This evocative and beautifully crafted tale presents a richly layered mystery, brimming with betrayal, corruption, and murder. It delves deeply into the sins of the powerful, revealing the far-reaching consequences of their darkness. The town of Eden Falls almost feels like a character in its own right, its atmosphere thick with an eerie sense of foreboding.

The narrative moves between past and present, offering insights from both the psychotherapist and the accused as they attempt to determine whether Orianna is truly prepared for release or if she’s lost in delusion. Meanwhile, her moments of unsettling freedom see her on a quest for the truth. The chapters are brief yet thoughtfully paced, and the prose itself is simply breathtaking, making for an engaging and captivating read. A blend of religious imagery and powerful oligarchs creates a striking contrast, evoking a sense of isolation and reverence.

It’s a story marked by quiet intensity, where patience is key as Orianna works to retrace her steps, uncover the truth, and navigate her own trauma while investigating the influential family of her supposed victim and a growing list of suspects. A tale that twists upon twists, I almost found myself ready to put the book down and reduce my rating when I thought I had uncovered the final reveal. But even then, Khan had another surprise in store, keeping me on my toes until the very end

Vaseem Khan is an author who is at the top of my go-to author lists. He is not just an awesome human being, but his writing is second to none!
The Girl In Cell A is his first psychological thriller, and it's set in America. Two unknowns for Vaseem Khan. All I can say is, what did I just read???
Just over a day to read this tale about Orianna, a woman who murdered her father, or did she? That is the question.
Told in first person with the time frame so easily slipping from the present to the past. The reader is slowly drip fed as Orianna and her therapist start to unravel Orianna's past to attempt to unlock Orianna's memory block from the time of the murder.
Wow! The Girl In Cell A is written so sublimely. The twists keep coming, and I didn't even realise until they smacked me in the face! I was invested in Orianna and her story so much that I was so gobsmacked as I closed the book.
I would give this book more than five stars if it was possible! Congratulations, Vaseem Khan! You knocked it out of the park with this one! Cannot wait for your next psychological thriller!

I tried to love this but it was so drawn out and the ending was such an eye roll.

The premise was great, a woman set to clear her name of a murder she swears she didn't commit. It would have worked if it was a puncher read. I didn't get pulled into it the way I wanted to be.

2.5 stars rounded down.

That was an EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! EXCELLENT! Book.

From the opening page I was lost in this story. It is so very well written and absorbed me completely.

I’m gutted that it’s over but oh my god it was an amazing!!

The story took me away and I was living for “the girl in cell A” and desperate to resolve the unknown mystery.

Everyone should read this and I definitely can see this as a movie or a series!!!

Absolutely 5 top stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Would first like to say thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

“The Girl in Cell A” by Vaseem Khan is a psychological thriller. The story revolves around Orianna Negi, who was convicted of murder at seventeen and has always maintained her innocence. The narrative is split between her time in prison and the events in the small town of Eden Falls, where the crime occurred. Forensic psychologist Annie Ledet works to uncover the truth behind Orianna’s amnesia and the murder. There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns in this book which did keep me intrigued throughout. Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will read more books by Vaseem Khan.

I loved this book. It is unusual in the way it was written. Orianna was convicted of murder at the age of seventeen. She has always denied the murder but admits she can't remember what happened. The book is gripping, the tale twists. A forensic psychotherapist starts sessions with Orianna to assess her suitability for parole, she takes Orianna back to her earlier life and the event. Saying more would give things away. As a reader I wanted to be that psychotherapist. I wanted to find the answers in this multi layered gripping tale. I always wanted to find time to read this book and I finished it far too soon.
I look forward to other books by this author.

A small town conspiracy with world shattering consequences that will make you feel like one of the suspects yourself, meet the girl in cell A.

This atmospheric, beautifully written story holds a layered, complex mystery full of betrayal, corruption and murder - one that delves into the sins of powerful people and shows how far their darkness can spread. There was an almost haunted feel to Eden Falls, as though the town was a supporting character itself.

We straddle the before and after, hearing from the psychotherapist and the accused as they try to assess if Orianna is really ready for release or if she’s delusional and the moments of strange freedom afterwards as she looks for the truth. A mixture of short, well paced but quiet chapters and simply beautiful vivid writing made for an easy and captivating read. A mix of religious iconography and oligarchs made for a juxtaposed but reverential feeling, something isolating.

It’s quiet, patient, understated in its intensity as Orianna attempts to retrace her steps, find the truth, untangle her own trauma while investigating the powerful family of her supposed victim and her growing list of suspects. The definition of twist within twist, I very nearly stopped reading and dropped a few stars off when I thought I’d found the final answer but even then Khan had something else hidden, ready to surprise you.

"Here is where things break down, where we encounter the 'innocent prisoners dilemma'. If Orianna is innocent, pleading guilty - finally fessing up - might get her out early. But if she pleads guilty, after all these years of claiming her innocent, how will that affect her?"

There was clearly careful research put into creating this, looking into forensic psychotherapy and psychology, dissociative amnesia and media sensationalism. For a moment I was worried this was going to be another book that demonises the mentally ill and uses them just as a plot point, but it turns around in a spectacular way. Annie also makes some highly relevant observations about the failings of the justice system to bring rehabilitation and reintegration, as well as the way class, race and religion can shape the perception we hold of people.

A riveting and twisty tale that any thriller lover will absolutely eat up.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. It was not a bad read, and kept me guessing, but I think ‘A bit …..’ sums up my feelings about it. A bit too long. A bit too many characters. A bit repetitive. It jumped between ‘now’ and ‘then’ a bit too much.
And the final explanatory chapter was more than a bit too long, confusing and convoluted.
For me, the ‘Shutter Island’ style ending didn’t work because of this; quite cleverly constructed but it lost the impact it should have had. Also I am usually rooting for the underdog so didn’t like the way it ended for Orianna.

The Girl in Cell A was the story of Orianna, a girl who cannot remember committing murder. Psychologist, Annie, is trying techniques to help coax out her lost memories.
This is my first time of reading Vaseem Khan, and she's a great writer with some wonderful turns of phrase. (Although one thing massively bugged me - the overuse of 'a beat' to indicate a pause. This must have happened at least thirty times.)
While the story moved along nicely through the two points of view, I did find the plot a little tedious towards the end (and the twist was a bit cringeworthy, somewhat of a cop-out too).
That said, it was mainly a decent read and I may well try another of Vaseem Khan's books in the future.

I didn't enjoy this book and really struggled to get into it - is am unsure hy as everything about it suggested that I was going to love it@

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.

### Review
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.