A crazy end to an action packed thriller, Kellen needs to fight for her life… again. This book should not be read as a standalone. It is best to read the first two books in the series. For a better experience, read the short stories in between each novel. In this story, the final showdown is here. Kellen's past once again comes to haunt her.

When two men who are not gay share an obvious love for each other… it is called a bromance. In this story, I'm not sure what to call it, because Kellen's killer is in love with her in some ways … more of a creepy stalker fan girl crush. When it comes to obsessions, Kellen's female fan does a marvelous job of showcasing the lengths a person will go through to get their heart's desire. And once again, we see how "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". I seem to be reading more books where women scorned have gone off the deep end. Not sure if this is a coincidence or if it is the latest trend re-emerging after Glenn Close made it popular in the movie, "Fatal Attraction".

This story is predictable in many ways. My stomach is in knots because both Kellen and her husband Max make several decisions that lead them down to the path they end up on… crazy killer loose on an island no one can escape from. It is as if Kellen who was previously so brilliant had a major series of brain farts. I can understand her decision to want to protect her young daughter. Still, her daughter is more mature and can handle the truth. By keeping people in the dark, it caused more problems. I anticipated each of the problems and I was not surprised by any events that occurred in this story. This is a departure from the first two books which contained more plot twists. Even with the predictable turn of events, this story is a page turner. It is an enjoyable rollercoaster ride. Ms. Dodd keeps the suspense at just the right tension to keep a reader engaged from the first to the last page. This thriller is recommended to suspense readers who enjoy chaos, crazy stalkers and action.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

This is not my favorite Christina Dodd by a long shot. There are so many moments when I just shook my head and said, "huh". The final showdown between Kellen and her arch enemy, Mara, was exciting, but the whole thing was a far gone conclusion. Rae was wonderful and the whole Ruby Morgade plot line was fascinating, if sad.

Mara Phillipi, the whack job baddie from the pervious books, has escaped prison and shown up in Cape Charade. She has the Di Luca family running scared because she has threatened Kellen, who is still recovering from brain surgery. The family. Max, Kellen and Rae, flee taking a trip through Europe attempting to evade her and end up on a Di Luca privately owned island off the coast of Nor Cal with no outside communications. They are basically hiding out and the mansion they escape to appears to be haunted. You just know that they may be safe for awhile, but they won't be safe for long. 3 1/2-Stars

I really enjoy this series and this installment is one of the best. Just when you think Kellen is safe well not so much......I liked how were caught fairly quickly after the end of book 2. Kellen is recovering from major surgery, trying to adapt to her new life as wife and mother and then wouldn't you know, the past comes back to haunt her. I love the dynamic between her and Max, how they are really partners and how they work together. Rae is one amazing child and I can't wait to read her story as an adult ( hint!)
Lots of action, suspense, romance and love.

The Cape Charade series comes to a thrilling conclusion in Strangers She Knows. Christina Dodd knows how to up the tension and I was seriously questioning how Kellen Adams, survivor and soldier she may be, would survive and protect her husband and daughter from the vicious and clever Mara Phillipi.

It has been three years since Kellen had a bullet removed from her brain and she’s still recovering and working on restoring a full range of motion to her hand. She’s not in peak condition when her husband, Max, suggests they head to a remote island off the California coast to hide out while the authorities hunt Mara. On top of that, her daughter Rae is in full pre-teen hormone swing, so a remote island with no technology isn’t always a peaceful place. Max is sure they’re safe on the island, but Kellen knows Mara better than anyone else. The serial killer will never stop hunting her and Kellen needs to be prepared.

The isolated locale and a very small number of unusual characters brings a tight, tense atmosphere to Strangers She Knows. I can’t say much about the book without spoiling it because the entertainment is watching the ongoing game of cat-and-mouse between Mara and Kellen unfold. I loved that Ms. Dodd didn’t make it easy, kept me guessing how things would work out, and didn’t make Kellen superhuman. She’s a strong yet vulnerable heroine with a big heart and powerful reasons to defeat the psychopath hunting her family. I devoured this book in a day because I had to know how it would end.

Strangers She Knows finishes the Cape Charade series perfectly. I highly recommend reading Dead Girl Running and What Doesn’t Kill Her before this book to get the history of the characters and the relationships. But even if you want to jump right in with this book, you’re sure to enjoy this tight, tense thriller.

I came late to this party as I missed reading the earlier books in this series. This one read very well on its own, however. It is a character driven suspenseful novel. I appreciate the good character representation of Kellen, the heroine. There is a bit of scary action at the beginning and a good dose of suspense at the end. Most of the novel is about Kellen and her family with some slow building throughout to the final suspense.

