The Woman Who Wasn't There by William Hussey (Bonnier Books UK | Zaffre)

The Woman Who Wasn't There isn't just about a dead husband and a creepy fan; it’s about the terrifying porousness of a life lived in the public eye. Hussey sets the scene with a jarring contrast: Marian Lane at a book signing, surrounded by adoration, only to be hit with the news that her anchor, her husband Dane, is gone. Then comes Mary. She’s the fan who knows too much, standing on the doorstep like a physical manifestation of a "Follower" gone wrong.

The pacing is tight, avoiding the mid-book sag that kills most thrillers. Hussey’s characters are fleshed out with a slightly bitter, realistic edge; Marian’s grief isn't sentimental, it’s functional and messy. The writing has a cold, observational clarity that I deeply appreciated. It doesn't try to "thrill" you with cheap tricks; it unsettles you with the possibility that your private life is just another draft someone else is editing.

One line stayed with me: "We are all the protagonists of our own tragedies, but to everyone else, we are just supporting characters in theirs."

This is for the reader who wants a thriller with actual brains, someone who prefers the psychological scalpel over the cinematic chainsaw. If you liked the meta-commentary of The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz, you’ll find a similar, though perhaps darker, soul here. It’s an honest, unvarnished look at the cost of being a "storyteller."

4/5

If you liked this, you might also enjoy:

• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
• Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz