As always another delightful read by Dete Meserve ! In this book we once again discover the satisfaction of paying it forward. Kate , who has been the main protagonist in all of her Good Sam books ,has discovered someone or someone’s have been putting cards , flowers and balloons all over Manhattan.
So of course as it goes her reporter instincts kick in and she becomes entangled in the mystery of who is responsible for these random acts.
She teams up with Scott Jameson, the handsome TV host, and goes on stakeouts to see if they can catch this person in the act.
Suddenly she starts to feel threatened when menacing notes are left for her warning her to stay away and her apartment even gets broken into.
Follow the trail with Kate Bradley that will lead her to the answers that made one small act of kindness a big powerful chain of generosity !
A great read and a mystery that keeps you reassign!

This is such a touching story. It is filled with the promise that there really are good people out there. Kindness is free and some people are actually selfless. The characters are believeable and likeable. This book is perfect for anyone that needs to be reminded that there truly are good people in this world.

I read this book in one day! What a joyful story centered around looking for the good in our world. At the time of my reading this story so much is centered on CODIV19 and I found this book to be a breath of fresh air. I can't wait until others can experience the joy that this book brings.
The characters were relatable and the pacing of the story was just right. Kate is a reporter who just landed in New York City. Her new boss wants to assign her stories in politics, but Kate is drawn to a rash of spreading kindness incidents happening that no one can explain. My first book by this author but not my last.

Dete Meserve gives us a feel good story at a time when we may need it most in The Good Stranger, a Kate Bradley Mystery. Kate Bradley leaves the comfort of Southern California for a new position at AMC, American News Channel in Manhattan to report on crime and justice stories in the city. Much to her vexation, her new boss has her covering politics, not the crime and justice stories she was lured by and promised upon her hiring. Because her father is a famous US senator, Kate is assigned to work on the Homeland Security bill that's currently at a standstill in Congress.

Frustrated with her assignment, losing her boyfriend Eric, and finding NY not all she hoped it would be, Kate starts to feel disillusioned and questions her career move. That’s until magical things begin to happen in and around Manhattan. Purple and white balloons start to appear everywhere. Along with the mysterious appearance of balloons, random acts of kindness are beginning to happen too. Gift cards on windshields, rent and hospital bills paid, flowers and free meals are just a few of the generous offerings that are secretly bestowed to some folks in the city. Kate’s instinct as a reporter tells her there’s a unique story here and together with Scott Jameson, ANC host of Wonders of the World, the pair decide to investigate and find who is responsible for all the philanthropic acts in Manhattan.

As the investigation continues and time goes on, Kate and Scott seem to have more questions than answers. And to make matters worse someone is sending ominous letters to Kate to throw her off the trail. With time running out, Kate and Scott give it one last try to find the mysterious benefactor that seems to have transformed the lives of so many residents in Manhattan including Kate’s.

The Good Stranger is a feel good story that shows how random acts of kindness can have an effect on people and compel them to pay it forward. This book has a heartfelt story-line and wonderful, well developed characters every reader will enjoy with enough mystery to keep them turning the pages. It’s a book that will make readers smile and be satisfied they took the time to delve into it’s story. A great book just in time for spring and summer reading.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Good Stranger, A Kate Bradley Mystery by Dete Meserve. “Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own”.

This book was meant to be written and meant to be released at this time. With the Coronavirus, we are hearing so many negative things. People are afraid and people are focusing on the fear and forgetting to think about there are positive things going on. This book is a reminder that an individual, or a few or many can make a difference in someone's life.
Kate was a journalist who moved from California to Manhattan, New York. When she arrived the people weren't friendly, she got knocked to the ground and she wasn't liking it much. Then purple balloons, gift cards, purple flowers started appearing. It was random acts of kindness. People started to soften, they got to know their neighbors, and Kate wanted to cover the story. She did and as time went on she was being threatened because the 4 people who started this, didn't want to be found. When you read the book you will find out why.
Kate still continues to cover the story and find out who the 4 are. When she finds them and hears their stories, she makes the decision to tell the story but not to reveal who they are. They could be someone you meet on the street, a cab driver, a coworker, it could be anyone. What was important was for people to take a leap. Not a leap of faith but leap into doing something knowing it could go either way. Do it anyway and they did, As the people of not only Manhatten but all over started seeing the kindness to strangers, making connections to a stranger, they wanted to do something nice for someone. Not for recognition but because they could see what was happening, how it made strangers feel when they connected, how it made someone feel by sometimes a simple act of kindness. It let people know someone cared, someone thought they were special and it created a spark that led to more sparks.
Just before reading this book, I was one of those that it seemed hard to find something positive. People were hoarding toilet paper, emptying store shelves and not thinking of anyone but themselves. I read the book yesterday and started looking around, and what could I then see. Some of the people who had bought an excessive amount of stuff was now offering it to someone who needed it free. This is a book that I hope sells out over and over because with Facebook, Twitter and Instagram we are losing our connections to others. The media seems to want to barrage us with the worst of what is going on. Like Kate's bosses said when they offered her, her own show, they wanted her to take the worst of what the media was saying and spotlight the positive things that are coming from it. I would love to live in a world like that and I think this book will be a reminder of what life can be like and we carry on the leap. Take a chance and it could go either way, some will see the negative and some will see the positive. But this book is a great start to changing not only our life but maybe have a positive impact on others.
I received an ARC from Dete Meserve and NetGalley. This was a book that came into my life when I needed it most. It is my honest opinion that I really do hope that this book sells out over and over and people put into practice what they are reading. To help that, when the book is released I am going to buy copies and leave them in different places so someone who might need this book will find it just like I did when I needed it most.

