This was a real page turner! This book was very exciting and I completely didn't expect the ending. All through the book I would change my predictions based on new information, but it was never expected. I highly recommend reading A Stranger on the Beach. It's an intense book full of twists and turns that you just never want to put down.

I stayed in the bright sun in the pool until I finished this thriller! Twists and turns everywhere! Characters were not very likable... intentionally. Aidan seemed really over the top at times, again intentionally. Really enjoyed the way the point of view alternated between Caroline and Aidan as it added so much to the suspenseful plot line. The ending was extremely rewarding for me. This book will jump to the best seller list upon its publication on July 23rd. Put this on your must read shelf! Many many thanks to Michele Campbell, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read this ARC and the pleasure I had reading it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Michele Campbell's She Was the Quiet One so I was excited to get an ARC of her latest novel, A Stranger on the Beach. However, I didn't end up enjoying this one as much. The book starts out with a clear set up - a wealthy woman with a gorgeous house on the beach has been involved in something sinister, and it all tracks back to a man she met on the beach outside her home. The story goes back and forth between their two perspectives.

In an effort to keep the reader in the dark, the writing is simple, there is very little character development, and it quickly starts to feel like a bad Lifetime movie. I was puzzled by this, and then began to suspect that this was all a ruse and that the plot points we thought we were supposed to care about were actually red herrings. Around halfway through she begins developing the story more fully. I liked the concept but wasn't sure it was executed as well as it could have been. The ultimate reveal wasn't a reveal at all - it was obvious what had happened.

Characters were frustrating, and the twist wasn't done in a way that provided much suspense. I still like this author and think there were some good ideas here, but this wasn't my favorite book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a twisted tale of greed. Caroline and Jason swindled the mob to supplement their lavish lifestyle and came up with the perfect patsy to take the fall. All Aiden was guilty of was being naive. The plot is tightly knit together with no loose ends to leak any secrets before they come out. I was left guessing the true details of the crime all the way through until the author revealed it. It was truly a work of of Machiavellian proportions.

This book was intriguing from the beginning. It was told in multiple points of view, and has several plot twists that kept me on the hook. The use of a natural disaster at a key point in the plot added to the suspense. Overall, it’s a great summer read!

I was put off by the lazy foreshadowing, the woman especially, who ended most of her chapters with a comment to the effect if "but I never knew something so bad was going to happen." Really it became slightly insulting. I also didn't care for how poorly the husband was fleshed out, he was barely background noise and seemed to only appear when there was no one else around to move the story forward. That said, by 3/4 of the way through I was definitely committed to finding what would happen, so there must have been some compelling quality even if I'm not entirely sure what it was.

WOOOOWWWWWWW. Just, wow.

This book is a perfect example of how thrillers can be confusing but in the best way. The book is set between two points of views and we really don't know what's going on for a while but its GREAT.

The book really finds itself around the 50% mark and once I was at that point I had to read until the end because it was so gripping and tense, a truly great read.

5/5, no question.

I was so excited to be approved for this title! This was a psychological thriller (emphasis on the thriller) from Caroline and Aiden's perspectives. I really enjoy books with alternating POV because of the unique perspective we get into the story, seeing it through two peoples eyes. There were a lot of twists and turns and I felt like I was being kept on my toes. I didn't at all know what to expect or who to trust in this book. I was surprised until the final page!! Thank you NetGalley!!

**I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Caroline Stark has it all. A beautiful new beach house, a loving daughter, and a great marriage. Or so she thought. During her housewarming party she discovers (along with all the guests in attendance) that her husband has been lying to her about his recent whereabouts and he has a mistress. Caroline is humiliated and turns to a local bartender Aidan for comfort. She soon finds herself unable to break away from Aidan as he becomes more and more obsessed with her. As she tries to get away from Aidan, he attempts to make contct with her estranged husband, her daughter, and her sister. She must find a way to get away from him before things turn deadly.

This book just wasn't for me. I wanted to like it, but I predicted part of the twist about half way through the book. The alternating POV's didn't match up so I could tell something wasn't right. None of the characters were likable. Caroline annoyed me right from the beginning, Lynn was too obnoxious of a character, the daughter seemed needy and insecure (but was barely mentioned), and pathetic Aidan was caught up way too soon for no good reason. The premise was a good one, but it didn't line up for me as being believable. One glaring omission in the whole plot for me was the daughter's role after everything played out. How much did she know and what was Caroline's plan for her? Was she being lied to the whole time? That would be unforgivable. I'll give the author a second chance but that may be it for me if that one doesn't grab me also.

This was an okay read. I didn’t like Caroline and that made it hard to remain engaged in the story. Started out strong and slowed down as it went.

4 stars. I as hooked after reading the first chapter. Great job Michele Campbell. If you like a good mystery and thriller add this to your reading list you will not be disappointed. Great job to the author. I though the stranger on the beach was a weird guy. You must read to see what happens

This was a strange, sordid, twisted story. The reader receives two different tales, from two of the man characters and it's hard to discern who is lying or are they both. The narrative involves fabrication, money laundering, duplicity, an illicit affair, and lots of bends that prevent the reader from seeing that far ahead. I give the author credit with conjuring up despicable characters and a story that keeps readers guessing.

Caroline Stark is just putting the finishing touches on her brand new beach home when she notices a young man staring at her house from the beach below and this isn't the first time she's seen him out there watching. Busy with making housewarming party plans she quickly forgets about this stranger.

At the housewarming party Caroline and her husband, Jason, get into an argument in front of all of the guests and much to her humiliation. She is convinced that he is having an affair but rather than to defend himself or deny it he tells her that he has to go and doesn't know when he'll be back.

