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Intimate Strangers
Investigative journalist, Laurie Forbes, is planning her wedding to Elliot Russell, when she receives a tip-off that a group of illegally smuggled women is being held somewhere in the East End of London. During her search unexpected and devastating events begin throwing her own life into chaos, so fellow journalist, Sherry MacElvoy steps in to help. Taking on undercover roles to get to the heart of the ruthless gang of human-traffickers, neither reporter can even begin to imagine what dangers they are about to face. Neela is one of the helpless Indian girls being held in captivity. Her fear is not only for herself, but her six-year-old niece, Shaila. A disfiguring birthmark has so far saved Neela from the abuse, but she knows it is only a matter of time before she is sent for - and worse, before Shaila is taken. Her desperate bids to seek outside help are constantly thwarted, until finally she, and the women with her, agree there is only one way out ...
- GenresFiction
564 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2010
35 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Susan Lewis
67 books1,206 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Susan Lewis is the bestselling author of over forty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. Following periods of living in Los Angeles and the South of France, she currently lives in Gloucestershire with her husband James, stepsons Michael and Luke, and mischievous dogs Coco and Lulu.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 11, 2011
Don't you just hate it when you have nearly finished a book especially one that you really enjoyed to find out that there are two more books before it. They are 1) Silent Witness 2) Wicked Beauty then it is this one 3) Intimate Strangers but it doesn't mention the other two books in this one. Grrr. I only found out on one of Goodreads Reviews, I suppose it was my fault also for not reading the review before starting the book. Oh well nevermind! Hope I have broght it at least to someones ATTENTION!
May 9, 2017
If you looked at my bookcase you'd be certain I was a huge Susan Lewis fan. In fact if you asked me I'd agree she was one of "my authors" but having just finished Intimate Strangers I'd say something about our relationship has changed. For sure I still enjoyed this book but it didn't have me as enthralled as some of her other titles have. I didn't feel as in awe of her writing as I have felt upon finishing some of her more recent titles and I almost felt ambivalent about reading future works. All of which saddens me in a way and yet makes me more appreciative of the GR community and the way I have been guided to some wonderful reading experiences and fabulous authors.
But I digress. Intimate Strangers was a story of friendship and love and the damage of betrayal. In my mind Sherry Mac was the protagonist but having just read the blurb it seems Laurie Forbes was the central character. Either way these ladies enjoy a close, although relatively new friendship and have just started a working relationship. Both women are journalists and they are building a story about human traffickers and doing all in their power to rescue the women and children involved. In their personal lives Laurie's fiance has called off the wedding to be with someone else and her life is spiralling out of control. Meanwhile Sherry has finally been reunited with Nick, the love of her life and the man for whom she has been pining these past seven years. So things are looking good for her. Or are they? The human trafficking part of the story involved moments of tension, caused great sorrow for the plight of the victims, and created feelings of disgust towards the gangbosses. The relationship part of the story simply frustrated, and in some ways angered me but surprisingly didn't evoke any sympathy.
There were twists in this book and I hadn't foreseen the ending but overall I would be hard pressed to rate this one higher than 3 stars. An enjoyable read but one I suspect will soon be forgotten.
But I digress. Intimate Strangers was a story of friendship and love and the damage of betrayal. In my mind Sherry Mac was the protagonist but having just read the blurb it seems Laurie Forbes was the central character. Either way these ladies enjoy a close, although relatively new friendship and have just started a working relationship. Both women are journalists and they are building a story about human traffickers and doing all in their power to rescue the women and children involved. In their personal lives Laurie's fiance has called off the wedding to be with someone else and her life is spiralling out of control. Meanwhile Sherry has finally been reunited with Nick, the love of her life and the man for whom she has been pining these past seven years. So things are looking good for her. Or are they? The human trafficking part of the story involved moments of tension, caused great sorrow for the plight of the victims, and created feelings of disgust towards the gangbosses. The relationship part of the story simply frustrated, and in some ways angered me but surprisingly didn't evoke any sympathy.
There were twists in this book and I hadn't foreseen the ending but overall I would be hard pressed to rate this one higher than 3 stars. An enjoyable read but one I suspect will soon be forgotten.
July 10, 2021
Laurie is an investigate journalist and in the days before her wedding she enlists the help of another journalist Sherry to help her uncover a story of illegal smuggling of women for prostitution. They work together to expose the gang traffickers and together with the story of their personal life with all the twists and turns makes for a dramatic and intense read.
January 1, 2019
First this book really needed to be edited and it could’ve been lot shorter than it is. Writer rambles on without a break.
As for characters, all women in the book are a bit pathetic, all men almost unbearable. What’s that about silent tall men, so annoying. I mean I was rooting for Laurie’s death and Elliot’s lose. So no sympathies for any one.
Still it was an easy read, and I actually enjoyed the description of heart break and despair. I wish book was just about that. But no writer has to make self indulgent white women some sort of saviours of Indian women. Though they were so self indulgent they barely saved them. Seriously going to India to see ‘untouchable’ in their environment, wtf was that.
And when Laurie finally stopped thinking about her for a minute and got to those women, Neela called her goddess or something! For fuck sake.
Why couldn’t the author just write about breakup and betrayal, it is good and relatable but the attempt to bring saviour bullshit was just too much to digest.
As for characters, all women in the book are a bit pathetic, all men almost unbearable. What’s that about silent tall men, so annoying. I mean I was rooting for Laurie’s death and Elliot’s lose. So no sympathies for any one.
Still it was an easy read, and I actually enjoyed the description of heart break and despair. I wish book was just about that. But no writer has to make self indulgent white women some sort of saviours of Indian women. Though they were so self indulgent they barely saved them. Seriously going to India to see ‘untouchable’ in their environment, wtf was that.
And when Laurie finally stopped thinking about her for a minute and got to those women, Neela called her goddess or something! For fuck sake.
Why couldn’t the author just write about breakup and betrayal, it is good and relatable but the attempt to bring saviour bullshit was just too much to digest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2019
I really love the way this author writes. Her characters are real and the emotions palpable.
July 21, 2020
Didn’t realise this was the final of a three-part series, but enjoyed it very much as a stand-alone book.
Susan Lewis is a great writer with a unique imagination.
Great read.
Susan Lewis is a great writer with a unique imagination.
Great read.
September 24, 2020
Completely ridiculous plot and unbelievable characterisation - basically romantic/thriller trash. But nevertheless it's somehow kind of engaging.
September 13, 2014
I've read a few novels by Susan Lewis. I like her style of writing. The Mill House currently remains my favourite by her.
November 13, 2014
Spellbinding and emotional. Stayed up the night to finish. It was thought provoking regarding the human trafficking element and it examined the fraility of human relationships. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews