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Strangers in the car
Late at night...
Abi and Ben are driving home down foggy country roads, arguing about having had to cut short their weekend away when they take a wrong turn. Abi’s driving, but her eyes leave the road for a moment as she says something to Ben – just as he gasps. A man is in front of the car, waving a torch. Abi swerves to avoid him.
You see a family stranded...
Ben tells her they should stop and go back, but Abi refuses. It’s dark, the roads are isolated and they don’t know this stranger. But, as Abi continues on, they see a broken-down car. Every instinct is still telling Abi to drive by, but then she notices the woman holding a car seat with a baby in it.
Would you stop?
For a moment, Abi hesitates, but they can’t leave a mother and baby on the side of the road. Agreeing to give the family a lift, they set off again. But now these strangers are inside their car and it might be the worst mistake they have ever made...
Abi and Ben are driving home down foggy country roads, arguing about having had to cut short their weekend away when they take a wrong turn. Abi’s driving, but her eyes leave the road for a moment as she says something to Ben – just as he gasps. A man is in front of the car, waving a torch. Abi swerves to avoid him.
You see a family stranded...
Ben tells her they should stop and go back, but Abi refuses. It’s dark, the roads are isolated and they don’t know this stranger. But, as Abi continues on, they see a broken-down car. Every instinct is still telling Abi to drive by, but then she notices the woman holding a car seat with a baby in it.
Would you stop?
For a moment, Abi hesitates, but they can’t leave a mother and baby on the side of the road. Agreeing to give the family a lift, they set off again. But now these strangers are inside their car and it might be the worst mistake they have ever made...
432 pages, Paperback
Published April 24, 2025
83 people are currently reading
10355 people want to read
About the author
C.M. Ewan
7 books216 followersI write nerve-shredding thrillers about ordinary situations gone wrong -- the kind of thing that could happen to any of us!
My latest thriller THE INTERVIEW is about a seemingly normal job interview that turns out to be something very different and unexpected. It will be published in February 2022.
I'm also the author of A WINDOW BREAKS, a page-turning thriller that asks the question: what would you do if you woke up at 2 a.m. to hear somebody in your home?
I love to hear from readers and always respond to every email I receive.
You can contact me via:
my website www.chrisewan.com
on Twitter @chrisewan
on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chrisewanauthor
or on Instagram @c.m.ewan
Writing as Chris Ewan, I'm also the author of SAFE HOUSE, DARK TIDES, DEAD LINE and LONG TIME LOST, as well as the popular GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... series of mysteries about globetrotting crime writer and thief-for-hire, Charlie Howard.
THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO ... novels are warm, witty and perfect for fans of cosy mysteries. If you think you might like to try one, you can download your FREE copy of THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO MURDER, a novella set during the Cannes film festival, by visiting my website www.chrisewan.com and joining my email newsletter.
I was born in Taunton in 1976 and graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in American Studies with a minor in Canadian Literature, then later trained as a lawyer. After an eleven-year spell living on the Isle of Man, I now live in Somerset, England with my wife and two children, where I write full time.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
November 12, 2025
HOT DAMN! Fast-paced, twisty, and deliciously intense, Strangers in the Car had me riding shotgun as this rollercoaster ride of heart-pounding action delivered in spades. From the believable characters to the well-drawn dual plot lines, my mind was abuzz from the very first word. You see, there wasn’t a minute of downtime from the gripping first chapter to the well-wrapped-up conclusion. With evil villains, a taut atmosphere, and several script-flipping twists, there wasn’t a thing not to love about this psychological thriller. After all, taking place primarily in the claustrophobic setting of a car over the course of one spine-chilling evening, it was thrilling and adrenaline-fueled from beginning to end. At the same time, though, the suspense level slowly ratcheted higher and higher as each short, cliffhanger chapter laid out the dark secrets, dirty lies, and unguessable schemes.
