INVISIBLE GIRL

 4 stars out of 5

For a book with virtually no appealing or sympathy-evoking

characters and a complex plot that gets a little hard to follow at times, I have to say that in the end, this one is well done. There's enough action and plot twists to hold my attention throughout - and the fact is, just because characters are unsavory doesn't mean they're not intriguing.

Two of the central characters are Cate Fours, a physiotherapist, and her husband Roan, a child psychologist. Together with their daughter, Georgia, they're living in temporary rented quarters while their home is being renovated. One day, Georgia returns home stressing out because she thinks someone was following her (there have been a couple of assaults on women in nearby areas, so her concern isn't totally unwarranted). Later, one of Georgia's girlfriends reports an actual assault, although she later recants.

All this is not good news for Owen Pick, a rather strange-acting dude who's never even had a date and is living in his elderly aunt's spare bedroom (totally - she won't let him in other parts of her house) across from Cate and Roan's house. Making matters worse, he's been suspended from his teaching job because a couple of students accused him of unwanted sexually-tinged behavior toward them. Needless to say, he doesn't exactly have his head on straight - making him the perfect person to get sucked into the online world of "incels," or involuntary celibates. Also needless to say, it makes him a prime suspect in the local assaults. 

Then there's Saffyre Maddox, who readers learn a bit about at the beginning of the book. Turns out she was one of Roan's very troubled patients who did well enough, in his opinion, to be cut loose from therapy. Her opinion, though, is quite different. Determined to somehow stay connected, she follows him around surreptitiously - that is, until she goes missing. And surprise - the sleazy Owen is the last person to see her alive. 

Once I got all the characters and time-frame flips reasonably straight in my head, I settled in and enjoyed the adventure right up to the somewhat surprising end. All told, good job! Thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell (Atria Books, October 2020); 365 pp.