Strangers by Ursula Archer and Arno Strobel is a highly recommended thriller.

Joanna Berrigan is home alone when she finds a stranger in her house. He has let himself in with a key and claims he is her fiancé. The problem is that Joanna has never seen this man before. He claims he lives with her, but there is no trace of anyone else living in her house. Joanna ends up spending the night locked in the pantry while the stranger spends the night outside the pantry door. Joanna also is having these strange flashes of hitting herself and then taking a knife and attacking him.

Erik Thieben comes home after a hard day at work to find that the woman he loves, his fiancée Jo, claims to not recognize him at all. She also appears to have removed all of his things from the house they share. Jo thinks he is crazy and there to harm or hurt her. Erik wants to protect her, find out what happened, what caused this mysterious amnesia. He gets Joanna to agree to see a neurologist, but she still doesn't trust him and tries to escape.

When a mutual friend confirms what he is telling Joanna is true, she is still reticent to trust him. He remains a total stranger to her. When the two seem to be having way more than their fair share of accidents, it might be time for them to try and, if not trust each other, at least work together while trying to figure out what is really happening.

The chapters in this fast-paced thriller alternate between the point-of-view of Joanna and Erik. It is truly a he said/she said situation that presents the reader with a dilemma on who to trust. Are they both telling the truth, and if that is the case, what happened to Joanna's memory? Or is one of them running some kind of con? And what would be the end game?

I personally liked having the chapters tell the story from each character's point-of-view, and I thought it worked in this novel. This marks Archer and Strobel's debut novel writing as a team and I thought they did an excellent job presenting the same situation through the individual character. My mind could conjure up so many possible reasons for the amnesia and the situation in which the two find themselves. The pace is quick in this novel and the chapters flew by quite quickly. They had me right in the palm of their hands until the end, at which point Strangers lost credibility for me with what felt like a rather recycled climax. It was at a strong 5 stars until the ending.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of St. Martin's Press via Netgalley.
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Stick with this one. Who is Erik? Is he Joanna's fiancé? Who is Joanna for that matter? Hmmmm. This could have been an epic fail but the authors have used alternating voices to tell the story from both Erik and Joanna's perspective. Parts of this might seem a bit odd but all in all, it's a well written fast paced tale. My quibble is that I didn't feel a great deal of attachment to Joanna, who should have had my full sympathy. That said, it's also a good opportunity to read a book by international authors. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. No spoilers!

Barely 3 stars.

Strangers started off with a lot of promise, but it got really messy and ridiculously implausible. Joanna is at home alone, when a man she doesn’t recognize comes into her home with his own key and tries to convince her that he is her fiancé. The set up is very clever as Joanna and Erik move back and forth between doubting each other and themselves. It’s especially clever because the narration consists of short chapters alternating between Joanna and Erik’s points of view. But I really didn’t like how the plot unfolds — it gets bogged down in a lot of pointless action and too much schmaltz. And I really didn’t like the ultimate explanation for the fact that Joanna doesn’t recognize Erik — it was way too improbable. Good set up, but disappointing delivery. Not the best way to start 2018, but I have 364 days left to read books I enjoy more. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

This book intrigued me from the very beginning and didn’t let go until the final page. I was suspecting everyone! Did she really not remember him or was she faking? Was he really her fiancé or not? And who was Ben? Was Daddy the billionaire behind all this? Who could they trust?

There were plenty of twists and turns in the plot to please any mystery lover like me. Some of the plot ending was a bit far-fetched to me but I’m always one willing to suspend disbelief. Overall, a very entertaining read!

I think Erik's statement in the book "This kind of story belongs in an action movie not in my life." covers the suspense, twists, psychological agony, and thrilling challenges of Erik and Joanna's experiences in Archer and Strobel's novel. Erik finding his fiancee no longer recognizes him and with nothing to show for their relationship is a surprising kick to the story. What would you do if you had to depend on each other when one is confused and one is scared to death of the stranger who says he is your fiance? The author's first person alternating chapter telling of the story gives good development to the characters and a feel for where they are coming from during each stage of their mind-bending search for reasons.

