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Strangers in Company
An awe inspiring and thought provoking book!
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
22 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Jane Aiken Hodge
54 books80 followersJane Aiken Hodge was born in the USA, brought up in the UK and read English at Oxford. She received a master's degree from Radcliffe College, Harvard University.
Before her books became her living she worked as a civil servant, journalist, publishers' reader and a reviewer.
She has written lives of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer as well as a book about women in the Regency period, PASSION AND PRINCIPLE. But her main output has been over twenty historical novels set in the eighteenth century, including POLONAISE, THE LOST GARDEN, and SAVANNAH PURCHASE, the beloved third volume of a trilogy set during and after the American War of Independence. More recently she has written novels for Severn House Publishers.
She enjoys the borderland between mystery and novel, is pleased to be classed as a feminist writer, and is glad that there is neither a glass ceiling nor a retiring age in the writers' world. She was the daughter of Conrad Aiken and sister of Joan Aiken.
Before her books became her living she worked as a civil servant, journalist, publishers' reader and a reviewer.
She has written lives of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer as well as a book about women in the Regency period, PASSION AND PRINCIPLE. But her main output has been over twenty historical novels set in the eighteenth century, including POLONAISE, THE LOST GARDEN, and SAVANNAH PURCHASE, the beloved third volume of a trilogy set during and after the American War of Independence. More recently she has written novels for Severn House Publishers.
She enjoys the borderland between mystery and novel, is pleased to be classed as a feminist writer, and is glad that there is neither a glass ceiling nor a retiring age in the writers' world. She was the daughter of Conrad Aiken and sister of Joan Aiken.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 3, 2017
Received to review via Netgalley
Very much in the vein of Mary Stewart’s work, and possibly Heyer’s more adventure-driven romances, Strangers in Company takes two women and throws them into a perilous situation. They become involved with local politics and have issues with local people, and of course, their bravery and resourcefulness — or that of their friends — sorts everything out in the end. And there’s a spot of romance, too, to leaven the mystery and politics.
Marian isn’t the most vivid character of the type, though she does have a well thought out background: a short-lived marriage to a pop idol, twin children who have left her to be supported him, and a raft of resulting anxieties. All of that makes sense for her character, and motivates her throughout the book — or rather, causes her to be the fairly colourless, passive creature she is. Stella is a little more vivid, with strange sulks and mood swings. Overall, there’s enough characterisation to make it a little group of people you can care about for the purposes of the story, although they don’t stick in the mind.
The landscapes and atmospherics aren’t as well done as Mary Stewart’s typical wont; I felt much less a part of the events and the landscape, though the story is intriguingly tied into the landscape and its history. Overall, it’s enjoyable without being a sudden favourite; more of a potboiler than a solid, memorable story. And such things have their place.
Originally posted on my blog.
Very much in the vein of Mary Stewart’s work, and possibly Heyer’s more adventure-driven romances, Strangers in Company takes two women and throws them into a perilous situation. They become involved with local politics and have issues with local people, and of course, their bravery and resourcefulness — or that of their friends — sorts everything out in the end. And there’s a spot of romance, too, to leaven the mystery and politics.
Marian isn’t the most vivid character of the type, though she does have a well thought out background: a short-lived marriage to a pop idol, twin children who have left her to be supported him, and a raft of resulting anxieties. All of that makes sense for her character, and motivates her throughout the book — or rather, causes her to be the fairly colourless, passive creature she is. Stella is a little more vivid, with strange sulks and mood swings. Overall, there’s enough characterisation to make it a little group of people you can care about for the purposes of the story, although they don’t stick in the mind.
The landscapes and atmospherics aren’t as well done as Mary Stewart’s typical wont; I felt much less a part of the events and the landscape, though the story is intriguingly tied into the landscape and its history. Overall, it’s enjoyable without being a sudden favourite; more of a potboiler than a solid, memorable story. And such things have their place.
Originally posted on my blog.
July 22, 2019
This is one of those books where you just keep on reading hoping you'll eventually like it at least enough for three stars and at the end you find you like it even less than you expected.
