Rain Winter is a stay-at-home mom who resigned from her high pressure career as an investigative journalist when she had her daughter, Lily. When a local man is murdered after being acquitted in a murder case. There appears to be some vigilante justice happening and Rain is pulled into investigating by her friend Gillian.

I am not going to share anything else about this story, because you need to read and discover it on your own. Rain has a lot of issues and baggage from something that happened in her past and that causes her to make some impetuous decisions in her life, specifically while investigating this case. The story is told in a dual narration, by Rain and the murderer. We do know who the murderer is relatively early on in the story, but there is so much more going on here. The tension and suspense build right from the beginning and doesn't stop until the last chapter. These characters were flawed and had me feeling terrible for what happened to them in the past. It made me think about what I might do if in a similar situation or my children had been. I was on the edge of my seat knowing that the shoe had not yet fallen and waiting to see where Lisa Unger was going to take the reader. The twists and turns are unforgettable, as she delves into trauma and the human psyche. This is an extremely well written psychological thriller, which is what I have come to expect from this talented author.

Rain Winter has put her career as a journalist on hold to raise her daughter, Lily. She watches her husband, Greg, with envy as he goes off to his successful journalism career. Her journalistic instincts are triggered when she hears about a man found murdered in his home. The method is consistent with a murder that happened in her past. A man who kidnapped her friends, murdering one of them died in a similar manner. Rain was only twelve when it happened and she only survived because she hid in the woods, but those events still haunt her to this day. Her best friend, Tess, died and Hank was forever damaged. They both were. But now, Rain is determined to sharpen her investigative skills and find out if this recent murder has anything to do with the death of the monster who still haunts her dreams. The question is, is she prepared for the truth to be revealed.

I always love Lisa Unger's books. Not only are her stories well thought out, but the characters are so well developed that you are not left with questions at the end. Rain Winter was a character that I immediately took an interest in. She obviously has not had it easy, but she is trying to live a normal life with her husband and daughter. She even has a best friend who is there to support her in every way that a best friend can. The author switches the viewpoints from Rain and Hank. And Hank's split personality. I was worried about her continued connection to Hank, because of his split personality. There was professional Hank and then there was Hank who basically stalked Rain and her family. As Rain starts really diving into researching the podcast, you could feel that things were going to come to a boiling point. And I wasn't wrong. Some pretty big secrets were revealed that left the reader reeling. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS.

Bottom Line - Without a doubt, Lisa Unger knows how to write a dark and twisty psychological thriller. Her talent is obvious with every book that she publishes and it is not a talent that we readers should take for granted, because it is truly rare.

Details:
The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger
On Instagram
Pages: 384
Publisher: Park Row Books
Publication Date: 9/17/2019
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the free book in exchange for an honest review.

The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harlequin, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
 

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)

Rain Winters is a stay-at-home Mom to 1 year old Lily.  Her husband is the producer at a local television station.  Rain gave up her career as a news writer/journalist, but when the body of Steve Markham surfaces, something in Rain clicks.  She had followed Markham's arrest and acquittal for the murder of his wife, and that story was never finished.  She still thinks there is more.  This is the not the first person who escaped justice only to be murdered later, nor the second.

But is the story she wants to follow really Markham's or is it her own?  Does she now want to tell the story of her own childhood trauma?  Rain survived an attack on herself and two friends when she was just 12 years old.  Her friend Tess was not so lucky, and Hank has never gotten over it.  If the truth were told, Rain has never really gotten over it either.  Eugene Kreskey, their 22-year old attacker had himself been abused, starved, and locked in the basement as a child, and spent years in a psychiatric hospital after his parents died.  Shortly after his release, he attacked Rain and abducted her companions.  Then, 10 years later, he is again released from a psychiatric hospital...and someone brutally kills him.

Whatever her reasons, Rain desperately wants to tell the story of these murders...so far there have been at least three.  Is someone getting justice when the courts could not?   Is it someone close to home?


