It's been a while since I read a book by Emilie Richards and this confirmed I shouldn't wait as long. What a great family story.

There was mystery, suspense, and a surprise about 2/3 of the way into the book that I never expected. It raises many questions and choices about how much we're willing to do for our family. At what point does protecting the masses outweigh protecting your family member? How do you overlook murder by a family member if hard to prove? These are the dilemmas faced in this heartwrenching story. A wonderful read!

I was provided a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher for my honest review.

So I rarely read books that get better as they go along. This one did. It’s really really long. And I’m not sure how I feel about that, as I was reading it, some of it felt extraneous, but then it didn’t as the book’s story unfolded. Anyway, I recommend, with the caveat that you’re prepared to be in it to win it.

This is the story of sisters Ryan and Wendy, born many years apart, so they are not close at all, Ryan being quite a bit younger. Wendy is married, has two daughters and a successful career whiled Ryan is starting to make a name for herself as a host/producer of podcasts. Wendy calls her out of nowhere and asks her to come and take care of her young daughters because she might be charge with murder.......Ryan drops everything and does it. There is much more going on here and this is just the ti[ of the iceberg of this fabulous book. Wonderfully written with interesting characters and and great story line with so many different things going on. Hard to put down. I have not read this author before but plan to find other books from her to read soon. Loved this book from beginning to end! Thanks for the ARC!!!

I slowly read the last pages of A Family of Strangers, reluctant to finish, because then I have to step out of the story web that Emilie Richards has woven and entrapped me in.

Ryan has had to return home to help her parents take care of her two nieces. There Dad is in a submarine somewhere and their mother - Ryan's sister - Wendy has let Ryan know she needs to disappear for awhile. Wendy is way older than Ryan so they have never really been at home together so don't know each other that well.

When Ryan takes on the role of caring for her two nieces Holly and Noelle, she finds the going tough, the girls are lost and very wary. I liked how it wasn't easy for Ryan as she had to find her way with them and discover what was happening for them.  As well Ryan needs to deal with a situation - a serious one - that she was involved in before she left town.  However she wants to reach out to Teo, the man she loved but left.

Those who like to listen to crime podcasts will appreciate that Ryan has produced and been part of a successful crime podcast. She is a journalist and as a mystery surrounding her sister begins to develop her skills, colleagues and general instincts come into play.

Along the way Ryan is going to have the opportunity of a second chance, she is going to find out what matters to her, how her family really sees her, and where true justice lies.

For those who like an absorbing family story, with mystery that leaves clues along the way so that you are able to infer and make judgements about what tack the story is going in.  A satisfying read.

This was my very first book by Emilie Richards and it is not going to be my last.

This book is an excellent family drama with a mystery to boot.
Despite being sisters, Ryan and Wendy were never close, the age difference was just too big. But when Wendy all of the sudden calls Ryan out of the blue, to make Ryan move into her home and take care of her daughters as she has been accused of a murder! From here the story unfolds and the more Ryan learns, the stranger it seems. Ryan for me was a strong and resilient character who went above and beyond to help her family in their time of need.

A great read!

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own

Emotional, Suspenseful, Domestic Drama, and Murder!  Who are these people that Ryan Gracey thought were family?

Ryan has always been told she was a change of life baby. Born prematurely when her mother went to Mexico on a trip and was all of a sudden pregnant. When she came home she had a baby and Ryans older sister was off to college.

In Ryan's mind, her older sister, Wendy, can do no wrong. She is the perfect daughter, wife, mother and career woman. In Ryan's mind. But all of that comes into question when in the same week her father has a heart attack, her sister calls begging her to go watch her two little girls and she'll be home at some point. What? As Ryan drops her own life to go and help her mother and sister, she is finding some strange things at her sister's home.  Where is Wendy? Who is Wendy?

Could Wendy be the perfect liar as well?  Ryan intends to use her crime podcast contacts to find out the truth. Where is her sister? Heck, who is her sister? It seems as if everyone has a different opinion and when the truth comes to light, it's explosive!

