The Girl Before

If you enjoy suspense, you will enjoy this book! But for me, as someone that is involved with the restoration of women rescued from sex trafficking, it will be a MUST READ recommendation to fellow abolitionists. Rena Olsen has written a book from such a unique perspective that it has caused my heart to open to our participants in a bigger, fuller way!

Amazing book that gives an insightful view on what human trafficking is like. Characters were well developed, and the dialogue was a helpful source. This book is not only super interesting and heartfelt, but goes beyond in teaching about bigger topics.

I could not stop reading this book once I started. I didn't know anything about it, but it came highly recommended. It was a surprise for me to see such important, but often ignored, topics covered so well. Not only was this a psychological thriller, but it was a story about mental health, healing, and forgiveness. I highly recommend this book.

It was very exciting reading. Original plot, bright characters and the best of all is the development of the main character. First, the heroine, irked me to the highest grade, but gradually I began to understand her life conditions and motives for her behaviour. And she won me on her side. Brave, compassionate, but confused by her psychopathic, violent and criminal husband, all this mafia-like family, she comes to right decision in the end. Well done, Rena Olsen, I want to read you more!

This is just another book about a woman as victim that tries to frame itself as a story about a person bravely freeing herself from her sadistic tormentors. The writing is hackneyed, repetitious, and dull. I also had the Audible Whisper Sync and found the narrator to be whiny and annoying.

This title is listed as a psychological mystery/thriller, but I didn’t find it mysterious or thrilling in the usual sense. This is definitely a complex psychological study of the devastating damage of abuse and exploitation. Right up front, I would warn readers who may be susceptible to triggering of trauma to probably pass this one by. The subject matter is dark and horrifying, and frankly something that I would normally avoid myself. I did not realize before selecting this book what I was in for.

That said, author Olsen, a psychologist and therapist, has successfully walked a thin tightrope to present a riveting story of ugly truths, being very clear about just what is going on while avoiding graphic voyeurism that would have cheapened the experiences of those in peril. The story unfolds exclusively through the current events happening to Clara, who has been abruptly separated from her husband by law enforcement agents (chapters labeled “Now”), and through her memories of past events at many different points in her life (chapters labeled “Then”). This back-and-forth formula is pretty trendy these days, but in this case I found it very effective, as the reader can tell immediately just what is going on that caused her husband’s arrest while she remains in the dark. The process of stripping away Clara’s psychic walls is told with both power and compassion. My heart broke over and over as door after door of awareness opens and I prayed for her to finally understand her true situation while dreading the inevitable emotional breakdown that would come with that dawning.

The narration by Brittany Pressly was perfect. Yes it is highly emotional, but the emotions matched the narrative. I felt the full range from joy to fear, confusion, despair, panic and rage. It made the listening experience more intense – sometimes uncomfortably so - but this is a subject that should take all of us out of our comfort zone. I see pictures of missing children with a very different eye now.

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Caro

Beware of Spoilers

The Girl Before is a thrilling book you have to read again right after you’re done reading it the first time. Clara’s story is captivating and moving as it shows the point of view of a child who thought that the life she had grown up in was how life was supposed to be like between the Now and Then moments.

At first glance, the reader is shown how Clara is taken, separated from her family, and then isolated. Clara tries her best to follow her husband’s words by not talking, and cannot comprehend why the people that have her captive would do such a thing to her and her family. What the reader then finds out is that the girls Clara loves and calls her daughters are in fact not hers, and that she is not who she thought to be all this time.

Behind Clara’s beautiful family façade lies a human trafficking organization. The focus of The Girl Before is set upon Clara’s perspective as a child to adulthood who was taken from her family and raised to be sold when the time was right. Due to certain events, Clara reaches the age to which she was supposed to be sold to instead stay in the household and become an apprentice in helping raise the younger kidnapped girls.

From Clara’s Then memories the reader gets glimpses of her life throughout the years after she was kidnapped, and how after time passed Clara forgot who she was, forming memories of a new family. Clara’s Now perspective shows her realization of the girl she was before and how she slowly comes to the conclusion that she is also a victim.

Clara shows us her world and the people that surround her as she learns the differences between those she grew up with and thought that loved her, to those that grew without her and truly cared for her. Her relationship with Glen is something about the story that I don’t know if to hate or not. As Clara mentions, she loved him and he loved her in his own way, and I couldn’t help liking those hidden moments where Glen showed he loved her. If life had been different, their story would have been another one.

Rena Olsen wrote a beautiful debut novel with The Girl Before showing another side of what can happen behind human trafficking and an abusing relationship. I really enjoyed reading this book and going through the memories with Clara to find the lost little girl, Diana.

“Maybe you loved Clara, but Clara no longer exists.”

Rena Olsen’s “The Girl Before” is one of the most powerful, most emotionally charged, and most relevant debut novels I have read. It requires no synopsis of the story, other than that in the store’s product description, since doing so would spoil the entire novel for others.

Through Rena Olsen’s using the first person voice to tell the story, Clara Lawson’s narrative becomes very personal and very intimate. Chapters alternate between “Then” and “Now”; initially chapters are short and the pace rapid-fire as Clara shares her memories with the reader. Through her eyes, the reader begins to see and to understand Clara’s motivation and her dependence on her husband Glen and her in-laws. Her acceptance of Glen’s, sometimes, violent behavior and secrecy becomes a motivating factor throughout much of the novel. “…Maybe it is better not to know all of Glen’s secrets …despite them, he is my home …”

As the novel moves more fully into the “Now”, chapters become longer and Clara gains a greater understanding of the events that dictated the course of her life. During the time she lived with the Lawsons, she protects sanity through compartmentalizing information. The psychological aspects of her life and its course might have destroyed a less strong woman. Clara thinks “…good and bad are relative terms …my world, for now, is a constant shade of gray …” Later as she learns additional information, she questions her past “…how can my normal not be normal …” Finally, Clara determines :…It is time for me to save myself …”

Because of its subject matter and the topics addressed, “The Girl Before” is not an easy novel to read. It contains language and brutality that may make you shudder, but it sheds light on some illicit, morally reprehensible activities. Incorporating various issues relevant in today’s world, Rena Olsen has written an important novel and one you will be unable to put down once you begin to read.

