I was first introduced to Jason Pinter in 2020 when I received a complementary copy of Hide Away as part of Amazon’s First Reads program. In that book, Jason introduced a strong female protagonist in Rachel Marin…and I’m a sucker for strong female characters. As a result, I devoured Hide Away and had hopes the book would be the start of a long running series due to Rachel’s combination of strength and resilience wrapped inside a caring mother. Thankfully, Jason recently released a sequel titled A Stranger at the Door, a worthy sequel that further develops Rachel and the key characters around her.

In A Stranger at the Door, Rachel is now a forensics consultant with the Ashby Police Department. This is a win/win as it gives her purpose and an outlet for her special set of skills while also providing the police with augmented capabilities via her expertise. In parallel, Rachel and her family are still dealing with the aftermath of tragic events from their past when a teacher from the local high school is gruesomely murdered. As Rachel gets involved in the investigation, nefarious forces behind the scenes will stop at nothing to hide the truth, putting everyone around her in mortal danger. Despite verbal and physical warnings to back off, and driven by the ideal that if she can unravel this deception then her family will finally have a shot at some semblance of normalcy, Rachel continues to push forward in a desperate attempt to solve the case and protect the people she loves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and there are a couple of things that strongly resonated with me. First, as a parent, Rachel’s drive to do anything to protect her kids forces me to think through what I would do in these situations. Second, because a main portion of the plot involves taking advantage of susceptible and impressionable teenage boys, this book brought out a lot of emotion in me. On both these points, this story really hit home with me as the father of two boys, one of which is a teenager about the same age as Rachel’s son Eric. I found myself comparing my parenting style with hers, even though I’ve never experienced anything close to what her and her kids have gone through. It also forced me to confront my own parenting abilities and shortcomings with results I now either need to address or ignore (possibly to my peril). Lastly, it increased my level of concern for keeping my boys safe and away from those who don’t have their best interests in mind. Heavy stuff you don’t necessarily expect from a thriller book. Thanks a lot Jason Pinter! (wink, wink)

On a lighter note, A Stranger at the Door is well written. The story is compelling and moves at a rapid pace. The character development is solid, both for the returning characters from the prior book and for the bad guys introduced in this story. In summary, A Stanger at the Door is an excellent second installment in the series and one I’m excited to recommend to thriller fans of police procedurals and psychological thrillers.

This book was an excellent read that would leave anyone frantically combing the pages for the next clue. It checked all my boxes: an interesting murder? Check! Someone who is unable to keep their nose out of a mystery? Check! A killer on the loose? CHECK! Even though this was the second book in a series that I am sure will continue to keep people up at night I never felt as if I was missing information that would require me to read the first book before this one. All in all an excellent read and I can't wait to see what comes next!

A kickass protagonist, a convoluted plotline, subplots that had a crossover of the present and past, with reveals of book 1, Jason Pinter’s A Stranger at the Door was a rocking ride from beginning to end, giving me no time to breathe in the interim.

Rachel Marin, a single mother, with a past as dark as the midnight sky and secrets hidden deep within herself, lived for her children and assisted the cops in their cases, with the lead detective as her boyfriend. Her son’s teacher was tortured and torched alive after having sent her an email, warning her of nefarious activities in school and wanting her help. Her son soon got involved in some shady deals. That brought inner lioness to the forefront, and nothing could and would stand in her way.

The story moved fast, the subplots kept zooming in front of my eyes. Though there were many things of book 1 discussed in this, kind of a spoiler alert, I didn’t mind it as it meant I had one book less in my TBR. The author cast a series of sticky web around her that not only snared her, but this time, her son seemed to be the main prey, as a leverage on her.

Many characters, but easy to keep them in line, marked through the various subplots. The investigation progressed quickly with Rachel doing most of the work for the police. Her emotions surfaced many a time, but I liked that she could work through them. I liked her immense love for her children, a good mama bear.

My niggles too came through. I liked Rachel, but at times, she was a bit too much in face, who kept telling me that she could take the baddies on. I would rather she showed it to me. She would make a good PI. Short, snappy chapters pulled me into this crime thriller with shades of a police procedural. Her relationship with the cops leading the investigation was peppered with respect and friendship, though at times, she was short with them.

Overall, I would say this was a rocking breakfast read with complexities and suspense, and loads of action.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jason Pinter for an advanced copy in return for my honest review. A Stranger at the Door is available January 12, 2021! Be sure to go get yourself a copy!

