A vibrant, single woman is murdered in Ebbing, England. Karen was an older woman woman, but popular on the dating scene and a very social. She’s found in the woods by a man and her wife. The police immediately suspect one of them and she’s been dating, however, many of them are under pseudonyms or claim they did not do it. Meanwhile, the main investigator on the case is recovering from breast cancer and also doing a bit of dating, met a nice local man. Reporter, Kiki is on the case and discovers many of the murders clues on her own.

My first Fiona Barton read. When I selected this book, I did not know it was part of a series, but it is OK. It did not matter. You can read this as a standalone. I thought that the book was well written and a relatively easy read. The story was interesting, albeit very predictable. I was wondering how she was going to tie everything together, but I pretty much figured out all the results of the subplots and plot ahead of time.

My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for a copy of this book

3.5 stars. This was a good murder mystery told from the point of view of three different women - Elise, the detective investigating the case, Kiki, a reporter and Annie, a woman whose young son was murdered in the same location years earlier. There were some predictable plot points but also a few surprises, especially the epilogue. I didn't realize this was the second in a series but I didn't feel like I was missing anything by not reading the first book. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Having thoroughly enjoyed her last book, “Local Gone Missing“, I was eager to catch up with D.I. Elise King once again. If anything, I enjoyed this one even more.

With themes of online dating, victim blaming, adultery, rape and crimes against women, the overall feel is sometimes bleak. Though, when you are reading a Fiona Barton book, the characters themselves keep you glued to the pages, no matter the subject, however dire. Skilfully drawn, with an astute knowledge of human nature, the author creates an empathy for her characters, even the criminals.

All of the women in this book seemed to be very lonely in one way or another. Kiki and Elise might be friends in another life, but for now Kiki is Elise’s nemesis, interfering in Elise’s criminal investigation.

The story is told via the viewpoints of D.I. Elise King, journalist Kiki Dunn, and grieving mother Annie Curtis. Steadily paced, and written with short chapters, it was easy to keep reading long after you meant to…

The setting of a small seaside town in Sussex brings home the fact that sexual predators can be anywhere, and that the modern problems of larger urban areas are widespread. The town is fearful.

I loved the character of D.I. Elise King and hope that perhaps she’ll return in many subsequent novels. Her next-door neighbour, Ronnie added some levity to the narrative, a busy-body whom you can’t help but like. In fact, all of the characters in this novel were relatable, normal people, with all the foibles that human-nature can sometimes dish out.

The author cleverly links all of the threads of the plot so as to form a cohesive thriller with substance and depth.

As with any good thriller, there was a plot twist which did manage to surprise me. The denouement was thoroughly satisfying, and, truth be told, it also managed to be poignant and chilling at the same time. An immersive crime thriller.

Highly recommended!

Thank you Berkley Books, #partner, for the advanced e-copy of Talking to Strangers in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of Fiona Barton since discovering her debut novel, The Widow, which was part of her Kate Waters series. I read that entire series and while I have been hoping to see more books in that series, I was just as excited to see that she has created another series featuring Detective Elise King.

I read Local Gone Missing when it came out a couple years ago and am thrilled to see that Detective Elise King is back. While these books can be read as stand-alones as they contain self-contained cases, it does help to read the books in order so you can get more of Elise’s backstory – she really is quite an interesting lead character and I’m so glad she’s back!

Once again, we have a slow-burning mystery with lots of moving parts. That seems to be the MO of this series and I totally here for it! This time around, though, there is a journalist with a keen interest in helping out – not only does she know the victim, but she’s looking for her next big story. And it turns out, a little boy was also killed in the same woods…could these deaths possibly be related?

Told from multiple POVs, this book takes quite a few interesting twists and turns. There were some parts I did end up guessing, but that in no way ended up detracting from my enjoyment and I was still surprised by some turn of events. I do hope there is another book in the works as we are left with a few threads that aren’t quite tied up!

Though this is the first book for me by this author, it is the second book in the Elise King series. I read it with no issues so it can certainly be a stand alone. Police procedural books can be hit or miss for me as they can be very technical and take me out of the story but this one did a good job of keeping the technicalities minimal so that I felt always engaged.
It’s a slow burn murder mystery that takes place in the seaside town of Ebbing. The story is told from the POV of the detective from which the series is named, Elise King, and the second is reporter Kiki who is trying to make a name for herself by getting the story of what happens when a local gets killed while out on Valentine’s Day’ and the third is grieving mother Annie. At first I wasn’t sure what Annie had to do with the story but it soon became apparent as the author seamlessly tied the storylines together with short, dramatic chapters. I will say that the epilogue came as no real surprise, but the in-depth look at online dating and the dark and seedy world behind it made me even more thankful that I don’t have to be a part of it.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review

I just read Talking To Strangers, the second book in the Elise King series. I love all of Fiona Barton’s books which are police procedurals with a female detective (or the equivalent in London). This newest installment centers around a woman found dead in the woods and a possible ring of men who rate and compare their female conquests online. I love a strong female protagonist and I love seeing how these kind of mysteries unfold. This one was told by 3 narrators - Elise, the detectives, Kiki, a journalist and Annie, the mom of a boy who was killed years prior. The stories of these women were intertwined and the way they unfolded to reveal who they were related was so well done. I loved that it kept me guessing.

