A strangers game by Collen Coble. I’ve read her two other books by her (I first found this author at my local library) which made me want to pick this one up. The book mainly focuses on uncovering the mystery and the romance is, for the most part, a side part of this book. It was a quick enjoyable read for me. I honestly did not see it coming as far as who the one taunting her throughout this book was, like …at all. I thought it was kind of out of left field which for me was a little weird that it ended up being Noah. However the story as a whole was enjoyable with the MMC and his daughter relationship and how it related to Tori.

What I loved about this book: the suspense of the “stranger” visiting Tori, her uncovering her friends murder as well as her mothers towards the end. The fact that her and the MMC did not have a “huge” fight. It would’ve been nice to close up the story by having Hailey involved in their decision making to stay together. I felt it was very open ended in the way it was written and Hailey is too big of a character…and a girl.. to not be at the end.

What I didn’t enjoy: the fact that Noah wasn’t really mentioned much in the story. I think having him be the culprit was really out of left field it didn’t make much sense to me. He wasn’t talked about too much.

This was an interesting book with a lot of things going on. There were several twists and turns with some mind games thrown in. The MMC is religious and raising his child with that as a main focus. I enjoyed the interactions of the 3 main leads. The sea otters are cute and really inventive way to be used to help out the military.

This book has a good mix of Suspense/Mystery and the narrator of this audiobook version was great to listen to. It did not take me too long to really get pulled into the story. The plot will keep you guessing and as to what is really going on. This review is my personal opinions and I look forward to reading more titles by this author.

I had high hopes for A Stranger’s Game — the premise was promising, with a mysterious death, a private island, and a heroine digging for the truth. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t live up to the suspenseful setup.

The pacing dragged in places, with too much focus on inner monologue and not enough actual tension. The characters felt underdeveloped, and I struggled to connect with the protagonist, whose actions often seemed inconsistent or implausible. The romance subplot felt forced, distracting from the mystery rather than enhancing it.

One of the most frustrating parts? The story breezed right over actual manslaughter like it was a minor inconvenience — no emotional weight, no real consequences. And don’t even get me started on the ending — it came completely out of nowhere, like the author realized she was out of pages and just slammed the plot shut.

While there were a few good twists, most were predictable, and the payoff just didn’t feel worth it. I appreciate what the author was going for, but it missed the mark for me

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC to review.

This book was a romantic suspense story that fell a little bit flat to me. It’s not like it was bad per se but the characters were not very relatable, the suspense not very exciting and if it hadn’t been an audiobook I’d probably dnf it. Overall it’s an entertaining story if you like the genre. I would have liked it more if it was heavier on the mystery and less on the romance.

I gave this author a second chance and I just didn’t care for her writing. It was quite boring to be honest. And not that mysterious. Very glad it was short.

Another book by @colleencoble that was such a blast to read! I flew through A Stranger’s Game with my heart racing and my brain playing detective the entire time!

Colleen definitely knows exactly how to blend suspense with heartwarming moments, and I loved every minute of it! Torie’s quiet determination and Joe’s protective strength made them the perfect duo, and little Hailey totally stole my heart! Plus... hello? A trained sea lion named Simon? Adorable!

But what truly made this book stand out for me was how it stayed clean and faith filled without losing an ounce of tension! The Christian themes were beautifully woven in, with moments of hope, purpose, and healing shining through even the darkest parts of the mystery. It’s so refreshing to read a thriller where I can root for the characters and feel uplifted by the message. This is why Colleen Coble is always on my must read list!

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @thomasnelson Fiction

This Colleen Coble novel delivers a solid dose of romantic suspense. The mystery surrounding Lisbeth's death and the stranger's games Torie faces keep the pages turning. While the romance is a noticeable element, it doesn't overshadow the suspense. The Jekyll Island setting adds a nice atmospheric touch. Overall, a decent read for fans of the genre, though some plot points might feel a tad predictable.

This was a sweet and suspenseful read with a good mix of mystery, small-town drama, and a subtle faith-based message. Torie, a hotel heiress, returns to her hometown under the radar to find out what really happened to her friend—who was murdered while looking into the mysterious death of Torie’s mother years ago. Not knowing who she can trust, Torie goes undercover as a hotel employee and ends up teaming up with Joe, a local who helps her start piecing things together.

As they dig deeper, more secrets come to light—and more danger follows. There are a lot of twists and turns, and even a second mystery that adds another layer to the story. Through it all, there’s this underlying message that when you trust in God, things have a way of working out, even if the path is bumpy.

Torie and Joe form a strong bond along the way, but things get complicated when her true identity is revealed, creating some tension with the locals. Overall, it’s an engaging mix of suspense, heart, and faith—perfect if you like your mysteries with a little bit of hope and healing on the side.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for this free audiobook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh boy! This was a fun and suspenseful book! I loved all the twists and turns! I really had no idea of the outcome and I love that! I really enjoyed both of the lead characters! I was pulled into their relationship and rooted for it to the end! Enjoyable and the narrator was awesome! She did a great job getting the story told well!

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Colleen Coble's A Stranger's Game delivers a blend of romantic suspense set against the intriguing backdrop of Jekyll Island. The story follows Torie Bergstrom as she investigates her friend's suspicious death, leading her to uncover secrets tied to her own past.

Coble excels at creating a compelling atmosphere, and the Jekyll Island setting adds a unique and engaging element to the story. The characters, particularly Joe and his daughter, are well-developed and likeable, adding a strong emotional core to the narrative. The plot weaves together elements of mystery and suspense, keeping the reader engaged as Torie delves deeper into the investigation.

However, the book has some shortcomings. The pacing occasionally feels uneven, with some parts of the story moving slowly. While the romantic subplot is present, it sometimes overshadows the central mystery. Additionally, some plot points may strain credulity, requiring the reader to suspend disbelief.