Rachel Marin is not your average mom. One night she gets a mysterious email from her son’s teacher, who winds up dead only hours later. Rachel starts to investigate what’s happened when her past comes back to bite her. At the same time her son gets mixed up with the wrong crowd, she comes out in full force to make sure no harm comes to him.

This is the second Rachel Marin book and having not read the first one, I did feel a touch lost but not so much that the story was ruined for me. (As a side note, the first book, Hide Away is available on Kindle Unlimited, definitely read that one before diving into this one). Overall, this was a great book. It was clear how much Rachel cared for her children and I loved how much of a badass she is. I also loved seeing a little bit of her softer side when she realizes how strong her connection is with her boyfriend.

A Stranger at the Door is the second instalment in the Rachel Marin Thriller series, set in Ashby in Chicago, Illinois. Social studies teacher Matthew Linklater has been brutally murdered. Having worked at Ashby High for 13 years he was single although he had been using online dating apps and seeing an Ashby High mother named Gabrielle. Just before his death he had sent an email to forensic consultant and single mother of two Rachel pertaining to unspecified information he had about some of his students who he believed were in danger. He didn't disclose the information over email and wanted to speak on the phone with her. However, shortly after this was sent, Matthew hears a knock at the door and once opened he is ambushed and struck on the head with a wrench. There was more than one attacker and the last thing he saw before it was lights out was his own bloodied and battered face as the attackers tried toaccess his phone using facial recognition. Rachel Marin has been through a lot - she's been forced to change her name and identity and move to a new state due to the peril she, 14 year old son Eric and 8 and a half year old daughter, Megan, could be in after her husband was brutally slain and his body discovered on their front porch 8 years ago back in Connecticut. She's taken self-defence classes and her boyfriend of six months, John Serrano, is a Detective at Ashby PD. John receives a call to attend the scene of a house fire, which has been pegged as a possible arson, in the small midwestern town.

A victim's remains had already been found amongst the rubble. The house in Glenmore Lane still had smoke billowing from it and Serrano met partner Detective Leslie Tally and forensics expert Isaac Montrose just outside. The victim was found in bed and the killers had used the medieval technique of rat torture where the rat would eat into the victim's flesh before using accelerate to set the house alight. When Rachel becomes concerned about why depressed Eric is being highly secretive about where he's going she decide to follow him and stumbles upon an operation in which high school students are being recruited to carry out underhand business deals that pay handsomely. Eric and many other at-risk boys are being exploited for financial gain; she establishes that those behind the organisation are two ruthless, psychopathic brothers running their own money laundering ring. This is a riveting and compulsive cross between a tense police procedural and emotional domestic thriller with more than enough to sink your teeth into. Rachel is a formidable protagonist and is both resourceful and tough with an unbounded thirst for truth and justice. Pinter's characterisation is effortless and superb and the realistic suspense and the terror Rachel feels over trying to keep her children safe is believable and moving. The plotting is intelligent and precise, the dialogue true to life and the surprises plentiful, and I found myself racing through the pages. It's a propulsive, fast paced affair with scintillating suspense and one I highly recommend.

Like the first Rachel Marin book, this one was more non-stop action! One of the detectives Rachel works with called her ‘a magnet for violence,’ and they may be right.

What an exciting book! It opens with a horrific murder. While the reason the victim was killed is not clear, the details of the crime make it look like a warning to others. The only clue is a vague email to the heroine of this book series, Rachel Marin.

Rachel’s past has forced her to be strong both mentally and physically. When someone who knows some of what she’s been through shows up to tell her not to pursue justice in this case, she’s even more determined to figure out why. Having a character who played a much bigger role in the first book make a surprise appearance here let the reader know that Rachel’s past and present had gotten entangled, something she never wanted to happen.

The second installment in the Rachel Marin series was just as compelling to read as the first. I’d give it 4 out of 5 stars because I couldn’t put it down until all the motives were uncovered and crimes were solved. It was satisfying to see that while Rachel’s thirst for justice sometimes required a bit of vigilante action, she was also willing to let some wrongs be forgotten in the interest of what is truly right.

I was PUMPED to see book two on the rachel Marin series on here right after reading book 1 on kindle unlimited!! I liked this book but a few things werent that believable, like a 14 yr old boy being able to leave his house in the middle of the night and all his gallivanting around town. Theres no way rachel doesnt know about invisible phone tracker apps that she can put on his phone and hide from him! I also felt like the Evie appearing/story kind of came out of nowhere and wasnt all that seamless. Other than that it was a good book and I'm hoping theres a book 3 on the horizon!

