Thank you for the opportunity on reading this arc! Minka kent is always an automatic read for me, and this book DOES NOT DISAPPOINT! Edge of your seat type of book! 5/5 love it

Minka Kent is one of my go to authors and I was thrilled to read her new book, Circle of Strangers. This is a sequel to Imaginary Strangers and is packed with twists and turns and lots of secrets. It’s a book that keeps you up all night reading!

3.5 stars. I really loved Imaginary Strangers, the first book in this series, so I was really excited to get an ARC for this one. This book is full of unlikeable characters, so if that’s not your thing, you won’t enjoy it.

The book begins with Camille, Will, and their kids starting over in Arizona. They’ve relocated from San Diego after some very traumatic events. Will has given up his career as a doctor to teach at a local university. Their new neighborhood is quiet, gated, friendly, and most importantly, safe.

The neighbors include Sozi, a stay at home mom who seems desperate for friends, and Mara and Oscar a married couple who seem incredibly toxic; fighting in front of all the neighbors one minute, hopelessly in love with each other the next.

Camille, bored at home while her kids are at school and Will is at work, starts to notice some peculiarities about their new neighbors. Is everything in this picture perfect community as great as it seems? Why is Sozi’s husband so reclusive? Why does Mara constantly flirt with Will, despite saying how much she loves her husband?

The more Camille digs and investigates, the more suspicious she becomes of everyone in her neighborhood. Everything comes to a head when a dead body turns up in Camille and Will’s garage.

They moved out here for a new start. But has danger followed Camille to her new safe space?

I really enjoyed the first 80% of the book. The last 20% took a completely different turn, and almost seemed like a different book to me. I assume there’s going to be a third book in the series because this one ended on a cliffhanger. I personally don’t like when books do this because I like to feel like there’s some type of closure on the end, but I understand the author leaving it open to the next book. This wasn’t my favorite by Minka Kelly, but I’ll definitely be reading the next one. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

Imaginary Strangers was great, but Circle of Strangers is even better! The prologue starts off with a bang and I read the rest of the book eagerly, desperate to get caught up to that point so I could find out more. I never would have guessed the direction this book, heck this series, just went! I could not figure out what was going on. There were so many suspicious characters and events and things that didn't seem to add up. But when the truth was revealed? Mind. Blown. Minka Kent is one of my favorite thriller authors and this book proves why. An absolute must read but make sure you read Imaginary Strangers first! I already can't wait for the next one to come out because I am dying to know what happens next!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.

Minka Kent is one of those authors that I don't really have to see what her book is about - I almost always enjoy them. You are guaranteed a writing style that sucks you in and some serious plot twists. So I was really excited to read this book.

Then I read it.. sigh. I was disappointed. I was slightly bored and annoyed at the same time. I liked that it had a few twists that I didn't see coming, but.. I didn't care. I didn't like any of the characters. I wasn't sucked in - it took me 3 days to read this book, which is a long time for me. I would pick it back up with a determination to just finish it.

Was it a bad book? No. Was it a great book? No. It was kind of meh.. How much of my disappointment was due to the actual book, and how much was due to it not being what I was hoping for? I'm not sure.

If you want to read it - I say get it from the library.

I do want to thank #netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I did read the entire book, and with my instant gratification syndrome, thats a compliment. So three stars from me. Average.

Title: Circle of Strangers
Author: Minka Kent
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: August 19, 2025

Rating: 3.5/5

Quick Summary: This is the second book in The Dangerous Strangers Thrillers series by Minka Kent. This story follows Camille, Will, and their family to their new home in Phoenix, Arizona. They are anticipating a clean-slate from family drama that ensued in their previous town but, soon, their dark past starts to creep back into their lives. Among the mysterious letters they start receiving, they begin to form relationships with their new neighbors but also start to question whether or not they are to be trusted. There are lies, betrayals, secrets, twists, and turns weaved throughout the entire story from beginning to end.

My Thoughts: Minka's writing was engaging and easy to read but was not as fast-paced as I like to see in a thriller. The story was well-developed and the characters were dynamic and intricately crafted, contributing to a narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat and questioning every relationship.

Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to someone who likes mysteries.

