Superb psychological thriller that'll keep you guessing - and you really won't guess correctly, lol! Orianna, a young girl of 17 known as 'The Girl in Cell A' is convicted of a murder and prime suspect in a 'disappearance' of another. She has spent 18 years in prison and is now meeting a forensic psychologist to see if she can accept her part in the event and acknowledge her guilt, in order to be considered for parole. She has no memory of the murder, but was found unconscious at the scene with the rifle close by, covered in her fingerprints.
We move forward to her return to the small American town of Eden Falls, and her desperate attempts to find out the truth. Loathed by the majority of townsfolk and the influential Wyclerc family who founded it, Orianna is convinced of her innocence. She has no idea who she can trust and no idea of what happened that day. She begins to piece things together and has an unlikely ally in Amos Wyclerc, the current patriarch of the family.
Nothing will prepare you for the ending of this book, there are still parts I need to think about and work through! Just MASSIVE kudos to Vaseem Khan for piecing this all together, the detail is stunning, the plot intricate and it's a flowing read. The psychologist bored me at times but that's therapists for me...

This was the definition of ‘couldn’t put it down’. I read at the end that it took the khan 3 tears to write and I can see why- the research and hard work that went into making this work must have been immense! The characters were plausible, in particular, the voices of Annie and Orianna and the biases of the small town inhabitants were so believable they could make you sick with anger. There were times I thought I knew what was coming next and then everything flipped. Sometime the flip would frustrate me and then without warning it flipped again! This is a genre it’s common to do OK writing, but rarely have I been so amazed and captivated by such a plot, I am new to this author but impressed! (I also enjoyed the note about ‘author clothes’).

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A well-written plot with plenty of twists and turns. I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.

This was intense! 
It was twisty, unexpected and fun - really quite different in terms of my typical crime/suspense plot. 
I read it was the authors first attempt at this genre, and I’d definitely be interested in the future works here. 
Characters were dimensional, they had actual personalities and lives were really well built throughout the story. Orianna was intriguing, believable and Khan really worked to garner some sympathy for her situation and station in life. Annie was fair and her narration was welcome, demonstrating a different perspective. Some elements of her storyline felt a bit random, though it was understandably trying to demonstrate how much attention the case had received - the fascination of the public. 
Unfortunately the ending lost that final star for me (literally the last 5% of the story) as it felt rushed. I didn’t hate the way it ended, but it needed more detail and expansion. The build up to Orianna’s hearing was so well carried out and I was really rooting for her redemption 😅 it would have been nice for this final twist to be more detailed, delving into the communication between Annie/Judge/Amos.

Wow. Just wow. I finished reading "The Girl In Cell A," and I’m still trying to process everything that happened. Vaseem Khan has truly crafted a suspenseful masterpiece that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
The story revolves around Orianna Negi, a young woman convicted of murder at just seventeen. Known as "the girl in cell A," her case has become a sensation in the true crime world. Yet, Orianna has always maintained her innocence. As we meet her through the eyes of forensic psychologist Annie Ledet, we delve deep into the murky waters of guilt and innocence. The intriguing premise alone hooked me: if she didn’t kill Gideon Wyclerc, then who did? What happened that fateful day is shrouded in mystery, and Annie is determined to help Orianna uncover the truth.
The narrative shifts effortlessly between two timelines: Orianna's time in prison as she undergoes therapy with Annie, and the events leading up to the murder in the small town of Eden Falls. This dual perspective enriched the story and drew me further into the complexities of Orianna’s character and her past. The Wyclerc dynasty, with its dark secrets and ruthless patriarch, Amos, painted a vivid picture of a powerful family that's shrouded in scandal.
I was blown away by the character development in this novel. Vaseem Khan has an incredible knack for creating characters that feel disturbingly real. I found myself emotionally invested in Orianna's journey, analysing every twist and turn. Some characters I rooted for wholeheartedly, while others made my skin crawl. The shifting dynamics between them added complexity to the plot, making it all the more enthralling.
Khan’s writing style is exquisite—effortless and immersive. I flew through the pages as if they were a gripping documentary, making it undeniably hard to put the book down allowing me to savour the intricacies of the plot while still keeping me racing toward the shocking conclusion. Each twist left me breathless, and I never saw them coming.
What truly sets this book apart is its exploration of themes like power, race, and morality against the backdrop of a small-town murder. The underlying social commentary added depth that made me reflect long after I turned the final page. The shattering realizations Annie comes to about Orianna’s past were shocking, and I appreciated the way Khan let the tension simmer just below the surface until it boiled over.
In short, "The Girl In Cell A" is a thrilling triumph. If you enjoy psychological fiction and crime literature that surprises and challenges you, look no further—this book is a must-read.

