A Decent Thriller, but Nothing Mind-Blowing
The Stranger is one of those books that starts off strong, pulling you into its mystery right away. Kiersten Modglin knows how to build suspense, and there are definitely some moments that kept me engaged. It’s a fast read with an intriguing setup, and the twists do add some excitement.

That said, it was just okay for me. The plot had potential, but some parts felt predictable, and I never really connected with the characters. I kept waiting for that one shocking moment to completely pull me in, but it never quite happened. The pacing was fine, but it didn’t have that unputdownable factor I was hoping for.

If you enjoy quick thrillers with a few surprises, this one might be worth picking up. It’s a decent read, just not one that will stick with me for long.

The characters in this book were fantastic. It’s mysterious. It left me on the edge of my seat and left me wanting more. There’s nothing more than I love than a book that has me wanting to go back for it every moment I have.

Fantastic story with just the right amount of action! Easy to listen too, very entertainig! Would recommend to thriller lovers

Ughhh... well this had the twist and turns expected from Modglin but it left me wanting more.

The characters, meh. The twist, meh. The atmosphere and location? AMAZING.
This one didn't work for me mostly because everything that was interesting was skimmed over. We had a lot of more mundane moments, which were nice, but I felt that we were not working with the incredible atmosphere? There were so many great things to be expanded on. I would have even loved to see this turn into a bit of a horror with the locations Modglin did such a great job of building.

Clearly not my favorite KM book but it kept me hooked enough to push me through my reading slump.

I listened to the audiobook and I appreciated the different voices for each perspective. Helped keep me grounded and recognize what perspective we were in.

I always recommend KM but this one I will probably be less likely to recommend due to there being so many more amazing books on her backlist.

The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin is a quick and thrilling read full of unexpected twists. I've read several books by this author before and this one might be one of my favorites. I was really pleased that I couldn't guess how it would end. This one left me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. I loved the creepy motel and snowstorm vibes. The audiobook was absolutely delightful. Saskia Maarleveld, Traci Odom, and John Pirhalla all did a wonderful job bringing the characters and story to life.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

THIS BOOK!!

I’m usually good at figuring out the next plot twist, but this one? Nope! There were a few surprises I did not see coming, and I was floored!

Lisa did it again. I don’t think I have read a book of hers that disappointed. This book is no exception!

Are we the narrator was effortless in her dialogue and it felt like I wasn’t listening, but was truly in the story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of The Stranger!

This was a gripping book. I always find that Kiersten’s books go by too quickly.

Two strangers, Tibby and Walker, meet each other when they’re trapped in a snowstorm. Tibby doesn’t know what to think about Walker. Part of her is afraid of him, a valid thing considering he’s a man that’s willing to help a stranger, we’ve all watched plenty of movies and shows about serial killers in this day and age. Their quick bond surprised me. I don’t think I would have been able to trust a strange man. While they’re trapped in a motel, they have some weird things happen to them, that has them running for their lives. Running may be more dangerous than staying put.

I enjoyed the audio of this one. Saskia is one of my favorite narrators and I liked how she worked with the other voices to tell the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my ALC of this book.

When I need a quick binge worthy read Kiersten Modglin is my go to popcorn thriller author.

Would you get in the car with a stranger if you were stranded outside in the middle of a snowstorm? The Stranger made me think about what I would do in that situation! While the book was a bit creepy at times it was just ok. Would I recommend it though? Yes!

I listened to the audiobook version really enjoyed the narration.

This was a super twisty and quick read. At just under 200 pages KMod has delivered another thrilling, page turner.

It’s no surprise that KM is one of my favourite authors, I’ve been reading her books for a few years and I always look forward to what she brings out next.

I won’t go onto too much detail here as I think its best to go in blind. Be assured that it’s a wild and clever ride, and one I had no idea where it was going.

Narrators Saskia Maaleveld, Tarci Odom and John Pirhalla did a fantastic job with the characters, skilfully creating a tense, compelling and entertaining audiobook. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for an ALC.

I usually love this author with everything she writes. I ended up not finishing this one so lll just rate it a 3 star and move on. Sometimes books just don't work for you and unfortunately this one did not.

Modglin is the master of short mysteries, diving right into the action without any unnecessary build-up. The book features three captivating narrators: Walker, traveling home to St. Louis; Tibby, a stranger Walker picks up in a snowstorm; and a mysterious third character. Each narrator provides their own perspective, adding layers of suspense. As Walker and Tibby navigate the treacherous snowstorm, they must learn to trust each other, all while a murderer lurks in the background. The third narrator's identity remains shrouded in mystery, adding an extra layer of intrigue, especially in the audio version with its clever voice distortion. I found myself eagerly piecing together clues, trying to unravel the gripping "who done it" at the heart of the story. This compelling and intense tale proves that a short story can pack a powerful punch from start to finish

In this heart-pounding thriller, Tibby and Walker find themselves trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm. With roads closed and cell towers down, they have no choice but to travel together. Seeking refuge in a roadside motel, they encounter disturbing discoveries, mysterious guests, and a missing couple. Each stranger holds a secret, but which one can be trusted? Modglin weaves secrets, lies, and hairpin twists into a chilling tale set against icy roads. A gripping read that keeps you guessing until the end!

