I don't feel the need to rewrite what the book is about, but will do it in one sentence. Emmy (protagonist) wants a new beginning, moves to a small town, gets wrapped up in a crime when she realizes her friend is a psycho. It is part Gone Girl meets Pretty Little Liars (TV show not the books). The names were the same or almost the same as Pretty Little Liars, and spoiler, the crazy girl at the end who looks our protagonist winds up the same way Bethany does in PLL, followed by another character who changes identities. That is all I will say on that.

For me, I don't like books that are written in first person. I find them to be dry and I like to get into the heads of the other characters, too. So, from right off the bat, I was hesitant. Parts were really great but it took a bit too long for me to enjoy, around page 200 is when I found myself starting to like the characters and care about them.

I agree with the others on here about the many subplots with no resolution. Parts were confusing in that they didn't jive well and it wasn't an "A-HA!" moment when a revelation was made about how something connected.

Loved the idea of the book, thought it was a good story and outside of the too many plot lines I think it did a what it set out to accomplish. A mystery that didn't try to go too dark or too gory, and had a satisfying ending. An actual ending, not a did they or didn't they, but it tied it up with the main arc, or what I think was the main arc. Who knows. But it was a good read.

The Perfect Stranger is a great mystery! It will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next. Leah Stevens has lost her job as a journalist and moves to a remote area of Pennsylvania with her friend Emmy to start over. She quickly becomes involved in a murder mystery that twists and turns many times and some of those times point back at her as the main suspect.

Leah has been friends with Emmy for many years but it has always been a somewhat strange relationship with Emmy randomly entering and leaving Leah's life. So when Emmy disappears, Leah does not immediately know something is wrong. A local woman is murdered about the same time that Emmy disappears so two crimes are being solved in this novel. It had many moving pieces but the author managed to pull all them together including the mysteries from Leah's past. Overall, I was impressed and would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel

The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda follows Leah Stevens as she makes a move both physically and career wise to start her life all over again. She moves in with her friend, Emmy, and all seems to be rolling along smoothly until a woman is severely beaten not far from Leah's house. Leah then discovers her roommate has gone missing so she gets the local police involved. The deeper Leah digs into Emmy's past the more she realizes that she doesn't really know her. this book is full of twists and turns as well as some deep hidden secrets. Read and enjoy!

This will be a pretty short review, I'm afraid. As many of you, I read All The Missing Girls last year when I discovered Netgalley. While it wasn't my favorite book (I thought the reverse storytelling served little purpose), it was an entertaining book, no doubt about that. I wasn't so sure when I decided to request The Perfect Stranger a couple of months ago, but the cover was so beautiful that I couldn't resist. And, after all, I love suspenseful novels.

This is the story about a young woman and her missing friend, about a strange murder and the sheriff who investigates it. And then there's some kind of past trauma and a romantic relationship as well. I'd say this is a psychological thriller, but not the domestic kind that's so popular right now.

Sadly, I couldn't connect at all with this story. I've read people that share my same opinion and others who loved it, so please, keep in mind that you might enjoy it too. I struggled with the pace and there seemed to be too many different storylines that I didn't really care about. I finished it because I wanted to know what had happened, but as I was already struggling, I found the explanation a bit unrealistic. I guess it was just not the book for me. And don't get me wrong, I really believe that the idea for the novel was a good one, but I'm not sure I liked how it all played out.

Scrappymags 3-word review: Solid, entertaining mystery

Genre: Adult contemporary mystery. A touch more on the chick-lit side since the central relationship is two women, but tough for me to judge. Guys should give it a whirl. And let me know!

Shortest summary ever: Starting over in a small rural town after a huge work problem in her former career as a Boston reporter, Leah Stevens thinks she’s found a safe place to land. Along with her old college pal Emmy, they’ve rented a secluded house and begun new lives… and then (insert scary music) a girl is assaulted.

A girl that looks an awful lot… like Leah.

Then Emmy disappears and Leah is left holding bags, wait – LUGGAGE bags of questions, including if “Emmy” was even a real person. What’s the true story? And who IS “Emmy”? (dun dun dun…)

What’s good under the hood: This is my second review of a Megan Miranda book, the first being All The Missing Girls, and not to sound too McDonald’s (I’m hungry) but I’m lovin’ it! (Squeeeeee I’m a fan!) I wasn’t AS in love with this book as I was Missing Girls, because of the reverse narrative in THAT novel I was truly wowed. But this solid follow up is 4-star worthy – an enjoyable, driven, advancing story that kept my interest. I love a surprising plot – one that doesn’t follow a cliché, which is tough to do when nearly everything is cliché. What I just said was so cliché. See? It’s a solid follow-up. Intrigue, enough characterization and description without being plodding, and a multitude of turns that kept the pages turning like a hamster wheel.