My Opinions:  

The story is told in both Rain's perspective, and that of Hank.  In this way we learn more of the trauma they suffered as children and how that trauma made them into what/who they are today.

I admit to struggling a little at the beginning, and found the book some-what slow moving....and a little long.

However, it did give you a lot to think about.  The premise was about justice and vengeance, right and wrong, good and evil, but it also showed how the lines between the two can be a little murky.   It showed how childhood events can shape the person we are today.   I found myself admiring and empathising with most of the characters.  Sometimes doing the wrong thing for the right reason seems justified.

It also showed the dilemma every mother faces when they have to decide whether or not to give up their career to be a stay-at-home mom.  Personally, I think her husband was a saint for putting up with Rain's "omissions"/lies.  I didn't like the way he was treated, and wondered about Rain's mother's instinct.  I didn't particularly like this part of the book.

Overall, it was a good (if rather long), book.  Although I had a good idea about the twist at the 60% mark, it was still enjoyable.  The foreshadowing was well-done.

The book also made you wonder....that little voice I sometimes hear...does everyone have "a stranger inside"?

“The Stranger Inside” by Lisa Unger is a study of two people, what they endured, how they coped, how they grew, and they maneuvered through life. They are the victims of past trauma, and how they want their lives back. They want to be the people they would have become if none of this had happened, but they are who they are now because of what happened then.
It opens with a first person present-tense account. The narrator talks directly to someone, “I know what you’re thinking” having a conversation, drawing the person into the plot from the start. “I’m sure you know all this. If I know you, you’re keeping tabs, too.” Is this a conversation with the reader or someone else? The narrator waits “because I have nothing but time.” Readers wonder about the narrator, but by the time the identity and the intent become clear, frighteningly clear, readers are hooked.
The scene changes in different chapters. Readers are introduced to Rain Winter, a former producer for National News, her husband Greg, news producer for the local television news, and their baby, Lil. A man is found murdered. The man had been acquitted in the death of his wife, and Winter had covered the trial. No one else was ever charged with Laney Markham’s murder and the murder of her unborn child. In Winter’s opinion, the bad person got away with murder, until he had not. Now he is dead. Not only is he dead, but he died the way Laney Markham died, bound, gagged and stabbed with a serrated hunting knife. For Winter, Markham’s death is not the abrupt end of the story but the beginning of another one.
Unger did not create a story about ordinary people; these characters are dark, complex, multi-faceted, and intertwined in unexpected ways. Winter has a complex history and a tragic past; one ugly event shaped her life and changed how interacts with everyone and everything around her. That tragedy spreads, contaminating everyone around her in unexpected ways. The other players have difficult journeys and complicated evolutions as well. Their paths are diverse with other secrets to discover, other ordeals to overcome. The tendrils of present events also reach back into the past, uncovering long unspoken questions that demand answers. The search for those answers is complicated and difficult.
“The Stranger Inside” is a book where past nightmares emerge into the present. The mystery is not the murder or even who committed it, the real story is how the past molds current events. I received a review copy of “The Stranger Inside” from Lisa Unger, Harlequin, and Park Row Books. It presents a fractured world that reflects a different existence. It is compelling, shocking, and difficult to put down.

3 Stars

Rain’s past is something she would love to put behind her - she and her friends were abducted when they were twelve years old. If only it were that simple. She got out, almost unscathed. Her old friend Hank wasn’t as lucky but he survived. The same can’t be said for their friend Tess.

Now, Rain is a stay at home mom whose investigative journalist skills come in handy when she starts working on a case of a murderer who escaped justice. Reminders of her past are all around her and soon Rain is pulled down deeper into the investigation than she ever imagined.

Lisa Unger created a tension filled mystery/suspense that was enjoyable but unfortunately left a little something to be desired for me, having read all of her other novels. That being said I am a huge Lisa Unger fan and I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next.

This was another fabulous buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing - Park Row and Lisa Unger for the arc.

Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 9.21.19.

