The Stranger in the Room

by Luca Veste

A STRING OF MURDERS. AND THE PERSON WHO HAS LINKS THEM ALL IS ... YOUR DAUGHTER.

Alison Lennon receives the worst news a parent can expect - her son, Ben, has been killed, in what looks at first like a random attack on a dark street in the middle of the night. Only, she knows that he isn't the first victim.

Mia Johnstone has just turned eighteen. Ready for the next phase of her life, she should be looking forward to university, studying, partying. Instead, she's thinking about how her boyfriend Ben is the third person close to her has died.

Alison believes that Mia killed her son.

Mia needs people to stop calling her a killer.

And someone is desperate for the truth to never come out...

Genres: Thriller

364 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2025

About the author

Luca Veste is a writer of Italian and Liverpudlian heritage, married with two young daughters, and one of nine children. He studied psychology and criminology at university in Liverpool. He is the author of the Murphy and Rossi series, which includes DEAD GONE, THE DYING PLACE, BLOODSTREAM, and THEN SHE WAS GONE.

Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, his books follow the detective pairing of DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi. The novels are set in Liverpool, bringing the city to life in a dark and terrifying manner...with just a splash of Scouse humour.

"Astringent and artfully constructed." The Financial Times

"A darkly impressive novel... disturbing and intelligent." The Times

"A chilling début from a writer to watch..." Mark Billingham

"Gripping, unpredictable, genuinely shocking and impossible to put down, Dead Gone is a remarkable début." Steve Mosby

"A twisty, psychological crime debut in a gritty setting: a new favourite for police procedural lovers" Clare Mackintosh

"Tense and darkly playful." Chris Ewan

"A major new talent on the crime scene." Eva Dolan

"Fresh...original." Mel Sherratt

"Original and terrifying." Stav Sherez

He is also the editor of the Spinetingler Award nominated charity anthology 'Off The Record', and co-editor of 'True Brit Grit', also an anthology of short stories for charity.

He is a former civil servant, actor, singer and guitarist (although he still picks it up now and again), and now a full-time writer.

He can be found at www.lucaveste.com and on twitter @LucaVeste

Reviews

[Jannelies (there is no hope anymore) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this book because I hoped for an intriguing storyline with characters with depth, or at least characters I could relate to. Sadly, I was a bit underwhelmed. The story is being told from different POV’s and sometimes I just couldn't remember who was telling what. There were also a lot of pages filled with just thoughts and no developments or actions.
I understand why three deaths in just eighteen months in a small community must be very unsettling, to say the least, but as soon as it’s clear that Ben was the third victim, there was a lot of talk about the first two murdered people. Only, in all that time the police haven’t been able to find useful clues and thus nobody was caught for these deaths. And this goes on and on.

The plot is not as straightforward as it seems and when new secrets come to light, there is a little more action and I enjoyed it better. Overall, I cannot rate it more than three stars but it is in fact two and a half upgraded to three.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.

[Karen Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 / 5.0

Honestly, this book had all the ingredients to make a banger but it fell short in the end. Coupled with multiple confusing POV I felt that the overall plot failed to deliver the final twist which just fell flat. The confusion tied in with the slow pace of the book really made it a bore to read - if there was a way to make it a little clear I definitely think the pacing of the book would have improved.

The jist of the plot is a grieving mother, Alison Lennon when she receives that her son Ben was killed in the middle of the night. She believes that Ben wasn’t the first victim and infact the third victim to the murder spree. Tied in with all of this is Mia Johnstone who has her whole life ahead of her and an ex girlfriend to Ben. Alison believes that Mia killed her son, but Mia wants to prove she didn’t do it. The question is who really killed her son and who had a part to play.

Overall it’s an ok book, it’s not the best- I do think the multiple POV impacted the fluidity and understanding of the plot as it developed along the way. But it definitely can be done better!

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This is a good crime/psychological thriller but is not as fast paced as some of this author’s other books.
Alison is devastated when she’s told her son has been killed. She immediately suspects his on/off girlfriend Mia but the Police don’t seem interested in her.
Alison starts asking her own questions but this leads her closer and closer to danger.
There’s quite a lot of chapters where it’s more about the characters thoughts, than any action but the story picks up the pace towards the end.
Overall a good read but you need to stick with it.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.

