Fantastic read. Twists and turns to keep the reader intrigued. Would throughly recommend to others. 4 stars and Lomb forward to reading more from this author

Firstly, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.8 stars
TW: sexual assault, murder, violence, graphic torture, racism, queer phobia
This is a gripping, interesting and fast paced mystery inspired by a real serial killer. Its really cool to see the potrayal of the heinous murderer and I absolutely despise him as a character and to know its an account of a real person makes me feel disgusted.

On the core of the story, we see a lot of themes being explored here, the struggles of young women in the society at the times, the difficulty of queer people to be accepted during the era, abortion issue, and social issues that is considered taboo back then and showed the hard truth of them. I think its really interesting to read.

I don't have anything much to say about the characters. They played their parts but some of them fell flat particularly Joy although I do love her passion on books. Queenie felt pitiful but she was firm in her own ways even though she made terrible actions.

All in all, its a good book to read if you like historical fiction with mystery thriller based on a real crime.

I am so so sorry I didn´t like this book at all because all I see are good reviews on it.

I felt so disappointed with this one, it felt so slow and confusing and it wasn´t what I was looking for. I had to DNF it because for me it was really boring and it got me a reader's block.

Honestly, I didn't even care if the characters lived or died (literally) and I decided that it was best for me if I abandoned it.

This is only MY opinion and I hope that if you pick this book you get a much better experience with it.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don't even know where to start writing this review. Since being a teenage I have always been intrigued about what makes humans tick. Wondering what it is that made certain people take that step into madness and loose all control of their sanity by committing atrocious acts and murder. John Reginald Christie is someone I have read about a lot of over the years, his crimes have been well documented in various books and television series here in the UK.

Let me start by saying whilst this book is about him and his crimes, he is kept firmly in the background watching and waiting for an opportunity to strike. The book is more centred on lives of Queenie Osbourne and her friend Joy. Set in 1949's post war London both girls are surviving the best they can. Queenie is adored by may as she singings in the local club, she has dreams of leaving dreary London and heading for the bright lights on America. Joy is the total opposite, she is French, very shy and unassuming, Queenie taker her under her wing and gets her a job at the Mockingbird. They make friends with Terence the pianist at the club, who is also living with the secret of being in love with a man, which is both forbidden and illegal at the time. The three forge a friendship. Which is ultimately ruined by betrayal when Queenie sleeps with Joy fiance. Finding herself pregnant and in desperation Queenie turns to '10 Rillington Place' the home of John Christie. Having been in the war years before he has made it known that he can help women in a certain predicament, with medical training that he received. The girls willingly go to him for help, not knowing it will be the last thing they will do.

Christie has been watching both girls and following them for a time, staying in the shadows. He is obsessed with Joy and means to have her for his own. However she has become wise to the fact he seems to keep appearing wherever she goes, and gets a bad feeling from him once she is one to one.

I think the worst thing about his character in this book is that the man himself is so unassuming, he is plain in looks and stature and moves around unseen and unheard in his plimsoles. I get the feeling most people didn't realise they were in danger until it was too late. He is the average man hiding a very dark secret.

I requested the audiobook version of the book and I have to say the narrators were brilliant. Especially Christie, read by Jonathan Keeble his voice sends chills down your spine, so much so I had to stop listening for a day or two as I was dreaming about it. The fact that it is based on real life events makes it an even more sinister read.

The author has definitely done her research on the serial killer, this is a brilliant work of historical fiction with a twist. I will look out for other books by her. It will definitely be a book that stays with me for a while, and parts of the story chilled me to the bone. A sign of a very good book in my opinion.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Girl At My Door' by Rebecca Griffiths.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Rebecca Griffiths, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 23rd September 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Gregg Olsen, Louise Douglas and Jess Lourey will be hooked. .' I am a fan of Gregg Olsen so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 70 chapters and a postscript. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in London and Dorset, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 , UK 🇬🇧 . I always enjoy when books are set in the UK as I'm from Wales and have sometimes visited areas mentioned in the book. I have actually visited London on several occasions and am visiting again in November. This makes it easier to picture where the scenes are set at times.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Queenie Osbourne. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


'The Girl At My Door' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Rebecca discusses/includes rape, sexual assault and murder.

