Kiersten Modglin’s The Stranger is more novella than novel, but there is no question it’s a tight, fast-paced thriller. The entire adventure spans only hours, but dang if Modglin doesn’t pack those hours with tension, and I was glued to my earbuds listening to this story. The book is told from three perspectives, each told by a different narrator, all of whom deliver excellent performances. When we meet Tibby she is walking along an empty stretch of highway in a snowstorm. We’ve no clue why she is there or what has happened to put her here. Walker slows his car and ‘coerces’ her into accepting his help. He’s unwilling to leave her there for fear of what might happen to her. But the moment chapter three starts, when the third narrator’s distorted voice starts, I got chills. As the chapters fly by with the point of view constantly flipping between the various characters, we learn more about each of them, especially that third character and what they are hiding…that they are a psycho who is leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. But exactly who is this psycho? Is it possible it’s actually Tibby or perhaps Walker? I won’t spoil it but…anything is possible. I enjoyed this story tremendously. It came in hard and fast and didn’t overstay its welcome. If you’re looking for a short but intense thriller, look no further. The Stranger delivers. 4.5 stars! I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of Kiersten Modglin’s The Stranger.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1C10P3VY5CVH0/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This was a quick little thriller with a nice twist. I really enjoyed the narrators and thought the killer’s disguised voice added a cool creepy element to it. I think this would have been better as a longer story

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lately I hadn’t been pulling as many thrillers and now I’ve reviewed 3 in a row? Who even am I these days? 😁 When I saw that @kierstenmodglinauthor had a new book coming out, I couldn’t pass that up. One thing about all her books that is that they are addicting.

The Stranger was no exception! I had the audiobook and listened to the whole book in 24 hours. (Would have been less but my family insists on needing me 😅) It’s on the shorter side so that made it easier to do. It’s fast paced, twisty and the POV from the killer is very creepy on audio. In other words I loved it! The ending wraps up a little quickly but with the story being just under 200 pages, that’s not surprising.

The Stranger comes out TOMORROW! Thank you @dreamscape_media for my advanced copy!

Tibby has broken up with her boyfriend on a stranded stretch of road and now it is snowing! Along comes Walker. After some convincing, Tibby gets in his car. Because of the weather, these two end up in a hotel with no name on the side of the road. Then the weird stuff starts happening!

When Tibby got into Walker’s car, I did a mental head slap! I mean…how stupid can you be! But she had no options, stay outside in the snow or get into a warm car. Well? Did she make the right decision? You will have to read this to find out!

I enjoy this author! I love how she created so much suspicion around every character. I really had no idea who the villain was in this book. I enjoy a good guessing game!

The narrators, Saskia Maarleveld; Traci Odom; John Pirhalla, are so good! I love a production in a narration and this book nailed it!

Need a good mystery to make your day go by faster…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I’ve been a Kiersten Modglin fan for a few years now and really enjoy her books. They remind me of Freida McFadden in that they’re quick, engrossing reads. This book, like most of her others, kept me on the edge of my seat. I won’t spend weeks thinking about the characters, because the book is focused more on plot than character background, but I still recommend her books for a quick palette cleanser.

This audiobook took a while to get into… not one of my favorite narrations I’ve heard.

This was a great read from beginning to end - it had me relistening and (even a hardcopy) of rereading thinking - how did I not see that coming. Thank you Net Galley for the advance read! #TheStranger #NetGalley#KierstenModglin

Two unfamiliar individuals find themselves stranded amidst a fierce snowstorm at a remote motel, accompanied by the unsettling revelation of two missing children and the lurking presence of a potential killer. Indeed, the concept of stranger danger comes vividly to life in this narrative.

This book proves to be an enjoyable read, characterized by its brisk pace, clever dialogue, and finely crafted characters. Particularly notable is the evocative atmosphere depicted, where the biting chill of snow practically leaps off the pages, sending shivers down the spine. Despite initial expectations of predictability, the story takes unexpected twists and turns, defying anticipated outcomes with skillful execution.

The theme of trust emerges as a central motif, serving as a cautionary reminder of the dangers posed by misplaced faith in seemingly benevolent gestures. Readers are urged to exercise caution in their interactions, as demonstrated through the unfolding events within the narrative.

For those seeking a gripping thriller that offers both warmth and suspense, this book is a worthy addition to the reading list.

I love this author so I knew I would love this book. I really enjoyed the audiobook narration! To me, it was a great fit for the story. This was a very fast read for me and I loved the premise of two strangers stranded together in a snow storm who are forced to rely on each other in a way. Thank you #netgalley!

I loved this! Kiersten’s books that I have read have mostly been on the shorter side, and I love that for these. There isn’t that normal in the middle lag that I tend to find in a lot of thrillers I read.

Walker and Tibby meet one night in suspecting circumstances, and when things go awry they need to depend on each other. But can they trust one another?

I found myself going back and forth at who I thought the possible suspect was and even though I did end of guessing it, it didn’t ruin the story for me. I loved how the author makes you think you know it all, only for a twist to push you another way.

