This is a romantic suspense novel that does a great job blending romance, mystery, and Christian fiction. The story offers a narrative of good, clean romance interlaced with a suspense laden plot.

Though layers of secrets are revealed late in the book, there are some red herrings. However, ultimately, if you are looking for a mix of mystery, clean romance, and danger—this twisty tale is a great book for you!

A Stranger’s Game is a great fast paced romantic suspense novel! Torie has just lost her best friend under suspicious circumstances. Returning to her hometown to find answers, she hides her true identity so no one will recognize her. There she meets Joe and his cute daughter. Together they work through solving many mysteries happening on the island. This novel was action packed! I would recommend it to anyone who loves a great mystery or two with lots of dangerous situations for the characters to fight through. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.

This is heartwarming and sweet with a wonderful narrator. I liked the suspense mixed in with the wholesome stuff.
Thank you for letting me listen to this!

Colleen Coble's A Stranger's Game (audiobook) delivers a compelling standalone romantic suspense novel, drawing listeners into a high-stakes investigation on the beautiful, yet perilous, Jekyll Island. Torie Bergstrom, a wealthy hotel heiress, hasn't set foot in Georgia since she was ten, but happily secured a job for her best friend, Lisbeth, at one of her family's properties on the island. Her world is shattered, however, when she learns Lisbeth has drowned. Torie is convinced it's no accident: Lisbeth harbored a deep fear of water and would never have willingly gone swimming.

Determined to uncover the truth, Torie travels to the hotel under an alias. There, she encounters Joe Abbott and his daughter, engaged in the heartwarming act of rescuing baby sea turtles. Torie hopes they are as trustworthy as they appear, a hope that becomes crucial when someone begins to play sinister mind games, proving they know her real identity. She couldn't be more grateful for Joe's unexpected alliance.

As Torie and Joe delve deeper, the truth becomes increasingly elusive, shrouded in deception. But one terrifying fact becomes clear: someone on Jekyll Island is willing to risk anything—even another murder—to keep their secrets buried. Coble weaves a masterful tale of suspense, intrigue, and blossoming trust against a backdrop of danger, making A Stranger's Game a gripping listen from start to finish.

Colleen Coble delivers another gripping blend of romance and suspense in A Stranger’s Game. From the opening pages, the story hooks you with a compelling mystery and well-developed characters.

The romance builds gradually and naturally, offering just enough emotional depth without overshadowing the suspense. Coble does a great job weaving faith and inner strength into her protagonists, which adds a layer of authenticity and heart.

However, while the story kept me engaged throughout, I felt the ending was a bit rushed. Key revelations came quickly, and I would’ve liked a bit more time to let the resolution breathe—especially after such a strong buildup. It didn’t ruin the story, but it left me wishing for a more drawn-out conclusion to fully satisfy the emotional and narrative payoff.

Overall, it is an enjoyable and engaging read that fans of romantic suspense will appreciate. Just be prepared for an ending that comes on a little faster than expected.

#ColleenCoble #NetGalley

Readers have the inside information that Tori, a wealthy hotel heiress has gone undercover to work in her family’s exclusive hotel to investigate her friend Lizbeth’s death. She feels folks will be more open to her if they don’t know she’s part of the wealthy Bergstrom heirs.
You see, Tori is certain Lizbeth did not drown because she was terrified of being any where near water. This mystery set on beautiful and atmotspheric Jekyll Island, finds a vulnerable Tori who may have bit off more than she anticipated when someone, possibly the killer, begins to play mind games with her.
At the hotel working under an alias and desperate to find answers, she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter who are on the beach in a baby sea turtle rescue. As the story escalates, only the killer seems to know Tori’s real identity. Going beyond her comfort zone she decides to trust Joe, because she is grateful to have an ally.
But the more Torie and Joe dig, the further away from the truth they seem to be. The one thing that is absolutely clear is that someone will risk anything, even another murder, to stop the truth from being revealed.

A Stranger's Game kept me guessing until the very end with its complex plot, twists and threats from the past as well as the present. A touch of romance added to the intrigue and fun of this story. I enjoyed glimpses into sea life around Jekyll Island. The chemistry between Torie and Joe Abbott is a love story beautifully written.
I highly recommend this fast-paced thriller with a strong heroine and plenty of unexpected twists,

I read this in the audio version and was amazed at how the narrator managed to keep the many voices separate throughout the book. The gruff and angry aunt Genevieve was well portrayed as was Joe’s daughter Hailey in a joyful child’s voice.

A Strangers Game by Colleen Coble

A BIG thank you to #NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the opportunity to read this audiobook in their exchange for my honest review.

About the book: Main character Torie Bergstrom hasn’t been back to Georgie in about 10 years, but she is happy to take a job for her friend Lisbeth on her family property of Jekyll Island.
Unfortunately Torie learns that Lisbeth had drowned in a tragic accident, but she doesn’t believe it was an accident. She knows their more to this tragic accident because Lisbeth was terrified of the water and would have never gone near it.
Torie goes to the hotel under and alias, in hopes of finding answers. There she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter, and hopes they are trustworthy. When someone starts playing mind games with her, and letting her know they know her true identity, Torie is glad to have an ally in Joe.
Together Torie and Joe begin to dig more and more into the death of Lisbeth. As they try to solve the mystery of Lisbeth’s death they become closer and closer, but one thing is clear someone will stop and nothing to keep the secrets of Lisbeth’s death buried deep.

