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booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book into audio form from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I found the concept here really interesting, and it was hard to guess where the gaps between the three storylines would begin to converge. This is both good and bad - I couldn’t see where it was going which is always good, but also it felt a little harder to connect with the story as a whole.
I think the second half of the book really goes from strength to strength - you really feel their fear and desperation. Ursula’s story in particular ramps up the tension, though I was more engaged with Alice’s throughout the book. Other than at the end, I have to say I wasn’t loving Gareth as much - though honestly I felt every second of his pain around his mum. That was very hard for me to read. The stalker aspect definitely propelled this book along, but it was nice to see all the various storylines fold together.
Also I love at the end we get a couple of chapters from additional perspectives, to explain things, these are lovely additions.
As with all of C.L. Taylor’s books, this was pacy and very human, I definitely recommend if you like a good thriller mystery. 3.5 stars.
I found the concept here really interesting, and it was hard to guess where the gaps between the three storylines would begin to converge. This is both good and bad - I couldn’t see where it was going which is always good, but also it felt a little harder to connect with the story as a whole.
I think the second half of the book really goes from strength to strength - you really feel their fear and desperation. Ursula’s story in particular ramps up the tension, though I was more engaged with Alice’s throughout the book. Other than at the end, I have to say I wasn’t loving Gareth as much - though honestly I felt every second of his pain around his mum. That was very hard for me to read. The stalker aspect definitely propelled this book along, but it was nice to see all the various storylines fold together.
Also I love at the end we get a couple of chapters from additional perspectives, to explain things, these are lovely additions.
As with all of C.L. Taylor’s books, this was pacy and very human, I definitely recommend if you like a good thriller mystery. 3.5 stars.
bookbloggerjanine's review against another edition
3.0
I give this book 3.75 stars.
Are strangers the ones you need to look out for?
This book follows the lonley lives of 3 main characters-Ursula,Alice and Gareth.,who all live in the same area,and how their individual stories end up bringing them all together.
I found this an easy read from an author who l really like.it kept me guessing as l read along and was well paced and well written. Definitely one to put on your....to be read list!
Thank you to Netgalley for my chance to read this.
Are strangers the ones you need to look out for?
This book follows the lonley lives of 3 main characters-Ursula,Alice and Gareth.,who all live in the same area,and how their individual stories end up bringing them all together.
I found this an easy read from an author who l really like.it kept me guessing as l read along and was well paced and well written. Definitely one to put on your....to be read list!
Thank you to Netgalley for my chance to read this.
nixbix_reads's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed this, I also found it a bit disappointing. The writing was good & I liked how the three main characters were connected, but I felt that 3/4 of the book dragged. I liked the wrap up for each character & that last chapter was a surprise!
Thanks to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
annebrooke's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very clever and page-turning read. It took me a while to warm up to it as I started off not liking any of the three main characters, but the writing is such that I soon found myself rooting for both Gareth and Ursula (at once stage I even shouted "go, Ursula, you go, girl!' at the book!), though I never really liked Alice that much. I also thought the plotting was clever and there was a lot of humanity in it. I particularly loved the end twist which was unexpected but oh so satisfying.
thetourterdpoetdepartment's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
I found this very repetitive and very dragging for the first 60% it was the same few ideas re-worded. I loved the last 10% of the book but thought that it was rushed and finished very quickly, like you can't just write about a whole hostage in threeish chapters, with each chapter being 2-3 pages long. however, I really enjoyed the idea of combing three characters into one, but feel as though it was executed poorly. while I enjoy this authors ideas I seem to finish her work thinking it could be better.
the_coycaterpillar_reads's review against another edition
4.0
How to describe a stranger? Someone you’ve yet to meet. Do they wish you ill harm or are they a person who lives along the same confines and laws as you? Strangers is three stories that interweaved with each other’s. A calming hand in a storm of pain? What do these three stories have in common – compassion, understanding an humility.
Our three main protagonists Ursula, Gareth and Alice are lost souls swimming in a sea of pain and desperation. They are jaded with life – they’ve all been handed a shitty hand of cards. Divorce and cheating, death of a loved one and caring responsibilities has these characters looking for a way out of their anger and despair at the way the world treats people like them. A lifeline is all they are looking for and it is only one Stranger away.
This was my first step into the magic world that C.L. Taylor has created. I’m hooked. Upon finishing the finishing scene of Strangers, I made a resolute promise to find her entire works and gorge upon it. The author has an almost hypnotic ability to draw her readers into her drama filled worlds and she refuses to break that contact until their breath has evaporated and their system is in shock! Reading the synopsis gave me an air of trepidation, the point of dipping your toe into an ice-cold lake – knowing it will be cold, but you need to check just in case! The narrative gave me Goosebumps from the emotion but also execution.
