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A review by horsley123
The Girl Before by JP Delaney
3.0
Update at the end - having since read the whole book!
I feel my review will be heavily influenced by the ‘sample’ that I read. I was kindly given a ‘sample’ of the book via NetGalley, it was clearly pointed out that it would be a sample and not the whole book so I can not claim to have been short changed. Having read the ‘snippet’ I feel as I have been played by the marketing department. I read a few chapters – then when the first big ‘hang on’ moment comes along, the ‘sample’ ends – presumably I am meant to rush out and get the rest of the book. But I can’t as it has not been published yet – and I am not sure that by the time it becomes available I will still have any ounce of curiousity left.
Anyway rant against marketing over! How do I feel about the book?
Well it ticks all of the boxes that publishers must be looking for – female protaganist, split ‘then and now’ timeframe, strange men/technology/houses, the word 'girl' in the title – and presumably some great twists (however as you know from before I can’t comment on them).
As I can’t rave about the story I can only focus on the prose which frankly is pretty basic. It does seem to follow the downward trajectory started by ‘Gone Girl’ which was well written to ‘Girl on a Train’ which was enjoyable if a little Sixth Former-ish. Weirdly the author seems to have dispensed with speech marks for the ‘Then’ part of the story, anyone got any idea why this should be? Again I can see what the publishers are after; a page turner, easy reading with not too many taxing words – and on this front ‘The Girl Before’ delivers.
Update!!!
I have now read the whole book and it is better than I expected. I was gripped and wanted to know what happened. My reservations about the title stand - surely the reading public can be convinced to read a book that does not contain the word 'girl'? But if you are after an easy thriller this book will do it for you.
I feel my review will be heavily influenced by the ‘sample’ that I read. I was kindly given a ‘sample’ of the book via NetGalley, it was clearly pointed out that it would be a sample and not the whole book so I can not claim to have been short changed. Having read the ‘snippet’ I feel as I have been played by the marketing department. I read a few chapters – then when the first big ‘hang on’ moment comes along, the ‘sample’ ends – presumably I am meant to rush out and get the rest of the book. But I can’t as it has not been published yet – and I am not sure that by the time it becomes available I will still have any ounce of curiousity left.
Anyway rant against marketing over! How do I feel about the book?
Well it ticks all of the boxes that publishers must be looking for – female protaganist, split ‘then and now’ timeframe, strange men/technology/houses, the word 'girl' in the title – and presumably some great twists (however as you know from before I can’t comment on them).
As I can’t rave about the story I can only focus on the prose which frankly is pretty basic. It does seem to follow the downward trajectory started by ‘Gone Girl’ which was well written to ‘Girl on a Train’ which was enjoyable if a little Sixth Former-ish. Weirdly the author seems to have dispensed with speech marks for the ‘Then’ part of the story, anyone got any idea why this should be? Again I can see what the publishers are after; a page turner, easy reading with not too many taxing words – and on this front ‘The Girl Before’ delivers.
Update!!!
I have now read the whole book and it is better than I expected. I was gripped and wanted to know what happened. My reservations about the title stand - surely the reading public can be convinced to read a book that does not contain the word 'girl'? But if you are after an easy thriller this book will do it for you.