All said and done, I was completely bowled over by this new-to-me author. With a deft cinematic touch and compelling multiple POVs, I was beyond wowed by how this book took six ordinary people and placed them in extraordinary situations. Making me wonder what I would have done had I been in their shoes, it was a thought-provoking read despite the dread-filled storyline that had plenty of hairy, breath-holding scenes. From the increasingly nerve-wracking buildup to the explosive, cat-and-mouse climax, Mr. Ewan’s writing skill was on a whole other level. I mean, how many authors can put you in the middle of the action to the extent that you lose track of time? Calling it immersive would be one heck of an understatement. So if you’re looking for a book that’s all-consuming and impossible to put down, you can stop looking as you’ve found it right here. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Abi and Ben are driving home down foggy country roads, arguing about having had to cut short their weekend away when they take a wrong turn. Abi is behind the wheel, but her eyes leave the road for a moment as she says something to Ben—just as he gasps. A man is in the road, waving a torch. Abi swerves to avoid him. Ben tells her they should stop and go back, but Abi refuses. It’s dark, the roads are isolated and they don’t know this stranger. But, as Abi continues on, they see a broken-down car. Every instinct is still telling Abi to drive by, but then she notices the woman holding a car seat with a baby in it. Abi can't bring herself to leave a mother and baby stranded in the middle of the night. But offering them a ride might take them down a dangerous road, a road from which they may never return…
Thank you to C.M. Ewan and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 4, 2025
Content warning: kidnapping, violence, pregnancy, gun violence, carjacking, mention of: miscarriage, murder
All said and done, I was completely bowled over by this new-to-me author. With a deft cinematic touch and compelling multiple POVs, I was beyond wowed by how this book took six ordinary people and placed them in extraordinary situations. Making me wonder what I would have done had I been in their shoes, it was a thought-provoking read despite the dread-filled storyline that had plenty of hairy, breath-holding scenes. From the increasingly nerve-wracking buildup to the explosive, cat-and-mouse climax, Mr. Ewan’s writing skill was on a whole other level. I mean, how many authors can put you in the middle of the action to the extent that you lose track of time? Calling it immersive would be one heck of an understatement. So if you’re looking for a book that’s all-consuming and impossible to put down, you can stop looking as you’ve found it right here. Rating of 5+ stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Abi and Ben are driving home down foggy country roads, arguing about having had to cut short their weekend away when they take a wrong turn. Abi is behind the wheel, but her eyes leave the road for a moment as she says something to Ben—just as he gasps. A man is in the road, waving a torch. Abi swerves to avoid him. Ben tells her they should stop and go back, but Abi refuses. It’s dark, the roads are isolated and they don’t know this stranger. But, as Abi continues on, they see a broken-down car. Every instinct is still telling Abi to drive by, but then she notices the woman holding a car seat with a baby in it. Abi can't bring herself to leave a mother and baby stranded in the middle of the night. But offering them a ride might take them down a dangerous road, a road from which they may never return…
Thank you to C.M. Ewan and Grand Central Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 4, 2025
Content warning: kidnapping, violence, pregnancy, gun violence, carjacking, mention of: miscarriage, murder
November 25, 2025
This was chef's kiss and kept my attention from the beginning to the very end!
So couple picks up another couple on a deserted winding road. When the good Samaritans start to notice something off with the hitch hiker's wife, they begin to suspect that all may not be well between the two. Not to mention the hitchhikers have a baby with them; that has to be the most quiet baby ever!
Grab onto your seats people, this is a good one!
Solid 5 stars!!!!!
Thanks to Grand Central publishing and NetGalley. Grateful for the ARC! So didn't want it to end!
"STRANGERS IN THE CAR" out Nov 4th 2025
So couple picks up another couple on a deserted winding road. When the good Samaritans start to notice something off with the hitch hiker's wife, they begin to suspect that all may not be well between the two. Not to mention the hitchhikers have a baby with them; that has to be the most quiet baby ever!
Grab onto your seats people, this is a good one!
Solid 5 stars!!!!!
Thanks to Grand Central publishing and NetGalley. Grateful for the ARC! So didn't want it to end!
"STRANGERS IN THE CAR" out Nov 4th 2025
April 12, 2025
This book was intense! I felt anxious the entire time reading it! Strangers in the car is in the mysterious and thriller genre. Sometimes we are driving in the car and we just want to help strangers, which makes this story seem very realistic. This is however a fictional story that kept me on edge! It kept me up at night reading it! This book came with suspense, completely unpredictable plot twists and gave me chills!
This story centers around a couple, whose names are Ben and Abi. They are driving and end up taking a wrong turn down an eerie and creepy road, where they see a guy. They ignore him and keep on driving. As these two keep driving, they notice a car is broken down and it belongs to a Mother and a baby. What’s the best thing these two good people do? Offer the Mom and her baby help… Of course. This is where things start to get really creepy and disturbing! As this story unravels, you will feel like you’re in a claustrophobic car with them, just wanting to escape! Be sure to read the content warnings! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great mystery thriller read! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author C.M. Ewan and Grand Central Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This story centers around a couple, whose names are Ben and Abi. They are driving and end up taking a wrong turn down an eerie and creepy road, where they see a guy. They ignore him and keep on driving. As these two keep driving, they notice a car is broken down and it belongs to a Mother and a baby. What’s the best thing these two good people do? Offer the Mom and her baby help… Of course. This is where things start to get really creepy and disturbing! As this story unravels, you will feel like you’re in a claustrophobic car with them, just wanting to escape! Be sure to read the content warnings! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a great mystery thriller read! I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars rating!
Thank you to NetGalley, author C.M. Ewan and Grand Central Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
November 18, 2025
VROOOOM! SCREEECH!
BUCKLE UP.....
This "Car" book is jam-packed with high-octane action and suspense.
What happens when a young couple gives a posh couple with a baby a ride after their luxury rental car breaks down?
From start to finish, tension revs up and never drops below the red line.
