I'd read Michele Campbell before, so going in to this book I expected twists and turns, and it definitely delivers. Told from two points of view, it's clear that at least one of them is unreliable - but which one? It kept me guessing until near the end, and even then not all my suspicions were correct. Warning to folks who want their characters to be "likeable" - you probably won't find that here. But since that isn't a high priority for me, I enjoyed this one a lot. I did combine reading with listening to this one, and the audiobook is very well narrated, which added to my enjoyment. I recommend it to those who enjoy a good psychological thriller.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

I read A Stranger on the Beach in 1 day! I absolutely could not put it down. I would give this book 10 stars if I could!

Wow...Masterfully Done! I thoroughly enjoyed "A Stranger On The Beach" by Michele Campbell Books. A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me the advanced digital copy of this book. It is an exciting, gripping, unputdownable true psychological thriller. The storyline is fast-paced, suspenseful and completely compulsive from the beginning until the very end. If you are looking for one last book to read as summer comes to a close, then I highly recommend this book.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: Caroline Stark’s beach house was supposed to be her crowning achievement: a lavish, expensive space to showcase what she thought was her perfect family. But after a very public fight with her husband, she realizes things may not be as perfect as they seem: her husband is lying to her, the money is disappearing, and there’s a stranger on the beach outside her house.

As Caroline’s marriage and her carefully constructed lifestyle begin to collapse around her, she turns to Aidan, the stranger, for comfort…and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aiden’s infatuation with Caroline, her family, and her house becomes more and more destructive. But who is manipulating whom in this deadly game of obsession and control? Who will take the blame when someone ends up dead…and what is Caroline hiding?

Definitely a book that got better as it went along! At first I wasn't necessarily fond of either Caroline or Aiden, which made it difficult to connect with both characters. After a third of the way through, I started getting hooked on the uncertainty of who was actually telling the truth, which always makes for a great thriller! All in all, this title is one that's worth the read, but takes a little bit of trust and patience before getting to the juicier details of the plot.

A solid mystery thriller of he said/she said with surprising twists and turns. It was told in Caroline and Aiden's POVs about the same events. What's fascinating is that the different perspective they have of the events. It will then cast doubts on both characters and will make you wonder who's lying and who's telling the truth. I figured out early on what's happening and thus I found myself skimming the pages. Still, I find this a good read.

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell was magnificently executed! This psychological thriller was exciting, suspenseful, thought-provoking and unputdownable. Who could ask for more?

Caroline Stark’s marriage is on shaky ground. Her husband is hiding something and she wants to get to the bottom of it. Caroline decides to get back at her husband after a big fight. Does Caroline’s revenge, which meant nothing to her but everything to the stranger on the beach, put in motion a set of events that spirals out of control? Obsession, murder, manipulation, and infatuation persists throughout and is crafted masterfully. This is my second book by Cambell and I plan to read all of her work now.

I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

If you can’t tell, I’m taking advantage of the short break between terms from my graduate program to catch up on a few of my favorite #arcs this year! 2019 has had some epic books published including #thestrangeronthebeach by @michelecampbellbooks - another standout author and one of my go-to’s for sitting by the pool (or fireplace) with her twisting and fun thrillers!! I got hooked on her books after #shewasthequietone and loved this one! The characters kept me balanced between feeling sympathy for them and complete shock at what they do!! It was fantastic! I love it when an author keeps me guessing until the very end!! This is another one to add to your TBR (well, all of her books should be on your list if you like the twisted and shocking books!!) thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc and sorry for the delay in my review!! #slowlycatchinguponreviews #summertermjustended

This is a decent thriller that held my interest throughout. The narrative kept changing viewpoints between the two main characters, and it took me awhile to catch on since they were basically nearly opposite. The confusion created by this plot style was what made the story work and kept me intrigued to the end. There were points when the story seemed to bog down a bit with some repetition, and the characters were hard to either like or sympathize with after the very beginning. In spite of that, I would give it 3.5 stars and recommend it to fans of the current thriller category of novels.

To the common onlooker, Caroline Stark has it all: she is rich and beautiful, and she and her husband have just conjured the perfect beach house practically out of thin air (and one thick wallet). With their daughter safely installed in her college dorm and their housewarming party rapidly approaching, Caroline is feeling a bit unmoored, but it’s nothing she can’t handle. Sure, Jason has been spending a lot of time at work, and she did catch a stranger staring up at her house from the (public) beach, but once she has her party, everything will settle back to normal. Right?

