Reviews - The Stranger Diaries

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1.57k reviews for:

The Stranger Diaries

Elly Griffiths

3.74 AVERAGE

enchantedbibliophile's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Dark, atmospheric with a touch of the supernatural. A Mystery braided with Gothic dread.
The only complaint I have is the slow-burn, I was more in the mood for an immediate adrenaline hit.

twitchywitchy314's review against another edition

2.75

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

whiskeywoman79's review against another edition

3.5

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

eBook + Audio
Fiction / Gothic / Mystery / Crime / Audiobook
⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5 🎧🎧🎧🎧/5

Using for Challenge or Prompts
The 52 Book Club’s 2025 Challenge Prompt #16. The author has won an Edgar award
Storygraph Calendar Reads: #33. A book that celebrates Halloween

I was captivated by the beginning, but left disappointed by the ending.

felinish's review against another edition

3.0

3.5. Overall I enjoyed the book but it feel flat at the end for me, which a few readers had noted on here. Somewhere it was said that readers of “Magpie Murders” would like this one. Magpie Murders was a solid 5 for me this one not so much. However it does follow a similar story style that I found fun to read. Overall It was the ending that let the book down.

ptwaugh's review against another edition

3.0

dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

misspearch's review against another edition

2.5

slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense

The whole concept of the book was good -- the literary legend, the different points of view -- but the details somewhat lacking. Sudden ending. Some loose threads (why take Herbert? Not ok for police to stay overnight in suspects house and take evidence without warrant. Motive for final murder iffy.) A final red herring was particularly ridiculous:

Do not believe 2 modern 16 year olds would run to Gretna Green to get married! Even if one is named Venetia.

The "Stranger" story was just gratuitous and predictable gore, nothing worth the big build-up.