The Stranger

by J.A. Baker

A village shrouded in mystery. Secrets buried deep.... When Ray moves to a new house in the village of Whitchurch, he wants nothing more than to leave the pain of his old life behind and start a better life in the countryside. The locals might be wary of him at first, but Ray soon realises that sleepy Whitchurch has its own fair share of problems. Last year, a woman’s body was found in the woods nearby. The killer was never caught. Soon, more suspicious things start to happen. Threatening letters are sent, cars are vandalised and headstones are desecrated. But who is responsible for these acts and why? As the tension in the village builds, Ray begins to feel the pressure too. Someone is out to cause trouble, and that someone might be closer to Ray than he ever imagined. What people are saying about J.A. Baker... 'Superbly written with a cast of crazy characters who will make you look differently at your co-workers from now on.’ Bestselling author Valerie Keogh 'Fast-paced, riveting thriller. Gripped until the last page!' Bestselling author Diana Wilkinson 'A twisty, creepy story expertly told. Perfect for reading on dark winter evenings…with the doors double-locked and bolted. Highly recommended!' Bestselling author Amanda James Please Note, this book was previously published as The Cleansing

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2019

About the author

J. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.

When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ psychological drama
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ September 16, 2023
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 262 (47 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 8 minutes
Narrator ~ Guy Mott
POV ~ dual 1st, present & past tense
Featuring ~ small town feel, murder, childhood flashbacks of abuse, references to killing a cat

Previously titled The Cleansing, so not sure if any content has changed.

Alternating chapters between Ray, the newcomer to town, and a mysterious 'Me' character built up the suspense in a slow moving way. I liked how the tight knit villagers are wary of strangers.

Overall, I liked it, but can't say I was overly surprised with the main twist. There was one at the very end I hadn't seen coming, though. I wouldn't necessarily put this one in the thriller category, more just psychological drama.

I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
I thought he did a nice job varying his voice between the two characters.

Wanna hear something creepy?
I was listening while out for my early morning walk and just as I walk past one of my neighbors house the book says the same last name as my neighbor! It’s not a really common name either. And then I find out that Ray is on an early morning walk too! On Halloween no less🎃 👻

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The CLEANSING is a psychological thriller of multiple thrillers, including Undercurrent, The Uninvited, Her Dark Retreat and The Other Mother, by bestselling author J.A. Baker.

The novel opens with a chapter called “ME”, where the reader is first introduced to a damaged soul. He is a liar, has a nice house, and is a model citizen. He likes order and to be “in control”.

ME-I’m a truly damaged being. A psychopath or a narcissist?

ME-Nobody knows the real me. I am different.

As the story unfolds, alternating chapters are devoted to the “ME”, where we are given insight into what makes him tick…what kind of person is he? WE see his development from childhood. His parents tried to modify him, to break down his bad behavior, but it had no effect. Did their actions play a role in turning him into a monster? He was unmanageable.

ME-Did my parents begin to punish me because I was bad or am I bad because they punished me?

Ray had left everything behind…his partner, Samantha, his modern home in Birmingham, to live alone in an old neglected cottage outside Durham, in the village of Whitchurch. A very different life now- and far away from Samantha.

When Ray went to the pub, he found newcomers were not readily accepted by the village, and village people tried to intimidate him, but a barmaid, Lily helps him mix in with the villagers.
Ray soon realizes that sleepy Whitchurch also has its own fair share of problems. Last year, a woman’s body was discovered in the woods nearby. The killer was never caught.

Soon suspicious things start to happen. Threatening letters are sent, cars are vandalized and headstones are desecrated. But who is responsible for these acts and why?

With the tension building, Ray begins to feel the pressure. Someone is out to cause trouble and that someone might be closer to Ray than he ever imagined.

This novel has a cleaver plot with twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very last chapter. Highly recommend!

Many thanks the author, Bloodhound Books via Netgalley for my digital copy.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ME* - I'm different. Very different. The differences I possess are tucked away in the darkest depths of my soul.

