Fourth Novel For Local Author

HARTLEY Wintney resident Helen Matthews has launched her fourth novel.

The Girl in the Van, a psychological suspense novel, is released today, 17 March.

Traumatised by events, Ellie’s mother Laura can’t bear to stay in the Welsh seaside town where she lives with her partner, Gareth. She escapes to London, breaking all ties with him and refuses to tell anyone her new address. After two years of living alone and working in a mundane job, Laura buys an old campervan and joins a singles holiday. Here, she meets Miriana, a teenage girl who bears a chilling resemblance to Ellie. As Laura uncovers Miriana’s story, she’s shocked by the parallels to her own life. But stories can be dangerous, and someone out there will stop at nothing to prevent the truth about Ellie from coming out…

Helen Matthews writes page-turning psychological suspense novels and is fascinated by the darker side of human nature and how a life can change in an instant. Her first novel, After Leaving the Village, a suspense thriller about human trafficking, won first prize in the opening pages category at Winchester Writers’ Festival, and was followed by Lies Behind the Ruin, domestic noir set in France, published by Hashtag Press. Her third novel Façade is family noir and was published by Darkstroke Books in September 2020. Helen is passionate about the fight to end modern slavery and novel number four, The Girl in the Van, returns to the theme of this hideous crime, exploring it from a different angle, known as ‘county lines’, the exploitation of young people in drug trafficking.

“Brilliantly gripping and utterly believable,” says Katharine Johnson, author of The Suspects. “Seeing Laura’s nightmarish situation through her eyes made me feel I was experiencing her grief, fear and fury, and like her I didn’t know who to trust. She has only her inner strength and resourcefulness to get her through. Beautifully written with clever twists and a thrilling ending. The Girl in the Van deserves huge success.”

The Girl in the Van is available to purchase now.