The Girl at My Door: An utterly gripping mystery thriller based on a true crime

Name: The Girl at My Door: An utterly gripping mystery thriller based on a true crime
Rating: 4.5 (4 reviews)

Rebecca Griffiths

Sep 2021 · Bookouture

4.5

4 reviews

Ebook

380

Pages

Eligible

About this ebook

‘Can I give this more than 5 stars? WOW, WOW, WOW. I absolutely loved this book. It completely blew my mind and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since I finished reading it! I devoured this in one sitting… Magnificent.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An unputdownable mystery thriller based on a true story, about innocent young women turning to the wrong person in their hour of need. Perfect for fans of Gregg Olsen, Louise Douglas and Jess Lourey. Nail-biting, heart-breaking and unforgettable.

London, 1949: Beautiful, young Queenie Osbourne has worked so hard for her new life, moving to the big city, singing in front of growing crowds at little restaurants and smoky bars. As she applies bright red lipstick, excited for her best friend’s engagement party, she has no idea of the mistake she’s about to make.

The night is perfect: laughter, wine, dancing. But then a spark of attraction becomes impossible to ignore, and in a split second, Queenie’s life is changed forever.

Like countless young women of her time, Queenie finds herself desperate and alone, facing an impossible choice. Unbound by guilt, she turns to the only person who can help her, the quiet, ex-soldier John Reginald Christie.

It will be a relief to be in John’s capable hands. A relief to discover there is the possibility of a fresh start. But as Queenie stands outside the door of 10 Rillington Place, she starts to ask herself: what if she has put her trust in the wrong man?

Completely addictive and inspired by the true crime story of the Rillington Place murders, this stunning mystery will keep you reading long into the night.

This novel was previously published as The Rope Chair.

What readers are saying about The Girl at My Door:

‘OMG what a reading this was, right from the very start it give me everything that I love in a historical thriller, dark, creepy and will make you stay in your seat just to read.’ Spooky's Maze of Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A page-turning thriller that will leave you breathless… I was completely hooked… It is brutal, tense and sexy, and an absolute stunner.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Completely engrossing from start to finish… deliciously dark and suspenseful… an addictive thriller with a difference.’ Confessions of a Bookoholic, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I absolutely loved this book. It was hard to put down as it drew me in immediately… One of those books that sucked me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until I finished! Absolutely unputdownable… you won't want to miss this novel!’ @oh.happy.reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A thrilling read… so many twists and turns that I was gripping the edge of my seat all the way to the end.’ Nat’s Bookish Corner

‘I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this book… it kept me on the edge of my seat… a stunning book with unexpected twists and one of the creepiest portrayals of a serial killer I have ever read!’ Mychestnutreadingtree, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A fantastic historical crime fiction novel, that’s dark, atmospheric, unsettling and totally engrossing.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my gosh! What a chilling read!... The narrators did a fabulous job telling this story. I did not want to stop listening. It was captivating! Edge of your seat story!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A book that will keep you on your toes and on the edge of your seat… gave me goosebumps.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

4.5

4 reviews

Claire Stannard

September 27, 2021

I 'read' The Girl at my Door in audiobook format. It is only the second audiobook novel I have listened to, and I think that's why it took me a little while to get into it. This book is set in London in 1949 and is based on the true story of the Rillington Place serial killer. It follows Queenie, a singer, living in the underbelly of London just after the war and her friends, Joy and Terrance. There were two narrators who read alternate chapters, which I quite liked. The story is told from the point of view of a number of characters including Queenie, Joy and the serial killer himself, John Reginald Christie. This was really interesting as it gave a real insight into what each person was thinking and how their minds worked. The author did a really great job of describing the setting of this novel and I could picture in my mind exactly how it looked and felt to be there. I had never heard of the Rillington Place murders before this book, but it is definitely something I'm intrigued to find out more about now. Overall, I thought this book was well written and it kept me gripped right up until the end. My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in return for an honest review.

HeatherLynn Hankins

September 24, 2021

I listened to an audio reading of this book provided through NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Griffith did a great job researching the setting and plot, which is based on the true crime events committed by the serial killer John Christie in London in the late 1940s. I was leery at first because I feel sometimes authors can take historical fiction on a very unrealistic journey, but this story does not disappoint. It is thrilling, plenty of twists and turns. Characters as well as their persons were descriptive and well developed. This was my first Rebecca Griffiths book. Her sentence and story structures flowed well. There are triggers in this book, so be fair warned some scenes are gruesome and sensitive in nature to include rape, sexual assault, murder, abortion, LGBTQ shaming, and demeaning feministic views. Beware the time location set forth therein. I think that Griffiths did an amazing job capturing my imagination.

carla

September 22, 2021

‘The Girl at my Door’ is one of the most atmospheric books I’ve read in ages. I got a sense of the time in which it was set from the post-war London smog, to the sounds and smells of the streets. It’s all there. The mixture of fact surrounding the crimes of Reginald Christie and the fictional characters, Terrence, Queenie and Joy, made it all fantastic. Each character had a story and each one was different. The realism was chilling. Queenie with her flawed character and huge talent. Terrence keeping a huge part of his life in the shadows and very sweet, Joy. I felt like I knew them within no time and I wanted so much for them. This book was a fast read for me. I enjoyed the historical crime aspect and certain things were left reeling through my mind. There are huge themes, miscarriage of justice being the one that really stood out. I also felt the social injustice of the time. I won’t comment on this as it will spoil the unravelling of the story. My heart went out to all the characters. On top of a being a brilliant story, ‘The Girl at my Door’ is well written and took me on an emotional journey. What more could I as the reader ask for?

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