Some places never let go of the past…
My stunning new apartment in West Hampstead is amazing. The price was a steal, the views are amazing and the layout to die for.
I’d already signed on the dotted line when I heard about the murder. About Ariana, the girl before me.
When I meet the neighbours, I finally understand the funny looks. They’ve been watching my every move.
Because Ariana looked just like me.
And when I find out the guy I’m dating knew her too, the doubts build. There are just too many coincidences.
Her killer was never caught, and I have a gnawing dread they’re still nearby. Could I be next?
Praise for Diana Wilkinson:
‘Clues upon clues upon clues kept me glued to the story. What a very clever book … not a read for the faint-hearted!’ Valerie Keogh
‘With a unique plot and superb writing, Ms Wilkinson has nailed this one! I’d give it 10 stars if I could.’ J A Baker
‘A beautifully written thriller where even the clues are out to get you!’ Gemma Rogers
Shop The Book: The Girl Before Me
Shop The Author: Diana Wilkinson
Shop My Stack: 2026 Books Read
I loved about 75 percent of this book, and honestly that 75 percent was so good it nearly carried the whole thing. The mystery, the atmosphere, the constant low hum of paranoia, all of it had me completely hooked.
If you found out someone who looked just like you had been murdered in your new apartment and no one was ever caught, would you stay or run?
The Story
A stunning new apartment in West Hampstead. A steal of a price, amazing views, a layout to die for. She had already signed on the dotted line when she heard about the murder. About Ariana, the girl before her. When she meets the neighbors she finally understands the funny looks. They have been watching her every move. Because Ariana looked just like her. And when she finds out the guy she is dating knew Ariana too, the doubts start building. There are too many coincidences. Ariana’s killer was never caught, and there is a gnawing dread that they are still nearby. Could she be next?
Reading Experience
The mysterious apartment, the girl before me, the shady neighbors, it all had so much flavor and intrigue and I loved it. Then in the last quarter of the book things took a twist. The twist itself was well written and gave the story a very dark and interesting resolution, but the actual content was hard to stomach and made me genuinely uncomfortable to read. The ending made it all worth it though, and I appreciated how everything resolved.
Characters
I liked Livia, our main character. She was suspicious and did not let things lie, which made her an easy character to root for through all the uncertainty. I wanted to like Monty, but there were some suspicious details surrounding him, so I liked him with a hint of skepticism just in case. For the record, I really wanted him to be innocent. Everyone else in that apartment building was nuts and I suspected literally all of them at various points.
Heartbeat
How do you trust anyone after finding out someone who looks just like you was murdered and you have no idea why? Feeling like you could be next, knowing someone in close proximity to you must have had something to do with it, and knowing you are dating someone possibly connected to the previous relationship, all of that puts you in a genuinely paranoid, dangerous, and vulnerable position. That tension runs through the entire book.
Final Thoughts
I recommend The Girl Before Me to psychological thriller fans who have a strong stomach for dark twists. I loved the majority of this book completely, and while the final stretch took a turn that was hard to stomach, the resolution made it worth the discomfort.
ARC provided via Boldwood Books and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Diana Wilkinson (née Kennett) was born and bred in Belfast, Northern Ireland, during the height of the civil unrest. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in geography, she settled in England.
Diana spent most of her working life in the business of tennis development. A former Irish international player, Diana finally stepped off the court to become a full-time writer. The inspiration for much of her work has come from the ladies she coached over the years and from confidences shared over coffee.
Previously published by Bloodhound Books, Diana’s debut novel, 4 Riverside Close became an instant international bestseller. Since its release, she has gone on to write 9 more psychological thrillers which have been published by Boldwood Books. These titles include: The Couple in Apartment C; The Woman in my Home; Right Behind You; You are Mine; The Missing Guest; The Girl in the Window, as well as the Girl in Seat 2A which became an overnight sensation reaching number 1 in both the UK and Australia’s charts. The Girl in Seat 2A is to be translated into several foreign languages later this year.
The sequel to The Girl in 2A, The Girl on the Balcony was released in July 2025, and Diana’s next thriller, The Girl Before Me is coming out in July 2026.
You can follow Diana Wilkinson on Social Media:
Facebook: @DiKennett
X: @DiWilkinson2020
Instagram: @diddlers37
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