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nsduncan2010's review against another edition
4.0
A nice twist
I enjoyed this book and will try more books from this author.
The ending was not what I expected - but in the best of ways.
I enjoyed this book and will try more books from this author.
The ending was not what I expected - but in the best of ways.
meeramira's review against another edition
3.0
It was okay...I don’t know why it didn’t really hold my interest and I guessed the killer pretty early on.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Talented Jennifer Jaynes turns up the intensity with her first standalone thriller: THE STRANGER INSIDE an edge-of-your-seat crime thriller solidifying her place alongside the best of female crime writers out today! Jaynes clearly belongs in the top echelon of thriller writers.
Sharply written, a psychological thriller both chilling and emotional- you can't wait to find out what happens - but you're not sure you want to know. Nail-biting action and an unexpected revelation you will not see coming.
The author’s most complex and intriguing novel to date. Read what Publishers Weekly had to say.
“Monsters are real . . . they live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” – Stephen King
There is a terrifying serial killer at the heart of this equal parts mystery, thriller, and cautionary tale. A cross between domestic suspense and a mesmerizing psychological drama of motherhood, family loyalty, loss, guilt, redemption, and an unexplained evil.
As the book opens open there is a murder. A young college student gal is walking home. She heard someone, then in the blink of an eye, her life was over. This is only the beginning of someone murdering young girls at the college.
Meet Diane Christie, a mystery crime writer.
She had been married and had a five-year-old daughter she adored and the adoption agency called and said they had the perfect baby for her. A little boy who had been abandoned by his mother at the hospital.
Today her husband is dead (suicide), and her daughter Alexa who had just turned nineteen, showed nothing for her but contempt and disdain. She would love to repair her relationship with her daughter. It had been and uphill battle. Their life has been an emotional roller-coaster.
She would never give up on her kids.
Diane had moved the previous year with her sixteen-year-old son, Josh to the small coastal town of Fog Harbor, Massachusetts, to escape what had happened back in New Jersey and to be closer to her daughter Alexa. Hopefully a time for healing and starting over.
However, Alexa is withdrawn and hateful. She worries about her (stealing, depression, suicide). Diane and Josh reside in a quiet neighborhood with a landlord Mr. Davidson. He was also an avid mystery reader. This family needed a new start after the trauma of her husband's death.
Josh had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called pulmonary sarcoidosis shortly after they had adopted him at eighteen months. Because of everything he had been through medically, she could not help but be panicked anytime he exhibited symptoms of becoming ill. He was more laid-back than Alexa. He loved video games. He was a loving child and very smart. He tries to help Alexa with her relationship with their mother, acting as a go-between.
Alexa never responded to her texts and she was worried about her, especially with the recent murder. Alexa had been angry with Diane since she was five. Much had to do with adopting Josh, three years younger. He had been in the hospital frequently which meant time away from home. They had grown apart. Then her husband's suicide. Diane continues to pay her daughter’s bills and offer her support, even though she treats her with no respect.
Then a report came in that a University of New Cambridge student was found murdered.
Diane was a law-abiding suburban widowed mother of two teenagers. She had spent her entire adult life caring for and trying to protect and sacrificing for her children. She volunteered at a small crisis center.
Lance, is a Fog Harbor policemen and fellow volunteer at the crisis center. Lance was in his late twenties, about ten years Diane’s junior. He had magazine cover looks. He had lost a brother to suicide and had been volunteering at the hotline ever since. He had a reputation of being a playboy. He flirted with Diane; however, she was done with men after what she had been through with her late husband.
Mary Kate is also another volunteer with a family suicide in her past. There is also Ellie her friend back in New Jersey which is married. In addition a creepy man, Wayne – a store manager at the local Brookmart. Totally weird. He adds some nice humor.
Diane had a long roster of repeat callers at the center. People who she had helped in the past; some desperate for encouragement, a little hope, and a listening ear.
A call comes through the hotline. The caller stated the name of the girl, Katie who was murdered, yet the victim’s name had not been released yet, according to Lance. The person on the other end of the line said he was having a crisis. A robotic voice. A mechanical voice changer. It made her flesh crawl.
He was talking about the murder. Was the person confessing to murder? Did he have knowledge about what happened? The caller said he was glad it was she who answered because he said she was the only person who can stop it. What did that mean?
As a crime writer, Diane knew she tended to view the world through a darker lens. Wayne always bugged her, but he was harmless. At the supermarket, she runs into a guy named Rick. Rick turns out to be a very intriguing character. A former Marine sniper with two tours in Iraq with PTSD. Hot, good-looking, and the complete package. What is his background?
