Talking to Strangers is Book 2 in Fiona Barton's Elise King series, and, although it technically can be read as a standalone, I wouldn't. I would start with Local Gone Missing and prepare to love this series. Fiona Barton is the master at slowing dropping clues, crafting her web, until she has you completely ensnare, before completely dropping a surprise reveal at the end. The multiple narrators really work, and I'm already excited for the next installment.

The narrative is gripping, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Barton's writing style is engaging, making it easy to get lost in the story. It's a great read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful and thought-provoking novels.

Thriller readers like things dark. Whether it’s mystery, suspense, or speculative, we expect bad things to happen to good people, for death and despair. But Fiona Barton’s latest, Talking to Strangers, may be the bleakest thriller I’ve ever read. Barton, British author of The Widow (reviewed here) and The Child (reviewed here) creates strong female protagonists and puts them in tough situations. In Talking to Strangers, she implies there’s no real escape.

When 45-year-old single hairdresser Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day in the woods of the British hamlet of Ebbing, the case lands with detective Elise King. (Elise and Ebbing were also featured in Barton’s Local Gone Missing.) On her own after being dumped for another woman, and still recovering from a cancer fight, Elise thinks Karen’s murder is related to her use of dating apps and running a local singles group. Reporter Kiki Nunn, a single mother with a teenage daughter, thinks the murder is her chance to make a name for herself on the web site she reports for, and tries to infiltrate the dating scene to find the killer. And Annie Curtis, who used to live in Ebbing, is haunted by memories of her son Archie, who was killed 15 years ago in those same woods. The young man accused of killing Archie committed suicide, but what if he was actually innocent?

At first, Talking to Strangers reminded me of Mary Higgins Clark’s take on dating strangers: Loves Music, Loves to Dance. But as the book unfolded, the similarities waned. The singles in Ebbing seem more interested in the hook-up culture than in meeting a partner, and Elise and Kiki find a private chat room run by men celebrating their conquests. Could one of them have murdered Karen? Many in Ebbing believe she “asked for it” by having one-night stands. Even the men in her singles group look down on her.

The book overflows with suspects, and both Elise and Kiki are in danger as they investigate all the men who could have killed Karen. Elise, overworked and scared that her cancer treatment has dulled her instincts, finds comfort in a new male neighbor, while Kiki is drawn into the same apps that seduced Karen. The women’s vulnerability and loneliness is heartbreaking. And as Annie reinvestigates her son’s murder, it slowly becomes clear that her husband might have a connection to Karen’s death as well.

The women in Ebbing are surrounded by men who are killers, cheaters, liars, misogynists, or perverts. The wives cannot trust their own husbands; the single women are prey. These men clearly hate women, and their disgust is apparent on every page. (A speech by a man who blames his cheating on his wife’s love for their children is particularly loathsome.) The book ends on an especially dispiriting note, implying that the behavior is passed on and worsens through the generations.

Elise King is a strong protagonist, and she’s well supported by characters like Kiki and other (female) locals who populate Ebbing. I hope that if Clark decides to continue Elise’s story, she shines a light on some of the brighter corners of Ebbing as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

In “Talking to Strangers,” Fiona Barton brings back Detective Elise King from “Local Gone Missing” and pairs her with reporter Kiki Nunn, now reduced to writing for an online tabloid with an editor half her age.

(“’We’ve got a body!’ Miles shouts, bouncing on his chair as if he’s won the lottery. I stand up from behind my computer screen and try not to hate him. My news editor is twenty-four and skinny, and his crazy hair makes his head appear too big for his body.”)

Elise is back from treatment for breast cancer and feeling shaky. Kiki is trying to work her way back into legitimate journalism with a probe of mature women venturing into online dating. “Your Desperate Housewives thing,” the kid editor calls it.

The murder of a woman Kiki had just interviewed plunges her into an investigation that Elise wants her to stay out of. Enter the mother of a little boy killed years before and left in the same wooded area. Could the crimes be connected?

Women do risky, stupid things in “Talking to Strangers,” even — especially — our protagonists. If Barton intended this as a cautionary tale, she succeeded. You’ll keep turning pages, but the big reveal at the end isn’t particularly surprising or satisfying.

Talking to Strangers is a deep dive into a dark world. This is book two in the series, but I read it as a standalone without issue. I really loved two of the three POVs. I found the addition of the third from Annie to be more than was needed. The plot is well developed and the writing smooth. The topics covered may be triggers for some readers.

