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Elise King #2
Talking to Strangers
Detective Elise King’s investigation into a woman’s murder is getting derailed by a reporter who insists on doing her own investigation in this nail-biting mystery from the author of Local Gone Missing.
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.
A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.
A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.
544 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2024
442 people are currently reading
18012 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Barton
9 books4,129 followersMy career has taken some surprising twists and turns over the years. I have been a journalist - senior writer at the Daily Mail, news editor at the Daily Telegraph, and chief reporter at The Mail on Sunday, where I won Reporter of the Year at the National Press Awards, gave up my job to volunteer in Sri Lanka and since 2008, have trained and worked with exiled and threatened journalists all over the world.
But through it all, a story was cooking in my head.
The worm of this book infected me long ago when, as a national newspaper journalist covering notorious crimes and trials, I found myself wondering what the wives of those accused really knew – or allowed themselves to know.
It took the liberation of my career change to turn that fascination into a tale of a missing child, narrated by the wife of the man suspected of the crime, the detective leading the hunt, the journalist covering the case and the mother of the victim.
Much to my astonishment and delight, The Widow is available now in the UK, and around the world in the coming months.
However, the sudden silence of my characters feels like a reproach and I am currently working on a second book.
My husband and I are living the good life in south-west France, where I am writing in bed, early in the morning when the only distraction is our cockerel, Sparky, crowing.
But through it all, a story was cooking in my head.
The worm of this book infected me long ago when, as a national newspaper journalist covering notorious crimes and trials, I found myself wondering what the wives of those accused really knew – or allowed themselves to know.
It took the liberation of my career change to turn that fascination into a tale of a missing child, narrated by the wife of the man suspected of the crime, the detective leading the hunt, the journalist covering the case and the mother of the victim.
Much to my astonishment and delight, The Widow is available now in the UK, and around the world in the coming months.
However, the sudden silence of my characters feels like a reproach and I am currently working on a second book.
My husband and I are living the good life in south-west France, where I am writing in bed, early in the morning when the only distraction is our cockerel, Sparky, crowing.
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August 13, 2024
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This is my first book by Fiona Barton, which is the second title in the Elise King series. And it can certainly be read as a standalone. I'm not a big fan of series’ or police procedurals and this book is both (but I've always wanted to read a Barton book) and because of that, I was surprised by how much I liked it.
This is a slow burn of a murder mystery where we get to know the residents of the seaside town of Ebbing. We get three points of view in the story, the first is Detective Elise King who the series is named, the second is reporter Kiki and the third is grieving mother Annie. (Why is it we have a name for when a spouse dies either widow or widower or if our parents die we are called orphans but there's no title for the parents of a dead child?) The chapters from Annie's point of view were the ones I enjoyed the most. The three narratives were woven together seamlessly with short, punchy chapters. I found the book completely immersive and compelling and my interest was piqued throughout but the epilogue was not surprising at all.
Barton is an author I’ve wanted to read for a while now and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this one but I don't think I'd read any more of this series or anything else by the author. Don't get me me wrong, it was a fun read if a bit predictable but it didn’t wow me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This is my first book by Fiona Barton, which is the second title in the Elise King series. And it can certainly be read as a standalone. I'm not a big fan of series’ or police procedurals and this book is both (but I've always wanted to read a Barton book) and because of that, I was surprised by how much I liked it.
This is a slow burn of a murder mystery where we get to know the residents of the seaside town of Ebbing. We get three points of view in the story, the first is Detective Elise King who the series is named, the second is reporter Kiki and the third is grieving mother Annie. (Why is it we have a name for when a spouse dies either widow or widower or if our parents die we are called orphans but there's no title for the parents of a dead child?) The chapters from Annie's point of view were the ones I enjoyed the most. The three narratives were woven together seamlessly with short, punchy chapters. I found the book completely immersive and compelling and my interest was piqued throughout but the epilogue was not surprising at all.
Barton is an author I’ve wanted to read for a while now and I'm glad I got the opportunity to read this one but I don't think I'd read any more of this series or anything else by the author. Don't get me me wrong, it was a fun read if a bit predictable but it didn’t wow me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
July 14, 2024
3.5🌟
Get ready to swipe right!
Karen Simmons is not sitting idly by waiting for Mr.Right to come knocking. No sir! She’s putting herself out there determined to have the best time of her life until she settles down.
And if that means using several online dating apps until then, well a girls gotta’ do….
But when Karen disappears and eventually found murdered, the police feel confident that it was someone she’d met online.
Enter D.I. Elise King. We were introduced to her in book one of this series Local Gone Missing. Elise has her own personal battles she’s conquering…the biggest being breast cancer.
She’s returned to work but still feels the effects of the chemo-induced brain fog that just lingers on.
With her present case revolving around dating, Elise reflects on just how lonely she truly is. Maybe it’s time to allow someone in…
We also have Kiki Nunn, a journalist who is determined to break this same murder mystery and won’t be held back to make that happen. Even if it means putting herself in danger.
Can either woman find the killer before he strikes again?
I love a good police procedural but this latest by Fiona Barton just failed to completely grip me.
I found it a bit slow moving for my taste. I wanted more from our detective (personally and professionally) and felt it lacked the depth I was hoping to experience.
Will I pick up the next in the series….🤷🏻♀️
Who am I kidding! Of course I will! I’m hoping Fiona Barton will take even a deeper dive into Elise’s character.🙏
Thank you to Berkley Publishing via NetGalley
Get ready to swipe right!
Karen Simmons is not sitting idly by waiting for Mr.Right to come knocking. No sir! She’s putting herself out there determined to have the best time of her life until she settles down.
And if that means using several online dating apps until then, well a girls gotta’ do….
But when Karen disappears and eventually found murdered, the police feel confident that it was someone she’d met online.
Enter D.I. Elise King. We were introduced to her in book one of this series Local Gone Missing. Elise has her own personal battles she’s conquering…the biggest being breast cancer.
She’s returned to work but still feels the effects of the chemo-induced brain fog that just lingers on.
With her present case revolving around dating, Elise reflects on just how lonely she truly is. Maybe it’s time to allow someone in…
We also have Kiki Nunn, a journalist who is determined to break this same murder mystery and won’t be held back to make that happen. Even if it means putting herself in danger.
Can either woman find the killer before he strikes again?
I love a good police procedural but this latest by Fiona Barton just failed to completely grip me.
I found it a bit slow moving for my taste. I wanted more from our detective (personally and professionally) and felt it lacked the depth I was hoping to experience.
Will I pick up the next in the series….🤷🏻♀️
Who am I kidding! Of course I will! I’m hoping Fiona Barton will take even a deeper dive into Elise’s character.🙏
Thank you to Berkley Publishing via NetGalley
July 22, 2024
Talking to Strangers follows the 17 day murder investigation of a middle-aged single woman from a variety of angles. Karen was still looking for the love of her life - organizing single events, on a variety of dating apps, when she was murdered and her body left posed in the woods. Elise is the DI assigned to the case. She’s just getting over treatment for breast cancer and suffering from chemo brain. Kiki is the reporter who had been interviewing Karen about the dating world for adults and now sees reporting on her murder as a way to score a big scoop. Then there’s Alice, who lost her young son in the same location 15 years earlier. The three women are all fully fleshed out and I was engaged in each of their stories. Even the secondary characters, like DS Caro and Elise’s neighbor, Ronnie, are developed.
The book makes some interesting points about victim blaming and also the whole online dating world for those past the first blush of youth. And the writing is so intense. It was way too easy to envision what the characters were experiencing. Trigger warnings for rape. The who/how/why or both main storylines were easy to piece together from early on, despite a number of red herrings. But it was an enjoyable ride to get to the end to see if I was right.
This isn’t billed as the second in a series but Elise King is the investigator in both stories. This can easily be read as a standalone.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
The book makes some interesting points about victim blaming and also the whole online dating world for those past the first blush of youth. And the writing is so intense. It was way too easy to envision what the characters were experiencing. Trigger warnings for rape. The who/how/why or both main storylines were easy to piece together from early on, despite a number of red herrings. But it was an enjoyable ride to get to the end to see if I was right.
This isn’t billed as the second in a series but Elise King is the investigator in both stories. This can easily be read as a standalone.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
July 17, 2024
Don’t Talk to Strangers sang Rick Springfield!
It’s Valentine’s Day 2020 in Ebbing, and Karen Simmons is looking for love on a night reserved for couples. But it’s slim pickings at her local pub that night, so a depressed and lonely Karen heads home alone.
