There's just something I love about stories set in a small American town and The Girl in Cell A brings just that!

I thought this was written really well with short snappy chapters that linked perfectly together with the present day and past. As mentioned above I love a small rural American town and again the author did a brilliant job at capturing that perfectly.

Orianna is unable to remember what happened on the night she was accused and sent down for murder and as her memories start to come back I was on the edge of my seat. With no idea as to where it was going to go I was shocked at that ending!

Definitely one for fans of Tall Bones, All the Colours of the Dark and Salem Falls.

Eighteen years ago Orianna Negi was convicted of the murder of Gideon Wyclerc, She's always denied the charge
Her psychologist Annie, has to write a report to see if Ori is eligible for Parole, the chapters follow their meetings in the past and Orianna's story now as she has the unenviable task of convincing the small minded town of her innocence.
The Wyclerc family close ranks, apart from patriarch Amos who now wonders if Orianna is the killer or not.
I found this a slow burn novel, trickling clues throughout. I must admit to being surprised by the ending and I do think it could have been condensed into a shorter story but it is a clever read.

**The Girl in Cell A** by Vaseem Khan is a gripping thriller that marks the author's first venture outside his usual Indian settings. The story revolves around two parallel narratives that intertwine to uncover a chilling mystery. The novel is a departure from Khan's beloved Baby Ganesh series, taking readers on an intense journey through new cultural and geographical landscapes.

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Having read and enjoyed Vaseem Khan's Baby Ganesh books, I was intrigued to dive into his new venture with *The Girl in Cell A*. As his first book set outside of India, it was fascinating to see how Khan adapted his storytelling to a different backdrop while retaining the engaging narrative style he is known for.

The dual narrative structure worked exceptionally well for me. It allowed for a multifaceted exploration of the story, keeping the suspense high and the plot dynamic. Despite the book's length, it was a quick read, thanks to the periodic summaries within the narrative that helped maintain momentum and clarity.

The twists and turns were plentiful, making it an exciting ride from start to finish. The final twist was particularly satisfying and well-executed, providing a fulfilling conclusion to the story.

Overall, *The Girl in Cell A* is a decent read, showcasing Khan's versatility as a writer and his ability to craft compelling mysteries in any setting. If you enjoyed the Baby Ganesh series, you'll likely appreciate this new direction in story telling.

This one was a tough read for me, for some reason I just couldn’t get into it and found myself skipping a lot. I don’t know if it’s because the story was a bit slow or whether I just wasn’t in the right headspace but it wasn’t one for me.

I needed time before I wrote a review for this title. The story takes the reader on a journey of prejudice against a young girl who dared to look different and didn’t follow the path expected of her.
We hear about the events before Orianna was arrested, charged and sentenced to 18 years for a crime she doesn’t remember yet vehemently denies. This is told through therapy sessions with a psychiatrist analysing Orianna’s behaviour with the intention of unlocking memories.
We don’t find out until the end what prompted Orianna to be released but when she is she has to rehabilitate as well as determine the truth.
Totally compelling, this will make you angry and bewildered, gripped until the final twist.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

I love a crime novel and really enjoyed the twists and turns in this and the back and forth from then and now. However, the big 'twist' did not sit well with me and did feel rather cheated about the rest of the book.

This is my first read by author Vaseem Khan and I found it a really interesting read.

The Girl in Cell A revolves around Orianna Negi who has been convicted of the murder but has always maintained that she is innocent. We are introduced to Annie who is a psychologist and she is tasked with finding out the truth.

Wow, this book was such a ride to be on, and it gripped me from the very first page and I consumed it within a day, which for me is very good! The writing style was great, easy to follow and the characters were just immense.

The reader is really taken on a journey and we learn why Orianna is where she is and what she has had to endure.

I will be picking up Vaseem Khan's other novels.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars.

I absolutely loved this book. I was hooked from the first page. Orianna Negi, otherwise known as the Girl in Cell A, is convicted of murdering her father, a man well-known for his womanising and cruel ways. Despite her conviction, Orianna cannot remember a thing, and begins to work with a forensic psychiatrist to try and unlock her memories. She knows that something traumatic happened that day in her father's hunting cabin, but she cannot put the pieces together. When finally released, she returns to her home town, where she is met with suspicion and dislike, but she is adamant to uncover the truth of what happened. This book is pacy, tense and I couldn't put it down. Orianna is a brilliant character, and I felt really invested in her story. I also loved reading the psychiatrist, Annie Ledet's insights into what was going on in her mind. I was so invested that I did not see the final twist coming. I love books where the ending is so devastating and unexpected that it stays with you for days. I certainly feel this way about the Girl in Cell A. This book packs a huge punch, and will appeal to fans of Val McDermid, Chris Whitaker and Alex Michaelides. Absolutely nothing is as it seems!

