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The Unwanted Stranger : A gripping psychological thriller
What if discovering the truth means destroying everything you once thought was true?
One idyllic lakeside hotel. One perfect family. One woman who knows their secret.
When Angela decides to spend spring break at the lakeside hotel that holds memories of her childhood, she's determined to give her family the quality time they've missed during her husband Carlo's recent long hours at work.
But their chance to reconnect is overshadowed by an enigmatic woman whose watchful eyes seem to follow their every move. With each passing day, Carlo's behavior grows more erratic, and Angela begins to realize this woman's interest in her family is anything but coincidental.
Now she must face the What if the truth this woman holds does more than destroy their perfect family vacation―it threatens to destroy everything she's tried to protect?
The Unwanted Stranger is a gripping and pulse-pounding domestic thriller about secrets, lies and how far would you go to protect the ones you love.
One idyllic lakeside hotel. One perfect family. One woman who knows their secret.
When Angela decides to spend spring break at the lakeside hotel that holds memories of her childhood, she's determined to give her family the quality time they've missed during her husband Carlo's recent long hours at work.
But their chance to reconnect is overshadowed by an enigmatic woman whose watchful eyes seem to follow their every move. With each passing day, Carlo's behavior grows more erratic, and Angela begins to realize this woman's interest in her family is anything but coincidental.
Now she must face the What if the truth this woman holds does more than destroy their perfect family vacation―it threatens to destroy everything she's tried to protect?
The Unwanted Stranger is a gripping and pulse-pounding domestic thriller about secrets, lies and how far would you go to protect the ones you love.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2025
27 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
July 5, 2025
Angela’s husband Carlo has managed to score the perfect vacation over Easter with their daughter. However, the hotel holds dark secrets from Angela’s past and like all good secrets, they won’t stay hidden forever. As the family is settling in, a mysterious woman appears and seems to be following them. Who is she and why is she there? She holds the key to a devastating truth that can rip Carlo’s and Angela’s peaceful life to shreds. The vacation is far from the relaxing break they thought they were going to have.
The story takes a little time at first to build up the characters and set the scene. Once we’ve met everyone, the story quickly escalates into a tangled web of lies and deceit. Every twist and every revelation hits hard. Flavia does not hold back and the tension fills the later half of the book. I don’t know what I would do in their shoes, but I do know I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
The story takes a little time at first to build up the characters and set the scene. Once we’ve met everyone, the story quickly escalates into a tangled web of lies and deceit. Every twist and every revelation hits hard. Flavia does not hold back and the tension fills the later half of the book. I don’t know what I would do in their shoes, but I do know I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
April 15, 2025
“The Unwanted Stranger” by Flavia Labre is a suspenseful ride I couldn’t pull away from. The tension and suspense build perfectly, keeping me hooked from the first page to the last. Just when I thought I had it figured out—bam! Another twist. It’s a chilling blend of lies, deception, and darkness that kept me questioning everything. I never saw that ending coming!
April 15, 2025
The Unwanted Stranger is a masterclass in domestic suspense—haunting, heart-pounding, and beautifully written. What starts as a serene family getaway quickly unravels into a web of secrets and paranoia that kept me questioning everyone's motives until the very end.
Angela is a deeply relatable protagonist, torn between holding her family together and facing the unraveling truth. The mysterious woman by the lake? Utterly spine-tingling. I couldn’t read fast enough, yet I didn’t want it to end. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the unsettling tension, and just when I thought I had it all figured out—bam! Another twist.
This book doesn’t just deliver suspense—it makes you feel the fear, the doubt, the love, and the betrayal. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that linger long after the final page, The Unwanted Stranger absolutely delivers.
A must-read for anyone who loves stories about the dark truths hiding behind picture-perfect lives. Bravo!
Angela is a deeply relatable protagonist, torn between holding her family together and facing the unraveling truth. The mysterious woman by the lake? Utterly spine-tingling. I couldn’t read fast enough, yet I didn’t want it to end. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the unsettling tension, and just when I thought I had it all figured out—bam! Another twist.
