Writing: 4/5 Plot: 4/5 Characters 4.5/5

A fun, fast-paced, whodunit where real life begins to resemble the sinister stories taught in Clare Cassidy’s Gothic literature course. Clare specializes in RM Holland, author of the classic: The Stranger. However, when her best friend and colleague turns up dead, with a line from the story by her body, things start to get chilling. Unsure of whom she can trust, Clare turns to her diary — only to find that someone else is writing in it as well …

The first person narrative alternates between Clare, her 15-year old daughter, Georgia, and Harbinder Kaur — the 35-year old, highly suspicious, Sikh, lesbian detective assigned to the case. Plenty of plot twists, good character development, and lots of fun literary references since much of the action takes place in the English department! Most of the action takes place in a small town on the Sussex Coast, but some beautiful scenes in Ullapool, Scotland as well.

A standalone mystery offering from Elly Griffiths, author of the Ruth Galloway series.

If you’ve been a fan of Elly Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway or Magic Men series ...or even if you’re not, you are going to love this! A standalone story, this book will grab you and not let you go until the very final page. Brilliantly plotted and terrifyingly scary and mysterious from start to finish. Three of the most reliable narrators I’ve ever come across tell the story in a way that keeps you guessing until the end and in this case, I truly never saw the end coming. There are actually four narrators if you count the secondary storyline running through this chiller. Reading this close to Halloween seemed very appropriate. This is without a doubt the best book I’ve read in a very long time. I wanted to stay with these characters long after I finished the book. I am beyond grateful to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this yet to be published deliciously creepy mystery!

I have absolutely adored Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway mystery series and hope that she will continue to write many more book about Ruth, her family, colleagues and friends. Ms. Griffiths has also penned the post-war Max Mephisto series. Now, she has written her first standalone novel. I will start by saying that this atmospheric, character driven story does not disappoint.

Plot: Clare is a teacher at the school where her daughter, Georgia, is a student. Harbinder is a Detective Sergeant whose alma mater is this school. When Clare's colleagues begin to die, Harbinder is assigned the investigation. The school also has close ties to the author of a very scary story. These threads intertwine to produce a suspenseful, somewhat Gothic tale.

Most interesting to me in the book were the many characters and their interrelationships. There are Clare and her ex-husband, Clare and her daughter, Clare and her colleagues, Clare and Harbinder. Then there are Georgie and her parents, Georgie and her teachers, Georgie and her boyfriend, Georgie and her writing group, etc.

Another feature of the novel is the offering of different points of view. The reader sees events through the eyes of Clare, Georgie and Harbinder.

As in all good mysteries there are some twists. This is a novel that I definitely recommend. My favorite novels by this author are still the Ruth novels but this is worth a read for suspense lovers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read by one of my favorite authors!

An absorbing crime novel with a hint of the supernatural. Elly Griffiths is one of my must-read authors and she doesn't disappoint here.

The sense of menace and peril is ever present, and I enjoy how the author is able to write flawed, not always likeable characters and pull you into their world.

The only thing that jarred was the name Harbinder - the only Harbinders I've ever come across have been men, but that was a small thing.

Highly recommended.

I've read many books by this author and thought they were all pretty good. But this one is a stand out. Interesting plot and characters. The story weaves around a short story called The Stranger, which is a great creepy story as well. I was drawn in quickly and enjoyed the mystery immensely!

As a huge fan of the author's Ruth Galloway series, I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Stranger Diaries. This standalone book did not disappoint; I loved it. The style of the book is completely different than the RG series; I think she did a masterful job having the story told from 3 points of view, probably better than I've seen in other books with the same technique. I think it enhanced the telling of the tale. As with her other books, she had great characters who are brought to life. I would be happy to have the book turn into the beginning of a series. Unlike her other books, this one had creepiness added to the suspense, but it wasn't more than I could tolerate. Once I started the book, I hated to put it down wanting to see what happens. It was very atmospheric and very cleverly written. I highly recommend the book and look forward to the next.

This standalone novel by Elly Griffiths is suspenseful and clever. A murder mystery with various narrators, references to a diary and novel make this story unique. I found I couldn’t put this book down. Just when I thought I had figured out the murderer, the plot took a turn and left me surprised. A must read!!

