REVIEW: The Girl in the Van by Helen Matthews

The Girl in the Van by Helen Matthews

Genre: Psychological thriller, Suspense

Read: 17th March 2022

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Published: 17th March 2022

★ 1 star

DESCRIPTION:

A tormented mother. An abandoned girl. A deadly game of survival.

What happened to Ellie?

Traumatised by events, Ellie’s mother, Laura, can’t bear to stay in the Welsh seaside town where she lives with her partner, Gareth. She escapes to London, breaking all ties with him, and refusing to tell anyone her new address.

After two years of living alone and working in a mundane job, Laura buys an old campervan and joins a singles holiday. Here, she meets Miriana, a teenage girl who bears a chilling resemblance to Ellie. As Laura uncovers Miriana’s story, she’s shocked by the parallels to her own life.

But stories can be dangerous, and someone out there will stop at nothing to prevent the truth about Ellie from coming out…

MY REVIEW:

I really tried to like this book as the premise was definitely intriguing but unfortunately the story failed to deliver. I was keyed up for the beautiful Welsh coastline as well as Laura's missing daughter and the young Eastern European woman she found hiding in her van. But honestly I was bored. I really didn't care what happened to the characters - Laura or Ellie or the young woman or anyone else, for matter. And I couldn't stand Laura's mother. I gave up up within the first 20%...as honestly, life is too short to read books you aren't enjoying.

I am not saying THE GIRL IN THE VAN is a bad book or the author is a bad writer...not at all. It's just not every book is going to be for everyone and unfortunately, this one wasn't for me.

I would like to thank #HelenMatthews, #DarkstrokeBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheGirlInTheVan in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Helen Matthews writes page-turning psychological suspense and is fascinated by the darker side of human nature and how a life can change in an instant. Her debut novel 'After Leaving the Village' ​won first prize in the opening pages category at Winchester Writers' Festival and was published in October 2017. Her second novel 'Lies Behind the Ruin' - contemporary suspense and domestic noir, set in France, was published in April 2019. Her latest novel 'Facade' was published by Darkstroke Books. A fourth book is in progress. Her short stories have been shortlisted by Flash 500, 1000K Story and published in Artificium; in the Reflex Press anthology 'The Real Jazz Baby'; in EllipsisZine and in Love Sunday magazine. She has published an eBook collection of stories and travel writing 'Brief Encounters' and this is available on Amazon. Helen regularly gives talks and appears at events and literary festivals. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Oxford Brookes University.

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