*ME* - I do things ... bad things. Unspeakable things. Am I a psychopath? Does it even matter?

*ME* - Nature vs Nurture. Am I this way because I was born bad ... or did they make me bad while I was growing up?

*ME* You don't know me at all. Not the real me, the true me. Absolutely nobody knows who I am.

It's a small, sleepy village ... at least it was until last year. A woman's body was found in the woods. A child disappears for days before walking out on his own .... with no memory. More recently, threatening letters are sent to several of the residents. Gravestones are sprayed with red paint. Cars are vandalized.

The villagers are suspicious of each other and any stranger passing by. When Ray Smith first moves into the village, he is met with silence and glaring looks. But he is determined to make friends in his new home.

As the tension in the village builds, Ray begins to feel the pressure. Someone is out to cause trouble and that someone might be closer to Ray than he ever imagined.

Who is *ME*?

There are plenty of suspects, but no one knows for sure who would do these kinds of things? There's Lily .. the bar girl ... she's had a tough upbringing. Ray is new and things were happening long before he showed up. Then there's the man who spent time in prison .. he usually shies away from human contact.

Some of the characters are quirky .. like the regulars who spend most of their time in the bar. They are all very vocal and discuss the strange things happening quite loudly and often. Who's listening?

This is well written with a skillful plot with a twist at the end that comes as a shocking surprise.

Many thanks to the author for making this awesome book available.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whitchurch seems to be a lovely little village, everyone knows each other and a nice community with a local pub….all good…except something dark is happening…

A local woman’s body was found….the killer unknown, then a cat is killed, threatening letters are sent to various inhabitants and dog mess smeared on some cars…some of the villagers are a little hysterical and blaming an ex-con who lives in one of the local houses…..just who beat Jim, who was just watching the stars! Who set fire to Emily’s home…..were these attempted murders?

Ray has moved to Whitchurch after leaving a relationship in Birmingham, he wants a quiet life. It takes a little while to be accepted into the village, but the friendly barmaid, Lily helps and he’s soon mixing and socialising with the villagers…

I liked the way the book was set out, with the short chapters from the perpetrators point of view….it builds a sense of unease. Just how much does nurture over nature affect a child….?

There’s lots of gossip and pondering as to who the perpetrator is, but J.A.Baker’s clever writing keeps you guessing…..right up to a gasp inducing end….!

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for a free copy of the ebook in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me intrigued from start to finish. There was definitely a menacing element throughout the book. The plot centres around the quiet village of Whitchurch. Strange happenings, even murder, unsettle this village. As to who is behind these happenings, I had no idea whatsoever. A great ending

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good intriguing story. Ray is the new guy in the village, finding it hard to restart his life in a village miles away & trying to get to know the locals. Who have known each other for years, inclusive & mostly quiet.
Who keeps sending the threatening letters? who’s causing all the upset?
Who is “ME”?
A definite must read & a mind twister.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

For the most part of the book, before the BIG reveal, I didn't understand where it was going. It was interesting to read through Ray's mind and all he went through as a child. But once the BIG reveal came, it was a shock to me. I really didn't see that coming. I even felt sad for him. I really like the writing style of this author and will continue reading more of hers.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spine-tingling Gothic chiller that will make your heart pound, The Cleansing is a nail-biting thriller you simply will not be able to stop reading.

Ray is desperate for a fresh start and a new beginning. After his last relationship had come to an end, Ray realised that the luxury apartment and urban lifestyle had started to lose its appeal. Ray wants a new life for himself and moving to the countryside looks set to provide him with the second chance he is craving. Moving into a house in the village of Whitchurch will provide Ray with the chance to start afresh and move on with his life. However, Ray will soon come to realise that life is far from quiet in the countryside and that the bucolic idyll he had moved to has a dark and sinister underbelly reeking with danger, jeopardy and murder.