The next day, Karen’s body is found in Ebbing Woods – still wearing her red dress from the night before – suffocated, propped up against a tree. Why did Karen go out again after she got home? Who was she meeting? Most importantly, who killed her, and why? And Karen’s isn’t the first murder to occur in those woods…
The second book in the series is set a year after the events of the first and can be enjoyed as a standalone. I feel horrible saying this because #1, Local Gone Missing, was one of my top reads in 2022, but unfortunately, Talking to Strangers was average by comparison. The first half moved at a snail's pace, and even though the plot did pick up after that, it wasn’t by much. I kept finding other things to occupy my time, and it's never a good sign when you’d rather do the vacuuming over reading a book. I think two POVs investigating/researching Karen’s murder was one too many, as things tended to get repetitive. Annie’s POV was the most intriguing. My second complaint is that the mystery was pretty predictable, and the epilogue came as no surprise – the myriad of subtly placed clues that the first book contained were absent from this one. I preferred the secondary crime involving online dating apps and misogynous men. That plot was tense, emotive, informative, and disturbing – several times I wanted to punch my kindle screen imagining it was these disgusting male’s faces. If I didn’t already loathe dating apps, I would now. Also, I’d never heard of cyber-flashing used in this context and immediately checked my Apple AirPlay privacy settings – so thanks for the info, Fiona Barton.
I enjoyed spending time with Elise, Kiki and company; just wish the main crime and pacing had been more to my liking. I will continue to read the series because I loved the first book, this author, and the recurring characters.
I want to thank NetGalley UK, Random House UK Transworld Publishers, and Fiona Barton for the e-ARC.
UK Release Date: 15 August 2024.
It’s Valentine’s Day 2020 in Ebbing, and Karen Simmons is looking for love on a night reserved for couples. But it’s slim pickings at her local pub that night, so a depressed and lonely Karen heads home alone.
The next day, Karen’s body is found in Ebbing Woods – still wearing her red dress from the night before – suffocated, propped up against a tree. Why did Karen go out again after she got home? Who was she meeting? Most importantly, who killed her, and why? And Karen’s isn’t the first murder to occur in those woods…
The second book in the series is set a year after the events of the first and can be enjoyed as a standalone. I feel horrible saying this because #1, Local Gone Missing, was one of my top reads in 2022, but unfortunately, Talking to Strangers was average by comparison. The first half moved at a snail's pace, and even though the plot did pick up after that, it wasn’t by much. I kept finding other things to occupy my time, and it's never a good sign when you’d rather do the vacuuming over reading a book. I think two POVs investigating/researching Karen’s murder was one too many, as things tended to get repetitive. Annie’s POV was the most intriguing. My second complaint is that the mystery was pretty predictable, and the epilogue came as no surprise – the myriad of subtly placed clues that the first book contained were absent from this one. I preferred the secondary crime involving online dating apps and misogynous men. That plot was tense, emotive, informative, and disturbing – several times I wanted to punch my kindle screen imagining it was these disgusting male’s faces. If I didn’t already loathe dating apps, I would now. Also, I’d never heard of cyber-flashing used in this context and immediately checked my Apple AirPlay privacy settings – so thanks for the info, Fiona Barton.
I enjoyed spending time with Elise, Kiki and company; just wish the main crime and pacing had been more to my liking. I will continue to read the series because I loved the first book, this author, and the recurring characters.
I want to thank NetGalley UK, Random House UK Transworld Publishers, and Fiona Barton for the e-ARC.
UK Release Date: 15 August 2024.
August 22, 2024
EXCERPT: I'd counted on being home and in bed by ten-thirty, but Karen's wine buzz was fading fast and she had a little weep in the car. I couldn't just leave her at the door. So I ended up staying for a coffee while she slipped off her heels and she told me why I was a fool not to do online dating.
She'd hit the jackpot on week one, apparently. 'We danced on the beach,' she said with a watery smile. 'A bit of a cliche, I know, but nothing beats kissing for the first time under the stars, does it?'
I nodded. 'Nothing wrong with a good snog,' I muttered, wondering if I would ever have one again. I looked at my watch - I needed to leave. I'd have to pay an extra hour to the babysitter as it was. But Karen was in full flow.
'He was wonderful. A little older than me, separated and ready to try again. Mina thought it was all going a bit fast - she didn't want me to get hurt. But I really thought this was it. God, I even started reading articles about fertility in your forties.' And she fell silent.
'What happened?' I prompted gently.
'His wife,' she murmured. 'She came back. And he said he had to give it another chance. Just my luck, really. Still, I haven't given up. There is someone out there for me. Whenever I feel a bit down, I go online and read all the amazing love stories that have resulted from people meeting on apps and look at photos of their beautiful weddings. It'll be my turn one day. And I've met some nice men along the way.'
'And some horrors, I bet?' I tried to lighten the mood.
She laughed and moved on to the man in the world's worst toupee - 'Why do they even make them in ginger?' - and the one who'd brought his mum on the date. 'He said she didn't get out much. She drank us under the table and went home with a darts player.'
ABOUT 'TALKING TO STRANGERS': Three women. One Killer.
Talking to strangers has never been more dangerous...
When the body of forty-four-year-old Karen Simmons is found abandoned in remote woodland, journalist Kiki Nunn is determined this will be the big break she so desperately needs.
Because she has a head start on all the other reporters. Just a week before Karen was killed, Kiki interviewed her about the highs and lows of mid-life romance. Karen told her all about kissing strangers on the beach under the stars, expensive meals, roses. About the scammers, the creeps, the man who followed her home the other night...
While the police appear to be focusing on local suspects, Kiki sets out to write the definitive piece on one woman's fatal search for love. But she will soon learn that the search for truth can be just as deadly...
MY THOUGHTS: Fiona Barton's experience on reporting high profile criminal cases and her fascination with watching those involved, observing their body language and verbal tics, shines through in her latest novel, Talking to Strangers.
Her characters are crafted with care; we all know a Karen, an Annie, a Henry, but it is Gav who broke my heart in this story, and I closed the cover for the final time wondering what would become of him.
Talking to Strangers is not a thriller. It's not fast-paced and full of action. It is more a character study of the people involved. One household has so many secrets, and I quote - it's like a network of tunnels too close to the surface. Making the crust shiver with tension. People living with the ever-present risk of the whole thing collapsing in on itself. And burying them.
Barton shows how easy it is to assume, because someone is a little different, guilt - and the devastating consequences that assumption can have.
The story is narrated from three points of view: Detective Elise King, recently returned to work following her cancer treatment; journalist Kiki Nunn, looking to claw back her lost reputation; and Annie, mother of three. The chapters are short and punchy, easily read. But Barton had my head spinning with theories, possibilities. I was nearly right - but that's like nearly winning the lottery.
The final plot twist is a real sucker punch. My jaw hit the floor and bounced a few times before returning, rather bruised, to its correct place. This is something Fiona Barton is rather good at and why I always look forward to reading her books.
Although this is the second in the Elise King series, each book contains a complete mystery and is easily read as a stand-alone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TalkingtoStrangers #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: What spurred me on to write were the voices and images, collected over a thirty-year career in news journalism, still clamouring to be put on the page – and the irresistible lure of a secret.
Irresistible because secrets expose the suspicion and fear we have about how little we really know other people.
We may pretend otherwise, but we all have hidden thoughts we don’t want anyone to know, things we’ve done that would change the way people feel about us or parts of our lives that we would rather forget.
And for most of us, our fabrications or omissions are so inconsequential that being found out would be mildly embarrassing at worst. But for some of us, our secret threatens to destroy everything.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House Uk, Transworld, Bantam via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
She'd hit the jackpot on week one, apparently. 'We danced on the beach,' she said with a watery smile. 'A bit of a cliche, I know, but nothing beats kissing for the first time under the stars, does it?'
I nodded. 'Nothing wrong with a good snog,' I muttered, wondering if I would ever have one again. I looked at my watch - I needed to leave. I'd have to pay an extra hour to the babysitter as it was. But Karen was in full flow.
'He was wonderful. A little older than me, separated and ready to try again. Mina thought it was all going a bit fast - she didn't want me to get hurt. But I really thought this was it. God, I even started reading articles about fertility in your forties.' And she fell silent.
'What happened?' I prompted gently.
'His wife,' she murmured. 'She came back. And he said he had to give it another chance. Just my luck, really. Still, I haven't given up. There is someone out there for me. Whenever I feel a bit down, I go online and read all the amazing love stories that have resulted from people meeting on apps and look at photos of their beautiful weddings. It'll be my turn one day. And I've met some nice men along the way.'
'And some horrors, I bet?' I tried to lighten the mood.