Elly Griffiths is one of my favourite authors and this book did not let me down. She outdid herself with
this psychological thriller. The main characters were well thought out and definitely could relate to
Clare and Harbinder. Two of Clare’s friends and coworkers have been murdered and her ex-husband attacked. It kept me guessing who the murderer was until the very end. I highly recommend this
suspenseful novel.

"Hell is empty and all the devils are here." Although it could be referencing the current situation in Washington DC, this is a quote from Shakespeare's The Tempest. It's also written on a paper found at the murder scene in Elly Griffiths' new standalone novel.

Clare is an English teacher in Sussex, and as the novel opens, her best friend and colleague is found murdered. If that isn't bad enough, someone has not only been reading Clare's private diary, they have also been leaving comments in it. Who is responsible? And who will be the next victim? Detective Sergeant Kaur, a Sikh police woman assigned to the case, is determined to learn the truth,

I've enjoyed all of Griffiths' previous mysteries--the Magic Men and Ruth Galloway series-and The Stranger Diaries is another wonderful option for readers who love an exceptional mystery with a multi-layered plot and unique and intriguing characters.

A book that begins with a gothic horror story to catch your attention then moved in to modern day murders at the school. Great read for a cold dreary day.

With the caveat that I'm already a huge fan of Elly Griffiths' work, I have to say I loved this book. It was exciting to try this stand-alone novel from Griffiths. It's just as well-paced and written as the books in her Ruth Galloway and Magic Men series, but a little creepier. In fact, it felt a little like Tana French's work, and I kept having to remind myself it wasn't.
This story is told in roving first-person perspective, and we sometimes see the same scene from more than one of the characters' points of view. We start with Clare Cassidy, a literature teacher at a comprehensive school located in the historic home of a Victorian gothic writer, RM Holland. Clare is writing a book on Holland, and soon realizes the murders at the center of the story are eerily reminiscent of those in Holland's most famous story. The other narrators are DI Harbinder Kaur, who is investigating the murders, and Clare's 15-year-old daughter Georgie. All three narrators lend different perspectives on the events, but I found myself less interested in Georgie than I was in Clare and Harbinder. These two are more complicated characters and it was interesting to see how they mistrust and misread one another before starting to get along.
The gothic elements to the story were super creepy, and the devices of Clare's diary entries and the fragments of Holland's story added to the mood. I found myself unable to put down the book because I had to find out how it ended. No spoilers, but I guessed the murder maybe two-thirds of the way through the book and then had to see how it played out and if I was correct (I was, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment). This is an extremely entertaining page turner. Fans of Sharon Bolton and Tana French might particularly enjoy it.

An interesting novel. It slowly pulls you in and then grabs you.
Keeps you guessing till the end. Well done.

Griffiths. Has crafted a great ghost crime story. The book ticks a lot of boxes to keep the reader engaged. Claire is an English teacher researching a reclusive author who wrote a seminal ghost story. As claire research happens her close friend and colleague is murdered. Set within a English brooding landscape the murder is investigated by Harbender, a gay Indian detective and her partner Neil.
In the style of Louise penny this book has a clever plot revealed by good detective work.

From the very first pages of this novel, I was seeing a little-known British horror movie in my head. The more I read, the more it bothered me that I couldn’t remember the name of the movie. It didn’t have any big-name actors that most Americans would recognize. After a day’s search, I finally remembered an actor and found the movie. The atmosphere of this book was the same as this movie. Our main character in this book is an English teacher who wishes to write a biography of Gothic writer R. M. Holland whose only novel, The Stranger, deals with death. A murder. As it happens, the home of the famed writer has been converted into a school. Our English teacher works at this school. She is stalled on her writing, so her teaching helps with the bills and provides a school for her teenage daughter. Her good friend is found murdered, a line on a note from The Stranger left beside her body. From this point on the safety bar locks in place and you are on a steady moving ride that will take you on so many twists and turns you made need a dose of Dramamine. When you arrive at the end, you will be gobsmacked and the safety bar will unlock. This is a stand alone novel by Griffiths and any fan of her Ruth Galloway or Stephens and Mephisto series will be pleased with this offering. Hopefully, those unfamiliar with Griffiths will pick this up and discover a real gem.

The movie? It is called Dark of Night. The actor I remembered is Sir Michael Redgrave. It’s a highly atmospheric film about a man who shows up at a country house and realizes it’s a house from a recurring dream that is a portend of his impending doom.

I enjoyed this modern gothic mystery. I love books with a story within the story and I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoyed Magpie Murders.