What’s bad or made me mad: there were a few choices in plot toward the end that didn’t seem viable ( no spoilers) or didn’t seem consistent with what an educated sensible person would do, thus why it’s a four-star.

Recommend to:

Best-seller type mystery fans. Not a cozy mystery, but not a Jack-the-Ripper scene.
Probably a bit more chick-lit-mystery.
Book clubs would enjoy the friendship angle in discussions.
Do Not Recommend to:

If you can’t suspend a little disbelief. Avoid.
If you’re looking for the unusual like Miranda’s first book you’ll likely be let down.
Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and Megan Miranda for a lively day of reading!

3.5 stars

'Sometimes it's what's missing that's the answer. Sometimes that's the story.'

Have you read the blurb?? That alone had me super excited to get my hands on this one.

Leah moves away with her friend Emma, to a rural town, to escape her mistakes. Soon after, Emma disappears, but no one has ever seen or heard of Emma Grey. It's like she never existed. In order for Leah to discover the truth, she has to revisit her old demons.

This was a fast paced, quick read... until it wasn't. So many details are purposely left out, for your to discover later with Leah. The problem with this is, even as a reader you started picking up on things long before Leah did. Leah was also more of a loner, so there was a lot of internal dialogue. She pieces a lot of the 'Emma mystery' together in her head, but she continues to overlook so many obvious details. The last third of the book picks up again, as all the loose ends are tied. I will say that the ending... not what I was expecting. I'm glad that Megan Miranda chose to go that route.

I did enjoy Megan's writing and will go back and read her first book.

An arc was provided from the publisher via NetGalley.

I think I may have been at an advantage reading The Perfect Stranger as my first Megan Miranda book. The reviews for All the Missing Girls are raving, making fans wonder if The Perfect Stranger can live up to the hype. Since I have yet to read her previous works, I have no comparisons to effect my judgment. Ignorance is bliss in this case.

After a mysterious fiasco with her journalism career, Leah is forced to start over in a new place (Western Pennsylvania) with her long-time friend, Emmy, and in a new career as a teacher. When a girl is found by the lake near the girls' house barely hanging onto life, Leah's plans for a slower paced life are put on hold. Her journalistic instincts take hold, and she begins investigating the story. Shortly after, Leah realizes her flighty roommate hasn't been home or seen for a few days and begins to worry she may be the subject of a similar vicious attack.

The Perfect Stranger was the best mystery I have read thus far in 2017. The tale was gripping, and had me turning the pages as quickly as I could. My eyes probably resembling those of a person watching a face paced ping-pong match. I felt anxious, even experiencing moments of fear for what Leah was going to stumble upon next. While I was certain I had the story mostly figured out, it did not slow my need to find the truth within the pages. Instead, I was determined to read faster to see if I was correct.

With the hint of a possible romance within the pages, I was all the more intrigued with the story. A chance love interest adds another great element to an already engrossing novel. I wish this added aspect was pursued a bit further to make the story even more interesting, but was nonetheless happy with the addition.

I gave this book 4 hard-earned stars for the amount of suspense and excitement I felt while reading. I had to knock a star off for the ending not quite living up to my expectations. It concluded much in the way I expected it to. Unfortunately, I was hoping for more of a climatic end after such an in-depth mystery. Despite the story not earning maximum stars from me, it is still going to be classified as my favorite Mystery/Suspense novel of 2017, so far. Megan Miranda's storytelling is top notch, and I cannot wait to dive into more of her work.

Grab this novel when it releases on May 16th for a thrilling reading experience!



Thank you to Simon & Schuster along with Megan Miranda for providing 5171 Miles Books with an advanced copy to review for our readers.

The best thriller of 2017 so far! Do you ever really know your roommate? Will your past ever leave you alone? Leah's story is gripping, bone chilling and the kind that you won't soon forget. I finished this book in a day, reading every moment that I had. I thought I had it figured out and then more of the past comes through and every thing changes. It's a carefully woven psychothriller that will have you speed reading to get to the end. I received my copy through Netgalley and have written this review voluntarily.

Oh the dreaded second book! I know Miranda has written more than 2 books, but this is her second adult mystery novel, and while it wasn't perfect (pun intended) it wasn't bad and I think some people are giving this a bit of a harsh time!