This book doesn’t just deliver suspense—it makes you feel the fear, the doubt, the love, and the betrayal. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that linger long after the final page, The Unwanted Stranger absolutely delivers.
A must-read for anyone who loves stories about the dark truths hiding behind picture-perfect lives. Bravo!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
The Unwanted Stranger is a symphony of suspense—a psychological thriller that tightens its grip on your nerves with every turn of the page. Imagine sipping coffee on a tranquil lakeside, the world serene, until an ominous shadow falls across your life.
Angela and Carlo, with their adorable four-year-old Emma, think they’re taking a fun and relaxing vacation. Instead, they walk into an emotional minefield when an enigmatic woman arrives. Flavia masterfully weaves a tapestry of dread, leaving you second-guessing every character’s motives. Who is this stranger? What does she want? The answers sneak up on you like a whisper in the night—chilling and utterly unexpected.
Flavia doesn’t just tell a story; she catapults the reader into an atmospheric whirlwind. You’ll feel the weight of their secrets, the suffocating tension as trust unravels. You’ll turn pages as if pursued by the story itself, unable to stop until the shocking climax.
Angela and Carlo, with their adorable four-year-old Emma, think they’re taking a fun and relaxing vacation. Instead, they walk into an emotional minefield when an enigmatic woman arrives. Flavia masterfully weaves a tapestry of dread, leaving you second-guessing every character’s motives. Who is this stranger? What does she want? The answers sneak up on you like a whisper in the night—chilling and utterly unexpected.
Flavia doesn’t just tell a story; she catapults the reader into an atmospheric whirlwind. You’ll feel the weight of their secrets, the suffocating tension as trust unravels. You’ll turn pages as if pursued by the story itself, unable to stop until the shocking climax.
August 15, 2025
The Unwanted Stranger was much more than I expected, and it has truly earned all its great reviews. The story is told from two different POVs – Carlo and Angela, who are husband and wife. They live in Italy. They have a young daughter named Emma. After spending far too much time at work, the couple decides to take a long weekend at the end of the summer to a rural mountain lakeside resort.
I enjoyed the rich description of the Italian countryside as well as the Italian slang and pet names used throughout the book. It made the story even more genuine. I almost felt transported to a beautiful Italian resort.
The story itself pulls you in. It’s a slower developing story, but still very exciting. The two different perspectives of the husband and wife create a lot of suspense, because they both have secrets that are each slowly revealed. The ending the author chose was not at all what I was expecting! Very enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the rich description of the Italian countryside as well as the Italian slang and pet names used throughout the book. It made the story even more genuine. I almost felt transported to a beautiful Italian resort.
The story itself pulls you in. It’s a slower developing story, but still very exciting. The two different perspectives of the husband and wife create a lot of suspense, because they both have secrets that are each slowly revealed. The ending the author chose was not at all what I was expecting! Very enjoyable read.
May 25, 2025
One serene lakeside hotel. One picture-perfect family. One woman who knows their secret.
From the moment Angela arrives at the idyllic Hotel Alpino in the Italian Dolomites with her husband Carlo and their sweet four-year-old daughter Emma, everything seems picture-perfect. But that illusion unravels fast—day one, in fact—when a mysterious woman appears, her eyes too familiar to ignore.
What follows is a breathtaking psychological thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. The stranger’s presence sets off a chain reaction in Carlo, transforming him into a man Angela barely recognizes. As secrets start to surface, so do long-buried truths that threaten to shatter the fragile peace Angela has tried to build.
The plot twists had me gasping out loud, and the pacing was relentless in the best way. Every chapter deepens the mystery, every reveal hits hard. It’s a masterclass in suspense, with characters you care about and stakes that feel painfully real.
This story isn’t just a thriller—it’s a haunting look at how the past never really stays buried and how trust, once fractured, can be the most dangerous fault line of all.
So good—gripping, emotional, and cinematic. I couldn’t put it down. Honestly, this would make an incredible film.
