The Girl Before
Author: J P Delaney
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Date of Publication: January 24, 2017
Pages: 352
The best word to describe this book is creepy. It's creepy good, but creepy nonetheless. Edward Monkford is a reclusive "minimalist" architect. He designs communities around the concept of living comfortably with the bare necessities. His most famous building is One Folgate Street in London. It is the ultimate minimalist cottage with sparse furnishings and elaborate electronics. One Folgate Street was designed and built when Edward was married. After the accidental death of Edward's wife and son the cottage is available for rent.
The Girl Before follows the stories of two tenants in alternating chapters. Emma Matthews and then Jane Cavendish are each recovering from their own personal tragedies. Emma suffered a brutal attack in her former apartment and Jane suffered a late term loss of a baby during an unplanned pregnancy. Each is attracted to the property by the sense of order and asylum which it provides. They are each selected to move in after an elaborate application containing questions like: "Make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life."
Both women have similar experiences after moving in. They each met Edward Monkford during the application process and both are drawn to his eccentric but magnetic personality. Odd disruptions in the electronic services reveal that the house is collecting data about the tenants. Ostensibly this is to have the house provide the perfect environment (think room temperatures, shower settings, etc...). However, as they each become more involved with the reclusive architect even everyday occurrences take on sinister implications. When they each discover suspicious aspects of the accident which caused the death of Edward's family the terror level ratchets up exponentially. Each fears for her life. The conclusion of the book is a complete surprise (at least for me) and makes for a clever and rational closure of these multiple overlapping story lines.
J. P. Delaney is a pseudonym for a best-selling author wanting to write thrillers. This first effort is terrific. The book has already been optioned for a movie by Universal Studios to be directed by Ron Howard. As I read this I envisioned a younger Anthony Hopkins playing Edward (yes, Edward reminded me of a non-cannibal version of Hannibal Lecter). The Girl Before is a very entertaining and fun read and I look forward to further efforts by J. P. Delaney.
The Girl Before follows the stories of two tenants in alternating chapters. Emma Matthews and then Jane Cavendish are each recovering from their own personal tragedies. Emma suffered a brutal attack in her former apartment and Jane suffered a late term loss of a baby during an unplanned pregnancy. Each is attracted to the property by the sense of order and asylum which it provides. They are each selected to move in after an elaborate application containing questions like: "Make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life."
Both women have similar experiences after moving in. They each met Edward Monkford during the application process and both are drawn to his eccentric but magnetic personality. Odd disruptions in the electronic services reveal that the house is collecting data about the tenants. Ostensibly this is to have the house provide the perfect environment (think room temperatures, shower settings, etc...). However, as they each become more involved with the reclusive architect even everyday occurrences take on sinister implications. When they each discover suspicious aspects of the accident which caused the death of Edward's family the terror level ratchets up exponentially. Each fears for her life. The conclusion of the book is a complete surprise (at least for me) and makes for a clever and rational closure of these multiple overlapping story lines.
J. P. Delaney is a pseudonym for a best-selling author wanting to write thrillers. This first effort is terrific. The book has already been optioned for a movie by Universal Studios to be directed by Ron Howard. As I read this I envisioned a younger Anthony Hopkins playing Edward (yes, Edward reminded me of a non-cannibal version of Hannibal Lecter). The Girl Before is a very entertaining and fun read and I look forward to further efforts by J. P. Delaney.
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