The first 70% of this book: Boring people on a boring tour of Greece. Does a decent job of capturing the feeling of being a tourist when you hate tourism and hate being around people; unfortunately that feeling is not very fun to read about. Only good thing: Main character and the girl she's chaperoning being friendly. Even the murders going on in the background were mundane as heck.
Me: Okay but maybe the ending will be exciting and explain the murders and have the romance that the cover promises.
The last 30%: Fuckign hard to follow. Turns out the friendship was kind of fake on the girl's side and then the dynamic duo is separated for the rest of the book. A romance happens but it's mostly just confusing and it's those two people I wasn't shipping. Oh, and one character who seemed to be having a romance with the girl (even to the point of making out with her) turns out to be gay just in time to also be a villain. Also every actually Greek character turns out to be a scheming schemer, leaving behind the Virtuous English People who sort of protected Greece from a bad spy???? idk. Also the main character and the girl do literally nothing to resolve the mystery or catch the villains. So just in every way, very bad.
The moral of this story is that just because my grandmother recommended me Agatha Christie and Rex Stout back in the day, and Georgette Heyer more recently, does not mean her taste in authors is always good! I will not be trying another Jane Aiken Hodge; her books are mildly offensive and also just damn boring and her romances fall utterly flat.
The first 70% of this book: Boring people on a boring tour of Greece. Does a decent job of capturing the feeling of being a tourist when you hate tourism and hate being around people; unfortunately that feeling is not very fun to read about. Only good thing: Main character and the girl she's chaperoning being friendly. Even the murders going on in the background were mundane as heck.
Me: Okay but maybe the ending will be exciting and explain the murders and have the romance that the cover promises.
The last 30%: Fuckign hard to follow. Turns out the friendship was kind of fake on the girl's side and then the dynamic duo is separated for the rest of the book. A romance happens but it's mostly just confusing and it's those two people I wasn't shipping. Oh, and one character who seemed to be having a romance with the girl (even to the point of making out with her) turns out to be gay just in time to also be a villain. Also every actually Greek character turns out to be a scheming schemer, leaving behind the Virtuous English People who sort of protected Greece from a bad spy???? idk. Also the main character and the girl do literally nothing to resolve the mystery or catch the villains. So just in every way, very bad.
The moral of this story is that just because my grandmother recommended me Agatha Christie and Rex Stout back in the day, and Georgette Heyer more recently, does not mean her taste in authors is always good! I will not be trying another Jane Aiken Hodge; her books are mildly offensive and also just damn boring and her romances fall utterly flat.
January 30, 2008
Marian goes to Greece as companion to Stella. Their party is beset with problems and a sense of danger. Exciting and fast-moving, with Marion unsure about who she can trust until the satisfying conclusion. Tense in places but not chilling. Recommended as a light thriller with a low-key romantic thread.
August 7, 2019
I love Greece, but not in this book!
Marian and Stella are going on a fantastic Greek holiday. They didn’t know each other but met just before getting on the plane. However, when people start to mysteriously get hurt, they try to find out who it is.
This sounds like an interesting plot, and could definitely have been a great plot if it was written well.
The first 3/4 of the book was completely a waste of time. All the characters did was go from one place to another in their Greek tour as part of Mercury Tours. However, this was so boring and not interesting at all. Moreover, it got really hard to follow as the story is just so twisty. If you like Greek history, you may be interested in this one. But personally, I would rather you just go to Greece on a plane ✈️
The characters were well written, definitely Marian. Her backstory of losing her twins to her ex husband Pop Idol star is so relatable.... not. But I digress, she was actually a decent character and one of the reasons this book got a 2 not a 1. However, I did not like Stella. I felt her to be a bit of a drag.
The last quarter of the book turned into something completely different. They were suddenly dealing with local politics and spies. It kind of felt like Jane Aiken Hodge just changed the book towards to end so it was more entertaining. Which in her defence, it definitely worked. I much preferred the ending.
Personally, I believe this book may have been outdated in modern times. Some of its political views and social commentary is just not right. Furthermore, it might appeal more to the older generation than my generation.