A crime is being investigated from two different viewpoints: the police officer in charge of the case and an investigative reporter. Because the information overlaps between the two, it was sometimes confusing. The novel is very female-centric with all of the main characters being women and all of the bad guys being, well, guys. Unfortunately it was very easy early on to figure out who was responsible for the crimes so the tension and the fun of solving the mysteries went missing. Despite that, the characters were strong and should be able to carry this series forward.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC to read and review.

Fiona Barton always had the ability to bring thrills and suspense to stressful subjects. There is depth and darkness in the characters, it is truly a slow burn that lingers with the reader long after the story is done.

Talking to Strangers is an excellent second installment in what is quickly becoming a favourite series of mine. The ideal mix of police procedural, character drama and mystery that has you glued to the page to see what was going to come out the murder whodunnit at the middle of the plot.

I really enjoy Elise as the main character - her rebound from her fight with cancer and the very real challenges that come with that are relatable and make her so empathetic as a lead. The cases she is tackling are interesting without being over the top, and the window into her professional and personal lives are the perfect mix. I also love that these are cases that just force the characters to work the evidence, there are no easy solves in this world.

Throwing Kiki in as a secondary character to this series was also a fun mix up - you kind of love to be exasperated by her absolutely terrible decision making, but the level of drama she drums up because of it is second to none.

Overall this was great end of summer entertainment - easy to read, a winding plot of twists and an explosive ending. Chefs kiss.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy!

I was glad I went back to book one before starting this. I appreciated more time with Elise. This was much better than the first book, less characters making it so much easier to follow. I did miss Ronnie, Elise's neighbor. She was a great character in book 1 but not featured much here.

Overall this was a twisty tale, with plenty of surprises and unexpected twists. I will definitely read more by this author, as part of this series or separate.

A thoroughly satisfying read from Fiona Barton, Kept me turning the pages until the very end. The story, told from different viewpoints, is filled with intriguing characters and a storyline that is in tune with the times. I must admit, I didn’t figure out the ending . Read it, you won’t be disappointed.
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Favorite Quotes:

My news editor is twenty-four and skinny, and his crazy hair makes his head appear too big for his body. “He looks like a lollipop that’s been left in someone’s pocket,”

There’d been a sharp frost every morning for a week, and the pebbles on the beach had become lethal icy marbles underfoot. Elise had noticed that most of the Bluetits— the women she saw plunging in daily for a dawn swim— had put their swimsuits away for the moths to devour.

“You’re hardly an advert for domestic bliss!… The first time we met, you were devising ways to murder your husband.” “I’m still working on it. Anyway, I’m not talking about Ted— you need a real man.”

Noel Clayton’s face darkened to a shade an interior designer might call Imminent Coronary.

I look at her bitter, thin face lit up by hate. It never fails to astonish me how people can reshape realities to suit.


My Review:

This was a tensely wound and compelling tale told from multiple POVs, which I always enjoy. Fiona Barton is a master storyteller and I quickly fell into her characters’ itchy/scratchy vortex. The insightfully observant narratives, banter, amusing snark and verbal exchanges, and perceptive inner musings kept the little pea in my brain whirling like a tornado. I now must amass her entire body or work to enjoy more of the same.

This was a great fast-paced murder mystery. I had another great time with these characters - love the female leads, and love how they get others to talk to them.

4.5 stars rounded up.

When I first started Talking To Strangers I figured it would end up being good, but I had a bit of a hard time getting into it. However, once I was 50% in, that all changed. I was HOOKED. Seriously!

Once the characters were all introduced and developed, the plot got wild and did it ever. Kiki and Elise are thrown together because of the murder or Karen. Elise is investigating as a police officer and Kiki is as a reporter who had been writing about online dating. Kiki drums up leads and hands them off to Elise, until something big happens to Kiki. This ultimately brings their stories together in a more personal way. And, then they find the killer of an old murder, one that was thought to be solved.

Advance reader copy provided by Berkley and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

In the small town of Ebbing U.K. Karen Simmons, a forty something popular hairdresser goes missing. When her body is found in the woods, DI Elise King is on her first case since she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. The book follows a previous Fiona Barton mystery, Gone Missing, featuring King, but is a stand alone for readers not familiar with that character.

