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The Story
She escaped the traffickers. Now the real chase begins.
When Vân throws herself into Stuart Henderson's car on an ordinary evening in Guildford, she drags him into a world he never knew existed: hidden networks, bought police officers, and men who make people disappear.
Now the men who owned her want her back. And they will hurt anyone who stands in their way.
Outmatched and unprepared, Stuart, his husband Martin, anxious IT consultant John, and sharp-tongued seventy-three-year-old Barbara refuse to abandon her. As the night spirals into violence, this unlikely group discovers that courage doesn't always look like heroism. Sometimes it simply looks like showing up when it matters.
Literary crime thrillerHuman traffickingFound family
Fast moving yet complex - tense and nail biting, no one to trust - yet it was just a jaunt to the store, should have taken a few minutes, yet changed everything. Terrorizing in that this could really happen, does happen - what would you do?Fast moving yet complex - tense and nail biting, no one to trust - yet it was just a jaunt to the store, should have taken a few minutes, yet changed everything. Terrorizing in that this could really happen, does happen - what would you do?
Fast moving yet complex - tense and nail biting, no one to trust - yet it was just a jaunt to the store, should have taken a few minutes, yet changed everything. Terrorizing in that this could really happen, does happen - what would you do?Fast moving yet complex - tense and nail biting, no one to trust - yet it was just a jaunt to the store, should have taken a few minutes, yet changed everything. Terrorizing in that this could really happen, does happen - what would you do?
As someone who devours true crime and also spends most nights worrying about two teenage kids out in the world, this book hit me harder than I expected. I picked up The Other Lotus Girl for the tension and the subject matter, but I stayed because parts of it felt uncomfortably real. I could see myself in the characters right …As someone who devours true crime and also spends most nights worrying about two teenage kids out in the world, this book hit me harder than I expected. I picked up The Other Lotus Girl for the tension and the subject matter, but I stayed because parts of it felt uncomfortably real.
I could see myself in the characters right away. Not literally, but in the fear, the hesitation, and that internal fight between wanting to help and being terrified of what it might cost. As a mom, reading about Vân was gutting. Her story made me stop more than once and just sit there, thinking about how easily someone could be failed by the system. That made the stakes feel personal instead of just dramatic.
What I loved most was how human everyone felt. Stuart and Martin are not action heroes. They are regular people trying to do the right thing while clearly being in over their heads. Barbara completely stole the show for me. She brought humor and grit in a way that kept the story from becoming unbearable, especially given how dark the subject matter is. I appreciated that balance a lot.
The pacing worked well for the most part. The story moves quickly and keeps the pressure on, which made it easy to read in chunks at night. That said, there were moments where I wanted a little more breathing room or deeper exploration of certain characters, especially Vân. I wanted just a bit more time inside her head.
Still, this is a book that stuck with me. It made me uncomfortable in the way true crime often does, because it reminds you these things happen to real people. It also reminded me how powerful chosen family can be, even when everything feels stacked against you.
Four stars from me. This one is tense, emotional, and surprisingly warm in places, and it made me feel seen as both a reader and a mother.
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 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 …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
If you're looking for a suspenseful book with a unique storyline, this is it!
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 …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.
Human Trafficking FictionFound Family ThrillerLGBTQ+ ProtagonistsKitchen Sink Realism Meets Crime ThrillerRoad Trip ThrillerBritish Crime FictionDark Humour in Crime FictionVietnamese ProtagonistOrdinary People in Extraordinary Danger
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