I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.

There are several stories about three strangers being narrated, which appear to interconnect.
It is well written and the characters are diverse and credible, if not all likeable.

Overall I struggled to be enthusiastic about this book , which meant that I read it in small chunks. As a basic story it is good, but for the most part it lacked intensity and pace for me. But to be fair in the last 25% of the book, the pace picked up as the unraveling of the story took place which elevated the rating to 3.5 stars.

A well-constructed thriller, that culminates in a tense event, before trying to tie everything up in a way that had me shaking my head.
Our three main characters - Ursula, Gareth and Alice - are strangers. They exist on the periphery of one another, and are connected though we don’t learn how until late on.
Each of these three has something impacting on their life. Ursula blames herself for the death of her boyfriend. Gareth is struggling to cope with caring for his mother. Alice is a mother trying to start dating again. We follow them through the small steps they make to move forward, but little things start taking place that have us suspicious as to what exactly is going on. In the background are rumours of a serial killer murdering lone men on the riverbank - though this is very much a minor detail.
Much of the action takes place in the homes of the three characters, or the shopping centre in Bristol that ties them together. We grow to learn a lot about each character. Though they may not be all that likeable in some ways, what we learn about them does impact on how we react to each.
As events progress we start to piece together little details. The growing sense of unease ratchets up the tension, eventually leading us to the ‘big finale’ where a number of key questions are resolved.
While I found myself totally caught up in the story I felt less as we neared the conclusion. Some of the actions felt quite unlikely based on what we knew of the characters, and the need to resolve every little detail (yes, I’m talking about the seemingly minor background plot detail of the disappearing men) did mean we were suddenly dropped into something that made little sense. Perhaps this was felt necessary to tie up loose ends, but it made me rethink some of what I’d read and, personally, I could have left events with this never being explained more fully.
Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to publication.

Ursula is a thief. Alice is a victim. Gareth is a loser. Strangers is all three of their stories and how they will eventually become entangled.

The beginning of Strangers was rather slow as we see each of the three characters’ lives from their own point-of-view. It takes about half the book to get to the exciting intertwining conclusion including a murder.

I took off one star because I think all parts of a thriller should be fast-paced. However, that may just be me and your experience may be different. I would still recommend it because of the slam-bam conclusion. 4 stars!

Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic C.L Taylor thriller!

In this psychological thriller, you follow three strangers. You know from the start something bad has happened which brings them all together but the idea of the book is for you, the reader, to work out that link.

C.L Taylor is one of my favourite thriller authors. Although this wasn't my favourite book of hers, it was a solid thriller.

I really liked the three different perspectives. The pace was really good and as always it was very well written.

My favourite thing about this book was trying to work out how all the characters linked together. Sometimes, it seemed really obvious and other times I was really struggling to see how all the perspectives linked together.

Its definitely a clever mystery that keeps you guessing throughout the book.

This book wasn't the most shocking, thriller I've ever read. The ending didn't blow me away but I still didn't see it coming, especially the last chapter.

Overall, this was a really well written, pacey thriller. If you already like C.L Taylor books, I know you won't be disappointed in this one

TW: suicide, violence and domestic abuse

Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review! Overall I did enjoy this: a quick and easy read and I’m always a fan of seemingly separate stories eventually intertwining. I do wish there had been more overlap between the characters earlier, though: they seemed unnecessarily distant and Taylor could definitely have played more with this to the story’s advantage. The story itself wasn’t crazy predictable and I liked the characters (Ursula most of all!) and my main gripe was with the amount of red herrings drenching the pages. Other than that, an enjoyable ride that left me guessing and intrigued!

Fantastic book keeping you slightly perplexed the whole way through. I kept looking for the connections and every time I thought I had it, I would discover I was wrong!

really good book. I didn't think I was going to like it at first but then it took me a this ride. what a awesome book. I hope to read more by this author. thank you for the Arc

Yay! A new C.L. Taylor book is always cause for celebration in my house and I couldn’t resist reading Strangers the minute it popped through my letterbox! And once I opened that cover, I just couldn’t put it down until I reached the end. If you’ve read C.L. Taylor before you’ll understand why and if you haven’t…where have you been?! Get thee online now and rectify that IMMEDIATELY!

Strangers is a very cleverly crafted book, expertly plotted with a storyline that gradually comes together for an explosive conclusion. It takes us through a week in the lives of three characters, all strangers to each other but who are on a collision course to a life threatening meeting that will change their lives forever. I wasn’t sure how these 3 very different personalities were linked. Ursula was a bit of a misfit-very tall with no luck whatsoever who worked as a parcel courier had a very disturbing storyline concerning one of her customers. I felt sorry for Ursula as she obviously had a difficult past but didn’t seem to get a break. Alice was a single mum who’s online dating got her into trouble after a lunchtime date lead her into a dangerous situation. I liked Alice! Her relationship with Simon was a really puzzle though and I couldn’t understand why she was bothering with him! And then there was Gareth the security guard who was worried about his mum and the strange postcards that were arriving at their home. Every single one of their stories kept me gripped, trying to work out where they were going and WHY!

Cally Taylor has always writing involving and complex storylines but this one really was head and shoulders above the rest! I had no idea where the plot was heading so the shocking denouement really was a jaw dropping moment for me! Perfectly plotted with some great characterisation, Strangers is a real rollercoaster of a read. I became completely caught up in the lives of Ursula, Alice and Gareth during the week leading up to the worst experience of their lives and I lived their terror alongside them. One of the best books she written-I loved it!

Strangers by C.L. Taylor is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon Books, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Ursula is a delivery driver, who got kicked out of the apartment she shared with two others.  Ursula is a kleptomaniac.  Although she soon finds a new place to live, her landlord is rather strange.

Alice is the manager of a clothing store, and although her daughter sometimes lives with her, more often than not she is at her boyfriends. Alice is starting to date again, and it isn't going well.

Gareth is a security guard and lives with his aging mother, who is suffering from dementia.  His father has been gone for years.

The only thing these three have in common is the shopping mall.  This is where both Gareth and Alice work, and where Ursula prefers to shop-lift.  They will soon become very close.  Their lives will depend on it.

 

My Opinions:  

This was a really fast, entertaining read.  I thought it was moving rather slowly at first, but by the end, I was just flipping those pages!

The story was told from different perspectives.  The characters were interesting, and yet I wasn't sure I liked any of them at first.   They definitely grew on me.  In a way, all three of the main characters were very lonely, and their actions were often the result of this loneliness.  As the tale progressed and their back-grounds emerged, their personalities took on new meanings.  I love the way the author dealt with each individual.  As well, by the end of the book, each character gained strength from each other.

I liked how another element was thrown in, and that was the Harbourside "murders" which were talked about through social media.  I couldn't figure out how they were tied in to the plot, but it came together at the end.

Overall, a very entertaining read.

Another gripping murder mystery from C L Taylor Three strangers, three different lives and a few red herrings ending in one terrifying evening .
To start it’ s as if you are reading three separate stories of all the minute details of the lives of the three main characters . Alice a fashion shop manager divorced and looking for love on the internet ,Gareth a security guard at the Meads ,where Alice’s shop is situated ,who lives at home with his mother, who has dementia. Ursula ,a delivery driver who works in the gig economy ,and is running away from a major traumatic event in her life . The stories are gradually all brought together in one huge twist that unites the three plus other minor characters ,several of whom seem to be creepy and not to be trusted that bring an added layer of menace to the story. If you enjoy dark twisty stories with an interesting denouement then this is the book for you.

Having read "The Fear" and "Sleep" by the same author and absolutely loved them both, I jumped at the chance to read her latest outing and I certainly wasn't disappointed.

Once again, we are treated to an original and engaging story with excellent and believable characters in situations that are only too plausible and all written at a good pace and easy to follow.

