I enjoy reading Elly Griffiths' work. I find her' style enjoyable, and her characters always ring true to me. I like the inclusion of characters with unique viewpoints, such as the modern witch. Griffiths always creates full characters that are believable and sympathetic. The setting of this novel--a small school community housed in the estate of a famous author is rife with spooky possibilities too! I enjoyed it!

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths is everything a gothic ghost/murder story should be! Clare is an English teacher at Talgarth School. She is divorced and has a teenage daughter, Georgia, who attends the school. The old building of Talgarth was previously the home of famed author R.M. Holland, who wrote a story called The Stranger. When Clare’s co-workers start getting murdered in ways similar to the story she doesn’t know what to think. Then somebody starts writing in Clare’s diary, letting her know the killings are all because of her. It seems the killer is reading Clare’s diary and getting rid of people who have wronged her. This story is told in alternating viewpoints of Clare, Georgia, and Harbinder—the female detective in charge of the case. I didn’t even come close to figuring this one out. I have never read Elly Griffiths’ books before but I definitely will now! Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advance copy of The Stranger Diaries from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will start off by saying that I am a big fan of Elly Griffith’s writing. I imagine the I would enjoy reading anything she chooses to publish. I have read all of the Ruth Galloway series and half of the Magic Men series. This is a stand alone novel, but I can’t help but think that Claire Cassidy (who seems to be a more attractive older sister to Ruth—but nowhere near as witty) and DS Kaur have at least a couple more mysteries in them. I hope that they do.

It must be difficult in some ways to create a character like Ruth Galloway because she is so popular. I think it is great that Ms. Griffiths changes it up every now and then. The Stranger Diaries, very different from her two other series, is drenched in all things gothic—a story where characters write diaries that are surprisingly (and at times inconveniently) candid and where ghostly apparitions haunt the halls of old buildings and dark events of the past bleed into the present. I really enjoyed it. The format also was different from Ms. Griffith’s other books in that the chapters switched points of view instead of relying on a single narrative voice. I found that this added to the tension in the story as we saw a single event from the viewpoint of several characters and at different points in time--and allowed for a more complete story to develop.

If you are a fan of M. R. James, Stoker, Stevenson, or LeFanu you will find much to love in this novel. In fact when I finished it I was left with a desire to revisit the old classics—which is a testament to how compelling the story was.

Again I will say that I hope that this is just a first novel with these characters. After all, Agatha Christie (and I consider Ms. Griffiths to be a worthy successor) had her Poirot, Inspector Battle, Miss Marple, and Tommy and Tuppence—all with a different feel and atmosphere to their respective stories. So why not?

4 stars. Check it out.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC.

As always, Elly Griffith's book rocks. This is a stand-alone murder mystery that plays at a haunted secondary school where Clare teaches. As the police investigate, strange goings - on come to the surface and I was kept in the dark until the very end about who the murderer was. Well done, has that English boarding school feel.

**Note: I received a free ebook copy of The Stranger Diaries from NetGalley in exchange for a review.**

I'm a huge fan of Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series. This novel, her first standalone (completely unconnected to that series) had me wondering...what will the novel be like without Ruth? The answer is -- I ended up loving the novel! As a reader of many mysteries, I'm not often completely surprised by the ending, but The Stranger Diaries had me guessing until the end -- and then I guessed wrong, which was fun anyway. :)

Elly Griffiths always does a wonderful job of creating relatable characters, particularly women. One thing that I particularly enjoyed about The Stranger Diaries was that she created several women that I connected with in different ways, even though they did not always have the most clear-cut, positive relationships with each other. The stylish but hardworking single mother; the teen daughter who feels the need to hide her real self; the tough policewoman with a multifaceted identity, only parts of which she reveals to different people in her life. I finished the book loving them all.

Others have written about the great modern Gothic atmosphere of The Stranger Diaries. I absolutely agree.

Well worth a read!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* I must start by saying that I am a huge fan of Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series, so when I found out that she had a new standalone novel being published... and the protagonist was a teacher... I was excited, to say the least. . The novel is based around Clare Cassidy, who teaches English at the local comprehensive school. She is also an expert in the gothic writer, RM Holland, who has a historical connection to the school. All is not as it seems, however. As people around Clare start to be killed, the tension builds in a deliciously creepy manner. 'The Stranger Diaries' did not disappoint and was of the high standard that readers have come to expect from Griffiths' novels

A fun, slightly creepy tale with a Gothic feel, just in time for Halloween! 🎃💀

From the bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway mysteries comes a new standalone novel.