The narrator's voice is extremely manipulative, kind of ruining the book for me. Also, the protagonist's stockholm syndrome set in deep. For a 6-year-old who came from a loving home to plunge into a survival mode must have made her act and react in such ways. She's really smart in placating the mamma and papa first before landing her personal shield in the form of the son. I suspect that she knew what's in store if she's not aligning with the crime family. Her yearning to belong, to have a "family", is a form of survival. Her belief that all the new girls that keep showing up and being shipped away are her "daughters" is another proof of her strong survival instinct.

I think the real horror starts after waking from the dream. Perhaps this is the reason why it took a whole book of now and then for the protagonist to finally acknowledge her role in the crime syndicate. I don't know how she can live with herself, knowing how narrowly she escaped the fate of being sold to some "benefactor" or into the brothel, like almost all of her charges. A lot of tragedy survivors carry the guilt for the rest of their life. Suicide is not unheard of.

Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Girl Before, in exchange for an honest review.

The author approached the timely subject of human trafficking with a fresh pair of eyes, choosing to focus on one who is unwittingly complicit in the aforementioned crime. Clara thought she was helping her "daughters", teaching them how to be obedient, training them for a life better than the one they left. Little did she know, but Clara had more in common with her girls than she thought. When Clara is held against her will and certain truths come to light, will she be able to sort out which life is the one worth keeping?

At the beginning, the constant shifts in time ruined the flow of the novel and made it difficult to figure out what had transpired. As I pushed through, however, I really started to gain insight and understanding into Clara's psyche. By the conclusion, with her characterization and story complete, Clara had totally won me over. This heartbreaking story has few winning moments, as most of the tale is exceedingly dark and disturbing. Human trafficking and underage prostitution are not pretty and the outcome is usually not a positive one. This realistic fiction highlights these important issues within a framework that drags the reader into the story. I recommend The Girl Before to readers who are drawn to novels with contemporary themes and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Diana disappears at the age of six and becomes Clara, a valuable property in an extensive sex trafficking operation. She has no memory of her childhood or real family. She has a new family now, and a new life. Unwittingly she is drawn into the orbit of her captors, falling in love with the handsome son of the family and thinking of the young girls in the establishment as her beloved daughters.

Her illusory life falls to pieces one night when Federal agents break into her home and drag her and her "husband" away.

The story is very trenchant in portraying the traffickers' use of calculated brutality to control minds and bodies. It is also a perverse kind of love story.

Diana presents a fascinating combination of victim and criminal accomplice. She offers her therapist a mass of psychological damage to deal with, her Federal captors a tough nut to crack, and her judge a challenging case to try.

I'm afraid that the author manipulates the reader's emotions as ruthlessly as Diana's abductors manipulated hers. I gave in to this pretty willingly, though, and read the book with total absorption. The Girl Before is an accomplished psychological thriller.

** Trigger warning for violence, including rape. **

“If what I’ve been told is true, if I was taken from a loving family, what does that mean for the girls I raised? Were these girls all taken as well? Glen had to know. There’s no way that I’ve been able to work it out in my mind that he didn’t. I want to talk to him, to ask him why, but part of me is terrified of the answer. Terrified to know the truth, because if he knew, if he orchestrated all of it, then what does that make me? What did he make me?”

Alt title: “The Deprogramming of Diana McKinley.”

THE GIRL BEFORE begins with a bang and a whimper as federal agents raid the headquarters of a human trafficking ring in the Rocky Mountains. Among the girls and women rescued is Clara Lawson (real name Diana McKinley), who was abducted from a park near her home when she was just six years old.

Like all of the other children kidnapped by Papa G and Mama Mae, Clara was told that her parents no longer wanted her; had given or sold her to the Lawsons to raise; and would eventually be placed with a family who loved and needed her more than hers. The brainwashing begins immediately, and is reinforced with strict discipline, an emphasis on total obedience, and copious physical abuse. Strict gender segregation is maintained at all ages (after all, can’t have the boys “sullying” the merchandise), with boys trained to be bodyguards, manual laborers, or Papa G’s own personal militia, and girls groomed as “companions.” A high-end brothel, Mama teaches her girls etiquette, reading, writing, proper speech, and foreign languages in order to appeal to wealthy buyers. Some clients even choose “their” girl in advance, with special instructions as to their education.

Clara is one such girl, having been promised to Mr. Q – a man easily thirty years her senior – at the age of twelve. The only thing standing between her and a life as a sex slave is Glen Lawson, Jr. – Papa G and Mama Mae’s only son and the heir to their operation. He and Clara fall in love and, with a little perseverance, a whole lot of nerve, and a bit of Machiavellian maneuvering, manage to stay together, despite the odds. But theirs is a bargain with the devil: Papa G agrees to let Glen buy Clara, but only if they stay and take over the business when he retires. And so Clara becomes both victim and victimizer, as she trains girls the way Mama trained her (albeit with a much gentler, more compassionate hand).

Yet it’s not as though she has any other options (“My life is not about choices.”), nor does Clara know anything other than what Glen tells her. Having grown up in the brothel, raised on its lies, Clara knows no other way of existing. (That, and Glen actively discourages her curiosity in the form of escalating physical abuse.)

The story is told in alternating then/now passages, with Clara’s rescuers – agents Connor and Jay; therapist Dr. Mulligan; and Heather and the members of a women’s support group for victims of human trafficking – trying to undo years of brainwashing in mere weeks and months. More than the abuse, this proved the most interesting part of the narrative: just how do you convince a person that everything she knows of the world is incorrect? That her husband is a monster; that she and her “daughters” are in fact victims; and that her real family never stopped looking for her? Especially when accepting the good goes hand in hand with confronting some rather unpleasant truths about your own complicity, however unintentional?

In many ways, this feels like what the women and children involved in the 2014 raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch might have went through. (Minus the lengthy deprogramming, unfortunately.) Just add a whopping dose of Mormon fundamentalism and polygamy, and Clara’s experience doesn’t feel all that different.