Kate is a reporter who just got a new job at a station in New York City. When the city starts being covered with random acts of kindness, Kate wants to investigate and report on the story. She gets a few notes warning her to back down, but her curiosity gets the best of her.
As far as a mystery goes, this is as light as it can get. You wont find suspense here but it is a book focused on these happy events.

If you haven't read Dete's book, you should. Just like her other books, this one will not disappoint. It left with a good feeling, realizing there are still good, kind people in this crazy mixed up world.

Such a breath of fresh air to read such a positive story. Set in modern day New York in a newsroom with a rookie reporter who is determined to find out who and why strangers around the city are being gifted with random things -that make a real difference to their lives. Gifts of money to pay for health bills, gifts of flowers, meals, cars amongst a host of other things.
As Kate pursues the origins of the movement she tracks down the elusive Marie and finds love herself in the process.
With the #BeKind movement around this is a very timely story. Thoroughly entertaining and worth a read

Thanks to netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Dete Meserve for the advance copy of The Good Stranger. This is the 3rd book in the Kate Bradley series. Kate is a reporter and sees all kinds of bad things happen. This book however, is about the good things that Kate sees happening. A nice escape from the reality of School shootings, gang war, drug epidemics and so much more that is a part of everyday life these days. This book focuses on the positive and how anyone can inspire others to help others for no particular reason other than to just help. Kindness is contagious.

Kindness----
"It's also selfish because it makes you feel good when you help others. I've been helped by acts of kindness from strangers. That's why we're here, after all, to help others."
Carol Burnett
I love that quote. It fits so well with this book.

Dete Meserve's books make me feel good. They are about kindness and doing good things. They are about how there are more "good" people in the world than "bad". The Good Stranger is a book that takes all these elements and are written into a story that just made me smile reading it. This is the third book in the Kate Bradley Mystery series but it's easily picked up to be read as a stand-alone.

Kate Bradley has landed the job of her dreams. She's moving up from being a local news correspondent to a national news correspondent. Along with that, tho, she has to say goodbye to friends and all the things she's comfortable with. She has to move from L.A. to Manhattan where everyone seems wrapped into themselves and oblivious to anyone around them. No one seems to notice or care about anyone around them. The change is difficult but Kate is up for the challenge. Then an unexpected event happens when there's a city wide power outage. Mysteriously after the power is restored, a stranger is leaving gifts for random people around the city. This intrigues Kate and with her investigative skills, she's determined to find out who the person/people behind the unconditional giving and the reason why. This "stranger" is changing the lives of a whole city with random acts of kindness. How and why? What if those random kindnesses are passed on from one person to the next? "This isn't just about giving. They're connecting strangers."

I love the character of Kate Bradley. She's so likable and easy to want to search for clues and answers as to who the mysterious "good stranger" is with her. I turned the pages seeking those answers, too. She also has a personal life that I connected with and felt the things she was going through. She's compassionate, determined, and not afraid to go after what she wants and believes in. She finds out things about herself as she discovers more and more about the goodness and kindness behind this stranger. The supporting cast of characters are all touched by the events and that causes changes of hearts. "Could it be that the biggest problems could be solved by the smallest gestures, person to person?"

Reading this book brought these thoughts into my mind....smiles are contagious. Even a smile can change someone's day.
Kindness is the gift that keeps on giving. Like the ripples from a pebble in a body of water, kindness can ripple out from one little act of being kind and touch many more people than we know if we just be nice and pass it on.

I want to thank Dete Meserve for the ARC copy and great honor of reading The Good Stranger. I have read her previous books and each one of them have made my heart happy. I joyfully and gratefully thank her. I recommend this book for an uplifting read that gives us hope in all good things. All opinions and thoughts in this review are my heartfelt own.

This was a good book. I didn't know it was a series. A very sweet read with a hero who does VERY good. I will have to now the others. Like now.
Thank you, NetGalley for the advance copy to review.

This was such an amazing page turner, I was up until almost 2am! The Good Stranger, has become one of my top favorite books and one that I’ll always feel a connection too, that wants me to share more kindness in the world. This book is an unimaginably amazing, inspiring and life changing, that’s gives hope of humanity to spread kindness. I look forward to the other books that go along with this book.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are of my own.