So begins Michele Campbell’s A STRANGER ON THE BEACH, a novel that truly plays with the reader’s ideas of truth and fiction, and packs in more suspenseful twists and turns than you can even imagine.

Caroline may look like your typical rich trophy wife, but she comes from hardscrabble beginnings, so it is no problem for her to approach the stranger watching her house --- or, as she fears, casing it. The closer she gets to the stranger, however, the easier it is for her to see how strikingly handsome he is. Aidan Callahan, as he introduces himself, is charming and gorgeous, and Caroline decides to ignore the strangeness of his appearance on the beach outside of her home. After all, she has a huge party to plan. It’s only a coincidence that Aidan ends up bartending her party later. Right?

But when Jason says he is not coming to their party, and then shows up with a mysterious Russian woman, Caroline decides that what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. By chance, she ends up at the same bar where Aidan is a bartender, and the two share a passionate, carefree night together. Suffice it to say that Aidan is a stranger no more. Not only does Caroline give in to the temptation of Aidan’s youth, she also shares some personal stories and fears about her marriage, her daughter and more. Or does she? Campbell’s book diverges at this point as readers hear from both Caroline and Aidan, who have some very different ideas about their night together and the days following. Where one describes an awkward moment, the other offers a story of romance, and where one expresses fear, the other feels nothing but comfort. But who is who?

As the perfect male lead, Aidan is not only attractive, he is also damaged. He has lived through some trials, has had his heart broken, and is insecure about his standing on the island. But he is also obsessive and proud, and as his version of events starts to sound less and less like Caroline’s, readers will be forced to consider the possibility that he is not at all what he seems. But just when Aidan does something so over the line that you start to fear for Caroline’s life, Caroline says something completely out of left field that makes you wonder who is the hero and who is the villain. Readers will be flipping pages at a rapid pace to determine who is really telling the truth --- and what the other person is hiding.

Campbell plays with her readers’ perceptions brilliantly and gleefully; you are never quite sure who to trust, and you have reasons to want both characters to be honest. Is Aidan viewing Caroline through rose-colored glasses? Is she manipulating him to get revenge on her husband? You’ll have to dig into the pages of this compulsively readable book to find out --- and believe me when I say that the truth will rock you to your core.

As a fan of thrillers, I can easily say that psychological suspense is having a real moment right now, and that means that there are tons of new authors and stories to choose from when it comes to your next suspense read. With so many versions of the same general premise out there, Campbell has done something truly unique by giving you two sides of one story that are so convoluted and layered that it is impossible to parse out the truth. This is peak psychological suspense, and her characters are just flawed enough on their own to let you believe that they are each the star of this wonderful book. I vacillated between fearing for crafty Caroline and wanting to protect addled Aidan so frequently that I nearly gave myself whiplash.

A STRANGER ON THE BEACH is difficult to review without giving away too much. But it is also tricky to review because Campbell makes it all look so easy! This book is a mind bender with clues so carefully hidden that you nearly forget there is a single author behind it all. Every twist is shocking, but they will make you think, I should have known! Campbell is a new author for me, but I can tell she is one I will add to my “auto-buy” list immediately. Those who love “Big Little Lies,” books by Mary Kubica, and a pitch-perfect unreliable narrator (or two!) will love A STRANGER ON THE BEACH.

What the hell did I just read? I feel like I’ve been reading a lot of books with women having TONS of sex. A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell is what I would call a beach book with little plausibility.

Caroline appears to have a picture perfect life. She has a loving husband of 20 years, a smart daughter, a lavish life in New York City and now she has her dream beach house. While throwing a party at her new beach house, Caroline sees her husband arrive late to their own party and with a new woman. When she confronts her husband Jason, about this he claims the woman is a business associate. But Caroline thinks there is more than meets the eye — his dishonesty and infidelity starts to swirl.

In an attempt to drown her sorrow, Caroline starts to flirt with a sexy bartender at her local bar, Aidan. After a one night stand with Aidan, Caroline realises she’s made a horrible mistake. He isn’t the same guy from the night before and based on the way he’s acting and his dark past, Caroline knows she needs to get away from him. As the story unravels and is told from both Caroline and Aidan’s perspectives, one has to wonder who can be trusted?