The three main characters of Ursula, Gareth and Alice all have interesting and separate stories of their own to tell and you are left guessing as to how they can relate to each other until the dots are gradually connected as the story moves towards its thrilling conclusion.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and I most certainly will be reading more from this excellent author.

Many thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

I used to love C.L Taylor's books but unfortunately, the last couple just hasn't done anything for me. As always, the author writes well but there just wasn't anything particularly special about her latest release. While they have their own flaws, the three main characters are all rather bland and there's nobody you particularly root for. I was intrigued by how the story would work out and while I didn't guess the ending, I found it was a bit of a letdown, especially because the opening chapter teased something more exciting. A decent enough read, just not a page-turner in my opinion.

Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before. Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life. Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards. Alice is being stalked. None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only one thing for it: they have to stick together. Otherwise, one of them will die. Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

This read is all about the atmosphere. We begin by getting to know Alice, Gareth and Ursula, who they are, what their lives are like and begin to see how they are going to fit into the read. The whole way through this we are learning about them, they each have a mystery that the reader can guess at the resolution but it is hard to see how they will all meet and how their lives will intertwine. All the time this is happening, Taylor is building the intensity and the atmosphere darkens as we begin to anticipate a big event. Then the event happens, it is exciting, it is shocking and it is thrilling but it is over too soon and is too near the end. Suddenly the atmosphere has crashed over and we are back to the bottom, and I was left with a sense of is that it? I adored most of the read but thought the ending or rushed ending was a let down and the book deserved more.

The read is firmly about the characters, Alice, Gareth and Ursula are firmly at the heart of this and we get to read chapters in all of their perspectives. It is inevitable you will enjoy some more than others, I will not state my preference but personally there is one character whose story is a lot weaker than the others. However, they are all very likeable, realistic characters and they feel very human. They entertain the reader but they are flawed as well and it was entertaining and intriguing to see how their plot threads would progress and how meeting each other would change their lives.

'Strangers' is an intense, high impact read that slowly builds to a violent crescendo. However the read then goes nowhere and I was left disappointed by the rushed ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy.

What can I say but WOW! Strangers came into my life at a very strange time, when we're all in lockdown due to Coronavirus, but reading this book kept me going and sane when I felt like falling apart.

I love a good psychological thriller so I know CL Taylor books are right up my street but seriously there a good books and then there is 'Strangers'!

Alice, Ursula and Gareth are completely unknown to one another but their lives are about to intertwine in the strangest of ways. Alice is being stalked by an unknown stranger, Gareth is caring for his elderly mother and being blackmailed by a chancer at work and Ursula's life is completely falling apart after her boyfriend's murder and being evicted from her home.

The book is incredibly fast paced and despite being a bit of an expert in this this type of fiction I still didn't put all the threads together by myself which brought me to one big shock when it came to the ending of the book! (Not one but two big shocks!)

'Strangers' is so effective because it literally had me questioning everyone's motives and placing the label of 'perpetrator' on everyone.

I would highly recommend this book to everyone - it really did bring my concentration back during a very unsettling time. I cannot wait for the next instalment from CL Taylor.

I've read every book this author has written and they are all fantastic. This is no exception.
There is so much going on and the author weaves the storyline so well. So many plot twists, edge of your seat stuff. Highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley for my ARC copy.

This was a great, cozy mystery read for late at night! I'm not quite sure why it's also noted as a Thriller except maybe for suspense reasons? In any case, C.L. Taylor does a fantastic job crafting three parallel stories that converge unexpectedly at the very end of the book. The story follows Ursula, Gareth and Alice, each of whom are at a diverse stage of their life. Alice represents the single mother trying to find love again. Gareth is the kindly security guard caring for his elderly mother. Ursula is a strong but flawed woman finding her way.

In terms of characters, I was only really able to connect with Gareth. I found his compassionate side charming and empathized with the difficulties of caring for a loved one suffering from dementia. He just seemed like an all-around honest man trying to support his mother. Alice was interesting up front but her obsession with making things work with a love interest turned me off. I understand the lonely, wishful romantic vibe the author was going for but the numerous texts and calls was very cringe-worthy for me. Not to mention Simon (the gentleman) was also a bit of a turn off. Ursula was also alright initially, and I enjoyed her character in waves. While I had sympathy for her after learning her backstory she just struck me as too nosy.

