3.5 stars.

I confess, I was all over the place trying to figure this out before the reveal. The author does a great job of making everyone seem capable of multiple murders, and cautious and suspicious of all the other characters while trying to survive. It's a multiple cat-and-mouse character story, but you don't know who is what.

I read this book around the same time as I read Murder Road, by Simone St. James, which has similar situations with murders happening, a man and woman traveling together, small town America, something keeping them from leaving, and growing distrust and dread. So both are kind of intermixed in my brain. That was my fault, but I didn't see the crossover aspects coming.

This was a quick read, fast-paced, lots of dread, lots of distrust, stuck in a motel with a murderer on the loose and not knowing who to trust while also relying on one another and trying to do the right thing. I liked the twist at the end, and I liked the ambiguous voice of the killer on the audiobook that kept you guessing.

❄️Book Review❄️
*
Summary; 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.

A disturbing discovery in the motel, the questionable actions of the mysterious owner and fellow guests, and a news report about a missing couple in the area set the scene for a terrifying night, but the worst is yet to come.

Each stranger holds a secret...but which one should be trusted?
*
My thoughts: this was such a quick and fun audiobook, thank you @netgalley for the advanced copy ! This was only 3 hours long and so much fun. This would be the perfect snowy day read. I think this is the perfect book for lovers of no exit. I had so much fun and was truly surprised to learn who the killer was. My only complaint is that I really couldn’t see them as the killer at all. But I think this was worth the listen.
*
I can’t even fathom a full review because I’m drowning in the new Taylor swift album, so here’s my QOTD- are you listening to the Tortured Poet Society today ?! If so what’s your favorite, mine is so long London and loml 😍
*
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This one was a miss for me--I think b/c the narration of the "bad guy" was so distorted and creepy that I tuned it out. I did like the last few chapters---nice satisfying albeit confusing ending.

Never trust a stranger…but late at night, in the middle of the woods in a snowstorm, Tibby isn’t left with much of a choice. She knows she won’t last long out in the weather, so when Walker approaches her and offers a ride, eventually she gives in. Walker is on his way to visit family and just wants to do the nice thing by helping…right? Neither of these two know the slightest bit about the other. When they are forced to make a detour and stay at a hotel for the night, things get even crazier when they make a shocking discovery at the hotel.

If you have the opportunity to listen to this book on audio…DO IT! It is a full production with multiple narrators, including the creepiest voice I have ever heard in a book before! I love reading/listening to scary books but it takes a lot for me to actually be scared by something in them. Narrator’s voice aside, I think the scariest part of this story is how it approaches the topic of trust - how do you ever really know who to trust? Can perfectly normal people in plain sight be perfectly normal, or this is something dark in them? I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I listened to this story; the pacing was perfect and the tension was leaping off the pages!! The ever-present feeling of impending doom was in every bit of the story; I knew something bad was going to happen, but I had no idea what it would be (or who would be doing it!) The narrators (Sakai Maarleveld, Traci Odom and John Pirhalla) were all wonderful!

Thank you to Kiersten Modglin, Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ALC! “The Stranger” is out now!

I really enjoyed this one and am planning to go through her back log of books now. Definitely an autobuy author

The Stranger" by Kiersten Modglin is a chilling psychological thriller that grips you from the first page. Set against the backdrop of a snowstorm and a mysterious roadside motel, the story lures you into a web of deception where every character holds secrets. Despite a somewhat predictable ending, the fast-paced action and constant suspense will keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a little different from most of KMod’s books, offering a more subtle storyline. The setup is well executed and you know something is coming, but the tension builds until the end. It is perfect if you’re looking for a quick book to binge read or listen to. The audio narration adds depth to the story. Saskia Maarleveld, Traci Odom, John Pirhalla made the main characters come to life. I loved that there were different narrators for the characters. Overall, "The Stranger" is an entertaining quick read that will leave you guessing until the very end. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

