To tell you the truth, The Girl Before by JP Delaney wasn't even a book that I picked out for myself. Brandon and I were at the bookstore and I hadn't been able to commit to anything I had picked from the stacks. Brandon came to my rescue with a book that he picked up from an end cap. I read the jacket and knew that it was definitely the pick of the day. Relishing my long weekend, and unable to part with it until I had reached the ending, I devoured my new book in less than 24 hours.
Set in England, Delaney opens our story with the intrigue of a tumultuous relationship, recent break-in, and the allure of a new, sophisticated house at One Folgate Street. Our latest lady of intrigue, Jane, may come with her own baggage, but so does One Folgate Street. With its own litany of strange rules and strict parameters, residents of One Folgate Street find themselves immersed in a new way of life the moment they move in. The question for Jane is whether her new lifestyle is changing her for the better or puts her in far more danger than her previous dodgey neighborhood.
Chapter by chapter Delaney's narrative juxtaposes Jane's experience with the elusive girl before. Who was she? What happened to her? What role did One Folgate Street or its renowned architect play in her demise? Will Jane find out in time to save herself?
I couldn't pull myself away from these two women. I had to know what happened to our girl before and I had to know how Jane would fare in the clutches of her new home sweet home. Infused with enough drama to keep me turning pages and enough London charm to make my heart nostalgic, I found myself hardly able to part with it long enough to pour cereal. If you're wondering whether you should give this one a read, my vote is definitely yes.