5 Incredible Stars!!!!!!

The Stranger inside is a thrill ride of a novel that is literally impossible to put down. I was so invested in the story time seemed to stop.

Lisa Unger does it again. The Stranger Inside is such a well written thriller. The characters were complex and well fleshed out. The plot chilled me to the bone and in the best possible way. I was so utterly absorbed in the story.

The ending literally blew me away!!!! It was so insane!

Highly recommend this thriller from Lisa Unger!

A man who likely got away with murder is found dead in his home. There is no evidence to point a finger at the killer. For journalist Rain Winters, it all seems eerily familiar.

Rain, a survivor of childhood trauma, finds herself investigating the murder and its similarities to the murder of her attacker and abductor and murderer of her friends.

As she finds herself divided between stay at home mother and investigative journalist, she must access parts of her past that she kept locked away.

Hank, the friend that survived the abduction and torture has made it his life to help traumatized children out of the darkness of abuse as a psychologist but he’s never completely forgiven Rain for being the one to survive.

While trying to make sense of the latest murder, Rain uncovers ad rediscovers some truths that were meant to stay buried. Is there a balance between right and wrong? Can doing wrong for the right reason make it right?

This is a story full of twists and turns, emotion and introspection. It has a wonderful depth and a certain lyrical quality, even in its darkest passages.

A kidnapping gone awry leaves Rain, the intended victim, forever asking herself the question “what if?” Rain escapes but her two best friends aren’t do fortunate. When the kidnapper falls victim to murder himself, the police search for a vigilante seeking justice for those who have not received a fair punishment.

Lisa Unger’s writing is consistently superb. Her characters are well-rounded and believable. The plot is original and. taut with suspense. There is a reading why she is a long-time and continued favorite of mine.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Park Row and Lisa Unger for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

3.5*
A frightful, harrowing read that will leave you believing monsters do indeed exist!

Rain believed she knew how to deal with her past. Put it behind her. Quit dwelling on it. Look to the future...not back. But often, despite your best efforts, the past has a troubling way of creeping back into your life!

Lisa Unger writes a dark and terrifying novel dealing with the loss of innocence, and the evil that lurks around every corner!
Though this wasn’t a favorite from this author, it’s still well worth the read and I’ll be looking forward to her next.

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing - Park Row and Lisa Unger for an ARC to read and review.

I am definitely a big fan of Unger and have found that her books have always ranged from 3-5 stars for me. My favorite being The Red Hunter so far. Unfortunately The Stranger Inside didn't quite work for me as her other books have.


I loved the opening and was really intrigued for the first 70 pages or so and then I felt my interest start to wane as I continued on. I felt some things got a bit repetitive and the voice within the voice was a bit jarring at times as for some reason I just couldn't wrap my head around the inconsistent consistency of it - if that makes ANY sense.


I appreciate what the author was trying to do and I love the feel of how certain things really affected these characters as children and how they've reacted separately as they've gotten older. The relationship between the main character and her husband (husband of the year y'all), the psychology of everything. All of these things I love. Somehow though, it just didn't keep me engaged. Maybe it was my mood. Maybe it was the book? I dunno.


What I do know is that I do love her writing style. I appreciate where her stories take us as readers and I adore these crazy stories she comes up with. I absolutely look forward to her next work and would definitely recommend her to thriller lovers.

THE STRANGER INSIDE is a compelling crafted and diligently researched suspense thriller about the consequences of trauma to the psyche, justice vs. mercy, and vigilantism.
Three twelve years old in an abduction years ago; two survived, but at what cost physically, psychologically, and psychically? Does the long dark night of the soul subsequent to horrific trauma ever cease? And is vigilantism an appropriate response when the justice system either overlooks, or fails?

Title: The Stranger Inside
Author: Lisa Unger
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

When Rain Winter was 12, she barely escaped the clutches of a murderous madman with her life. Her two best friends, Hank and Tessa, were not so lucky. Hank was forever scarred by his experiences that day, and Tessa never came home. When the killer was released, Rain lived in fear—until someone killed him.