[Chris Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking thriller from the excellent Luca Veste! A series of murders seems to be linked to Mia, and the latest to die is her boyfriend Ben. Ben's mum Alison is not impressed by the police and takes matters into her own hands. But is everything as it seems? Gripping from the start, well written and with an interesting array of characters, this is a super read.

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Such a good book. I totally never expected the outcome. The twists and turns keep you on edge.
My first Luca Veste book, definitely not my last

[Sivvy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5 stars - it was readable but not memorable. I found the characters all horribly dislikeable and there were plot holes everywhere, but it was the writing style that grated the most, with multiple character POVs not clearly signposted and some clunky turns of phrase (although I fully accept that my annoyance at excessive commas was a me problem). A run of the mill murder mystery which didn’t really deliver on my expectations.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stranger In The Room is a psychological thriller that intertwines the lives two families in dark and tragic circumstances, but not in a way of unity. In fact, the exact opposite. When Alison's son, Ben, is murdered, far from sharing her grief with his former girlfriend, Mia, she vehemently believes that Mia is responsible, both for his murder and for two other deaths that had previously rocked the small town in which they live. There is a very clear reason for her belief, something which becomes all the more apparent as Luca Veste slowly reveals the characters' and by extension, the towns' backstory, but surely nothing is quite as clear as it first appears. Alison is driven by grief - Mia is tortured by guilt, bit as to what drives that guilt ... well, that is what we need to find out. From the very beginning Luca Veste sets up the tension and that pulsing sense of threat - no good can ever come of someone walking down an alleyway late at night, no matter how close to home - and what follows is a tale of obsession, deception, and far more twists than you might at first expect.

The story is told from varying points of view. There is the first person narrative of Alison, whose determination to uncover what really happened to Ben drives much of the pace in the story. Then you have the third person perspective that provides us with insight not only into Mia's point of view, but also that of the Detective, Natalie, and her partner, Carter, who are tasked with finding out what happened. There are other characters who inform and redirect the narrative, but by focusing on these three main perspectives the author keeps the suspense and mystery alive. There is the conflict between what characters think they know, and what they simply suspect, and then the lies of omission that come from Mia unwittingly as she tried hard not to think about her potential role in all that has happened. The more we learn, the more the suspicion does fall upon Mia, but then again it is easy for Alison's first person voice to taint how we feel, a trick Luca Veste uses to excellent effect.

There are many twists in this story, and certain events and comments had me wondering about any number of suspects, including Mia's overprotective friend, Anna. There is a lot of contradiction and misdirection, and the pacing on the story waxes and wanes as the investigation progresses and then stalls. There is a vein of emotion driven by grief and anger that really comes through in the story, particularly when witnessing the way in which Alison reacts to events. Whilst perhaps a rather extreme reaction to her loss, the way in which the author has directed it maintains an air of authenticity as she understandably seeks to find an outlet for her anger and to be able to blame someone for her loss. I'm not sure how I would react in similar circumstances but her emotions are relatable, especially the guilt that builds in not being able to protect her child.

This is perhaps not as pacy as some of the author's previous novels, nor as laced with tension or threat. I found it to be more thoughtful and emotional, whilst still fed by an undercurrent of mystery. There are darker moments in the story, and the ultimate reveal of the killer is both surprising and not. It is a modern tragedy though, and the circumstances leading to Ben's murder, the escalation of online hatred for Mia, and the assumption of her guilt without anything but circumstantial evidence, are all too true to life.

[Teresa Nikolic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen year old Ben Lennon was on his way home from a night out in the early hours of the morning when he was brutally murdered. The police believe it was a random mugging gone wrong, due to his phone and watch being stolen, but his wallet wasn't taken. When his parents are informed their world falls apart, but Alison is certain this wasn't random because he isn't the first victim, there have been three deaths in the last eighteen months and each of the victims were close to Mia, Ben's girlfriend and Alison is convinced that Mia killed her son. Was it her or is someone else involved, Alison is determined to get to the truth.

The Stranger in the Room is told from multiple perspectives but concentrates mainly on Alison's grief over losing her son and Mia's secretive nature over what she knows about the deaths of her teacher, Mr Fulton, Becky and Ben. It's a compelling read, with some great twists along the way and, with Alison going all vigilante trying to find the person responsible, portrays how far a parent will go to find justice for their child when they don't feel the police are doing enough. It's an intriguing read with some characters that didn't endear themselves to me at all throughout the book. I kind of guessed who the perpetrator was but the author still brought a twist to the final reveal which I wasn't expecting. Another great read from Veste.