Josh was such a polite son and Alex a terror. There is an ongoing mystery about her former husband Frank. We get bits and pieces of how they had a whirlwind romance and then he became a stranger living inside her home.
Some of her sleeping pills are missing? Was Alex taking them? Josh is like a nerd. He is always trying to play the go-between his mom and Alex. Even Alexa’s friend Trish likes her mom. Alexa is jealous.
The name of the victim was released. Katie Worth. A talented girl on a scholarship from Vermont. How did the caller know? Diane becomes convinced the anonymous caller was Katie’s murderer. Diane invites Lance over for Thanksgiving, as a friend, and Alex continues to be a brat, jealous of her mother. Even her friend Trish likes her mom.
An ongoing message of Red or blue pills. The Matrix. Symbolism. The blue pill is like a sedative. It allows you to continue to live in ignorance. Protected from all the ugliness in the world. The red pill allows you to see the truth. The truth about everything, including the stuff you do not want to know.
Lance spends time at their house explaining that the most notorious killers appear very normal. "The worst monsters are masters at blending in. "
Alexa is depressed and socially awkward, plus she is overly critical of her mom. Diane bends over backward trying to get her to open up.
In addition, someone is posting terrible reviews (one-star reviews of all her books) on Amazon when normally she gets 4 and 5-star reviews. Who was writewellorquit777? Hateful reviews. Who is trolling her? (hilarious).
Between Alexa, the strange caller on the hotline, Lance acting strange and being overly flirty with her daughter and friend. Her daughter seems to be entranced by him, plus she is worried about her daughter’s mental state. Alexa is hateful, critical, nasty, cynical, depressed and unhappy. Even Josh appears to be off.
Alexa does not like Rick, knowing he had killed people, and lived in the creepy cabin in the woods. What was her mother thinking? She does not trust him. She once again trying to make problems for her mom when she finds she is interested in him. After all, Diane had married a nice guy and turned into something else. Alexa tries to plant suspicion and doubt in Diane’s mind and goes through his things. Diane has had enough of Alexa’s behavior.
Rick the guy who lives in a hunting log cabin in the woods. He seemed guarded. Rick starts getting closer; however, she does not trust herself with new relationships. Can she trust him?
Her friend Ellie is going through a separation and sleeping on her sofa. (not sure how Diane gets any writing done with all this drama). Her friend warns her about Rick. Now Detective Chavez has been contacted about the caller at work. She trusted Rick. He was a great cook, a nice clean house, great classical music, and an inviting home, plus he was a reader with all the top names. He had guns, medical supplies, antibiotics, and water. Everything was organized. A survivalist?
With a serial killer on the loose and once again the caller says the name of the second murdered college student: Jill. There was no doubt in her mind that the caller was the killer, or at least involved with the killer somehow, but what reach out to her?
Now a third girl, Trish Underwood. Alexa’s friend.
What was going on? Why did the killer choose certain girls to kill, young and pretty girls with long brunette hair.
Between Lance, Rick (PTSD), a cabinet full of weapons, crazy Wayne, Diane’s caller, and her kids. Who can she trust? What does she have to do with the killer and why is this person calling her? Diane soon realizes she has to solve the mystery before this person kills again.
A mother is faced with the worst choice of her life. Will she resort to the unthinkable to protect her shattered family?
From a master of suspense, Jaynes explores the dangers lurking closer than you think. Even in the perfect family, you never know what is going on behind closed doors.
Riveting, chilling, mind-bending, heart-pounding. Dark and intense, the author skillfully plots and creates characters’ readers root for. Clever twists and turns continue to push the suspense with an array of suspects. High adrenaline, fast-paced action.
I could not put this book down and read in one sitting. Every time you think you have the killer figured out, the suspicion turns to someone else. However, the shattering conclusion will definitely not be expected. Testing the bonds of family.
This tense psychological suspense demonstrates Jaynes at the top of her game. A pro at creating twisty plots and emotionally devastating family dramas. Her characters are fractured, cracked and troubled and you sympathize with them.
If you have not read Jaynes’ books, I would highly recommend. An avid fan, adore her engaging writing style. She never fails to impress. She never takes you on detours or side roads. She always grabs your attention from the first page to the last.
