Review | Strangers by C.L. Taylor (ARC)

Ursula, Gareth, and Alice are strangers who live separate lives with no knowledge of each other. But their paths will cross in unexpected ways, culminating in a shocking event. How do they end up there, and will all of them make it out alive?

Alice Fletcher has never seen a dead body before.

Strangers is a fast-paced, gripping thriller where the lives of a group of strangers are intertwined in unexpected ways. Ursula is a courier driver with a penchant for taking things that belong to other people. Gareth is a security officer at a shopping mall who lives with his mother and finds himself in trouble with his colleague. Alice is a shop manager dating a man who might be hiding the truth about his life.

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I found it highly entertaining. The multiple POVs and short chapters made for a fast read and kept my attention. I liked the mundane descriptions of the characters’ lives where their concerns are real and have weight. Surprisingly I felt most connected to the kleptomaniac Ursula, who has a tragic past and good intentions. There’s a running theme of loneliness and survival, and I found myself wanting these characters to have a happy ending.

While the buildup of the story is intricate, I found the resolution too neat. Everything fell cleanly into place but I would have loved for a little more punch. I also wish the setting of the shopping mall is explored further. Still, I was left satisfied especially with the final surprise at the end. Strangers takes a journey into the lives of ordinary people who find themselves in an extraordinary situation, perfect for readers who love a fast read with plenty of surprises.

I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publisher and Netgalley for review purposes.

About the author: C.L. Taylor