Praise for talented author C.M. Ewan for masterfully turning a Good Samaritan car ride story into a riveting, turbocharged atmospheric thriller.
The pacing? Always above the speed limit.
The tension? Red-line level.
The plot twists? Think sharp hairpin turns on black ice.
The book's five protagonists, however, are the real engines driving this heart-pounding, emotionally pulverizing, and gripping tale.
Ewan gives them just enough grit, vulnerability, authenticity, fallibility, and savoir-faire to keep the wheels turning when life skids out of control.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Olivia Mace.
Although Olivia Mace's narration was outstanding, the book would have benefited from multiple narrators since it unfolded from multiple POVs and timelines.
WHAT A RIDE!
This book has my nomination for the most "Unputdownable" thriller of the year!
All the stars!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
November 6, 2025
Holy Hostages! I’m still trying to collect my breath after this one. Talk about a non-stop ride of a thriller!
One night, Ben and Abi are on the road. It’s terribly foggy and they’ve lost their way. Suddenly, a man is standing in the road trying to flag them down.
When they stop, a couple and their baby are stranded. Their car broke down. They ask if they can have a ride. With a little hesitation, they let them in.
The story is told from before the ride and then during the ride, what happened before the other couple broke down. I was so glued to this book! It’s action packed and full of twists I loved!
I’m definitely reading this author again! Highly recommend!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Grand Central publishing for the gifted copy !
One night, Ben and Abi are on the road. It’s terribly foggy and they’ve lost their way. Suddenly, a man is standing in the road trying to flag them down.
When they stop, a couple and their baby are stranded. Their car broke down. They ask if they can have a ride. With a little hesitation, they let them in.
The story is told from before the ride and then during the ride, what happened before the other couple broke down. I was so glued to this book! It’s action packed and full of twists I loved!
I’m definitely reading this author again! Highly recommend!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Grand Central publishing for the gifted copy !
June 25, 2024
WOAHHHHHHHHHH this will make you rethink driving in the fog……and making sure,100% sure you take the RIGHT turn and not the WRONG one
Abi and Ben are driving home and they make a wrong turn and it’s not an exaggeration to say they tumble into chaos,not just a slight problem but a whole wrecker of a life change……the decision to stop and help people in distress is one that they will never forget…..the young couple and baby they pick up seem ‘off’,there is something not right…..I will let you discover what that is but it’s a shock and one that drives Ben and Abi to their limits
You can tell its a fast paced read re the above but honestly from the get go this book does not let up ,its scary,dynamic,scary,pounding with action,scary and a full on involving read,really good
September 30, 2025
Imagine you and your hubby are driving along a back country foggy road and you come across a couple who has appeared to be broken down. Do you stop and help them? Keep going? They also have a baby in a car seat. Does that make you stop more? This book is all the feels and has you on the edge of your seat. Told in multiple points of view, it’s as if you’re driving in the car with them! Well done! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published November 4, 2025.
November 26, 2025
Annnnddddd THIS is why we don't stop to help strangers... Sure, it's a couple with a baby, the woman injured her hand and it'll just be a short drive to the hospital, right?
Thus begins a slow descent into an increasingly adrenaline fueled nightmare situation! The chapters are relatively short with alternating POVs and a dip into the past that all add to the fast pace. I admit, I was a bit judgey with some of decisions made by different characters, but honestly that's what added to the fun. It's like watching a horror movie and shouting at the screen 'Don't go in there!' Yes, I was able to predict some twists and turns, but not all. If you just kick back and enjoy the wild ride for what it is, you'll have a blast!
I paired the audiobook and Olivia Mace was wonderful with projecting excitement, danger and fear to get the heart racing. Her increase in pace and volume occurred in all the right places raising the anxiety level of C.M. Ewan's, taut tension filled prose!
STRANGERS IN THE CAR is propulsive, gripping and binge worthy. At it's heart, it's about appreciating the people you love and doing your utmost to care for them in the way they deserve. If you enjoy a pulse-pounding race against time with a high intensity game of cat and mouse in a nerve wracking claustrophobic setting, then this is your JAM!
____
Thank you Novel Suspects, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
Thus begins a slow descent into an increasingly adrenaline fueled nightmare situation! The chapters are relatively short with alternating POVs and a dip into the past that all add to the fast pace. I admit, I was a bit judgey with some of decisions made by different characters, but honestly that's what added to the fun. It's like watching a horror movie and shouting at the screen 'Don't go in there!' Yes, I was able to predict some twists and turns, but not all. If you just kick back and enjoy the wild ride for what it is, you'll have a blast!
I paired the audiobook and Olivia Mace was wonderful with projecting excitement, danger and fear to get the heart racing. Her increase in pace and volume occurred in all the right places raising the anxiety level of C.M. Ewan's, taut tension filled prose!
STRANGERS IN THE CAR is propulsive, gripping and binge worthy. At it's heart, it's about appreciating the people you love and doing your utmost to care for them in the way they deserve. If you enjoy a pulse-pounding race against time with a high intensity game of cat and mouse in a nerve wracking claustrophobic setting, then this is your JAM!