Well Done!

NetGalley/Mira  June 25th 2019 by MIRA

I have sent a copy of this review to New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening before the publication date.

"A Family of Strangers"


Emilie Richards is well-known for penning engaging tales. Three decades ago she began writing romance novels then segued into women's contemporary fiction with in-depth characterization which includes subplots filled with mystery and suspense and descriptive detail sure to captivate her readers. "A Family of Strangers" fills this bill.

Whenever there are siblings there's bound to be some rivalry, isn't there? Twenty-eight-year-old and single, Ryan Gracey, considered a "change-of-life" baby is the younger sister to Wendy. She and lives in a tiny duplex, her parent's own in Delray Beach, FL, four-plus hours from them in Seabank, FL.

Wendy, 45, has two daughters, Holly, eight and Noelle, six and her husband, Bryce is deployed at sea on a Navy nuclear submarine. Wendy moved the girls from their Connecticut home to one of the family's rentals to be closer to her folks while he is away.

Producer and host for the podcast, "Out in the Cold," Ryan keeps busy and doesn't concern herself much with her family, though she is worried about her father who underwent bypass surgery six days prior. She's surprised when Wendy texts her to expect a private call from her. Fearing bad news about their dad, Ryan wonders why her mom isn't calling for Wendy's calls to her are infrequent.

It appears trouble is looming when Wendy cryptically states:

"'Listen,' she said after a pause, 'this is serious. I need your help.'

"I'm suspicious of emotions, including my own, but I felt an unmistakable surge. Delight I was needed, countered by fear something unthinkable had happened. 'Is it Dad?'

"She fell silent again, but when she finally spoke she sounded surprised. 'No. No, last I heard he was doing okay. I'm not in Florida. Remember?'

'It was my turn to be surprised. . . Wendy is Gracey Group's concierge and tour manager, and the story goes that as Dad was being wheeled into the operating room, he demanded that our mother tell her to continue her trip.'

"I hoped I was worrying for nothing. 'When do you get back?'

"'That's the thing. I'm not coming home. I can't, and I don't know when I'll be able to. I need you to go back to Seabank and take care of the girls until things clear up for me.' . . .

"'. . . I don't want to go into detail. Can't you just trust me and do it?' . . .

"'Look, this sounds crazy. You have to tell me more.'

"'Great. Thanks a lot.' For the first time, Wendy choked up as if she was trying not to cry. 'I'm in Phoenix. Okay? There was a murder last night, and I'm pretty sure the sheriff will think I'm involved. I need to disappear for a while until it's sorted out. Is that enough to get you moving?'"

The two sisters couldn't be any more different—Ryan, introverted and small of stature with curly dark eyes and curls, is the opposite of the tall and willowy Wendy at five-foot-nine-with straight blonde hair and blue eyes. Wendy, homecoming princess, National Honor Society member, and star of the drama department in high school is outgoing whereas Ryan is more introverted.

Confiding in her friend, Sophie who is also administrator, researcher, and co-producer to the podcast, Ryan states:

"'Growing up I realized I would never be anywhere near a perfect as she [Wendy] was. I remember feeling so relieved, so I stopped trying and just lived my life. . . .
"'. . . It worked out. I'm happy."

How can she explain Wendy's absence to her folks, especially to her father whom she doesn't want to upset so soon after his surgery? She must come up with something though, so glossing over details, she lets them believe Wendy is scouting out some new investment properties.

Going home isn't easy for Ryan. She hardly knows her nieces, and they act like robots, barely speaking to her and sticking close to each other. They miss their mom (and dad, too) yet Ryan needs them to trust her while must learn how to deal with children.