Equally repulsive and fascinating, THE GIRL BEFORE is a harrowing – if atypical – look inside a human trafficking ring. While I’m hardly an expert on the topic, I don’t think it’s common for rings to spend years grooming girls for specific clients; that represents a huge investment of time, effort, specialized skills, patience – not to mention risk. In fact, Olsen seems to acknowledge this through the words of the judge assigned to Clara’s case (“‘In fact,’ Judge Riebe says, ‘there is nothing typical about your case.'”).

Yet there are clear benefits to structuring the story this way: by following Clara’s journey through the organization, Olsen is able to give us a clearer picture of the many facets of human trafficking, as well as the long-term effects on those ensnared in its web. The battle raging in Clara’s psyche – or should I say Diana’s? – is both compelling and heartbreaking, as she learns to forgive herself for the atrocities she was powerless to prevent.

The ending is perhaps a little too positive to be believable (still rather gloomy though); yet, after 300+ pages of reading about sexual slavery, child rape, brainwashing, Stockholm syndrome, and physical-punishment-as-love, maybe a little optimism is just what the psychiatrist ordered.

Trigger warnings like whoah. (Obviously.) This is a difficult book to read, even as Olsen exercises remarkable restraint (e.g., she never shows us what Glen does to Clara after he tells her to lock the door, and I for one am glad of it).

**Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley. ***

This may be obvious, but for readers with any unpleasant memories of abuse or violence, this book may be difficult.

The structure is a bit of a challenge at first, interleaving 'then' and 'now', usually no more than a few pages of each at a time. The 'now' sections are chronological, starting when the masked gunmen burst into Clara's home. The 'then' sections wander from her earliest childhood memories to mere moments before the gunmen appeared. However, the author does a brilliant job of interleaving these, so I never lost track of the story that 'then' was building even though it was non-chronological.

If you want to nitpick, there are some issues. But for a book that can be a one-sitting read, they won't distract you too much.

When this novel opens, it's with a bang -- literally. Law enforcement officials show up and force their way into Clara Lawson's home, pull her from her safe room, where she is hiding with her young daughter Daisy, whose hair she had been combing just before she took refuge there on realizing something was badly amiss. But the reader soon comes to understand that her "daughter" isn't really her biological child, but a young girl she is "training," just as, in Clara herself was "trained" in her turn. Trained for what and by whom? The revelations come slowly, as the story unfolds in alternating segments devoted to the past -- the far past and the more recent past, so you'll have to pay attention as the timeline skips around -- and the present.

In the present Clara is in a jail facility of sorts, where she must make some crucial decisions. Can she face up to what happened in that past? Can she understand the truth of her relationship with her husband, Glen, and what happened to the young girls she loved as her daughters? Can she recall her own far distant past?

With all the suspense novels being compared to "Gone Girl" etc. etc., this is one of a tiny handful that actually held my attention and gripped me emotionally. Is it perfect? Nope. It's a standard woman-in-peril suspense novel, with several twists in the formula that make it fresh and intriguing and thus particularly worthwhile. But I did sit down and devour it in a single day, which is a testament to how compelling the narrative is and how much I wanted to find out what happens to Clara/Diana, and how she resolves all of her dilemmas. There are no big plot holes; I found the characterizations convincing and the writing is solid if not spectacular. It's a great summertime suspense yarn. Recommended.

The opening lines of this book really grabbed me. What was happening?

Without warning, Clara Lawson’s home is invaded by armed men and she finds herself separated from her husband and daughters. The last thing her husband yells to her is say nothing. Say nothing. Those two words sucked me right in. Say nothing about what? The reader soon figures it out. While not being told explicitly what has and is happening to Clara, you know. I read this entire book with knots in my stomach. How sickening that this family made money the way that they did! And that Clara had no idea what was really happening! I kept turning the pages, needing to read faster. When would they be caught so that the madness would end? I needed to know how the “business” was brought down. How would Clara handle the truth about her life?

Told in chapters that alternate between past and present, the novel slowly reveals Clara’s life. While the “now” portions are told in chronological order, the “then” sections jump around a little. I found that a bit confusing at first but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. The alternating past and present telling of the story was interesting and kept me on my toes. This book is well written and comes to a satisfactory ending. This reader looks forward to reading more books by Olsen.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Girl Before is a winding tale of psychological suspense, starting off with Clara being torn from her family at gunpoint, the story evolving backward from there. Bit by bit, the layers of Clara's life are peeled back, proving that what she thought she knew was an elaborate, disturbing work of fiction. While I did think it was intriguing to unravel Clara's psychology, I also thought it was pretty obvious where the book was going, which made some of the tension evaporate. There were also elements of the novel that just didn't feel quite right to me, so even when I tried to explain them away, I couldn't let go of them and found that affecting my immersion in the book. Spoilers to follow.

At first I thought this book was about a cult that had gotten on the wrong side of the law somehow, but I soon realized it was a book about human trafficking. It's pretty apparent from early on where the author is going with the main plot, and given that Clara is addressed as "Donna" early in the book, I also knew that Clara wasn't the person she thought she was. I think this may have been purposeful on the author's part, because this book isn't so much about uncovering the nature of the crimes Glen and his parents committed, it's more about Clara's dawning realization that what she was involved in was wrong on every level, and her having to learn how to deal with that knowledge. While it is interesting to watch Clara slowly ease her hold on her denial, there were times when she struck me as far too credulous. Later in the book, she does tell herself that she knew what was going on, and even though I think one could make the argument that she had to fool herself in order to preserve her sense that she was a good person, I couldn't entirely buy that she was naive. The book doesn't do much to make it easier to believe that Clara wasn't only mislead by her husband and in-laws, but also by herself as a matter of self-preservation, because Clara is supposed to be very clever and intelligent, and so the end result is a strange mix of a woman who's fierce and perception one moment and meek and rather stupid the next. It never quite worked for me, and it made it seem to me that Clara's character was all over the place.

A few episodes in particular gave me this jarring sensation. In one scene, Glen tells Clara to bring the younger girls out at the request of a client. Clara feels uneasy, but does as she's told. However, once the client decides he'll take a couple of very young girls, Clara initially tries to defend her "daughter" when the man slaps her, but then she quickly acquiesces. Since she was uneasy with the request and felt the girls were too young, it seemed strange to me that she gave up on trying to protect them so quickly. Yes, her husband rebukes her, and it's obvious from quite early on that their relationship is anything but healthy, but since Clara has such a deep sense that she's a good mother, I couldn't quite buy that she would step aside as quickly as she did.

