a whirlwind read! If you're a fan of "Gone Girl," "Girl on a Train", or "All the Missing Girls," I definitely recommend this thrilling read. Both female characters are really intriguing and fully developed, their intertwined lives making each page full of suspense. I will say that the conclusion of the book was not as shocking as I expected, but over all, I really enjoyed my experience while reading this book. Really quick read, as well. Perfect for a car or airplane ride!

As reluctant as I am to give a negative review as I think of all the blood, sweat and tears that goes into writing a book, I need to on this one. Firstly, for me the writing was basic and the plot wasn’t believable. The character’s decisions didn’t make any sense and they were all unlikeable and two-dimensional. It was a good story but there were too many gaps in the descriptions and building up of the character’s credibility for me to believe it. I held onto the end but unfortunately I was really glad when I finished it. Sorry!

Such a quick read because I couldn't put it down. A fascinating premise to begin with in terms of the simple, smart house, and the the author revealed just the right amount of details about the characters, leaving just enough hidden for the ending. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

If you liked (or loved) Girl on a Train, which I did, then you should enjoy this suspenseful thriller about a charming narcissistic man and the women who were (un)fortune enough to change everything about themselves to live in his pristine, carefully controlled apartment. I couldn't put it down

I started this book quite engrossed as I love mystery and thrillers. However as the story developed, I found myself really disliking most of the central characters, and just wishing my way to the ending. I did like the switching between the past and present for the most part, but I found myself frowning at the way the author chose to portray the only two non-white characters in the book; the burglar is young and black and described as a 'nasty piece of work low life', and the character Saul is basically a piece of trash who date rapes girls? At one point, the author describes the burglars talking in 'black street slang'. I realise this is just fiction, but for the author to use such lazy stereotypes left a bitter taste in my mouth and combined with the odd, anticlimactic and unsatisfying ending, it's unlikely I'll bother to read any more of their work.

Unfortunately this wasn't for me. I didn't enjoy the way it was written. The two characters telling the same story. A lot of it was repeated in both girl's accounts. It just got a bit tedious. There were no characters to like, and the story dragged on. However, the second half was much better than the first half.I wandered why anybody would even entertain the idea of living in this place with the stipulations it has. But apparently at least these two women did... And the architect was just a plain old weirdo.Although I did finish it, I had to make myself carry on after a dull first half. After a little break from reading it, I thought it would be better, and it was- only ever so slightly though.Boring for the most part, unnecessarily complicated, way too long....The best bit of this book is page 404, the last sentence of Jane's chapters. I thought it was a really really good line. I did actually love that bit, that one sentence. But one sentence cannot redeem a whole book, so...Sorry, I wouldn't recommend this book.

This is a really weird book! As an avid reader, I try all manner of genre and this looked promising from all the reviews I read. However, although it started out quite promisingly with a definite storyline, it then descended into realms of perversity that appeared to have no connection to the actual story. I persevered almost halfway through, but then decided that I really didn’t like it. I thought it was a bit along the lines of “Fifty Shades of Grey” - another book I really loathed. Very rare that I abandon a book, but this was one of them.

I don't want to give much away but I will say this; do not waste time reading this book. I honestly have no idea what I just read. The plot was just all over the place and the characters were ALL unlikable and two dimensional. Even the 'twist' was a let down; you can spot it coming from a mile away. I had expected great things given it's comparisons to Girl on the Train and other such psychological thrilers but this was just another level awful.

I love a good thriller and at less than a pound the plot sounded glad and I decided to give the book a try. I'm glad I did.The main character in the book Jane is looking for a fresh start so when she is given the chance to live in an ultra-minimalist house on condition she follow certain rules she decides this is the opportunity she has been looking for.Once she moves in she discovers the previous tenant a young woman called Emma died there and she sets out to discover the truth behind her tragic death.....The plot was gripping and kept me guessing until the end. I will be reading more by this author in the future.