The ability to weave a tale of damage and death is not exceptional. The art lies in making it riveting. J.P. Delaney’s The Girl Before seems to follow the conventional precedent for psychological thrillers. The book has gruesome murders, a barrage of suspects and unforeseeable twists—much as in The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl .
The narrative focuses on Emma from the past, and Jane in the present. Both are women who have just dealt with loss. Emma’s apartment is burgled while Jane suffers a stillbirth. The stories of the two women—placed three years apart in the plot—are narrated in alternate chapters.
Each character applies to stay at 1 Folgate Street, an apartment envisaged by renowned architect Edward Monkford, in order to start life on a clean slate. Tenants who live in this minimalistic architectural marvel must follow a set of 200 bizarre rules as stated in their respective contracts.
Trouble brews when Jane learns about Emma’s death in the apartment. Their strikingly similar physical features and trajectory of life leave Jane astounded. She also realises that their attractive, smart and successful landlord Edward Monkford has proposed a ‘no strings attached’ relationship with both women. Jane begins to piece together the details of the murder and eventually realises that her life is in danger too.
The book is largely predictable but keeps one hooked with some boomerang plot reveals. The writing is lucid, fast and sparse, and in that it is in the style of 1 Folgate Street and Edward Monkford. The ending is unconvincing. The idea of a fresh start gains an unnecessary significance. The characters, however, leave a mark.
Delaney casually throws in challenging questions at the beginning of each chapter. The reader is left ruminating about the ‘right response’ before moving to the end of the tale. This steamy romance is recommended for those who want some fast-paced entertainment on a drab workday.
It’s about time authors stopped using the word ‘girl’ in their novels. It’s passé.