I want to start by saying I would class this more of a historical crime drama than a thriller as it was quite a slow burner. I was absolutely intrigued with the history included in this book and enjoyed stepping into the past into the dark ages of London. The storyline itself is a mix of crime drama and historical and I like the fact that it is based on a true story as I always enjoy learning more about history. It was quite suspenseful and filled with crime, blackmail, prostitution, romance and definitely heartbreak!! It shows how the acts of two selfish people can destroy the lives of many. The book is focused more on Queenie than in the killer Christie which is a bit of a shame as although I was repelled by what he did to these women and to Terry I was under the impression that the book would be based more on him. The author did very well with the vivid descriptions and I really could smell, see and taste the smog if London and then hear the waves crashing in Dorset.

The characters were strong, realistic and unique. I couldn't stand the creepy and murderous Christie who absolutely sickened me with not only what he was doing to women but how he tried to extort Terry. I really liked Terry and found it disgusting how people used to behave towards anyone who wasn't a straight white male or female or even unmarried pregnant woman. I would love to say how far we've come but there is still sadly too much prejudice in this world. I really felt for Terry especially after what happened with Malcolm. I absolutely adored Joy who was an animal lover and bookworm. I found it so sweet that she fed the pigeons and absolutely hated Queenie for what she did to her. I was absolutely heartbroken for Joy and for what happened in the end.

Overall a crime filled historical novel based on fact that is shocking and heartbreaking.


Genres covered in this book include Crime, Mystery and Historical Mystery amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of history of London.


379 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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This was a thrilling read.

This is a new to me author who knows how to keep the readers engaged.

There was so much twists and turns in here that I was gripping the edge of my seat all the way to the end.

I will gladly read more from from this author at a later time.

They were best friends, at least that's what they said, they were the new generation, making a difference, trying to survive, to be accepted. But something is always wrong when people are happy with each other.

A real crime story narrated so smoothly and clear, made me feel every single emotion and pain of the characters. Hard to pick my favorite, they all were awfully lovely, so real, so tangible sometimes sick and obscure. So far away from our reality and yet true.

We all have come a long way, things have changed, at least now we all have a voice for those who do not.

📃 This ARC was granted to me through @netgalley and approved by @bookouture

Set in post-war London in the 40-50’s, this book is inspired by the true story of serial killer John Reginald Christie, The Rillington Place killer.

Mr Christie, or Reg, inconspicuously follows his intended female victim day-by-day, then catches her with trickery using one of his disguises. He poses as being medically trained and as a policeman, uniform and all. He’s set his sights on new victims, Joy and Queenie. Joy works at the British Museum, and waitresses at a pub frequented by Reg. Also working alongside Joy at the pub is her best friend Queenie, a drop-dead-gorgeous singer. Queenie is green with envy over Joy being engaged to the wealthy, very handsome Charles Gilchrist, which later on leads Queenie to Reg’s doorstep. It’s a fantastic historical crime fiction novel, that’s dark, atmospheric, unsettling and totally engrossing. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

Thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 1940s London Queenie Osbourne and her french best friend, Joy Rivard have everything to look forward to. Joy is getting married to her fiancé, loaded Charles Gilchrist, and Queenie has dreams of becoming a successful singer in America. All is good except that Queenie and Charles have an attraction... to each other. A pregnant Queenie goes to 10 Rillington Place to see John Reginald Halliday Christie who can help her but as she stands outside of his door she feels a sense of wariness.

