I received a complimentary ARC copy of THE PERFECT STRANGER from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

A lost job, failed relationship and restraining spurs reporter Leah Stevens to leave Boston for a small town in Pennsylvania, where she hopes to start over as a teacher. Emmy, her mysterious former roommate, needing to leave an abusive boyfriend accompanies Leah. First, a woman with who resembles Leah is found nearly dead, beaten by an unknown assailant. The Emmy goes missing. Kyle, the handsome detective investigating the cases begins to question if Emmy is real, and if she is, why is there no proof of her. Anywhere.

I like the way Megan Miranda's dark and twisty mind concocts creepy characters and plots that make my mind wonder which way was up, down and all around. Leah is a strange character. Even after finishing the novel, I'm still not sure how must I trust the accuracy of her words. She isn't warm and fuzzy, not unlikable, but there isn't much that made me like her either. She seemed distrustful, almost paranoid of her students and most of the other characters. I did not trust her mental stability.

I enjoyed Miranda's engaging writing style, but I would have appreciated feeling heart pounding tension. Perhaps became I was more interested in whether Emmy was real, and less in Leah's fate, the quick pace didn't transfer into an emotional response.

THE PERFECT STRANGER is a creepy, page turner that will keep you guessing until the end and beyond.

This is the first novel I've read of Megan Miranda's and after reading 'The Perfect Stranger', I'm already rushing out to read her first and eagerly awaiting her future work. It's clear that Miranda sets the bar high for the suspense/thriller genre. Her writing is effortless and captivating, detailed without being too wordy or intelligible. 'The Perfect Stranger' is a clever and engaging read that quickly pulls readers into its depths while keeping them guessing at every turn. Multiple strong plot-lines create an incredibly engaging and complex set of layers full of surprises and interesting characters. This will be one of the must-read novels of 2017

This was possibly one of the worst books I've read recently... so bad I couldn't even finish it. The plot itself was intriguing, and had that been the only review element, I'd have likely given it 4 stars. Unfortunately, I found the lead character, Leah, to be so obnoxious that I just wasn't interested in reading one more page with her in it. She was angry about virtually everything that touched her boring little life, and complained constantly. When her roommate and friend appears to have met with foul play, she's mad that the police need to search her house. When her policeman / new lover arrives to lead the investigation, she's mad at him for choosing his career duties over her. She's basically mad at everyone. She ruined the entire story; so much so that I just gave up. Who needs constant irritation when reading a novel?? Not me! Don't bother with this unending melodrama and move on to another book. Very bad.

The Perfect Stranger
Megan Miranda
Four Stars
NetGalley

Megan Miranda has a knack for creating the perfect setting for her characters. A small rural community that is under stress from the sudden growth of "newcomers" in their small town from the new data tech company. Leah and Emmy landed in this small town by throwing a dart at a map. Sounds like a perfect adventure for two close friends who are starting over. New location. New career.
Murder. Submerged car belonging to Emmy. Doppelganger fatality. Deceitful friends. Creepy coach. Missing roommate. Sexy sheriff Kyle. Stalkers. A fantastic cover! A checklist for a great story! You will not be disappointed and I promise you will not able to put this one down. I read All the Missing Girls last year and now The Perfect Stranger has solidified Megan Miranda as one of my favorite authors.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Perfect Stranger for a fair review.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an e-book copy of this book for my enjoyment and review. Having read “All the Missing Girls” by Miranda, I was naturally looking forward to this second book. An excellent mystery involving 2 girls living together, Emmy Grey and Leah Stevens, in a cabin in rural Pennsylvania. Their pasts are both sketchy, but when Emmy disappears things become very complicated – and the book becomes un-put-downable. It is a true page-turner from beginning to end, and I am so glad I found Megan Miranda.

First of all, whomever does the cover art for Megan Miranda's books perfectly captures her story and paints a beautiful picture! I loved the chilling atmosphere in this novel and the way things slowly unraveled. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story kept me guessing. Miranda perfectly captures the seclusion, loneliness and confusion of the narrator, who sometimes proves to be unreliable herself. I will say there might have been one too many twists and turns at the very end and the last chapter especially felt a bit rushed. Overall I enjoyed this even more than All The Missing Girls - this author just keeps getting better.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.