Simmons is an unmarried woman looking for a partner on singles APPS and has drawn together withothers in the town to form an unofficial singles group. There is lots of talk and gossip about the crime among neighbors as King investigates while struggling with her own demons. Enter reporter Kiki Nunn, inserting herself into the investigative process in an attempt to make a name for herself, and a decent living, in a field where opportunity is limited. She needs a lead desperately and is tenacious in her shadowing of DI King.

As the story unfolds there is no lack of suspicious characters. I found myself silently accusing one person only to suspect some else a few pages later. The suspense builds as the facts in the murder of a young boy 15 years prior, also in the woods, are revealed. The boy’s mother, Annie, has had a rough time moving forward after her son’s death. Barton does a sensitive and in depth job of describing how murder impacts and possibly destroys the victim’s family.

Told in thevoices of Elise, Kiki and Annie, all clearly drawn characters, this intriguing mystery/ police procedural, full of twists and turns, had me guessing up until the culprit is finally identified. Four dancing stars for a book that Barton fans and other mystery lovers will want to read. It became available on August 27,2024. Look for it now! My thanks to NetGalley and Berkely Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Fiona Barton, the second in the Detective Elise King series, and including me in the blog tour for this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Detective Elise King is in recovery from her cancer and still coping with that trauma, as well as with persistent brain fog. But Ronnie, her coworker, continues to have her back. They are now dealing with the murder of Karen Simmons on Valentine's Day. Karen was a big user of dating apps, and Elise is wondering if she was killed by someone she met online. Kiki, a single mother trying to survive as a journalist, wants to get the scoop on Karen's murder to help her career and is willing to venture into unsafe territory to investigate.

I loved the first book in this series, Local Gone Missing, and was so happy to reunite with Elise and Ronnie. This book delves into a lot of relevant and serious subjects, such as the dangers of online dating and social media, family trauma, and abuse. There are quite a few threads and characters here, but it was helpful to have the character names at the beginning of each chapter to keep everything straight in my mind. The story is told from the POVs of Elise, Kiki, and Annie, a woman whose son was murdered in the same woods that Karen was found. These storylines all intersect perfectly and I couldn't put this book down! Fingers crossed for another chapter in this great series.

I am not a huge fan of police procedurals, they have to be done very well for me to enjoy them. I also did not know that this was book 2 in a series. Surprinsingly with all of that I still found myself enjoying this book. I thought it was a good and solid read.

Karen Simmons vanished following a Valentine's Day meet-up that she found online. Her murder shocked her small town, where she owned a well-known hair salon. Local journalist Kiki Nunn dives into the topic in the hopes that it will be the breaking news she needs to boost her stagnant career. Meanwhile, Elise King, the case's detective, is irritated by Kiki's aggressive newsgathering tactics. Kiki then decides to conduct her research to uncover Karen's killer and jumps into the world of online dating, unaware of the danger that lurks ahead. Kiki is in over her head and has nowhere to turn because the police aren't exactly willing to help.
This is the sixth book I have read by this author, so I knew what to expect. Her books move very slowly and are very detailed. However, this one moved exceptionally slowly, and it was a challenge not to lose focus. If you enjoy police procedural books, then I highly recommend this author’s books. As I said before, it wasn't the right time to read this one.

I'm sorry I missed the first one in this series, but it was great as a stand alone. This twisted and disturbing thriller plays with the safety net we have built around us. With predators, online dating apps and shaming from locals this suspenseful mystery kept me on edge. The horrors and the dangers women face are brought to light. Three women on different courses of life converge in the end. I could not tell where this was going to meet I just knew their stories would have to connect.
Karen, a single woman makes her living as a hair dresser. She turns to online dating apps to spice up her life before settling down. On Valentine's Day she arrives home from her date, but later found murdered in the woods.
Dt Elise King is recovering from cancer and feels her brain is cloudy from chemo and worry. Her competition and antagonist wants to be the first to solve the crime is Kiki. She is a reporter and puts her life in danger while investigating the crime. If she can get this story, it will boost her career. As a single mom, she could use the praise.
Then there is Annie grieving for her son that died in the same woods 16 years ago. All of their stories are brittle and will connect in a vortex that will leave you tense. I enjoyed this one and hope I can read the first one in this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is an engaging mystery story, but if you're going to read it Do Not Read the Table of Contents The chapter headings give a MAJOR spoiler.

There are three main points of view that make up this tale: Elise, the police detective, Kiki, a reporter, and Annie, a mother whose young son was murdered many years before. They all come into contact with one another when a woman is found murdered in the same woods where Annie's son was found years before.

This is a slow burn story, and it is kind of predictable honestly. I saw the identity of the bad guy(s) from a mile away. I do continue to like Elise as a character and I will be interested to see how her character develops in the future.