I have heard good things about Vaseem Khan’s previous novels set in India. So, I was curious to see how his first physiological thriller pans out and I wasn’t disappointed.
At seventeen Orianna Negi was convicted of murder that she claims she didn’t commit but the problem is she can’t remember what happened that day as she suffered amnesia after getting hit on the head.
18 years later now released from jail. She goes back to the scene and the town of Eden falls the scene of crime. There is nobody there she loves anymore. Her mother supposedly took her own life after her incarceration and the town drive her too it. But the town inhabitants never forgive and told her that she should never have come back. After all this time they all think she did it.
This is my first outing of this author, and I am so glad I read this. It is a riveting read. Told in two perspectives of Orianna herself and the therapist trying to unravel the mysteries of her amnesia. Slowly revealing the layers of the truth that happened in the town and the Wyclef family that seem to run it. It is a richly descriptive twisty thriller that will take you on a ride to find out the truth. 5 stars from me.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

I honestly hadn't heard of this author before, but I liked the sound of this one and it definitely wasn't a mistake choosing it.A well told thriller packed with twists and turns that keep you holding on throughout.
The characters are perfectly written. You feel as if you really know them..
I understand this is the authors first book in this genre. Well, after this one, I think his found his niche.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

Vaseem Khan moves away from his India based series, both of which I loved, featuring Inspector Chopra and his historical Malabar House series with his breaking the mould female police officer. This change of direction proves to be nothing to be concerned about, this is a smart and riveting psychological thriller that had me turning the pages as fast as possible. The Girl in Cell A is a notorious killer, Orianna Negi, who has claimed to be innocent through all her 18 years of being locked up for murdering a powerful and ruthless Wyclef patriarch, living in American small town, Eden Falls.

However, this a serious issue, Orianna has huge memory gaps, and forensic psychologist Annie is set to explore what lies beneath, aiming to unearth the buried memories, what shocking truths will emerge? This is a dual narrative story that is best read knowing as little as possible to get the most out of it. There are various threads that eventually come together at the end, amazing twists and turns you will not see coming. Highly recommended to all those readers who love fast paced, quality, multi-layered, intense, nail biting thrillers! Looking forward to more from Khan in this genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Vaseem Khan's "The Girl In Cell A" is a riveting thriller that captivates from the first page. Set in the bustling streets of Mumbai, the story follows Inspector Ashwin Chopra as he investigates a complex web of crime and corruption. Khan masterfully weaves intricate plot twists with richly detailed settings, creating a vivid backdrop for the compelling narrative. The characters are well-developed, and the pace is relentless, keeping readers on edge. Khan's storytelling brilliance shines through in this gripping tale of justice and resilience. "The Girl In Cell A" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and mystery.

A very good thriller that doesn’t let you get out of your seat! The writing was very easy to get into and the story was chefs kiss.

Superlative..
A small American town, a girl known as ‘The Girl in Cell A’ and a multi layered mystery at its very heart to keep the reader guessing. An epic tale indeed in this unexpectedly twisting, turning suspense which bursts with atmospherics, a cast of credible characters and a propulsive, clever and immersive plot. Superlative storytelling.

