As a massive true crime fan, I was intrigued to read The Girl at my Door. This is based on the harrowing offending of Reginald Christie, who resided at 10 Rillington Place. Some readers may remember this by the BBC drama that was recently aired. However, unlike the drama adaption, this story was more focused on the victims and the friendships of the women involved, rather than an insight into Christie himself.

I was pleasantly surprised by this taking of the events, and although this is not a real true-life account of what actually occurred in the 1940s, it definitely had an element of realism, and the fiction blended in very well with the facts, giving credit to the author's writing style. The characters are created effortlessly, making them easy to become emotionally invested and interested in.

Due to the nature of this plot, I would strongly recommend doing some research before picking this up blind. Although the details of the crimes are not overly explicit, there are some very sensitive subjects that some readers could find incredibly upsetting.

Overall, this was a great first read for me by this author, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.


TW: death, rape, homophobia, necrophilia.


If you are looking for a dark, creepy and true-crime book, you will be disappointed. If you want to read a book about drama, betrayals and some historical fiction, this is for you.
The book is focusing on Queenie, Joy and Terence, and not on the serial killer. I liked to hear Christie's thoughts, his plans and to see how his dark mind is working.
The book is centered too much on the three friends, i felt it's too much drama. Queenie is a selfish and jealous friend, she likes to be the boss and to have all the attention. There are too many details about their life, their problems and struggles, and too little things about Christie. I felt bad for Joy, she is under Queenie's thumb and the author didn't gave her any chance.
I found the book boring, the action is kinda flat, and not many things are happening.

I thought i will DNF this book, but i'm kinda glad i didn't. I don't see myself rereading this book, though. I recommend it to historical fiction fans, cause this book it's not a thriller or true-crime, whatsoever. And i did not liked the ending of the book.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🔊Song Pairing: Behind Blue Eyes - The Who

💭What I thought would happen:

I thought it would be a thriller about maybe a distant friend/relative seeking refuge

📖What actually happens:

A nod to the true crime case of Reginald Christie. It’s 1949 London and the gorgeous Queenie finds herself “in trouble” with her best friend’s fiancé’s baby.

What is a girl to do? She turns to 10 Rillington Place to solve her woes and wow do events progress.

🗯Thoughts:

I love the incorporation of true crime with a spin. An excellent way to make a thriller thrilling!

I loved the wild ride that this book took me on. I both listened and read along and couldn’t put it down until it was over!

Had everything I love about a thriller. Would recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the eARC

I found it hard to get into the narrative since it was a very slow start for me. I liked the setting and theme but I wasn't drawn into it right away. Once I got a few chapters in it started building up for me. I thought I was going to DNF this book at the beginning but I'm glad I held onto it. I'm very fascinated with historical stories about true crimes so I enjoyed this book very much especially because of the fact that it's based on the Rillington Place murders. The fictionalized characters helped ad well although I didn't really connect with the characters as much as I did with other thrillers. In the beginning, as well the various point of view throughout the book got me confused but then got the hang of it eventually. It was really interesting to get inside the mind of John Christie as this very manipulative and terrifying serial killer. However, I'm only rating it a 3 because of the fact that I found the characters too unlikeable and it just wasn't for me. I'd still recommend this to fans of historical fiction mixed with thrillers.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookoutour, and #RebeccaGriffiths for a digital advanced reader's copy of #TheGirlatMyDoor in exchange for a genuine review.

The Girl at my Door is a historical fiction weaved around and inspired by the true crime story of John Reginald Christie. You kind of get two stories here which obviously connect. The fictional characters give us a glimpse of the London life in 1949 focusing on the friendships, drama and betrayals while inserting Christie into their circle. The concept and time period were interesting and I loved learning more about the killer but I also struggled a bit with this book. In parts in just dragged and was a tad repetitive. As hard as I tried, I just could not connect with the characters and it missed the mark for me with the thrills and the creeps. I did however read up on Christie afterwards and found that case to be quite interesting. Overall it was just ok for me. But I’m in the minority with this one and I think that fans of historical fiction would enjoy this.

𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒

THE GIRL AT MY DOOR
Author: Rebecca Griffiths


#gifted by @netgalley in exchange for an honest review
pub date: 23 September 2021


⚠️ CW/TW: death, rape, necrophilia, child death, suicide, homophobia

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This was an interesting read, and a bit out of my comfort zone since I usually don't go for something this side of historical. But reading this work of fiction based in a real life story was something I enjoyed more than I was expecting to.


The crimes in the book weren't described in a gruesome, explicit manner but you're given just enough details to understand how macabre they were. Yet for me the worst part was the actions of certain fictional characters present in it, and how those actions negatively influenced the lives of the characters near them who were kind and good and just trying to make a decent live for themselves. In the end things were irrevocably changed for everyone and they had no choice but to keep on living while carrying the weight of their decisions.

Overall this was a good book but not one I'd interested in reading again. I don't like to think about how things were before and how some of them aren't much different now, I'm already an overthinker as it is, but if you like historical fiction and true crime give it a try, maybe you'll like it.