Ryan's past also holds a heartbreaking event—one she does not want to revisit. Four years earlier while researching a story, she interviewed a man who had allegedly been wrongly convicted of murder and is now released from prison. Ryan, dating officer, Teo Santiago at the time, warned her not to meet him alone, but Ryan didn't listen. Because of her actions, she was almost killed and Teo and his K9 dog were severely injured causing Teo the loss of a leg. Later, they parted on bad terms, mostly due to Ryan's guilt over the incident. Now though, she needs to see Teo again to attain closure as well as advice about her sister. Unfortunately, she still loves him, so how can that not be obvious?

Teo, no longer a cop, owns Confidence K-9s, a kennel and training facility. Their meeting is chilly at first, but a spark still glows between them. He recognizes something is bothering Ryan so she relays her sister's puzzling phone call, hoping can offer input. He warns her about sleuthing on her own and suggests she notify the authorities, but she refuses to do so. After all, blood is thicker than water, right? She and Wendy are basically estranged and Ryan is considered second best next to her, she wants to help, but does she owe it to Wendy?

It is easy to understand Ryan's feelings. Families usually stick together and will do anything to protect one another, but how is Ryan to assist Wendy if she doesn't know what exactly is happening? Could her "perfect" big sister not be as perfect as perceived?

Family dynamics change as Ryan discerns things are being kept from her and not only by Wendy's current situation. Now, her mom suddenly acts more concerned about her than ever before. Is her mother worried about her dad, Wendy, her nieces, or her? Ryan is confused but tenacious about finding answers.

This highly engaging tale delves into mysteries as well as kept confidentialities, heartaches, and deep emotions that turn Ryan's whole upside down. Why do loved ones withhold things? Is it because of fear of hurting one or guilt over past misdeeds? Those we should be closest to are not always the ones we are closest to, as this aptly novel demonstrates.

Families are never quite what they appear to be, sometimes even to the family members. A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards brings this point home in persuasive fashion. Ryan and Wendy were far apart in age and nothing like each other as sisters. Wendy was the perfect one and Ryan was the screw up, never quite as good as her perfect older sister. When Ryan gets a call from Wendy asking her to help take care of her two young daughters for the foreseeable future she is surprised, but even more surprised when she discovers that the sister she thought she knew is not the sister that she has. Ms. Richards brings forth tension and suspense in this very readable novel that will keep you turning pages to the end. I greatly enjoyed this novel and thank NetGalley, the author and Harlequin-MIRA for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Don't miss this one!

This is the first book I’ve read by Emilie Richards and I really enjoyed it. I thought it crossed several genres, such as women’s and contemporary fiction, romance, mystery and a bit of suspense. I spent most of my time reading this poolside, so I’m recommending this as great summer read.

The story is about the relationship between two sisters, Ryan and Wendy. Ryan is quite a bit younger than Wendy and has grown up thinking she is the perfect older sister. Due to the age difference, Ryan doesn’t know Wendy as well as most siblings know each other.

When Wendy unexpectedly calls Ryan asking for help with a big problem, Ryan doesn’t hesitate. Ryan produces a podcast on unsolved crimes and between her and her staff members, they have the skills to try and help with Wendy’s problem.

In the meantime, Ryan is back in her old hometown where some major life events occurred for both sisters. As Ryan tries to get the bottom of what is going on with Wendy, she discovers quite a treasure trove of old secrets that will ultimately change everything about her opinion of Wendy.

I enjoyed trying to guess at all the secrets. Some I predicted but others were not so easy and it was fun following along with Ryan as she discovered all the clues to revealing what Wendy’s life was like. Also, I especially loved the addition of the police dog, Biz.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin-Mira for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

Ryan Gracey has never quite fit in with her family. She grew up with a perfect sister and a mother she could never seem to please. Now the host of a popular podcast on unsolved crimes, Ryan is in the midst of celebrating her successes when she receives an unexpected phone call from her perfect sister, Wendy. Wendy needs Ryan to return home and take care of her two children, but is unclear about how long. What is clear is that Wendy thinks she is about to be arrested for murder and that she doesn't think their parents are going to be able to handle her children for the long haul. However, Ryan's skills in true crime may make her into a far better ally than childcare.