I can understand where people are coming from, in terms of not connecting with the characters. I wasn't particularly a fan of Leah myself, but I had enough empathy towards her to be interested in her story. Kyle, I had mixed feelings about, I didn't like the romance element that Miranda fit in with him and Leah and I thought he was trying to play-it-cool to much while still being really clingy.

I've seen some people complain about the motives behind Leah's move and "new life", saying it was lack lustre and unworthy of all the dramatics, but I thought it was a pretty good, and quite unique, twist to the story and helped explain Leah's reservedness well. As for the main twist - what happened to Emmy? - I half saw it coming and half didn't. There was certainly an element of surprise there for me so I was happy with the way the plot went, for the most part. In fact, I was more surprised by this novel than I was with All the Missing Girls, which I guessed the ending of, part way through.

At times, I found my thoughts getting a little bit muddled with all the names and how everyone fit in, but when it's all "resolved" at the end, things became clearer.

The writing in this is, as always, superbly atmospheric and descriptive. Miranda certainly knows how to write!

Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book, reading it and finishing it in the early hours of the morning. I will definitely keep my eyes open for more of Miranda's work, clearly, she is a woman of many genres!

There’s something to be said about a book that captures your attention and compels you to read the story straight through in one sitting. While The Perfect Stranger is not without faults, it was a pretty captivating read.

We meet Leah Stevens as she’s making a fresh start in a somewhere-small-town in Pennsylvania. Formerly an investigative sort of journalist, Leah’s left Boston after an article she wrote led to tragedy, a restraining order, and questions regarding her integrity as a reporter. Her move is spur-of-the-moment, impulsive, and encouraged by a college-time friend Leah hasn’t seen in eight years: Emmy. Emmy is a flighty, charismatic, mysterious girl; a girl Leah instantly bonded with all those years ago when Leah was in a desperate place in life. It seems like fate when they by chance meet up again eight years later when once again, Leah is in a desperate situation.

They move to Pennsylvania, rent a cabin in the woods, get jobs, and begin to acclimate to their new life when a woman is assaulted close to their cabin, and soon after Emmy disappears. The search for Emmy spotlights the fact that Leah knows so very little about her friend. Soon the police wonder if Emmy even really existed or some made up character Leah dreamed up to shift suspicions.

At first I was a little stunned at Leah for stupidly, IMO, picking up and moving States with this woman she knew so little about! But as I read on and discovered the extent of damage Leah was trying to escape, I understood the desperation that drove her to act without fully assessing the situation. Emotions ran high and the fight or flight response kicked in.

This first half of the book I felt a real disconnect with Leah. Because of this it wasn’t clear at first if Leah was an unreliable narrator, and I was wondering right along with the police if Emmy was an invention of Leah’s imagination. That didn’t last for long, though. I will say that I never did feel a real connection with any of the characters; they all felt a little remote and held at a distance mentally and emotionally from me as a reader. While I appreciate the romance with Detective Kyle Donovan and Leah, I wouldn’t say it was particularly moving, because I never really felt the attraction between them. I will say I’m pleased it wasn’t a depressing mess like most of the psychological thrillers out there today, but it wasn’t the driving force of the story for me.

The addictive part of this mystery was finding out what was a lie, what was the truth, finding out what exactly happened to Leah back in Boston, getting to the bottom of the whole Emmy situation (friend or foe?), and the current danger Leah was facing in Pennsylvania. I was on the edge of my seat in parts! There were some seriously hair-raising, creepy scenes! Before going to bed I made sure all the windows and doors were locked, because the suspense of the story got to me!

There were a few threads I wish were explained a little more by the end, nothing critical, but for the most part this was a really satisfying, justice-being-served type of conclusion for me.

You have two women living together out of a mutual need to start over and then one of them goes missing without a trace. There is also a background mystery that unfolds throughout the book as to why the two women needed to start over again. All while a murder happens not far from their house and her roommates boyfriend is no where to be found. There are so many suspects and the things they ran away from are starting to catch up with them.

This book came highly recommended. Unfortunately, I didn't love it like others have but I did like it. I took away two stars for four reasons. 1.) The Pacing: It seemed to drag on and on. You are lead to believe the murderer is one person when it feels very unlikely and odd. Once it finally got off that trail, the book picked up and things started happening 2.) The law enforcement turn their heads so many times it is amazing that they don't fall down for not seeing what is right in front of them. They did so many things that would have gotten them fired in the real world. 3.) The storyline wasn't very realistic. It is realistic enough for an ok fiction mystery but definitely not a 5 star. 4.) The ending left me with more questions than answers. They were side stories but still... I would have liked to know more.

