Well, good news: DI Elise King is back! If you've read the author's previous work, "Local Gone Missing," you're already familiar with the character. However, like many readers, I slightly prefer the author's Kate Waters series, with "The Suspect" being my favorite novel of hers.

Now, let's focus on the multi-narrated "Talking to Strangers," which presents us with different voices alongside Elise King. She is dealing with her own issues while adamant to solve the murder of Karen Simmons. The other narrators include Kiki Nunn, an aspiring journalist who is focused on investigating Karen's murder. Kiki had interviewed Karen about her complex love life and interactions with various men who may have turned out to be creeps, stalkers, or even scammers. Could one of them be the reason for her demise?

The third narrator is Annie, whose son was also murdered and found in the same woods where Karen's body was discovered.

Besides the murder itself, what connection will tie these women together? Are they both in danger and could they be the target of the perpetrator?

The good aspects of this book include its pacing and short, intriguing chapters, even though the ending and the identity of the murderer become predictable in the middle of the story.

It's an easy read that allows you to get lost in the mystery, make quick guesses, and enjoy the full thrill. That's why, even though the predictable ending dampened my enthusiasm, I still rate it 4 stars for its fast pacing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a great book on a relevant subject. Very scary in the age of online dating this fast paced book will keep the reader guessing to the last page. Very good!

Super slow start with an uncomfortably predictable ending. Also some of the female relationships here just don't make sense.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This concerns the investigation into the death of a woman called Karen, both by Elise, the DI tasked with the case, and Kiki, a reporter who has a personal interest as she has met Karen and her group of singles looking to socialize. The short chapters switch mostly between the perspectives of Elise, Kiki and a woman called Annie whose son died in the same woods as Karen many years previously. At times I found it difficult to remember if it was Elise or Kiki narrating, since they both went round interviewing the same people and their voices were fairly similar.

The ending was as I anticipated, and is the kind of ending I very much dislike, but it flowed naturally from the plot. I really don't see why people want to become reporters, and I really really don't see why people are so ready to talk to reporters, but there you are.

More like 2.5 stars. I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The premise of this sounded interesting but unfortunately I couldn't get into it.

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton. Many different POVs which slowed the pace of the story. Interesting and relatable characters. Didn't expect the ending, well...until the ending. Not sure that Elise King is a good leader which her health issues, KiKi seemed more capable of investigating. Entertaining read.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

An entertaining mystery from Fiona Barton. Lots of characters with lots of motives. A back history that doesn’t become clear until the end. Characters that are approachable and realistic. While I was captured by it in some places it was predictable including in determining the killer.