____
Thank you Novel Suspects, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
April 11, 2025
This was a twisty, adrenaline filled read. This book picks up the pace quickly, and the author does a fantastic job of building dread from the get go.
The action starts quickly, and I liked the structure the author used to tell the story, flipping not only between perspectives of the characters but also flipping back in time to build to the events happening in the present.
Every time I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, another twist would come and I really couldn’t see where it was going until we got there. I read this book in one evening, I really couldn’t put it down. It’s a great, edge of your seat thriller.
My only criticism, is that there was something about the main character (Abi), that made her somewhat irksome. I think the intention was to make her unease indicative of foreshadowing in the beginning, but it came off as whiny and weak. She absolutely redeems herself, but the first third of the book with her just made her less appealing of a character to me.
Also, I love that this book is “wrapped up”. Sometimes I find thrillers tend to just have an abrupt ending and I very much appreciated that the ending was well thought out and left the reader without feeling like the book was ended in just a page or two.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy.
The action starts quickly, and I liked the structure the author used to tell the story, flipping not only between perspectives of the characters but also flipping back in time to build to the events happening in the present.
Every time I thought I had an idea of where the story was going, another twist would come and I really couldn’t see where it was going until we got there. I read this book in one evening, I really couldn’t put it down. It’s a great, edge of your seat thriller.
My only criticism, is that there was something about the main character (Abi), that made her somewhat irksome. I think the intention was to make her unease indicative of foreshadowing in the beginning, but it came off as whiny and weak. She absolutely redeems herself, but the first third of the book with her just made her less appealing of a character to me.
Also, I love that this book is “wrapped up”. Sometimes I find thrillers tend to just have an abrupt ending and I very much appreciated that the ending was well thought out and left the reader without feeling like the book was ended in just a page or two.
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader copy.
May 15, 2025
Whew! What a ride this one was!
This is a seriously intense thriller. It's popcorn of the best kind.
Expect twists that will truly take you by surprise and some characters you really root for (and some you really, really don't).
As I was reading this, I thought that this would make a fun movie. I mean... a direct to streaming Netflix type movie, but fun as could be.
I really enjoyed this and would read the author again!
* ARC via publisher
This is a seriously intense thriller. It's popcorn of the best kind.
Expect twists that will truly take you by surprise and some characters you really root for (and some you really, really don't).
As I was reading this, I thought that this would make a fun movie. I mean... a direct to streaming Netflix type movie, but fun as could be.
I really enjoyed this and would read the author again!
* ARC via publisher
November 14, 2025
3.75 stars
Fast paced, high stakes, keeps you on the edge of your seat
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Fast paced, high stakes, keeps you on the edge of your seat
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTM3347n7/
October 15, 2024
Abi and Ben take a wrong turn and come across a couple with a baby who have broken down and need their help. The woman is injured and they agree to take the family to the hospital. But are these strangers really as vulnerable as they look?
This was a WILD ride! Fast paced, gripping and suspenseful, I could not stop turning those pages. I had to know what happened next. I could literally feel the fear through the pages and my heart was racing. I felt like this book wouldn’t let me release that breath I’d been holding!
An excellent read. I loved it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Panmacmillan for my advanced copy.
This was a WILD ride! Fast paced, gripping and suspenseful, I could not stop turning those pages. I had to know what happened next. I could literally feel the fear through the pages and my heart was racing. I felt like this book wouldn’t let me release that breath I’d been holding!
An excellent read. I loved it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Panmacmillan for my advanced copy.
June 10, 2025
GUYS THIS IS THE SAME BOOK FROM Ewans CALLED ‘One wrong turn’.
I stupidly looked at the title and trusted that it was a different book because it’s a different title and different cover. I read the first sentence and was so confused as I’ve seen the characters before.
I had a scroll at the books I’ve read and before you know it, it’s the same book? Wth!!
I stupidly looked at the title and trusted that it was a different book because it’s a different title and different cover. I read the first sentence and was so confused as I’ve seen the characters before.
I had a scroll at the books I’ve read and before you know it, it’s the same book? Wth!!
October 22, 2025
Strangers in the Car follows Abi and Ben as they set off on what should be a straightforward road trip — until a thick fog, a wrong turn, and a stranded family on the side of the road turn everything upside down. When they decide to pick up the family, noticing they have a baby with them, things take a dark and unexpected turn that’s best left unspoiled. From there, C.M. Ewan delivers the kind of tense, high stakes thriller that has you reading with your shoulders hunched and your heart racing.
This is absolutely a popcorn style thriller, it’s fast paced, cinematic, and packed with short, punchy chapters that make it nearly impossible to stop. You do have to suspend disbelief at times, but if you’re along for the ride, it’s pure fun: twisty, surprising, and anxiety inducing in the best way. Ewan is so good at placing ordinary people in extraordinary, terrifying situations, and Strangers in the Car is another strong example of why his books work so well. It’s wild, consuming, and totally unique, the kind of book you finish in one sitting just to see how far things can possibly go.