I really enjoyed Megan Miranda's novel All the Missing Girls, so when I discovered the book I was asked to review was another one of Miranda's, I was pumped.
As expected, The Perfect Stranger did not disappoint.
I'm a huge fan of mystery and intrigue, and can generally figure out just about any plot before the big finish, but Megan Miranda has managed to now, twice, keep me guessing until the end. Just when you think you know what's going on, she throws a twist that will keep you in the dark.
Character's are well-fleshed (at least the ones that are supposed to be) and the story moves along at a brisk and exciting pace. I definitely recommend The Perfect Stranger to anyone who wants an exhilarating read that will keep them at the edge of their seats.

In the masterful follow-up to the runaway hit All the Missing Girls, a journalist sets out to find a missing friend, a friend who may never have existed at all.

Last year Megan Miranda blew us away with her thriller All The Missing Girls. A story told in reverse that kept me on the edge of my seat and with a great respect for this author.

When I received the email that her next book was coming out I was torn. We all know that a lot of time the second book/album is never as good as the first. Knowing that didn't stop me from putting all the other TBR books on hold so I could dive back into the twisty, dark world of Miranda! She is truly a master at Suspense!
And I will tell you right now, she has slammed it! This book is just as good as the first! Once you start you can't stop reading, you just have to know! The suspense just keeps building until you are biting your lip and your fingernails! Her characters are perfect, her writing always leaves me with a What?? at the end.

Did not see this ending coming at all. Good Job Ms. Miranda! Keep bringing us these creepy, twisted, palm sweating thrillers!

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this great story!

Megan Miranda had set expectations high for me after her previous novel, All the Missing Girls. This follow up totally exceeded my expectations! I love that the character development doesn't suffer in favor of shocking twists and turns. I was reading to enjoy the progress of the strong female lead and not just turning the pages to uncover the mystery, although that was also intriguing! Definitely recommend this one.

This was almost just too weird of a book to understand. I had a lot of difficulty keeping up with the story and what all was happening. I found myself not really wanting to finish the story even though I wanted to know what happened with Emmy.

This book kept me guessing until the end and had everything I look for in a good thriller. For me, what makes a great suspense novel stand out from the rest is when it has me completely freaked out, jumping at every little noise, making me feel like I have to look over my shoulder. I felt like I was there with Leah in this book. She was a likable character that I could sympathize with. And with every new clue, I was on the edge of my seat. I didn’t want to put this one down.
I enjoyed All the Missing Girls, but I enjoyed this one way more.

BOTTOM LINE

A well-written page turner. Megan Miranda has proven she knows how to write suspense and is an author worth looking out for in the future.

I loved this book! After reading her first book, I had high expectations, and wasn't let down. This kept me turning the page just to see what would happen next. The first quarter of the book was a slow build, but well written. I didn't see the twists coming, and the ending was great. Thanks netgalley!

Disclaimer: I was Megan Miranda's editor on her debut adult suspense novel, ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, but I did NOT edit THE PERFECT STRANGER (and I no longer work for the publisher), so this review is based purely on my pleasure read of her latest book, and it did not disappoint! If you loved ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, you'll find all the same atmosphere and intrigue in this novel, with a flawed, potentially unreliable narrator, a twisty, impossible-to-guess-the-ending plot, and smooth, fluid writing that keeps you turning the pages. There is a lot of setup packed into the first half of the book, which makes it a touch slower than her last one, but once she hits her stride and all the various plot pieces start falling into place, it's unputdownable. Highly recommended to anyone who loves psychological suspense. Can't wait for more from Megan Miranda!

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

Words have a power all their own, whether written or spoken. Leah Stevens, tainted journalist, is well aware of this. She is also a true believer in the end justifying the means. That really didn't work out so well for her, so she picks up stakes and plans to start all over in a fresh place. Shortly thereafter, Leah's roommate, Emma Grey, goes missing. It is almost as though she never existed.

A pocket watch, a garden gnome, a window peeper. Someone else with your face, your clothes . . . who is wearing the mask?

Excellent! I really enjoyed this book by Megan Miranda, the author of All the Missing Girls. It was highly suspenseful and a page turner! Who is Emmy Grey, does she actually even exist? You start to wonder as you get further in the book. I loved this book and couldn't wait to get back to it after a long day. I cannot wait for her next book! Thank you to Simon & Shuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, greatly appreciated!