2/5 Stars
Quick Note: The whole homosexual thing was bizarre, and as a homosexual myself, I did not get it at all 😂
Marian and Stella are going on a fantastic Greek holiday. They didn’t know each other but met just before getting on the plane. However, when people start to mysteriously get hurt, they try to find out who it is.
This sounds like an interesting plot, and could definitely have been a great plot if it was written well.
The first 3/4 of the book was completely a waste of time. All the characters did was go from one place to another in their Greek tour as part of Mercury Tours. However, this was so boring and not interesting at all. Moreover, it got really hard to follow as the story is just so twisty. If you like Greek history, you may be interested in this one. But personally, I would rather you just go to Greece on a plane ✈️
The characters were well written, definitely Marian. Her backstory of losing her twins to her ex husband Pop Idol star is so relatable.... not. But I digress, she was actually a decent character and one of the reasons this book got a 2 not a 1. However, I did not like Stella. I felt her to be a bit of a drag.
The last quarter of the book turned into something completely different. They were suddenly dealing with local politics and spies. It kind of felt like Jane Aiken Hodge just changed the book towards to end so it was more entertaining. Which in her defence, it definitely worked. I much preferred the ending.
Personally, I believe this book may have been outdated in modern times. Some of its political views and social commentary is just not right. Furthermore, it might appeal more to the older generation than my generation.
2/5 Stars
Quick Note: The whole homosexual thing was bizarre, and as a homosexual myself, I did not get it at all 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2016
3 stars
Marian Frenche is accompanying a young woman on a bus trip to Greece as a paid companion. Although she does not know Stella Marten, they set off together. Stella seems upset and doesn’t like any of their fellow travelers. In fact, she seems angry and upset about everything.
Everything about the trip looks to be poorly planned and slipshod. When the sightseeing part of the trip actually begins, Marian begins to think about her children; eighteen-year-old twin living with their father, a pop star, in the US. She worries about them; grieves for them.
Accidents begin to happen then a death occurs. Strange things are going on. Marian and Stella seem to be getting on better though. AS more accidents and deaths occur, Marian is unsure who of their tour is left to be trusted.
The descriptions of the Greek ruins and countryside are marvelous. The other characters on the bus, although somewhat predictable, are interesting and not all of them likeable.
Although the plot was sometimes a little hard to follow, it was overall a good read.
I want to thank Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury Reader for allowing me the opportunity to read this nice, cozy little book.
Marian Frenche is accompanying a young woman on a bus trip to Greece as a paid companion. Although she does not know Stella Marten, they set off together. Stella seems upset and doesn’t like any of their fellow travelers. In fact, she seems angry and upset about everything.
Everything about the trip looks to be poorly planned and slipshod. When the sightseeing part of the trip actually begins, Marian begins to think about her children; eighteen-year-old twin living with their father, a pop star, in the US. She worries about them; grieves for them.
Accidents begin to happen then a death occurs. Strange things are going on. Marian and Stella seem to be getting on better though. AS more accidents and deaths occur, Marian is unsure who of their tour is left to be trusted.
The descriptions of the Greek ruins and countryside are marvelous. The other characters on the bus, although somewhat predictable, are interesting and not all of them likeable.
Although the plot was sometimes a little hard to follow, it was overall a good read.
I want to thank Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury Reader for allowing me the opportunity to read this nice, cozy little book.
August 5, 2017
Once again, Jane Aiken Hodge has written an excellent murder mystery/thriller. Although her books are old fashioned - some may even say outdated, which would not be surprising considering this book was published in 1973, the story is still relevant and the language is excellent. Nothing upsets me more when reading a book, and the grammar and language are incorrect. Would recommend this book to any reader who enjoys murder mystery/thriller type novels.
March 5, 2018
This book is a lot of fun. Set in the early seventies, we follow divorcee Marian as she accompanies wayward teenager Stella on a coach tour of Greece. Things start to go wrong as their fellow tourist experience strange accidents as they trudge around archaeological sites. Then Marian narrowly escapes a rockfall. Everyone comes under suspicion as the tour progresses. Romance, scenery and suspense. Lovers of Mary Stewart will find a lot to like here.