I'd like to thank Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luca Veste has written many excellent crime novels and “Stranger in the Room” is no exception.
Told from the point of view of Alison, a murdered teenager’s mother and then shifting to the mind of the dead boy’s girlfriend Mia who is a prime suspect, this is an extremely twisty thriller in every sense of the term!
The police don’t know where to look, despite Alison’s conviction that Mia is the culprit. Another teenager, Becky has also died as well as a teacher at their school. All have connections to Mia but is she the perpetrator?
This was such a clever book with such a twisty plot that I really didn’t know who to suspect. Was it the obvious answer or was there someone else.
I don’t want to reveal too much as it will spoil the enjoyment of the story but suffice it to say the tension never lets up until the very last page.
The characters are extremely well drawn- you could feel Alison’s frustration and Mia’s possible confusion but it is clear she is holding something back. Beware of unreliable narrators- there are several in this book!
However none of the characters seem to have much empathy including Alison who shows little regard for the rest of her family as her quest to find the killer takes over her life.
This is definitely a five star read which I highly recommend. It certainly kept me engrossed on a holiday flight!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mia and Ben are teenagers finishing school and preparing for university. They had been dating for several months but have broken up. One night walking home Ben is brutally assaulted and killed. Only 18 months earlier two other deaths occurred when a teacher at Mia’s school, Will Fulton, was assumed to have been killed in a burglary gone wrong and Becky, another pupil at the school, died in an apparent suicide. Written in multiple POV’s this is a well paced and quite dark thriller, a compelling read.

Briefly, Mia is linked to all three dead people and people are now questioning if she is a killer. Both Becky’s mother and Alison, Bens mother, believe she is and that the police are not doing their job. Should they take matters into their own hands? As Alison quickly spirals out of control in pursuit of the truth, her truth, to prove Mia is the killer, Mia herself struggles to cope. She is clearly hiding something but does it mean she is a killer!

Mia is a difficult character to understand, she professes her innocence but in a rather halfhearted manner and seems a bit confused at times, there is clearly something troubling her. The identity of the killer is perplexing and I was on the edge of my seat at times. A genuine shocker of a book right through to the last page! Brilliant

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stranger In The Room by Luca Vest, it seems everyone who has an issue with Mia, winds up dead. The last one to die was Anna’s son and she is determined to learn the truth about what happened to Ben. I enjoyed this book. I liked the writing style was surprised by the ending, but there were a few things in the story that threw me. For example, maybe I’m wrong, but I thought Anna‘s husband seemed like he cared about her and was just doing what he knew to do and thought Anna accusing him of being weak really was wrong with her, not to mention her outright obsession over Mia. Also, how can the neighbors say things like that didn’t happen in the neighborhood when hello what about Rebecca? I mean I get that the teacher was in the next town over but still? Clearly it did happen in their neck of the woods. I did think Anna’s investigation was written very well in the book and turned out just like as if someone really tried to investigate a murder despite they had no training. I do want to know why the book had the title it did what room and what stranger? Either way if you like good mysteries, then you may like this book. I thought I was going to love it and I didn’t but I did like it a lot. #NetGalley,#HotterInStoughton #LucaVest, #TheStrangerInTheRoom,

[Chris Scotland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superior plotting, an intense storyline and a multitude of genuinely unpleasant characters from a very clever writer indeed. Of course there's just a bit more to it than that but those are my immediate thoughts now I've given this, my first book from Luca Veste, time to settle in my subconscious. I have to admit to feeling some uneasiness when I was reading The Stranger in the Room and I found it hard to put my finger on the reason why; now, with hindsight, it really was because I couldn't feel empathy even with the family members of the murder victim and as I read on I realised - wow. This is so clever.. I had to justify the whole way I was reading this thriller in a way I probably hadn't done in a while. The subtleties are there but some of them crept up on me, and this made for a more unconventional approach than maybe I was expecting. Yes, I would have liked a sympathetic character to linger, come the denouement and for many readers one will, I'm sure, but I'm rather glad that I still felt rather unsettled.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alison receives the news that her son Ben has been murdered. Mia, Ben’s girlfriend, should be enjoying life but realises that her boyfriend is the third person close to her who has been killed. Alison believes that Mia had something to do with the murder. Is someone trying to hide the truth?

