The Girl Before You

‘The new GIRL ON THE TRAIN’ Observer

She was his.
She was perfect.
And then, she was gone.

If you liked My Lovely Wife, you’ll love this.

Alice has always been haunted by the women from her husband’s past. As a politician and now a TV personality, George Bell’s reputation as a ladies’ man precedes him. But when Alice falls pregnant, her unease becomes an obsession.

And there’s one ex in particular she can’t get out of her head, a beautiful student who went missing before they finished university: Ruth.

When Alice thinks she see Ruth on a train, she can’t shake the feeling there’s more to the disappearance than George has told her. But does she really want to know what her husband has been up to behind her back all these years?

‘I adored this wonderfully assured debut. An engrossing and emotionally honest thriller’ Emma Curtis, bestselling author of The Night You Left

‘A tantalising and suspenseful mystery. Absolutely brilliant! I didn’t want it to end’ Lauren North, bestselling author of The Perfect Betrayal

‘A haunting mystery with beautifully written characters I’m still left thinking about’ Jenny Quintana, bestselling author of The Missing Girl

‘A great page-turner for holiday reading’ That’s Life

‘A beautifully observed and superbly written psychological drama … A writer to watch with the greatest of excitement’ The Chap

‘Wonderfully twisty … Nicola Rayner is one to watch’ Short Book & Scribes

‘A stellar debut from a fantastic new voice in domestic thrillers’ Bookish Jottings

Reviews

‘In The Girl Before You, Nicola Rayner has written the new The Girl on the Train, although her novel also features note-perfect prose and an ending that will leave you gasping. So addictive, it should come with a health warning’ Observer

‘I adored this wonderfully assured debut. Nicola Rayner writes like a dream. An engrossing and emotionally honest thriller. Can’t wait for her next book!’ Emma Curtis, bestselling author of One Little Mistake

‘A tantalising and suspenseful mystery. Absolutely brilliant! I didn’t want it to end’ Lauren North, bestselling author of The Perfect Betrayal

‘A haunting mystery with beautifully written characters I’m still left thinking about. Definitely recommend’ Jenny Quintana, bestselling author of The Missing Girl

‘A beautifully observed and superbly written psychological drama . . . A writer to watch with the greatest of excitement’ The Chap

‘A great page-turner for holiday reading’ That’s Life

About the author

Nicola Rayner was born in Abergavenny, south Wales, and works as a freelance journalist, specialising in dance and travel. The Girl Before You, her debut novel, was runner-up in the Cheltenham First Novel Competition in 2018. She lives in London with her husband and Jack Russell.