This is absolutely a popcorn style thriller, it’s fast paced, cinematic, and packed with short, punchy chapters that make it nearly impossible to stop. You do have to suspend disbelief at times, but if you’re along for the ride, it’s pure fun: twisty, surprising, and anxiety inducing in the best way. Ewan is so good at placing ordinary people in extraordinary, terrifying situations, and Strangers in the Car is another strong example of why his books work so well. It’s wild, consuming, and totally unique, the kind of book you finish in one sitting just to see how far things can possibly go.
July 28, 2024
I love many of the author’s previous books, so I’m not sure what happened here. Well, I do, actually; it’s laden with cliches and eye-rolling moments, and is incredibly dull for a thriller.
We experience the (incredibly long) car journey in real time, and are given a blow by blow account of each anguished thought. This gets tedious and repetitive very quickly, yet nothing much actually happens until the OTT final showdown.
It’s more about the journey than the destination. But the characters are wet, and the weather is foggy- which doesn’t leave very much else. Plenty of descriptions of the old VW Polo’s interior, that’s about it.
We experience the (incredibly long) car journey in real time, and are given a blow by blow account of each anguished thought. This gets tedious and repetitive very quickly, yet nothing much actually happens until the OTT final showdown.
It’s more about the journey than the destination. But the characters are wet, and the weather is foggy- which doesn’t leave very much else. Plenty of descriptions of the old VW Polo’s interior, that’s about it.
April 28, 2025
4.5⭐️
Saw this book once, got really intrigued and I don't regret picking it up. Really underrated too. It kept on my toes and while I wasn't anxious per se with this one, the TWISTS?? Are you kidding??
A couple take a wrong turn and end up inviting two strangers with a baby in their car because they need help. Nothing could go wrong, right?
I think the only downside is that this book should've been a bit shorter. While I don't necessarily mind the pace and the length of the book as they are I do think it would've made for a more nerve-racking narrative if the story would've been cut short just a bit. Maybe like 50 pages. Other than that I REALLY really recommend this one. It was such a good thriller and I, for one, am really picky about my thrillers as they always tend to promise the thrilling aspect but never deliver and just ending up being mysteries.
Saw this book once, got really intrigued and I don't regret picking it up. Really underrated too. It kept on my toes and while I wasn't anxious per se with this one, the TWISTS?? Are you kidding??
A couple take a wrong turn and end up inviting two strangers with a baby in their car because they need help. Nothing could go wrong, right?
I think the only downside is that this book should've been a bit shorter. While I don't necessarily mind the pace and the length of the book as they are I do think it would've made for a more nerve-racking narrative if the story would've been cut short just a bit. Maybe like 50 pages. Other than that I REALLY really recommend this one. It was such a good thriller and I, for one, am really picky about my thrillers as they always tend to promise the thrilling aspect but never deliver and just ending up being mysteries.
November 8, 2024
Great thriller that fully creeped me out and convinced me to never pick anyone up at the side of the road. Twists I didn't see coming, and overall an anxious, but good read.
May 19, 2024
Abi and her boyfriend Ben are on their way home after a weekend getaway. On their way there they spot a couple who appear to be stranded on the side on the road due to car troubles. Ben is willing to be their knight in shining armor, stopping and offering them assistance. Abi, however, is a little more hesitant until she spots the woman holding a car seat. Begrudgingly, Abi decides to let these strangers into her car despite the gnawing feeling of unease she is experiencing.
With tensions high and her unease increasing, Abi can't help but feel that she made the worst decision of her life by letting these strangers into her car.
One Wrong Turn was a suspenseful, tense, unputdownable, atmospheric and binge worthy book. I flew through this in less than twenty-four hours. Immediately I got a sense of foreboding; you know something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on it. The way the story unfolded was nothing short of thrilling and the way the author builds up the tension was captivating. Told from three different perspectives and dual timelines, I was able to get a better sense of who our characters were and exactly what they were hiding. They were several twists and turns along the way, making for an even more exhilarating read that I couldn't look away from.
This book was everything I want in a thriller. The pacing was excellent, there was no unnecessary family or relationship drama, the flashbacks were short, quick and to the point, skillfully leading up to the present and the ensuing chaos. The characters were well written and developed, something that I always look for in all my reads.
Overall, a highly enjoyable psychological thriller that has left me intrigued about this author and their other work. A well-deserved five-star rating from me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and C.M Ewan for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date: July 18th, 2024
With tensions high and her unease increasing, Abi can't help but feel that she made the worst decision of her life by letting these strangers into her car.