As the author acknowledges in his acknowledgements, this book marks a very different style for him – after two very popular India based series (the Malabar House and Inspector Chopra books) he’s written a stand-alone psychological thriller set in the US.
It’s a bold move and a suitably bold narrative to do it with.
The title and one line summary (mine, not the publishers) of a convicted murderer trying to remember what really happened on the day she is supposed to have carried out the act, may suggest a fairly standard did she/ didn’t she scenario, but anyone familiar with Vaseem Khan’s previous work will be expecting something more.
And something more we get – this is a rich tapestry of a novel involving family, small town America, identity and truths, half-truths and lies.
The novel is told in two time frames – from Orianna Negi’s perspective as she returns to the town after her prison release to try to find out who really killed Gideon Wyclerc - the man she has served so long for murdering, and from the POV of forensic psychologist Annie Lederet as she carries out the pre-release interviews with Orianna.
It’s a clever turn on the more traditional ‘before the event’ and ‘after the event’ style dual narratives and raises as many questions as it answers until the book’s climax when it all comes together in a way I don’t think even the most widely read crime fiction enthusiast will see coming.
I’m staying light on plot details as it’s a book you’re better off just going with for the journey, but I thought this was an incredible ‘debut’ in this new style of book from one of the best writers we have.

5* The Girl In Cell A by Vaseem Khan. One word - bravo. This is psychological fiction and/or crime literature at its finest. What a book!

Orianna was locked up for murder 18 years ago. We join her across 2 timelines, one in prison with a mental health professional trying to untangle Orriana’s guilt or innocence and in the other in the small town where the crime happened in an attempt to find the truth.

I am blown away by how good The Girl In Cell A is. I love Vaseem Khan’s Malabar House series and a standalone is a huge risk for an author and also a bit of a risk for the reader. However, Vaseem has taken his writing to new heights. The characters are drawn spectacularly. I was rooting for some but swung from loathing to liking and back again with others. The plot zips along but in the measured way of Tana French and Chris Whittaker. The twists keep on coming right until the end and the intrigue levels could not be higher. This is a book that is so well written that it is effortless to read (a real skill) and impossible to put down. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

The talented Vaseem Khan pivots effortlessly from historical to contemporary crime, and from the sub-continent to small-town America in this compelling, pacy, multi-layered mystery that shows us the most dangerous secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.

Such a great twisty psych thriller. I've heard great things about Vaseem Khan's historical fiction but this is the first book of his I have read. Highly recommend this one!

I didn't know what to expect with this one, having read Vaseem Khan's previous two series. But I loved it. I was hooked from the first page and read it all in one sitting. This book is going to be huge. The writing is super, the tension is gripping and the book is unutdownable

Absolutely loved this. Kept me guessing till the end and kept me up at night reading late. Id like to see more of this type of book from rhis author.

I love Vaseem Khan's Malabar House series set in India. The Girl in Cell A is a new departure for the author so I wasn't sure what to expect. The book surpassed all my expectations. Vaseem Khan is a versatile and accomplished writer who is not afraid to take on a new challenge.
The book is set in Eden Falls, a small American town. Orianna is in prison, convicted of the murder of Gideon Wyclerc, a member of the town's ruling Wyclerc dynasty. Grace Wyclerc is also missing. Orianna claims that she has lost her memory so psychologist Annie Ledet is called in to uncover the truth.
The book is very well-written, capturing the atmosphere of a small American community. It is a powerful family drama involving scandals, sex, power and prejudices. The twist at the end overthrows everything you have been led to believe.
This is an intelligent psychological thriller. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc. All opinions are my own.

You may be convinced that you're incapable of murder, but it is hard to make your case convincingly when there are holes in your memory that make refuting such accusations well nigh impossible.

So after Gideon Wyclerc is killed and his daughter Grace disappears the same day, Orianna is hard put to explain that if, as she maintains, she didn't kill Gideon, then who was responsible for what happened to him?

Forensic psychologist Annie Ledet is trying to coax answers out of the stubborn gaps in Orianna's memory, but neither she nor her patient are prepared for what might actually emerge from that yawning crevasse...

Khan has written a compelling and intelligent thriller with plenty of twists and turns. The reader's attention is held very effectively until the full story emerges. This gets 3.5 stars.