Ellie Griffiths is known for her Ruth Galloway crime series, so The Stranger Diaries is a change of direction for her. This standalone gothic, murder crime novel manages to unnerve, unsettle and keep you reading until the final outcome of the plot.

Clare Cassidy is an English teacher working in a school that once was the home of a famous ghost story author. She herself is writing a biography about him when a close friend is murdered. Clare finds herself at the heart of this dark tale. A great combination of crime and classic gothic ghost story.

I love all Elly Griffiths' books. I carry them in our store. I enjoyed this book and I plan on hand selling it.

A good read for just about anyone, but particularly delightful for fans of Golden Age mysteries and Victorian gothics. It's written from three POVs, including first person and diary entries, and peppered with the text of an in-book infamously creepy short story. There are flavors of, and allusions to, Wilkie Collins and Agatha Christie throughout and yet the characters never feel like anything less than (particularly bookish) moderns. The self-awareness and sense of humor about the tropes Griffiths is invoking and subverting is a compelling combination. It's the first of hers that I've read, but I will definitely be seeking out her other titles. Really enjoyable!

It's difficult to express just how much I enjoyed this novel. Eerie and atmospheric, it was exactly the ode to the beauty of gothic novels that I needed. The story is based around a gothic short story by a brilliant author from over a century ago and how this short story wove its way into the lives of several interesting modern-day women. This booo has it all: murder, mystery, ghosts, sex, teen angst, and one cute and brave doggo. I just finished it last night and I'm already planning on reading it again in a few months. Please grab this book as soon as it's available and prepare yourself for a satisfyingly creepy adventure!!

I have to confess I haven't read any of Griffiths other titles although I've had them on my list for a long time. I decided to jump on this one since it was a stand-alone as opposed to a series. I'm so glad I did! This was a serious page turner that had me wanting to pick it up every chance I got! My only complaint would be that the author seemed to rush to pull it all together in the end.

This was my first book by this author. I've seen her recommended several times, but hadn't read anything by her before this book. I found the character development full and rich, the settings adequately described, and the mystery thrilling and exciting. I had a suspicion about the murder, so wasn't fully surprised at the reveal, however I didn't solve the mystery in the first few chapters, as I usually do. And I appreciate that. In that way, this felt like an Agatha Christie murder, and kept me reading, wanting to see what would happen next.
The author used several Point of Views throughout the book, as well as introducing us to a short story that played a part all through the book. At times, it was a bit confusing, if I would have to put the book down just after starting a new section, because the ebook didn't offer page headings or font changes that may have been helpful.
My biggest complaint about the book, and what causes me to not rate it higher, is that the terminology is SO British. Several times each chapter I would be given a term or phrasing that I would either have to re-read several times to gather context, or I would actually have to look up words for definition. I've read many British themed books and have experienced a bit of confusion at times, but never to this level before. At one point, I actually needed a map. Maybe this is just the author's style, but it broke up the enjoyment of the book for me, which was disappointing, because as I said, it was an enjoyable and exciting mystery.

A quick read, The Stranger Diaries is a contemporary mystery/thriller with entertaining doses of (imaginary) literary history. Told from three points of view, Clare a secondary school English teacher and would be literary biographer is at the centre of the mystery. With nods to the gothic, this is a modern take, mixing in parenting and extramarital affairs. While I didn't find any of the characters on their own to be instantly sympathetic, together Clare, her daughter and Detective Sergeant Kaur form an intriguing trio, each holding a piece of the puzzle.

Elly Griffiths strikes again! Her writing is engaging, flows very well, and leaves you wanting more. I am so glad you allowed me to read this title. My library patrons will love it, and I've already ordered copies for our shelves.

Part mystery part ghost story, this book shifts between character viewpoints to tell the tale of a series of murders taking place in a public school is Sussex, England. One of those characters, Claire, has moved with her daughter to Sussex to teach English and write a biography on a famous novelist, who just happened to have lived in the house where the school currently resides. Fast paced, with lots of twists and turns, and atmospheric, this is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

What a marvelous change of pace - not that I don't love Griffiths other books, but I was totally surprised by this one. If you are the least bit jumpy you may want to read it with the lights on. A delicious mystery even without Ruth.. I wouldn't mind reading more.

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

I love Elly Griffiths and read every book of hers that comes out. Her separate series, one about an archaeologist and the other about a magician, are so entirely different. This particular book is a stand-alone novel, and I was particularly interested in reading it because of that.