Clare Cassidy teaches at a British local comprehensive highschool. Stalled in writing a biography of Victorian author R.M. Holland, best known for his short story The Stranger, Clare finds herself caught up in the investigation of the murder of her friend and colleague, Ella Elphick.

Elly Griffiths' first standalone novel hosts quirky characters and an eerie setting, both aspects her followers have come to expect and adore in her writing.

Whether you're already a fan of Elly Griffiths or are reading her for the first time, you're bound to be enthralled! #TheStrangerDiaries #NetGalley

I love books that manage to combine gothic elements with a contemporary setting, and this one hits the nail on the head. Clare Cassidy is a teacher at a school that was formerly the home of a mysterious author named R.M. Holland. The school is allegedly haunted by the ghost of Holland's wife. When one of Clare's fellow teachers is found dead, Clare becomes a suspect in her murder. Then Clare finds some strange notes written in her diary (!!!) and things really start to get weird.

This is a very well-crafted mystery with a few twists and turns. I definitely did not figure out what was happening. This is a page-turner that kept me up way too late on a work night because I had to know how it ended.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an e-book to me in exchange for my honest review.

I would like to thank the publisher, Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt and NetGalley for a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Clare Cassidy is a high school English teacher at Talgarth High School which used to be the Holland House. R.M. Holland was a Gothic writer and Clare teaches a course from his famous story, "The Stranger."

When Clare's fellow teacher, Ella, is found dead with a quote from "The Stranger" Clare realizes the killer is using the story as a guide to murder. Another colleague, Rick Lewis, is next found murdered similar to a character in Holland's story also with the same quote from "The Stranger" nearby.

Since Clare's divorce she has written daily in her diary. She notices one day that the killer has left her a message in her dairy. DS Harbinder Kaur requests to read Clare's diaries and comes to the conclusion that Clare is the one that connects to the victims and that Clare and her daughter, Georgia, may be in danger.

In the past, I have read Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series and her Stephens and Mephisto Mystery series. This new standalone Gothic mystery is one that will not disappoint. The first-person narration switches between three characters, Clare, DS Kaur, and Georgia, Clare's daughter. I found the characters, especially DS Kaur, to be very interesting. The plot was one that kept the pages turning until the very end. Hopefully, Griffiths will turn this standalone into another series. I would highly recommend this book to those who love Gothic Mysteries and I look forward to reading more of Griffiths' books in the future.

The Stranger, a gothic tale of suspense, is one of the writings that Clare Cassidy teaches in an evening class at Talgarth High. Clare’s classes are taught in a building that was once the author’s home and has a ghost of its own. When Ella, one of Clare’s fellow teachers, is murdered, a note is left with the body containing a quote from The Stranger. Clare has kept diaries for a number of years and after Ella’s death she pulls out some of the recent ones to re-read entries dealing with her friendship with Ella. After her most recent entry someone else has written in her diary to let her know that they are watching.

DS Harbinder Kaur takes an instant dislike to Clare. A former student at Talgarth, Kaur has memories of the school that are not all pleasant and she believes that Clare knows more about what has occurred than she is willing to reveal. After Clare’s discovery of the addition to her diary and the death of a second member of the Talgarth staff, Kaur requests the diaries, hoping for information that may lead to the murderer.

Elly Griffiths divides her novel with scenes from The Stranger, adding to an already eerie atmosphere. As the story progresses it is told in three voices - Clare’s, Kaur’s and that of Clare’s teenage daughter Georgie, a student at Talgarth. Each character brings their own observations to the events and each brings different suspects for the reader to consider. This is a stand-alone novel from Griffiths who is the author of the popular Ruth Galloway series. It has the feel of a classic murder mystery that should appeal to fans of Agatha Christie. Mystery lovers will find enough red herrings to keep them guessing to the end. I would like to thank NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy of this book for my review.

I really enjoyed this book, liked the characters and would love to read more about them, especially the detective. My first title by this author but will not be my last. Recommend A*

What if you discovered that someone had been writing in your diary, adding comments connected to your own entries? What if one of your friends had been recently murdered when you discovered the strange entries?

English teacher Claire Cassidy has been researching the life and works of R.M. Holland, the reclusive Victorian writer, and teaches at the school located on Holland's estate. When her friend and colleague Ella is murdered, a note with a line from Holland's most well-known work is discovered at the scene.