This was a fast paced, complex mystery. I really liked the character of Rachel and enjoyed riding along on her investigation of this murder. I loved the writing style and look forward to more of the author’s work.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Stranger at the Door by Jason Pinter is the highly recommended second book in the Rachel Marin series that started with Hide Away (2020).

Rachel Marin received an email from her son's teacher Matthew Linklater on the night he later died in a horrible, painful death manner. In the email he asked her to call him over some concerns he had over some students and their dealings with people who might not have their best interests in mnd. He knew Rachel as the mother of one of his students, but more importantly as someone who has recently successfully worked with the Police Department in Ashby, Ill. as a consultant. Since Rachel is in a relationship with Detective John Serrano, she quickly learned the identity of Linklater. Soon it becomes clear that he may have been concerned about Bennett Brice and his recruitment of at risk teenage boys into his organization YourLife. Things become even more complicated when Rachel's son, 14 year old Eric is recruited into YourLife and a woman from Rachel's past, Evie Boggs, shows up at her door hinting that she should drop the investigation.

The plot is a series of complicated relationships and revelations that seem to increase the threat to Rachel at every turn. She continues to be the same determined, tough, no nonsense woman who says what she means and whose threats should not be taken idly - especially when the welfare and safety of one of her children is involved. While new readers could read this as a stand-alone, it might be best to read Hide Away first. Detectives John Serrano and Leslie Tally return in this novel, although we know more about both of their backgrounds from the first novel. Pinter reveals some more information about Rachel's past, but still not the whole story. I liked the first novel a bit more, but this is still a very good addition to Rachel's overall story. She is still the vigilante protecting others from harm and this time there are a couple of sociopath brothers to look out for.

The chapters are short and the pace is quick, which help keep you glued to the pages to the end. A Stranger at the Door isn't just a page-turning thriller, it also showcases maternal devotion, family bonds, the difficulty of relationships, loyalty, and seeking the truth and justice. The final denouement provides a twist that is heartbreaking, but understandable. You do have to suspend disbelief over Rachel being a consultant for the police with no formal education or background to support this position. I secretly just ignored that detail and accepted she was a vigilante looking out for others.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer.
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for granting me the ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion only.

This is the second book of the Rachel Marin series but this is the first time I have been reading the thriller from this author. The story begins with Matthew Linklater, a teacher at Ashby was brutally murdered by two strangers. Before his murder, he had sent an email to Rachel Marin. Rachel Marin is not a cop but using her skills and intelligence, she works for them and have a close relationship with Detectives Serrano and Tally. As they investigate further into Linklater's murder, they find a small cult, where a high schooler named Raddock is recruiting young boys into a group. Soon, Rachel's son also gets involved into that group and while trying to find the killer, Rachel would do anything to prevent her son from getting into trouble.

This story was actually good from start to finish! I really enjoyed reading the book--the writing was good and the author did a good job of hooking the reader into the story. It is a fast paced thriller though you don't get much twists and turns as expected in a thriller book. Nonetheless, it was actually unputdownable and the characters are also somewhat likable and related, particularly Rachel. Overall, it was a good thriller worth four stars!

I really want to read book number one in this series! Although I haven’t read the first one I didn’t feel lost reading this one. Well written I read this book in less than 48 hours determined to find out what happened to the characters I felt I had a stake in. My first book by Jason Pinter, but it won’t be my last.

Rachel has a secret- a big secret- and she'll do pretty much anything to keep her kids safe. That doesn't include murdering Matt Linklater, a teacher at her son's school. Someone else did that she Rachel, who is now working as a consultant to the police (against the wishes at times of her love interest Detective John Serrano), discovers there was more to the man than she or most of the town knew. At the same time, her son Eric has been sucked into an odd group of teens in a sort of pyramid scheme. And then Evie comes to town. Wow. Lots going on. I was a fan of the first book and I do think it would help to have read it to fully appreciate this one because you'll see growth in the characters but if you haven't- you'll still enjoy this one. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a fast well written lead with good characters and a just twisty enough mystery.

A very well written thriller. An edge of your seat page turning plot. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

A Stranger at the Door (Jason Pinter) is book two in a series. I haven't read book one but had no problem following and enjoying this story. Our main character ,Rachel Marin is a woman who works with the local police department but isn't actually on the force. Rachel is a widow with two young children who are her main priority. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an early copy to review.

Exploited young boys are at the center of Rachel Marin's investigation into a school teacher's gruesome death!

Best-selling author Jason Pinter's "A Stranger at the Door" is a superb sequel to the first Rachel Marin thriller, "Hide Away." "A Stranger at the Door" begins with a murder that is too gruedome, cruel, and violent to completely describe here. Immediately, readers learn this novel has at least one incredibly vile villain.