All in all, I would recommend this book to those that love mysteries but not for a first timer.

The author has given us something even better than her debut, more thrills and mysteries, and NOT written in reverse, thank you very much. The lead characters of Leah and Emma, both hiding secrets from their pasts, are broken young women still learning how to make it in a world that can be cruel and suspicious. They run off from Boston to small-town Pennsylvania to try to start over -- Leah, a former journalist now turned school teacher, and Emma... well, we don't know much about Emma and neither does Leah, just what Emma wants her to believe. Around the time that a young woman gets attacked in this new locale, Emma and her boyfriend both disappear; and Leah and the police try to piece things together with very little to go on. So little, in fact, that one wonders if Emma is real or just a creation of Leah's troubled psyche.

With stalkers lurking in the woods, a dead body, noises beneath the house, and the intelligent musing about it all by Leah, I was easily pulled into this story. I did feel always one step ahead of the action towards the end, but maybe that was intentional as Leah and I together figured out just how things were. It usually bothers me when I can halfway solve the mysteries, but here, not at all.

An entertaining read for which I thank NetGalley and Simon Schuster.

When Leah Stevens needs relocate unexpectedly, running into an old friend who also needs a fresh start, Emmy Gray, feels like serendipity. When their new start is interrupted by an assault of a woman with an uncanny likeness to Leah and a disappearance, Leah is left wondering "Who is Emmy Gray?" The story unfolds to answer her questions and create new ones.

I have to say that I found the story very interesting, if not somewhat slow-paced. It got off to a slow start, then really picked up the pace about 75% of the way in. But it's hard to get deep into a story when you don't connect with the main character, or in fact like her very much. Leah seemed aloof and naive and just very...boring. It was hard to figure out why I should care or why I should believe anything she said. I mean, really. You've lived with this girl TWICE and don't know her last name, don't have a picture of her, don't know anything about her family/friends/background...basically don't know ANYTHING about her? Leah seemed almost creepily obsessed with Emmy (who honestly seemed like a weirdo), yet knew nothing about her. It didn't make sense. To be quite honest, most of the characters in this book are somewhat creepy. The kids in Leah's class, her co-workers, her former friends. However, it was an interesting book and I would recommend it.

All the Missing Girls, the previous novel by Megan Miranda had been a good discovery for me. Even if I had some problems regarding the end with the consequences for the characters, I found that the author had succeeded in her bet. Moreover the format was really unusual and it had been an unprecedented experience. In short, what about this one? Megan presents us with something more conventional in the presentation of the story but it was also nice to read a story that really starts from beginning to end even if we return in the past by moments as it allows us to better understand the characters and what happened.

We discover Leah Stevens, a former journalist who, after an article that ended badly, ended up without a job. Becoming a teacher away from home, she hoped to have a fresh start and yet troubles are just beginning. Indeed, she has since lived with Emmy Gray, a woman she saw passing through her life several times and who is also fleeing her past. But now Emmy has disappeared and a woman is found dead near their home … the common point between the two seems strangely for Leah. While an investigation is initiated, the police initially focus on Leah hoping that she will help them but the disappearance of Emmy who does not seem to have ever existed makes her suspicious into their eyes. No one has ever seen the young woman and no one has information about her. Not wanting to find herself once again victim of a police affair, Leah plunges into her past to try to figure out who her roommate was and ultimately learn more than she thought, as some explanations about her past.

It was a very interesting book and I confess that I was anxious to understand exactly what was going on. Does Emy Gray actually exist? Is it an invention? I asked myself a lot of questions throughout the story and I greatly appreciated the flash back which allowed me to assemble the puzzle little by little. The relationship between Leah and Kyle, the police officer in charge of the case, adds an extra touch to the awkwardness they both have with each other. I really enjoyed the mystery and the investigation that this novel presents and while something was perhaps lacking in the previous novel in relation to the consequences of the actions of the characters I had the pleasant surprise to get something conclusive here.

Identity theft is a topic that I find very interesting and opens up many possibilities and it is true that I find that Megan plays very well with this subject.

Having heard great things about ALL THE MISSING GIRLS by Megan Miranda I was anxious to delve into THE PERFECT STRANGER; enticed by the synopsis, a journalist sets out to find a missing friend, a friend who may never have existed at all.

Perhaps I will have to read ALL THE MISSING GIRLS because this book really missed the mark for me. The bleak tone did not resonate with me. There was too much going on and I was not always sure how the plots and sub-plots were related.