The story was well-executed in its progression, and the height of excitement where the characters are all thrown together was unexpected. Overall this was a very enjoyable read. One minor point I'd change was the small two page snippets of twitter conversations scattered through the book. In my opinion they didn't add much, aside from reinforcing community speculation about the murders in the community. The resolution of which, by the way, is probably my favorite part of the book on whole.

This book was a fast, engaging read that keeps you guessing until the end. I'd recommend this as any mystery genre enthusiast, with the caveat that those sensitive to stalking may consider whether this is the right choice for you.

Strangers by C. L. Taylor is a wonderful thriller that involves three strangers Ursula, Gareth, and Alice. I'm not going to say more about the plot, but I really enjoyed this book. Strangers is an easy read, that keeps you entertained until the end. I highly recommend this book, and I will be reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It wasn't as good as her others but still a good story. Not sure the supernatural element was necessary.
3/5

EXCERPT: Alice Fletcher has never seen a dead body before. She always imagined they'd look peaceful: their skin slackened, their muscles softened and their mouths settled, not into a smile exactly, but a loose, contented line. Alice Fletcher was wrong. The body lying motionless at her feet looks nothing like the soothing mental images she's been carrying around with her for the last forty-six years; the mouth is open, the jaw is hinged into a silent scream and the glassy, lifeless eyes are staring into the distance, somewhere beyond the toes of her sensible court shoes.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before.

Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life.
Gareth’s been receiving strange postcards.
And Alice is being stalked.

None of them are used to relying on others – but when the three strangers’ lives unexpectedly collide, there’s only one thing for it: they have to stick together. Otherwise, one of them will die.

Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

MY THOUGHTS: This is essentially a novel about loneliness.

Alice's husband has left her for another woman, not even a younger, prettier, sexier woman, just another woman. Ursula's husband is dead. She could perhaps have saved him had she stayed and fought beside him instead of running for help, but she will never know. Gareth wanted to be a policeman, but failed, and now spends his days on security in a shopping mall, his evenings with his mother who suffers from dementia.

All three are lonely. But there is a tenuous connection between all three. Alice is manager of a clothing store in the mall where Gareth is a security officer, and Ursula frequently shoplifts from Alice's store. But none of that really has anything to do with this story. Except for the loneliness...

So, we have three separate stories and, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how the three were going to connect, until they did. Very late in the book. And then it was game on!

Even the secondary characters have interesting stories and hidden depths. Very hidden depths in a couple of instances. Just wait until you find out what Larry is going to do with his retirement!

Strangers by C.L. Taylor is one of those books where you're reading along thinking, 'Yeah, good read, but not great,' and, 'Hell, we're getting awfully close to the end and nothing's happening to change my mind. 3 stars. 3 stars....🤯' It happens THAT fast!

'What happens?' you ask. Not telling. Read this for yourself.

🤐🤐🤐🤐

#Strangers #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: C.L. Taylor lives in Bristol with her partner and young son. She is a five times Sunday Times bestseller and her books have hit the number one spots on Amazon, Kobo, Audible, iBooks and Google Play. Cally has a degree in Psychology, with particular interest in abnormal and criminal Psychology.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Strangers by C.L. Taylor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

All I can say is you will want to read this book!

C.L. Taylor has done it again.

Strangers is a psychological thriller that you will want to devour immediately.

It opens with a woman standing over a dead body, if that doesn't keep you reading I don't know what will.

This is a tale of three people, strangers to be precise (you get where the title comes from).

Each one is trying to their very best to get on with life, all characters are flawed, they have suffered and they've all experienced a degree of tough times.

But times are about to get tougher for them all.

An explosive tale, each timeline cleverly woven in together to make for an impressive ending.

Full review to come on my blog soon.