Title: The Woman Before Me
Author: Ruth Dugdall
First published January 1, 2010
288 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781907461156 (ISBN10: 1907461159)
Rating: 3.81
Overview
It’s been five years since Rose Wilks was sentenced for a crime she claimed she didn’t commit. But now, she’s almost free, and her probation officer, Cate, must decide if she’s ready to be released back into society.
As Cate delves deeper into Rose’s case, she begins to question everything she knows about the crime and the people involved. With twists and turns at every corner, The Woman Before Me will keep you guessing until the very end.
Can justice be served, and if so, at what cost?
About the Author
Born in 1971, Ruth Dugdall is a talented writer with a passion for crime. Having earned her BA honours degree in English Literature from Warwick University and her MA in Social Work from the University of East Anglia, she went on to qualify as a probation officer in 1996.
Her work with offenders guilty of serious crimes, such as stalking, rape and murder, has informed her writing, making it both authentic and compelling.
Over the years, Ruth has won numerous awards in various writing competitions, and her short stories have been published in the Winchester Writers’ Conference and the Eva Wiggins Award anthologies. In addition to her writing, Ruth also presents the news on Felixstowe tv, which she describes as “probably the smallest tv station in the world.”
Editoral Review
In Ruth Dugdall’s The Woman Before Me, readers are taken on a thrilling journey through the mind of a convicted criminal as she tries to convince her probation officer of her innocence. First published on January 1, 2010, the novel is a masterful work of suspense that will have readers guessing until the end.
Dugdall is an accomplished crime writer and has published several books within the genre. She has a gift for creating complex characters that are both deeply flawed and relatable.
The Woman Before Me is no exception. The novel delves into the mind of Rose, who has been convicted of killing her boyfriend’s daughter.
As Rose recounts her version of events, readers are left questioning whether she is truly guilty or just a victim of circumstance. Set in an English village, the novel’s setting is a character unto itself.
Dugdall’s vivid descriptions of the scenery and environment perfectly capture the small-town feel and add to the novel’s sense of unease. The tension between the characters is palpable, and readers will find themselves on the edge of their seats throughout the book.
The novel’s strength lies in Dugdall’s writing style. Her prose is both beautiful and chilling, creating a sense of unease that permeates the entire novel.
She expertly weaves together Rose’s past and present, creating a narrative that is both compelling and heartbreaking. However, the novel is not without its flaws.
At times, the pacing feels slow, particularly in the first half of the book. Additionally, some of the secondary characters feel underdeveloped, leaving readers feeling like they were only introduced to further the plot.
Despite these limitations, The Woman Before Me is a must-read for fans of the crime genre. Dugdall’s writing is masterful, and her ability to create complex characters is unparalleled.
The novel’s themes of guilt, redemption, and the weight of the past make it a relevant read for anyone interested in exploring the darker side of the human psyche. Overall, The Woman Before Me is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will leave readers reeling.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a suspenseful and well-crafted crime thriller. My rating for this book is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
