I was recently given the opportunity to review The Girl On The Stairs by Louise Welsh*. As you may know, I’m currently undertaking a reading challenge and after reading the synopsis of this book, it sounded right up my street so I agreed to give it a go.
First things first, how beautifully haunting is the cover? I try not to let cover art trick me into buying a book but believe me, I would have been tempted to buy this even without reading the synopsis!
The Girl On The Stairs can probably best be described as a psychological mystery. The premise is creepy; Jane moves from Britain to Germany with her partner Petra and is often left alone in their apartment, heavily pregnant, whilst Petra goes out to work. Jane often encounters a girl on the stairs, Anna Mann – who is the girl on the cover in the red coat- and Jane soon finds herself immersed into Anna’s life in a deeply disturbing way.
Jane suspects 13 year old Anna’s father of abuse and will do anything to prove it, even going to the police with her theories. She also believes that Anna’s mother, who disappeared when Anna was very young, met an untimely end and is certain that Dr Mann is involved in some way. You, as the reader, are often left confused as to how you are meant to feel about Dr Mann – he seems very likeable but Jane’s theories also seem very plausible too.
I disliked Anna from the start – the way she acts when someone is trying to help her (although perhaps the help is a little unmerited) is baffling and I also found Petra, Jane’s partner, a cold and irritating character. Petra chalks all of Jane’s suspicions on pregnancy hormones and her continual isolation from the outside world, but offers no comfort or help when Jane seeks it. Her relationship with her brother is a little odd at times and I wish there had been a little more about her character.
The plot is a little slow at times, however it picks up towards the middle and turns this book into a fast-paced read…I read this in a day! This is definitely a must-read novel for fans of mystery or psychology, as the reader you constantly find yourself second guessing each and every move – sometimes willing Jane not to go ahead with something, other times urging her on.
Do Jane’s suspicions hold some truth or are her thoughts just the paranoid workings of a isolated, heavily pregnant woman in unfamiliar surroundings?
I’m still not sure.
The Girl On The Stairs is available to buy from Amazon here
for £9.85 hardback and for £8.99 on the Kindle
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for £9.85 hardback and for £8.99 on the Kindle.
Have you read this book? What did you think of it?
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This sounds really interesting and I usually like three sort of books. Great review sweets xxx
http://www.misssunshinesparkle.blogspot.com
thank you x
As soon as I saw you upload this onto goodreads the other day it got me interested enough to look into it. It's on my to reads list as it certainly seems worthy of a read.
Yay!x
I loved this book and whizzed through it. Great review 🙂 x
thanks hun x
Ooh this sounds like quite a good read – I'm currently reading a book that my friend wrote 'The Zombie Room' by R.D. Ronald – its his second book and a right page turner. I'm so pleased for his success and a little jealous.
Gems x
Fashion, Well Done
ooh sounds interesting x
Wonderful post dear 🙂
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thank you x
Have just wondered: "where's bex's blog?", and ta daaaa, ive just looked your fresh blogspot display (i love the head pic, fyi).
thank you x