Penguin (Transworld) Talking to Strangers.

by Fiona Barton

Talking to Strangers ABISBOOK Penguin (Transworld).

400 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2025

About the author

My 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.

Reviews

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping I did not see ending coming

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well written book and an engaging mystery. The author has a style and she switches characters for each chapter. Once you get used to this and are sure which character she’s focussed on in a chapter, it is quite an interesting style for moving the narrative forward. I appreciate the uniqueness of the main character who has recently returned back to work as a chief investigator after receiving treatment for cancer. I have not read any other mystery novels that have handled this topic in this way. It was unique, and I felt that the author handled the issues quite well, including sensitivity about changes in her hair, questions about her competent after undergoing such a strenuous experience, and struggling with brain fog. These were handled sensitively and seem quite realistic.

The main focus of the story was about the dangers of all online dating. While I understand that the author was trying to show both dangers, as well as the right women have to date in this manner I couldn’t help but feel that we left with the heavy handed message women should not Engaging in these pursuits.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the protagonists, but I like to be fooled by whodunit and I was not - EVER, with either death. Two stars is generous from me. I listened to the book and every 10 minutes a voice said Elise, Monday, Day 4, February 13, 2020 Elise ..... Kiki, Monday, Day 4, Februrary 13, 2020, Kiki...... I probably could have figured out the year after 12 chapters and definitely the month after 36 chapters.... I wanted to slap the narrator. Who advised stating the character, day, date, year, and identity every bloody time the person telling her story changed??? I fault the publishers and editors for annoying the hell out of the listeners. I may give Fiona Barton another chance unless I have to be reminded ad nausem about the day and date. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Terri Stokes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three different women's views, Talking to Strangers is a novel which takes you on a wild ride, a police officer, a journalist and the mother of a dead son. They all have different paths in life, but the murder of a local woman brings the three of them in to each others obits in search of connections and clues as to who killed Karen.

I found myself drawn in to the storyline and the crime, of how the author weaved together the three different points of view throughout the book. I had no real idea of who could've been the suspect and had not been expecting the twist which came at the ending of the book.

[Lola Stano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed the first Elise King
book more. I did like the 3 female
perspectives and how the book was
written. I knew who the murder was
quite early in the book, and it might be
the fact I read so many books like this
that the twist was not a surprise at all.


child loss
clever plotting
easy to read
homophobia
limited character growth
murder
predictable but satisfying
self-harm
sexual assault

[Read Walk Repeat]

NFM

[Judy Sheluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a massive fan of Fiona Barton and she didn't disappoint with this one. Well drawn characters and a fair play mystery. Loved it.

[Heather Mireault]

Good, favourite author it had good twists and shocks all the way to the end.

[Kari-Jane Roze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew there was going to be a twist and I almost had it right lol