I picked up this book on a bit of a whim—I was just in the mood for a fast-paced thriller, and this one looked promising. At first, I wasn’t entirely sold. The beginning felt a little slow, and it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of the story. But I’m so glad I stuck with it, because once things started to unravel, I was completely hooked.

What really drew me in was how the story slowly peeled back its layers. It had this quiet tension building underneath everything, and as each piece started falling into place, I found myself more and more invested. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the plot threw in twists that totally caught me off guard.

Camille stood out as such a strong, compelling character—but the one who truly surprised me was Will. His arc took a turn I never saw coming, and he ended up being one of the most intriguing characters in the entire book.

Honestly, I kept telling myself, “just one more chapter,” and before I knew it, I was flying through it. It’s one of those books that pulls you in without you even realizing it—and suddenly you’re completely immersed.

If you’re looking for a thriller that sneaks up on you, keeps you guessing, and refuses to be put down, this one is definitely worth picking up. Huge thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy—I couldn’t put it down!

I was happy I didn’t have to remember Imaginary Strangers in order to read this one. There’s a little summary. This one was great. Neighborhood moms gossiping. A big twist changed things and I didn’t see it coming. Another great one by Minka.

This story starts off with a dead body in Camille’s garage so my interest was immediately piqued. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series to see what Camille is up to next.

This book starts out with a bang when Camille finds a dead body in her garage. Rather than call the police, she goes about making dinner for her two children and then sends them to bed early to give herself time to “clean up” the garage. I was immediately hooked and ready for a wild ride finding out who the body in the garage belonged to and how they ended up in Camille’s garage in the first place and why she wasn’t calling the police.

Unfortunately, the tension and suspense dissipate as the story goes back in time to tell the events leading up to this discovery. The book was engrossing and did hold my interest every time I picked it up to read it, but I never found myself chomping at the bit to get back to it.

I enjoy the easy way Minka writes and brings her characters to life. I found myself connecting with Camille and rooting for her, despite her flaws and the fact that I didn’t always agree with her decisions.

Although the tension lessens after the very beginning of the book, it does start to pick up again in the last 25% or so. Then, the story ends and I’m left feeling like I wanted more. I wanted more resolution and more answers and the book was just over.

Overall, for me, this book felt like if ‘Desperate Housewives’ was an easy beach read and sometimes that’s the exact kind of book I need. If you’re looking for exactly that kind of light domestic thriller, this could be the one for you, too.

With thanks to Minka Kent and Thomas & Mercer Publishing via NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC in exchange for my review.

WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT WHAT????!! -me the entire last 25 percent of the book.

You would think after reading all of Minka Kents books that I would know there's always a huge twist and then several more to follow. But no. I thought I had it figured out and I DID NOT.

The cliffhanger, imo criminal. Please tell me the next book in this series is coming out like next week because THERE ARE THINGS I NEED TO KNOW MS. KENT.

Circle Of Strangers by Minka Kent
I picked up this ARC and absolutely loved it! I was intrigued by the prologue and wanted to find out what was going to happen to lead up to that prologue. It was a slow burn as after the prologue it dragged a bit, but the suspense was there from the beginning, which made it really good regardless of the slow burn. The book had several twists, some a bit predictable, but still many that had me shocked. The author did an amazing job at keeping my attention from beginning to end. I rate this book 5 stars. Publication date is August 19th, 2025

I like everything I’ve read from Minka Kent and this is no exception. It’s a sequel to Imaginary Strangers and focuses on Will and Camilla moving locations and moving on, or trying to anyway. The cast of neighbors is small but intriguing and will keep you wanting to know more. The book ends in a way that you know there will be more, and I can’t wait.

Minka Kent does it again! If you’re a fan of this author, you will enjoy this book. It’s a nice follow up to the first book in the series as well.

**Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc in exchange for an honest review**

This thriller actually kept me turning pages, and I’m not normally thrilled by these types of books. I believe at one point I even started to connect with Camille a little bit, but that changed when she started getting suspicious and looney about every single thing happening in her life. As a sociopath, she honestly should have had more composure and control. She doesn’t have or show emotions, but that seemed to be all she did after the halfway point of this book. That threw me off a bit.

