A bookseller, a homeless student and a sassy sleuth chase clues for a crime from the streets of London to the Swiss Alps.The stakes are high, but can they trust each other?
When bookseller James meets homeless student Emma on a London street, the attraction is instant. But after a magical Christmas break in the Swiss Alps, they return to find his flat has been burgled, and the police want to question James about the suspicious death of another homeless person.
As he and his friend Sally chase clues from the West End of London to the snow-laden mountains of Switzerland to solve the mystery of his stolen antique books and family heirlooms, James is forced to ask himself whether he has been desperately unlucky, blinded by love, or worse.
Will rescuing the homeless student be his greatest mistake?
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The Girl in the Doorway by Louise Mangos was published on 10 July 2025. My thanks to the author who sent my copy for review as part of this #RandomThingsTours Blog Tour
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Louise Mangos grew up in the UK but has spent more than half her life in Switzerland.
Her debut psychological thriller "Strangers on a Bridge" was a finalist in the Exeter Novel Prize and long listed for the Bath Novel Award.
The psychological thriller "The Beaten Track" and her historical mystery "The Secrets of Morgarten" were both finalists in the Page Turner Awards, while her novel, the psychological whodunnit "Five Fatal Flaws" reached the shortlist.
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I have read and reviewed a couple of Louise Mangos' books in the past, and enjoyed them. I think that The Girl in the Doorway is her best to date. I was totally hooked from the explosive prologue, right through to the really classy, if unexpected ending.
The prologue takes place in the Swiss Alps and it's clear that something tragic has happened. The author then takes us to the streets of Piccadilly in London as we learn more about bookseller James, and Emma; the girl in the doorway.
James is a great character, lovingly created, he's an absolute joy to discover. A little innocent at times, his good nature can often cause problems for him. He's a book lover as well as a Waterstone's bookseller, he's kind and keeps an eye on the homeless on the streets. When he notices that the place in a doorway across the road usually taken by an elderly Scottish guy is now occupied by a young girl, he cannot stop himself and goes to find out more about her. Emma is a street artist, and gives very little away, at first, James is not actually sure if she stays in the doorway all night. Gradually, they develop a relationship which becomes more than just benefactor and friends. As this happens, they are watched by James' colleague Sal - certainly a woman scorned.
James and Emma travelled to St Moritz in the Swiss Alps and this is when this author's description of place and area really comes into force. She is so adept at creating a real sense of place, as a reader, I really felt as though I were in Switzerland!
There are twists and turns a plenty, this is, after all, a crime thriller. It is quite tense in places and I feel that the short chapters really do add to the pacing. The various voices and points of view work so well, enabling the reader to get a different side to a dark story.
A enjoyable and entertaining thriller and recommended by me.
The prologue takes place in the Swiss Alps and it's clear that something tragic has happened. The author then takes us to the streets of Piccadilly in London as we learn more about bookseller James, and Emma; the girl in the doorway.
James is a great character, lovingly created, he's an absolute joy to discover. A little innocent at times, his good nature can often cause problems for him. He's a book lover as well as a Waterstone's bookseller, he's kind and keeps an eye on the homeless on the streets. When he notices that the place in a doorway across the road usually taken by an elderly Scottish guy is now occupied by a young girl, he cannot stop himself and goes to find out more about her. Emma is a street artist, and gives very little away, at first, James is not actually sure if she stays in the doorway all night. Gradually, they develop a relationship which becomes more than just benefactor and friends. As this happens, they are watched by James' colleague Sal - certainly a woman scorned.
James and Emma travelled to St Moritz in the Swiss Alps and this is when this author's description of place and area really comes into force. She is so adept at creating a real sense of place, as a reader, I really felt as though I were in Switzerland!
There are twists and turns a plenty, this is, after all, a crime thriller. It is quite tense in places and I feel that the short chapters really do add to the pacing. The various voices and points of view work so well, enabling the reader to get a different side to a dark story.
A enjoyable and entertaining thriller and recommended by me.
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Her debut psychological thriller "Strangers on a Bridge" was a finalist in the Exeter Novel Prize and long listed for the Bath Novel Award.
The psychological thriller "The Beaten Track" and her historical mystery "The Secrets of Morgarten" were both finalists in the Page Turner Awards, while her novel, the psychological whodunnit "Five Fatal Flaws" reached the shortlist.
She also writes short stories and flash fiction which have won prizes and been published in various anthologies.
She holds an MA in crime writing at UEA.
Louise lives on an Alp with her Kiwi husband and two sons, and when she's not writing you can find her on the cross-country ski trails or wild swimming in the lake, depending on the season.
Instagram @louisemangos
Bluesky @louisemangos.bsky.social
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