3.5 stars. I read this book from NetGalley because I love Kiersten Modglin. She does short, impactful thrillers in a way that is just so entertaining and this one was no different. This is about a girl named Tibby who gets in a fight with her boyfriend and finds herself walking on the road in the middle of a snowstorm. She runs into a stranger named Walker and he desperately wants to help her. Of course, she's super scared that hes going to be a killer or have some sort of malicious intent, so she resists, but eventually she agrees to let him take her to St Louis where she is going to meet with friends/family. The snowstorm continues to get worse so they stop at a motel. Phone lines are down, the hotel is usually pretty abandoned, and overall they're very secluded, except for the other people stranded at the same hotel. They try to find the hotel owner to get another room and some food, but he's missing and things are just very sketchy. They decide its safer to leave, but their tires have been slashed. They find a way out, but are the people who offer them a ride any safer than staying? My complaint about this book is that its just too quick. I wanted more explanation of Tibbys break up with her boyfriend. I wanted a little more clues about the whodunnit before the big reveal. I wanted to know more about why Walker felt so desperate to keep Tibby safe. With an extra hundred pages, this book could've rivaled No Exit. Definitely gave similar vibes but much less gorey! I'd recommend!

4 stars.

This was an enjoyable and fun read. Would definitely recommend it for fans of No Exit since it takes place during a pretty bad snowstorm. It's an extremely short story, but it packs a punch.

This audiobook was fantastic! It was so suspenseful, I was waiting for the twist the entire time so I didn’t want to stop listening!



Kiersten Modglin did an amazing job. The story kept me guessing the entire time who the killer could be.

The narrators were great! I loved that there was a different narrator for Tibby, Walker and the killer.

I highly recommend this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy.

This was a fantastic audiobook. I knew the whole time that there was a big twist and I could not figure it out! I love when a book captivates you from the very beginning and that is what "The Stranger" did. Kiersten Modglin knows how to write a suspenseful thriller. I would absolutely recommend this to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Kiersten Modglin for the audio copy of The Stranger.

This was a great book! I kept trying to figure out the twist and it wasn’t able to be done for me. Definitely recommend this one!!!

The Stranger by Kiersten Modglin; Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld; Traci Odom; John Pirhalla was such a phenomenal story!
I’ve read many books by Kiersten and she always delivers the most compelling stories ever!
This is a riveting psychological thriller that will hold the readers' attention from one end to another. With its richly drawn characters and deep suspense.

Thank You NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I'm impressed by Modglin's ability to maintain her high writing standards while churning out books at such a fast pace. "The Stranger" was no exception, delivering one of her signature plot twists that kept me engaged from start to finish. While I have read many of her books, this one stands out due to its premise, which highlights the potential dangers of picking up a stranger on the side of the road.

The book's central theme is a reminder that helping strangers can be like playing Russian roulette. The stranger could be someone in genuine need of help, or they could be someone dangerous looking for their next victim. The story was filled with suspense and kept me guessing until the end.

I listened to this whodunit in one sitting and was never bored. The book features multiple narrators, including the anonymous killer. One of my favorite narrators! Trying to guess which character is the psycho killer was one of the book's best parts. The audiobook version is fantastic, and I highly recommend it.

I want to thank Dreamscape for providing me with an early audiobook copy of this book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions expressed are entirely my own and given voluntarily.

#TheStranger #kierstenmodglin #dreamscape #audiobook #netgalley #ThrillerSuspense

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"It's just us, the road and darkness."

From the start the foreboding sets in your bones in the nail biting intense The Stranger by thriller queen Kiersten Modglin. I got whiplash from changing my mind on the killer more times then the snowflakes falling in the midnight storm.

We start with Tibby walking on a desolate road in an almost blizzard. Walker pulls over to offer a lift. She refuses because, you know, stranger danger. But Walker is suspicious that she has some blood on her, no winter coat or snow boots. Eventually, taking her chance in his car versus hypothermia, she gets in. As they drive the radio blares cell towers are down, roads are closed and two teens are missing.

They have to stop at a roadside motel that gives Bates Motel vibes from the start. Walker keeps leaving the room. Creepy people keep showing up and the owner is nowhere to be found. Worse the snow keeps falling in the darkness and there's no doubt a killer is in this motel.