This was an interesting read with an intriguing mystery at the centre. The story was told in different points of view, which although helped build the story, could sometimes be hard to differentiate between. I could understand the character’s anguish and this added an intensity to the story.

The overall mystery is tightly plotted, however I did find the majority of the story overly slow with too much focus on the small details. It starts to pick up toward the end and there were some surprises, however I found that I had to suspend disbelief at times. This was a good story overall, however not one I will remember. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be in a spate of ‘new to me’ authors, and Luca will be definitely be added to my great authors list.

This book started brilliantly with full on shocking action and rarely let up afterwards.

I loved the characterisation of Alison, a grieving mother and felt it was spot on, desperate, questioning, wondering, full of pain. Mia, the other main protagonist, was portrayed effectively as a disturbed, troubled soul, pushing empathy away with her thoughts and behaviours. Set around a small town, the places came to life in my head, the ‘Dips’, the housing estate, the houses, as I watched the story unfold.

I found it compelling to follow the investigation from the mother’s point of view, sharing her heightened emotion and need to find her son’s killer.

Luca Veste keeps the reader fired, trying to piece the evidence together. He puts a whole new meaning to the word twisty, with layer upon layer of intrigue, secrets and a skilfully plotted story. Loved it!

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben is 18 years old and is bludgeoned to death, the third murder in a small town in a year. His mother wants to see justice done but the police don't seem to be chasing up the information that she has given them, the link between the three victims. Mia has something to hide but she is not the only person who knows more than they are saying about these deaths.
I have read so many positive reviews about Veste's work so I know he is well-regarded within the genre and I was looking forward to reading this book. It's a psychological thriller but the answers were flagged up from early on, the twist is not much of a twist and I found the characters annoying rather than sympathetic. OK, this is a very personal opinion, and I'm not a great fan of the domestic psychological thriller but it really didn't excite me.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if your son has been brutally murdered and you think you know who did it?
The Stranger In The Room is a poignant, gritty fast paced read with themes of grief, mental health issues, teen behaviour, bullying, social media dangers and more.
Alison Lennon is convinced she knows who killed her son and Mia Johnstone, his 18-year-old ex-girlfriend is equally adamant that she didn't
I found the plotting in this impeccable. Told from various viewpoints, each one an unreliable narrator, Veste skilfully drops red herrings, leading us up and down paths where we're never quite certain which way to turn.
The characters are well drawn and this is a chilling read, with a whopper of a surprising ending. Twisty, twisty, twisty - just how I like them!
Absolutely loved this and an easy 5* from me.

[Lozza🧸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨
Hmmmmm…
This was exciting!
I loved the plot and how the different storylines kept unravelling but i did find it a bit slow.
I enjoyed the different POVS but couldn’t stand half the characters; the mum was just ridiculous for doing everything she did but i get it cause she wanted to find her sons killer but damn woman at least inform the police of what you’ve found out, the dad was just a self obsessed prick and Mia was just an asshole ngl.
I really enjoyed the twists towards the end and had my suspicions about the suspect around the halfway mark which was very exciting to see confirmed but with a suprise twist to it!
Enjoyed the fact that it got more fast paced towards the end with the mums POV as it felt like i was following her train of thoughts.
I’m not usually a fan of family based thrillers but i really enjoyed this one and the writing style of it was superb.

[Payal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming overall. I didn't take to the style of writing at all—the short, staccato sentences going into the heads of characters, and sometimes a page of more of thoughts before a question is answered.

I also found the changing perspectives jarring and inconsistent. A couple of sections had the names of the PoV character, but most didn't; one of the PoVs was in first person, but there were a few sentences here and there that slipped into third person (possibly this was changed in a later revision, and will get ironed out in the final version).