She laughed and moved on to the man in the world's worst toupee - 'Why do they even make them in ginger?' - and the one who'd brought his mum on the date. 'He said she didn't get out much. She drank us under the table and went home with a darts player.'
ABOUT 'TALKING TO STRANGERS': Three women. One Killer.
Talking to strangers has never been more dangerous...
When the body of forty-four-year-old Karen Simmons is found abandoned in remote woodland, journalist Kiki Nunn is determined this will be the big break she so desperately needs.
Because she has a head start on all the other reporters. Just a week before Karen was killed, Kiki interviewed her about the highs and lows of mid-life romance. Karen told her all about kissing strangers on the beach under the stars, expensive meals, roses. About the scammers, the creeps, the man who followed her home the other night...
While the police appear to be focusing on local suspects, Kiki sets out to write the definitive piece on one woman's fatal search for love. But she will soon learn that the search for truth can be just as deadly...
MY THOUGHTS: Fiona Barton's experience on reporting high profile criminal cases and her fascination with watching those involved, observing their body language and verbal tics, shines through in her latest novel, Talking to Strangers.
Her characters are crafted with care; we all know a Karen, an Annie, a Henry, but it is Gav who broke my heart in this story, and I closed the cover for the final time wondering what would become of him.
Talking to Strangers is not a thriller. It's not fast-paced and full of action. It is more a character study of the people involved. One household has so many secrets, and I quote - it's like a network of tunnels too close to the surface. Making the crust shiver with tension. People living with the ever-present risk of the whole thing collapsing in on itself. And burying them.
Barton shows how easy it is to assume, because someone is a little different, guilt - and the devastating consequences that assumption can have.
The story is narrated from three points of view: Detective Elise King, recently returned to work following her cancer treatment; journalist Kiki Nunn, looking to claw back her lost reputation; and Annie, mother of three. The chapters are short and punchy, easily read. But Barton had my head spinning with theories, possibilities. I was nearly right - but that's like nearly winning the lottery.
The final plot twist is a real sucker punch. My jaw hit the floor and bounced a few times before returning, rather bruised, to its correct place. This is something Fiona Barton is rather good at and why I always look forward to reading her books.
Although this is the second in the Elise King series, each book contains a complete mystery and is easily read as a stand-alone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TalkingtoStrangers #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: What spurred me on to write were the voices and images, collected over a thirty-year career in news journalism, still clamouring to be put on the page – and the irresistible lure of a secret.
Irresistible because secrets expose the suspicion and fear we have about how little we really know other people.
We may pretend otherwise, but we all have hidden thoughts we don’t want anyone to know, things we’ve done that would change the way people feel about us or parts of our lives that we would rather forget.
And for most of us, our fabrications or omissions are so inconsequential that being found out would be mildly embarrassing at worst. But for some of us, our secret threatens to destroy everything.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House Uk, Transworld, Bantam via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
August 31, 2024
Well, good news: DI Elise King is back! If you've read the author's previous work, "Local Gone Missing," you're already familiar with the character. However, like many readers, I slightly prefer the author's Kate Waters series, with "The Suspect" being my favorite novel of hers.
Now, let's focus on the multi-narrated "Talking to Strangers," which presents us with different voices alongside Elise King. She is dealing with her own issues while adamant to solve the murder of Karen Simmons. The other narrators include Kiki Nunn, an aspiring journalist who is focused on investigating Karen's murder. Kiki had interviewed Karen about her complex love life and interactions with various men who may have turned out to be creeps, stalkers, or even scammers. Could one of them be the reason for her demise?
The third narrator is Annie, whose son was also murdered and found in the same woods where Karen's body was discovered.
Besides the murder itself, what connection will tie these women together? Are they both in danger and could they be the target of the perpetrator?
The good aspects of this book include its pacing and short, intriguing chapters, even though the ending and the identity of the murderer become predictable in the middle of the story.
It's an easy read that allows you to get lost in the mystery, make quick guesses, and enjoy the full thrill. That's why, even though the predictable ending dampened my enthusiasm, I still rate it 4 stars for its fast pacing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Now, let's focus on the multi-narrated "Talking to Strangers," which presents us with different voices alongside Elise King. She is dealing with her own issues while adamant to solve the murder of Karen Simmons. The other narrators include Kiki Nunn, an aspiring journalist who is focused on investigating Karen's murder. Kiki had interviewed Karen about her complex love life and interactions with various men who may have turned out to be creeps, stalkers, or even scammers. Could one of them be the reason for her demise?
The third narrator is Annie, whose son was also murdered and found in the same woods where Karen's body was discovered.
Besides the murder itself, what connection will tie these women together? Are they both in danger and could they be the target of the perpetrator?
The good aspects of this book include its pacing and short, intriguing chapters, even though the ending and the identity of the murderer become predictable in the middle of the story.
It's an easy read that allows you to get lost in the mystery, make quick guesses, and enjoy the full thrill. That's why, even though the predictable ending dampened my enthusiasm, I still rate it 4 stars for its fast pacing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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August 15, 2024
Detective King is back and has a new murder to solve. But nothing tips the scales more than reporter Kiki on her heals. A bit of a slow burn, but well worth the effort.
June 6, 2024
This novel features DI Elise King from Local Gone Missing; she is in recovery from cancer treatment.
When hairdresser Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentines Day, DI Elise King wonders if there’s a connection to the online dating community as Karen uses several sites. Does she meet her murderer that way? DI King’s difficult investigation is repeatedly hampered by reporter Kiki Nunn who has met Karen as part of one of her journalistic reports and the single mum is determined to get ahead of fellow journalists to get her scoop. Is she putting herself in danger?
I thoroughly enjoy this latest novel from Fiona Barton because it’s a ‘meaty’ police procedural which includes several topical issues dealt with via three points of view. It’s especially good, challenging and thought provoking on the victim blaming culture and the online dating scene. The latter element highlights its potential dangers and it becomes quite raw in places. The author does a very good job of demonstrating the impact of serious crimes on families with one perspective really standing out. It’s therefore a multi layered story which is well paced, with short sharp chapters and changing points of view, keeping me invested and also deepening the mystery. There’s some dark humour and wit which is greatly appreciated.
The characters are good, I like Elise as she’s a fighter in more ways than one and I like how DS Caro Brennan has her back now she’s returned to work. Kiki can be admired in many ways, she’s brave and gutsy but equally she can be annoying especially for Elise!
There are some good twists, there’s tension and suspenseful moments. However, it isn’t too hard to figure out the end big reveal but it’s still an addictive read. Fiona Barton will always have a reader in this reviewer!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K., Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
When hairdresser Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentines Day, DI Elise King wonders if there’s a connection to the online dating community as Karen uses several sites. Does she meet her murderer that way? DI King’s difficult investigation is repeatedly hampered by reporter Kiki Nunn who has met Karen as part of one of her journalistic reports and the single mum is determined to get ahead of fellow journalists to get her scoop. Is she putting herself in danger?
I thoroughly enjoy this latest novel from Fiona Barton because it’s a ‘meaty’ police procedural which includes several topical issues dealt with via three points of view. It’s especially good, challenging and thought provoking on the victim blaming culture and the online dating scene. The latter element highlights its potential dangers and it becomes quite raw in places. The author does a very good job of demonstrating the impact of serious crimes on families with one perspective really standing out. It’s therefore a multi layered story which is well paced, with short sharp chapters and changing points of view, keeping me invested and also deepening the mystery. There’s some dark humour and wit which is greatly appreciated.
The characters are good, I like Elise as she’s a fighter in more ways than one and I like how DS Caro Brennan has her back now she’s returned to work. Kiki can be admired in many ways, she’s brave and gutsy but equally she can be annoying especially for Elise!
There are some good twists, there’s tension and suspenseful moments. However, it isn’t too hard to figure out the end big reveal but it’s still an addictive read. Fiona Barton will always have a reader in this reviewer!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K., Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 30, 2024
I'm sorry I missed the first one in this series, but it was great as a stand alone. This twisted and disturbing thriller plays with the safety net we have built around us. With predators, online dating apps and shaming from locals this suspenseful mystery kept me on edge. The horrors and the dangers women face are brought to light. Three women on different courses of life converge in the end. I could not tell where this was going to meet I just knew their stories would have to connect.
Karen, a single woman makes her living as a hair dresser. She turns to online dating apps to spice up her life before settling down. On Valentine's Day she arrives home from her date, but later found murdered in the woods.
Dt Elise King is recovering from cancer and feels her brain is cloudy from chemo and worry. Her competition and antagonist wants to be the first to solve the crime is Kiki. She is a reporter and puts her life in danger while investigating the crime. If she can get this story, it will boost her career. As a single mom, she could use the praise.