#TheGirlAtMyDoor #NetGalley #bookreview

I loved this book. It sounds so odd to say that because this book has so really dark topics. It’s a very heavy topics but the way it is written, you want to keep reading to find out what was going to happen.

I liked how each chapter was a different characters pov. The chapters are short so it makes for a quick read.

For me, this was a quick and engaging listen. I found myself invested in the characters and hopeful quite pleased with the ending.

This book was not what I expected, focusing more (in my opinion) on the dynamics between the primary characters and less on the serial killer aspect. The book shifts between the POVs of best friends Joy and Queenie, their friend Terrance, and the serial killer, Reginald (who is based on an actual person).. I enjoyed the multiple POVs but found the book itself rather boring; though the chapters told from Reg's POV were creepy, there was was much more time spent on the relationships of the other 3.

Queenie was not a likeable character and continued to get worse as the book went on. Poor Joy was likeable and was under Queenie's thumb- I felt bad for her. When all was said and done, I wish both of their stories had turned out differently and I felt empathy for each in one way or another.

I wish there had been more time spent on the serial killer story, as it felt like a tertiary storyline to me. I see I am in the minority based on other reviews I read, but wanted to put it out there. If you are looking for a chilling serial killer mystery, I don't think this is the book but if you are interested in historical fiction and/or a domestic drama with a serial killer twist, you might enjoy it. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read books set in a previous era but when I read the description and discovered this book was inspired by a real life serial killer I was intrigued. I was gripped by the story immediately and I flew through the pages. It was creepy, dark and brutal in places and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Such a dark, twisted and CHILLING story based on the True crime story of John Reginald Christie ( Rillington Place murders) with fictionalized characters! Prior to reading this book I had not heard of the Rillington Place Murders, but after this book I’m quite curious to investigate more into the full story!

“The girl at my door” gave multiple view points through the books. Which was a little confusing at first but became more clear as the book progressed!

Queenie was a very unlikeable selfish character that lets jealousy fuel her conversations and actions. Her best friend Joy I adored her character! Joy was a polite and a poise character who has had a hard life, with such a huge betrayal by somebody she thought was her best friend (Queenie).

The point of view of John Reginald Christie was chilling and disturbing. To look inside the mind of a serial killer and to listen to his deep obsession with Joy He was beyond manipulative and descriptive in his conquest to lure victims back to his house. Preying on the woman who found themselves in a tough situation searching for back alley abortions, pretending he might be able to help.

If you like true crime/thriller novels this is definitely the book for you!

Thank you #NetGalley and #Bookouture for this ARC copy for my honest review!

This book will be released September 23rd!

The Girl at My Door is a thrilling mystery by Rebecca Griffiths. It is inspired by the true crime story of the Rillington Place murders, one of Britain’s most infamous serial killers. Queenie is a girl on the rise, headed to broadway. Joy, Queenie’s friend, is the shy girl who snags the attention of one of the city’s more eligible bachelors. Terrance is a bandmate of Queenie’s and he has a big secret of his own. Then there’s John Christie, who seems like an ordinary man at first, but he has a dark, secret obsession.

The characters were at times very unlikable. Queenie was used to being the star of everything and having everyone’s attention on her. So when it came to a young, eligible bachelor, Queenie had a hard time understanding what a meek server like Joy would have that she doesn’t. Queenie is spoiled and entitled, and overall, a horrible person.

Then there is Joy, of course. She lacks confidence and oftentimes turns to Queenie for help and advice. Joy snags the attention of Charles, a good looking single man, and all the sudden, she no longer needs Queenie because she has a future mother-in-law. Wanting to “show” that Charles isn’t the most devoted man Joy thinks he is, Queenie seduces Charles and ultimately becomes pregnant.

Enter Terrance. Terrance is a bandmate of Queenie’s but he is also her closest confidant. They both know each other’s darkest secrets. When Terry learns Queenie is pregnant, he does everything he can to help her out. He offers to marry her and they raise the child as their own. But ultimately, he finds someone who “helps girls in trouble” like Queenie.

The man he finds is none other than John Christie. He seems like an ordinary man, one who was learning to become a doctor, but because of the war, he put his education on hold. But little did Terry know, Christie was a serial killer, praying on women no one would miss. He initially set his eyes on Queenie, but soon, Joy became his obsession.

I didn’t like ANY of the characters. Of course we’re not supposed to like Christie because he’s the bad guy, but you’re supposed to like the other characters. I understand why Terry was in the story. GIven his background and secret, Queenie needed him to find someone that would be willing to do something illegal. But other than that, he doesn’t play much of a role in the story. Yes, Christie blackmails him, but again, the blackmail part didn’t affect the other parts of the story.

I received an uncorrected advance copy for review. I’m not sure if it’s because it was an advanced copy, or if it was the writing, but there were some parts where the writing was very choppy. It seemed there were sometimes incomplete sentences, which can work sometimes, but in many cases here, it distracted me and disrupted the flow of the story. Here is an example: “...and searched his smile for any sign he knew what was marching towards him on life’s horizon. Was thankful to find nothing.” Examples like that could be found throughout the story.
Overall, I did like the story and how it played out, for the most part. I was kept on my toes to see if Christie ever got Joy, or Queenie for that matter. I wanted to see what would happen with the relationship between Queenie and Joy. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters and I didn’t feel anything when their lives were upturned. I’d give this story 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl at my Door is set in the late 1940’s, in London. It is a book based on a Serial Killer of Rillington Place Murders (John Christie). Also including two best friends Queenie & Joy. Their friendship was once in a lifetime!