The other episodes that didn't work for me had to do with Clara's friend at the compound, Macy. Clara knows full well where Macy is sent when Macy is caught spending time with one of the boys from the training camp, yet Clara never fails to turn her nose up at what she considers the unsavory side of the business. This was further confusing to me because it seems that, on some level, Clara is aware that the girls who are bought by rich clients must be used for more than just domestic labor, given the price the men pay for the girls and the years during which the girls are trained in specific skills at the clients' request. Clara also knows that women are sent to the brothel as punishment, and while I could see her thinking some of them deserved it, it didn't make sense to me that she would continue to be so snobbish about it, knowing that her friend had been sent there. It's true that Clara doesn't cease to dig into the mystery of what happened to her friend, but even though she learns things that give her some serious moments of clarity, she persists in being snobbish and considering herself above the women forced to work in the brothel. The book does address this, but I couldn't be sympathetic with her when it came to this aspect of the plot.

Where the book works very well, to me, is as an abuse narrative. Clara's unhealthy relationship with her husband is very realistic, disturbingly so. Glen is the charming monster, all smiles and kind words and gifts one moment, and a raging menace the next. Their relationship falls in line with the cycles of abuse that are characteristic of violent relationships. Some readers might have difficulty understanding how Clara failed to stand up for herself, but I thought her behavior rang true. She's trapped in her situation, but even if she weren't, she's so in love with Glen that she's quick to justify his behavior and to blame herself for it, which is exactly what makes it so difficult for most people (and women in particular, since they're disproportionately the victims in abusive relationships) to escape.

I had issues with a few other aspects of the plot as well, such as the way Clara is initially treated after she's taken into custody. I didn't find it realistic that she wouldn't have received an immediate psych evaluation, especially since law enforcement believes her to be a woman who was abducted as a child. The courtroom scene struck me as rather far-fetched as well. Really, the law enforcement angle is one of the weakest parts of this novel in general.

Needless to say, considering the subject matter, this is not a light read. While I read a lot of suspenseful fiction, I think I've only ever read about a similar scenario before, and that book did not handle it well. This one did. The book is first person and entirely from Clara's perspective, but the book still takes multiple points of view into account, mostly by using Clara's participating in group therapy as a new lens through which she can view her actions. This was a strength of the book, as it depicted shade of gray in the many ways in which people can be victimized in this respect. It also struck me as realistic that not every woman participating in the group had the same perspective on Clara and what she had done, and it made a great deal of sense that while some saw her as another victim, others saw her as a villain.

Overall, I think this is a strong, sensitive effort of a novel. It's not perfect, but I definitely think this author has potential, and the book is quite thought-provoking, especially for anyone unfamiliar with human trafficking. Olsen does an excellent job of showing how human trafficking isn't just something that happens in far-flung corners of the world, it's also a scourge that exists in the backyards of every developed nation.

While this title pops up in the suspense genre, it has no definitive twist or surprise. The reader has a strong sense of what’s going on. It’s the protagonist, Clara, who is confused about what is happening. The story is told in alternating Then and Now chapters, entirely from her perspective. Clara’s home was raided, her girls taken away and her husband arrested. She’s under psychiatric surveillance and the police want her help with their investigation. Was her home as idyllic and she recalls it or was there something more sinister going on? Who were the “daughters” in her care, being groomed for a better life?

This is a story about human trafficking which some people may find disturbing. Clara does recall memories of her own abuse, as well as incidents involving others, all described in a simple and straightforward manner. While many of us are aware of this problem, Olsen’s story gives us a glimpse into the mechanics of how organizations that sell people run their business. It was eye opening in regards to the time spent training these girls and boys; a brainwashing or reprogramming of the individual. It shows us how the paths we take can shape our character. How we can love someone for who they could’ve been, and how normal is simply just what we know rather than what should be.

At 320 pages, it’s a quick read. I found it hard to put down, desperate to know how many memories it would take for Clara to make the right choice. I give it 5 stars because I feel it was well-told and couldn't think of anything that could've been done better or differently. Highly recommended.

For all my reviews, please visit Clues and Reviews
[...]
Clara Lawson lives on a ranch with her loving husband, Glen and their daughters. One day, their home is raided and, suddenly, Clara’s world is shattered. Glen only has time to tell Clara one thing before he is taken from her. Don’t tell the police anything. Clara wasn’t always Clara. Her husband is a dangerous criminal. The girls are not their daughters. As Clara is pulled through a police investigation she cannot help but wonder what is true. As Clara realizes her entire life has been a lie, she is forced to look at her actions and the actions by those around her. What if everything you knew to be true about your life…wasn’t?

The Girl Before, the debut novel by Rena Olsen, is not your run of the mill suspense thriller. It is slower paced, but completely action packed. This is not a book that you can casually pick up and put down; this plot is so addicting and so consuming that it is unputdownable. This is also not a book that you can casually skim; not a second of this book can be missed. IT IS SO GOOD.

The novel follows Clara Lawson, after being ripped from her home, as she participates in the police investigation into her husband. Told between past and present, the layers of Clara’s past unfold; we see her growing up with her sisters with Mama Mae and Papa G, we see her falling in love with their forbidden son, we see her take over the “family business”. In the present, we see Clara trying to come to terms with what she believes to be true and the reality as her past and present collide.

I loved the narrative style. There are no chapters in this one; instead, the story is told from Then and Now. The Then follows Clara’s backstory at the ranch; how she met Glen, how she got into helping with the girls and the propaganda she was told to cooperate. Be warned, this novel is not told chronologically. This was one of the features that I loved the most about this novel. I loved having to put everything together for myself. The Now follows Clara as she comes to term with what has happened to her.

The development of the Clara character was superb. The novel is told completely in the first person, narrated by Clara. At the beginning of the novel, when she firsts speaks, she is naïve and idyllic, as she speaks of her childhood and growing up with the family. By the middle of the novel, the narration becomes so much darker as she begins to delve into her past and truly understand what happened to her. Olsen truly does a brilliant job at portraying extremely heavy topics like human trafficking and Stockholm syndrome. The ending character development was breathtaking.