3.5 rounded down to 3

Kiersten Modglin show why you should never trust a stranger:

Walking on the side of the road in the middle of the nowhere at night time, is never the smart choice, but doing so in a snowstorm is even worse. This is the situation that Tibby finds herself in. She knows that she needs to get to shelter soon, but there is nothing in site, not even a sign for a town. When a car pulls up beside her she knows she shouldn’t get in but what choice does she have. Should she trust this perfect stranger with her life or her life to the elements. When she chooses the stranger, disturbing things start to happen and Tibby doesn’t know who she can trust.

This is the first book that I have read by Modglin and I was impressed with her ability to keep me guessing to the end. I did find the book a bit short and I wish the suspense didn’t end so quickly, but overall I enjoyed the book.

The strangers, who is the stranger, can you figure out who the stranger really is in the end? I know I certainly wasn’t able to figure it out by the end. I think that Modglin does a good job keeping you guessing and questioning who it could be by playing with details which details are presented to the readers as well as how and when she chooses to share those details. This means that the book is full of red herrings, and you will find yourself making assumptions throughout the book only to be fooled again.

I feel like you only get surface level with the characters, so this is very much a plot based book.

I did the audiobook version of this book. Walker’s reader is fine. Tibby’s reader is fine, but the physic/killer’s reader’s voice is annoying. I get trying to disguise who that person is but the voice was too tinny and hard to listen too. If they had shorter chapters, it would be fine but they feel longer due to the voice and the voice really grated on me. It made me not want to start listening, so i think if you would like to read this book, I would do a physical copy.

I found the ending a bit abrupt and that was it. I wanted a bit more but there was nothing left.

First book by Modglin and i enjoyed it and it will not be the last. If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, I recommend this one.

Enjoy!!!

Never trust a stranger…But, late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker have no choice.With roads shutting down and cell towers out, running into each other and deciding to travel together could either be their saving grace or worst mistake. When they’re forced to take an unexpected detour and seek refuge in a roadside motel, the storm quickly becomes the least of their worries

Which stranger can you trust? A fun, thrilling ride, tucked into 208 pages - short, fast paced and action packed. Tibby says she is running away from an ex that left her stranded. Walker, a stranger who offers her a ride, is the only car for miles and says he is driving home for the holidays. As the story unravels I went back and forth on who I thought was the bad guy! The eerie setting in the snowstorm would make this the perform story to save for a snowy night.

Late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker had no choice but to trust each other. They were forced to seek refuge in a roadside motel, with questionable actions of the mysterious owner and fellow guests, and a killer in the mix. Each stranger had a secret, but which one could be trusted?

I’m really getting into the rhythm of KMod’s pop-corn thrillers! While some of them didn’t necessarily work for me, this one actually did!

This was a high-adrenaline short story that kept the pace from the first page. I was scared for Tibby, and I was questioning everyone. I (happily) didn’t guess the ending in this one. It was very fun and satisfying!

The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin

This was the perfect quintessential thriller! It gripped me from the start and kept me guessing until the end. This book was super well-rounded offering a dash a romance, a couple of well placed plot twists, and enough suspense to keep me highly stressed! I highly recommend this for someone looking for a fast paced suspenseful thriller!

TWs: g*slighting, tr*pping, domestic ab*se, more

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5

Kiersten Modglin is the queen of mystery and suspense and is a must read author for anybody who loves a good mystery. The Stranger had great twists and turns and was full of mystery. Told from multiple view points, I loved the narrators and how well they narrated this novel. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free audiobook of The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin in exchange for my honest review.

The stranger was my second novel by author Kiersten Modglin.

Her books remind me much of Freida McFadden books. This one is quite fast paced but there isn't much background of the characters to care about them at all. Another thing that bothered me was kind of insta love on the part of one of the characters which annoyed me the whole book.

It was good to listen to two narrations but the third narration sounded a bit odd and far off that was intentional I guess but I couldn't understand parts of it.

The suspense kept me hooked and I finished it quite fast, it being only 5-6 hours long book.

Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape media for the audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Tabitha "Tibby" is stranded in the middle of nowhere during a bad winter snow storm. She has a decision to make-get in the car with Walker a complete stranger offering her a ride (potential serial killer) or freeze to death. Despite her hesitation Tibby decides to ride with Walker. Unfortunately, the storm continues to get worse leaving Walker and Tibby unable to travel and seeking shelter at a run down motel.
While at the motel, Walker and Tibby learn about the two kids missing in the local
town and find the owner of the motel killed... But who did it? Can they trust each other... who is the real stranger?
I'm a big fan of Modglin but this one just didn't WOW me. I enjoyed the overall story and the plot twist was decent but I feel like something was missing. It's a quick read and I love a thriller so I would still recommend it.

I did enjoy this one but didn't love it as much as other books by this author, I'm sorry to say. I did very much enjoy the narration.