Then there is Annie grieving for her son that died in the same woods 16 years ago. All of their stories are brittle and will connect in a vortex that will leave you tense. I enjoyed this one and hope I can read the first one in this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Karen, a single woman makes her living as a hair dresser. She turns to online dating apps to spice up her life before settling down. On Valentine's Day she arrives home from her date, but later found murdered in the woods.
Dt Elise King is recovering from cancer and feels her brain is cloudy from chemo and worry. Her competition and antagonist wants to be the first to solve the crime is Kiki. She is a reporter and puts her life in danger while investigating the crime. If she can get this story, it will boost her career. As a single mom, she could use the praise.
Then there is Annie grieving for her son that died in the same woods 16 years ago. All of their stories are brittle and will connect in a vortex that will leave you tense. I enjoyed this one and hope I can read the first one in this series.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 22, 2024
Imbued with emotion, Talking to Strangers was a well-written tale of suspense mixed heavily with crime fiction. From the richly layered character studies to the even pace and deftly obscured clues, I was 100% swept up by the finely plotted storyline as it twisted and turned. What I loved the most, however, were the three compelling POVs who illustrated a heartbreaking story in a way that kept me fully intrigued.
The characters behind those perspectives were easily the winning piece to this multi-pronged mystery. Centering around three skillfully drawn women—a detective, a reporter, and a mother seeming to be loosely attached to the case—I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how their individual stories were eventually going to interweave. Genuine and true, their experiences brought the plot to life in an immersive way as I flew through the pages.
The underlying premise hit all the right cords even if it was somewhat chocked full of triggers. With a sharp look at victim blaming as well as the many dangers that women often wade through in life and love, the plot especially touched on dating in our modern internet-focused world. So much so, in fact, that it would make me second guess adding my name to a site anytime soon.
The only piece to this winning plot that wasn’t quite a home run was the somewhat predictable nature of the twists and turns. Sadly for me, I managed to work out the biggest one of all. That’s not to say that I there weren’t plenty that totally missed my sleuthing, but I did figure out the who in this brilliant whodunnit. But then, I’m far from a newbie, so maybe it will happily evade your suspicions.
All in all, thanks to short chapters, raw storytelling, and palpable tension, I raced through novel from beginning to end. The second book in series, it worked just as well as a standalone for this uninitiated reader. I loved it so much, in fact, that I’m already planning on reading book one, Local Gone Missing, ASAP. A suspenseful, emotionally charged tale, I can’t recommend this one enough. So go on, grab a copy. You’ll definitely thank me. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.
A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.
Thank you to Fiona Barton, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 27, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: memory loss, controlling relationship, getting roofied, rape, mention of: death of a son, stalking, molestation, cancer
The characters behind those perspectives were easily the winning piece to this multi-pronged mystery. Centering around three skillfully drawn women—a detective, a reporter, and a mother seeming to be loosely attached to the case—I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how their individual stories were eventually going to interweave. Genuine and true, their experiences brought the plot to life in an immersive way as I flew through the pages.
The underlying premise hit all the right cords even if it was somewhat chocked full of triggers. With a sharp look at victim blaming as well as the many dangers that women often wade through in life and love, the plot especially touched on dating in our modern internet-focused world. So much so, in fact, that it would make me second guess adding my name to a site anytime soon.
The only piece to this winning plot that wasn’t quite a home run was the somewhat predictable nature of the twists and turns. Sadly for me, I managed to work out the biggest one of all. That’s not to say that I there weren’t plenty that totally missed my sleuthing, but I did figure out the who in this brilliant whodunnit. But then, I’m far from a newbie, so maybe it will happily evade your suspicions.
All in all, thanks to short chapters, raw storytelling, and palpable tension, I raced through novel from beginning to end. The second book in series, it worked just as well as a standalone for this uninitiated reader. I loved it so much, in fact, that I’m already planning on reading book one, Local Gone Missing, ASAP. A suspenseful, emotionally charged tale, I can’t recommend this one enough. So go on, grab a copy. You’ll definitely thank me. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.
A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.
Thank you to Fiona Barton, Berkley Publishing, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 27, 2024
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: memory loss, controlling relationship, getting roofied, rape, mention of: death of a son, stalking, molestation, cancer
August 4, 2024
The murder of local hairdresser, Karen Simmons, on Valentines Day in the small town of Ebbing. DI Elise King has her work cut out for her finding this killer. With help from investigative journalist Kiki.Nunn, the 2 women will unearth so much more than they ever expected.
Fiona Barton books are always so interesting, with well fleshed out characters and storylines. This was a fast read, with plenty of potential assailants in the mix. A small town, where everyone knows everyone’s business, surely it can’t be that hard to get the killer. I had an inkling of who the killer was going to be early on and I was proved to be right which makes a change for me. Nonetheless I really enjoyed this murder mystery. It was nice to have Elise back in another story.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy to read. Publishes on August 15th.
Fiona Barton books are always so interesting, with well fleshed out characters and storylines. This was a fast read, with plenty of potential assailants in the mix. A small town, where everyone knows everyone’s business, surely it can’t be that hard to get the killer. I had an inkling of who the killer was going to be early on and I was proved to be right which makes a change for me. Nonetheless I really enjoyed this murder mystery. It was nice to have Elise back in another story.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy to read. Publishes on August 15th.
February 18, 2025
Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day and Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online since Karen was known to be active on various dating apps. Onto the scene comes reporter Kiki Nunn whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.
This book is listed as Elise King #2 but it's not necessary to have read the first book although I recommend it. Elise's background is covered in the first book and some of the characters appear in both books but there's enough updating so that you shouldn't feel lost. This book is narrated from the points of view of Elise, Kiki and Annie whose young son was found many years ago in roughly the same location as Karen. The chapters are short and snappy, the characters are relatable and the plot is well presented. I'm hoping there'll be another book in this series but I'm there for whatever Fiona Barton writes.
I had a good chuckle at one point when Elise's neighbour brings her some lasagna and Elise asks her if she'll be eating too but she says she already ate with her husband at "pensioner o'clock". I can relate!
I've loved all this author's books that I've read and thank the London Public Library for the loan of Talking to Strangers.
TW: Victim blaming, date rape, stalking, child molestation (brief and not too descriptive).
This book is listed as Elise King #2 but it's not necessary to have read the first book although I recommend it. Elise's background is covered in the first book and some of the characters appear in both books but there's enough updating so that you shouldn't feel lost. This book is narrated from the points of view of Elise, Kiki and Annie whose young son was found many years ago in roughly the same location as Karen. The chapters are short and snappy, the characters are relatable and the plot is well presented. I'm hoping there'll be another book in this series but I'm there for whatever Fiona Barton writes.
I had a good chuckle at one point when Elise's neighbour brings her some lasagna and Elise asks her if she'll be eating too but she says she already ate with her husband at "pensioner o'clock". I can relate!
I've loved all this author's books that I've read and thank the London Public Library for the loan of Talking to Strangers.
TW: Victim blaming, date rape, stalking, child molestation (brief and not too descriptive).
August 26, 2024
Fiona Barton is back with a brand new book “Talking to Strangers”. I am a huge fan of her books so I was excited to be approved from NetGalley for her latest book. Karen Simmons is found dead in a remote area and this is just one week after journalist Kiki had interviewed her about the highs and lows of romance in her 40’s. The plot thickens and we get clues as to who might’ve done it. It’s pretty long at 368 pages so I think that’s why it took me so long to finish it. I enjoyed it and wanted to see how it ended. I did not read book #1 so I wonder if that would’ve helped at all?
April 10, 2024
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King suspects her online date might be the culprit. Karen’s dating app activity divides the town—some blame her, while others protest violence against women. Enter Kiki Nunn, a journalist determined to crack the case and advance her career, even if it means facing off against Elise and the killer.
One of the things I really liked about this book is how it dives into some real-world issues. Barton doesn't shy away from exploring the divide in society over Karen's murder. On one side, you've got people blaming her for what happened, while others are standing up against violence towards women. And then there's Kiki Nunn, this fierce journalist who adds a whole new layer of drama to the mix.
Now, I'll be real with you—it did take me a little bit to really get into the story. But once I did, I was hooked! The way Barton flips between Elise, Kiki, and Annie's perspectives keeps things fresh and exciting. Although, I gotta admit, sometimes I found it a bit tricky to tell Elise and Kiki's voices apart.