When I finished Megan Miranda's novel All the Missing Girls last year I was completely blown away!! So when I had the opportunity to read The Perfect Stranger I jumped at the chance!! Saying Ms. Miranda has wow'ed me again would be a major understatement!! She took my high expectations and raised them exponentially!!

I was completely drawn into this novel from the beginning! I immediately tried to figure out my theory on what was happening, but I should know from reading Megan's previous novel that she is a magician with twist and turns!! You never see them coming, and after you are left in awe at Ms. Miranda's genius writing abilities! So needless to say I didn't figure out the mystery, but thats exactly why I loved this novel-- kept me guessing until the end! The Perfect Stranger is a 5 star book that will most definitely be a 2017 of any mystery/thriller novel fans!!

I absolutely loved Megan Miranda's book All The Missing Girls so I was so excited to read this book.

Our main character, Leah Stevens, has been working as a successful journalist in Boston, when the backlash from a story results in a restraining order and a threat of a lawsuit. Leah decides she needs to leave Boston and start over somewhere when she runs into her old friend and former roommate, Emmy Grey. Emmy has just left a failed relationship and also wants a fresh start, so she suggests that they move together to rural Pennsylvania. Leah agrees to the move and finds herself in a teaching position at the local high school. Shortly after moving, a woman who looks very similar to Leah is found assaulted and unconscious by the lake and Emmy then disappears days later. Leah waits a few days before reporting Emmy missing, since she does have a bit of a wandering personality. Kyle Donovan, a handsome young detective, also new to town, takes on Emmy's missing person case. As the investigation into both Emmy's disappearance and the assault by the lake continue, Leah starts to wonder if she really ever knew Emmy at all. The police can't seem to track down any friends or family and Emmy has left no paper or digital trail at all. As the police start to question Leah's credibility, she decides to start digging into Emmy's past herself in order to clear her own name.

I liked this book from the very beginning. Just like in All The Missing Girls, I was very interested in the story line from the very beginning. I liked Leah's character and felt that throughout the book, we slowly got to know her as her past slowly comes to light. As Leah begins digging into Emmy's past, she also starts telling her backstory and the events that lead to her leaving Boston. I really liked that her character never gave up, even when the police started to question her credibility during the investigation. I had a theory about what was going on with Emmy's disappearance for a good potion of the book and was quite surprised when I found I was incorrect. I also really liked the setting of this book in the sleepy, rural town in Western Pennsylvania where everyone seems to have grown up there and Leah is still trying to settle into the community. I loved the plot line and I really, really liked the ending, which I am always quite critical about. I really don't like books that leave open endings or don't tie everything up. This was a great follow-up to All The Missing Girls and I very much encourage you to pre-order the book; it is released on May 17! And while you are waiting, read All The Missing Girls! Happy reading!

Like so many others, I really enjoyed Megan Miranda's All the Missing Girls, so I was very excited to read her latest novel.This one was just as well written, quite obvious that she knows how to write suspense novels. This had an interesting plot that kept me glued to the pages trying to figure out all the angles. The plot twists were strong, the characters were interesting, and I couldn't read fast enough to find out what the hell was going on. Megan Miranda is definitely an author I will keep my eye on.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED All the Missing Girls so I was very excited to read this book and it didn't disappoint. I loved the story and the pacing of the story. I loved the characters and the fact that I couldn't put this book down. Megan Miranda has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Leah has seen her life fall apart professionally and personally and when a chance meeting with an old friend gives her an escape to a small town, she takes it. Emmy is elusive, it's a part of her charm and one of the things that Leah likes about her, but when a dead woman is found who looks like Leah, Emmy goes missing and Leah has to figure out where she has gone. With the help of Kyle, local adorable cop, Leah searches into the past of a friend she realizes that maybe she didn't know all that well. I found myself questioning Leah and her sense of reality at some points as well, this story was wonderful and had all the things that make a good thriller!

I feel so bad writing this as I was really looking forward to reading this book because I did love Miranda's debut, All The Missing Girls, but I just could not connect with this story. There's always some level of suspension of disbelief needed to enjoy most novels but the premise and main character's actions just seemed too unrealistic and confusing. While reading, all I could ask myself was, "Why would Leah agree to move in with a virtual stranger?", "How could she not know her last name?", "Why didn't she have Emmy put some of the bills in her own name?". My questions over clouded my ability to enjoy this book as much as I hoped to.