I was seriously intrigued by the first half of this story, but then halfway through it I almost threw my Kindle against the wall. I mean, what the f**k Caroline? Could you get any more ridiculous? From her stupidity to her poor choices, I had absolutely no sympathy for this character at all! I couldn’t connect to her or her family and by the end of the book I wanted horrible crap to happen to her because of how naive and simple she was throughout the book.

On a positive note though, this did have it’s fair share of drama and twists. While it is slightly over the top with the plot, it is a rather entertaining book that’s fast-paced. At times it felt like a book you could bring with to the beach, but then throw into the ocean with frustration.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, entertaining yet implausible beach read for the summer, look no further than A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell. But be prepared to truly be disappointed by the characters, the plot and dubious amounts of sex with strangers…on a beach.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Michele Campbell for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Told from dueling perspectives, this is the story of Caroline and Aidan, and Caroline’s husband who winds up dead. Who killed him? Who is the truth? Who is crazy? Maybe they’re all crazy! This was an interesting take on a thriller. Ultimately I kept turning the pages to see what the heck was going to happen next.

Check this out if you enjoy thrillers and mysteries and a little bit of crazy!

This thriller ticks all the boxes. Murder, scheme, romance, millionaires, domestic violence. The story is told from alternating perspectives - conflicting points of view. This unreliable narration keeps the book interesting and keeps you guessing and second guessing. Perfect domestic suspense thriller with plenty of twists.

Wow!!!! This is a fast faced, engaging, thriller! It kept me guessing from page 1. I did not want to put this one done. An affair, a murder, a scheme. This covers all the bases.

Jason and Caroline seem like they have every thing. An apartment in the city, a million dollar beach house. Then at the housewarming party, everything changes. Lives are ripped apart. Lies are exposed.

This one will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would highly recommend to all my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

A Stranger on the Beach was one of this summer’s most anticipated titles. Going into this book, we meet Caroline, a wealthy woman who finds out her life may not be so perfect. We meet her husband Jason... he’s obviously done something wrong, but just how bad is he? And then there’s Aidan. His life as a local ex-con hasn’t been easy, and it’s about to spiral out of control.

The story is told from two alternating, and completely conflicting, points of view. There’s an unreliable narrator here for sure, but who is it? Who is responsible for an unspeakable crime? And how will the truth finally come out?

This was an unbelievable domestic suspense with plenty of twists thrown in, perfect for a summer beach read. Just don’t talk to any strangers there!

Thanks to Net Galley and St Martins Press for a complimentary digital review copy of this title.

A Stranger on the Beach by Michele Campbell is a psychological thriller that is unpredictable. Caroline Stark is a happily married woman who has recently moved into her dream home: a high-end beach mansion in the Hamptons. A house-warming party turns into an embarrassment when Caroline and her husband have a loud argument about "the other woman". Caroline soon turns to Aidan, a local bartender and ex-con for solace and a short sexual relationship soon ensues. Although many of the characters are not likable, the reader's interest is maintained throughout by the many plot twists. Who is the good person, who is the bad, will change from page to page and you will not know who to cheer for. Who will commit a crime? Who will be blamed for the crime? Who will be the victim of the crime? Meanwhile, in the background, a hurricane is brewing. Suspense abounds. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow.....

I didn't see that coming.

The way Ms. Campbell drew the reader in with conflicting stories, building suspense up until the very end was amazing - I haven't read anything like this before. An amazing read!

Twisty, keep you guessing kind of book. Went into this book not knowing much about it but wow it kept me flipping the pages from beginning to end. The story is told from dual points of view of the same happenings that often vary greatly from one another. This does leave the reader challenged to figure out the truth. It’s a true psychological thriller and would recommend if you enjoy that genre. Overall, a light summer read full of drama,.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion!

This book was a little crazy at times and hard to follow. You did not know what was really happening as the viewpoints when back and forth between different characters. It was definitely a twisted book and the word stranger sure does alude me to some bad things. Michele Campbell does always deliver exceptional writing. I would rate this 3.5⭐️‘ because it was a fast and interesting read and had a lot of twists. Not too many, just enough.

I was so intrigued from beginning to end. The characters are very well developed and thought out. The atmosphere is creepy and engaging. The writing was perfect for the characters. No fluff paragraphs or lost thoughts. The plot was very strong and well constructed. While I did have to suspend logic a few times it was all within reason for a fictional psychological thriller. The pacing was perfect, it had the right mix of slower and faster pacing periods. The twists and turns throughout had me on a wild ride.

I 100% recommenced this book.