"Talking to Strangers" is an entertaining mystery with plenty of characters and motives to keep you guessing. Sure, the ending might be a bit predictable, but it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment. It's the perfect book for a cozy weekend read, with relatable and realistic characters that draw you into their world. Definitely worth picking up if you're in the mood for a good mystery!
One of the things I really liked about this book is how it dives into some real-world issues. Barton doesn't shy away from exploring the divide in society over Karen's murder. On one side, you've got people blaming her for what happened, while others are standing up against violence towards women. And then there's Kiki Nunn, this fierce journalist who adds a whole new layer of drama to the mix.
Now, I'll be real with you—it did take me a little bit to really get into the story. But once I did, I was hooked! The way Barton flips between Elise, Kiki, and Annie's perspectives keeps things fresh and exciting. Although, I gotta admit, sometimes I found it a bit tricky to tell Elise and Kiki's voices apart.
"Talking to Strangers" is an entertaining mystery with plenty of characters and motives to keep you guessing. Sure, the ending might be a bit predictable, but it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment. It's the perfect book for a cozy weekend read, with relatable and realistic characters that draw you into their world. Definitely worth picking up if you're in the mood for a good mystery!
August 12, 2025
"Talking to Strangers" is Book #2 in Fiona Barton's Elise King series.
It is a standalone read chronicling the 17-day murder investigation of a middle-aged single woman.
I especially enjoyed the way the story unfolded from three POVs: the police (Elise King), a journalist, and a bereaved mother.
TWs: Date Rape, Pedophilia, Fratricide.
Had I known about the aforementioned TWs, I NEVER would have selected this book.
I also had issues with the book's pacing and repetitive text.
I listened to the 12-hour audiobook that easily could have been an 8-hour audiobook.
Steve West, Jayne Entwistle, and Gabrielle Glaister all gave Oscar-worthy performances.
July 30, 2024
Author Fiona Barton taps into the wildly popular world of online dating in her latest thriller, TALKING TO STRANGERS. Highly relevant in today's world of online dating, this story highlights the potential danger associated with connecting with virtual strangers. In doing so, Barton also explores the social divide that exists between those who get off on victim blaming and those who remain focused on stopping the predators using the platforms to stalk unsuspecting victims as well as women's continuous struggle to overcome misogyny.
DI Elise King suspects a middle age murder victim's prolific online dating activity may have led to her death. Karen Simmons frequented the apps in hopes of finding a real connection that might lead to true love, but in letting down her guard, did she unwittingly invite a killer into her life? Half the town believes she reaped what she sowed while the other half protest violence against women. Kiki Nunn is a reporter in need of that one big story to catapult her back to the top of her field and having recently interviewed Simmons about the pros and cons of online dating, she's especially chagrined over her murder, pledging to unmask the killer at any cost. The story could potentially land her back on the front pages of major newspapers, but is it also putting her in the killer's crosshairs? As the story unfolds, readers also meet Anni, a mother still grieving the loss of her son whose body was discovered in the same area and manner as Karen's fifteen years prior. Are the cases connected? DI Elise King has her work cut out for her and despite suffering the continuing effects of chemotherapy for cancer, she’ll stop at nothing to bring these grieving families' closure.
TALKING WITH STRANGERS is delivered through the three engaging points of view of Elise, Kiki and Annie. The author does an excellent job portraying each woman's strength while allowing readers to feel their pain and vulnerability, their desire for a real connection with another loving human being. Barton doesn't shy away from highlighting prevalent issues including the world of online dating with its many potential dangers and cultural blaming via the points of view of these three women. While there are several potential red herrings with motive for characters and readers to sift through, savvy couch detectives will uncover the who and why early on, and yet the drama unfolding on the pages along with the need to see these three brave women get justice holds readers attention to the end.
Author Fiona Barton has rendered another highly atmospheric, entertaining police procedural in TALKING WITH STRANGERS. Both the characters and plot line command readers' attention while earning their empathy. The topic of online dating and its usage by our aging population looking for love in today's world is highly relevant and thought-provoking. While today’s society is painfully aware of the danger faced by unsupervised children using the internet, not enough attention is paid to lonely older adults who are also vulnerable to exploitation by online predators. Kudos to Barton for tackling relevant issues facing today's society with love and grace. With short concise chapters, shifting points of view and a tense, fast pace, fans of mysteries and police procedures will be engaged from beginning to end while reading TALKING WITH STRANGERS.
Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. This title is scheduled for release Aug. 15, 2024. My review is available at Mystery & Suspense Magazine and also on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
DI Elise King suspects a middle age murder victim's prolific online dating activity may have led to her death. Karen Simmons frequented the apps in hopes of finding a real connection that might lead to true love, but in letting down her guard, did she unwittingly invite a killer into her life? Half the town believes she reaped what she sowed while the other half protest violence against women. Kiki Nunn is a reporter in need of that one big story to catapult her back to the top of her field and having recently interviewed Simmons about the pros and cons of online dating, she's especially chagrined over her murder, pledging to unmask the killer at any cost. The story could potentially land her back on the front pages of major newspapers, but is it also putting her in the killer's crosshairs? As the story unfolds, readers also meet Anni, a mother still grieving the loss of her son whose body was discovered in the same area and manner as Karen's fifteen years prior. Are the cases connected? DI Elise King has her work cut out for her and despite suffering the continuing effects of chemotherapy for cancer, she’ll stop at nothing to bring these grieving families' closure.
TALKING WITH STRANGERS is delivered through the three engaging points of view of Elise, Kiki and Annie. The author does an excellent job portraying each woman's strength while allowing readers to feel their pain and vulnerability, their desire for a real connection with another loving human being. Barton doesn't shy away from highlighting prevalent issues including the world of online dating with its many potential dangers and cultural blaming via the points of view of these three women. While there are several potential red herrings with motive for characters and readers to sift through, savvy couch detectives will uncover the who and why early on, and yet the drama unfolding on the pages along with the need to see these three brave women get justice holds readers attention to the end.
Author Fiona Barton has rendered another highly atmospheric, entertaining police procedural in TALKING WITH STRANGERS. Both the characters and plot line command readers' attention while earning their empathy. The topic of online dating and its usage by our aging population looking for love in today's world is highly relevant and thought-provoking. While today’s society is painfully aware of the danger faced by unsupervised children using the internet, not enough attention is paid to lonely older adults who are also vulnerable to exploitation by online predators. Kudos to Barton for tackling relevant issues facing today's society with love and grace. With short concise chapters, shifting points of view and a tense, fast pace, fans of mysteries and police procedures will be engaged from beginning to end while reading TALKING WITH STRANGERS.
Special thanks to Berkley Publishing for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own. This title is scheduled for release Aug. 15, 2024. My review is available at Mystery & Suspense Magazine and also on my blog Cross My Heart Reviews.
August 8, 2024
I didn’t realise when I started reading ‘Talking To Strangers’ that this is the second book in the DI Elise King series. I never felt like I was missing out on anything though and I thought Fiona Barton did a great job in filling in some of the background for those of us who failed to read the previous book.
Karen Simmons is found dead in the local forest. Karen was a fun loving, outgoing woman so people can’t quite understand who’d want to harm her. Except, Karen liked to use online dating apps. Was she putting herself in danger? Kiki, a journalist, knew Karen as she was talking to her about the online dating scene for an article. Now Kiki just needs to dig a little deeper to find Karen’s killer.
I had a rather hard time liking Kiki. I’m not particularly fond of journalists and reporters. The way they lack respect for those who have lost loved ones by inserting themselves into their lives, peppering them with questions, hoping for whatever juicy soundbite that will give them a headline. Kiki is no different. She needs a brilliant article to kickstart her career again and she will do whatever it takes. Even if it means putting herself in danger.
On the other side of the investigation is DI Elise King. She is definitely someone to warm to immediately. Struggling after receiving cancer treatment, you just want all the good things for her. I found myself rooting for her. Not just in her pursuit of a killer, but things like not getting too down on herself, urging her to take care of herself. I can’t possibly imagine how hard it must be to pick yourself up after what Elise went through, but I was with her every step of the way and liked that she had someone as supportive as Caro by her side.
The men in this story do not make a good impression. Some are utter bastards, most are liars. For a relatively small community, there are surprisingly many singles but after hanging out in Ebbing for a while it’s easy to see why. I felt a little dirty at times, to be honest. And of course, one of them is a killer. But who? And how does any of this tie in with Annie’s story? Annie’s son, Archie, was found dead in the same forest as Karen nearly sixteen years ago. The discovery of Karen’s body brings back many sad memories for Annie, but also the realisation that nobody ever told her what really happened to her boy.