Alice’s life has become mundane and boring since her husband left her for another woman…yup one of those! Her life has been work and supporting her daughter, but she has been convinced into trying online dating – will a traumatic date lead her into a cagey man’s arms, what is he hiding? Ursula has a compulsion for shoplifting but just what has led her down this soul-destroying path? She has nothing and no-one – she lets a room in her landlords’ home but what does he keep locked behind his basement door? Why is his bedroom barricaded worse than Fort Knox? And Gareth, sweet, sweet Gareth. His life, his career and his ambition has been put on hold when his mum has been diagnosed with dementia. She needs him, more than his need for a relationship or career progression. Where has these mystery postcards came from that are signed off by his dad…his dad that died many years ago? Will the CCTV that he installs find the culprit?
Strangers has an air of danger lurking in every corner, everyone is a culprit. For Alice she was more or less in an environment where guys are dicks. Ursula is surrounded in a toxic society that judges people regarding their looks and body type. I felt like I could be friends with all three of the characters, I don’t know if it was the pain I wanted to soothe or the friendly demeanour, but I was rooting for them all.
Strangers is a book that I couldn’t help but devour. Although if finished it quickly, I have been unable to move onto the next as it would be a betrayal on how much headspace it took up. If tachycardia isn’t your bag, then look away now!
Our three main protagonists Ursula, Gareth and Alice are lost souls swimming in a sea of pain and desperation. They are jaded with life – they’ve all been handed a shitty hand of cards. Divorce and cheating, death of a loved one and caring responsibilities has these characters looking for a way out of their anger and despair at the way the world treats people like them. A lifeline is all they are looking for and it is only one Stranger away.
This was my first step into the magic world that C.L. Taylor has created. I’m hooked. Upon finishing the finishing scene of Strangers, I made a resolute promise to find her entire works and gorge upon it. The author has an almost hypnotic ability to draw her readers into her drama filled worlds and she refuses to break that contact until their breath has evaporated and their system is in shock! Reading the synopsis gave me an air of trepidation, the point of dipping your toe into an ice-cold lake – knowing it will be cold, but you need to check just in case! The narrative gave me Goosebumps from the emotion but also execution.
Alice’s life has become mundane and boring since her husband left her for another woman…yup one of those! Her life has been work and supporting her daughter, but she has been convinced into trying online dating – will a traumatic date lead her into a cagey man’s arms, what is he hiding? Ursula has a compulsion for shoplifting but just what has led her down this soul-destroying path? She has nothing and no-one – she lets a room in her landlords’ home but what does he keep locked behind his basement door? Why is his bedroom barricaded worse than Fort Knox? And Gareth, sweet, sweet Gareth. His life, his career and his ambition has been put on hold when his mum has been diagnosed with dementia. She needs him, more than his need for a relationship or career progression. Where has these mystery postcards came from that are signed off by his dad…his dad that died many years ago? Will the CCTV that he installs find the culprit?
Strangers has an air of danger lurking in every corner, everyone is a culprit. For Alice she was more or less in an environment where guys are dicks. Ursula is surrounded in a toxic society that judges people regarding their looks and body type. I felt like I could be friends with all three of the characters, I don’t know if it was the pain I wanted to soothe or the friendly demeanour, but I was rooting for them all.
Strangers is a book that I couldn’t help but devour. Although if finished it quickly, I have been unable to move onto the next as it would be a betrayal on how much headspace it took up. If tachycardia isn’t your bag, then look away now!
k_west1984's review against another edition
4.0
I'd give this book 3.5 stars just because i didn't really like the ending.
septimusmith's review against another edition
3.0
Strangers is a novel about three seemingly unrelated and unlikeable characters: Alice, Gareth and Ursula. Each one of them battling their imperfect lives. The plot is full of twists which lead to nowhere. The ending is not what I've been expecting from it, and the whole book has disappointed me a lot.
allie010's review against another edition
2.0
So disappointed.
I read Sleep last year by the same author and really enjoyed it but this one just fell flat. I didn't really care for any of the characters and it was all a bit melodramatic - I can enjoy a shallow story if it's gripping but this isn't even that. Such a shame.
I read Sleep last year by the same author and really enjoyed it but this one just fell flat. I didn't really care for any of the characters and it was all a bit melodramatic - I can enjoy a shallow story if it's gripping but this isn't even that. Such a shame.
c_am's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0