I like Dodd's writing style. I found this novel entertaining and engaging. And I liked that it began and ended in my native Washington state, and on the Olympic Peninsula. What a treat and a nice change from urban suspense novels. I am going to be reading more from this author.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

I loved this book! Perhaps not the most eloquent review, but true nonetheless. I read it fast on the heels of the previous title in the series, and I was reminded again of why I love this author, this series, this genre. Is it entirely believable? No! Is it fast-paced, intriguing, and in some way, heart-warming too? Yes - absolutely yes! The characters are strangely real, and yet completely unbelievable - our heroine is seriously kickass and sometimes unlikeable and I really want to be her friend. In this novel, Dodd keeps you on your toes the entire book while interweaving threads of hope, resilience, and relationship. You'll be flipping the pages in anxiety edge with excitement until the very last chapter when you'll breathe a huge sigh of relief. Also... humour - the humour is my language and the last line had me snorting in laughter.

Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd is the third book in Cape Charade series. Each book in this fast paced series can be read on its own since the author provides a recap (just enough to catch you up, but not too much as to spoil the other books in the series for new readers). Kellen Adams Di Luca has gone through so much in the last few years. She is denied her wedding night and honeymoon when the bullet in her brain shifts requiring immediate surgery. Kellen does survive the surgery, but she has a long recovery. She returns home still weak and with one hand that is refusing to cooperate. The therapist recommends piano lessons which is torture for Kellen and everyone else in the family including Luna, Rae’s dog (everyone’s a critic). When Mara resurfaces and is determined to get revenge, Kellen is not strong enough to go after her on her own. The family moves to the remote Isla Paraiso with a cook, Olympia Paolerio and the two islands caretakers, Jamie and Dylan Conkle. The family explores the island thanks to the three bikes Max had shipped in for them and they get reacquainted. The pacing in the first half is more laid back (feel the island vibe) with the second half ramped up like a person after drinking three espressos in a row. Kellen is trying to survive a maniacal killer. You can feel the suspense, tension and pain. Rae is still her fearless and intelligent self but now puberty is hitting (her poor parents). She manages to get into scrapes even on an island. I like how Rae is still a young girl at times who needs her parents. Max and Kellen are just beginning their marriage and they have no privacy. They are learning each other’s quirks and foibles. It was interesting to learn more about Mara. She is a complex woman and her upbringing explains a lot. I really enjoyed the addition of Ruby’s diary. I thought it enhanced the story as added depth and interest plus gives us a second mystery. I enjoyed the various references to Harry Potter and Hogwarts. Strangers She Knows is one of those books that you will not be able to put down. I am sorry to see the Cape Charade series come to an end. Strangers She Knows is a riveting suspense with a mad murderer, a temperamental tween, a remote refuge, panicked parents and an explosive ending.

I still enjoy these characters and they've come a long way! Strangers She knows has a few twists, some that are fun, some that sad, and some that might make you throw your kindle across the room. An engrossing read.

Tense and riveting. This is hard to put down. The setting and the mystery are just what is needed to move the story line forays.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As the third book in the Cape Charade series, I would recommend reading these in order. I had not read any of the others in the series and although she did retell some of the important things to know, I would recommend reading the others first.

It is an intense Thriller!! A must read!

The third book in this series about Kellen Adams, Max and Rae brought more trouble to the struggling family. Kellen is working hard to overcome her physical issues, a murderer is after her, and in hopes of being safe they run to an island where more mystery waits in a haunted house. The action-packed story kept my interest, wanting this little family to win and finally find peace together. There are a few surprises that wove an old story into their new one and I'm happy to say they have a happy and very satisfying ending.

I didn't realize that this book was the conclusion of a series and I just have to read them in order. I have the others on kindle and I will definitely get to this book and will review on all platforms.

In the stunning conclusion to the Cape Charade series, brain-damaged Kellen must fight with betrayed serial killer Mara. This is one case where the Strangers She Knows are not better than the devil she doesn’t know.

Kellen, Max, and Rae are finally settling into family life. Then three things happen to breach their peaceful life. First, Kellen still doesn’t have full use of her dominant right hand. Second, ten-year-old Rae is hitting the turbulent teens three years early by acting petulant and throwing dramatic tantrums. Worst of all, Kellen’s nemesis, Mara, has escaped from prison and is looking for revenge.

To avoid Mara, the family travels a circular route to a family-owned island off the California coast. The island is remote with no connection to the mainland other than a helicopter. No cellphone towers. No Wi-Fi. No telephone. No harbor. No mail. The family must rely on themselves for entertainment...and, if necessary, protection.

I loved the beginning of this book. It has almost gothic or historical fiction feel with the old mansion filled with convoluted rooms and secret passages on a desolate island. Rae and Kellen find a diary of a young girl explaining her restricted life during World War II and how a controlling father was embarrassed by his Japanese wife and half-Japanese daughter. That portion of the book was easily a 4.5 star read.

But then we get thrown into a standard thriller with Kellen fighting Mara to save herself and her family. It seemed formulaic to me. Plus most of the thriller’s plot was in the previous book in the series. This book resolves the cliffhanger from that book. However, I didn’t read the former book so it left me rather flat and seemed like only about a 3.5 star read.

Combining the two plots into one book is innovative but I don’t think it worked very well here. But as long as you know the book will seem languorous initially and picks up the pace at the midpoint, I think you will enjoy the characters and plots within Strangers She Knows. 4 stars!