I had an inkling about what had happened to Karen and how various events were connected. As always I felt rather smug in figuring it out before it was revealed. That doesn't mean the impact was any less powerful, though. It's all rather heartbreaking, actually, as you sit back and watch the lies and secrets catch up with some of these characters.
'Talking To Strangers' shines a bright spotlight on today's society and it is immensely thought-provoking. It is dangerous out there. The arrival of social media and apps is a whole other cesspool but, in this day and age, where else can you find someone you could possibly spend the rest of your life with? Women like Karen put themselves out there in search of that happily ever after. But not everyone on the other side of the swiping apps is out looking for the same thing. The danger lurks around so many corners. Stranger Danger was never more relevant.
The second book in the DI Elise King series is an addictive and compelling whodunnit. I very much enjoyed being able to follow the investigation from two different sides, Elise's and Kiki's. It has a gripping plot, excellent characterisations and topical issues that will make you think. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and I'll be checking out the first one too. Recommended!
Karen Simmons is found dead in the local forest. Karen was a fun loving, outgoing woman so people can’t quite understand who’d want to harm her. Except, Karen liked to use online dating apps. Was she putting herself in danger? Kiki, a journalist, knew Karen as she was talking to her about the online dating scene for an article. Now Kiki just needs to dig a little deeper to find Karen’s killer.
I had a rather hard time liking Kiki. I’m not particularly fond of journalists and reporters. The way they lack respect for those who have lost loved ones by inserting themselves into their lives, peppering them with questions, hoping for whatever juicy soundbite that will give them a headline. Kiki is no different. She needs a brilliant article to kickstart her career again and she will do whatever it takes. Even if it means putting herself in danger.
On the other side of the investigation is DI Elise King. She is definitely someone to warm to immediately. Struggling after receiving cancer treatment, you just want all the good things for her. I found myself rooting for her. Not just in her pursuit of a killer, but things like not getting too down on herself, urging her to take care of herself. I can’t possibly imagine how hard it must be to pick yourself up after what Elise went through, but I was with her every step of the way and liked that she had someone as supportive as Caro by her side.
The men in this story do not make a good impression. Some are utter bastards, most are liars. For a relatively small community, there are surprisingly many singles but after hanging out in Ebbing for a while it’s easy to see why. I felt a little dirty at times, to be honest. And of course, one of them is a killer. But who? And how does any of this tie in with Annie’s story? Annie’s son, Archie, was found dead in the same forest as Karen nearly sixteen years ago. The discovery of Karen’s body brings back many sad memories for Annie, but also the realisation that nobody ever told her what really happened to her boy.
I had an inkling about what had happened to Karen and how various events were connected. As always I felt rather smug in figuring it out before it was revealed. That doesn't mean the impact was any less powerful, though. It's all rather heartbreaking, actually, as you sit back and watch the lies and secrets catch up with some of these characters.
'Talking To Strangers' shines a bright spotlight on today's society and it is immensely thought-provoking. It is dangerous out there. The arrival of social media and apps is a whole other cesspool but, in this day and age, where else can you find someone you could possibly spend the rest of your life with? Women like Karen put themselves out there in search of that happily ever after. But not everyone on the other side of the swiping apps is out looking for the same thing. The danger lurks around so many corners. Stranger Danger was never more relevant.
The second book in the DI Elise King series is an addictive and compelling whodunnit. I very much enjoyed being able to follow the investigation from two different sides, Elise's and Kiki's. It has a gripping plot, excellent characterisations and topical issues that will make you think. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and I'll be checking out the first one too. Recommended!
August 21, 2024
Talking To Strangers by Fiona Barton is the second in FBI Agent Elise King series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Berkley Publishing and Penguin Random House Canada and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Elise King is now living in Ebbing. After almost ten years together, Hugh had left her for a younger woman. Elise is now back at work, but still feeling the effects of chemo after her mastectomy. She works with DS Caro Brennan. The coroner is Aoife Mortimer. Elise's friend and neighbour Ronnie, although nosy, seems to know everyone in town, so sometimes she's quite helpful. So is reporter Kiki Nunn.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
The body of 44-year-old Karen Simmons is found in Knapton Wood.
Kiki Nunn, a journalist, is trying to get her career back on track, and she is determined to make this story the one to do it. Luckily, she had met Karen the week before when she was interviewing women for an article she was writing regarding romance and on-line dating. So Kiki already knew about the dating apps Karen was using, and some of the creeps she had met. That is what Kiki is going to write about, and she plans on delving into it herself.
Elise and her team are concentrating on the local men that Karen was dating. Kiki's interference is messing with Elise's case.
Meanwhile, a 16 year old cold case comes into play. Annie's son Archie was killed in the same woods where Karen was found. The family has never been the same.
My Opinions:
I was thrilled when I heard about another Elise King book. My wish from my last review came true! Elise is a strong protagonist, and she has a great team behind her.
I liked how the chapters were outlined in consecutive days, since the last book used a back and forth timeline. The story was mainly told by Elise and Kiki, as well as grieving mother Annie. That worked really well.
The book was about sexual predators, on-line dating, and victim-shaming. It was also about loneliness and family. The plot held my interest from start to finish, and although I correctly identified the killer, it wasn't until the end that I was proven right.
I found the pace fast, and the book was done in no time.
I can't wait for the next in this series!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 3, 2024
I've read (listened to) so many of her books, and I...never really dig them? Why do I do this?!
I was trying to think what my problem was, apart from my almost visceral objection to Jayne Entwhistle as a narrator...and I don't know if I came up with anything super conclusive, beyond a general sense that it was kind of...boring. I think it's partially that it feels like this is a novel built around a theme (what's it like to be a woman of a certain age? Society says you're no longer desirable, but you might have desires! And that makes you vulnerable? Because all men are evil, craven monsters, I guess?), rather than a plot, which can be cool, of course, but when you're writing a thriller, you really want that plot! I felt like so many of the interviews were just the women (both the reporter and the detective!) sort of stumbling across folks who volunteered valuable clues, and their main role was to respond with sort of phoned in empathy ("that must have been really hard for you")...and I guess, to Barton's credit, she doesn't really rely too much on the annoying plot device of folks not bothering to share vital information, or waiting too long to share vital information (although she sure flirts with the trope a lot, and "Elise" sure thinks it's being used against her all the time!)...so, it doesn't feel like they're closing in on the killer or in a race against time...
I think I also guessed the main twists too early for it to be interesting/satisfying... I mean, I don't know. It's obviously impossible to have a really surprising twist ending, and she didn't do a BAD job, I just...was impatient with this one. No doubt I'll continue to read her stuff and continue to feel cranky about it and continue to be baffled by my own choices. Stay tuned!
I was trying to think what my problem was, apart from my almost visceral objection to Jayne Entwhistle as a narrator...and I don't know if I came up with anything super conclusive, beyond a general sense that it was kind of...boring. I think it's partially that it feels like this is a novel built around a theme (what's it like to be a woman of a certain age? Society says you're no longer desirable, but you might have desires! And that makes you vulnerable? Because all men are evil, craven monsters, I guess?), rather than a plot, which can be cool, of course, but when you're writing a thriller, you really want that plot! I felt like so many of the interviews were just the women (both the reporter and the detective!) sort of stumbling across folks who volunteered valuable clues, and their main role was to respond with sort of phoned in empathy ("that must have been really hard for you")...and I guess, to Barton's credit, she doesn't really rely too much on the annoying plot device of folks not bothering to share vital information, or waiting too long to share vital information (although she sure flirts with the trope a lot, and "Elise" sure thinks it's being used against her all the time!)...so, it doesn't feel like they're closing in on the killer or in a race against time...
I think I also guessed the main twists too early for it to be interesting/satisfying... I mean, I don't know. It's obviously impossible to have a really surprising twist ending, and she didn't do a BAD job, I just...was impatient with this one. No doubt I'll continue to read her stuff and continue to feel cranky about it and continue to be baffled by my own choices. Stay tuned!
October 11, 2024
Thank you to Berkley Books and PRH Audio for the copies to review.
I have enjoyed Barton’s books in the past, and I love a procedural, so as this is the second book in the D.I. Elise King series I was very excited to read it and thought this was very well done. I really enjoyed reporter Kiki Nunn also trying to solve the case in order to further her career, and how she sometimes worked in tandem with Detective Elise King but mostly went rogue to get the story first. This obviously does not help either Nunn or King, and we are slowly learning facets of the crime while these two are trying to get to the bottom of what really happened. The intensity is building up to a crazy ending, and neither will come out of this unscathed, one of them more so than the other.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I will stop there, but I definitely recommend this one, and thought the audio was excellent as well, as the narrators did a wonderful job with this story. This can be read as a standalone, but I enjoyed the first book so much I do recommend reading that one first.
