The Other Lotus Girl

The Other Lotus Girl is a pulse-pounding thriller that transforms an ordinary evening into a desperate fight for survival, blending raw tension with unexpected heart.

What makes this book shine is its masterful pacing, every frantic mile in that battered Nissan Micra ramps up the stakes without ever feeling contrived, keeping me glued to the pages late into the night.
The characters leap off the page: V?n's quiet steel after unimaginable horror, Stuart and Martin's rock-solid partnership, and Barbara's razor-sharp grit at 73, all forging an instant, believable chosen family that had me rooting hard.
I loved how it tackles brutal trafficking realities with unflinching eyes yet weaves in disarming humor and humanity, delivering an emotional payoff that's as warm as it is harrowing.
This gem left me breathless and inspired.

The Other Lotus Girl is a gripping, deeply humane thriller that balances unflinching darkness with surprising warmth. Daniel A. Riddle delivers a story that is as propulsive as it is heartfelt, weaving together themes of survival, chosen family, and the quiet, stubborn forms of courage that emerge when ordinary people are pushed into extraordinary danger.

The novel opens with a jolt: a terrified young woman, V?n, hurling herself into Stuart Henderson?s car on an otherwise uneventful evening in Guildford. From that moment, the narrative never loosens its hold. V?n?s backstory?twenty brutal months of being trafficked across Europe?is handled with sensitivity and clarity, never sensationalised, yet powerful enough to shape every decision she makes. She is a remarkable character: fragile and fierce, traumatised yet determined to reclaim her life.

Stuart, his husband Martin, and their wonderfully eccentric neighbour John form an unlikely trio of protectors, and their dynamic is one of the book?s greatest strengths. They are not action heroes; they are ordinary people with ordinary fears, suddenly thrust into a nightmare. Their vulnerability makes their bravery all the more affecting. And then there is Barbara Patterson?seventy-three, sharp-tongued, and carrying her own ghosts?who steals every scene she?s in. Her presence adds both grit and unexpected humour, grounding the story in a sense of lived experience.

Riddle excels at pacing. The entire novel unfolds over a single night, giving it a breathless, cinematic quality. Yet within that urgency, he finds space for moments of tenderness, humour, and reflection. The battered Nissan Micra becomes a symbol of the book?s heart: imperfect, unlikely, but somehow still moving forward.

What truly elevates The Other Lotus Girl is its emotional intelligence. Beneath the tension and violence lies a story about connection?about strangers choosing to stand together when it would be easier, safer, to look away. It?s a reminder that courage doesn?t always roar; sometimes it?s simply refusing to abandon someone who has already been abandoned too many times.

Dark, gripping, and unexpectedly uplifting, The Other Lotus Girl is a standout thriller with real emotional depth. Perfect for readers who appreciate the sharp humour of Mick Herron and the gritty realism of Denise Mina, but want a story that ultimately believes in the resilience of the human spirit.

A powerful, unforgettable read.

With thanks to Daniel A Riddle, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

The book alternates between the past, when Vân was traveling, and the present, when she attempted to escape.

Vân's journey to Europe definitely gave Auschwitz vibes. I found Mai to be an annoying character. The way she treated her sister, even after Vân did everything in her power to protect her, was frustrating.

It hurts my heart to know that even though this is a work of fiction, there are actually trafficking rings active in the world today.

While I really wanted to give this book five stars, I just couldn't. The ending seemed really rushed, and there wasn't much closure. So much happened that was just left dangling.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

When I started this, I thought I was reading a thriller about a small group of people stuffed into a Nissan Micra traveling from one dead end of a chase to the next dead end in an attempt to rescue a young woman from human trafficking. And I was… but there was so much more to the story.
This isn’t so much a story of two men trying to rescue a woman in need, it is more of a story of what people are willing to go through to protect family and to help a stranger in need. I’ve needed a little time to digest what I read. There should be content warnings for human trafficking, sexual assault/trauma, violence, and familial homophobia. However, I feel like this is done as respectfully as possible to the characters and to the reader.

This is a quick read. If you are in the mood for a thriller with lots of character growth and can stomach violence of nearly every form (not a criticism, just a warning for tender hearts), there is beautiful language and writing to be found within this. The chapters alternate between flashbacks of Vân’s life and how she came to be in London and to the present-day chase through London and Manchester. Though I’m a thriller groupie, I quickly became more interested in Vân’s story and relationships between Mrs. Patterson and her son and son-in-law than I was in the car chases and fights. I was constantly highlighting several passages because they were so poignant I didn’t want to forget them.

I’m not sure there is more to come for these characters in additional books. Even if there isn’t, it still feels enough. After all the gut-wrenching experiences and personal growth they all experienced, is it fair to ask more of them?

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

From the first page, Riddle dives right into the action with Van running to Stuart's car, begging for help. Does it seem a little far-fetched that someone would randomly help a stranger in the middle of the day who is being followed and not call the police? Yes. Is it fun and suspenseful and entertaining? Also yes!

So, sure, this book is a little cheesy and unrealistic but don't let that turn you off. This one has heart, has a quick pace, and is impossible to put down! A bit of a content warning as it was a little darker than I expected, but it was still an entertaining story that makes me want to read more from this author. Thanks so much for the ARC!