Cover Image: A Stranger on the Beach

A Stranger on the Beach

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Member Reviews

I received an ARC provided through NetGalley for an honest review.

Synopsis:
There is a stranger outside Caroline's house.

Her spectacular new beach house, built for hosting expensive parties and vacationing with the family she thought she'd have. But her husband is lying to her and everything in her life is upside down, so when the stranger, Aiden, shows up as a bartender at the same party where Caroline and her husband have a very public fight, it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.

As her marriage collapses around her and the lavish lifestyle she's built for herself starts to crumble, Caroline turns to Aiden for comfort...and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aiden's obsession with Caroline, her family, and her house grows more and more disturbing. And when Caroline's husband goes missing, her life descends into a nightmare that leaves her accused of her own husband's murder.

Review:
I hate to compare authors - but this new author, to me, reminds me of another famous author with stories that make your head twist around and leave you on the edge of your seat. This book was fast paced for me. There is a slower mid-beginning but once you get over that hurdle you better buckle up! The story does go between two points of view and each one is a roller coast ride for sure. You never quite have everything figured out and the truth is there somewhere but you can't quite figure out where it is! I was kept guessing until the very end. It was a fantastic read!

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Nothing really stood out for me in this one. I read a lot of this genre so I might be jaded but this was middle of the road for me.

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This one had its good parts and its not so great parts. I predicted parts of the story, but overall, I enjoyed the journey. This one is full of lies and deceit!

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This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

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For some reason I had a hard time getting into A Stranger on the Beach, but I am sure glad that I stuck with it. You will be kept guessing what you can believe! I went into reading this not knowing much about it other than it was a thriller. I would definitely recommend you check this one out!!

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Best psychological thriller that I've read in years! Couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting staying up all night. I love a book that is unpredictable and keeps me guessing from start to finish and this one came through! Clear your calendar, make a cup of tea, put some cozy socks on and nestle in. You'll be in for the ride of a lifetime!

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This is the first book I have read by Michele Campbell. I liked it well enough to consider reading more from her. The book was quite suspenseful. However, I did find it a bit predictable and kind of hit-and-miss. It was hard for me to keep track with all the jumping around, different characters and different time periods. Overall, I could recommend this to lovers of thrillers.

Note, I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for a fair review. I would, however, consider buying this book.

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Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. WOAW! What a twisted couple! Her much more than he and quite honestly that was some sick twist and situation. What a convoluted mind!

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Strap yourself in for a twisty read! Told in alternating viewpoints, the story follows a woman who believes her husband is cheating on her and takes all of her money, claiming he wants a divorce. The woman gets drunk and ends up having a one-night stand with a bartender and then all hell breaks loose. From the woman's perspective, we see a clingy guy who is stalking her. From the bartender's perspective, we see a man trying to protect his new love interest and who gets manipulated into killing for his love. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Michele Campbell jerks you in a different direction. This was quite the page turner!

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I loved the two very different POV's in this book. Campbell does a great job at keeping the reader guessing and not knowing who to believe more. She has used POV in such a unique and wonderful way. The story itself and the twists and turns are phenomenal and you will not want to put this down!

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Great thriller by Michele Campbell. This book had me from the beginning. I like that the story was told with 2 points of view, so it was hard to determine who was telling the truth. Definitely a must read.

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Caroline sees a man on the beach outside of her pricey seaside manor and her life is never the same. When Caroline and the man, Aidan, meet, immediately sparks fly and a passionate one-night stand ensues. What follows is a roller coaster ride of sheer suspense and complete chaos told from multiple, unreliable narrators.

I’ve loved all of Michele Campbell’s books and this was no exception. She is skilled at creating tension and completely turning the tables on what the reader may think is happening. The multiple perspectives worked perfectly for this storyline and the ending was unexpectedly brilliant. I encourage all fans of psychological suspense to get on board the Michele Campbell train prepare for a wild ride!

Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Michele Campbell for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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A Stranger on the Beach Author :Michele Campbell
346 pages
This is my first novel by Michele Campbell and she kept me guessing with all the twists & turns in the story. I did however figure out pretty wary on what was going on. Only because thrillers is what i read the most of. However this did not ruin the story for me at all . I still enjoyed it from the first page to the last.
Told from the perspectives of both Caroline & Aiden pov, you can’t help but wonder just who is telling the truth? It is so confusing that their versions of the same events are so very different and it's very hard to figure out who is telling the truth.There are so many twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I found myself not liking Carolyn at all . Overall this was a really good read and if you are a fan of the psychological thriller genre you will love this. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

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What a wild ride of a book! I was hooked from the very first page. I spent a lot of time feeling confused and unsure who to trust, since they both had such different perspectives. The book alternated between Caroline and Aiden, and their views were so different that at first I thought I was missing something! The characters were crazy--at times I felt like the book was a bit of a train wreck (in a good way--I couldn't stop reading!). It was fast paced, well written, and impossible to put down! If you're looking for a heart pounding read!

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I think I might need to see someone because I might be going crazy.

This book makes you question EVERYTHING. I honestly felt like my brain was going a bit bonkers from the very beginning, and as each chapter puts you in the head of the two main characters, you question everyone's sanity along with your own.