The Girl at My Door is a cracking merging of fact and fiction crime that was so compelling. The author's portrayal of Joy and Queenie and their dissimilarity was wondrous. Where Queenie was confident, vain, gregarious and vivacious and an up-and-coming singer in a London nightclub called the Mockin' Bird, Joy was quiet, self-conscious and lacking in confidence, liking her books and working at the British Museum. Told from a variety of perspectives, the tale has a sinister tone and it is completely engrossing from the beginning with its dark and suspenseful prose. The parts from the eyes of Christie are especially chilling. An undoubtedly fantastic read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

I don’t know what I expected going into this book, but not what it actually is (a fictional account or a true crime, maybe would be one way of explaining it. Anyhow, while I didn’t know much about the actual crime, I found the author to write in a captivating, chilling, intense, and deliciously dark manner! I was hooked, and will be looking more into the crime it is about. I do highly recommend, to both lovers or true crime and thriller lovers, as I do think both will enjoy! Prepare though, as it may be triggering to some!

He keeps in the shadows as he follows them through the park....

London, 1949

Best friends, Queenie and Joy are looking forward to bright futures. They are young, beautiful, and full of promise. Queenie is an aspiring singer who hopes to make it in America. Joy is engaged to a wealthy bachelor named Charles Gilchrist. Terry is Queenie's bandmate and has a secret. All of them have plans. They are ready to take on the world - to love, to succeed, to be famous and be themselves....

Plans as they say can go awry.

The wedding plans are underway and so is the spark between Queenie and Charles. Betrayal runs deep and there is no turning back when Queenie becomes pregnant. But there are rumors, there is a place that women can go for help in these delicate situations - 10 Rillington Place. But as she stands outside of John Reginald Christie's (Reg Christie) door, she is wary. She feels threatened. But why? Little does she know that Reg Christie has been watching her, he knows her, she is perfect, and she is right outside his door!

This is historical fiction meets mystery/suspense inspired by the true crime story of "The Rillington Place killer John Reginald Christie" I had not heard of this notorious serial killer. This book had me researching him. When not researching Reg Christie, I was sucked into this book. It is chilling with creepy vibes. Ever feel as if you are being watched or followed? This book shows you what it feels like. It is gripping, dark and absorbing.

I was impressed with Rebecca Griffiths’ research and her blending of fictionalized characters with a real-life killer. Plus, Griffiths transports readers to post war London. Dreams are alive once again. People are ready to get on with their lives, but dreams can be fragile, actions have consequences and friendships will be tested.

This book may have you looking over your shoulder, wondering what thoughts or motives another might have. I love a book that makes me think, feel, and educates me. I learned about an English serial killer, I felt for the three friends, and thought about how their lives were changed. Throw that in with the chilling, creepy vibe of Reg Christie and you have a winner!

This book has so many things that I enjoy in a book - a vile depraved killer, a mystery, some history, tension, suspense, and atmosphere. Once I got going with this book, I did not want to put it down and read most in one sitting.

Dark, chilling, gripping and tense.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

A cracking blended fact and fiction crime novel set in London just after the Second World War
I love books that have me reaching for search engines to research things. This is one of those books.
I’d never heard of the serial killer John Reginald Christie before but he’s real and there’s some amazing stuff in this book that will make readers wonder why they have never heard of him
The atmospheric Soho of the late 1940’s is another star of the book.
A great read for people who like books by Ray Celestin and Simon Michael

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

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.

It's a gripping and well written book that mixes historical facts with fiction, a story of friendship and betrayal set in post war London.
I didn't know what to expect but I found this novel gripping and I loved the descriptions of post-war London.
I learned something new as I'm not the biggest expert in historical serial killers and found the depiction of Christie fascinating even if I would have liked some more parts about him.
The characters aren't likeable but they're well written and they live in hard times when there were still plenty of prejudice against homosexuality (it was a crime) and abortion was performed illegally in a very dangerous way.
It's a book set in a world of seedy bars, desperation, the perfect scene where a predator can find his victims.
I would have preferred something more about Christie and some less drama but it's a good book.
I recommend it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"He's a dark one, he is. A right queer fish... It seems we got him quite wrong."

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it. True crime mixed with a historical murder mystery? It was like it was written for me.

I think most of us are familiar with the name John Reginald Christie and the awful events that occurred behind the closed doors of 10 Rillington Place. The address alone lives in infamy; conjuring up images of helpless young women at the mercy of a sick and depraved man. In this novel the author merges fact with fiction, taking real people and real things that occurred, and combining them with fictional characters and events to create an intoxicating thriller that reads like non-fiction. I found myself googling characters and events to double check what was fact and what wasn’t as it all felt so authentic that it could have been featured in a true crime documentary.