One Wrong Turn was a suspenseful, tense, unputdownable, atmospheric and binge worthy book. I flew through this in less than twenty-four hours. Immediately I got a sense of foreboding; you know something is wrong, but you can't quite put your finger on it. The way the story unfolded was nothing short of thrilling and the way the author builds up the tension was captivating. Told from three different perspectives and dual timelines, I was able to get a better sense of who our characters were and exactly what they were hiding. They were several twists and turns along the way, making for an even more exhilarating read that I couldn't look away from.
This book was everything I want in a thriller. The pacing was excellent, there was no unnecessary family or relationship drama, the flashbacks were short, quick and to the point, skillfully leading up to the present and the ensuing chaos. The characters were well written and developed, something that I always look for in all my reads.
Overall, a highly enjoyable psychological thriller that has left me intrigued about this author and their other work. A well-deserved five-star rating from me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Pan Macmillan and C.M Ewan for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Pub Date: July 18th, 2024
June 30, 2024
Having read from this author before, I knew what I was getting going into this one and boy it didn't disappoint! This was SUCH a fun read.
We jump right into the story from the very first page and I was invested straight away.
I found this to be a really tense, heart pounding read that was packed full of creepy, foreboding vibes.
The writing in this was great. I found that I couldn't put it down and I highly recommend you read this in one sitting.
I liked the characters and was fully invested in them and what would happen to them.
This is one of those books that you can easily see as a TV show or movie.
However one slight issue I had was the length of it. It did seem too long and because of that by the 70% in mark I was ready for it to all be wrapped up. It also felt to me that as it neared the end it did became slightly ridiculous and OTT and this did spoil my enjoyment a little bit.
But I did find it to be an enjoyable, fast paced thriller and I would read from this author again.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
We jump right into the story from the very first page and I was invested straight away.
I found this to be a really tense, heart pounding read that was packed full of creepy, foreboding vibes.
The writing in this was great. I found that I couldn't put it down and I highly recommend you read this in one sitting.
I liked the characters and was fully invested in them and what would happen to them.
This is one of those books that you can easily see as a TV show or movie.
However one slight issue I had was the length of it. It did seem too long and because of that by the 70% in mark I was ready for it to all be wrapped up. It also felt to me that as it neared the end it did became slightly ridiculous and OTT and this did spoil my enjoyment a little bit.
But I did find it to be an enjoyable, fast paced thriller and I would read from this author again.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review
May 11, 2025
2.5 stars.
Abi was the stupidest character I’ve ever experienced in a book. Ever. Every decision she made was nonsensical, the pace she pieced things together at could have been beaten by a three year old, and her constant nagging over details that literally didn’t matter while there was a gun to her head was infuriating.
The repetition in this book, honestly. The amount of times she says ‘I want Ben’ or ‘they’re going to kill me’ or ‘omg Ben’s dead’, etc, etc. The coincidences. The conveniences. The cartoon villains. Oh god it was just terrible.
Was intrigued, as ever, by hitchhikers and a foggy road. Never again!!!
Abi was the stupidest character I’ve ever experienced in a book. Ever. Every decision she made was nonsensical, the pace she pieced things together at could have been beaten by a three year old, and her constant nagging over details that literally didn’t matter while there was a gun to her head was infuriating.
The repetition in this book, honestly. The amount of times she says ‘I want Ben’ or ‘they’re going to kill me’ or ‘omg Ben’s dead’, etc, etc. The coincidences. The conveniences. The cartoon villains. Oh god it was just terrible.
Was intrigued, as ever, by hitchhikers and a foggy road. Never again!!!
June 18, 2025
I don’t know why people feel the need to drag out these books. 150 pages shorter, this wouldn’t have been a bad book. But as it was so much of it was just descriptions of fear without any tension whatsoever - the ending was 100% predictable and it was just a bit too far fetched for me. Eventually even the ‘gotchas’ were boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2025
How a person with a sane and at least a fair amount of functional brain cells can like something as stupid as this is beyond me.
I have to say: avoid at all costs.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
I have to say: avoid at all costs.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
May 4, 2025
The first 60 pages had me thinking that maybe this was a winner but it quickly shifted to generic throw away thriller. Disappointing really.
November 20, 2025
*hardback
🚘👤𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗥👤🚘
𝗯𝘆
𝗖. 𝗠. 𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗡
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub date: 11/04/2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my #gifted copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t know if I’d call this one a page turner, which is how it was described. It was a book with a steady pace that, picked up a bit during the 2nd half and slowed back up for the conclusion. It ended up being a decent read, though it probably didn’t need to be over 400 pages.
While none of the characters were particularly likable or interesting, the storyline itself kept me intrigued. Oddly enough the characters WERE memorable. I rarely remember names of characters in books after reading but the author did such a nice job of differentiating the characters and their different personalities.
I love books with a good villain, one that you just love to hate, Collette made a great villain. I loved to hate her.
My fav parts were the interactions between Abi and Collette while they were in the car.
I’d probably read another novel by this author.
QOTD: Would you ever pick someone up on the side of the road!?