Last year, a woman’s body had been found in the woods nearby, however, her killer has never been caught. Initially thought to be an isolated case, Whitchurch soon proves to be a monstrous hotbed of evil and depraved acts and the residents are soon troubled by threatening letters, vandalism and the desecration of headstones. Who is committing this heinous acts? Who is responsible for all this underhand activity? And what is their reasoning for perpetrating such crimes?

The villagers no longer feel safe and they soon begin to feel threatened. As the latest arrival, Ray begins to feel the pressure, but little does he realise that a dangerous enemy is following his every move and waiting for the right moment to strike…

Will the monster terrorizing Whitchurch ever be caught? What is Ray’s connection to these crimes? And can he discover the identity of this vicious predator before it’s too late?

A first rate thriller that grips like a vice and will shock, terrify and delight aficionados of the genre, The Cleansing is a chilling tale dripping with mystery, menace and mayhem that is packed with nerve shredding suspense, jaw dropping twists and turns and heart-stopping tension.

J A Baker gets better with every book she writes and with The Cleansing she continues to establish herself as a thriller writer par excellence!

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray has recently split with his girlfriend and decided to move away to have a fresh start. He moves into a village and tries to talk to people and make friends. However he finds that they are all suspicious of him. Once he finds out why he takes baby steps and they begin to accept him. There have been several incidents in the usually very quiet village and they are getting worse, when an old man is attacked, the locals are beginning to worry. One who first talked to Ray was the local young barmaid Lily. After a while and talking to others he finds out her father is “ a nasty piece of work” and no-one will say much more. Ray keeps receiving messages from his ex girlfriends mother, Delores. He has blocked her number however she is very persistent in contacting him and we don’t quite know why. There is one villager who has a record and a reputation, Gavin, and the rest of the villagers believe all the nasty going on are his doing but no one can prove it. In occasional alternate chapters titled “Me” we read of a person who knows themselves to be evil. We learn of their childhood and how they were treated and things they have done which are not usual behaviour in anyone’s book. We don’t know who they are or even their gender, leaving this wide open. Oh! This took me off kilter and wasn’t what or who I expected- no spoilers. A clever plot, a twist (which I love) and then thinking I really should have seen it ( as you do!). A highly enjoyable read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1

[Nicki Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sociopath or psychopath. This is the question asked at the beginning. The answer becomes apparent by the end.

The village of Whitchurch is just outside Durham in the north of England. A small quiet village where the residents all know each other. When Ray moves there, from Birmingham, he finds it enchanting and just the place for a fresh start.

The local pub is the obvious meeting place and the first port of call when ray arrives. He is hungry and thirsty. The Pot and Glass is the local but only barmaid Lily makes him feel welcome. An air of suspicion surrounds the villagers after a body was found there the previous year.

This is not the end of it, as Ray finds out. Poison pen letters posted through doors and dog excrement smeared onto cars. To everyone's amazement, Ray is also targetted.

A childhood of abuse, bullying, and emotional neglect are well described alongside, the main story. The reader cannot fail to feel shocked by this treatment, and it goes a long way to explaining the thinking behind the plot.

I enjoyed this book as the reasons unfolded. A gripping and exciting read that I recommend to all thriller lovers.

I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.

[Mary Snaddon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray Smith is a man who has turned his back on his old life and his partner under slightly dubious circumstances and moved to a 'quiet' village where newcomers are not exactly met with a warm welcome. Strange things have been happening in the village and it's not only Gavin, recently released from prison who finds himself under suspicion but also Ray himself. He tries desperately to befriend and win over the villagers trust but it seems Lily the local barmaid is the only one open to his charms. Lily herself comes with a whole troubled family background. Throw in a whole bunch of characters and village life and we have a very big mystery. Mainly we are reading Ray's story but we also hear from "ME", and the story of their troubled childhood, inviting the nature, or nurture theory, because "ME" is way bad!

Who is "ME?" I thought I'd guessed.....wrong! This book will keep you turning the pages way past your bedtime in order to find out. Will you guess the ending? I didn't! Well written and plotted as usual by JA Baker and my thanks to her for allowing ME to review the latest book. ( I'm not ME by the way!!!)

