Carol Goodman's "The Stranger Behind You" is a suspenseful, atmospheric thriller. Goodman's writing style is descriptive and evocative, immersing readers in the eerie setting of a small town shrouded in secrets.

The plot includes many twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. However, the pacing feels uneven at times, with certain sections dragging while others move quickly. While the central mystery holds promise, the execution may leave some readers wanting more depth and complexity. In terms of intrigue, "The Stranger Behind You" offers plenty of suspense and tension to keep readers engaged. From ominous encounters to chilling revelations, Goodman expertly builds suspense throughout the story, leaving readers eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth.

Character development is hit-or-miss, with some characters feeling well-rounded and compelling, while others feel underdeveloped or stereotypical. As the narrative unfolds, the characters' motivations and backstories are revealed, but some may find themselves wishing for more depth and nuance in their portrayal.

"The Stranger Behind You" is a decent thriller that will appeal to fans of atmospheric suspense. While it may not offer the most compelling character development or plot execution, its atmospheric setting and moments of suspense make it an enjoyable read for those seeking a chilling escape into the unknown.

3.5 start rounded to 4 - Some parts of this book left me slightly confused, but still a very intriguing read. This was more of a story within a story. I may even reread this one.

Excellent from start to finish! Loved Lillian. I will absolutely be seeking out more books from Carol Goodman.

This has many different layers to it, all of which are intensely intriguing. The protagonist is a journalist who exposes a wealthy and elite sexual predator. She is attacked by an unknown assailant one night and ends up finding a haven in a former Magdalen Laundry building, which used to house “wayward” girls. Meanwhile, the wife of the sexual predator is set on revenge.

Goodman is deft at crafting enthralling stories. Multiple storylines consistently held my interest. The twisty plot revealed multiple surprises and the ending was satisfying. Fans of psychological suspense should definitely put Carol Goodman on their tbr list!

This story was so much more than the #metoo trope I expected it to be. It was a story of revenge, heartbreak, damaged trust, deceit, hope, fear, loss, and love in the post unexpected places. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of multiple characters! I absolutely loved the alternating chapters in first person from Joan and Melissa.
Yet another reason William Morrow continues to be one of my very favorite publishers!

Engrossing, with a surprisingly charming duel timeline thing happening that often feels like a bit of a reprieve.

I can't imagine that this book was that good, because according to Goodreads, I read it back in December and have no memory of doing so.

This suspenseful novel set in New York City features a plot that tells the story of two women--Joan and Lillian--whose paths cross at a gothic apartment building in upper Manhattan known as The Refuge, the site of a former Magdalen Laundry. Each has sought safety there after exposing the exploits of powerful, unscrupulous men who will stop at nothing to silence them, Though their experiences happened decades apart, the frightening vulnerability of women and imbalance of power is strikingly similar.

How did Lillian manage to evade her pursuers all those years ago--and can the parallels between their stories offer a resolution to the danger Joan now finds herself in? Filled with plot twists, ruthless characters, unexpected allies, and sinister settings, The Stranger Behind You is a gripping read from start to finish.

Another author I’ve not read before but after reading this book I will certainly be reading more of her books. From the beginning this book sucked me in and I just didn’t want to put it down.

Review DNF at 8%. It was going well until the author has the main character get dropped in a neighborhood and say “thank god for gentrification” so now she feel safe. That comment was completely tone deaf in this day and time. Gentrification has displaced many Black and Brown people and the comment by the anatomist followed by comments about how safe the neighborhood is now and how her mom had a fit when she found out she was moving there just didn’t sit well with me. As a Black woman it was a turn off and something I cannot support.

This was a good story. I enjoyed the twists and turns, but I struggled a bit with some of the plot. It was good overall, and thriller readers will enjoy it!

Another one of those, where you get down to knitty gritty, there are a lot issues with it.

A historical mystery/thriller of sorts. But with the Me Too theme. Joan writes an article exposing a newspaper owner of his extensive list of sexual assaults, making her an overnight star. She gets attacked the day of her release party, and hides away from the world in this historical building, with a security guard, cameras, locks, etc etc, She sees as her world has changed for the better. With the money she made she's able to work on her next big article or even a book. And she stumbles over a story that happened right there, in her new place of living. A story of how girls were hidden away when it was inconvenient for men. It is a Me Too story from the past.

Meanwhile, the tycoon of the newspaper commits suicide. His wife, Melissa sees her world crumbling around, and she sees Joan as to blame for everything. To kind of get revenge on Joan, and due to financial hardships that she is now facing, she moves into the same building as Joan, and starts.. well, stalking her.

For me this was problematic due to how Joan handled her own attack. She has worked extensively to get the stories of all of these sexual attack victims, but when it comes to herself, she throws everything she learned from her research out the window and she becomes an alcoholic hermit. I understand PTSD and all, but the reasoning behind it was to not overshadow the expose.