Emilie Richards captures the odd feeling of returning home and trying to step into shoes that most certainly don't fit, all while trying to keep things normal for the kids.

I love a good mystery and story about family dynamics. The plot and setting in Florida was interesting, and I quickly connected with the characters. Even though it’s a mystery, the story is a slow burn and leisurely paced. I liked this at first because it allowed you to connect with the characters, but near the ending the story dragged a little. It could have been about 100 pages shorter. Another thing that bothered me? Writing like that: writing sentences as questions to be answered in the subsequent sentence. At first it seemed like a quirky style. But you know what? It was used so frequently that I began to notice it and be annoyed by it. Another thing? I haven’t read any other works by Emilie Richards so I’m not sure if this is a typical stylistic choice of hers that just wasn’t for me. (See what I mean though?)

All in all, I have to give this story 4 stars because I was engaged and wanted to find out what happened next. Some parts could have more compact. I liked the writing for the most part, except for that question/answer format, which could be used much less sparingly, especially in dialogue.

You’ll probably like A Family of Strangers if you like women’s fiction or romance stories by Emilie Richards, and want to try something darker. Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 Stars

Thanks to #NetGalley #Harlequin for my free digital copy of #afamilyofstrangers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by Emilie Richards, so I didn't come into it with preconceived ideas about the writing style or genre.

If you love women's fiction, interesting characters, and complicated family drama/dynamics, you might like this story. I found it just Ok....I didn't love it and I didn't dislike it. This might be a book that some readers might classify as a beach read....most of it is engaging and entertaining, the plot is a little far fetched in places, and it has a straightforward timeline which makes for more relaxed reading. The title aptly conveys the main theme: this family lives behind pretense, image, and assumptions. Kuddos to the main character for drawing a line in the sand and confronting/revealing the charade. Some of the way the events unfolded were slightly implausible but it does keep you turning the pages! I feel like the story could have been stronger with some additional editing. I started skimming some parts that dragged with unnecessary details.

If you love the genre, you might enjoy this. Others have loved this story, so please check additional reviews before making your reading choice!

Review posted to Goodreads 5/27/2019.

I usually love Ms. Richards books, but this story did then to drag on for me and seem to have ended quite a few chapters back. I definitely will read another one but this was just not my story I guess b

This book is dark, well written and full of twists and turns. It's a page turner you won't be able to put down.
I liked the fleshed out characters, the plot and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Received a copy of this book through Netgalley thanks for that.
It's a book that you can not take at face value, it starts off slowly but then dark secrets start to come to light ,if you enjoy a good mystery then this is the book for you,it kept me on my toes and could not wait to find out the ending.
If readers enjoy dark family secrets with a twist then this is the book for you.....

A wonderful read but very dark. Far more dark than I expect from my previous reads of this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Remember when Emilie Richards used to write feel-good novels about women making quilts and helping each other through hard times? Someone must have told her that darker is in fashion now, because A Family of Strangers goes to some pretty bleak places. Still, it has Richards’ characteristically thoughtful portrayal of family dynamics, and although the plot takes a while to hit its stride, it’s ultimately a rewarding read.

True crime podcast journalist Ryan Gracey receives a shocking phone call from her much older sister Wendy, who claims she has to disappear to avoid being framed for a murder she didn’t commit. Wendy is by all appearances the loving mother of two adorable daughters and the loyal heir apparent to their father’s real estate development company, so Ryan has no choice but to temporarily move back to her hometown, become her nieces’ caretaker, and shield the truth from her parents, especially her father who is recovering from heart surgery.

The Gracey family has never been close, and they especially don’t talk about their feelings. Ryan always felt like an underachieving afterthought who never held her parents’ full attention. But as Ryan puts her professional skills into finding out the truth about Wendy’s disappearance, she realizes that everything is about to change, including her relationships with her parents, nieces, and especially the sister she never really knew.