[Sarah Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ray moves to the apparently sleepy northern village of Whitchurch to recover from a bad relationship break up. As soon as he arrives, he realises there have been strange and ominous occurrences. Missing people and animals, vandalism. It is a tight knit community, which he makes every effort to integrate himself within, and as he does so, he realises most people suspect one of the locals for being responsible. Narrated from Ray's perspective, the chapters are interspersed with the thoughts and confessions of an unnamed psychopath, who admits to being behind everything happening in Whitchurch. But who is the psychopath? This book is like a darker, fast paced Midsomer Murder mystery. The feel of a small community is totally captured. Nothing is quite what it seems and it keeps you guessing to the end.

[Holly Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book grabbed me from the very start!

In this book, Ray moves to a small village after a split from his girlfriend. He soon finds that the villagers are wary of new folks and he has to work to charm them and win them over. At the same time dealing with suspicion and dislike from the villagers due to a series of ‘pranks’.

This story has a surprising twist that keeps you guessing right up until the very last chapter... the author made me feel that I was actually reading this from the point of view of a psychopath. The narrative just seemed so accurate. I loved it!

I highly recommend this book to lovers of crime fiction or suspense.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray has moved miles away from home to start a new life in Durham, after leaving his girlfriend. The locals are unsure of Ray as they don’t like outsiders. Strange things start to happen, threatening letters, cars smeared in faeces - what is going on. Is it the fault of Gavin Yuill? Ray manages to get on the right side of the locals. Is all as it seems?
An interesting story of mystery and intrigue. Secrets always end up being found out.
I highly recommend this book.

[Alexina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great character we have in Ray, a clever closed style mystery with an array of characters.

There are some strange goings on and it definitely heats up as the book moves on.

The whole setting and plot works so well and has a cracking ending.

A place I enjoyed reading about, with characters to entertain- but not where I would want to visit.

Brilliant!

[MRS M R DUNNE · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me

As above. Not my cup of tea. Abandoned as soon as I found out who the baddie was ( no surprise).

[Craig Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing story and characters you can relate to, it’s one of those stories that sucks you in and can’t put it down

[Jan Alixopulos · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable

The story is told in first person by two people: Ray Smith, who settles down in a bucolic town in England, wanting a fresh start leaving an unhappy marriage, and a nameless nutcase who writes in ITALICS.

Ray spends his days fixing up his new home, walking around his new town chatting with locals and hanging out at the local pub. The locals are a bit up in arms over some nasty pranks, so at first they are a bit chilly to Ray. They slowly begin to see him as a nice enough guy.

No spoilers so I will stop here. The author has a nice fluid style, but I did stumble over some grammatical errors. Very early on I knew what was going on, but since I am often wrong on such things I continued plodding on. I wish I didn’t.

Since there was no real mystery for me, I awarded only 2 stars. But the writing is fine, and I am willing to read more from this author.

[Heather Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BoldwoodBooks for the ARC #TheStranger by #JABaker. This book was different, in a good way. I liked the evil, the deceit and the revenge it put out.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thriller from Baker! In this one, Ray has just moved into a quaint new village after breaking up with girlfriend, Samantha. Ready for a fresh start, he tries befriending others in the pub but finds many curmudgeons who seem distrustful of newcomers. Bartender Lily seems to be the only friendly one and he seeks comfort in her smile...and the beer! But strange things have been happening lately and Ray tries to help but can't quite get.a handle on who to befriend and who to avoid. Alternating chapters only identified as "me," the novel vacillates between two time periods as we see the unnamed person, clearly a psychopath, torturing family, teachers, and friends. Creepy good and entertaining with the requisite twists and turns I love!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[Helen Lancaster Lancaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read💖

Ray Smith is a the new man in Whitechurch. A stranger in the village. He decides he likes it there but the one obstacle in his way is the people. They are very distrustful of strangers so he has his work cut getting them to like him. He decides this is the place for him he's running away from his girlfriend and wants a peaceful life or does he. Little things start to go wrong in the village and the people are perplexed. Who is the perpetrator. A powerful story and to my shame I didn't guess the end.📕💯