Now Rain is a stay-at-home mom who does her best not to think about those dark days, although she misses her time as an investigative journalist. Then another man who got away with murder ends up dead, and Rain starts to wonder if there’s any connection between this case—and the one from her own past.

The Stranger Inside had quite the twist I never saw coming. Rain is a nuanced character, both longing for her journalist days and yearning to give herself completely to motherhood. I found Hank fascinating—and likable—despite his issues, and I enjoyed the twining of past and present to show the reader the rest of the story.

Lisa Unger is a bestselling author. The Stranger Inside is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Harlequin/Park Row in exchange for an honest review.)

Rain and Hank were 12 when a man abducted them and killed their friend Tess. Years later a vigilante kills the man responsible when he is released from jail. Two more men accused of crimes are also murdered. Rain takes an interest and begins to finally confront her memories of that day. This is a unique mystery.

"The event that cripples one child, gives another child wings. The trauma that breaks one person into, imbues another with a supernatural strength of spirit. We cannot apply intellect and logic to our humanity. We can only try to understand ourselves, to heal the broken, to make strong again the injured."

Rain is married to Greg and are the parents of baby Lily. She loves being home with Lily, nursing her, and cuddling her. She used to write and produce a national news radio show. She does miss being on her news show and working with her good friend, Gilian. Greg is the producer for a local television news program.

When Rain was a little girl, she and her friend, Tess, were walking through a wooded area that they been warmed to avoid There, they encounter a huge man and his vicious dog. The man starts beating the girls and the dog attacks them. Their friend, Hank, comes up and tries to fight the man off, but he too is attacked. Both Tess and Hank are carried away by the man and Rain manages to run and hide just inside a big tree. Many hours later, Rain is found near death. Hank is also found terribly injured, but Tess has been beaten to death. Rain and Hank are severely traumatized and it takes a long time for them to heal from their physical injuries.

Today, Hank is a successful psychiatrist. He and Rain have had contact with one another but not often.

Rain and Gillian want to do a study on people who kill other people and the people who then kill the killer for revenge. Anxious to do this, Rain can’t help but be nervous because it brings back such terrible memories.

After serving time in jail and released, the man who killed Tess and attacked Rain and Hank has now been murdered by someone. In addition, there have been other revenge murders and the killer has not been found. The police are wondering if it’s the same person. They have nicknamed this person “The Executioner.” They have been working closely with Hank to get his opinion on this from a psychiatrist’s point of view.

The story itself is gritty, disturbing, and frightening. I couldn’t help but compare it with Dexter which was a favorite show of mine. However, on Dexter, we didn’t see a long, drawn out demonstration of the bad things that people did so, but emphasis was placed on the revenge by Dexter. That is why this book is so distressing in many ways to me. I found it to be far too long and I believe that was due to a lot of “arm chair psychoanalyzing” which the book has in copious amounts. However, I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will enjoy it, especially because the ending is really quite brilliant.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

3/5 stars

This is my third book by Lisa Unger, the others having been THE RED HUNTER and UNDER MY SKIN. I love the consistency Unger has when it comes to pulling you in from the beginning. THE STRANGER INSIDE had my attention immediately! The author really knows how to set up a story and give the readers one hell of a ride. I enjoy her writing style and how she creates the characters and weaves everything together for us.

This is one that's difficult to talk about without spoiling things. I think the synopsis gives the right amount of information you need before starting. I completely agree with other reviewers comparing some parts to Dexter - I mean, horrible killers are released from prison and they're getting murdered? Definite Dexter vibes. There were some good twists throughout, I know some avid thriller fans will probably see some coming, but it won't take away from the reading experience!

My main drawback with this one was that there was a lull for me. It felt like the book had some repetition that could have been eliminated to tighten things up in the story. That could definitely be a me thing, because I know there are tons of other reviewers out there that disagree. Don't get me wrong, I was captivated from start to finish, but it didn't have that binge read feeling for me. No matter what, I still enjoyed the book and will continue to pick up more from Unger in the future!