What I thought: This book started off slow for me and was pretty hard to really get into. It did pick up about half way through and had a good finish. All in all this book was ok for me, pretty average. I would rate this book 3 stars.

Narrator Liz Hill did a good job bringing this book to life.

Dive into a gripping world where suspense and unwavering faith collide, creating a tapestry of intricate mysteries and profound emotional resonance. This book is meticulously crafted for readers who crave narratives that move at a relentless pace, keeping them on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. Prepare to forge connections with a diverse cast of characters as unlikely alliances are formed in the face of daunting challenges. The seamless integration of faith-based themes adds layers of depth and meaning to the unfolding events, offering a powerful and thought-provoking reading experience.

Colleen Coble delivers another engaging thriller in "A Stranger’s Game". Set against the windswept shores of Jekyll Island, this story blends family secrets, danger, and romance into a fast-paced, emotionally driven mystery.

When corporate heiress Torie Bergstrom arrives on the island to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s suspicious death, she finds herself entangled in far more than she expected. The setting is richly described, and Coble does a great job weaving suspense with human emotion. Torie is a strong and relatable protagonist, and her interactions with security expert Joe Abbott add depth and just the right touch of romantic tension.

While some plot twists were predictable, and a few character motivations could have been more fully developed, the overall pacing and intrigue kept me turning the pages. Coble’s signature style—clean suspense with heart—shines through.

Perfect for fans of romantic suspense who enjoy strong heroines and coastal mysteries.

If you're into romantic suspense with a dash of mystery, A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble is a solid pick. The story follows Torie Bergstrom, a hotel heiress who returns to Jekyll Island after her best friend, Lisbeth, drowns under suspicious circumstances. Knowing Lisbeth was terrified of water, Torie suspects foul play and goes undercover to uncover the truth.

The book offers a gripping narrative with plenty of twists and turns. Torie's determination to find answers keeps the pace moving, and the setting on Jekyll Island adds a nice atmospheric touch. The romance element with Joe Abbott, a local man with his own troubled past, adds depth to the story without overshadowing the mystery.

While the plot is engaging, some readers might find certain elements a bit predictable. However, if you're a fan of clean romantic suspense with a touch of intrigue, this book delivers.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Collen Coble does it again. I just finished listening to A Stranger's Game and loved it!! It was a five star listen. It's available now.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Story Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
Genre: Mystery | Fiction | Romance | Suspense
Author: Collen Coble
Publication date: January 4, 2022
Audiobook Narrator: Liz Hill
Audiobook Length: 7 hours 14 minutes
Narration: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧 5/5

One Liner: Riveting | Thrilling | Exciting | Page Turner
Story Review / Summary: I was enthralled but the story, couldn’t put it down! I loved the twists. The narrator took the entire story to another level! I could this being a movie!

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Thank you to #NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio | Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #AStrangersGame by #CollenCoble
All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This review is being shared on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon (pending review)

This book was full of twists, turns, new beginnings, and romance. Colleen Coble has become an author who never disappoints with her consistency of combining the thriller/mystery genre with an intriguing romantic subplot. I also love that each of her books shows the undercurrent of faith (or lack thereof) that guides the main characters' decision-making process.

I listened to this as an audiobook provided by the publisher via NetGalley. While the narration was overall fairly well done, it was very hard to tell who's POV you were reading. This could easily be fixed by saying the characters name at the start of each POV switch. To really elevate the book, two narrators (one male, one female) could have taken this book to the next level and help the listener feel more submerged in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Tori Bergstrom goes undercover to Jekyll Island to find out what really happened to her best friend who mysteriously disappeared.

Wow! Colleen Coble's writing grabs you from page one and doesn't let go!

There are no swears or alcohol and level 1 non-descriptive kisses only.

This was a very fast-paced read, which made it feel a bit rushed and incomplete. It didn’t read like a true standalone and left me wanting more background and depth to fully connect with the story. Unfortunately, this has been my least favorite of Cobble’s work so far. I also didn’t enjoy the narrator, which definitely impacted my experience. I think I might have liked it better as a physical read, without the voice performance influencing the tone.

Listened on audio.
I liked the overall premise of the book and I enjoyed the depth of the main characters. But, the writing felt a bit wooden. Not sure if I would've enjoyed it more if I read the book instead of audio. The narrator struggled to capture the emotion of the characters. I did feel like the story was a little under-developed, I struggled with the reasoning of ending, as I felt that storyline was left unexplored during the main body of the book.

A cozy mystery, with some romance thrown in along the way. A Stranger's Game kept me on my toes and I interested until the very end.

I listened to this novel as an audiobook. I found the beginning to be slow and then move to a very fast pace in the second half. Some of the events that took place seemed to be too much, however, the overall suspense was good and kept me guessing right until the end. It was an easy, enjoyable listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Colleen Coble for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a super fast paced book but a little too predictable both on the romance and mystery aspect. However, the narration was done well and notebook went quickly.

#AStrangersGame #NetGalley

3.3/5 ⭐️Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ALC copy of ‘A Stranger's Game’ by Colleen Coble. While marketed as a mystery & thriller, this book definitely leaned more toward the cozy mystery genre. The plot was enjoyable, albeit somewhat predictable, blending elements of suspense with a lot of romance and a neatly tied-up conclusion. I found myself wishing for a bit more intensity and edge, but as a cozy mystery, it was a solid and pleasant read.

so suspenseful and hard to put down!!!! highly recommend!!! cannot wait to read more from this author