Thanks to HQN, Harlequin Books, and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Kellen Adams just had a bullet removed from her brain. She is trying to get a hand back to working order and she has a maniacal killer after her and her family. So the family goes to an obscure Island off California where there is no technology. No phone service, computers, internet, etc.
They hire someone to be their cook and she gets scared there.
The couple who takes care of everything on the island are strange. The woman doesn't like anyone and her husband is a drunk. Kellen and her daughter find a diary that was owned by someone who had lived in the house many years ago and so it is shrouded in mystery and they want to know more about the author. Then strange things begin to happen and maybe there is a ghost in the house but it doesn't seem to be threatening. Not like the killer who wants Kellen. She becomes a real threat to the family and Kellen is determined to take her down,
I received this from Partners in Crime and NetGalley for review.

After years of fighting for it, Kellen Adams is finally starting to have the life and family she always wanted. Her only problems now consist of recovering from brain surgery and her daughter Rae growing up too fast- while Kellen is only just getting used to even having a daughter! Then Kellen and husband Max learn that their old enemy, psychotic serial killer Mara Phillips, has escaped prison and is hunting them down. The small family moves to a tiny, technology-free island off the coast of California for safety while the professionals track Mara down. Family time has potential for bonding time, but also for danger when Mara and a typhoon visit the island. Kellen knows it's up to her to face Mara- and only one of them can come out of this game alive.

Strangers She Knows concludes Christina Dodd's Cape Charade series (Dead Girl Running, What Doesn't Kill Her) in intense style. The trilogy has followed Kellen Adams: Army veteran, hotel manager, and a woman who has had more than her share of hardships, danger, and surprises in life, as she becomes part of a family with Max and Rae while still balancing danger and duty. The first part of Strangers focuses mostly on Kellen getting herself back together both physically and mentally, and the three of them creating memories and bonds that they missed out on as Rae was growing up without Kellen. This includes some humorous father-daughter bonding over repairing (or trying to) a F-100 truck, discovering the story of the previous owners of the island, and wonderful reactions to dynamite in the fridge that are classic Kellen and Max.

Mara Phillips (Dead Girl Running) was supposed to be locked up forever, but in true criminal mastermind fashion, Mara escapes and comes after Kellen and anyone else she believes betrayed her. When Dodd decides to go for a crazed and disturbing villain, she comes up with a villain who will chill your blood- and Mara is definitely her crowning achievement! The last hundred or so pages of Strangers, where Mara truly sets her plans into motion, is a non-stop terrifying roller coaster of action and emotion.

New readers won't feel completely lost since enough background is provided to Kellen's former life and Mara to keep them going, but I think readers will certainly get the most out the characters and their growth by reading the trilogy in order. And I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers when I say I hope I'm not the only one who had the ending of Jaws in the back of their minds when reading the grand finale of Strangers. Followed closely by thinking: I never saw that coming and of course that's what would happen. Readers of suspense thrillers by Jayne Ann Krentz and J.D. Robb, and Christina Dodd's earlier thrillers, will defiantly enjoy the adventures of Strangers She Knows!


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Stranger She Knows is a suspenseful romantic novel that grabs at your emotions. Kellen Adams is back and has to outwit a familiar foe. The scenes are beautifully set up and are well thought out. As you dive into the story, it almost reads like a diary and you want to know what happens next. The suspenseful scenes leave you anxious and hopeful. The heartwarming romantic and family scenes just leave you falling more in love with the characters. Max and Rae have also grown with the books in the series and you can clearly see their growth and change in this novel. I enjoyed the book and would recommend the whole series to any one who loves suspense and romance.

Strangers She Knows is the thrilling conclusion of The Cape Charade series… and my personal favorite! Kellen, Max, and Rae head to a private island owned by the Di Luca family to escape Mara Phillipi, who has escaped from prison and is determined to hunt down Kellen and her family. I really liked the setting of the island, although it did make the story a little slow to start. My one gripe with this book is that the daughter, Rae, was supposed to be 10 years old, but acted like an adult… it just didn’t seem realistic.

I could barely get through a few chapters of this book and had to give up. The plot seemed fantastical off the bat, the characters unlikable and awkward, and the writing pedestrian.

This book was suspenseful, with interesting characters and good story besides just the fear. Going in, I didn't realize it was book three but I was able to read it with no confusion, didn't feel like I missed anything.

Kellen has gone through a lot, and her and her husband and daughter are trying to move past it all as a family. Kinda hard when there are bad people coming for you and you have to hide. Kellen's hubby is sweet and supportive, her daughter is a typical preteen. The character development was really well done.

Not only was this full of action and scary moments, the diary was so interesting, the house was a mystery. This is the first I've read by this author and I totally would read more. I really enjoyed it.

I started to read this book and it felt like I was missing background information. Cool book for people who read the series...not so much for someone diving in. I feel like the cover should state that it's part of a series, not just 'a novel'. Maybe I'll revisit this book if I decide to read the series.