I also believe the "unreliable witness" story has been done and done again, thing is it has been done much better than this book.

The slow pace of this book did not work for me, the story was good enough but it needed to move faster to keep my attention. Looking forward to ALL THE MISSING girls as I want to give Ms. Miranda"s writing another chance.

This is my second Megan Miranda book, and I enjoyed this book much more that her first, All The Missing Girls.

Found this book to move along a a good pace with interesting character development.

There were many times that I even questioned if there actually was an "Emmy".

Great ending to a great read! Would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This slowly builds up creating an eerie atmosphere of suspense. It continues with many twist and turns, great character development and unfortunately, a very disappointing and unsatisfying ending. 3 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy.

I enjoyed this book! I often like to read a thriller in between every few books. I don't find them as heavy as books I often gravitate towards and find they provide me that "popcorn for the brain" experience I crave every now and then. I love the twists and turns of thrillers, love the suspense and the mystery.

The Perfect Stranger certainly didn't disappoint. It was paced perfectly, had some excellent twists and really held my attention. The story, about a woman who moves to the Burbs with someone she assumes is one of her closest friends, is suspenseful and gripping. Our protagonist soon learns that no one is who they seem and everyone has their own secrets, their own past to battle.

I really did enjoy Megan Miranda's writing, too. I thought she formed the tale of Leah and Emmy very well and unfolded the drama at precisely the right intervals, certainly enough to hook me and keep me guessing.

Leah and her internal monologues did begin to grate on me after a while, a common complaint among readers from what I can gather. I also suspect, from what I have read, that Miranda's All the Missing Girls, the predecessor to this book, is her standout work so I am eager to read that and learn what the connection is (if there is one?).

An accomplished and enjoyable thriller that I would certainly recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book.

The Perfect Stranger A Novel by Megan Miranda and published by Simon & Schuster is a great read. Thank you to Netgalley the publisher and author for my advanced copy for an honest review. I am one of those people who needs to read things in order so I did read All the Missing Girls and loved it. I feel that the plot was very well developed and the reverse chronological order was genius. So if you haven’t read that do start there. I am very glad I did, even though books can be read as standalones I am so glad I read them together.
Failed Journalist Leah Steven's life has hit rock bottom when she runs into her old friend Emmy Grey in a bar in Boston. Emmy has just broken up with her boyfriend and because both women want to get away from Boston suggests that she and Leah move to rural Pennsylvania and start their lives anew. All is going well until a woman who bears a uncanny resemblance to Leah is assaulted and left for dead and Emmy disappears days later, this should have you hooked if I stop right here but this is just the beginning. The Journalist in Leah is determined to find Emmy, but the more time that Leah spends time looking the messier things get. Leah gets help from Kyle Donovan a detective from the area that helps. I feel that the intrigue of potential love for this story makes it so much better.
This roller coaster ride is read in the prospect of Leah, the character is so well developed and complex that it makes the story so much better. The more time that passes the more Leah starts to second guess her thoughts and memories. every time you as the reader get the feeling that the idea of Emmy is constructed. Is all this real? All and all a perfectly strange read.

3.25 Stars.
“A Perfect Stranger” is A Less Than Enthralling Follow-Up to Megan Miranda’s “All the Missing Girls,” which was one of my favorite reads of last year.

So Leah Stevens needs to escape. Badly. She made a mistake. And she doesn’t want to admit it. To anyone. Not her boss or her family. And now she just wants to run away. And her old friend Emmy, who returns after having been away for eight years, gives her that option. Together, they take off for rural Pennsylvania, where Leah gets a job as a teacher and Emmy ends up working odd jobs. Leah and Emmy clicked from the start and Leah loved how Emmy backed her up, was strong where Leah was weak, and came back just when she needed her most. Then, when things finally seemed to calm down for Leah, everything goes to sh&t and Emmy goes missing and so does her boyfriend - leaving Leah in trouble - wondering who Emmy really is and whether or not she can be trusted.

A Perfect Stranger is a quick easy, enjoyable read. That said, I can’t say that I really liked any of the characters and therefore didn’t care what happened to them. That simple fact didn’t make the mystery all that compelling to me. I went into it wanting to love it… because I loved Ms. Miranda’s debut, All The Missing Girls, but unfortunately it didn’t happen for me. Like I said, it was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t blow me away.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster and Megan Miranda for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 4.30.17.

*Will be Published on Amazon on 5.16.17.