#StrangersInTheCar #GCP #gcpinfluencers #grandcentralpublishing #cmewan #WhatAreYouReading #goodreadschallenge #Goodreads
#suspensenovel #thrillernovel
🚘👤𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗥👤🚘
𝗯𝘆
𝗖. 𝗠. 𝗘𝗪𝗔𝗡
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub date: 11/04/2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (3.5/5)
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for my #gifted copy of this one in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t know if I’d call this one a page turner, which is how it was described. It was a book with a steady pace that, picked up a bit during the 2nd half and slowed back up for the conclusion. It ended up being a decent read, though it probably didn’t need to be over 400 pages.
While none of the characters were particularly likable or interesting, the storyline itself kept me intrigued. Oddly enough the characters WERE memorable. I rarely remember names of characters in books after reading but the author did such a nice job of differentiating the characters and their different personalities.
I love books with a good villain, one that you just love to hate, Collette made a great villain. I loved to hate her.
My fav parts were the interactions between Abi and Collette while they were in the car.
I’d probably read another novel by this author.
QOTD: Would you ever pick someone up on the side of the road!?
#StrangersInTheCar #GCP #gcpinfluencers #grandcentralpublishing #cmewan #WhatAreYouReading #goodreadschallenge #Goodreads
#suspensenovel #thrillernovel
October 25, 2024
“Life comes at you fast. There’s so much you can’t be ready for,” (387).
Pass the shot glass and make it on the rocks. Oof this book! In typical Ewan style your head will be spinning and you’ll be begging for the answers to your questions before it’s all over.
This was a fast-paced and thrilling read of a book. While you can mostly predict the twists, if you’re picking up what the author is putting down, it’s still an enjoyable ride. Or maybe not for the characters in this story 😂. With a few twists you won’t see coming.
You think the story is moving along and not much is happening and then BAM 😱 did that really just happen. He’s got some of the best adrenaline filled action scenes.
Pass the shot glass and make it on the rocks. Oof this book! In typical Ewan style your head will be spinning and you’ll be begging for the answers to your questions before it’s all over.
This was a fast-paced and thrilling read of a book. While you can mostly predict the twists, if you’re picking up what the author is putting down, it’s still an enjoyable ride. Or maybe not for the characters in this story 😂. With a few twists you won’t see coming.
You think the story is moving along and not much is happening and then BAM 😱 did that really just happen. He’s got some of the best adrenaline filled action scenes.
July 18, 2024
This is a gripping thriller.
Abi and Ben are driving home from a weekend away and due to a work commitment they have to drive through thick fog to get back in time.
Abi nearly hits a man at the side of the road but decides to carry on, until she sees a car on the side of the road and a woman holding a child seat.
Ben tells her to stop and soon they agree to help them as the woman has hurt her hand and needs to get to hospital.
That’s as far as I can go with my summary as you need to read the book to find out what happens next.
It’s a great read and is a reminder to me to never stop and offer a lift on a dark country lane.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Abi and Ben are driving home from a weekend away and due to a work commitment they have to drive through thick fog to get back in time.
Abi nearly hits a man at the side of the road but decides to carry on, until she sees a car on the side of the road and a woman holding a child seat.
Ben tells her to stop and soon they agree to help them as the woman has hurt her hand and needs to get to hospital.
That’s as far as I can go with my summary as you need to read the book to find out what happens next.
It’s a great read and is a reminder to me to never stop and offer a lift on a dark country lane.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 1, 2025
Strangers In The Car by CM Ewan, the book is made up of two POV‘s one is Abby and Ben and the other is Paul and Samantha with Baby Lilla. When the book begins Abby is upset with Ben because he has to cut their weekend away one day short because his boss called him back to Bristol in my opinion Abby acted like a petulant child and not an adult dating a new lawyer, but then again abby is insufferable at the best of times… Moving on. Paul and Samantha are going to her parents house and Paul is acting Leary and looking around he seems worried about Samantha Samantha on the other hand seems very uneasy and on the verge of falling apart. The fog is rolling and it is late at night abby and Ben are going down a country lane they cannot turn around on when Abby almost hits a guy standing in the middle of the road. Ben tells her to stop as he was flagging them down but Abby absolutely refuses. As they continue to drive this is when they drive up on a red Mercedes broken down on side of the road and see a woman holding a baby carrier and then once again Ben, tells her to stop in that first Abby refuses it still doesn’t want to help eventually she does stop but is feeling uneasy even when the husband returns and a couple are getting into their car.. this is the beginning of the night that those who live through it will not soon forget. I found Abby to be one of the most dislikable characters in the book I mean she was self obsessed she would find one thread of a hint of something and then create the whole story in her head and convince herself it’s true she went from not wanting these people in the car to not wanting to let them out because she thought Samantha was abused and needed her help despite they barely spoke 10 words to each other. Even when Abby had a gun to her head she would refuse to do things something normal people wouldn’t do she just oooh she just irritated me. I really believe had Abby been more likable I would’ve given this book 5 stars but trust me when I say I haven’t even given half the reasons why Abby irritated the crap out of me. I do want to say this book is so twisty with a lot of Wild OMG moments in the ending is a superduper ending and I have thoughts on the ending as well but don’t want to spoil it for anyone because why wouldn’t she climb over the wall I’m just saying. This was a great book with the exception of Abby that I really really enjoyed except for Abby. #NedGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#CMEwan, #StrangersInTheCar,
July 20, 2024
Abi & Ben are heading home earlier from their weekend away, arguing about the reason (Ben has unexpectedly been called into work), & driving down foggy country roads in the dark when they take the wrong turn. Having little choice but to carry on, they narrowly miss a man who suddenly appears in front of the car, Abi swerves to miss him but refuses to stop.