This story line sounded a bit familiar but the author has created something unique here. This turns into a real thriller before the end. She's planning on having a quiet day at home, but she hears someone downstairs. When she sees the man in her home, she doesn't recognize him and is fearful. He's confused. They've been living together for quite a while and they are planning on getting married and she doesn't know who he is?

Minotaur Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you). It will be published January 9th.

She doesn't recognize any of his memories. She accuses him of making it up. He can't figure out what happened to her. Of course, all his belongings are gone from the house, too. What happened to them? Neither one of them can trust the other one. And she finds that she has an urge to self-harm herself. She also has an urge to use a knife. Neither of those feelings is normal for her. Has she lost her mind? When she stabs him, their relationship begins to fall apart. But the troubles aren't over yet...

He's run off the road and almost killed. Then he's sent to the train station to pick up two passengers coming in for a big job. When the train station blows up and he was only safe because he was a few minutes late, he knows the plot is a lot larger than the two of them.

She pretends he's dead to keep him safe. Then they try to hide her. The rest of the story is full of suspense and tension. The plans they make go south, they're on the run with no money, and no one wants to help them.

You won't quit reading this one until you've read the last page and then you'll stop to breath and think about what you read. It's a creepy but realistic story. You'll remember it.

2.5 Interesting premise. A woman hears someone in her house, she lives alone and has no one to help her. There is a an, a man who claims he lives with her, in fact her fiance, the trouble is she doesn't remember him, and nothing of his in her her house. Strange, right? Promising?

Unfortunately for me, I felt what follows is one contrived cat and mouse game, one preposterous scenario after another. Yes, it is fast paced, a quick read. However, I really felt nothing for these characters, and so many things didn't make sense, it only half heartedly pulled me in. Did enjoy this authors first endeavor though, so will doubtless try her again.

ARC from Netgalley.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The below is my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you, Ursula Archer, Arno Strobel, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read an early copy.

Trust or die.

Imagine you’re home alone. Suddenly a man stands before you. He claims to be your fiancé. But you have no idea who he is. And nothing in your home suggests that someone lives with you. He’s talking to you, but nothing makes sense. You’re afraid. And you feel the irresistible urge to attack. Take a knife. Are you crazy?

A woman. A man. The more they try to understand the situation, the more confusing it becomes. Soon they must realize that they are in deadly danger. And there’s only one chance for survival: they must trust each other.

Strangers isn't the typical psychological thriller. In fact, I'm not sure it can even be considered that. It's more high stakes, nonstop action with a psychological subplot. Is action mystery a genre yet? I enjoyed that this was told in dual POV. I also thought the character development was really well done, and the ending was seriously unexpected. The plotting is extremely fast paced, but that made it that much easier to read in one sitting.

Thank you Minotaur books for sending me both the Physical ARC and for the E-ARC on Netgalley, in exchange of an honest review.

This book was bat-sh!t crazy. I have no other words to describe it. I was pulled in so many different directions, every time I thought I had one part figured out, than something else popped up and totally derailed my train of thought. However, this book was NOTHING like I expected. I thought it was going to be creepy, stalker, mind twisting, thriller, but what I read was something entirely different. Not a bad thing, just when you go into a book thinking one thing, and come out knowing another, makes for a bit of a mind warp. I was very pleasantly surprised, and a bit taken back by the outcome of the book, I believe it was left off so that there could be a second book, and if that is the case, I will most definitely be reading it. I need to see how this plot is wrapped up, because the concept of it is fascinating.

Strangers by Ursula Archer & Arno Strobel is a mesmerizing thriller that uncovers a strange situation of mysterious foul play when a woman does not recognize a man who claims to be her fiancé and is cohabitating in her house contrary to the evidence. Joanna is at a loss and is eventually forced to trust this stranger. Erik is just as confused when the woman he's been living with for 7 months treats him as if he's an intruder. The more Erik tries to understand the situation, the more confusing it all becomes. Soon the couple realize they are in mortal danger and must find a solution together in order to survive.