One of my favorite authors and an avid fan starting with the Strangers Series:
Never Smile at Strangers
Ugly Young Thing
Don’t Say a Word
Fans of Lisa Gardner, JT Ellison, Tami Hoag, Karen Slaughter, Chevy Stevens, and Lisa Unger will be assured to enjoy THE STRANGER INSIDE.
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
Sharply written, a psychological thriller both chilling and emotional- you can't wait to find out what happens - but you're not sure you want to know. Nail-biting action and an unexpected revelation you will not see coming.
The author’s most complex and intriguing novel to date. Read what Publishers Weekly had to say.
“Monsters are real . . . they live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” – Stephen King
There is a terrifying serial killer at the heart of this equal parts mystery, thriller, and cautionary tale. A cross between domestic suspense and a mesmerizing psychological drama of motherhood, family loyalty, loss, guilt, redemption, and an unexplained evil.
As the book opens open there is a murder. A young college student gal is walking home. She heard someone, then in the blink of an eye, her life was over. This is only the beginning of someone murdering young girls at the college.
Meet Diane Christie, a mystery crime writer.
She had been married and had a five-year-old daughter she adored and the adoption agency called and said they had the perfect baby for her. A little boy who had been abandoned by his mother at the hospital.
Today her husband is dead (suicide), and her daughter Alexa who had just turned nineteen, showed nothing for her but contempt and disdain. She would love to repair her relationship with her daughter. It had been and uphill battle. Their life has been an emotional roller-coaster.
She would never give up on her kids.
Diane had moved the previous year with her sixteen-year-old son, Josh to the small coastal town of Fog Harbor, Massachusetts, to escape what had happened back in New Jersey and to be closer to her daughter Alexa. Hopefully a time for healing and starting over.
However, Alexa is withdrawn and hateful. She worries about her (stealing, depression, suicide). Diane and Josh reside in a quiet neighborhood with a landlord Mr. Davidson. He was also an avid mystery reader. This family needed a new start after the trauma of her husband's death.
Josh had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called pulmonary sarcoidosis shortly after they had adopted him at eighteen months. Because of everything he had been through medically, she could not help but be panicked anytime he exhibited symptoms of becoming ill. He was more laid-back than Alexa. He loved video games. He was a loving child and very smart. He tries to help Alexa with her relationship with their mother, acting as a go-between.
Alexa never responded to her texts and she was worried about her, especially with the recent murder. Alexa had been angry with Diane since she was five. Much had to do with adopting Josh, three years younger. He had been in the hospital frequently which meant time away from home. They had grown apart. Then her husband's suicide. Diane continues to pay her daughter’s bills and offer her support, even though she treats her with no respect.
Then a report came in that a University of New Cambridge student was found murdered.
Diane was a law-abiding suburban widowed mother of two teenagers. She had spent her entire adult life caring for and trying to protect and sacrificing for her children. She volunteered at a small crisis center.
Lance, is a Fog Harbor policemen and fellow volunteer at the crisis center. Lance was in his late twenties, about ten years Diane’s junior. He had magazine cover looks. He had lost a brother to suicide and had been volunteering at the hotline ever since. He had a reputation of being a playboy. He flirted with Diane; however, she was done with men after what she had been through with her late husband.
Mary Kate is also another volunteer with a family suicide in her past. There is also Ellie her friend back in New Jersey which is married. In addition a creepy man, Wayne – a store manager at the local Brookmart. Totally weird. He adds some nice humor.
Diane had a long roster of repeat callers at the center. People who she had helped in the past; some desperate for encouragement, a little hope, and a listening ear.
A call comes through the hotline. The caller stated the name of the girl, Katie who was murdered, yet the victim’s name had not been released yet, according to Lance. The person on the other end of the line said he was having a crisis. A robotic voice. A mechanical voice changer. It made her flesh crawl.
He was talking about the murder. Was the person confessing to murder? Did he have knowledge about what happened? The caller said he was glad it was she who answered because he said she was the only person who can stop it. What did that mean?
As a crime writer, Diane knew she tended to view the world through a darker lens. Wayne always bugged her, but he was harmless. At the supermarket, she runs into a guy named Rick. Rick turns out to be a very intriguing character. A former Marine sniper with two tours in Iraq with PTSD. Hot, good-looking, and the complete package. What is his background?
Josh was such a polite son and Alex a terror. There is an ongoing mystery about her former husband Frank. We get bits and pieces of how they had a whirlwind romance and then he became a stranger living inside her home.
Some of her sleeping pills are missing? Was Alex taking them? Josh is like a nerd. He is always trying to play the go-between his mom and Alex. Even Alexa’s friend Trish likes her mom. Alexa is jealous.