A divorced mother of a teenage girl is teaching at a school in England. When her best friend is murdered, her life suddenly becomes involved in solving the mystery and being a suspect herself. It's fascinating to read about the mechanics of a school in England (having been a school librarian for many years myself). They sound so very different from American schools. This particular school is what in America we would call a public high school. The first murder and subsequent events are all wound around the school and its teachers and students.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I never guessed who the murderer was!

Posted on Goodreads: "I had the pleasure of reading this ebook courtesy of NetGalley. I love Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series and this stand alone was just as captivating. The short story within the book was an interesting tension-building addition to this atmospheric work, as was the shift of narrative perspective. The gothic mood of impending danger was carefully played out, ever so slowly building until the twist at the climax. I was completely bamboozled and did not suspect the murderer. I am chagrined to admit that I was also a bit surprised by the ending of the short story. Perhaps that is because Elly Griffiths weaves such a well crafted tale that I was lost in the words. This book is highly recommended for all readers, esp. those who want a moody multilayered murder mystery."

Elly Griffiths' The Stranger Diaries is a journey into gothic perfection that will keep readers turning pages long into the night and feeling a sense of desolation when there are no more pages to turn.

Living in rural England, Clare Cassidy is a literature teacher whose colleagues are being murdered in rapid succession. The only connection between the murders appears to be Clare's diaries and her research into horror author R.M. Holland, whose home, rumored to be haunted, now houses the school.

The story is told from multiple points of view, framed by a chilling "R.M. Holland" Halloween tale, and sprinkled with allusions to literary classics. There are also the requisite paranormal elements, but they are not the focus of the story and enhance the ambience of the setting rather than distracting.

Investigating the murders is D.S. Harbinder Kaur, whose keen intellect and wry sense of humor quickly make her a favorite character. In fact, Harbinder would make a great protagonist in a series of her own.

Stranger Diaries is a gem for fans of gothic mystery and will find its place as a modern exemplar in the genre.

Full Disclosure--Net Gallery and the publisher provided me with a digital ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

In The Stranger Diaries, Elly Griffiths moves beyond her series characters and delivers a clever, well-plotted, and gripping murder mystery with a hint of ghost story. This is truly Griffiths at her best, with well-developed and engaging characters, some of whom beg to become part of a new series (I’m looking at you, Harbinder Kaur!)

In truth, I’ve found the last couple Ruth Galloway books stale and prosaic, with the focus shifted from Ruth’s work as a forensic anthropologist and Nelson’s work as a detective taking a backseat to what has become a boring love triangle. In The Stranger Diaries, Griffiths appears to be flexing her writing muscles and experimenting with different forms. The juxtaposiiton of the present day action with the story of The Stranger is smooth and flowed in a way that the stories complemented each other.

Not many authors take a chance on writing new characters when they have an established series, so I admire Griffiths for taking a break from beloved characters and trying new ones on for size. She has successfully delivered a stand-alone story that had me reading deep into the night just to find out the killer’s identity. I haven’t been so engrossed in a Griffith’s book since I ran out on to the salt marsh with Ruth as she raced away from Erik in The Crossing Places. Well done!

Elly Griffiths is one of my three favorite mystery authors, along with Louise Penny and Alan Bradley, I have read all of her Ruth Galloway novel.s and loved them. (I have not read her Magic Men series because the whole magic theme in general, creeps me out). I was a little hesitant to read The Stranger Diaries,...would it be more Ruth-like or Magic men-like? It''s neither.

I did have some trouble getting into it, at first, getting past the R. M. Holland gothic story segment. I confess I skimmed the other Holland segments scattered throughout the book, as well. Once the main characters took hold of the story,, I couldn't put it down. I like that different sections of the book were told alternately from in the voices of Clare, her daughter, Georgie, and Detective Harbinder. Each had a distinctive voice and perspective, which added dimension to the novel.

In addition to character development, Griffiths is skilled at establishing a sense of place. It was easy to visualize the characters in the different settings - school, home, police station, abandoned factory, Scotland, London, etc.

Highly recommended!

Elly Griffith takes a break from her popular Ruth Galloway series to pen this academic gothic that features a high school teacher whose friend and colleague has been murdered. A tenacious cop tries to unravel the truth as everyone in the book seems to be hiding that truth, even from themselves. Griffiths is one of the best British writers publishing today