Also, Melissa. Oi Melissa. She was high and mighty, privileged, rich Melissa. When everything is taken away, her first thought not be mad at the cause of it, but pursue a woman that exposed it? I mean, her husband had history that she already knew about. So really, the naiveté was overwhelming, and made me dislike her that much more. Her stalking Joan, somehow always being able to get into her apartment, tricking the doormen. But you're that naive to not see the cause right in front of you? Again, a very convenient to go about this plot.

Overall it flowed well, a medium pace, but always trying to keep you on your toes. It didn't win for me in the end, but not every book can be a winner.

Wow. What a book of twists and turns. I loved this book. It’s perfect for fall and a little darker atmosphere.

Grabs you right from the beginning and keeps you guessing the whole way through until the final plot twist . I loved the story and although this was the first book I’ve read by Ms. Goodman but it won’t be my last

THE STRANGER BEHIND YOU by Carol Goodman is an atmospheric novel, full of twists that will keep you guessing, not to mention the POV of one or both characters of this dual POV novel may be unreliable.
There is quite a bit happening in this novel, but, for me, it kept me wondering what would happen and how the pieces were going to fit together. Many of the actions of both Joan and Melissa are questionable, but they did drive the narrative. It is a work of fiction, and I was entertained. I also enjoyed trying to puzzle out how Lillian’s story would play into the conclusion.
If you like a twisty mystery thriller, give this one a shot.
Thanks to the publisher and Scene of the Crime for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheStrangerBehindYou #CarolGoodman #WilliamMorrowandCustomHouse #SceneoftheCrime

This was a fantastic read. I was fully immersed from the first sentence. The author does a wonderful job of creating a story that has just enough mystery to keep the reader turning the pages to quickly get to the next chapter. It is a story that has a
Lot of triggers, sexual abuse, #MeToo subject matter, and suicide. I would give that subtle warning to any reader about to embark! Five stars from me! Great read start to finish

The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman was classic Carol Goodman. Historical mystery woven into present day mystery and spooky buildings. I am a sucker for all of her books. In this one we read about Joan, an up and coming reporter about to break the story of her life. Caspar Osgood is the head of The Globe, a famous newspaper. Joan has been Investigating him and has found out several women have claimed he sexually assaulted them over the years. With the help of her editor, Simon, who happens to be Casper’s college best friend turned enemy, she is about to blow this story wide open. The night the story breaks, Joan is attacked in her apartment and suffers a head injury. Scared to death and not knowing who to trust she does not report this to the police. She ends up taking money for a book advance about the story and moving to The Refuge, an old building in New York that used to be a Magdalene Laundry back in the 20s. It has top-notch security and has all the technological upgrades you would want. She finally feels safe.
The other narrator of the story is Melissa Osgood, Casper’s wife. She is hell-bent on bringing Joan down and will go to almost any length to do so. Joan is not aware of the danger coming her way.
The other main character is Lillian, Joan’s neighbor, a woman in her 90s who’s lived in The Refuge since the 1920s, when she witnessed something she shouldn’t have and went into hiding. Her story and the history of The Refuge are very much a part of the stories of Joan and Melissa.
This book had a little bit of a different feel than a typical book by Carol Goodman. At first the characters of Joan and Melissa were not very likable. They grew on me as the book went on. I alway enjoy the way that the author has a historical aspect in her books . There were several mysteries in this book and I really loved the way the story ended. Make sure to read this one! Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I have always been a Carol Goodman fan, but I did not connect with this book. The plot was not consistent and things seemed to be all over the place. I do hope she returns to form. I miss a good thriller like The Widow's House.

This is not my first book by this author which I enjoyed. I look forward to seeing what is next for her. This is a suspenseful story that I found to be fast paced and engaging. This is a well written story about Joan who is a writer and gets involved in a mystery that leaves her in search of the truth. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by the characters and how relateable they were . They made the story fun and easy to read. This is a story that is full of action and was entertaining to read. I enjoyed the growth throughout the story and what the characters brought to the story. I highly recommend this book.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

I’m still relatively new to Carol Goodman’s writing, having only read one other book by her, but as soon as I saw the synopsis of this latest book, I was intrigued. Just the mention of Magdalen Laundry was enough to grab me!

I will say while I did like this one, it did take me a while to read it. I admit I easily put it aside when something else came up…and I think it’s because this one had a bit too much going on to really keep me completely engaged. It wasn’t until I finally got to the last third of the book that I found the book really took off.

What did keep pulling me back though is that I love gothic-style mysteries and this one sure did live up to it’s expectations. As soon as Joan meets her elderly neighbor Lillian, who has lived in the building since it was a Magdalen Laundry, things start to get really interesting. Lillian begins telling Joan her own story of how she became involved with a notorious crime group that ruled the city from the late 1920s to the early 1940s. This was definitely my favorite story line and ended with such a great twist – one I did not see coming!

All in all, I enjoyed this book and will certainly be checking out Carol Goodman’s other books…I love that I have a bunch to read while we wait to see what she writes next!