Atmospheric and utterly engrossing, Griffiths transported me back to post-war London with such evocative descriptions and prose that I felt like I could see the dim gaslit streets and choking smog. The story is told by multiple narrators that were richly drawn, captivating and memorable, vividly putting me in each of their shoes. But as wonderfully as they were all written, what stood out to me most of all was Christie. It felt like she really got inside the mind of this sick and twisted killer. There is a pervading sense of unease as we witness him skulking around and stalking his prey, get glimpses into his depraved fantasies, and watch as he wears a mask or ordinariness to disguise himself. He sent shivers down my spine every time he was on the page and it felt authentic and I never questioned what I was reading, except that it was fiction. It was as if she’d found his journals and transcribed them.

Part of the problem with writing a book based on a well-known serial killer, is that we know how the story ends. Or we think we do. By combining fact and fiction the author is able to surprise the reader with unexpected twists. But for me, the real talent is when they can take those familiar events and still have you on the edge of your seat with your heart in your throat. And Ms. Griffiths did that again and again. As we hurtle towards those scenes where we know how it ends, there is still that rising sense of foreboding and frisson of fear that makes it impossible to stop reading. I was so invested in the story and so connected to the characters that I wanted to jump into the pages and stop it. To find a way to travel back in time to change the course of history. To scream a warning at Queenie not to go to Rillington Place because she wouldn’t find a solution, only her doom. My heart was racing so fast I felt like it was going to beat out of my chest as I waited to see if she was saved, forgetting for a moment that history has already been written and, those who step inside Rillington Place are beyond our help.

In 1949 Britain was still recovering from the war and was in a time of great change: rationing was still in effect, homes were being rebuilt, people were readjusting to normal life, women were gaining independence and the newly established NHS was changing medicine and health for the better. But it was a time caught between the old and the new as patriarchal expectations remained prevalent and homosexuality and abortion were still illegal. The author touches on and examines these topics in varying detail over the course of the book. I was deeply moved by how she portrayed Terrance’s fear that his homosexuality will be discovered and his torment at being seen as a criminal for simply loving another man. And I found the discussion of desperate, backstreet abortions to be particularly timely with the recent legislation in Texas of the so-called‘Heartbeat Bill’. It is a potent reminder that making such things against the law doesn’t stop them, only puts lives in danger as desperate people take desperate risks. I also found myself very moved by how she portrays the fear felt by Terrance that his homosexuality will be discovered, and his torment at being seen as a criminal for simply loving another man.

Deliciously dark, menacing, suspenseful and unsettling, The Girl at my Door is an addictive thriller that you won’t be able to put down. This was my first foray into Rebecca Griffiths’ books but it certainly won’t be my last.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

Rebecca Griffiths weaves a tale of real-life serial killer John Reginald Christie in a fictionalized setting that proves to be a deadly game of obsession. While reading this chilling book I was quite drawn into the lives of the characters, especially Joy and Queenie - women whose love for the same man led to sad results. While Joy and Queenie deal with their friendship falling apart, there are other characters well worth noting in this story. One of whom is obviously John Reginald Christie, who appears in this story mostly as an unnamed narrator. Then there is Queenie's dear friend Terrence who would do anything to help her despite dealing with his own drama.

All while reading this story, I felt like I was waiting for the ax to fall - pun not intended. There was no doubt at the outset that Christie had marked his victim or victims, and it was rather eerie playing privy to his thoughts.

While Christie is roving about, all but grooming his intended victims, Joy is ecstatic in her preparations to marry Charles Gilchrist, who is quite a catch. However, Charles's actions with Queenie create major problems, which sadly comes as no surprise. I was fully drawn into this story and promptly looked Christie up. The author showed keen creativity at letting readers to see into the sick mind of a serial killer, while also raising compassion for his unfortunate victims.