The provocative title invokes many horrific images. It is a verbal warning to parents, especially single ones. Don't open your door to strangers, especially those pretending to be your friends.

Rachel Marin is best described as a wounded heroine. She hides dark secrets from her past life as a vigilante. However, she is very likeable.

Jason Pinter's "A Stranger at the Door" is a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery with a ton of emotional drama.

For my complete review, please see the January 2021 edition of Gumshoe at www.gumshoereview.com.

Matthew Linklater, teacher of social studies at Ashbury High, contacts PI Rachel Martin, the mother of one of his students by email. He discovered something that may be criminal and isn’t strictly school business. Less than an hour later, he’s murdered in a truly gruesome manner. He opened the door for the killer. So, it must be someone he knows as well as someone that wants to leave a clear message. Rachel has only just returned from the crime scene when another shock awaits her. A woman she knew in her past, Evie shows up at her door and orders her to leave this case alone. Why is she suddenly here and why use threats against Rachel instead of the police? Is she forced by someone? At the same time, Rachel’s 14-year-old son Eric who still struggles with his dad’s untimely demise is sucked into a secret organisation by Benjamin Ruddock, a senior with a bad reputation. But it’s not Ruddock who’s in charge of the pyramid scheme and who preys on troubled and vulnerable youths.

First of all, I did like this book despite a few minor criticisms. It’s a solid story that’s well told. It keeps its suspense after the scheme is discovered and the main perpetrators are known. The unwilling accomplice of Matthew’s killer was still a surprise though. It’s an interesting series with a mother in the lead role. This is only the second book; so, it’s easy to pick up the storylines. It’s best to read the books in order as this story may contain spoilers for the first one.
I go along with the premise for the sake of the story. But it’s never disclosed where Rachel got her forensic skills (maybe in the first book?) and she doesn’t seem to have any certificate or diploma in that field. So, I think it very unlikely that the police would hire her as a consultant, whether she’s the girlfriend of a lead detective or not. The fighting skills and observation technology she uses are a lot easier to digest. I would not like to make her angry.
Rachel is a tough mother; she protects her children like a lioness. Eric experiences this as a prison regime but in the end, he’s all too happy for his mother’s presence. She’s not the only protective mother, though. If there is a theme in this story, it is that there is very little that a loving mother will not do or sacrifice for the safety of her children. Not all those things are pretty!
The unfortunate and disturbing thing is that this story shows how easy it is for bad-intended individuals to prey on weaker children and manipulate them into doing things they never would do on their own. They use incentives like money, the feeling to belong and appreciation as rewards to lure them in. Only when they’re in over their heads and the going gets rough, do the threats and punishments appear.
The organisation is described as a Ponzi-scheme in the book, but to me, it sounds more like a pyramid scheme, although there’s little difference between them and I’m not an accountant or economist. Let’s agree it’s a bad fraud.
Of late, I’ve read several books where I asked myself how the title related to the contents of the book. Here, the title is a good find. It can refer to the person at the victim’s door or to the woman turning up at Rachel’s.
I thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.

This is a book I would highly recommend reading. It has almost everything a mystery/thriller lover loves to read.

A Stranger at the Door finds Rachel Marin, now a freelance forensic investigator returning in the second book of the series. Where one of the questions asked is, How far would you go to protect your children?

Rachel receives an email from one of her son's teachers asking for help with a matter. Then, his body is found after a house fire is reported. It is discovered that the teacher was tortured before his death.

Eric, Rachel's son, is then recruited to work for a shady business man who has information on Rachel's past, and may be connected to the teacher's murder. Also, someone from Rachel's past returns to blackmail her to not take on the investigation. She is left to discover how these are all connected.

The book was a good, fast paced read. We get to learn a lot more about Rachel, her kids, and Detectives Serrano and Talley, which I really enjoyed. Suspension of belief is definitely required here, as the things Rachel does would never be allowed by the police, such as questioning suspects and overall interfering with the investigation. Reading book 1 first will definitely help you out, as book 2 does contain spoilers for book 1. Overall, it's a good quick read that I flew through and I liked revisiting these characters and look forward to seeing how the series continues to develop!

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer, author Jason Pinter, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very good book. First time reading this author. I will definitely look for more of his books. I felt I connected with the characters and was nervous for them. I wanted to go help!! I would definitely recommend this book.

A Stranger at the Door by Jason Pinter is a superb read with well-defined characters and plotline. Definitely a page turner and well worth a read!