The Girl at my Door by Rebecca Griffiths
Genre: Historical fiction, Crime thriller, Crime fiction, True Crime
Read: 25th September 2021
Audible
Published: 23rd September 2021
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
DESCRIPTION:
London, 1949. On the dark streets of Soho, a killer is waiting in the shadows. Inspired by the true crime story of the Rillington Place murders comes a chilling re-telling of one of Britain’s most infamous serial killers.
Queenie Osbourne is the talk of London. Rising to fame as a singer after the Second World War, she is about to head to New York to make her fortune.
On the surface John Reginald Christie is an ordinary man. By day he wonders the bustling city streets. By night he is entertained by Queenie and her band. He is always searching for prey. Soon a young waitress named Joy catches his eye and his dangerous obsession begins.
Joy is preparing to wed Charles Gilchrist, one of the city’s most eligible bachelors. But Queenie has always held a flame for him and the spark between them is obvious.
When Queenie commits the ultimate betrayal against Joy, she knows her bright future is at risk. With nowhere else to turn, there is only one man who can help her. But Queenie has no idea of the dark secrets which lie behind the door of 10 Rillington Place. As Christie watches her approaching, will he risk everything for his highest-profile victim yet?
Blending the real life story of notorious serial killer John Reginald Christie with a fictionalised cast of characters, this thrilling mystery is perfect for fans of Gregg Olsen, Louise Douglas and Jess Lourey.
MY REVIEW:
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Rebecca Griffiths' exciting historical crime thriller THE GIRL AT MY DOOR.
As soon as I read the premise for this book I knew I had to read it. My fascination with historical serial killers deemed it so. THE GIRL AT MY DOOR is an historical crime thriller with a difference though...featuring the infamous serial killer of the 1940s and 50s, John Reginald Christie of the equally infamous 10 Rillington Place...London's original house of horrors situated in the now affluent area of Notting Hill. While this is not a true crime story, it is an historical crime thriller interwoven with the factual aspect of Christie making this an interesting as well as a dark and somewhat creepy read - particularly the chapters in which Christie features as he lurks unseen in the shadows.
London, 1949: On the dark streets of Soho, a killer lurks in the shadows...watching, waiting and biding his time. Unbeknownst to them, best friends Queenie and Joy are trying to make the best of life in post-war London while their every move is being watched.
Queenie is as gregarious and vivacious as she is beautiful. She is an up-and-coming singer in a London nightclub called the Mockin' Bird where she has gained the eye of an American scout who has offered her a part on Broadway in New York. All she wants to do is perform for an audience wearing the stunning dresses she fashions for herself. But as confident as she is, Queenie is also selfish and vain, often chastising Joy for her own clumsy attempts at such things as applying make-up.
Joy is the complete opposite. She is shy, self-conscious and lacking in confidence. She admires Queenie for being all the things she isn't although she herself couldn't imagine having the same confidence as her friend. Quiet and gentle, Joy loves nothing more than to immerse herself in a world of books...her favourite being Thomas Hardy. She works at the British Museum by day until Queenie gets her a job waitressing at the Mockin' a couple of nights a week. And there, Joy meets one of London's most eligible bachelors, Charles Gilchrist, whilst simultaneously batting away the attentions of the band's drunken drummer, Buster.
When Joy and Charles become engaged, Queenie finds herself suddenly out of sorts. This is a man who is used to the finer things in life, a man who needs a wife to shine on his arm at events, a man who needs someone more like her than quiet mousy Joy. But who is she to begrudge her best friend this happiness? But are they really? And can Joy really give him all that he needs? With a touch of the green-eyed monster glowing from within, Queenie considers that she would be a better fit for Charles and suddenly finds herself increasingly attracted to him. She begins to flirt with him even under the oblivious eyes of Joy and sets her cap at beguiling him. But at what cost?
Queenie's friend Terrence is a banker by day and a pianist at the Mockin' Bird by night. He becomes her confidante when Joy cannot. But he also has a secret - he is a closet homosexual, a proclivity that was illegal and punishable by imprisonment, and that which finds him at the mercy of a very clever and very dangerous man.
And then there is John Reginald Christie, a seemingly ordinary unassuming man who no one seems to notice. When one day his attention is drawn to Joy as he watches her in the park and stealthily follows her home, he becomes obsessed with her and fantasies about luring her into his web where he longs to have his wicked way with her. His dark mind is disturbing and his twisted thoughts are chilling that one can't help but feel threatened by him, despite his small and unassuming stature. You could almost sense his eyes following your every move just as they mentally undress the objects of his obsession. In this case, Joy.
When an act of betrayal comes between Queenie and Joy, their lives are shattered and their friendship broken. And as a result Queenie finds herself at the door of 10 Rillington Place to rid herself of the trouble in which she now finds herself. But when Terrence discovers just how dangerous the man behind that door is, time is running out for him to reach Queenie before she becomes Christie's next victim of his rope chair.
THE GIRL AT MY DOOR is a well-written blend of a real life crime story with fiction creating an atmospheric tale set in the shadow of gaslights amidst pea souper fogs with a sinister sense of foreboding. It is completely engrossing from start to finish with its deliciously dark and suspenseful prose. Looking through the eyes of Christie is especially chilling and so authentic that it made my skin crawl.
Told from the third person perspectives of Queenie, Joy, Terrence and Christie himself, THE GIRL AT MY DOOR is an addictive thriller with a difference. And although we think we know the outcome being based on the actual crimes of Christie, there are some surprising and shocking twists to come.
A perfect combination of fact with fiction, THE GIRL AT MY DOOR is an engrossing read that is quick and enjoyable and perfect for fans of historical crime fiction as well as those with an interest in true crime.
I would like to thank #RebeccaGriffiths, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGirlAtMyDoor in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
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Thank you for this fabulous review, Stina, I am thrilled you loved this book as I had such fun (as well as the pain) writing and researching it. Can't wait to see your review on Amazon and for it to tempt readers to buy it! Hope you are having a great morning and thank you again for being part of the book tour. With best wishes, Rebecca x
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