Tibby and Walker are strangers traveling in a storm together. Walker is traveling home. Tibby is a nomad running away from danger. A stranger who’s taken over Walker’s life.
…
On the road with a roadblock ahead these strangers have to put aside their fears. There’s bigger worries ahead of them. Yet all Walker is concerned about is getting closer to Tibby.
…
Kiersten Modglin writes about two strangers driving in a storm. She’s running from danger and he’s unwillingly driving into danger. It’s a story about murder on an isolated road during a storm where cell service is limited. Snow storms make the perfect setting for murder. I was ready and prepared to be scared. I was expecting something dark and chilling.
…
Narrators: Saskia Maarleveld, Traci Odom, and John Pirhalla. The voice of the killer is distorted (maybe for a reason) it’s distracting. The voice of Walker’s character is nothing how I imagined. I wasn’t impressed by the tone of voice for this male character. The way the murderer was speaking was disarming. I didn’t get that chilling sense of danger. Instead I was weirded out by his voice. I do appreciate the opportunity to listen to the audiobook it saves me the trouble of reading myself.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Netgalley and the author for the opportunity listen to this audiobook for an honest review. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I just felt like there was something missing and didn't keep my attention. I did, however, enjoy the audio recording! That was well done. (review posted on Goodreads)

Never trust a stranger…But, late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker have no choice.With roads shutting down and cell towers out, running into each other and deciding to travel together could either be their saving grace or worst mistake.

This was SOOOO good! kept me on my toes!
Thank you NetGalley & the Publisher for this ARC.

The Stranger was a fast read filled with twists that just didn’t hit much of a mark with me. I won’t deny I didn’t expect the twist till it was almost right in my face but even when the big reveal happened it didn’t shock me.

I liked the idea behind two strangers meet and they both struggle with trusting each other but it doesn’t really happen in this book. Tibby is way more untrusting of Walker all the while the man seems obsessed with her. I found their dynamic super weird, especially on his end. He just gave off creepy vibes. I do like however the author gave me whiplash about who the before narrator could be. Just when I thought I knew exactly who it was, something would happen that would leave me scratching my head.

Though it didn’t wow me I’d still recommend this book and author as they tend to write fast thrillers that do entertain.

Love a quick, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Finished this one sitting. I felt an underlying sense of anxiety and dread right from the start...just knowing bad things were ahead. The mark of a good thriller, I guess!

This was my first Kiersten Modglin book, though I've had many of her titles on my TBR for a while now. If you're looking for a short, fast-paced thriller - this is it!

3.8 rounded up to 4.

Fast paced and thrilling – this story will keep you hooked the whole time trying to figure out who is responsible for the murders and who is safe. I love Kiersten Modglin’s books because they’re just the right length to keep you guessing with twists that you don’t see coming. The characters are relatable but just unlikeable enough that you don’t know who you can trust. Add in the snowstorm and you’re in for a fascinating ride!

Loads of people love KMod’s books, and I’ve tried two of them, but I have come to realize that her books are just not for me. I can appreciate a thriller with some romance-y elements (Louisa Scarr’s Butler & West series comes to mind), but the insta-love or whatever was happening here sure didn’t make much sense and didn’t feel very well developed. It really didn’t help that the male narrator for Walker was… not my favorite. I think Walker was supposed to be a hunk (?), but I thought he sounded like a grown up Steve Urkel reading the weather. Yikes.

I did like the way the narrator of the “before” sections had a gender-neutral voice, which kept things open as to who the maniac was - I was kept guessing until the end, which was fun.

KMod fans will absolutely want to check this one out, even though it wasn’t really for me.

4 stars

This is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. I LOVE unreliable narrators. There's multiple POVs from Walker and Tibby and then the Killer. The Killer's voice is modulated so you can't tell who it is. Is it Walker? Is it Tibby? Is it an unknown third person? All the pieces fit and an argument could be made for the Killer being any of those options.

The way the story unfolds is a little fantastical at times, but it all comes together in the end. It wasn't 5 stars only because of the fact that there were too many coincidences to make all the pieces fit, but that ending.......SO SATISFYING.

It's a quick listen (4ish hours), but it feels like it's longer only because it's a fully fleshed out story. There's no extra fluff, it's not needed. Everything in this story has a purpose and a reason and even without the extra fluff to make it longer, it isn't missing anything and doesn't feel rushed.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC. This was not my first Kiersten Modglin book and I can't wait to get my hands on more..

This is a great quick thriller that has several twists and turns. You will not be able to put it down and it will make you question everyone you meet. I loved how the setting was weather based it really allowed for a mixture of unpredictability. Also, the plot made sense and was not too unrealistic. The ending was definitely my favorite option and I highly recommend the book. I did find the voices great, though the hidden voice was a bit odd it made sense. I also liked how the multiple POV's was done from different voices.

This riveting thriller kept me on the edge of my seat with its multitude of unexpected plot twists. Just when you believe you've figured out the culprit, another surprising turn emerges. The various narrators added depth to the tale, making it one of my top picks among Kiersten Modglin's works to date.

Kiersten Modglin never disappoints!

This was another fast-paced thriller complete with enough red herrings and tension to make it perfectly binge worthy!

Tibby and Walker have never met. But they have no choice but to trust each other when a snowstorm has them stranded with no cell reception and nowhere to go.

I love that this story has multiple POVS - we hear from Tibby, Walker and the voice of the guilty. You think you know who the guilty party is. Then you change your mind. Only to change it back again before you think it might be someone else.

I found that it ended quite abruptly and I felt it could have been fleshed out more. I also had a few questions about some of the characters that I would have liked answers to. But all in all, this was exactly what you want in a thriller. And at just over 200 pages, you will finish it in just one sitting!