If you like novels with a dark undertone or a fantastic novel of suspense, you will LOVE this one. I highly recommend this read. If you are on the fence on this one, let me be the one to push you over the edge. Read. This. Book.

Chilling and deeply disturbing - a great psychological thriller taken from today's headlines. In this novel, a wife finds out, through many emotionally painful days of questioning and "unbrainwashing " by police officers, a psychiatrist, and counselors that not only has she not known who her husband really was, everything she thought she knew about her life, including her own identity, was wrong. The author uses a unique format of flashbacks in every other chapter where both the flashbacks and the present begin at the same point at the beginning of the novel, and where by the end of the novel, the present is current time and the flashback is at the actual beginning of the main character's story. I kept thinking " So this is how it happens." You'll find out what "IT" is near the beginning of the book, and even if you have read other books about this topic, you're still going to be shaken and surprised.
Warning to readers: There is considerable violence to children and adults, both emotional and physical.

A special thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE GIRL BEFORE is a riveting complex psychological suspense debut by Rena Olsen, where lines are blurred, between victim and perpetrator, from then and now. A well-written, disturbing portrayal of human trafficking, the haunting damage-and the road to acceptance, healing, and recovery.

As the novel opens, Clara Lawson is separated from her daughters and husband. This is not an ordinary home invasion or kidnapping. Glen her husband tells her to say nothing. Now Glen is in jail. Why, she wonders.

Not your ordinary “run of the mill” mystery suspense; told in alternating chapters, we hear from a confused woman who is dedicated to her husband and daughters. From “now” and “then” we hear from Clare-mysterious and dark, a broken life, from counseling sessions, a naïve young girl, the past is slowly unraveled, from a family business, innocent girls, and a haunting sex trafficking operation.

Why does Clare think she has a loving husband and family? Yet the girls in the support group are saying something different? Surely, she was no part of this life. Is she in denial? Has she been brainwashed by these people?

She has been a part of this family of Mama and Papa G, the owners and then a relationship with Glen, their son. (All calculating, ruthless, and controlling). The son takes over the business. Where does Clara fit and her role? Who are the girls which she calls her daughters? Why does everyone think her husband is a monster? She needs to keep quiet to protect her husband.

Is she responsible for causing harm to other girls? What about her own family? When everything Clara thought was good and perfect; in reality, is dark and evil. Will they ever know freedom? From trafficking and murder. Guilt and atoning for sins.

From an institution, a psychiatric facility, FBI interrogations, therapy, and support groups, she is called another name, “Diana.” They are accusing her husband of horrific crimes. What darkness was she involved in, and what part did she play with the lives of other innocent girls?

Will she face the real truth about her past and be able to move on with the future? "Every choice is an intricate result of many factors." When getting in a car with someone leads to consequences. For many rescue comes too late.

The author cleverly crafts a disturbing look at a woman who appears to be in denial. As a reader you are hearing of daughters, which are not her children, but the girls she grew up with at Mama and Papa’s house.

As we often read, in this type of situations, the girls have been told they were not wanted by their parents and have been taken in by this couple. They all are trained for their clients (men). From young girls and women--- the author delves into the psychological mind of a woman which is both the victim, and the victimizer.

At times you will want to shake Clara for being naïve; however, as you move along when the reality comes, the novel really takes shape when all of the pieces of the puzzle become connected. I also purchased the Audible version, while traveling, narrated by Brittany Pressley for an emotionally charged performance.

An impressive gripping debut, keeping readers glued to the pages to learn Clare’s real story. The suspense and tension is slow burning, and you know something else is coming next lurking around the corner.

The author’s background is reflected throughout the pages, with her vast expertise: a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Also a licensed therapist. Highly recommend to psychological suspense fans. A definite author to follow! Cannot wait to see what’s next.

While this title pops up in the suspense genre, it has no definitive twist or surprise. The reader has a strong sense of what’s going on. It’s the protagonist, Clara, who is confused about what is happening. The story is told in alternating Then and Now chapters, entirely from her perspective. Clara’s home was raided, her girls taken away and her husband arrested. She’s under psychiatric surveillance and the police want her help with their investigation. Was her home as idyllic and she recalls it or was there something more sinister going on? Who were the “daughters” in her care, being groomed for a better life?

This is a story about human trafficking which some people may find disturbing. Clara does recall memories of her own abuse, as well as incidents involving others, all described in a simple and straightforward manner. While many of us are aware of this problem, Olsen’s story gives us a glimpse into the mechanics of how organizations that sell people run their business. It was eye opening in regards to the time spent training these girls and boys; a brainwashing or reprogramming of the individual. It shows us how the paths we take can shape our character. How we can love someone for who they could’ve been, and how normal is simply just what we know rather than what should be.

At 320 pages, it’s a quick read. I found it hard to put down, desperate to know how many memories it would take for Clara to make the right choice. I give it 5 stars because I feel it was well-told and couldn't think of anything that could've been done better or differently. Highly recommended.

For all my reviews, please visit Clues and Reviews
[...]
Clara Lawson lives on a ranch with her loving husband, Glen and their daughters. One day, their home is raided and, suddenly, Clara’s world is shattered. Glen only has time to tell Clara one thing before he is taken from her. Don’t tell the police anything. Clara wasn’t always Clara. Her husband is a dangerous criminal. The girls are not their daughters. As Clara is pulled through a police investigation she cannot help but wonder what is true. As Clara realizes her entire life has been a lie, she is forced to look at her actions and the actions by those around her. What if everything you knew to be true about your life…wasn’t?

The Girl Before, the debut novel by Rena Olsen, is not your run of the mill suspense thriller. It is slower paced, but completely action packed. This is not a book that you can casually pick up and put down; this plot is so addicting and so consuming that it is unputdownable. This is also not a book that you can casually skim; not a second of this book can be missed. IT IS SO GOOD.

The novel follows Clara Lawson, after being ripped from her home, as she participates in the police investigation into her husband. Told between past and present, the layers of Clara’s past unfold; we see her growing up with her sisters with Mama Mae and Papa G, we see her falling in love with their forbidden son, we see her take over the “family business”. In the present, we see Clara trying to come to terms with what she believes to be true and the reality as her past and present collide.