Totally mind-bending and warped with many unexpected twists and turns. A must-read, fast-paced psychological thriller you will not be able to put down. I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review. https://moesbookblog.wordpress.com/

Reviewed: December 10, 2017. Novel Publish Date: January 9, 2018.

Strangers begins as Joanna is home alone finishing up her shower when someone is at the door but she ignores it only to hear someone moving inside her home. When confronting the stranger in her home, Erik, he claims to actually be Joanna’s fiance all the while she is sure that she does not know him and he must be some kind of stalker that is after her or her father’s money.



Just these opening pages alone completely hooked me into this book to where I did not want to put it down at all. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? Strangers by Ursula Archer and Arno Strobel is a psychological thriller that became intense on the opening pages and never let up the action and excitement. The story is told by switching the point of view between the characters so you get to see what both are thinking and feeling at any given time.

Joanna and Erik both come across as believable as the story starts and in a way I couldn’t help but feel for them both which made it hard to guess what the truth would end up being. Midway through the book the action picked up even more to toss the pace into high octane overdrive as the twists send the story into another gear. An addictive and hard to put down read but possibly crossing into the unrealistic but still entertaining side at that point. This is definitely one I’d recommend to those that like a fast pace and a lot of action in their thrillers.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

OMG! This book just grabs you from the first page and will not let you go till the very last page! I will not spoil the book for you, but there is so many twists and turns that you will get dizzy! I was left wondering who were the villains, who were the good guys, and why were people trying to kill this young couple! RUN, don't walk to get this book and read it in one setting!

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read Strangers. The premise of this book is that a man and woman who live together, are in love, and ready to be married, no longer recognize the life they shared. At least the woman doesn't. The story line has two voices the man, Erik, and the woman, Joanna, and it goes back and forth.
The characters are really not believable, and the plot rambles on. I just didn't get vested and couldn't finish the book.
Not for me.

This is a truly surprising novel. I was expecting a psychological thriller but instead got non-stop action with a psychological component and an unexpected ending. Joanna is alone at home when a man breaks in. He says that he is her fiancé, but she doesn't remember him at all. How is it possible? Is he a con man? Is she losing her mind? Discussing the plot any further might spoil the twists, so I will instead highlight my favorite things. Firstly, the characters, Joanna and Erik (the alleged fiancé) and the way they both see the same event from two different viewpoints, while still somehow knowing how the other one will react. The way their relationship evolves is smartly portrayed, bringing up interesting questions about soulmates. The breakneck pace of the plot, that careens toward the conclusion like a runaway train. The bad guys are a little too cartoonish and the first chapters are a tad repetitive, but these are just small issues in a mostly excellent thriller.

A mesmerizing, truth-finding psychological thriller that was both fast-paced and addictive!

The ultimate he said/she said...with alternating narratives. Who to believe? Joanna and her fiance, Erik have been living together and things are going well until a stranger walks through her door one evening! Joanna's first impulse is to run, hide, or call the police, but wait....Erik is telling her they are engaged! Erik will try to prove to her that he is telling the truth, but who can she trust?

A lot of clues are scattered along the way, as the story progresses and I was pulled right into the frightening ordeal right alongside them. I was right with Joanna during her chapters and then when it was Erik's turn, I was right there with him. Feeling their emotions and following their thoughts about all the bizarre happenings!

I enjoyed the frantic tone and fast pace that had me crazy for answers! The suspense builds with each chapter and it was a quick enjoyable book for me.

Two people, a man and a woman, engaged to be married. Or are they? She’s shocked when he suddenly appears in her home claiming to be her fiancee. He appears confused and hurt by her lack of recognition. She believes he’s about to hurt her and everything in her screams that she needs to take him down before he can rape or kill her. He wants to protect her, but she won’t let him near her. Who’s telling the truth? Or are they both lying? It’s hard to say more without giving away to much of the plot, all I can say is, hang on tight and be prepared to a string of shocks to go off like firecrackers. This is a wild ride