[Ellie Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won't be the last. Really gritty and addictive storyline with likeable and dislikeable characters.
Reminded me of growing up in a village where everyone knew everyone and their business or so you thought....
Highly recommended.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read although this one took a while to get into. But I’m not a quitter and once I like a author , I read all their books. This was no exception. But I didn’t think the storyline would go the way it did. I thought I had it sussed! Lol.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is well written with plenty of plot twists and turns to keep you from guessing the ending. The descriptions of the characters and locations are well written. Overall an interesting thriller.

Thank you to J A Baker, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc of this book.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooooh … don’t you love stories set in small villages? Quirky people, suspicion lurking around every corner, dark undertones that abound in almost every interaction. J.A. Baker dishes it all up in spades, from the minute Ray, the newcomer to Whitchurch, walks into the local bar, and silence suddenly and noticeably descends on the place!

Ray has ditched city life in Birmingham after splitting up with his girlfriend, although her mother, Delores, still seems to stalk him unrelentingly! He’s looking for a quiet unassuming life in a quiet unassuming village, so here is in a bit of a run-down cottage, far removed from his previous life. Pretty typical for villagers, the locals are wary of newcomers, especially in light of recent strange goings-on, which I always find odd, because why would you be suspicious of newcomers when odd things have been happening before they even arrived?!

Anyhoo … Lily, the friendly young barmaid is the first person to befriend Ray – well, she’s the first person willing to actually talk to him and explain why everyone’s so cagey. But soon after he arrives he too falls victim to whoever is plaguing the locals, being on the receiving end of threatening letters and doggie dirt smeared on his car! There’s no better way to integrate and become one with the other inhabitants than to also be exposed to the same risks and danger that they are.

As the story progresses, even more mysterious incidents occur, including a child who disappears for a few hours, only to walk out of the woods a few hours later, disoriented and unable to recall where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing in the time that’s elapsed since their disappearance. Who or what could be responsible?

Interspersed with short chapters about “Me”, someone who tells the reader all about their absolute enjoyment at how evil they are, not giving away their gender, and leaving anything and everything to our imaginations, the narrative is perfectly (although, rather breath-takingly) paced!

I loved J.A. Baker’s previous book ‘The Uninvited‘, about a spooky house. She masterfully transfers her skill for chilling writing onto the village of Whitchurch, where you can almost picture the mist hanging over the woods as you try to see who’s walking towards you, out of the shadows (I suppose the book cover may have had something to do with putting that image in my head)! 4 shivery stars for this one!

[KATHY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going with very good here because of the good setting, & characters. Interesting take on personalities & great changes of perspectives. The theme of abuse is greatly oversimplified, but kept bringing up the good question of (lack of) nuture vs. genetics. (I think it is both, plus many other influences, & an unknown factor. Many, many abused do not become abusers, but exceptionally aware people if they can come through the far-reaching pain.) I knew that abuse is a control issue (as is other dysfunction), but what was striking here was the illustration of the relishing of power. How deeply sad & disgusting that people cut off from their own innate power find substitute in controlling others.
Our current entertainment in books & movies reflect our stories. This one does a pretty good job touching on generational abuse & the social norms that support it, showing not only our greater awareness of narcissism, but that it appears to be escalating in an increasingly aggressive culture. The author nailed the arrogance & superiority (overlying lack of self-worth) in sociopaths. Luckily, this is their greatest weakness & blindspot as well. My thanks to Theo, too, for putting a paw in.

[lisa wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Cleansing

All a bit tame,Predictable and long winded. I thought the idea of retribution for “past crimes” was good , but the retribution was a let down and it all seem to fizzle out.

[charlotte mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Another stunning read from J A Baker! The Queen of unexpected endings! Her description of the complexities of the characters mental heath draws you in every time!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Brilliant duel narrative

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Loved the way the author portrays the characters , makes you think is it nurture or nature ,great book would recommend ,loved it