I loved the narrative style. There are no chapters in this one; instead, the story is told from Then and Now. The Then follows Clara’s backstory at the ranch; how she met Glen, how she got into helping with the girls and the propaganda she was told to cooperate. Be warned, this novel is not told chronologically. This was one of the features that I loved the most about this novel. I loved having to put everything together for myself. The Now follows Clara as she comes to term with what has happened to her.

The development of the Clara character was superb. The novel is told completely in the first person, narrated by Clara. At the beginning of the novel, when she firsts speaks, she is naïve and idyllic, as she speaks of her childhood and growing up with the family. By the middle of the novel, the narration becomes so much darker as she begins to delve into her past and truly understand what happened to her. Olsen truly does a brilliant job at portraying extremely heavy topics like human trafficking and Stockholm syndrome. The ending character development was breathtaking.

If you like novels with a dark undertone or a fantastic novel of suspense, you will LOVE this one. I highly recommend this read. If you are on the fence on this one, let me be the one to push you over the edge. Read. This. Book.

Chilling and deeply disturbing - a great psychological thriller taken from today's headlines. In this novel, a wife finds out, through many emotionally painful days of questioning and "unbrainwashing " by police officers, a psychiatrist, and counselors that not only has she not known who her husband really was, everything she thought she knew about her life, including her own identity, was wrong. The author uses a unique format of flashbacks in every other chapter where both the flashbacks and the present begin at the same point at the beginning of the novel, and where by the end of the novel, the present is current time and the flashback is at the actual beginning of the main character's story. I kept thinking " So this is how it happens." You'll find out what "IT" is near the beginning of the book, and even if you have read other books about this topic, you're still going to be shaken and surprised.
Warning to readers: There is considerable violence to children and adults, both emotional and physical.

A special thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE GIRL BEFORE is a riveting complex psychological suspense debut by Rena Olsen, where lines are blurred, between victim and perpetrator, from then and now. A well-written, disturbing portrayal of human trafficking, the haunting damage-and the road to acceptance, healing, and recovery.

As the novel opens, Clara Lawson is separated from her daughters and husband. This is not an ordinary home invasion or kidnapping. Glen her husband tells her to say nothing. Now Glen is in jail. Why, she wonders.

Not your ordinary “run of the mill” mystery suspense; told in alternating chapters, we hear from a confused woman who is dedicated to her husband and daughters. From “now” and “then” we hear from Clare-mysterious and dark, a broken life, from counseling sessions, a naïve young girl, the past is slowly unraveled, from a family business, innocent girls, and a haunting sex trafficking operation.

Why does Clare think she has a loving husband and family? Yet the girls in the support group are saying something different? Surely, she was no part of this life. Is she in denial? Has she been brainwashed by these people?

She has been a part of this family of Mama and Papa G, the owners and then a relationship with Glen, their son. (All calculating, ruthless, and controlling). The son takes over the business. Where does Clara fit and her role? Who are the girls which she calls her daughters? Why does everyone think her husband is a monster? She needs to keep quiet to protect her husband.

Is she responsible for causing harm to other girls? What about her own family? When everything Clara thought was good and perfect; in reality, is dark and evil. Will they ever know freedom? From trafficking and murder. Guilt and atoning for sins.

From an institution, a psychiatric facility, FBI interrogations, therapy, and support groups, she is called another name, “Diana.” They are accusing her husband of horrific crimes. What darkness was she involved in, and what part did she play with the lives of other innocent girls?

Will she face the real truth about her past and be able to move on with the future? "Every choice is an intricate result of many factors." When getting in a car with someone leads to consequences. For many rescue comes too late.

The author cleverly crafts a disturbing look at a woman who appears to be in denial. As a reader you are hearing of daughters, which are not her children, but the girls she grew up with at Mama and Papa’s house.

As we often read, in this type of situations, the girls have been told they were not wanted by their parents and have been taken in by this couple. They all are trained for their clients (men). From young girls and women--- the author delves into the psychological mind of a woman which is both the victim, and the victimizer.

At times you will want to shake Clara for being naïve; however, as you move along when the reality comes, the novel really takes shape when all of the pieces of the puzzle become connected. I also purchased the Audible version, while traveling, narrated by Brittany Pressley for an emotionally charged performance.

An impressive gripping debut, keeping readers glued to the pages to learn Clare’s real story. The suspense and tension is slow burning, and you know something else is coming next lurking around the corner.

The author’s background is reflected throughout the pages, with her vast expertise: a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy. Also a licensed therapist. Highly recommend to psychological suspense fans. A definite author to follow! Cannot wait to see what’s next.

This is a fascinating, disturbing, sad and inspiring book. Fascinating because of how evil can shape young minds to believe bad is good; disturbing for the same reason, sad at how lives can be ruined, and inspiring at how some can overcome their horrible beginnings.

I felt so sorry for Clara who was definitely a victim - but in a way, so was Glen because that was all he had ever known. His parents were his role models and they were pure evil.

The narrative goes back and forth between clearly marked 'then' and 'now' chapters. The 'now' chapters are in chronological order leading up to the end whereas the 'then' chapters jump around in time - much as memories do - ending with the beginning.

This is a powerful and well-written book that I will remember for a long time.

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many years ago, Clara was kidnapped from her family, and adopted into a "family" that uses and sells young kidnapped girls. The novel begins with Clara'a supposed rescue, but there's a twist: after so many years with her adopted family, after marrying a family member and herself helping to raise the girls, the question remains: is Clara a victim? Or an accomplice? And, most to the point, does Clara herself even know who she is any more?

This a compelling question around which to build a novel, and the first third and last third of the book are strong. The narrative is written in very short, almost staccato, chapters alternating between "now" (post rescue) and "then" (the years with the family). The novel does have a flaw, though, which makes it a little bit of a compromised read. The core question for the majority of the book is whether Clara will break out of her denial: after having been brainwashed by her kidnappers for all those years, will she be able to break free mentally and emotionally? There are interesting questions in here, having to do with the difficulties of getting emotional and psychological freedom long after you get physical freedom. And questions of what separates an accomplice from a victim (the Patty Hearst puzzle). The last third of the book, which starts to get into these questions, is interesting.