Thank you to Berkley Books and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

I have enjoyed Barton’s books in the past, and I love a procedural, so as this is the second book in the D.I. Elise King series I was very excited to read it and thought this was very well done. I really enjoyed reporter Kiki Nunn also trying to solve the case in order to further her career, and how she sometimes worked in tandem with Detective Elise King but mostly went rogue to get the story first. This obviously does not help either Nunn or King, and we are slowly learning facets of the crime while these two are trying to get to the bottom of what really happened. The intensity is building up to a crazy ending, and neither will come out of this unscathed, one of them more so than the other.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I will stop there, but I definitely recommend this one, and thought the audio was excellent as well, as the narrators did a wonderful job with this story. This can be read as a standalone, but I enjoyed the first book so much I do recommend reading that one first.

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton follows the murder of a local hairdresser over a period of days from the viewpoint of several of the main characters. I liked how the various storylines of the main characters eventually intertwined to make the story more complex. I found part of it to be a little slow for my liking. I guessed part of the end but not all of it, which is always a good sign in a mystery.

Okay this book is DARK. I hated the ending and I am kind of mad that it couldn't be included as a trigger warning without spoiling the whole book because I never would have read it (it's my ONE trigger that terrifies me). If you are in for something dark, this is a perfectly crafted story with so many twists and wonderful writing. I loved getting to know both MCs. Usually when a reporter is included in this type of story they are nosey, rude, and annoying and you want to throttle them for getting in the way. This reporter was actually more endearing and lively than the detective and I was was more invested in her story. This story explores the double standards and dangers of just being a woman, which is perfectly timely as this never seems to get better. It was tough and heartbreaking and dark, but also I love how the women support each other and how everything comes together.

Note: I listened to the audiobook and the dual narration was amazing!

Thanks to the publishers for a free copy of this book; my review and thoughts are my own.

I totally missed that this was a sequel/spin off but it also worked as a stand alone (although now I have to go read Local Gone Missing). Ive heard Fiona Barton’s name thrown around in mystery/thriller groups and decided to give this one a try and I’m so happy I did!! Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this opportunity to read this book and find a new author to add to my favorites.
I loved the short chapters, multiple POV’s and the of course the twists!

Thank you @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Sometimes I just really enjoy a good detective drama and this fit the bill! Book two in the Elise King series is a solid procedural. I love a multiple pov and this worked great for this one.
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I really liked The Child and The Suspect by this author. Last year's Local Gone Missing was just okay, and this book, a sequel to last year's was better, but not great. I followed along with the story and enjoyed it, but it won't be something that I'll rave about. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks #partner Berkley Pub for my #gifted copies!

Talking to Strangers is the second installment in the Elise King series, but can easily be enjoyed on its own.

Detective Elise King faces challenges in her investigation of the Karen Simmons’ Valentine’s Day murder, particularly from reporter Kiki Nunn, who is eager to pursue her own leads. As the townspeople question whether Karen’s online dating played a role in her death, Kiki sees this as an opportunity to revitalize her career, unafraid to confront both Elise and the murderer.

This gripping investigative thriller explores themes of trust, secrets, and the complexities of human relationships. Told from multiple POVs, Barton weaves a captivating tale of mystery and tension! With exceptional character development, brisk pacing, and an engaging plot, Talking to Strangers is a must-read thriller I can easily recommend!

Fans of Karin Slaughter will want to pick this up!

Note: TWs - rape, misogyny and violence against women.

This one started a little slow for me, but man did that extra time build a quite complex and interwoven story. I connected and sympathized with Elise in Local Gone Missing. She leads a little bit of a sad life, but is one tough cookie in her personal and professional lives.

I liked that this is told by three women when the theme is sexual predators. It makes a statement without being blatant. And don't be put off by that as it didn't really hit me until I finished, so there isn't any off putting preaching through the story.

I can't really say either of the other two main characters are likable. but I wanted to know how their stories intersected. A woman still overcome by grief from the death of her young son and a reporter investigating the death of a friend. Their experiences drive them to know more about these deaths and take them to dark places.

I'm not much for slow burns, but this mystery heats up part way through and the pace increased. I wasn't surprised by the ending as I started to suspect what had happened but I wasn't sure until the end and I must point out that it was the journey through the complicated story that really grabbed me.
There is something about the author's writing that really keeps me invested. I can't wait to read her next book.

Talking to Strangers is a wonderfully tragic mystery novel. The novel follows Detective Elise King and reporter Kiki Nunn as they investigate the murder of Karen Simmons, a middle-aged woman who was involved with dating apps.