And what the heck is going on?! There is SO MUCH SHADE happening in this book. Who IS this creepy hot dude on the beach? Is Caroline having a mid-life crisis? What is she going to do about her infatuated and obsessive stalker? And what on Earth is going on with her cagey husband? I'm not sure I could find a more unbalanced cast of characters that partake in such deliciously twisty drama!

The book is suspenseful and intriguing - and really tests your own mental stability as it raises every bit of intellectual confusion that could possibly arise. I found myself saying "what the heck is going on?" several times! Be prepared to just ride this one out - the ending is worth every puzzling speculation and all the erratic behavior!

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From my blog: Always With a Book

A couple years ago, I read Michele Campbell's debut novel, It's Always the Husband, and I absolutely loved it. I knew I would be reading more books from this author and while I somehow missed her sophomore novel, She Was the Quiet One, I certainly wasn't going to let her newest one pass me by.

I love when a book is told in such a way that you can't help but question the main characters and that is exactly what I felt we had here. Told in alternating perspectives of Caroline and Aiden, we see the same story unfold from each of their perspectives. It just goes to show you how we all interpret things differently. But the question remains...who is more reliable? And who is manipulating who?

This book will surprise you at every turn. It's filled with characters that you will love to hate, that will get under your skin but you can't walk away from because you need to know how it all turns out and let me just say this absolutely doesn't go where you think it does!

If you like stories that deal with obsession and stalking, and manipulation, this one is for you. It's a crazy ride that you will not stop thinking of until you turn that last page. Michele Campbell knows how to craft that unique psychological thriller, while keeping you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed this book and know that she is an author I can count on for entertaining, thrilling reads.

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Some books take ahold of you in the first chapter and won’t let you go until the very end. A Stranger on the Beach did that and then some. Michelle Campbell introduces us to Caroline Stark, a 42-year-old wife, and mother who is going through the usual midlife journey. She is experiencing the empty nest syndrome in the worst way. Her Daughter is a college freshman, and her husband is married to the job. Having given up her successful career as an interior designer, she puts everything into making their new home perfect. Caroline and Jason recently purchased land and built a multimillion-dollar home on a scenic bluff in the Hamptons. With the stranger lurking on her property gone and the house complete, Caroline throws the housewarming party of the year. Not only does her doting husband Jason show up late, but he also shows up with another woman in tow. A verbal altercation ensues in front of her guests leaving a stunned Caroline standing in the driveway and her husband and “The Russian Woman” peeling away.

Not knowing the status of her marriage and wanting to forget her troubles, Caroline does what every middle-aged woman would do right? Yes, you guessed it, she goes to the local dive bar looking hot and ready for some action. Lucky for her the hunky bartender Aiden Callahan happens to be on duty and ever prepared to help her feel much much better.
After a night (and morning) of hot, lusty, passion Caroline wants Aiden gone. It didn’t help matters that after round five, Aiden told her, “I love you.” Wrong move, kid. Aiden reluctantly leaves and falls head over heels on his way out the door.
Told by two POV’s you will have to determine which version is the “true account” of the goings-on. Is Aiden a psycho who will do anything to get back into Caroline’s bed? Is Caroline a vindictive woman who wants revenge or a frightened woman that will do whatever it takes to save her family? Is Jason lying about the Russian woman, or is he having a tawdry affair? You will find yourself rooting for each character and will be blown away when it ends. Were you correct??

A Stranger on the Beach has it all; lies, deceit, forgiveness, sex, and murder. I can’t say much more without spoiling the plot. I can say this is by far one of the best books I have read this year. I enjoyed it so much; I also listened to the audio version. KUDOS for having my all-time favorite narrator January LaVoy bring this story to life!!!
Thank you to Michele Campbell, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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A Stranger on the Beach was a twisted and suspenseful novel! I enjoyed how the story was written to keep the suspense building and the truth hidden in author Michele Campbell's signature writing style. Caroline is surprised and angry to find out that her husband Jason is having an affair. One night she goes home with Aiden, a local bartender, and spends the night with him. She doesn't realize that he has ties to the area where her husband and her just built a new beach home. Caroline decides to reconcile with her husband and wants Aiden to leave her alone. But he begins to stalk both her and her husband. He won't stop calling her. Strange things begin to happen. Then one night during a storm, her husband disappears. It is possible that either Aiden or Caroline could have murdered him.. And everyone's lives are torn apart.

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This book was SO GOOD! I spent the majority of the book not knowing what the hell was going on or who to believe. And just when I thought I knew what was happening, everything got flipped on its head! Caroline has everything she could ever want--money, a huge, new, beautiful house on the beach, a loving husband and daughter. But not everything is as it seems. Caroline's husband has been home less and less. And then he shows up to their housewarming party with another woman and all hell breaks loose. Feeling sorry for herself, Caroline goes to a bar and ends up having a one-night stand with the bartender, Aiden. But Aiden is also not who he pretends to be, and he begins stalking Caroline, claiming that he loves her and wants to protect her. And where is Caroline's husband? And why isn't her daughter talking to her? I whipped through A Stranger on the Beach because I could not put it down!!

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This was a nail biter! Once I started the book I couldn't stop. My hands refused to put the book down. All the characters were well developed. I could see them in my mind's eye and feel their actions. The plot was amazing. It kept me guessing until the end. I will read more books by this author. I received this ebook from NetGalley for an honest review.

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