I have enjoyed Barton’s books in the past, and I love a procedural, so as this is the second book in the D.I. Elise King series I was very excited to read it and thought this was very well done. I really enjoyed reporter Kiki Nunn also trying to solve the case in order to further her career, and how she sometimes worked in tandem with Detective Elise King but mostly went rogue to get the story first. This obviously does not help either Nunn or King, and we are slowly learning facets of the crime while these two are trying to get to the bottom of what really happened. The intensity is building up to a crazy ending, and neither will come out of this unscathed, one of them more so than the other.
I don’t want to spoil anything so I will stop there, but I definitely recommend this one, and thought the audio was excellent as well, as the narrators did a wonderful job with this story. This can be read as a standalone, but I enjoyed the first book so much I do recommend reading that one first.
August 21, 2024
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book! It’s about Karen, a woman who is murdered on Valentine’s Day. Detective Elise King starts to look into her online dating history to see if it had anything to do with the murder. Reporter Kiki Nunn also decides to look into the murder by going undercover in the online dating world to see if she can find anything shady. Finally, Annie is a woman whose son was murdered years before. This new murder is brining up her past in more ways than one, and she starts to regress back to the dark place she thought she left behind.
Thoughts: This was my first Fiona Barton book and I LOVED IT! She is a fantastic writer and did a great job blending multiple storylines together. The characters were fun and interesting to read about. This book was on the longer side but I flew through it because of the way Barton kept hooking me in.
This is the second book in a series, but you don’t have to read the first one to know what is going on. I loved that this book was about women taking back power and being strong on their own. While part of the ending was obvious, the other part was a huge surprise! If you haven’t read her before, I definitely recommend pick this book up! 4.5 stars!
Thoughts: This was my first Fiona Barton book and I LOVED IT! She is a fantastic writer and did a great job blending multiple storylines together. The characters were fun and interesting to read about. This book was on the longer side but I flew through it because of the way Barton kept hooking me in.
This is the second book in a series, but you don’t have to read the first one to know what is going on. I loved that this book was about women taking back power and being strong on their own. While part of the ending was obvious, the other part was a huge surprise! If you haven’t read her before, I definitely recommend pick this book up! 4.5 stars!
July 30, 2024
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Aug. 27, 2024
Fiona Barton, author of “Local Gone Missing” and the Kate Waters series of novels brings us a new story with a new detective at its core- but Talking to Strangers” is so much more than that.
Local woman Karen Simmons is found the day after Valentines Day, obviously murdered, her body left against a tree. Detective Elise King and her team catch the case and immediately, Elise begins to wonder if Karen was killed by someone she met while online dating. Anyone who knew Karen spoke of her online dating activity and it seems to Elise that Karen was likely killed by someone she had recently met. But something isn’t adding up when local reporter, Kiki, brings information to Elise that ties Karen’s murder with the murder of a ten-year-old child from years ago. How are the two very different murders related?
“Talking to Strangers” has two other protagonists besides Elise, with complex and important roles in the plot. Kiki, a local reporter who is desperate for the story that will allow her to make her return to the journalism world in a big way and Annie, who is the mother of the young boy who was murdered in the same town years ago. All three women are connected arbitrarily to each other, and to the dead woman, but each one ends up helping the others out in crucial ways.
There are thick, emotional themes in Barton’s “Strangers”, including misogyny and the ‘incel’ lifestyle, sexual assault, child molestation and, of course, murder. Although the topics are heavy, Barton is fair in her depiction while leaving out the graphic details. I was able to feel the emotions of everyone involved, without having to hear the play-by-play of the vilest parts, and, in this case, I appreciated it.
Each woman narrates a chapter, which ends in a suspenseful way, such that I kept reading cliffhanger after cliffhanger until the end of the novel. “Strangers” was compulsively readable, as are the majority of Barton’s books that I have read. I enjoyed the characters, the complicated relationships and the female camaraderie that led to the resolution of not one, but two, murders (no spoilers given).
I am not sure if “Strangers” is going to go the way of other police novels and spawn a series, but I enjoyed Elise King enough to keep reading if Barton chooses to go that route. If not, Barton’s psychological suspense novels will always appeal to me, so I’ll be reading her next one, whatever the subject matter.
Expected publication date: Aug. 27, 2024
Fiona Barton, author of “Local Gone Missing” and the Kate Waters series of novels brings us a new story with a new detective at its core- but Talking to Strangers” is so much more than that.
Local woman Karen Simmons is found the day after Valentines Day, obviously murdered, her body left against a tree. Detective Elise King and her team catch the case and immediately, Elise begins to wonder if Karen was killed by someone she met while online dating. Anyone who knew Karen spoke of her online dating activity and it seems to Elise that Karen was likely killed by someone she had recently met. But something isn’t adding up when local reporter, Kiki, brings information to Elise that ties Karen’s murder with the murder of a ten-year-old child from years ago. How are the two very different murders related?
“Talking to Strangers” has two other protagonists besides Elise, with complex and important roles in the plot. Kiki, a local reporter who is desperate for the story that will allow her to make her return to the journalism world in a big way and Annie, who is the mother of the young boy who was murdered in the same town years ago. All three women are connected arbitrarily to each other, and to the dead woman, but each one ends up helping the others out in crucial ways.
There are thick, emotional themes in Barton’s “Strangers”, including misogyny and the ‘incel’ lifestyle, sexual assault, child molestation and, of course, murder. Although the topics are heavy, Barton is fair in her depiction while leaving out the graphic details. I was able to feel the emotions of everyone involved, without having to hear the play-by-play of the vilest parts, and, in this case, I appreciated it.
Each woman narrates a chapter, which ends in a suspenseful way, such that I kept reading cliffhanger after cliffhanger until the end of the novel. “Strangers” was compulsively readable, as are the majority of Barton’s books that I have read. I enjoyed the characters, the complicated relationships and the female camaraderie that led to the resolution of not one, but two, murders (no spoilers given).
I am not sure if “Strangers” is going to go the way of other police novels and spawn a series, but I enjoyed Elise King enough to keep reading if Barton chooses to go that route. If not, Barton’s psychological suspense novels will always appeal to me, so I’ll be reading her next one, whatever the subject matter.
August 22, 2024
I’ve read and enjoyed previous books by Fiona Barton – The Widow, The Child, The Suspect, and although I haven’t yet read the first book in this new series (Local Gone Missing) this wasn’t an issue at all and I feel that Talking to Strangers could easily be read as a standalone.
Fiona’s former career as a journalist clearly comes through in her writing. Whilst the previous series had journalist Kate Waters as its main character, here the spotlight is on Elise, a detective and journalist Kiki Nunn with the occasional POV from Annie, a bereaved mother.
The victim, hairdresser Karen Simmons came across as …..erm, let’s say, ‘a larger than life character’, and the story delves into the murky and sometimes dangerous world of online dating which Karen had frequented. Single mother Kiki is desperate to boost her stagnant career, she is being assigned the least interesting stories for her local paper and is always on the hunt for an exclusive story. I took a long while to warm to Kiki, not only was she doorstepping people in her quest for that ‘exclusive’ but in doing so I felt at times she was withholding valuable information from the police. Elise’s sergeant Caro certainly had the measure of her.
Set in 2020 over a period of around 17 days, there are some superbly drawn characters here that give the story substance and depth, as hateful as some of them are. Elise King’s current health issues were sympathetically alluded to whilst Kiki’s struggles as a single mum were much in evidence. Both women come into contact with some really awful men whose presence on the dark web adds a sinister undercurrent – heaven help anyone who swipes their dating profile!
I very much enjoyed Talking to Strangers. It had such an addictive and interesting plot and I was so invested in the whole story that I just wanted to keep reading. There is more to the story than just one death and with a historical angle that Elise becomes involved with, there are plenty of surprises and revelations. I had my suspicions about so many people and surprised myself by guessing who was responsible at least partly correctly. I do love a good quote and one of my favourites was …“it’s like getting a tin without a label out of the cupboard for your dinner. You think you’re getting peaches, but it turns out to be dog food”.
I had already bought a copy of Local Gone Missing, and I’m now keen to bump this up the book pile to find out the beginning of Elise’s story. Fiona Barton is an author to recommend and Talking to Strangers is most definitely one to read.
Fiona’s former career as a journalist clearly comes through in her writing. Whilst the previous series had journalist Kate Waters as its main character, here the spotlight is on Elise, a detective and journalist Kiki Nunn with the occasional POV from Annie, a bereaved mother.
The victim, hairdresser Karen Simmons came across as …..erm, let’s say, ‘a larger than life character’, and the story delves into the murky and sometimes dangerous world of online dating which Karen had frequented. Single mother Kiki is desperate to boost her stagnant career, she is being assigned the least interesting stories for her local paper and is always on the hunt for an exclusive story. I took a long while to warm to Kiki, not only was she doorstepping people in her quest for that ‘exclusive’ but in doing so I felt at times she was withholding valuable information from the police. Elise’s sergeant Caro certainly had the measure of her.
Set in 2020 over a period of around 17 days, there are some superbly drawn characters here that give the story substance and depth, as hateful as some of them are. Elise King’s current health issues were sympathetically alluded to whilst Kiki’s struggles as a single mum were much in evidence. Both women come into contact with some really awful men whose presence on the dark web adds a sinister undercurrent – heaven help anyone who swipes their dating profile!
I very much enjoyed Talking to Strangers. It had such an addictive and interesting plot and I was so invested in the whole story that I just wanted to keep reading. There is more to the story than just one death and with a historical angle that Elise becomes involved with, there are plenty of surprises and revelations. I had my suspicions about so many people and surprised myself by guessing who was responsible at least partly correctly. I do love a good quote and one of my favourites was …“it’s like getting a tin without a label out of the cupboard for your dinner. You think you’re getting peaches, but it turns out to be dog food”.
I had already bought a copy of Local Gone Missing, and I’m now keen to bump this up the book pile to find out the beginning of Elise’s story. Fiona Barton is an author to recommend and Talking to Strangers is most definitely one to read.
August 27, 2024
Talking to Strangers
4⭐️
1 murder in the present. 1 murder in the past. 3 women’s POV. 17 days.
Elise: Detective investigating the death of Karen, a small town hairdresser. The investigation constantly brings twists and turns-never giving Elise a break. She is still recovering from her cancer diagnosis and treatments. Her brain is a bit foggy and she is frustrated that things are different now. She wants to feel a sense of normalcy again. Breaking the case will prove she is still just as good of a detective as she was before.
Kiki: Reporter stuck in a dead end job and looking to break a story that will provide her with better career options. She just may have found the perfect story. Karen was murdered, but she had just interviewed her 5 days earlier regarding modern age dating apps. Will Kiki be able to use the victims own words and interview to find clues about her murderer?
Annie: A grieving mother and wife. Her young son was found dead 16 years ago. She’s never been able to fully move on, but now that a second body has been found in the same location, she begins to spiral and question what really happened to her son.
I liked how well woven and distinct the alternating POVs were written. Multiple POVs and short chapters are my jam. It makes it so easy to keep reading longer than I was planning. This kept my attention all the way through. I did end up predicting most of the reveals (maybe not fully, but each twist had crossed my mind at some point), but that didn’t cause me to like the book any less. I did find it a little frustrating how easily everyone spilled the tea with Kiki the reporter. It felt like there was barely ever any push back and it seemed unlikely she could single handedly obtain the amount of information she did. Again, I enjoyed the writing so much that I was able to suspend belief.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Pub Date: Aug 27 2024
4⭐️
1 murder in the present. 1 murder in the past. 3 women’s POV. 17 days.
Elise: Detective investigating the death of Karen, a small town hairdresser. The investigation constantly brings twists and turns-never giving Elise a break. She is still recovering from her cancer diagnosis and treatments. Her brain is a bit foggy and she is frustrated that things are different now. She wants to feel a sense of normalcy again. Breaking the case will prove she is still just as good of a detective as she was before.
Kiki: Reporter stuck in a dead end job and looking to break a story that will provide her with better career options. She just may have found the perfect story. Karen was murdered, but she had just interviewed her 5 days earlier regarding modern age dating apps. Will Kiki be able to use the victims own words and interview to find clues about her murderer?
Annie: A grieving mother and wife. Her young son was found dead 16 years ago. She’s never been able to fully move on, but now that a second body has been found in the same location, she begins to spiral and question what really happened to her son.
I liked how well woven and distinct the alternating POVs were written. Multiple POVs and short chapters are my jam. It makes it so easy to keep reading longer than I was planning. This kept my attention all the way through. I did end up predicting most of the reveals (maybe not fully, but each twist had crossed my mind at some point), but that didn’t cause me to like the book any less. I did find it a little frustrating how easily everyone spilled the tea with Kiki the reporter. It felt like there was barely ever any push back and it seemed unlikely she could single handedly obtain the amount of information she did. Again, I enjoyed the writing so much that I was able to suspend belief.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.
Pub Date: Aug 27 2024
Read
August 15, 2024This is one of those procedurals where I would have enjoyed it, and recommended it for its multiple POV and detective who has just finished chemo treatment, but there's an element of this book that I feel perpetuates the dangerous and false narrative of conflating being gay with being a child molestor. It's not even a main character, but a long dead character that is spoken about and assigned being gay and just couldn't help themselves from sexually assaulting teenagers. I kept hoping the book would have a point for this that would not end with just continuing this false/harmful stereotype but it didn't so far as I could tell and I ended up questioning why the character was even made gay.
March 18, 2024
It took a long time for me to get into this one. I felt sorry for our victim, and it was all very sad, but I also wasn’t very invested. The one main character I really liked was a woman who has decided to no longer be a door mat (loved her!), but the other two main characters kind of faded together.
The thing is, the book never really feels like it’s really about the murder. There are a lot of underlying messages here which, fine important, but the story suffers just a bit. And the solution is…different and distinct from all that messaging.
I definitely appreciated much of what the author tried to do here, but it may have worked better if I could have connected with our victim more.
It ended up being an okay read for me. I definitely didn’t hate it, but it didn’t inspire any greater feeling than that.
• ARC via Publisher
The thing is, the book never really feels like it’s really about the murder. There are a lot of underlying messages here which, fine important, but the story suffers just a bit. And the solution is…different and distinct from all that messaging.
I definitely appreciated much of what the author tried to do here, but it may have worked better if I could have connected with our victim more.
It ended up being an okay read for me. I definitely didn’t hate it, but it didn’t inspire any greater feeling than that.
• ARC via Publisher
August 28, 2024
I didn't enjoy this one. I didn't know it was part of a series even though I had read the first one. (Quite forgettable obviously). I much prefer standalones.
The plot of the story sounded promising but was such a chore to get through. I didn't connect with any of the characters, if anything they annoyed me. The big reveal was no surprise either. I don't think I will pick up another Fiona Barton book again which is a shame as her debut and following book was good.
The plot of the story sounded promising but was such a chore to get through. I didn't connect with any of the characters, if anything they annoyed me. The big reveal was no surprise either. I don't think I will pick up another Fiona Barton book again which is a shame as her debut and following book was good.
Read
November 13, 2024DNF @ 44% - 11/12/24
August 18, 2024
Review coming soon.
July 31, 2024
Kiki is a journo on the edge of extinction, needing a story to save her from her terrible copy and paste ‘clickbait’ she is now forced to post…..Karen is dead, for no other reason than she had been ‘looking for love’ via online hook ups and dating
Kiki senses a big story, and she is right, but what she finds when she delves into the world of apps will not only shock her but also reignite an old murder case aling the way
Elise is the DC in charge and recovering from breast cancer, she wants the case dealt with sharpish and not with Kiki’s interference, Kiki intends to help whatever
and so the women embark on a tentative togetherness re finding out what has happened, both putting themselves at risk
The book covers sexual assualt, rape and gross misogyny amongst other dark subjects but is non glorifying, however is not afraid to call out those that need to be called out
The writing is sharp, almost acidic in its observations but needs to be and far from being offputting adds to the urgency, some very good self deprecation dark humour and soul searching throughout
More than real characters, edgy writing and dialogue and disturbing storyline make this a read you will be a part of and want to help to solve and feel a need for justice
Kiki senses a big story, and she is right, but what she finds when she delves into the world of apps will not only shock her but also reignite an old murder case aling the way
Elise is the DC in charge and recovering from breast cancer, she wants the case dealt with sharpish and not with Kiki’s interference, Kiki intends to help whatever
and so the women embark on a tentative togetherness re finding out what has happened, both putting themselves at risk
The book covers sexual assualt, rape and gross misogyny amongst other dark subjects but is non glorifying, however is not afraid to call out those that need to be called out
The writing is sharp, almost acidic in its observations but needs to be and far from being offputting adds to the urgency, some very good self deprecation dark humour and soul searching throughout
More than real characters, edgy writing and dialogue and disturbing storyline make this a read you will be a part of and want to help to solve and feel a need for justice
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