The peek into the world of older women on dating apps and the creeps they have to deal with felt fresh and interesting — it’s not something I’ve seen covered in a mystery novel before. Each of the female characters was so well-developed that my heart broke for them.

Karen’s murder also echoes the murder of a young boy in the same forest, over a decade ago.  I loved the way Barton blended the current case and the cold case. She kept me guessing and intrigued throughout.

This one did start off slowly, but once I got to know the characters it completely hooked me.

Talking to Strangers is book #2 in the Elise King series, but I read it without having read Local Gone Missing, and it worked well as a standalone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for my review copy of this book.

Talking to Strangers follows the 17 day murder investigation from the outlook of various characters. The detective assigned to the case who is jut getting over treatment for cancer; Kiki, the reporter who recently interviewed the victim about online dating, and Alice who lost her son in the same location 15 years earlier.

The book brings up interesting points about blaming victims and online dating. The characters were engaging and the plot kept me guessing. While I did feel like I knew, or thought I knew, where part of the storyline was going, I will say I was totally unprepared for the ending.

While this book is the 2nd book in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance reading copy.

Detective Elise King is investigating the death of Karen Simmons, who was killed on Valentine’s Day. It looks like Karen’s death may be connected to her online dating activity. Elise is feeling the pressure to solve this case, but it’s a challenge since she is still recovering from her cancer treatments.

Erica “Kiki” Nunn is a reporter who longs for the day when she was a serious crime reporter and sees a way to get back onto the assignments she loves by looking into the local dating scene for middle-aged women. Each is committed to the investigation, but neither realizes how dangerous the investigation they’re working on really is.

Technically, this book is the second in the Elise King series, but it reads like a standalone. As both Kiki and Elise look into Karen’s death, there are some very scary and all too realistic moments that can be hard to read. The book is told from both Elise’s and Kiki’s point-of-view, and I think the pacing would have been better if the book had stuck with those two narrators. However, some of the chapters are narrated by Annie Curtis, a woman whose son was killed in the same location as Karen. Her chapters give insights into the current case, but for me, it slowed the building drama that Elise and Kiki were going through.

However, I still found the book to be a tense and suspenseful book. I was actually able to predict two out of the three major twists at the end, but I still liked the book. I assume there will be a third book because one thing unrelated to the case is left unanswered at the end of this one. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as others by Barton, but she is still an author I will follow because of her memorable characters and engaging writing style.

~ Christine

... the setup to a well written book with depth, and a nicely rendered plot. Add Talking to Strangers to your reading list and it will keep you busy.

3.5/5 stars, rounded up

Thank you Berkley Pub for the advanced reading copy!

First of all, I didn't realize that this was the second in the Elise King series. While this can absolutely be read as a standalone, I think it's helpful for me personally to be able to familiarize myself with the characters before diving in to book 2 -- I think that just gives me a better feeling of investment and connection to the story. That being said, this was still a riveting story. I sped through this one and couldn't wait to find out what happened. I do think it could have been a bit shorter and still gotten the point across effectively, but it was still an enjoyable read! I'm not sure how long this one will stick with me moving forward, but I enjoyed it while reading and that's what matters! I would definitely read more Elise King in the future.

SYNOPSIS -- Everyone in town knows that Karen Simmons was active on dating apps, so when she's murdered on Valentine's Day, that's the first place Detective Elise King looks. With journalist Kiki Nunn out for a juicy story, she and Elise must work against and alongside each other to find the killer first, without getting in each other's ways.

Talking to Strangers is an absorbing addition to Barton’s earlier books. Once again readers get to spend time with Elise King. She has been through a lot (no spoilers) but is back on the job. She and her partner are on the complex case of Karen Simmons. Was her murder related to her desire to find “the one?” Who murdered her? She had been so full of life and part of a group of singles. Does this connect to her murder?

Kiki (so named by an editor) is a reporter who is following the case. She has been preparing to write articles about on-line dating. Not the easiest way to meet someone as Kiki discovers when she is on a date after a swipe early in the book. She and Elise have a history.

Readers also meet Annie. How, if at all, is a tragedy in her past related to the current case? Readers will definitely want to know.

Readers of thrillers will, I think enjoy this book. I recommend it for the way the story comes to life and for the time I got to spend with the characters. I also liked that the chapters were from the points of view of several of these people. Many chapters are short so it is very easy to keep turning the pages. Remember to pay attention to characters who may not feel like the most significant ones.

Here is what Kirkus says: A compelling demonstration of the sad truth that there’s no neutral way to conduct a murder investigation. Everybody pays.

I say, Watch out!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.