Not much to say about this book. I didn't love it but didn't hate it. An average whodunnit, Anyone who is a fan of Fiona Burton will enjoy it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't get completely hooked into this for quite a while, it was a little slow going for me. But once I got into it I found msyelf enjoying it, and I was pleasantly suprised by the ending!

Four women......Karen Simmons is found murdered on Valentine’s Day. Detective King suspects her online dating life might hold the key. .Journalist Kiki Nunn is determined to crack the case. Annie finds similarities relating to the death of her son. But how do the puzzles pieces connect????

Told for 3 points of view, I found it a little tough getting into the story. It was interesting to see how the lives of these four women were connected. The story was very thought provoking, and with the online dating, this could very well happen. I did find it rather easy to solve the case. I had it narrowed down and was correct.

It was an okay read. There are other books by this author that I like better. I would definitely recommend you give this one a try.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC to enjoy.

This book got better as it went on The beginning/middle felt overly long and not so interesting but I kept at it and the end was worth it. I guessed a number of the twists. Three women, a mother grieving still for her murdered child, a reporter and a police detective and the cases that involve them, personally and professionally. Who can be trusted

Great mystery/thriller! The author kept me engaged and wove together a great story! I loved how the women wound up helping each other figure things out near the end! Great character development- believable characters and storyline.

Karen Simmons uses an online dating app. Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine's Day. Enter detective Elise King and wanna be detective, reporter Kiki Nunn who had a semi personal relationship with Karen.

The story is told through these two perspectives along with a third person, Annie. Annie has her own story as her son was murdered and found in the same woods Karen was found in.

It takes a moment to get going with this, but once you do it goes at a quick pace. The chapters are short which allows the switch of the narrators to go seamlessly. The ending is predictable about midway through but the story is interesting enough to keep you reading to the end.

Another great read by Fiona Barton and I look forward to reading her next.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley Publishing group for the advanced copy of this book

This was my first book by Fiona Barton and will not be my last, i’m ready to read her entire backlog after this book!

Fiona Barton weaves together a strong story that (nearly) kept me guessing. I enjoy her writing and her characters, some of which are challenging to sympathize with but I think that adds to their depth. Talking to Strangers explores important contemporary themes in a way that is considerate to the challenges women face. Thanks, NetGally, for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed Local Gone Missing by Fiona Barton, it was a cozy little British mystery. However, it's been awhile since I read it and while reading Talking to Strangers, the books were connected by characters that I didn't remember well so it gave the sense of reading a second book when you didn't remember what happened in the first. The feeling persisted throughout the book and ended up making it feel unsatisfying of a read. I wish I had read the two books back to back.

Elise King is an investigative journalist and reporter who is on a mission to solve the murder of Karen Simmons, a local woman. Little does she know that this case has been connected to multiple crimes in the present and past. As the investigation progresses, she and her partner, Kiki, become increasingly perplexed by missing information and questions. After some difficult detective work and a sting operation, more questions begin to surface. The story eventually concludes with the closure of a cold case and a new...

There were times while I was reading this book where I was super engrossed in the story, but then my interest would wane a bit, but overall I did enjoy it. I wasn’t certain at first how the characters were going to be connected, so I did like that there was some mystery there. I will say that I did not enjoy it as much as The Widow and The Child.

I really enjoyed this book think it was on par with many of the authors other books. The multiple perspectives are interesting as always, but some of the twists were predictable. I found myself having a hard time putting the book down, but at the same time it almost felt a little too long and drawn out. All in all I enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGallery for an advanced copy of this book.

While this book did not initially grasp me, it definitely got better and kept my interest. Some nice twists along the way and a surprising end.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Talking To Strangers By Fiona Barton
Publication Date: August 27, 2024
Publisher: Berkley Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

What an entertaining and fun read this was!! Thrillers aren't always "fun," but this was one really was. Online dating - and dating in your forties-ish - were themes running through these plotlines, with relatable characters and skeezy serial daters with which people who've done the whole online dating thing are (unfortunately) probably all-too-familiar.

This book is one part murder mystery, one part domestic thriller, one part British police episode. This book features short chapters of multiple POVs, with numerous storylines to follow, and I was so intrigued to see how everything was going to ultimately intersect. This book kept me guessing the entire time, and most importantly, it held my attention and captivated my interest.

I thought I'd rate this a 4.5⭐ read... Until I finished it. And WOW. I did NOT see this twist coming. This is my favorite kind of book - a whodunnit that leaves you guessing...right up until the very last words. There is no way this book could be anything less than a 5⭐ rating for me.

I saw that this book is rated below 4⭐ on GoodReads, and to be honest, I'm not sure if we all read the same book. In my opinion, this book was brilliant! Maybe somebody figured out the ending before they got there, but I sure didn't. I just love books like this, the ones that leave you reeling as you savor their last words.

Fiona Barton has gained a new fan and I'm excited to read her other books -- if these twists are indicative of her writing style, I am here for it.

A huge thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! Add this one to your TBR list - and request it on NetGalley if you can!

#TalkingToStrangers #FionaBarton #NetGalley #ARC #fivestarreads #thrillerreads #bookrecommendations #bookreviews #bookcommunity #booklover #thrilleraddict #booknerd

Investigator Elise King and reporter Kiki Nunn are working to solve the present day murder of a local woman, Karen Simmons. Little do they know, this case is wrapped up quite a few crimes presently and the past.
As the investigation continues, Kiki and Elise become bogged down by missing pieces and things are not quite adding up. After some harrowing detective work and an uncover sting, more and more questions crop up. In the end the story wraps up closing the cold case and the new... maybe.


This was a great read and I really enjoyed the read. The multi-pov was easy to follow and I appreciated having the dates to understand the timing of certain conversations.

Not my favorite by this author but it was pretty good.

Thank you to netgalley for the prerelease ebook

Fiona Barton's compelling novel "Talking to Strangers" delves into the complicated interpersonal relationships, internet dating, and the social concerns surrounding violence against women. It is a must-read.
Fiona Barton combines a variety of viewpoints, emphasizing the complex nature of interpersonal relationships and the risks associated with assuming anything about strangers. "Talking to Strangers" made me consider the kind of society we live in and left me wanting more with its thought-provoking issues and gripping story.

Thank you netgalley and Berkeley publishing group for the ARC

Talking To Strangers was a pretty good book. My only complaint is how the ending was tied up from the killer’s POV in the epilogue and it seemed so rushed as this person confessed to everything. It’s my least favorite way that authors choose to wrap up the ending of a good book. There was also another story line that was going on for one of the main characters that I don’t believe was addressed before the end of the book. Other than that, I did find the book to be really good. I like Fiona Barton books, I’ve read them all and consider her a “must read” author. She has strong characters, and the plot was well done, and subject matter was really something to think about especially with online dating apps being a big part of how we meet people nowadays.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC**

On Valentines day Karen Simmons is murdered and her new internet date looks like the likely suspect. Detective Elise King is investigating her death. Kiki Nunn is a reporter who is determined to crack the case regardless of who's toes she steps on or what Detective King says. The story intertwines four women lives with twists and turns that make it hard to put down.

Wow. Just wow. Fiona Barton knocks it out of the park with this one. I didn't think she could top herself after "The Widow", but this one had so many twists and turns I nearly got whiplash....in a good way. This one kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. I won't go into the plot because that can be read online, but suffice to say this is her best one yet.