THE GOOD STRANGER by Dete Meserve is the third book in the Good Sam series. Having read the first two books, GOOD SAM and PERFECTLY GOOD CRIME, I was happy to dive into another Kate Bradley mystery. Reporter Kate Bradley has moved from California to New York and has just started working as a national news correspondent. When a massive power outage leaves New York City in complete darkness, Kate heads out to cover the chaos and loss that have ensued. As the lights return, Kate discovers that someone has left mysterious and anonymous gifts all across the city. More and more seemingly random acts of kindness are uncovered and Kate and her TV network colleague Scott Jameson set out to discover the identity and motives of the generous person or people responsible. With plenty of suspense, intrigue and even a little romance, this heartwarming and engaging story shows how even small acts of kindness and generosity can make a powerful change for the better in the world. THE GOOD STRANGER presents an important message for today’s times where the news seems to focus most on the bad things that happen and the things that divide people. I enjoyed this uplifting book and highly recommend it along with the other books in the series. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

this is the first ive heard of Dete Meserve, and boy am I glad I did find her. This book was a beautiful story of goodness, kindness, and empathy, of helping people to truly help someone. to know that every body is struggling, and little things you do can help their day, or even life. The world needs more goodness, and there needs to be more light shone onto the good, as opposed to the constant reminders of the bad. Im very grateful this book, and the series, exist in the world. going to watch Good Sam on Netflix now!

“The Good Stranger” (A Kate Bradley Mystery Book 3) by Dete Meserve.

What a fabulous novel. Such a feel good and heartwarming read that is neither sappy or feminine. It is engaging and enthralling in so many ways: from the characters, the story line, the realism and the wonderment of “what if,” especially in these very divided and often angry environments so many live in right now.

What started as one shared ride between four strangers turns into something that eventually connects and brings so many together in so many different ways, from so many different backgrounds, for a variety of different reasons. It isn’t a social experiment, or a puzzle to solve (for all except a few), or paying back an expected debt. It is bigger and broader than that. It’s purpose is so much bigger than what was originally intended. And the pay it forward attitude from many others extends the purpose and joy that four individuals have started to bring to one city in New York. Take a leap and see what happens if you follow the practice of these “secret four.”

A must read for all, as are the two previous reads in this series.

Rating: 4.9
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rating:  2.5 🔪
Author: Dete Meserve
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Release Date: 19th May 2020
 
(Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free early copy!)
 
Synopsis:

From the bestselling author of Good Sam—now a Netflix feature film—comes another Kate Bradley story about the nature of generosity and finding unexpected connections with strangers.
TV reporter Kate Bradley arrives in Manhattan ready to take on a challenging new position as a national news correspondent. When a massive power outage plunges New York City into darkness, the disaster she expected to cover takes an unexpected turn. Someone is leaving thousands of mysterious gifts throughout the city, and the only clue to the giver’s identity is the occasional note from “A Stranger.”
Together with handsome TV series host Scott Jameson, Kate must make sense of these random generous acts, which quickly escalate in scale and capture the attention of viewers across the country. In early-morning stakeouts and late-night surveillance, they crisscross the city hunting down leads, but the elusive Stranger is always one step ahead.
Menacing letters and videos addressed to Kate threaten to derail the investigation, but she’s determined to uncover the identity of the benefactor. The closer Kate gets to the truth, the more clearly she sees that even the smallest act of generosity can bring about powerful change. And it just may take her own selfless act of kindness to solve the feel-good mystery of the year.
 
My Thoughts:

I went into this book expecting quite a lot due to the hype around Dete Meserve' Good Sam. I knew it would be a much lighter crime fiction than I usually go for but I was hoping to find myself a lovely light and easygoing read that was cosy crime, like an Agatha Christie but modern. At first, this was the case. The story seemed interesting despite there being no decreeable crime that early on, Kate Bradley seemed like a feisty and fun character and I was eager to know what was going to happen. Unfortunately, once something did happen the book quickly became a dull husk of the crime genre.
I think my fault here was expecting some kind of gritty crime fiction with a splash of romance as the central plot prehaps... or at least a murder mystery or something. I didn't expect it to be quite as... light, for lack of a better word. Light yes, but not this light, not feather-light by any means. So it unfortunately became a chore to read very quickly. I wanted to try out romantic suspense and instead found a fluffy light fiction posing as a crime novel via it being centred on a news journalist and labelled "mystery". It's good at what it is, perhaps even interesting if that's your kind of thing but it certainly fell short of what I was expecting.

With this one I'd say steer clear if your a crime thriller junkie, it's not what you're after really, but for those wanting some light and easy reading that's a lot less crime and a lot more "women's fiction" then give it a try, you may like it much better than I did.

I was immediately taken by the premise of the book and I couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded. It is always great to read a book that makes you feel something. I can't wait to read more by this author very soon. Thank you Netgalley.