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The Girl Before

A Novel

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The Girl Before

Written by: J. P. Delaney
Narrated by: Emilia Fox, Finty Williams, Lise Aagaard Knudsen
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About this listen

THE GLOBAL BESTSELLER • Soon to be a BBC One and HBO Max limited four-part series, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Morning Show; Misbehaviour) and multiple Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated actor David Oyelowo (Selma; Les Misérables)

“A pitch-perfect novel of psychological suspense” (Lee Child) that spins one woman’s seemingly good fortune, and another woman’s mysterious fate, through a kaleidoscope of duplicity, death, and deception

Please make a list of every possession you consider essential to your life.

The request seems odd, even intrusive—and for the two women who answer, the consequences are devastating.

EMMA
Reeling from a traumatic break-in, Emma wants a new place to live. But none of the apartments she sees are affordable or feel safe. Until One Folgate Street. The house is an architectural masterpiece: a minimalist design of pale stone, plate glass, and soaring ceilings. But there are rules. The enigmatic architect who designed the house retains full control: no books, no throw pillows, no photos or clutter or personal effects of any kind. The space is intended to transform its occupant—and it does.

JANE
After a personal tragedy, Jane needs a fresh start. When she finds One Folgate Street she is instantly drawn to the space—and to its aloof but seductive creator. Moving in, Jane soon learns about the untimely death of the home’s previous tenant, a woman similar to Jane in age and appearance. As Jane tries to untangle truth from lies, she unwittingly follows the same patterns, makes the same choices, crosses paths with the same people, and experiences the same terror, as the girl before.

Praise for The Girl Before

“Dazzling, startling, and above all cunning—a pitch-perfect novel of psychological suspense.”—Lee Child

The Girl Before generates a fast pace. . . . [J. P.] Delaney intersperses ethics questions on stand-alone pages throughout the book. . . . The single most ingenious touch is that we’re not provided either woman’s answers.”—The New York Times

“J. P. Delaney builds the suspense.”Vanity Fair

“Immediate guarantee: You will not be able to put this book down. . . . Fans of Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will realize that there’s not only more where that came from, but it’s also more thrilling.”American Booksellers Association

©2017 J. P. Delaney (P)2017 Random House Audio
Literary Fiction Psychological Suspense Fiction
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What the critics say

"JP Delaney's intricate psychological thriller immediately entangles us, and the gifted narrators keep us spellbound.... Finty Williams is vital and convincing delineating Emma's unreliable persona, and Emilia Fox offers a sympathetic, intelligent Jane as she uncovers what really happened to The Girl Before. Absolutely riveting." (AudioFile)

"Riveting.... Writing with precision and grace, Delaney strips away the characters' secrets until the raw truth of each is revealed." (Publishers Weekly)

"A masterfully crafted spellbinder...guaranteed to astonish." (Booklist)

What listeners say about The Girl Before

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing! Kept me on the edge of my seat!

Loved the narration and cadence of this thriller with the past and present becoming one. Couldn't wait for the next chapter!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

First J.P. Delaney book for me..

First book I’ve ever read of J.P. Delaney and I know it won’t be my last... picked me up into the whirlwind of its plot and the side by side time frames made it fun but sometimes I found myself having to rewind if I missed who was narrating that moment. But story made me just want to keep going.. like an ending you can sense, the answers are coming... 👍🏻 awesome

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  • Overall
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great mystery and thriller!

Loved this story, definitely kept my interest the entire time. Would have liked 2 separate voices for the separate characters to be a little clearer. A new refreshing story that still manages to surprise and keep you guessing!

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A Thriller That Deserves To Be Noticed

The Girl Before captured my attention from the first page. The plot thickens with many twists and turns in the story. As soon as you think you have it figured out, you are once again surprised!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed Gone Girl, The Woman in the Window, or The Couple Next Door. Or, if you like this one, listen to those next!

#Audible1

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jawdroppingly good!

could barely put it down! First thing i thought of when i woke up, last thing before i went to sleep. Best book ive read (heard) in a long time!

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Amateur thriller with uninteresting characters

I was quite intrigued by this but was left very disappointed. The characters all seem very one dimensional and little to no redeeming features. It’s hard to understand why they do what they do. Very little context or backstory. The character of Emma is infuriating. Edward is despicable. It’s hard to feel any sympathy for any of true characters in the end. The story itself is fast paced and engaging. Performances are okay. Nothing great. I’d skip this one. Maybe watch the movie when it’s made.

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