From the moment Angela arrives at the idyllic Hotel Alpino in the Italian Dolomites with her husband Carlo and their sweet four-year-old daughter Emma, everything seems picture-perfect. But that illusion unravels fast—day one, in fact—when a mysterious woman appears, her eyes too familiar to ignore.
What follows is a breathtaking psychological thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. The stranger’s presence sets off a chain reaction in Carlo, transforming him into a man Angela barely recognizes. As secrets start to surface, so do long-buried truths that threaten to shatter the fragile peace Angela has tried to build.
The plot twists had me gasping out loud, and the pacing was relentless in the best way. Every chapter deepens the mystery, every reveal hits hard. It’s a masterclass in suspense, with characters you care about and stakes that feel painfully real.
This story isn’t just a thriller—it’s a haunting look at how the past never really stays buried and how trust, once fractured, can be the most dangerous fault line of all.
So good—gripping, emotional, and cinematic. I couldn’t put it down. Honestly, this would make an incredible film.
July 13, 2025
A classy domestic psychological thriller
This gripping, haunting and sensitively written story was hard to put down. The reader is immediately drawn in to the happy family of Carlo, Angela and their adored daughter Emma and is as bemused as Angela by the discomfiting attention from an unknown woman who starts to haunt their dream holiday in a luxury lakeside hotel in the Dolomites. The narrative unfolds gently at first, leaving the reader space to get to know the main characters while sowing suggestions of secrets from the past. The descriptions of the venue as well as of the characters are vivid and lush and the action plays out in the reader’s mind almost like a film as we watch events develop, first slowly and then with increasing speed. Twists come thick and fast but all are well thought through and convincing, and keep the pace moving along until the very end, which brings events to a satisfying resolution.
The only thing that snagged me (apart from occasional over-egging the descriptions) is the date assigned to the Prologue, which I couldn’t make fit the timeline suggested by the narrative.
In the author’s / Angela’s words (in a different context), this book is a ‘complex tapestry of loss and love’, leavened with the tension and urgency of a classy psychological thriller.
This gripping, haunting and sensitively written story was hard to put down. The reader is immediately drawn in to the happy family of Carlo, Angela and their adored daughter Emma and is as bemused as Angela by the discomfiting attention from an unknown woman who starts to haunt their dream holiday in a luxury lakeside hotel in the Dolomites. The narrative unfolds gently at first, leaving the reader space to get to know the main characters while sowing suggestions of secrets from the past. The descriptions of the venue as well as of the characters are vivid and lush and the action plays out in the reader’s mind almost like a film as we watch events develop, first slowly and then with increasing speed. Twists come thick and fast but all are well thought through and convincing, and keep the pace moving along until the very end, which brings events to a satisfying resolution.
The only thing that snagged me (apart from occasional over-egging the descriptions) is the date assigned to the Prologue, which I couldn’t make fit the timeline suggested by the narrative.
In the author’s / Angela’s words (in a different context), this book is a ‘complex tapestry of loss and love’, leavened with the tension and urgency of a classy psychological thriller.
May 8, 2025
Intense, Suspenseful, and Impossible to Put Down!
The Unwanted Stranger is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn’t let go. What starts as a peaceful family vacation in a breathtaking Italian lakeside hotel quickly spirals into a tension-filled unraveling of secrets, lies, and chilling confrontations.
Angela is a compelling lead—complex, vulnerable, and determined—and her unease is palpable the moment the mysterious woman shows up. As layers peel back and Carlo’s behavior shifts, the suspense builds masterfully. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a shocking twist pulled the rug out from under me.
The setting is gorgeously described, which makes the creeping dread even more effective. This isn’t just a mystery—it’s a psychological puzzle with emotional stakes that feel real and urgent.
Highly recommend for fans of Gone Girl or The Couple Next Door. Don’t start this one late at night—you’ll be up until you finish it!
The Unwanted Stranger is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn’t let go. What starts as a peaceful family vacation in a breathtaking Italian lakeside hotel quickly spirals into a tension-filled unraveling of secrets, lies, and chilling confrontations.