The name of the victim was released. Katie Worth. A talented girl on a scholarship from Vermont. How did the caller know? Diane becomes convinced the anonymous caller was Katie’s murderer. Diane invites Lance over for Thanksgiving, as a friend, and Alex continues to be a brat, jealous of her mother. Even her friend Trish likes her mom.
An ongoing message of Red or blue pills. The Matrix. Symbolism. The blue pill is like a sedative. It allows you to continue to live in ignorance. Protected from all the ugliness in the world. The red pill allows you to see the truth. The truth about everything, including the stuff you do not want to know.
Lance spends time at their house explaining that the most notorious killers appear very normal. "The worst monsters are masters at blending in. "
Alexa is depressed and socially awkward, plus she is overly critical of her mom. Diane bends over backward trying to get her to open up.
In addition, someone is posting terrible reviews (one-star reviews of all her books) on Amazon when normally she gets 4 and 5-star reviews. Who was writewellorquit777? Hateful reviews. Who is trolling her? (hilarious).
Between Alexa, the strange caller on the hotline, Lance acting strange and being overly flirty with her daughter and friend. Her daughter seems to be entranced by him, plus she is worried about her daughter’s mental state. Alexa is hateful, critical, nasty, cynical, depressed and unhappy. Even Josh appears to be off.
Alexa does not like Rick, knowing he had killed people, and lived in the creepy cabin in the woods. What was her mother thinking? She does not trust him. She once again trying to make problems for her mom when she finds she is interested in him. After all, Diane had married a nice guy and turned into something else. Alexa tries to plant suspicion and doubt in Diane’s mind and goes through his things. Diane has had enough of Alexa’s behavior.
Rick the guy who lives in a hunting log cabin in the woods. He seemed guarded. Rick starts getting closer; however, she does not trust herself with new relationships. Can she trust him?
Her friend Ellie is going through a separation and sleeping on her sofa. (not sure how Diane gets any writing done with all this drama). Her friend warns her about Rick. Now Detective Chavez has been contacted about the caller at work. She trusted Rick. He was a great cook, a nice clean house, great classical music, and an inviting home, plus he was a reader with all the top names. He had guns, medical supplies, antibiotics, and water. Everything was organized. A survivalist?
With a serial killer on the loose and once again the caller says the name of the second murdered college student: Jill. There was no doubt in her mind that the caller was the killer, or at least involved with the killer somehow, but what reach out to her?
Now a third girl, Trish Underwood. Alexa’s friend.
What was going on? Why did the killer choose certain girls to kill, young and pretty girls with long brunette hair.
Between Lance, Rick (PTSD), a cabinet full of weapons, crazy Wayne, Diane’s caller, and her kids. Who can she trust? What does she have to do with the killer and why is this person calling her? Diane soon realizes she has to solve the mystery before this person kills again.
A mother is faced with the worst choice of her life. Will she resort to the unthinkable to protect her shattered family?
From a master of suspense, Jaynes explores the dangers lurking closer than you think. Even in the perfect family, you never know what is going on behind closed doors.
Riveting, chilling, mind-bending, heart-pounding. Dark and intense, the author skillfully plots and creates characters’ readers root for. Clever twists and turns continue to push the suspense with an array of suspects. High adrenaline, fast-paced action.
I could not put this book down and read in one sitting. Every time you think you have the killer figured out, the suspicion turns to someone else. However, the shattering conclusion will definitely not be expected. Testing the bonds of family.
This tense psychological suspense demonstrates Jaynes at the top of her game. A pro at creating twisty plots and emotionally devastating family dramas. Her characters are fractured, cracked and troubled and you sympathize with them.
If you have not read Jaynes’ books, I would highly recommend. An avid fan, adore her engaging writing style. She never fails to impress. She never takes you on detours or side roads. She always grabs your attention from the first page to the last.
One of my favorite authors and an avid fan starting with the Strangers Series:
Never Smile at Strangers
Ugly Young Thing
Don’t Say a Word
Fans of Lisa Gardner, JT Ellison, Tami Hoag, Karen Slaughter, Chevy Stevens, and Lisa Unger will be assured to enjoy THE STRANGER INSIDE.
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an early reading copy.
JDCMustReadBooks
laurazdavidson's review against another edition
5.0
Page-Turner!