A strong sense of atmosphere, but ultimately few surprises made for a pleasant but somewhat uninspiring read.

On the one hand, Elly Griffiths 'The Stranger Diaries," provides a lot of what one might want to read as summer gives way to fall: strong atmosphere, a touch of high falutin taste without a ton of work, and a few spooky things that literally go bump in the night. Even the switching between narrators guarantees you'll find at least one voice to relate to and one to be irritated by.

It's forgivable that the lack of character development for the killer makes it obvious early on who he or she must be, but the Deus Ex Stalker resolution is what grinds an otherwise pleasant mystery into the realm of disappointing.

A cast full of people with viable motives and means, even an actual witch! And yet, Griffiths did the very thing protagonist Clare feared - wrapped it all up neatly with a stalker who just couldn't resist how pretty she was.

Is it the bitter teacher trapped forever in his high school? No.
Is it the dangerous bad boy who sent a Valentine to the deceased? Nope, not him either.
What about the seemingly unstable narrator or her teen witch daughter? Nope. Neither of them.

It's the token obsessive stalker who just couldn't resist a pretty girl. How dull.

Despite my salt, I may actually read this book again and just skip the last chapter.

I received a digital ARC from Net Galley and the publisher for an honest review.
I really enjoyed reading The Stranger Diaries. This mystery kept me guessing to the end. At times Gothic and spooky, other times modern and contemporary, the characters were well rounded and relatable. I could not put it down until the last page!

This book is really different from what the author usually rights, found it a bit off putting what the story kept on jumping innand out of the “the Stranger” story randomly did not seem to flow as well.
Not a bad book , but not as good as the Ruth Galloway series

Elly Griffiths Stranger Diaries is a Gothic Mystery I could not put down. Putting this book down was not an option, filled with suspense that could be at times a bit unnerving. The final outcome of this "who done it" mystery was surprising but satisfying. Elly Griffiths led us down all the right paths to the final solve.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

This was fantastic. Just fantastic.

A caveat before I begin. I enjoy the Ruth Galloway series by this author very much. I am drawn to academic novels, especially mysteries with great atmosphere, and the Galloway series is a lot of fun. Plus, like Ruth, I am an academic in her 40s and a first time mom. (Dr. Ruth Galloway is a forensic archaeologist, though, while I'm a literature professor, a 19th-century British Gothicist.) So when I heard about this new book--a mystery that centers on a Victorian Gothicist--I was both excited and concerned.

I was excited for obvious reasons. The genre could barely have been more to my liking. However, I have read more than one book (or series) before that has claimed to be based around some sort of academic, a literature professor who, all too often, is also a Gothicist. And very often these books are a terrible let down. The authors often have no idea what Gothic Studies actually is and seem to have simply googled for texts under the tag "gothic" as the full extent of their character and narrative research. So I was a little worried. What if Griffiths--whom I really like--had done the same thing? What if I start reading this and find yet another superficial treatment of the Gothic where the writer doesn't seem to know the difference between American and British Gothic? Or who confuses Frankenstein and his monster? Well, I had to know.

And . . . Griffiths (Domenica de Rosa) is the real deal. According to her bio (sorry Ms de Rosa!), she holds a Masters in 19th-century literature. This novel is a great representation of her background. She seems to have based her storyline on a combination of M R James with a very healthy dose of Wilkie Collins (and a dash of Agatha Christie). And Griffiths also realizes that Sensation fiction is a sub-genre of the Gothic, which was perfect timing for me. I was prepping my fall class on Sensation fiction--which begins with The Woman in White, of course--while reading this novel, which largely centers around and mimics The Woman in White.

The tale, like Collins' Sensation classic, moves through multiple narrators as they try to uncover the clues to a crime. There is a story that's told intermittently (a good one!) that also accompanies the action and influences the storyline. The text is often atmospheric--we move from a southern landscape often obscured by sea frets via an overnight train to end up in Scotland surrounded by the sea. I liked everything about this.

I don't know what Griffiths plans to do next, but I was frankly never of the opinion that her Ruth Galloway series was a "cozy" genre. I find many books, like this series, slid into the category that I feel are much more literary. So I can't say that this is an abrupt departure from what she's done before. But I do think this more complicated plotting with its stand-alone characters demonstrates her ability to build character, create atmosphere, and sustain suspense. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I highly recommend this one and hope you can read it on a dark and stormy night!