Angela is a compelling lead—complex, vulnerable, and determined—and her unease is palpable the moment the mysterious woman shows up. As layers peel back and Carlo’s behavior shifts, the suspense builds masterfully. Just when I thought I had things figured out, a shocking twist pulled the rug out from under me.
The setting is gorgeously described, which makes the creeping dread even more effective. This isn’t just a mystery—it’s a psychological puzzle with emotional stakes that feel real and urgent.
Highly recommend for fans of Gone Girl or The Couple Next Door. Don’t start this one late at night—you’ll be up until you finish it!
May 5, 2025
"The Unwanted Stranger" - A Compelling Alpine Thriller
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian Dolomites, "The Unwanted Stranger" delivers a tense psychological thriller that effectively explores how secrets can unravel even the most picture-perfect families. The author creates a genuinely suspenseful atmosphere as protagonist Angela confronts both a mysterious stranger and her husband's increasingly erratic behavior.
The isolated mountain hotel setting perfectly complements the mounting tension, while the central mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace. With its well-crafted characters and exploration of trust and deception, this thriller offers an engaging read for anyone who enjoys stories where the greatest threats often come from those closest to us.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Italian Dolomites, "The Unwanted Stranger" delivers a tense psychological thriller that effectively explores how secrets can unravel even the most picture-perfect families. The author creates a genuinely suspenseful atmosphere as protagonist Angela confronts both a mysterious stranger and her husband's increasingly erratic behavior.
The isolated mountain hotel setting perfectly complements the mounting tension, while the central mystery unfolds at a satisfying pace. With its well-crafted characters and exploration of trust and deception, this thriller offers an engaging read for anyone who enjoys stories where the greatest threats often come from those closest to us.
May 6, 2025
I couldn't stop reading this book—I was completely hooked from the first few pages. Flavia Labre knows how to build suspense, and I just had to keep flipping pages to figure out who all these people were and what they were hiding.
The atmosphere was deliciously tense, the setting in the Italian mountains added an eerie layer, and the characters? So many secrets. I kept second-guessing everyone, which made it a fun and twisty ride.
That said, I do wish the ending gave a few more answers. There were a couple of things I was dying to know that never really got fully explained. But overall, a great psychological thriller that kept me reading late into the night.
The atmosphere was deliciously tense, the setting in the Italian mountains added an eerie layer, and the characters? So many secrets. I kept second-guessing everyone, which made it a fun and twisty ride.
That said, I do wish the ending gave a few more answers. There were a couple of things I was dying to know that never really got fully explained. But overall, a great psychological thriller that kept me reading late into the night.
June 12, 2025
This book was so good!
Chapter one gave me Dexter vibes but then it moved on to a family in the next chapter.
Husband and Wife planning a family vacation for their small family and Carlo books a stay at an inn that Angela is not too thrilled with.
They are both keeping secrets from each other and I kept thinking the secrets were one thing but boy was a wrong! Flavia did an amazing job steering you in one way only to almost give you whiplash either way the truth. This is a great story for those who live thrillers and slightly crazy characters who become more unhinged as the story continues.
Chapter one gave me Dexter vibes but then it moved on to a family in the next chapter.
Husband and Wife planning a family vacation for their small family and Carlo books a stay at an inn that Angela is not too thrilled with.
They are both keeping secrets from each other and I kept thinking the secrets were one thing but boy was a wrong! Flavia did an amazing job steering you in one way only to almost give you whiplash either way the truth. This is a great story for those who live thrillers and slightly crazy characters who become more unhinged as the story continues.
June 25, 2025
Truth. On its face, a simple concept. I mean we teach children all the time to "just tell the truth." But somehow, as we get older, truth warps, becoming slippery at times, a bloody dagger to the heart just waiting to shatter lives. So it is for Angela and her husband Carlo, as their spring break takes a dark turn they'll never forget...if they survive. With gripping characters, beautiful imagery, and a breakneck pace, Flavia Labre has crafted a terrifying tale that will have you on the edge of your seat.