Bravo to voice artists Saskia Maarleveld, Traci Odom and John Pirhalla for keeping up the fear factor with their whispery trembling voices. This author had me not trusting anyone. Tibby was so secretive, Walker gave over friendly Ted Bundy vibes and I can't even think about the about the eerie Bates Motel residents.

In just a little over 4 hours this writer made me shiver from the cold night, get goosebumps when the killer pops up with their creepy point of view and wish for a longer conclusion with these strangers.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscapes Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved every minute of this keep you guessing whodunit. Tibby finds herself stranded during a snow storm and hating men. She reluctantly accepts help from Walker. Together they make it to safety…..or so they think. If you have the chance to listen to the audio, do it. The “before” chapters were creepy AF! Bravo to the narrator for spooking me out while driving at night & listening.

Kiersten Modglin’s The Stranger is more novella than novel, but there is no question it’s a tight, fast-paced thriller. The entire adventure spans only hours, but dang if Modglin doesn’t pack those hours with tension, and I was glued to my earbuds listening to this story. The book is told from three perspectives, each told by a different narrator, all of whom deliver excellent performances. When we meet Tibby she is walking along an empty stretch of highway in a snowstorm. We’ve no clue why she is there or what has happened to put her here. Walker slows his car and ‘coerces’ her into accepting his help. He’s unwilling to leave her there for fear of what might happen to her. But the moment chapter three starts, when the third narrator’s distorted voice starts, I got chills. As the chapters fly by with the point of view constantly flipping between the various characters, we learn more about each of them, especially that third character and what they are hiding…that they are a psycho who is leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. But exactly who is this psycho? Is it possible it’s actually Tibby or perhaps Walker? I won’t spoil it but…anything is possible. I enjoyed this story tremendously. It came in hard and fast and didn’t overstay its welcome. If you’re looking for a short but intense thriller, look no further. The Stranger delivers. 4.5 stars! I’d like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advanced audio copy of Kiersten Modglin’s The Stranger.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1C10P3VY5CVH0/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This was a quick little thriller with a nice twist. I really enjoyed the narrators and thought the killer’s disguised voice added a cool creepy element to it. I think this would have been better as a longer story

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lately I hadn’t been pulling as many thrillers and now I’ve reviewed 3 in a row? Who even am I these days? 😁 When I saw that @kierstenmodglinauthor had a new book coming out, I couldn’t pass that up. One thing about all her books that is that they are addicting.

The Stranger was no exception! I had the audiobook and listened to the whole book in 24 hours. (Would have been less but my family insists on needing me 😅) It’s on the shorter side so that made it easier to do. It’s fast paced, twisty and the POV from the killer is very creepy on audio. In other words I loved it! The ending wraps up a little quickly but with the story being just under 200 pages, that’s not surprising.

The Stranger comes out TOMORROW! Thank you @dreamscape_media for my advanced copy!

Tibby has broken up with her boyfriend on a stranded stretch of road and now it is snowing! Along comes Walker. After some convincing, Tibby gets in his car. Because of the weather, these two end up in a hotel with no name on the side of the road. Then the weird stuff starts happening!

When Tibby got into Walker’s car, I did a mental head slap! I mean…how stupid can you be! But she had no options, stay outside in the snow or get into a warm car. Well? Did she make the right decision? You will have to read this to find out!

I enjoy this author! I love how she created so much suspicion around every character. I really had no idea who the villain was in this book. I enjoy a good guessing game!

The narrators, Saskia Maarleveld; Traci Odom; John Pirhalla, are so good! I love a production in a narration and this book nailed it!

Need a good mystery to make your day go by faster…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I’ve been a Kiersten Modglin fan for a few years now and really enjoy her books. They remind me of Freida McFadden in that they’re quick, engrossing reads. This book, like most of her others, kept me on the edge of my seat. I won’t spend weeks thinking about the characters, because the book is focused more on plot than character background, but I still recommend her books for a quick palette cleanser.

This audiobook took a while to get into… not one of my favorite narrations I’ve heard.