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Dont Talk to Strangers
Someone is stalking the child . . . Vicky Hunter was full of hope when she and her three-year-old, Ben, moved to the remote beach house. For her, it would be a chance to forget a nightmarish past and gruesome death of her husband. For both Vicky and Ben, it would be a new life. Then the terror began again, and Ben was the target.
- GenresHorror
Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 1980
35 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Hastings
10 books14 followersJoint pseudonym of Carol Barkin and Elizabeth James.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 7, 2021
Vicky Hunter is a single mother raising her son, Ben, two years after her husband's death. Life is pretty ordinary, until she starts receiving strange hang-up calls, and other strange events occur. Somebody runs her car off the road. Somebody leaves her front door open so that Ben can escape, and he is nearly injured. In fact, a lot of the incidents seem to involve Ben. Who could be stalking her child. Vicky is assisted by Matt London, an old friend of her husband.
Originally published in 1980, this wasn't as enjoyable as some of the other thrillers I've read from that decade recently. Ironically, they both had "Stranger" in the title: The Kindness Of Strangers and A Stranger In The House. Unfortunately, Don't Talk To Strangers is mostly dull and forgettable, and the entire plot doesn't make much sense once all is said and done. There is a chapter than runs for nearly thirty pages in which Vicky, Matt and Ben go on a trip to Mexico that is completely pointless and has nothing to do with anything.
Despite knowing that something strange is going on and that her son is a target, Vicky just keeps on letting him out of her sight, or leaving him with other people, ensuring that something can go wrong. Over and over and over again. It really got exasperating. It always helps a thriller if your protagonist isn't a complete bonehead!
At the end of the day, nothing of what happens even makes a lot of sense. Basically, our two main characters were complete idiots. It was all a bit of a mess.
Originally published in 1980, this wasn't as enjoyable as some of the other thrillers I've read from that decade recently. Ironically, they both had "Stranger" in the title: The Kindness Of Strangers and A Stranger In The House. Unfortunately, Don't Talk To Strangers is mostly dull and forgettable, and the entire plot doesn't make much sense once all is said and done. There is a chapter than runs for nearly thirty pages in which Vicky, Matt and Ben go on a trip to Mexico that is completely pointless and has nothing to do with anything.
Despite knowing that something strange is going on and that her son is a target, Vicky just keeps on letting him out of her sight, or leaving him with other people, ensuring that something can go wrong. Over and over and over again. It really got exasperating. It always helps a thriller if your protagonist isn't a complete bonehead!
At the end of the day, nothing of what happens even makes a lot of sense. Basically, our two main characters were complete idiots. It was all a bit of a mess.
October 23, 2025
A good mystery with suspense elements.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews