I tried twice but really could not get into this book. I found the story dreary and a bit of a plod with no depth to the characters so gave up unfortunately.

Before I left by Daisy White.
Ruby Baker mystery series book 1.
Nineteen-year-old runaway Ruby Baker and pregnant best friend Mary escape domestic violence in London to find a new home in Brighton. They join a glitzy set of party girls who are hell-bent on enjoying themselves in the new freedom of the 1960s.
I did like this book. Good story and characters. I liked Ruby Mary and Pearl. Even Victoria Pearl's friend. Wasn't who I thought it was. I'm looking forward to the next book. 5*.

This is a well done and suspenseful tale featuring young Ruby, who makes both good and bad decisions. Now there's been a murder! A very good read.

A fairly ok story and an easy read, I enjoyed this book and would like to read more by this author.

Intrigue, murder and a beach-side town, what more do you want? This book was great, I loved how it was set in a different time period but the details of that period were allowed to complement the story and not take it over fully. This was a great read and kept me interested the whole time.

A really good immersive read. Great story line and characters.

An easy read. Ruby and her friend Mary run away from home together for different reasons. They run to Brighton and make a lot of new friends. This is a thriller with likeable characters which is an enjoyable read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a well written book where you can imagine the scenery and conjure up an imagine of the characters. Great book and loved the era it was centred around.

Before I Left was a great page turner that had me guessing right to the end "who done it ". A few twists that caught me off guard. Well worth a read as I'm sure everyone will be hooked too.

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it, the plot was great and the descriptive nature used really helped you to envisage the scenes and the locations in the book, it really brought them to life.  It didn’t take me very long to read and I finished it in just over one sitting.  I loved the characters and they worked really well together as the plot developed right up to the excellent ending.  I am already looking forward to reading more from Daisy – Four stars from me for this one – I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

I love Brighton, so when I came across Before I Left I couldn’t resist picking up a murder mystery set in one of my favourite summer destinations. Fun, flirty, and filled with joy de vivre Before I Left is the perfect balance between mystery, romance, and occult drama.

Would I recommend this book? Hands down, yes! It’s ideal for those readers who crave a little rush but don’t want the gory details to keep you up at night. Also, perfect for lovers of 60s British fashion as the descriptive elements are spot on… and may have inspired a shopping spree.

My review, as posted on Goodreads:

I like the sense of time and place which this book engenders. It is set in Brighton during the 1960s.

The main characters are Ruby and her friend Mary. They are both escaping to safety in Brighton, from abusive relationships in their hometown; Croydon.

The story is told through the eyes of Ruby who has escaped from her abusive father. Her friend Mary has escaped from her violent controlling husband, she is also expecting a baby.

I won't go into the plot, as it would spoil the story for others. However what I will say is that the sense of tension builds from early on. The novel has a wide range of characters, these are well crafted and believable.

It eventually becomes clear why the book has this title.

There are a few twists and turns in the plot and a few red herrings, before a final conclusion emerges.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and Joffe books for a copy in exchange for this review.

Even though I've never been to Brighton, I spent quite a bit of time in London in the 1960's and loved the atmosphere of this time in England that permeated the book.
Young Ruby and pregnant Mary escape their abusive homes to stay with Ruby's cousin Pearl in Brighton and quickly get caught up in a whirlwind of the exciting night life and glamorous friends they're introduced to by Pearl. They also find jobs at Johnny's, the popular hair salon. Their lives seem perfect until one of their friends is found murdered and Ruby seems to have a stalker. Soon life has become fraught with fear and the possibility of Ruby's secret past coming to light, as well as ritual killings and the possibility of an evil sect operating in Brighton.
The close, loving relationship between Ruby and Mary was very moving to me. The mystery, the myths, the shadowy cult and the lovely evocative atmosphere of Brighton are so appealing that I'm sincerely hoping for a series. It would be a treat to go back to Brighton and find out how the girls are doing.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.

This is a great debut mystery! Ruby Baker and her friend Mary are young adults running away from domestic violence in the 1960's. They make some new friends and enjoy partying and socializing with them. Then things turn violent-several murders and a strange man spying on Ruby. The unraveling of these mysteries hooks the reader. I thought the ending was thrilling-I was rooting for Ruby! Can't wait for more from this author!

Great book. Brilliant plot and main characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Very enjoyable.

Great book cover but sadly I struggled to get into this one.

3 and 1 / 2 stars

This book is written in the first person.

It is the 1960’s and Ruby Baker and her best friend Mary leave home and run away to Brighton. Ruby is regularly beaten by her step-father and Mary is married to an abusive and very jealous man – and she is pregnant. And Ruby has a secret that she hopes no one ever finds out. Hitching a ride to Brighton, they show up at Ruby’s cousin Pearl’s apartment unannounced. Their plan it to find jobs and get their own place as soon as possible.

They luck into positions as apprentice hairdressers immediately. They enjoy themselves partying and having a good time, for it is now the 60’s when anything goes.

A strange man begins to follow Ruby around. She is justifiably scared. Then the murders start to occur. The little community of party girls is terrified. A serial killer is on the loose!

This book takes some very interesting twist and turns. It is well written and plotted. The books starts out casual and with just a little tension, but as the story builds, so does the suspense. This is my first Daisy White novel, but I immediately went to Amazon to check out her other works. Well done, Ms. White!

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.

Ruby Baker and her best friend, Mary are runaways. Ruby is running from an abusive stepfather and something she did to ease her mother's life. Mary is pregnant and running from an abusive husband. Ruby has a cousin in Brighton and that is where they land.

Obtaining jobs at a beauty shop, they fall in with a fun bunch of people. This is the 60s and almost anything goes. Ruby and Mary are enjoying their freedom ... until ....

Someone is watching Ruby. Mary is afraid it is her husband. Ruby is afraid it's her stepfather. So who is this? And does he know her secret?

When Ruby finds the body of someone she knows, she fears for her own life. The stranger who watches her has not come out of the shadows. And then someone disappears who is very close to Ruby. Is the stranger a murderer? There is talk about sacrifices and the occult. Is Ruby the target?

This was a fast, easy read filled with colorful characters. It started a little slow for me, but it didn't take long before I was hooked into the story. I didn't find it as much suspenseful as I did mysterious. And I do like mysteries. There are several suspects so I couldn't guess the ending ... and it was quite a surprise! All in all, a compelling and enjoyable read.

Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.