Camille thought she had control of everything in her life especially after her mother-in-law brought her secrets in the open and almost ruined their family. Now they've settled in Phoenix, Will has a new job, the kids are adapting well to the new school and she finds she has too much time on her hands. She's approached by two neighbors, Mara a beautiful and problematic blond who enjoys flirting with everyone and Sozi who is a strange lone woman who likes too much to gossip. Sozi starts to hint that Mara and Will are much closer than they should be and then Camille finds out that Will is in touch with his mother which he had promised and taken legal action against. She feels betrayed, she keeps on receiving letters from her awful and controlling mother but will she make contact with her again? Will she agree to lose control of her life and her kids? The story grabbed my attention and although I kept guessing who were the bad guys I could not have guessed the end. I'm looking forward to reading what will happen next.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a gifted copy of this novel.

I picked this book up after both absolutely loving the first book in this series, and being a fan of this author’s work. I enjoyed seeing the next installment of the FMC’s life, given what readers learned about her throughout the course of the first novel. This book had everything I have come to love about this author’s work; short chapters, fast pacing, and twists that you will never see coming. Although not as action-packed as the first novel, this one still had its fair share of twists and turns for readers. Personally, the neighborhood setting wasn’t my favorite which created some scenes that I didn’t think were as eventful, but I can understand the choice after the culmination of the first novel. If you’ve read the first novel and want to see what’s next in store for the FMC I would recommend giving this one a read. As a side note, I would not recommend reading this one as a standalone, as readers would miss large plot and character development points that occurred in the first novel that are referenced in the second.

This was such a fast, bingeable domestic thriller that shows just how far neighbors will go to protect their secrets. 👀

The Circle of Strangers follows Camille and Will as they relocate to what’s supposed to be a quiet, peaceful community. But let me tell you—these neighbors are anything but ordinary. Secrets, betrayals, and lies fuel the drama, leading to wild friendships, messy entanglements, and family dynamics that had me flipping pages needing to know who was hiding what.

The pacing was quick, the drama was high, and the cast of kooky neighbors and swirling rumors kept me hooked until the very end. I was dying for the truths to unfold.

Although this is technically part of a series, I didn’t read the previous books—and this story still worked perfectly as a standalone. That said, I definitely want to go back and read book 2 now to catch up on all the layers.

✨ Big thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC!

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
This book picks up almost right where Imaginary Strangers left off. We begin with Camille and her family making a clean start in a new state and in a secured housing development that should keep out any strangers who may decide to come by. As Camille meets her new neighbors, things about them just don't add up and she starts feeling like someone is playing games with her again. As she starts looking in to her new friends and neighbors backgrounds she wonders why her husband Will seems to be getting friendly with the same people she's questioning in her mind. As this book moves on things start to pick up, but the beginning I found a little slow while the neighbors are getting introduced. This book definitely ends on a note that makes you think there will be another book. I'm waiting for Camille to really show us what she's made of and I think it's coming in the next book as she feels she'll need to protect and take care of her children.

Circle of Strangers
What really goes on behind the closed doors of this cul-de-sac? Camille is about to find out the lengths her neighbors will go to protect their secrets in this gated community. And it is terrifying!
A heart-racing psychological suspense! 4 stars

Circle of Strangers by Minka Kent was a gripping psychological thriller that had me turning the pages as fast as possible.
CoS is book two in the Dangerous Strangers Thrillers Series. And it is a good one.
I love how Minka is so good at thorough and intricate character development.
The twists at the end were shocking, taking me completely by surprise.
This is an absolute binge read and puts you through the paces throughout the chapters.

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Circle of Strangers was such an engaging read! The premise pulled me in right away, and I loved how the story explored the connections between people who start out as complete strangers. The writing kept me turning the pages, and there were some twists I didn’t see coming. A couple of parts moved a bit slower than I expected, which is why I didn’t give it a full five stars, but overall it was a really enjoyable and thought-provoking book.

Circle of Strangers by Minka Kent is the second book in the Dangerous Strangers series and it definitely kept pace with the first book. I would recommend reading the first book first but this book does references things from the first book which brings the reader up to speed on what happened.
Camille and Will have now moved from San Diego to Arizona in hopes of a new start but things immediately turn dark. Camille has to deal with nosy neighbors, neigbors who flirt with her husband and now Will is starting to act differently. She starts suspecting that he is being unfaithful and the entire book takes the reader on a thrilling ride until the truth is uncovered.
This was a very fast paced thriller which i devoured! I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great psychological thriller!
Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer. All opinions are my own.

I have read and loved all of Minka's books, and they just keep getting better. She knows how to write a great thriller.
I was so excited to be approved for this book on Netgalley. It's the sequel to Imaginary Strangers which was phenomenal.

It picks right up where book 1 leaves off, but unfortunately it doesn't have the same feel to it. It's missing that psychological thrill, the suspense. Instead, it seemed more like a domestic drama.

On it's own it is still a good story, I was just missing that psychological touch from book 1

I still love Minka and will continue buying her books always .

Thank to Thomas &Mercer and Netgalley for the arc.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the second book in the Dangerous Strangers Thrillers Series by Minka Kent, with the audiobook narrated by Renata Friedman and Chris Ciulla. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Camille and Will Prescott have relocated from San Diego to Phoenix for a fresh start in a quiet gated community. Her new neighbors seem nice, but things begin to get quite weird. And while she's intrigued about her neighbors' lives, she realizes her own relationship is in trouble. Then there's the fact that there is a dead body in her garage.

How fun it was to get back in Camille's world again, after the first book in this series, Imaginary Strangers. I would definitely recommend reading that one first - it's a quick read, but so good and it will introduce you to all the characters and their stories. And there are lots of stories! I liked the added tension of neighborhood drama into this book and by the end of it, I was holding my breath! It ended with another cliffhanger, so hopefully we won't have to wait too long to find out what happens! I alternated reading and listening to the audiobook and both are recommended!

Circle of Strangers was a fantastic follow up to Imaginary Strangers! Fast paced and an easy read that I just couldn’t put down. Such a great twist in this thriller of a story. I absolutely love Minka Kent! This book was beyond great!

This book did not disappoint! Talk abut a rollercoaster full of twists and turns. The pace was excellent and the characters are something else. Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Desperate Housewives vibe was strong with this book. The vicious frenemy triangle of Camille, Mara, and Sozi makes for some entertaining reading. Pepper in some whispers of infidelity and some psychopath mother-in-laws and you’ve got a crazy mess you can’t look away from. Unfortunately, it felt like the author tried to include so much chaos, none of it ended up having much impact, especially, when there is no real ending. I know this is part of a series, put she did not make me want more. On the contrary, I, would have been happy for this to be wrapped up and tied with a bow: she would have earned that extra star. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. Fun ride, but not a great book.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Circle of Strangers By Minka Kent
Publication Date: August 19, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer | Amazon Publishing

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

After LOVING Imaginary Strangers (Book One in Kent's Dangerous Strangers series), I was SO excited for Book Two, Circle of Strangers, and to see where Camille's wild life went next!

This book picks up where the first one left off. With short chapters, it's a fast-paced and quick read at only 236 pages. It seemed to lean a little more in a domestic thriller direction, rather than in a psychological thriller direction.

Camille, my favorite unhinged sociopath, is back! Initially, this book seemed to just be a continuation of the same storyline as book one. Camille and her family are settling into their new home in Arizona, leaving all the drama of San Diego behind. However, their new neighbors in this gated subdivision all seem to be hiding something and can't be trusted. And Camille's perfect husband is acting differently, so much so that Camille suspects he may be having an affair. As you can imagine, this does NOT bode well for Camille and her sociopathy.

I absolutely loved Camille's character in the first book of this series, and it took a while for me to feel that same feisty spirit from her in this sequel. To me, Camille came across more as a bored and paranoid housewife than as the unhinged sociopath she was in book one. Though this book had mysteries and secrets and ultimately picked up its pace as the story went on, Camille wasn't as fiery in these pages as she was before.

Ultimately, the last half of the book became wild, twisty, and completely unexpected. I saw glimpses of the sociopathic Camille I loved in book one and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. And no spoilers here -- but something tells me we may not be done with these characters just yet!! Woohoo!

If you're a fan of wildly unhinged female main characters and twisty series, you're going to love this Dangerous Strangers series from Minka Kent. And lucky for you, you can binge both books back-to-back because Circle of Strangers is out TODAY!

#CircleOfStrangers #MinkaKent #ThomasAndMercer #amazonpublishing #thrillerreads #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #domesticthriller #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

'these are somehow the first words I've spoken in the last two hours, since I discovered the body in my garage'.

This book had the perfect amount of twists and turns,
And the ending was definitely not expected at all,

I struggled at times as the chapters felt long but overall this book was enjoyable.

I didn't realize this was a sequel, but not having read the first book didn't make it difficult to understand. I plan to check out the first book later, especially since it seems there's more to the characters that wasn't fully explored in this installment.

Camille and Will Prescott move from San Diego to a quiet gated community in Phoenix for a fresh start after Camille's traumatic marriage. In their new neighborhood, Camille encounters Sozi, an overly friendly neighbor who meddles in her life, and an unstable couple, Mara and Oscar, surrounded by troubling rumors. As Camille becomes increasingly obsessed with her neighbors' issues, she begins to notice her own problems. When a figure from her past reemerges, it adds to her stress. Then, Camille discovers a dead body in her garage, uncovering dark secrets lurking behind the community's facade.

Camille, the main character, is quite likable, despite being a diagnosed psychopath who somehow juggles her daily responsibilities, including her kids and husband. However, everything takes a turn when dark secrets begin to emerge, forcing Camille to rely solely on herself and her children for protection. The narrative often reveals that things aren’t what they seem, so it pays to stay attentive. Even if you find yourself getting frustrated at times, rest assured that everything eventually falls into place. A few characters may not be particularly likable, but that’s intentionally crafted to keep you in the dark about the unfolding story. I found this twist clever and truly enjoyed the read!

If you’re familiar with this author, you'll likely appreciate this book, so don’t hesitate – grab your copy of the sequel now! The neighborhood is vividly depicted, allowing you to imagine the intrigues and dynamics at play within its circle. However, you'll have to read it to uncover all that lies beneath the surface.

This is an ideal read for anyone who enjoyed the first book, as well as for those who appreciate short chapters, unpredictable endings, and a variety of characters who aren’t always endearing. Ultimately, who you end up liking is something you'll have to figure out for yourself. Let me know what you think!

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Camille and her family have relocated to a gated community in Phoenix. The neighbors are full of drama and now Camille starts seeing cracks in her own marriage.

I loved Imaginary Strangers so was excited for this follow-up. While a decent story on its own, it wasn’t as suspenseful or page turning as the first book. It was a lot of suburban domestic drama that just wasn’t as interesting as Camille’s childhood and drama with her mother. I was glad to be back with Camille though and will always root for her.

“Everything is a game, psychological and deeper than the deepest parts of the ocean.”

Circle of Strangers comes out 8/19.

This is another brilliant psychological thriller by Minka Kent. I thought the first book Imaginary Strangers was twisted and mind-bendingly brilliant, but this book is even more twisted. Oh my gosh! I didn't see that coming! Will being a calculated psychopath. He manipulates all the women in his path. He really is so cocky thinking he can use Camille's weakness against her and manipulate her. Like Camille says, she learned from the best enduring years of mind games and abuse from Lucinda. I really hope the author continues with the story and makes it a trilogy. I have to know what happens to Camille, Lucinda, Will and poor Sozi. Thank you so much Minka and NetGalley for ARC.

Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)
“Circle of Strangers” by Minka Kent
Dangerous Strangers Thrillers #2
Narrated by Renata Friedman; Chris Ciulla
PUB DATE: August 19, 2025 on Kindle Unlimited!

“Circle of Strangers” is suburban sunshine with a sinister twist! As the second book in a series, I highly recommend reading “Imaginary Strangers” first!

Moving to a gated Phoenix community was supposed to mean margaritas by the pool, not murder investigations for Camille. Instead, she’s smack in the middle of a suburban reality show featuring nosy neighbors and a couple down the street waving more red flags than a clearance sale. Oh, and let’s not forget the dead body in her garage. (Yikes.) This setting is a goldmine for secrets, gossip, and psychological tension!

Camille grabs your attention right away. She’s flawed, nosy, and fascinating, and somehow you end up rooting for her even though she’s a bit of a sociopath. Her story is full of past trauma, a troubled marriage, and a growing obsession with her neighbors’ drama. The more she investigates, the more intense things get as she tries to figure out who’s dangerous, who’s lying, and who might be both. It’s seriously nerve-wracking!

The chapters are bite-sized and totally binge-worthy. I kept telling myself “just one more” until it was suddenly 2 a.m., and I was totally wowed by the conclusion. Kent’s knack for crafting flawed compelling characters and gasp-worthy twists is perfection. My only gripe? That cliffhanger! Now I’m left pacing like a caffeine-deprived coffee lover. When’s the next book coming out???

The narrators are new to me, but they nailed it, bringing the characters to life with flair.
Read this if you:
- Love perfect neighborhoods with messy secrets.
- Enjoy narrators who make and own their questionable choices.
- Can’t resist a twisty thriller that’s hard to put down.
- Thrive on binge-worthy series with gasp-inducing endings.

Big thanks to Brilliance Publishing/Thomas & Mercer for the #giftedARCs provided via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Run to get your copy of Circle of Strangers. It was extraordinary, and the twist was top tier. I can't stop thinking about the twist and the end!!!

Camille just found a body in her garage, and she needs to figure out what to do with it.

Camille and Will are the perfect couple. They have moved to a new area and the neighbors seem normal and nice. But based on Camille's past, she knows not to trust anyone, ever! Sozi Hahn is proving to be a solid girls girl and is keeping an eye out for Camille because their sexy neighbor Mara seems to have a crush on Will.

Camille is a smart, tactful character. She has been through a lot with her mother and her mother in law. She is constantly on the lookout and knows that anyone can become her enemy in an instant. While the story builds up and we find out who her real enemy actually is, she keeps her cool, maintains her composure, and will do everything to save her children. Don't walk. Run to get your copy!

Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas & and Mercer, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.