However, the problem is in the sections leading up to that. For most of the book, Clara is in denial about who she is, what happened to her, the truth of her husband and his family. But as readers, we are never in denial: from what the detectives and doctors say to her, we always know exactly what happened. And reading nearly 200 pages of a character being in denial, 200 pages depicting stubbornness, gets old. There is scene after scene of authority figures begging Clara to admit the truth, to open up, and scene after scene of her refusing to do so. The flashbacks to "then" are a bit confusing, since they wriggle around in time, but even so, the "truth" of the flashbacks is always pretty evident, so there isn't much suspense. I was getting ready to put the book down when Clara finally started to change her responses -- and then the story became interesting.

So, a mixed review. A fairly interesting setup, for people who like psychological suspense novels; and a clean, crisp writing style, plus a good final act, are some genuine strengths. But a sluggish middle section holds it back a bit.

This novel is a psychological thriller. I wish I could go into more detail about the book, but you will thank me that I did not!
Claire Lawson’s home is invaded and she is arrested along with her husband Glenn. She has been instructed to say nothing to the police by Glenn and her mother-in-law. The police need her assistance to put her husband and others behind bars. Claire is devoted to her husband and wants nothing more than to protect him. She misses her family and wants to go back to her former life.
While in police custody, Claire is unhelpful and will not eat or talk. After being sent to prison for a day, she becomes frightened and becomes more receptive to assisting the detectives. Claire is made to see a counselor while attending a women’s support group. At first she is in denial, not understanding how she fits into this group of women and their feelings. Slowly, she begins to learn that her family has been a lie. Though counseling, she opens up about her life before the raid and begins to trust the people around her. She begins to understand that not only was she a victim of a crime but a perpetrator as well.
I enjoyed this fast paced novel. I loved how the chapters alternated between “Then” and “Now”, pulling the story of Claire’s life together. This is one of the best thrillers that I have read in 2016. Another great novel by a debut author!

Our story opens with Clara Lawson being held against her will, after having been taken away from her cherished home, from the husband she loves, and from the daughters to whom she is so devoted. She is being held captive and is being questioned. She refuses to eat or talk, as she remembers her husband's final words to her, demanding she divulge nothing about him or of their life together. She is confused and afraid and lonely.

Little-by-little, in alternating chapters entitled BEFORE and AFTER, the reader is enlightened concerning what is currently happening to Clara, and what her life with her husband and daughters was like, how she fell in love with her husband and how she grew to be successful in their business. In alternating chapters, we learn of her isolation in a single room, lonely and frightened. We also learn she is being called Diana.

This is an exciting book, one that is nearly impossible to put down. Gradually, we learn about Clara's life and what is happening to her. Full of surprises, this psychological drama is an eye opener!

This book was so interesting to me. Starts with a scene where a house is invaded and a woman (Clara) and her "daughter" hide but are fast discovered. As her husband Glenn is being taken away by the police, he tells her to say nothing! The police need answers but Clara takes Glen's instructions quite literally and doesn't speak or even eat for that matter, she is devoted and wants to protect him. She doesn't understand why all of her daughters have been torn from her. It now goes from "Then" to "Now' chapters where little by little, more and more details emerge. What really does she know about her life and her husband when they are all she has ever known? Were her actions wrong to prepare the girls? Finding out about Clara's life was very intriguing. Just how long has she been with Mama Mae and Papa G? Does she remember anything prior to being with them? AND most importantly, when this life is all you have ever known, was she to be blamed?

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely read more by this author. Well written and would recommend.

This is an uncomfortable book. That's not to say it isn't compelling and mesmerizing. It's all that and more. However, it touches on a most distasteful subject, child abduction and abuse.

There are no chapters or parts as such here. The temptation is to, if possible, devour the entire book in one sitting. It is told as a series of "now" and "then" vignettes. The now ones are in chronological order, but the "then" ones skip around timewise. This isn't as annoying as you might think. It's quite easy to keep track of the story in spite of the lack of chronological order.

Violence and sex are explicit in this, so be ye warned. Summing up, this is truly an engrossing read which I heartily recommend.

Some authors shy away from moral gray areas. Others acknowledge them with a nod while they pass through. Rena Olsen seems to have found one, set up camp, and decided to stay there long enough to write a beautiful novel.
In The Girl Before, Rena Olsen tells a story that is not graphic, gruesome, or gratuitous but manages to discuss topics that are both dark and horrifying: human trafficking and the sexual, emotional, and physical abuse (and exploitation) of both women and children. That's not to say that Olsen doesn't go into gritty details; the author focuses instead on details about the protagonist's emotional and psychological journey – something that Olsen's background as a therapist well equips her for.
This book is masterfully written, carries a great message, and gracefully explores some of the gray areas of a complicated and difficult subject.
It's a quick read. I suggest you get to it.

Diana is the girl before Clara... But Clara is...?? Such a tale of tragedy, guilt, and finally, redemption .. For 17 years Diana is missing and Clara is present.. What could Diana have become? Clara is both victim and accomplice. So much is conveyed in the "before" and the "now". Before is a victim, during is an accomplice and Now is redemption. Utterly tragic and hopeful..
Give this book a chance and you'll find yourself drawn into deep consideration of some of the, what we consider, uneventful little actions on our part that can lead to serious repercussions. Totally mesmerizing.

A great, pacey thriller, it kept me turning pages into the night and biting my nails. It rocked me to the core - the inner strength of the main character throughout her journey was hugely gratifying for me. The author did an amazing job getting in her head and helping the reader understand her mindset. Perfect for fans of Chevy Stevens and Natasha Preston. Loved it!
- Carissa Ann Lynch

As this ominous story unfolds we see the problems associated with long term abuse and control and how powerful it becomes. Stockholm Syndrome is the official name of this but even though it happens it leaves most who become aware of it mystified over how anyone could become so captured in spirit as well as body. It goes against our most earnest belief in free will. While this story develops quickly it takes until the end for the surprising finish to develop. Very interesting story.