Caroline, now feeling lonely and betrayed, heads to the local watering hole to drown her sorrows when it appears that the stranger from the beach is the bartender. His name is Aidan and he's absolutely gorgeous and she thinks that there isn't anything wrong with her doing some innocent flirting with this much younger man when her husband is clearly sleeping with another woman. When that innocent flirting turns into a one night stand she thinks they'll part ways without nary a worry but Aidan has other ideas because Aidan is in love.

This book started out so strong and I was digging all the unreliable narrators and not having a clue of what was happening but then I hit the 50% mark and sadly my interest started to wane. It all started to get a little ridiculous. Stupidity and poor choices abound. Caroline was just the worst and I felt no sympathy for her whatsoever. I did manage to finish this but I'll admit I skimmed from 50-75% because it became so tedious. The ending did tie everything up but I didn't really care at that point and was just happy to be done. 2.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! I stayed hooked on it from the beginning. As the chapters went by it was full of suspense and surprises. Towards the middle of the book you think you have an idea of what’s going to happen and then the author has her special way of giving your another twist and turn. Closer to the end I was totally shocked where the storyline went. This is my 3rd time reading one of Michele’s books and she’s had become one of my favorite authors! Thanks for giving me a chance to read this addicting read.

A Stranger on the Beach


A delightful psychological thriller told from several conflicting perspectives.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Caroline Stark notices the stranger on the beach staring up at her brand new, and very expensive house. He is very handsome, but it looks like he was up to no good. Other houses in the area had recently been robbed, perhaps he is casing the house? He looks like a local and she knew that people like him resented people like her, people that have everything: good looks, apartment in the city, nice car, and fancy parties

The very next day, Caroline’s perfect life takes a turn for the worse. Caroline’s husband, Jason an successful investment banker, shows up at the beach house-warming party with another woman, his Russian mistress. He tells Caroline he wants a divorce, and then closes her bank accounts and credit cards. Caroline’s lavish lifestyle collapses around her. She turns to Aiden, the stranger on the beach who turns out to be a local bartender with a past, for comfort and maybe even a little revenge. A one night stand for Aiden turns into an obsession with Caroline. She is, and she has everything he ever wanted. When Caroline’s husband goes missing, her life descends into a nightmare that leaves her accused of her husband’s murder.

REVIEW
A STRANGER ON THE BEACH is a delightfully entertaining read. It’s a psychological thriller told from several conflicting perspectives, and you may think you know which perspective is right. But don’t be to quick to judge. There are so many twists and turns on this beach trip you are going to want to race to the end to uncover the truth.

I loved the vivid descriptions of Caroline’s gorgeous house on the beach with the wall of windows over looking the ocean, the infinity pool, the media room, the lighting system, and the soaring French limestone fireplace! Who wouldn’t want a place like that on the beach!

Books that keep you guessing are fun, but I got a little confused at times with the variety of perspectives and the unreliable characters. Who is manipulating who? And why? Even so, it’s a perfect read for a day at the beach. Just watch out for the category four hurricane that is headed straight your way.

Author Michele Campbell is a graduate of Harvard College and Stanford Law School and a former federal prosecutor in New York City who specializes in international narcotics and gang cases. Several years ago she moved with her husband and two children to an idyllic New England college town. She now teaches criminal and constitutional law and writes novels. Other books by Michele Campbell include She was the Quiet One (2018) and It’s Always the Husband (2017)

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Michele Campbell for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press
Published July 23, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

This was my first book to read by Michelle Campbell and certainly will not be my last. I love that she wrote on a subject that wasn’t cliché and was able to keep me as the reader guessing. I absolutely love not being able to figure out what the ending will be.

Thank you in advance to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Wow! It’s not often that a psychological thriller can surprise me but Michele Campbell really pulled out all the stops.

A Stranger on the Beach was a fun read and a page turner, I just couldn’t put it down. The plot switches back and forth between our two main characters POV. Right from the beginning you can tell, things aren’t adding up...

Unreliable characters, questionable morals, scandalous affairs - this book has it all. Put A Stranger on the Beach on your list of summer reads and you won’t be disappointed. I promise you, you’ll never guess the ending.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but it didn’t totally blow me away. It had me guessing throughout as to which of the two main characters were telling the truth. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Campbell and St. Martin’s Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Caroline has an amazing new beach house and is hosting an extravagant house warming party with all her and her husband’s friends and coworkers. The only problem is her husband has been lying to her and they have a very public fight at this party. Aiden, a stranger who lives in the town, is there when Caroline realizes that her husband has been cheating on her. Her marriage is collapsing and her life begins to crumble around her, but Aiden is there to comfort her and help her seek her revenge. After a brief fling that means nothing to Caroline but everything to Aiden; he becomes obsessed with her and her family.

Well this is definitely one of my top ten reads of this year and definitely a great summer beach read because you aren’t going to want to put this one down! I loved the way this book was formatted with chapters from both Caroline and Aiden; each chapter was from their respective opinions on what was going on and you have to try to piece together which one of them is telling the truth and who actually committed the crime! I was so intrigued the whole way through and I couldn’t stop reading long enough to really ponder why each character felt the need to lie. There is a lot of action and twists throughout this novel that made it all the more interesting! Definitely recommend!!

Out July 23rd!

I really wanted to love this book but it fell a little short for me. I am not sure if it was the style or the shifting unreliable narrators in the story. It was fast paced and did keep me guessing, but I just felt frustrated as things were revealed. Overall a good mystery, just not my favorite I've read this year.