You cannot trust anyone in this book, so my mind immediately went where maybe other readers wouldn’t. I do not want to give spoilers, so I will just say that I pretty much figured out the ending by the halfway point. Even though I figured things out, I was still surprised by the the details given in the epilogue…

The biggest trigger for some people would be the mommy issues that two characters have from traumatic childhoods. If you are triggered by bad parenting or childhood trauma from terrible mothers, then I guess you could skip this book. There is also a dead body at one point, but it isn’t really described much other than the word “blood” being used. This book doesn’t really have much description, but most thrillers do not. I may have rated this book higher stars if there was ONE character I liked or could relate to. I would have liked to have felt SOMETHING reading this book.

Overall, I would rate this one 3.4 stars because it kept me reading until the end. I really enjoyed it for a thriller, but it did not engage me to the point where I LOVED it. I will also recommend this story to friends that ask if I’ve read a good thriller lately.

This was like if housewives reality and mystery got mixed up. It was really fun read! I enjoyed a lot

I loved this book!A quick thriller that kept my interest. Bring on book number 3.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Camille and Will relocated their lives to get far away from Will’s mother. They moved into a private neighborhood within a gated community for safety. But Nothing has felt right since they moved to Saguaro Circle. After being in the neighborhood for a few days it’s clear that her neighbors harbor secrets just like she does. Even worse her neighbors are hiding within the secured gated walls just as she is. Now Camille has locked her family inside these walls with dysfunctional neighbors.
…
Camille has been trying to hide from her mother Lucinda since left home. Somehow Lucinda always tracks her down. It’s with letters that Camille knows that Lucinda knows she’s moved. She’s not too worried about her mothers influence because it shaped her into the woman she is today. She likes to consider herself a good judge of character so spending time entangled in her neighbors drama is par for the course of what’s required to survive in a small cul-de-sac.
…
Minka Kent builds an interesting story within a circle of strangers harboring interesting secrets. Camille is new the neighborhood bringing her own secrets. This gated community appealed to her for safety. It never crossed her mind that her neighbored harbored the same feelings. Now Camille starts to wonder who her neighbors are hiding from and what secrets they keep. Minka delivered a steady pace thriller with a plethora of activity. My mind was on constant alert trying to piece together this puzzle. Eventhough this is book 2 I believe it can be read as a standalone. There is enough information in this book to get any reader thru the process without it hindering their understanding of who Camille is. It’s an addictive read that had me wanting to stay up all night to finish. All the different scenarios that cross Camille’s mind crossed my mind as well.
…
Brilliantly written and executed. Circle of Strangers was a phenomenal story. I’m sad it’s over. I’m eager for the final book to see how it all turns out for Camille.

‘The lengths neighbors will go to protect their secrets become downright frightening in a gripping novel of suspense by Minka Kent, the Edgar-nominated author of Unmissing.’
 
Every summbitch in here is unabashedly & completely deranged. The men & women, the whole lot of ‘em, just cracked. Probably the kids too, we just don’t know it yet. So if you love the crazies like I do, with ruthless, conniving, backstabbing hussies and sociopaths harboring vats of mommy issues as bonuses, along with vengeful, slithering mofo’s who can’t keep it in their pants, then pick this up yesterday. Ya just can’t beat the twisted entertainment factor.🏌🏻‍♀️

Twas good fun!

Oh and it ends with a hooker. A little cliff action...
Did it work? You bet it did. Ain't nothin' could keep me away from book 3. Eh eh... Not after being strung up on that succulently baited hook, leaving me with my tongue waggin' like a summertime chihuahua, hopeful for the kind of vengeance that shares a bed with annihilation. Ahh, yes, please.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc in exchange for review.
 
Pub: 8.19.2025.

Minka Kent has truly outdone herself with the sequel to Imaginary Strangers! I wasn’t sure I needed another one, but boy, was I in for a treat. This book was packed with twists and secrets. The neighborhood itself becomes a character in the story, and everyone is desperate to keep their secrets hidden.

Minka Kent is an author I can’t resist reading. This is my eleventh book by her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending me this arc in exchange for my honest review.