20190216_165114.jpgToday I have a review of The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths, publishing on March 5, 2019 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

My Thoughts:

My friends in the UK love this author, and it’s about time I try an Elly Griffiths’ book! And it’s a win! 

The Stranger Diaries is a gothic mystery of sorts centered on Clare Cassidy. She’s a high school English teacher whose area of expertise is a particular Gothic author. 

One day, one of her closest friends is murdered, and right beside her body? A copy of the Gothic writer’s most famous story. 

On top of that, the police insist that author connection means Clare must know the killer. 

Clare has kept diaries for years, and she begins to write about the case; however, she notices something suspicious. In an old diary, someone has written, “Hallo, Clare. You don’t know me,” and she begins to wonder if that famous story has now come to life as her own. 

The Stranger Diaries definitely has the gothic vibe to it. While it’s a contemporary thriller, it felt timeless or even old. The setting was super creepy and atmospheric. The tone is definitely haunting. The Stranger Diaries has the feeling of a classic old-fashioned whodunit, and I absolutely loved every bit! 

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own. 

Synopsis:

From the author of the beloved Ruth Galloway series, a modern gothic mystery for fans of Magpie Murders and The Lake House.

 

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it every year. But when one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friends is found dead, with a line from R. M. Holland’s most famous story, “The Stranger,” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with the storylines of her favourite literature.
To make matters worse, the police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her closest confidant, her diary, the only outlet she has for her darkest suspicions and fears about the case. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that isn’t hers, left on the page of an old diary: “Hallo, Clare. You don’t know me.”
Clare becomes more certain than ever: “The Stranger” has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?

Have you read The Stranger Diaries, or is it on your TBR? Do you have a favorite book by Elly Griffiths? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR