The Stranger Diaries is a tour de force--thriller, suspense, mystery, and deliciously gothic! Not a single dull second in the book. It has kept me guessing from the first, and now that I have just 50 pages to go, I am still at my wit's end, nail-biting all the way, trying to figure out the puzzle. This was the London Times Crime Book of the Year for 2018, and was published in the U.S. in March 2019. It earned a starred review from Booklist and Library Journal. Is it my best book of the year so far? Well, it's hands-down the best thriller, definitely the best mystery. Griffiths has hit one out of the park, in my opinion. Deep, deep characters, prejudiced cops, intense. Griffiths has superseded all the genres with this book.
The book sounds great. I I think that well crafted characters tend to make a book like this very strong. Have fun with ths last fifty pages.
ReplyDeleteWell, Brian, I really am a "sucker" for any thriller that smacks just a bit gothic. But this one truly is a great mystery/crime novel.
DeleteBecause I've been immersed the last few days in Part Two of The Radetsky March, I haven't been able to read the last 50 pages. How long can I postpone gratification??
I'm a massive fan of the Ruth Galloway series, Judith. They're so good. Ruth is so normal, but smart and interesting. And I love archaelogical aspect of the mysteries. I highly recommend them.
ReplyDeleteCath,
DeleteI'm so happy that you are a fan of the series. That means I'll be looking up the first one asap. And onward. I simply love archaeology in all its aspects on all continents, so this is so good to know. Thank you!
I've been wondering about this one. I'm so happy you seemed to enjoy it so much.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane,
DeleteI do think it's worth the time. Extremely well done, and keeps you on pins and needles every minute.
I'm not familiar with this book or the author, but it sure sounds tempting!!
ReplyDeleteHi JoAnn,
DeleteSomehow or other I posted a reply and the darn thing did not take. And it's not even the full moon!
If I were only allowed one mystery to read per year, I would pick this one. Sussex, in England. A Detective Sergeant who's a youngish Indian woman with judgment issues working in a white community, loads of references to The Woman in White, and Shakespeare, and so gothic! So good. This will certainly be in my top 5 for 2019, I think.
Ooh, I am a sucker for a good, nail-biting mystery! I will put this on my list. :D
ReplyDeleteRuthiella,
DeleteThis one is a highly literary mystery/crime/thriller. It's so good. I finished it today, and no, as hard as I tried I did not guess the ending or whodunit. So much fun!!
I have read the first four in the Ruth Galloway series, and the 4th one was my favorite so far. It took me a while to like them. Based on your enthusiasm, I will definitely give this one a try someday.
ReplyDeleteTracy, I thought this one was extra-special. An unusual Detective Sergeant who is a young Indian woman trying to do her job in a white English community in Sussex, loads of interest here. I can't recommend it highly enough. It's got teeth!
DeleteI've read all of the Ruth Galloway books. I enjoy the Norfolk setting and the quirky characters. Ruth is certainly not perfect - but then, who is?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katrina for the recommendation. I'll be trying the first one sometime soon.
DeleteI'm a fan of this author and will look for this stand-alone thriller!
ReplyDeleteHi Harvee,
DeleteI hope you will enjoy this novel as much as I did.
Oh my goodness, this sounds delightful! I can't wait to track it down. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteIt's got a really nice gothicky creep to it. Just so well done overall, imo.
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