Overall, A Stranger's Game is a decent read for fans of romantic suspense. Coble's strength lies in her ability to create engaging characters and atmospheric settings. While the plot has its flaws, the book provides an entertaining escape with a satisfying resolution.

Thank you to NetGalley, Colleen Coble, and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio for the audiobook copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This romantic suspense story had a good balance of suspense and romance. I liked the main character, Torie, and I was rooting for her to find out what really happened to her best friend Lisbeth. Supposedly she accidentally drowned, but Torie knows there's no way that's possible. Torie was a very original person who was true to herself and what she believed.

There was a lot going on in this story, but it all fit together nicely. Joe is interested in being more than friends with Torie, and he helps her find out what happened to Lisbeth. He has the cutest daughter who was the star of the show for me.

Liz Hill did a good job narrating and bringing this story to life.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

So this book was okay.
It gave me quick beach read vibes.
Our FMC's (Torie) best friend was killed. She goes back to find the killer. She meets Joe and his daughter Hailey. His daughter disappears. I am still a bit unclear regarding our FMC's feelings on the daughter's disappearance - some of the writing was contradictory. For example, "overly protective Father", "none of her business really", "had to make sure she was alright"... I am just unsure of her feelings. Regardless, feelings between our FMC and Joe develop.
The characters are well developed and were easy to connect with most of the time throughout the book.
The plot is packed with action. We get suspense and romantic suspense. Overnight stays. Some twists and turns. I will say I figured it out before the end, but it still wasn't predictable.
The plot is well structured for the majority of the book, and the pace was great for me. I like a quick read.
Again, I recommend a quick, suspense beach read!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!
Happy Reading!

This book has a more interesting face paced storyline and the narration was great. I liked the characters and the cover is also eye catching.

A great story that will keep you guessing til the end. Layers of mystery throughout, Coble keeps you on the edge of your seat and invested in this whodunnit with a sweet romance weaved in, as well. The narrator did a great job bringing the story to life and making the suspense keep you hooked.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC copy to review! This is my first by this author, and it was enjoyable overall. It took me awhile to get into, but it came together well at the end! It’s hard for me to categorize it as romance, suspense, mystery because all things were just kind of touched on. Mostly mystery maybe? It was a decent listen, good narrator and overall enjoyable!

A strangers game by Colleen Coble

4 stars

This book had me gripped from the beginning. I enjoy Colleen's storytelling, she woven such a great thriller, it had me at the edge of my seat.

This story follows Torie, an heiress to a hotel dynasty, who returns to Jekyll Island after the suspicious drowning of her best friend, Lisbeth. She goes undercover to find out the truth her friends' death.

Torie meets Joe and his daughter and forms a connection with them. Together, Torie and Joe begin to unravel the mystery behind Lisbeth’s death—and a larger, more dangerous plot. The danger around them escalates, affecting them and those close to them.

There is a sort of cat-and-mouse element to the story, with each clue drawing them deeper into danger. I do wish the ending had been a bit more intense in terms of the thriller aspect, but other than that, it was still a satisfying ending.
I also enjoyed the romance subplot. It was sweet and added emotional depth to the story without overshadowing the suspense.

Overall, I do recommend it. It was a great suspense romance read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for this copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This had the potential to be a great book, however some of the most far fetched plots spoilt the story line and almost made it unreadable. It feels like the author had lots of great ideas but didn’t quite know how to put them in so just dropped them in randomly and made no sense. Such a shame

A Stranger's Game is a standalone, romantic suspense story from Colleen Coble. In this story we meet heiress and hotel magnate's daughter, Torie Bergstrom. Torie had gotten her best friend a job at one of the family's hotels on Jekyll Island, where she ends up dead. The case is closed and deemed a drowning accident, but Torie knows that couldn't have happened. Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone anywhere near the water let alone for a swim. Torie feels responsible, so goes undercover at the hotel to see if she can find out what really happened. When pills are found in her room, suicide is suspected, but there is noone seems to think she was depressed or had any issues. While there she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter, Hailey, rescuing baby turtles. They become friends and he agrees to help her, but he is unsure if she is on the right track.

This story started very abruptly, so it took me some time to figure out what was going on, but once I did, I really enjoyed the book. There is a lot going on, with Torie's life being in danger, the more she snoops. When her identity is revealed, even more storylines are revealed. There seems to be some connection to her mother's suicide many years before. When another death occurs, the urgency picks up as well as the tension. I was pleased with how all the various plotlines come together in the end. I enjoyed the addition of Hailey, she was a real sweetheart. There was definitely chemistry between Torie and Joe, but the romance is light and does not overpower the mystery. This is a Christian Fiction story, so there is a faith basis to the story. It is a natural addition with Joe sharing scripture with Hailey and pointing out God's presence in the many things that happened in the story. I enjoyed all aspects of this story and recommend it to those who enjoy Christian Fiction. Liz Hill narrated this story and I was pleased with her voices and the expression she used in the story to add emotion and suspense. I recommend the audiobook or any format of this story if you don't enjoy audiobooks.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and the author Colleen Coble for this audio copy of A Strangers Game

I have to think on this book for a couple days before I left my review. I loved the concept of this book but I had to give it three stars. I just didn’t feel well connected with the characters to care what was happening I mean there is one character that something happens to them that made my heart race but other than that I didn’t feel connected. When we got to the end to find out who did it I didn’t even care to find out.
Also the narrator sounded to happy for this kind of book. I think her voice would have been better in a romance or a happier book
I did however enjoy the book and the story. We follow our main character Tori as she goes under cover in her fathers hotel to find her best friends murderer. Everyone believes it’s an accident but Tori she believes otherwise. She goes and investigates and uncovers some other things as well.