Vaseem Khan's "The Girl In Cell A" is a riveting thriller that captivates from the first page. Set in the bustling streets of Mumbai, the story follows Inspector Ashwin Chopra as he investigates a complex web of crime and corruption. Khan masterfully weaves intricate plot twists with richly detailed settings, creating a vivid backdrop for the compelling narrative. The characters are well-developed, and the pace is relentless, keeping readers on edge. Khan's storytelling brilliance shines through in this gripping tale of justice and resilience. "The Girl In Cell A" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction and mystery.

A very good thriller that doesn’t let you get out of your seat! The writing was very easy to get into and the story was chefs kiss.

Superlative..
A small American town, a girl known as ‘The Girl in Cell A’ and a multi layered mystery at its very heart to keep the reader guessing. An epic tale indeed in this unexpectedly twisting, turning suspense which bursts with atmospherics, a cast of credible characters and a propulsive, clever and immersive plot. Superlative storytelling.

As the author acknowledges in his acknowledgements, this book marks a very different style for him – after two very popular India based series (the Malabar House and Inspector Chopra books) he’s written a stand-alone psychological thriller set in the US.
It’s a bold move and a suitably bold narrative to do it with.
The title and one line summary (mine, not the publishers) of a convicted murderer trying to remember what really happened on the day she is supposed to have carried out the act, may suggest a fairly standard did she/ didn’t she scenario, but anyone familiar with Vaseem Khan’s previous work will be expecting something more.
And something more we get – this is a rich tapestry of a novel involving family, small town America, identity and truths, half-truths and lies.
The novel is told in two time frames – from Orianna Negi’s perspective as she returns to the town after her prison release to try to find out who really killed Gideon Wyclerc - the man she has served so long for murdering, and from the POV of forensic psychologist Annie Lederet as she carries out the pre-release interviews with Orianna.
It’s a clever turn on the more traditional ‘before the event’ and ‘after the event’ style dual narratives and raises as many questions as it answers until the book’s climax when it all comes together in a way I don’t think even the most widely read crime fiction enthusiast will see coming.
I’m staying light on plot details as it’s a book you’re better off just going with for the journey, but I thought this was an incredible ‘debut’ in this new style of book from one of the best writers we have.

5* The Girl In Cell A by Vaseem Khan. One word - bravo. This is psychological fiction and/or crime literature at its finest. What a book!

Orianna was locked up for murder 18 years ago. We join her across 2 timelines, one in prison with a mental health professional trying to untangle Orriana’s guilt or innocence and in the other in the small town where the crime happened in an attempt to find the truth.

I am blown away by how good The Girl In Cell A is. I love Vaseem Khan’s Malabar House series and a standalone is a huge risk for an author and also a bit of a risk for the reader. However, Vaseem has taken his writing to new heights. The characters are drawn spectacularly. I was rooting for some but swung from loathing to liking and back again with others. The plot zips along but in the measured way of Tana French and Chris Whittaker. The twists keep on coming right until the end and the intrigue levels could not be higher. This is a book that is so well written that it is effortless to read (a real skill) and impossible to put down. I couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

I was not sure what to expect from this book but I was pleasantly surprised what a good read

Thank you for the opportunity to review a good book to pass the time

The talented Vaseem Khan pivots effortlessly from historical to contemporary crime, and from the sub-continent to small-town America in this compelling, pacy, multi-layered mystery that shows us the most dangerous secrets are the ones we keep from ourselves.

Such a great twisty psych thriller. I've heard great things about Vaseem Khan's historical fiction but this is the first book of his I have read. Highly recommend this one!

I didn't know what to expect with this one, having read Vaseem Khan's previous two series. But I loved it. I was hooked from the first page and read it all in one sitting. This book is going to be huge. The writing is super, the tension is gripping and the book is unutdownable

Absolutely loved this. Kept me guessing till the end and kept me up at night reading late. Id like to see more of this type of book from rhis author.

I love Vaseem Khan's Malabar House series set in India. The Girl in Cell A is a new departure for the author so I wasn't sure what to expect. The book surpassed all my expectations. Vaseem Khan is a versatile and accomplished writer who is not afraid to take on a new challenge.
The book is set in Eden Falls, a small American town. Orianna is in prison, convicted of the murder of Gideon Wyclerc, a member of the town's ruling Wyclerc dynasty. Grace Wyclerc is also missing. Orianna claims that she has lost her memory so psychologist Annie Ledet is called in to uncover the truth.
The book is very well-written, capturing the atmosphere of a small American community. It is a powerful family drama involving scandals, sex, power and prejudices. The twist at the end overthrows everything you have been led to believe.
This is an intelligent psychological thriller. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc. All opinions are my own.

You may be convinced that you're incapable of murder, but it is hard to make your case convincingly when there are holes in your memory that make refuting such accusations well nigh impossible.

So after Gideon Wyclerc is killed and his daughter Grace disappears the same day, Orianna is hard put to explain that if, as she maintains, she didn't kill Gideon, then who was responsible for what happened to him?

Forensic psychologist Annie Ledet is trying to coax answers out of the stubborn gaps in Orianna's memory, but neither she nor her patient are prepared for what might actually emerge from that yawning crevasse...

Khan has written a compelling and intelligent thriller with plenty of twists and turns. The reader's attention is held very effectively until the full story emerges. This gets 3.5 stars.

A beautifully written and clever psychological thriller that I devoured in short order.

There's a really addictive quality to the storytelling here and the characters are intriguing, its a mystery and a drama with many layers. You just don't want to put it down and in true psychological thriller style you don't know what's what until you know what's what..

Twisty, atmospheric and chock full of intrigue, this reader hopes Vaseem Khan writes more novels in this genre.

I guess when you've got it you've got it. No need to stay in one lane. Very much recommended.