If this were not disturbing enough, the notes that begin to appear in Claire's diary are in the same handwriting.

From the beginning, this eerie novel with Gothic overtones and allusions creates a feeling of unease and uncertainty.

Without revealing anything, I will note that there was one situation that I found bothered me, but aside from that, the novel kept me glued to the pages, doubting one character after another, and it was not until the author wanted the reader to figure things out that the villain of the piece was clear.

The Stranger Diaries was surprising in several ways, and I loved the Gothic ambiance, the three narrative voices, the connection to the fictional R.M. Holland, and the fact that I didn't solve the puzzle until Griffith's was ready.

The sinister and spooky ambiance was both unsettling and fun--in keeping with a modern Gothic.

The book is a stand-alone, but I'd like to see Elly Griffiths continue this Gothic mystery style or at least give DS Harbinder Kaur another case.

Read in November; blog review scheduled for Feb. 18, 2019

NetGalley/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Mystery/Gothic. March 5, 2018. Print length: 416 pages.

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it every year. But when one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friends is found dead, with a line from R. M. Holland’s most famous story, “The Stranger,” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with the storylines of her favorite literature. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her closest confidant, her diary, the only outlet she has for her darkest suspicions and fears about the case.

Clare becomes more certain than ever: “The Stranger” has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?
This is definitely not your standard thriller, it's creepy and has touches of horror built in. Perfect for any fan of this type of genre!

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of #TheStrangerDiaries
Pub Date: 05 Mar 2019

A spine chilling, eerie, gothic novel from Elly Griffiths the author of the Dr. Ruth Galloway /DI Nelson series. This stand alone novel captured my attention from the first page and never it let go. Claire, a teacher that specializes in gothic literature finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when one of her co- workers is killed on the school grounds. Clues left at the scene point to someone familiar with the author R. M. Holland whom Claire happens to specialize in. As her terror mounts she turns to her journals to release her despair and dread but in reading back through some of her entries she notices handwriting that is not her own. Spooky, taught and haunting. Kept me guessing to the very end. Atmosphere galore. You will not be disappointed.

Truly enjoyed. A definite page turner. Had me up reading all night. Would like to read more by the author

Wonderfully atmospheric and compelling, with an ensemble cast of characters who are richly drawn and sympathetic.

Clare Cassidy teaches literature at the Talgarth Academy and is writing a biography of RM Holland, author of The Stranger, a ghost story and who once lived in house on the school grounds. When a colleague and close friend is murdered with a quote from Holland left near the body, Clare becomes involved in the investigation.

Clare is accustomed to sharing her innermost feelings in a diary and she is horrified when she sees a writing in the diary that is not her own. It appears that the murderer is trying to communicate with her. More disturbing, he appears to be taking revenge on those individuals she has written about.

It's a good mystery with multiple narrators--Clare, her daughter Georgia and Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur.

This book would be a great match for readers who enjoy Carol Goodman's books which are often set in schools and have a similar Gothic feel.

A very enjoyable, spooky mystery! I thought this was better than Griffiths' Galloway series and I hope she writes more books featuring Harbinder. The atmosphere was fantastic and this made a perfect winter read.

This was such a fun, absorbing Gothic thriller!

Clare Cassidy is an English teacher obsessed with a famous gothic short story, "The Stranger." She's trying to write a book about the author's life, and even teaches at the school where he once lived. But her life quickly begins to parallel the events in "The Stranger" with a shocking murder, and DS Harbinder Kaur is pulled into her world. Harbinder has her own feelings about the case and the school, as she was a student there years before. Clare's teenage daughter, Georgia, is a current student, and she has her own take about what's happening at Talgarth High.

I loved the juxtaposition of the current day murder mystery with the "The Stranger," pages of the short story teased out throughout the entirety of the book. I also really enjoyed reading about Clare, Harbinder, and Georgia, three completely different women who find themselves swept into the mystery. I read a lot of gritty, violent, psychological thrillers, and it was nice that this book managed to be creepy without having a lot of overt violence or traumatic scenes.

It was my first introduction to Elly Griffiths' writing, and I'm excited to read more of her mysteries.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.

This was my first Elly Griffiths book, but it definitely will not be my last. I really liked this book so much. The characters were intelligent and interesting, the setting was atmospheric, the use of multiple POVs added greatly to my enjoyment, and then the author added a Victorian ghost story within the story. I hated having to put it down. What a well written, fun book!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.