The Girls Before is a chilling, slow-burn thriller that intertwines two haunting storylines: a woman trapped in a dark room (“below”) and a search-and-rescue expert (“above”) haunted by her ex–best friend’s disappearance years earlier. As Audrey uncovers evidence suggesting a missing runaway may be tied to a powerful local family, the novel peels back decades of secrets, lost girls, and a sinister local legend about a Jenny Redhands who saves girls from bad men. The tension builds as past and present collide, revealing what really happened to the girls before.

I listened to this on audio, and honestly, anything Karissa Vacker narrates is an automatic win for me. She’s one of my favorites, right up there with Jim Dale and Kathleen Early. Ina Barron narrates the “below” storyline, and together they did an excellent job creating a clear, immersive distinction between the two POVs while pulling me completely into the story. The atmosphere and local folklore Marshall creates are definite highlights, and there’s a lot of strong character work that kept me invested throughout.

That said, the plot does get a bit convoluted at times, with a large cast of characters to keep track of, and the ending felt pretty far-fetched…even if I can appreciate how it ultimately tied everything together. Audrey, in particular, stressed me out; some of her actions would have been more believable if she were a detective rather than a teacher (also… does she ever actually teach?). It didn’t ruin the story, but it did nag at me a bit. Overall, this was a solid 4-star thriller with excellent narration, and another strong, atmospheric entry from an author I consistently enjoy.

Other Kate Alice Marshall Reviews

AMAZON | GOODREADS  | BOOKSHOP |★★★★

The Girls Before comes out February 24, 2026. Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copy in exchange for my review.  If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.