A murder mystery with a unlikely amateur detective - the woman who was sentenced as a 17-year-old for the murder of her father. Her half-sister Grace disappeared at the same time - was Orianna responsible for that, too? Forensic psychologist Annie is tasked with treating Orianna for her dissociative amnesia. In a narrative that toggles through time, we see Orianna released from prison and returning to her home town to discover the real killer.
This was a masterful story - it kept me engaged from the beginning, thanks to the character of Orianna, who is obviously flawed but very sympathetic. Her return to her hometown is dramatic, tense and thrilling in turn as the story unfolds and family, former friends and neighbours either support her or stop at nothing to run her out of town.
But what makes it brilliant is the way Orianna's dissociative memory plays tricks not just on her, but on the reader.
It's hard to say more without giving things away, so I'll just stop there and say this book is worth reading, and will have you reflecting on how truth, lies and false memories can become so intermeshed that unpicking them seems nigh on impossible.
A dramatic murder-mystery on one level, this is also a thought-provoking account of the awful consequences of childhood trauma on a vulnerable young girl.

Wow this book was fantastic - the totally unexpected ending elevated it to four and a half stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it - I thought it was really cleverly done and that was before the twist - it’s one of those that you think you need to read again straightaway with a new perspective. Highly recommended.

'The Girl in Cell A' has been my favourite book I've read this year. For an almost 600 page book I read it within a few days which doesn't happy very often for me. I enjoyed the dual POV chapters which were set on different timelines and eventually married up by the end of the story. The plot twists I never saw coming and the ending had my mind blown and I had to re-read. It also had me wondering which version of events were the truth after being so set on what I thought was right. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and will definitely be reading more of Vaseem Khan's work in the future!

This author is new to me and I gather this is a standalone tale. It’s a masterpiece. Part psychological thriller, part present day drama, it’s superbly written and gripped from start to finish. Skilfully crafted with a dual timeline. One in the past when the event took place, the other is current as we peek into the mind of Orianna. Was she convicted if a crime she didn’t commit or is she just deluded?

This is such a multilayered story of small town obsession and twisted family secrets. It whips along and just when you least expect it, the direction twists and you’re left almost breathless by the unexpected. I loved this. Everything I want from a thriller, and then some. Wish I could give it 10 stars for taking me into a vet different world so convincingly. Brilliant.

This book totally immersed me in the world of Orianna.

It was compelling from the very first page.

An incredibly well written and gripping story of the psychological impact that humans have on each other.

I like the format of hearing from two different characters in two different periods of time.

The ending was fascinating, I didn’t see it coming although it was hinted at many times throughout the tale.

My only complaint is it was so unputdownable towards the end that I ended up staying up until 2am to finish it!

I highly recommend this book and would love to read more psychological thrillers from this author.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book on Netgalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

This was an unexpected departure for the author of cosy and procedural crime usually set in India. In his latest novel, Vaseem Khan is in small-town America where we are introduced to Orianna, aka The Girl in Cell A, a young woman who has spent 18 years in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.
Through the eyes of her prison analyst, in exchanges on the inside, and then her own narrative back in the town where she is trying to piece together what really happened, Orianna takes us on a winding journey full of suspense and twists.
This is a well-written and tightly plotted novel which keeps the reader guessing all the way through. Thoroughly recommended. Would have been a four-star read but I felt the novel was a bit too long and I struggled to keep track of some of the family members. But all in all, an excellent thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

When an author deviates so far from what he is good at, great at, there's a worry that the change will be too much. but heck no - I love Vaseems' books and this goes down as being one of my favs. So well written, so compelling and utterly addictive. A thriller with a special place on the shelves for sure!

⭐️⭐️ 2 very slow stars.

I can see this has some very high star reviews but for me I found it to be a very slow burning book. The characters were generally unlikeable and hard to engage with.

The POV style I do usually like but in this case something wasn’t working and it struggled to hold my attention at times.

It's going to be difficult giving this lengthy novel five stars because it really demands more. It was just compelling reading from the first page, never dull, great intrigue and had sufficient clues for the reader to make a reasonal fist of finding the true killer. However, that was just a prelude because as I neared the end of the novel Vaseem Khan bowled a googly which immediately raised my hackles but I was too quick to judge. The lyrics to the song Windmills of my Mind seemed pertinent:
Like a circle in a spiral
Like a wheel within a wheel
Never ending or beginning
On an ever-spinning wheel
Yes, Vaseem Khan introduced a shattering enigma which took the whole story to a new level and the reader to a tailspin.
I really cannot recommend The Girl in Cell A enough, it is the work of a genius.

thank you to Hodder and Netgalley for my ARC copy of this in exchange for a review!

i enjoyed this thriller and it’s quite different to other thrillers that i’ve read. i was so confused at the ending and it still had me questioning what happened.

i reckon the book could have been about 150 pages less whilst still getting the main plot across. there were lots of characters to remember and get my head around so i would recommend reading this book in big chunks to fully grasp it.

overall, a good psychological thriller