August 4, 2025
Ihad read this book at least twice before, Even though I remembered the basic plot, I had forgotten the details that made it a wonderful romantic suspense story. It's a slow-burn romance, typical of the 70s plots; and thise books don't have the frenetic pace of some of today's books. I still enjoyed every bit of reading it!
February 28, 2017
How nice to meet an old aquaintance again! Although this book is dated (communists!) it is still a very nice read, a cozy that is worth reading.
October 23, 2021
Fun, but predictable! I always enjoy anything about Greece.
January 4, 2016
This novel started well. One of my favorite plots is that in which an unassuming, perhaps even unsuccessful person, is drawn into an adventure, and their true caliber is revealed. "The Hobbit" is like that. So is "Persuasion." So is a novel by Agatha Christie (I forget the title) that starts with the suicidal protagonist being recruited as a spy.
I thought "Strangers in Company" was that kind of story. We've got an anxious middle-aged heroine, suffering from empty-nest syndrome big-time. She gets a job chaperoning a troubled teenager on a Greek tour, and finds herself involved in mystery, murder, and romance with a fellow tour participant. Unfortunately, her spine of steel never emerges. She spends much of the novel on drugs and asleep (literally), and is remarkably passive even when awake.
The complicated plot, like that of another book I read by Hodge, relies on extreme physical resemblance between two characters. What's worse -- a third character who ought to notice the resemblance at once, is somehow blind to it until late in the story. There are many, many improbabilities, the worst of which is that anybody sensible would stick with a tour in which one fellow traveler after another succumbs to bizarre "accidents."
I thought "Strangers in Company" was that kind of story. We've got an anxious middle-aged heroine, suffering from empty-nest syndrome big-time. She gets a job chaperoning a troubled teenager on a Greek tour, and finds herself involved in mystery, murder, and romance with a fellow tour participant. Unfortunately, her spine of steel never emerges. She spends much of the novel on drugs and asleep (literally), and is remarkably passive even when awake.
The complicated plot, like that of another book I read by Hodge, relies on extreme physical resemblance between two characters. What's worse -- a third character who ought to notice the resemblance at once, is somehow blind to it until late in the story. There are many, many improbabilities, the worst of which is that anybody sensible would stick with a tour in which one fellow traveler after another succumbs to bizarre "accidents."
November 15, 2017
(From Amazon) Marian is in her mid-30s and trying to get over the shock of her 18-year-old twins leaving her to live with their father in the USA. As a distraction she takes a job looking after a younger woman, Stella, on a coach tour to Greece. It seems to be the answer to all her worries—financial and otherwise—although there is some mystery surrounding Stella's background.
As the tour gets underway, strange things begin happen, including some serious accidents. People become suspicious, and nobody is at all sure whom they can trust. Marion becomes increasingly worried, both for her own sake and for Stella's, and at the same time tries to resist her increasing attraction to a friendly classics professor who is also on the tour. A suspenseful thriller, tense and concise, that builds interesting characters with ease.
As the tour gets underway, strange things begin happen, including some serious accidents. People become suspicious, and nobody is at all sure whom they can trust. Marion becomes increasingly worried, both for her own sake and for Stella's, and at the same time tries to resist her increasing attraction to a friendly classics professor who is also on the tour. A suspenseful thriller, tense and concise, that builds interesting characters with ease.
December 27, 2016
Originally published in 1973 and now available again in both print and ebook, this romantic suspense novel holds up well in the 21st century.
Marian Frenche, reeling from the recent departure of her grown children and in need of money, accepts an unexpected job offer to chaperone a young woman on a bus tour of Greece. Stella is mercurial, coming off of a bad love affair, and is supposed to be kept away from the other members of the party as much as possible. The tour starts out well, but then accidents begin to happen. Or is something more sinister going on? The suspense develops slowly, but when it is finally revealed what is actually going on, the tension ratchets up quickly. The romance is low-key throughout, but still satisfying.
Recommended for readers who enjoy old-fashioned romantic suspense.