I also wasn't at all convinced about the story, and why everyone though Mia was a killer. The ending was supposed to be twisty, I guess, but needed some suspension of disbelief.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

[Fiona Agnew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from netgalley for an honest review.This is a weird one for me, although I enjoyed the story, if a little slow at parts, I struggled with the ending, I didn't find it believable, I've read plenty books that I've been surprised by the ending, but it's made sense once you've thought about it, this just didn't sit right with me.
The story itself is still worth a read, starts with a young lad being killed and the police start to investigate, over the past 18 months there were also 2 other killings that were not solved, is there a connection? The locals and mother of the latest killing seem to think so.
This is a story of a mother determined to find out who killed her son, no matter the danger involved

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told manly by Alison’s POV with others included as the story progresses
As the story unfolds, you can feel every emotion generating from the characters as they mourned the loss of their loved ones.
As the author always does, you are pulled into everyone’s secrets and lies and truly left wondering just who is guilty. Alison is a strong but at times complex character who will fight with all she has to find the person responsible for her son’s murder.
I found this read to be a more emotional one compared to the authors' other books but written perfectly.
The revelation was totally unexpected for me, and the extra twist was a brilliant bonus.
RECOMMEND
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the ARC.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Stranger in the Room' by Luca Veste is an additive thriller. It is the first book I have read by this author but it will not be the last.

'A STRING OF MURDERS. AND THE PERSON WHO LINKS THEM ALL IS . . . YOUR DAUGHTER.
Alison Lennon receives the worst news a parent can expect - her son, Ben, has been killed, in what looks at first like a random attack on a dark street in the middle of the night. Only, she knows that he isn't the first victim.'

This book is everything you need in a thriller. It is well written and plotted and also keeps you hanging on for the next thing to happen. A real page turner.

The characters are well developed and at times very chilling!

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read in return for a review.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alison's son Ben is murdered, she is determined to get him justice at all costs. But she may have got her calculations wrong.

Ben was just a teenager, what reason could there be for his death? Convinced that his girlfriend Mia is somehow responsible, Alison is unaware of Mia's own assessment of her role in the situation.

This is a story by everyone has secrets, and the reader is introduced to them - with each turn of the page - to great effect. Intricate and suspenseful, this is entertaining storytelling skillfully delivered.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stranger in the Room by Luca Veste was a cracking psychological thriller from start to finish especially as it was cleverly written and told in different points of view, Alison, is the murdered teenager’s mum and then moving to the mind of the dead boy’s girlfriend Mia, who is a prime suspect and will have you guessing till the end, especially as its full of cleaver twists and turns that will have you changing your mind who it is several times!

I loved this book and a great read for a rainy day outside sitting in your comfy chair in the warm or your holiday.

I highly recommend The Stranger in the room. 5 star read.

[RM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this ARC.

When Alison finds out that her son has been murdered, she is hellbent on finding the culprit, especially when she knows that the police have failed to charge anyone for the last 2 murders in their little town. But she is convinced they are all connected and she knows who did it...

I enjoyed this book, it had twists and turns but I was a little let down at the end. Although I didn't expect it, I didn't expect the murderer to be who it was and for the reasonings used. It just seemed a but far fetched in my book.

Would still recommend giving it a read though.

[Taylor Agutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

WTAF?! Sorry, that was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed that. The ending tho, i was shocked, like actually shocked to my core. Like, i had so many different theories, and non of them were right. The ending, i just can’t. I have no words at all. My only issue was (and i could be completely wrong) it felt slightly written by AI. I’m only saying this as the way some stuff read out and sounded, just didn’t sound correct to me. Totally could just be me and my ability to read things wrong, but some sentences were hard to read and felt very automated.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed this book, I read it in one sitting on my afternoon off.

The Stranger in the Family is a perfect example of a great psychological thriller. Twists of character and event, perfectly paced and with interesting underlying social themes that make you think.

It also has a good unpredictable edge and some terrific writing. Overall a big thumbs up from this reader.

[Chella K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by Luca Veste. The story started with a bang but somewhere I felt lost. It had multiple PoVs . The real focus was on Alison ,her grief and resentment is well detailed I actually felt for that character. On other hand Mia was a confusing character , didn't have much depth. I was hooked till the end of the story , it moved fast even with the drawbacks. Overall it was a decent read. I thank netgalley and hodder books for eARC copy.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy books by the author but not so much this one. It is told from multiple points of view, which worked up to a point but the pacing was very slow and irritated me at times. There was a lot of emotion throughout, especially from Alison whose son Ben was murdered and the plotting is quite intricate. I didn't like the ending but overall, it is a good read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Miki Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alison's son Ben is attacked and killed on his way home from a night out, she is determined to find out who is responsible and fixes her sights on his ex-girlfriend Mia. If the rumours are to be believed she is responsible for two other deaths in the area with the last couple of years.
When Alison does find out the truth, will she be able to handle it? Wil she be able to face the truth about her son?
A good pacey read.