A short while later they come upon a broken-down car with a woman & her baby in a car seat. Abi still doesn't want to stop but Ben insists they help out. They end up offering a lift to the woman, baby, & the man from before who is the woman's husband. As they continue their journey, Abi senses that something is not right between the man & wife but can't get much information out of either of them. Abi & Ben are about to find out that no good deed goes unpunished.
The narrative is told from both couples' perspective (Abi & Ben/Paul & Samantha) & it's tricky to work out what is going on at first. To be honest, I was having trouble getting into this one & was thinking of DNF-ing it, when just after halfway through something happened in the plot that grabbed my attention. The last third of the book was much pacier & more intriguing than the rest & in the end I'm glad I finished it. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
TWs: miscarriage, kidnapping, gun violence.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
A short while later they come upon a broken-down car with a woman & her baby in a car seat. Abi still doesn't want to stop but Ben insists they help out. They end up offering a lift to the woman, baby, & the man from before who is the woman's husband. As they continue their journey, Abi senses that something is not right between the man & wife but can't get much information out of either of them. Abi & Ben are about to find out that no good deed goes unpunished.
The narrative is told from both couples' perspective (Abi & Ben/Paul & Samantha) & it's tricky to work out what is going on at first. To be honest, I was having trouble getting into this one & was thinking of DNF-ing it, when just after halfway through something happened in the plot that grabbed my attention. The last third of the book was much pacier & more intriguing than the rest & in the end I'm glad I finished it. 3.5 stars (rounded up)
TWs: miscarriage, kidnapping, gun violence.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Pan Macmillan, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
July 6, 2024
Ben and Abi are driving home in the fog when they take a wrong turn. Soon after they find a man walking in the road and a car broken down with a woman and a baby. Feeling they need to help they agree to a lift. What’s the worst that could happen…?
It took a few chapters for this to get going but once it did I was gripped to the pages of this crazy thriller! You feel the character’s unease and feel something isn’t right, desperately trying to figure it out. There are some good twists, which added to the mystery and the drama. Once this got going I had to stay up to finish it and the chapters are short and snappy leaving you wanting more.
The writing was done well and you really get a feel for the eerie atmosphere, adding a touch of horror to the novel. This is one I will be recommending to those who enjoy suspenseful, entertaining, fast paced thrillers. I could see this being made into a film. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
It took a few chapters for this to get going but once it did I was gripped to the pages of this crazy thriller! You feel the character’s unease and feel something isn’t right, desperately trying to figure it out. There are some good twists, which added to the mystery and the drama. Once this got going I had to stay up to finish it and the chapters are short and snappy leaving you wanting more.
The writing was done well and you really get a feel for the eerie atmosphere, adding a touch of horror to the novel. This is one I will be recommending to those who enjoy suspenseful, entertaining, fast paced thrillers. I could see this being made into a film. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
November 11, 2025
a couple driving home through thick fog, an argument brewing, and then a stranger in the road. Against her better judgment, Abi stops to help a woman holding a baby, and from there, everything spirals into a nightmare.
The setup is chilling and realistic enough to make you think twice about ever picking up a hitchhiker again. The pacing is fast, and the tension never really lets up. I didn’t see the twist coming, which kept me turning the pages, but when it hit, it felt a little too far-fetched — almost cinematic in an unbelievable way.
Still, Ewan knows how to build suspense and keep readers guessing. It’s one of those thrillers that’s gripping in the moment, full of claustrophobic tension and bad decisions that snowball into chaos. I just wish the ending had landed with a bit more realism.
If you like your thrillers high-stakes, intense, and slightly over the top, this one will definitely keep your heart racing till the final page.
The setup is chilling and realistic enough to make you think twice about ever picking up a hitchhiker again. The pacing is fast, and the tension never really lets up. I didn’t see the twist coming, which kept me turning the pages, but when it hit, it felt a little too far-fetched — almost cinematic in an unbelievable way.
Still, Ewan knows how to build suspense and keep readers guessing. It’s one of those thrillers that’s gripping in the moment, full of claustrophobic tension and bad decisions that snowball into chaos. I just wish the ending had landed with a bit more realism.
If you like your thrillers high-stakes, intense, and slightly over the top, this one will definitely keep your heart racing till the final page.
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