"After something rips your psyche apart, they try to stitch you back together. The physical wounds, they've healed...But whatever got broken inside, it's still not right."

When Rain, Hank and Tess were 12 years old, a monster took their lives from them. Although Rain and Hank survived the ordeal, the scars really never healed. Their memory of the trauma and the death of their friend, Tess, binds them as well as repels them. Rain becomes an investigative journalist and Hank gets a PhD in psychology to help damaged children. Rain marries and has a child but Hank can't get over the past or form relationships. Neither feels that justice was served even though their kidnapper was caught. They are hobbling along best they can when their monster, Eugene Kreskey, is released from the psychiatric center and is later found murdered. And then it seems that a vigilante is out there killing others who were acquitted of crimes and escaped punishment. NO SPOILERS.

This was such a great story with themes of punishment, justice, revenge and healing. The writing is excellent and the pace is such that I simply couldn't bear to put the book down as I was desperate to find out what would happen next, what revelations would be exposed, and what would become of the two main characters. I have no frame of reference to completely understand how a child would recover from this kind of experience and how they could possibly be OK -- sure tons of therapy, etc., but the damage inflicted was so severe and it elicits so many feelings and pain even as one would try to move past it. The subject was quite sensitively handled and my heart ached for Rain and Hank in their struggles. There was so much going on in the narrative as it switched between the points of view and I was hooked from the first few paragraphs. I can see why this has been hyped as one of the most anticipated thrillers for this fall. I don't want to say any more so as not to ruin anything for the reader. Just get it already. If you like a good thriller, this won't disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'll definitely be seeking out and reading more books by this author.

The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger is another mystery/thriller from this author. Unger is a skilled writer who provides the right mix of mystery, twists and thrills. In this book, past trauma will play a role as the story unfolds. I am a Lisa Unger fan and I enjoyed this book. The mystery will keep you reading because you will want to know more. This will definitely be on my gift list for the mystery lovers in my family.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Unger’s novels have been hit or miss for me. In the Blood was the first novel of hers that I had read and I loved it. Sadly, I haven’t been able to find another one of her novels that measures up to that first read. The Stranger Inside is a middle read for me. I liked it, but didn’t love it.

The novel follows 2 characters that have been impacted by a childhood trauma. In ways they have moved on with their lives, but in many ways they are still stuck in the past. At times, I did get bored as the middle part did drag for quite a bit. I was tired of the characters’ inter monologue and was hoping for a bit more action.

3 calculators out of a potential 5. I liked it, but there wasn’t enough going on in the plot to keep my attention.

Thank you to Netgallery and HARLEQUIN – Trade Publishing (U.S. & Canada) for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Four dark and twisty stars to The Stranger Inside!⁣
⁣
It’s hard to write this review without any spoilers. This thriller is dark, and spooky, and definitely gives chills. The story is captivating and while you will find yourself horrified, you can’t stop reading. Well written and intriguing, this was a fast paced and compulsive read. The Stranger Inside is a nail biter of a story and one you don’t want to miss if you love dark and mysterious! Thank you @parkrowbooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Rain is a stay-at-home mom, but misses her work as a reporter. When the suspected killer in a case she once worked is found murdered, she is drawn back into the case. To complicate matters, the recent murder is similar to an old case that Rain had a personal connection to. Rain is consumed with finding the killer.

Rain is taking a break from work to stay home with her child, but her reporter instincts kick in when a vigilante killer seems to be on the loose. The recent murder of a suspected killer is eerily similar to the murder of the man who attempted to abduct Rain when she was a kid. Rain was able to escape her kidnapper, but her best friends were not so lucky. As an adult, Rain still has a hard time with the guilt she has from her surviving while her friends suffered. Rain uses her skills and connections to discover the killer and how it connects to her past.

An addictive thriller that alternates between points of view. This is my second book to read by Lisa Unger, and she's an author I'll be sure to read more from in the future. Dark, captivating, and suspenseful.

I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.