On the one hand, Christie continues to develop his nefarious plans, while the story shifted back and forth to both Terrence and Queenie who were fighting difficult things in their lives. Their issues were of great significance, especially since they lived at a time when certain things were not only unacceptable, but were illegal. The Girl at My Door is a well-developed story with compelling characters and an equally compelling storyline. This is a good one. Don't pass it up.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book it is dark and creepy. I am interested in true crime so when I saw this was based on the Rillington Place Murders I was looking forward to reading it.
I got into this book fairly quickly and got through it quickly too it a was fast paced page turner.
It is set in the 1940’s after the Second World War in London.
The story follows Queenie who is a rising star in London. She is about to leave for New York to gain stardom.
There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I would certainly read another book by this author as she has a talent of blending fact and fiction without effort.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A true crime based historical fiction set in the dark streets of London back in 1949. 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙙 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙚, the vicious serial killer waiting in the shadows for a long time to hunt down his perfect prey!

𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚 𝙊𝙨𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚, a singing sensation, was all London was talking about. Friendship and betrayal go hand in hand for her. One friend hatred while the other’s willingness to sacrifice it all for Queenie, who really was the true Queenie. With plenty of triggers throughout the read, the true of women is portrayed flawlessly. Some parts are dark, creepy, disturbing and will give you chills knowings it was all true!

The whole getting in the head of a serial killer and hearing his mindset and thoughts what was the highlight yet i expected more of that in this dark crime read!

All characters had their own complexity and kept the plot exciting. I was a bit thrown off by the multiple POVs and lack of focus on John Rig!

Right in time for the spooky season! Grab yours if you’re into dark crime stories and are not aware of the monstrous John Rig!

I was one of those strange children that was obsessed with books on murders and serial killers. Devouring books on Crippen, Haigh, Mary Ann Cotton, Christie and any others I could get my hands on at the library. (Thanks mum for never censoring my reading).

Christie was always one of my favourites and I am not the only one as the film 10 Rillington Place got Richard Attenborough and John Hurt with Tim Roth also playing him in a more recent adaptation. So when I heard the wonderful Rebecca Griffiths was turning it into a blend of fact and fiction I signed up straight away.

This friendship of Queenie and Joy is central to the story, Joy is a French girl who is often shown hostility due to her accent and she has very little money. Queenie gets her a job waitressing in the club where she sings and that’s when the trouble starts. One of the customers, eligible bachelor Charles Gilchrist falls for Joy and Queenie thinking they are a better match betrays Joy in the worst way possible.

With other players also making their mark like Terence the piano player, at times the story played out like a game of chess. Which player would make a move and would it block them or free them up to take the Queen?

Cleverly she has taken the drab and dingy post war London and injected it with the glitz and glamour of The Mockin’ Bird. Also using the shabbiness of Joy, which is in stark contrast to the star quality of Queenie, to make her stand out even more. But it is Joy that catches Christie’s eye.

The Christie parts were well researched and chillingly accurate, giving me goosebumps and I’ve always believed there’s nothing more sinister than the wickedness that hides behind the seemingly ordinary.

I think the author is really on to something with this. With fairytale retellings being popular maybe it’s now time for the serial killers to take the stage.

‘The Girl at my Door’ is one of the most atmospheric books I’ve read in ages. I got a sense of the time in which it was set from the post-war London smog, to the sounds and smells of the streets. It’s all there. The mixture of fact surrounding the crimes of Reginald Christie and the fictional characters, Terrence, Queenie and Joy, made it all fantastic.

Each character had a story and each one was different. The realism was chilling. Queenie with her flawed character and huge talent. Terrence keeping a huge part of his life in the shadows and very sweet, Joy. I felt like I knew them within no time and I wanted so much for them.

This book was a fast read for me. I enjoyed the historical crime aspect and certain things were left reeling through my mind. There are huge themes, miscarriage of justice being the one that really stood out. I also felt the social injustice of the time. I won’t comment on this as it will spoil the unravelling of the story. My heart went out to all the characters.

On top of a being a brilliant story, ‘The Girl at my Door’ is well written and took me on an emotional journey. What more could I as the reader ask for?