I really enjoyed this book! I had watched the TV series so this book was very intriguing to me from the go! Knowing that Christie was based on a real person, someone who actually killed people had me feeling a little disgusted at certain parts but not Necessarily in a bad way. I couldn’t put this book down! Such a great read I highly recommend this book if you enjoy true crime, crime fiction, realistic fiction.


***Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC copy of this book***

London, 1949: On the dark streets of Soho, a killer is waiting in the shadows. Queenie Osbourne is the talk of London. Rising to fame as a singer after WWII, 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 wanders 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.

Inspired by the true crime story of the Rillington Place murders. I must admit that I had not know anything about the Rillington Place murders before I started reading this book, and in a way, I'm glad I didn't as it might have swayed my judgement. I was pulled into this story after a couple of chapters. John Christie lived at 10, Rillington Place. Queenie and Joy are friends who want to make a better life for themselves. times were hard in this dark and creepy thriller. This is a page turner with lots of twists.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #RebeccaGriffiths for my ARC of #TheGirlAtMyDoor in exchange for an honest review.

It’s no secret that I’m huge fan of Rebecca Griffiths’ writing and that I feel her books deserve a bigger audience so I was absolutely thrilled when I heard she had signed up with one of my favourite publishers Bookouture! And her new publisher also marks the start of a slight change in direction for her with this creative take on a real life criminal and his heinous crimes. In The Girl At My Door she has woven a tense and atmospheric fictional narrative around the serial killer John Reginald Christie, with imagined scenarios and characters who have been created to cross the path of this vile monster.

From the very first sentence there was a sense of foreboding and, although I only knew the basics of the murders perpetrated by Christie before I read this book, whenever he was on the page he gave off a convincing realism that gave me goosebumps. I thought it was a brilliant idea to use him throughout this novel, silently stalking his potential victim and sharing in her personal tragedies as he looked for a way to indulge in his obsession. And when he finally becomes part of the chain of vicissitude, it has devastating consequences…

I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this book. I became totally invested in the lives of Joy and Queenie as the friends unintentionally became the focus of attention for a man with no moral compass. The attention to detail is brilliant, both in the descriptions of the historical period it’s set in and the life of John Reginald Christie. The quality of the writing slowly draws you into this gripping thriller and it kept me on the edge of my seat as I waited to see how this dramatic chiller would play out and whether or not another victim would fall into the infamous rope chair.

Shocking, immersive and beautifully crafted, The Girl At My Door is a stunning book with unexpected twists and one of the creepiest portrayals of a serial killer I have ever read! So it’s highly recommended by me!

Thank you, Net Galley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of The Girl At My Door. This psychological thriller is based on the true story of the 1949 London serial killer John Reginald Christie. While the rest of the characters are fictional, Rebecca Griffiths tells readers how Christie murdered his victims.

Centered around best friends Queenie and Joy, the book focuses on their friendship, finding love, and struggling to survive post-war. Add in good friend Terry, a homosexual man working hard to conceal who he really is, another of Queenie's best friends constantly looking out for her. This book is filled with hardship, prostitution, creepy people stalking in shadows, illegal abortion, and homosexuality. It wasn’t a book I was eager to jump into but I’m glad I finished it and learned a bit about this historical serial killer.

Historical crime fiction is less frequent in my reading habits but I'm glad I picked this one up! Inspired by a true-life serial killer, it is a gripping read from beginning to end, with a layer cast of characters. This is my first book by Rebecca Griffiths but surely not the last.

Girl At My Door is part truth but mainly fiction. It features real-life Rillington Place serial killer John Christie, and a cast of fictional characters including best friends, Queenie and Joy. Christie becomes obsessed with Joy, and follows her round the foggy London nights, creeping silently in his plimsoles. Quennie finds herself in a situation where she might need Christie's help, where no one at this point realises who he is, and what he's capable of.

I absolutely flew through this book! I was hooked after the first few chapters and finished it in a couple of days. I really enjoyed the TV series featuring Christie so this appealed to me straight away. The tension throughout was palpable! Christie really brought feelings of disgust, and the knowledge that he was a real person probably heightened this. This was an absolutely great thriller, and I loved the story between Quennie and Joy too, which was just such a shame, but added another layer of interest to the story. Thoroughly recommended!

If you’re looking for a good all round thriller with plenty of twists and turns then The Girl at My Door is the book for you!
My emotions were frazzled reading this one, it’s believable in a way that so many other books aren’t.

I will be shocked if The Girl at My Door isn’t a bestseller! I’ll be recommending it to every reader I know!

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a bit more edgy than my usually genre of domestic thriller, it's a historial True Crime novel. I got a huge kick out of the character's name. I am Joy, and my mom is Queenie, I had to take a screen capture to show my mom that we are the main characters in a story!