The story starts a little slowly, especially while the focus remains on Ryan’s initially unrewarding forays into parenting the nieces she barely knows. But once the suspense/mystery plot kicks in things move more quickly. The appearance of Ryan’s ex-lover Teo and his talented dog Bismarck provide some welcome additional layers to the story and give our heroine someone to strike sparks off. Their relationship ended badly, and even as they tentatively reconcile, Teo has definite opinions about Ryan potentially putting herself in danger through her investigations. Ryan’s podcast partner Sophie and her fan network of true crime podcast sleuths also provide more richness and make it feel more realistic that Ryan would have the tools and knowledge necessary to solve the mystery of Wendy’s disappearance.

Although the novel ended strongly, I couldn’t help thinking that this wasn’t Richards at her most genuine. She seemed to be channeling Gillian Flynn, Lisa Jewell or any one of those bestselling authors who create dark stories about troubled women. In these challenging times, I need a reliable author like Richards to reassure me that the world is full of strong, compassionate women who will stand up for each other, like the characters in her Goddesses Anonymous or Shenandoah Album series. There are plenty of authors who can make me uneasy; I need Richards to make me feel better.

ARC received from Net Galley.

A Family of Strangers is a family of many secrets. Ryan goes to help her sister look after her nieces, but her sister is hiding many details. As Ryan probes into her sister"s life, she also discovers secrets pertaining to her own past. She also becomes familiar with her two nieces who are bewildered by their mother' absence. The end is sad and also shocking.

If you love a good mystery then this is the book to read! I was enthralled right from the start and couldn’t put the book down! Emilie Richards is a new to me author. So I didn’t know what to expect going in. I’ve found she sure knows how to tell a nail-biting, gripping story.

The main character Ryan Rose is making a name for herself as a producer and host of a pod cast series that delves into unsolved cold cases. In the midst of celebrating the show’s success Ryan receives a phone call from her sister that will change her life and begin our adventure.

“I’m not coming home. I can’t, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to. I need you to go to Seabank and take care of the girls until things clear up for me.”

Not able to turn her sister down, Ryan returns to Seabank, the very place she never wanted to return. Having left there immediately after the “incident” she makes the return trip with serious trepidation. As Ryan begins caring for her sister’s emotionless, step-ford-like daughters she also puts to use her sleuth skills and her connections to find out what is going on with her sister. Each new day unfolds new information, but that only leads to more questions. Each however, reveals new twists to the story that keeps the reader on edge. As time goes Ryan unearths some shocking details, details that surprisingly involve Ryan herself.

While working desperately to solve the mystery behind her sister’s disappearance Ryan slowly builds a relationship with her nieces. This is truly an emotional journey itself. But the author doesn’t’ stop there, nope! She also throws in a reconnection with an old flame and of course there are unresolved issues to fix. And …before our mystery is solved, we finally discover what the “incident” is and how that all comes to a head.
WOW! This is seriously a plot packed story! I recommend this thoroughly engaging, enjoyable, I’ve chewed my nails to bits story!

Ryan Gracey’s older sister, Wendy, was a teenager when Ryan was born. Ryan always looked up to her with envy, the Perfect Sister, excelling in everything, school, sports, looks ... Ryan knew she could never compete and didn’t try. She felt ignored by her family. Now, Wendy calls her out of the blue for help. She has been somehow involved in a murder, and is hiding until she can clear her name, begging Ryan to go looks after her two girls. Ryan goes to her hometown to look after two nieces that she barely knows. And there, she discovers something isn’t right. She wonders about what her sister is telling her, as some things don’t ring true. But, why would she lie?

This is a compelling book with an original storyline, very well written, and as it unfolds, it is a definite page turner. Things just aren’t what they seem, and sometimes a lifetime goes by before everyone figures it out. I highly recommend this book, and this author.