Wow! Most books take me days (even weeks) to read, but I fnished this one in less than 2 days. Twists, turns, engaging characters... I'm in! I look forward to reading more of Jennifer Jayne's work. Thanks to the publisher, Amazon, and Goodreads for the ARC of this novel.
Wow! Most books take me days (even weeks) to read, but I fnished this one in less than 2 days. Twists, turns, engaging characters... I'm in! I look forward to reading more of Jennifer Jayne's work. Thanks to the publisher, Amazon, and Goodreads for the ARC of this novel.
dee84uk's review against another edition
4.0
What a twist!!
Really enjoyed this book. Left you guessing until the end. Ending left it open for more to come. Would recommend.
Really enjoyed this book. Left you guessing until the end. Ending left it open for more to come. Would recommend.
shellysbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Diane is trying to pick up the pieces after her husband's suicide. She has two children Alexa and Josh. Diane has a very strained relationship with Alexa who is dealing with some deep issues. When I heard her backstory, I can't help but feel for her but I wish she would have spoken up sooner about all her issues. Diane also volunteers at a crisis center and one day she gets a strange call about a murder and how she can be the only one to stop them. Talk about creepy!
As the story progresses I pretty much figured out who the killer but wasn't hundred percent why they were doing the killings. Once it was revealed it does make sense, a lot of sense. Not justifying the killings but I do understand why and hopefully they get some much needed help. Diane also developed a love interest with Rick. I did like her and Rick together and loved the support he gave her during everything but I felt the relationship progressed way too fast.
I've never read anything by this author and was in need of a genre change so I decided to give this book a shot. I'm glad I made this decision to read. This book was fast paced, well written and kept me glued to the edge of my seat! The only thing I really didn't care for was the abrupt ending. I wished we could have gotten to see what happened after the revelations came forward. Despite that issue I still enjoyed the book! I also went and purchased the other books in the series as well.
*Review copy received by author for honest opinion*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
As the story progresses I pretty much figured out who the killer but wasn't hundred percent why they were doing the killings. Once it was revealed it does make sense, a lot of sense. Not justifying the killings but I do understand why and hopefully they get some much needed help. Diane also developed a love interest with Rick. I did like her and Rick together and loved the support he gave her during everything but I felt the relationship progressed way too fast.
I've never read anything by this author and was in need of a genre change so I decided to give this book a shot. I'm glad I made this decision to read. This book was fast paced, well written and kept me glued to the edge of my seat! The only thing I really didn't care for was the abrupt ending. I wished we could have gotten to see what happened after the revelations came forward. Despite that issue I still enjoyed the book! I also went and purchased the other books in the series as well.
*Review copy received by author for honest opinion*
For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
RATING: 2 STARS
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
Very beautiful mystery writer, Diane Christie is a widow raising two teenagers. She volunteers at a suicide hotline when she is not writing or fretting over her children. Her son was sick as a child and her daughter is angry and hostile. A young women is murdered and Diane starts obsessively looking at the case on social media, especially when the killer calls the hotline to talk to her. (And, FYI, every man that Diane interacts with seems to fall for her as she looks like a younger Diane Lane).
I love the cover of this book, and I requested it based on cover. I also didn't realize that this book was actually fourth in a series. I am not sure how they tie together, but it seems like you can read these as standalone novels. I am not going to read the rest of the series so I am not panicking over reading out of order. I found that Jaynes tells more than she shows in her writing. The prologue was too long for how much information was given. While I didn't agree with how Alexa treated Diane, she seemed to be the only character that was interesting and evolving. The end was disappointing and almost an easy pass to just finish the book. (This novel is under 200 pages).
(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)
Very beautiful mystery writer, Diane Christie is a widow raising two teenagers. She volunteers at a suicide hotline when she is not writing or fretting over her children. Her son was sick as a child and her daughter is angry and hostile. A young women is murdered and Diane starts obsessively looking at the case on social media, especially when the killer calls the hotline to talk to her. (And, FYI, every man that Diane interacts with seems to fall for her as she looks like a younger Diane Lane).
Spoiler
Unfortunately, the title gives away the killer as does the lack of other suspects, and few other clues that kind of seemed pointless unless it was to explain the motivation.murph_the_serf's review against another edition
2.0
This started as a perfectly fine mystery with some family dynamics drama but the ending absolutely ruined it for me. It was less "surprise plot twist" and more "came out of nowhere" and had the characters acting nothing like themselves for the final chapters.
purdyflower14's review against another edition
5.0
I won this in a Goodreads Giveaway. Enjoyable, quick read. This book kept my interesting, and always had me guessing.