July 23, 2025
This was a quick read! I loved how fast paced the chapters were and how action packed the plot is! I did not find a dull moment and I flipped page after page. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and felt like I could envision Emma in my head. The setting was also developed to the point where several scenes played out like a movie for me. There were well thought out twists and while I could feel a twist or two coming, I was not able to predict exactly what those twists would be! Super fun and engaging- I will be recommending to my friends and book club!
September 16, 2025
This is an amazing book from the start. A family vacation with not just one secret BUT two! Very unexpected!
This book definitely left me speechless, with a plot with so many twist and turns that you don’t expect. I really enjoyed the characters, they were well written.
Then just as I’m about to finish reading and I “think” I know how it’s ending, a new shocking twist appears! All I can say is wow!
I definitely recommend this book if you like psychological thrillers! You won’t regret it.
This book definitely left me speechless, with a plot with so many twist and turns that you don’t expect. I really enjoyed the characters, they were well written.
Then just as I’m about to finish reading and I “think” I know how it’s ending, a new shocking twist appears! All I can say is wow!
I definitely recommend this book if you like psychological thrillers! You won’t regret it.
April 29, 2025
Engaging
From the very first page, this thriller seized my attention. With its chilling atmosphere, secrets, and unpredictable twists, this book is a great read for anyone who loves psychological drama and craves jaw-dropping endings.
While the writing is strong, from time to time, lengthy narratives seem to slow the pacing, which may simply come down to my personal preference.
Overall, this was an engaging read.
From the very first page, this thriller seized my attention. With its chilling atmosphere, secrets, and unpredictable twists, this book is a great read for anyone who loves psychological drama and craves jaw-dropping endings.
While the writing is strong, from time to time, lengthy narratives seem to slow the pacing, which may simply come down to my personal preference.
Overall, this was an engaging read.
April 29, 2025
Dynamic characters
Loved the different perspectives this book took, it gave you an insight into the characters thoughts and the lens they looked through the world. Very difficult decision for Carlo, but I couldn’t get over what a crazy betrayal that was! Flavia did a great job capturing sympathetic character viewpoints.
Loved the different perspectives this book took, it gave you an insight into the characters thoughts and the lens they looked through the world. Very difficult decision for Carlo, but I couldn’t get over what a crazy betrayal that was! Flavia did a great job capturing sympathetic character viewpoints.
July 31, 2025
I don’t even know where to begin with this. As a mother of an adopted child I could relate to Angela on a deep level The fear and anger she had about losing Emma is something I have experienced personally. My heart was racing reading this book. The author portrayed these feelings perfectly. I can’t recommend this book enough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2025
This book was fantastic. I loved the plot, the writing, and the characters. I didn't even try to guess what was really going on because it totally absorbed me. I am really looking forward to the next one by this author.
May 25, 2025
The writing was so delightfully descriptive that imagining I was immersed in the drama was easy. A relentless woman pursuing her goals and throwing Angela and Carlo's lives into chaos made this story tense and engaging. The last twist was unexpected and satisfying. A great read!
August 25, 2025
It’s been a while since I’ve read a psychological thriller, and I’m so glad I picked this one up. The plot is gripping, fast-paced, and full of suspense, everything I want in a thriller. I flew through it in just two days, and I know it’s a cliché, but it really is a page-turner.
May 10, 2025
Thrilling
This book is full of twists and turns! It kept me on my toes and entertained the whole time. Great story!
This book is full of twists and turns! It kept me on my toes and entertained the whole time. Great story!
September 23, 2025
Slow start but I really enjoyed it once I got into the nitty gritty.
November 26, 2025
It had a promising start but I got bored and ended up skimming the second half. Twists were nothing special and it was obvious Alice was the mum.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2025
I was hooked! Smashed it out in an afternoon
Loved the twisted and couldn’t put the book down 🙌🏼
Loved the twisted and couldn’t put the book down 🙌🏼
May 15, 2025
I wouldn’t consider this a thriller. I just kept waiting for something to happen and it didn’t until the very end. No suspense at all
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews