This was my first book by Ewan and I was pleasantly surprised. I was hooked from the first chapter. A suspenseful mystery with unexpected twists.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #StangersInTheCar

I was excited to be invited to read this book as it was on my TBR and it did not disappoint. Highly recommend this for a good quick read.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for providing the copy of Strangers In The Car by C.M. Ewan. The story was a good idea, but the execution was off somehow. The first few chapters were great and had a foreboding feeling. I wasn't a fan of the Paul and Samantha chapters. I had no idea what they were leading up to, and some of them were so short they felt disruptive. Maybe if there had been a couple of longer narratives that told more of a story, I would have been more interested. The action ratcheted up in the middle, but my interest was already waning because I wasn’t enjoying the writing style. If you love books with lots of unexpected reveals you will love this book! 3 stars

This book is a thrilling, wild ride (pun intended)! I read it in one seating and happily sacrificed some sleep. There are lots of twists and action sequences, and the book is incredibly tense in places. Like previous Ewans I’ve read, this was excellently plotted and paced. I only give 5 stars to books with good technique and characters who stay with me. But if I were only rating technical brilliance, I would give this 5 stars. 4/5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for lending me an ARC.

This was a quick, fast paced thriller. I found it very predictable but that could be just because I read quite a bit of thrillers.. however, I was content with how everything wrapped up. I can't really say much else or it will spoil it, but yeah, I'm happy with the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for a review!

This book was exactly what I was hoping for based on the description. When Abi and Ben pick up 2 stranded passengers on the road one night they had no idea where this would lead them. This the kind of story that grabs you and doesn't let you go until the end.
This was such a good read and I highly recommend it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

This was a fun and thrilling mystery. I enjoyed it for the most part. Great characters, riveting plot, unexpected twists. But the pacing was far too slow and it really stole from the tension and suspense.

~thank you to NetGalley & the publisher & the author for giving me a chance to read & review this book ~

I have so many opinions on this. It started out fantastic , the first few pages drew me in and I was so ready to love this. The main character, Abi, I did not like her one bit in the beginning. She was so annoying. Towards the end, I grew to like her better but eh.

Also, I felt like this just draaaaagged……. Like can we get to the point already? Don’t get me wrong, it was super suspenseful & I enjoyed the short chapters. And how every chapter ended on a cliffhanger that kept me wanting to read more. But it just got dragged out I think a little too long. There were so many details that just didn’t need to be in there, I don’t think.

I had no expectations going into this book and was so pleasantly surprised! Short chapters, slow burn, and a few good twists along the way. I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!

Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat for most but towards the end, things came together a bit too predictably.

Fast-paced and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

WOW! I finished this in under 24 hours. I screamed of joy when I was accepted to read an early copy just because of how good the book sounded by the synopsis, well it definitely lived up to my expectations. So good. Such a page turner

Love loved LOVED this book! It had me hooked from the very beginning and I could not put it down! Fantastic, layered characters and tons of twists and turns and tons of action! 5 stars!

Whew! What a ride this one was!

This is a seriously intense thriller. It's popcorn of the best kind.

Expect twists that will truly take you by surprise and some characters you really root for (and some you really, really don't).

As I was reading this, I thought that this would make a fun movie. I mean... a direct to streaming Netflix type movie, but fun as could be.

I really enjoyed this and would read the author again!

* ARC via publisher

Strangers in the Car delivers a solid psychological thriller with a gripping premise. While there were moments where the pacing felt a bit drawn out, the overall story kept me intrigued. The suspense builds steadily, and the character dynamics were compelling enough to keep me turning the pages. It may not be the fastest-paced thriller, but it’s a worthwhile read for fans of slow-burn tension and twisty narratives. I appreciated the chance to read this one early.

This book kept me in suspense during the entire read. Just when I thought I might have it figured out, there was another twist coming. I have a strict rule about not picking up/giving rides to strangers and this book just reinforces it. I liked that the author let us see the growth in Ben and Abi's relationship as well. Good read!

C. M. Ewan delivers another nail-biting, high-stakes thriller with Strangers in the Car, a story that grabs you from the first chapter and refuses to let go. What starts as an ordinary late-night drive quickly turns into a pulse-pounding nightmare when Abi and Ben make one split-second decision—one that leads them down a road of escalating fear and suspicion.

Ewan expertly captures the creeping sense of unease that comes from isolation, foggy backroads, and the terrifying unknown. Abi’s moral conflict—choosing between safety and compassion—sets the tone for a tense and emotionally charged journey. The introduction of the mysterious woman and baby only deepens the suspense, as nothing is quite as it seems.

The pacing is razor-sharp, with each chapter tightening the screws, forcing the reader to question who to trust and what’s really going on. Ewan’s knack for claustrophobic, real-time thrillers is on full display here. He skillfully plays with fear and vulnerability in a way that feels both grounded and terrifyingly plausible.

Strangers in the Car is more than just a thriller—it’s a story about instinct, trust, and the terrifying consequences of a single choice. With morally grey characters and constant tension, it delivers twists that feel both shocking and inevitable.

Perfect for fans of fast-paced, cinematic suspense, this is one ride where taking a wrong turn might just be fatal. A gripping and terrifying read that will have you questioning what you would do in the dead of night, on a deserted road, with strangers in the car.

Abi and Ben are driving home down foggy country roads, arguing about having had to cut short their weekend away when they take a wrong turn. Abi is behind the wheel, but her eyes leave the road for a moment as she says something to Ben just as he gasps. A man is in the road, waving a torch. Abi swerves to avoid him. Ben tells her they should stop and go back, but Abi refuses. It’s dark, the roads are isolated and they don’t know this stranger. But, as Abi continues on, they see a broken-down car. Every instinct is still telling Abi to drive by, but then she notices the woman holding a car seat with a baby in it. Abi can't bring herself to leave a mother and baby stranded in the middle of the night. But offering them a ride might take them down a dangerous road, a road from which they may never return! Wow now I really think twice about picking up strangers! lol great read! What a Chilling wild ride! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This book was intense! I felt anxious the entire time reading it! Strangers in the car is in the mysterious and thriller genre. Sometimes we are driving in the car and we just want to help strangers, which makes this story seem very realistic. This is however a fictional story that kept me on edge! It kept me up at night reading it! This book came with suspense, completely unpredictable plot twists and gave me chills!

This story centers around a couple, whose names are Ben and Abi. They are driving and end up taking a wrong turn down an eerie and creepy road, where they see a guy. They ignore him and keep on driving. As these two keep driving, they notice a car is broken down and it belongs to a Mother and a baby. What’s the best thing these two good people do? Offer the Mom and her baby help… Of course. This is where things start to get really creepy and disturbing! As this story unravels, you will feel like you’re in a claustrophobic car with them, just wanting to escape! Be sure to read the content warnings! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great mystery thriller read! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, author C.M. Ewan and Grand Central Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

"Stranger in the Car" is a fast-paced, edgy suspense novel. I enjoyed the way the narrative flipped between dual timelines, how the author kept me guessing but unable to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and how the suspense kept me on my toes. It's a great popcorn or fast-read thriller, perfect for a late night or flight. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

#StrangersInTheDark