So unusual and intriguing. Two female points of view with alternating chapters, which works well. Unfortunately told in present tense. Often unnoticeable, but that device sometimes jerks me out of a story whereas using past tense never does. Anyway, both women get to live in an award-winning house that is run entirely by computers. The architect/owner is very strange. The women have had horrifying experiences before moving in and so are vulnerable. All three facts lead to a fascinating story. I’d give it five stars except for some faddish writing bits and the overall improbability.

This story is told through alternating chapters, Then and Now, of Clara's perspective.
Although Rena Olsen's writing is well executed, I was torn between liking and not like the main character, Clara. At times she seemed to be a strong caring woman and in others an annoying woman who refused to be free from her blinders. The plot moves along at a fast clip and for the the ending worked but I would have like more info about her "daughters" bringing more closure.

The Girl Before moved excessively slow for me while in the THEN mode and spent too little time in the NOW mode. I felt like I was reading a romance novel and if the author described ONE MORE KISS followed by another beating I was going to rip the book into shreds. (Though I could not have since I was hearing the book on AUDIBLE) I was annoyed with the stupidity of the main character too. For someone that was supposed to have mastered 3 languages she sure was "simple" when it came to life. Also one of my least favorite readers so far. I wanted to like it, just couldn't, way too annoyed at the main character.

This book was fantastic! I was completely fascinated by Clara and her story. It was presented in a very interesting alternating “Then” and “Now” flashback method. This allowed the reader to follow Clara as she progressed while getting a glimpse at events that put her in the position she’s in. The content is definitely dark and disturbing, but unfortunately a reality. I felt really bad for Clara as she realized what had been going on in her life before the raid and the aftermath that came with that realization. A fascinating book. I absolutely loved it!

A good book about an interesting topic. I was worried at first that I would be confused with the then and now set up of the chapters however as I read on I did appreciate that the story unraveled slowly through both aspects of time. Though I found the main character fairly un likeable I did think the story was worth a read. I would recommend and I did enjoy the book overall.

This is the story of Clara (Diana) who is kidnapped by traffickers at a young age and brainwashed. It is told from a different angle than most human trafficking books and I liked that. I wanted to keep reading to lean her real story. I thought it was well-written and I enjoyed it.

"The Girl Before" is a shivery, shattering story about a woman who sees her life from two very different perspectives, and how she copes when the two collide.

Rena Olsen renders Clara's story in a series of "then" and "now" vignettes. One of those timelines unfolds chronologically; the other is driven by content. The result is a steady building of unease as Clara and the reader sort seemingly random bits of information into patterns and backstory and comprehension. As Clara constructs clarity, the pace and percussiveness accelerate.

For all of Olsen's skill in plot, characterization, and pacing, this is not an easy story to read, even though in the concrete measure of time spent, the 300 or so pages move quickly. Parts of the story are likely to feel hurtful, and several occurrences of violence are tough to take. Credit to Olsen that none of these moments come off as being gratuitous.

While this is not an enjoyable book, as such, it is thought-provoking, and it is well crafted. It is difficult to say more without spoiling the surprising nature of this book -- especially when the impact of these surprises is the linchpin of the story and provides much of its power.

This debut novel is an absolutely gripping read! Alternating between past and present ("then" and "now"), Clara's life story unfolds - the opening moment the invasion of her home while only 23. Despite her relative youth, her life is darkly fascinating and the reader will quickly be able to read more deeply between the lines than obedient Clara, a woman defined by her naivete. It works to draw out the events a bit, though I think most readers will fairly quickly guess at the truth lying behind Clara's words. This book serves as a grim, almost horror story at times at one of the most frightening things in our society. Though marketed as "psychological suspense" - I honestly would push this a bit closer to "psychological horror".

Clara's ultimate redemption feels a bit abrupt, but I think overall Olsen has laid the groundwork to make this believable and authentic. The epilogue is a particularly nice touch. I will definitely be interested to see what Olsen follows this one up with! It's a strong debut - one that I literally could not pull myself away from. I stayed up much too late (early, really) to be able to finish this in one sitting!

Warning: The creepy factor here is pretty high. Those particularly sensitive to sexual issues might want to pass this by. Not that it's graphic by any stretch, just that the underlying story is somewhat unsavory. That said, it's a compelling and gripping story that held my attention throughout, even though I did find it necessary to take a step away from realistic thinking now and then.

Clara Lawton has a happy and fulfilling life. A loving and caring husband and a houseful of girls. They aren't actually her birth children, but she considers them her children, raising them up to live the same kind of happy life she believes she has been living. One day, that's all ripped away from her, when police and FBI raid the home, taking her daughters and leading her husband away in handcuffs. As he is led away, he shouts at Clara not to tell them anything. No worry there, because Clara has no idea what he is talking about, or why her children have been ripped from her arms. This is the story of just what Clara was living in......and how she learns to deal with the unbelievable horrors hidden in the past.

The subject matter of this book is extremely disturbing; however, it was a very well written story and kept me engaged to the very end. It's fascinating how easily a mind can be manipulated into believing something that is so horribly wrong can actually be right and acceptable. It is terrifying to know that this type of evil really does exist.

If someone decides to make this into a movie, I will NOT be watching it. I don't think my heart or stomach could stand it.

This was a well written book. The topic I believe was well researched. The book is about human trafficking of not only girls but boys also. Clara was taken at a young age and basically trained and brainwashed. She really had no recollection of her family before she was taken. Glen, who is portrayed as a perpetrator was raised from infancy to take over his family's business. Glen needed to be punished, but his character also pulled on my heartstrings. He tried to leave the business behind but was unable to. If he could have gotten out when he tried to leave I believe he could have been rehabilitated. I liked that the book went back and forth between Now and Then. It was a quick read and easy to follow. Clara was a very intelligent girl and I believe knew how to play the game. It was a disturbing topic but I believe one that gave people knowledge of what can happen in this world to our children...even in the Midwest! I believe this could give parents something to think about as far as coming up with a "plan" for their children if a situation like this should arise. I think this book could be made into a movie.

This book was amazing. There is not nearly enough PR over this book. Everyone should be reading it! I purchased this from audible and the narrator was top notch. This story is disturbing and amazing and touching and heartbreaking, all at once. I couldn't get enough of it. The story grabbed from the beginning and never let go. It is one of those books that after you read it, you will never be the same again. I need more from this author ASAP!