Marian Frenche, reeling from the recent departure of her grown children and in need of money, accepts an unexpected job offer to chaperone a young woman on a bus tour of Greece. Stella is mercurial, coming off of a bad love affair, and is supposed to be kept away from the other members of the party as much as possible. The tour starts out well, but then accidents begin to happen. Or is something more sinister going on? The suspense develops slowly, but when it is finally revealed what is actually going on, the tension ratchets up quickly. The romance is low-key throughout, but still satisfying.
Recommended for readers who enjoy old-fashioned romantic suspense.
January 26, 2017
Jane Aiken Hodge was one of a series of Writers which included Mary Stewart, and Victoria Holt that wrote Gothic Suspense. I devoured her books like “Maulever Hall” and “Watch the Wall, My Darling.” When I came across a Book of Hodge’s I had not read I was delighted. This is another Suspense that builds gradually and insidiously. We don’t know who or what.. until the end.
Marian is hired to companion Stella as they travel through the Greek Isles. The Tour throws a group of Strangers together and then accidents begin to happen. Who can Marian trust? She becomes worried for both herself and Stella. To complicate matters Marian has become attracted to a classics Professor. This is a nice little mystery and just the type I am partial to. Read it on a rainy night and let the tension build with each page. Jane Aiken Hodge is good at that.
Marian is hired to companion Stella as they travel through the Greek Isles. The Tour throws a group of Strangers together and then accidents begin to happen. Who can Marian trust? She becomes worried for both herself and Stella. To complicate matters Marian has become attracted to a classics Professor. This is a nice little mystery and just the type I am partial to. Read it on a rainy night and let the tension build with each page. Jane Aiken Hodge is good at that.
September 4, 2009
Marian French needs some money, so she takes a job as a sort of companion to a young woman planning a trip to Greece. They just barely start the tour when a woman is killed in an accident. But the accidents start piling up, Marian's new friend Stella is obviously terrified of something, and Marian has a close scrape herself. What's really going on here? Meanwhile, they travel all over Greece, right after the revolution, and the stories of the modern politics are a lot more disturbing that the ancient ones.
I got this one on audiobook and it was a fun story, but a bit predictable in parts and rather unbelievable. Still, it was a fun story and I wouldn't mind reading another by this author. It did make me curious about modern Greek government and tourism.
I got this one on audiobook and it was a fun story, but a bit predictable in parts and rather unbelievable. Still, it was a fun story and I wouldn't mind reading another by this author. It did make me curious about modern Greek government and tourism.
December 12, 2016
Marian's twins have decided to go to America to live with their father. This also means her income from him is over so not sure what to do to earn money. She receives an offer to accompany a teen girl to Greece on a tour. Not knowing what she will do in the future she takes this generous offer to go. Stella is adopted and seems to be having some issues with her life right now. As the tour progresses there are some accidents and people are hurt or worse. Not being sure who is involved makes it hard to get too friendly with their fellow travelers. Eventually as it gets to be the end of the tour the real reason for this whole tour begins to come out. Interesting how it all comes together.
January 12, 2011
252 pages; 15 chapters
This was a "modern" story for Ms. Hodge, taking place in the Sixties instead of the period-piece settings of her other books that I've read, which have usually happened in the late 1700s, early 1800s. And I have to say, I like her period-piece novels best. I didn't really care for the characters in this novel, though the storyline was fine.
This was a "modern" story for Ms. Hodge, taking place in the Sixties instead of the period-piece settings of her other books that I've read, which have usually happened in the late 1700s, early 1800s. And I have to say, I like her period-piece novels best. I didn't really care for the characters in this novel, though the storyline was fine.
August 12, 2012
The ending was great! In fact if the rest of the novel had been that good I would have loved it. But I'm afraid I was a little bogged down with all the Greek history and political current events etc., it just went on and on. I picked up this book because the author was compared to Mary Stewart, who I love. I can see where the comparison comes from but I find Mary far superior.
December 2, 2013
1950s era Greek tour spy-crime-romance
December 25, 2016
I started out liking this book, but then I started to get bored. For some reason the protagonist irritated me and I ended up rushing through to the end.
January 31, 2017
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2017/...
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2017/...
August 8, 2025
Reread.
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