Strangers Among Us

Karl Alberg #8

by L.R. Wright, Peter Outerbridge (Narrator), Kristin Kreuk (Narrator)

“Wright’s style is lyrical and lucid. Her characters are rich psychological portraits.” - The Montreal Gazette

“From first page to final sentence, Strangers Among Us holds the reader to the story.” - The Globe and Mail

From the doyenne of detective novels and the inspiration for the major TV series Murder in a Small Town (starring Rossif Sutherland and Kristin Kreuk), the seventh Karl Alberg detective story—is he the detective or the suspect?

Sullen and withdrawn, homesick and angry, fourteen-year-old Eliot Gardener has been headed for trouble ever since his family moved from Nova Scotia to the quiet coastal Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. But not like this. He’s also, apparently, a double-murderer, having whacked both of his parents with a machete. Only, he can't remember why!

Some say Eliot is a bad seed. Staff Sergeant Karl Alberg doesn't buy that. But the case weights heavily on him, for he knew the Gardeners and he should have seen something coming. And now, poisoning the joy of his and Cassandra Mitchell's wedding plans, a piece of his own past—the survivor of another shattered family—is stalking him. Someone else he's failed. Someone who wants revenge.

And until he can lay to rest the madness of that past, Alberg cannot hope to enter the silent mind of Eliot, where a time bomb is ticking away.

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Fiction, Adult

Audible Audio

First published February 1, 1989

About the author

L.R. Wright was born Laurali Rose Appleby on 5 June 1939 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Known as Bunny, Wright grew up in Saskatoon and in Abbotsford, British Columbia. She worked as a reporter in Calgary before becoming a full-time writer in 1977. After publishing her fourth book, Wright returned to school, receiving an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Simon Fraser University. She taught writing at the University of British Columbia and wrote adaptations for several of her books for radio, film, and television. L.R. Wright died of breast cancer on 25 February 2001.

Series:
* Karl Alberg
* Eddie Henderson

Awards
Arthur Ellis Award: Novel
* 1991 – A Chill Rain in January – Winner
* 1996 – Mother Love – Winner

Reviews

[Flo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the last book by L. R. Wright available as an ebook in this series. There is a final one, No. 9 which has not yet come out in a digital version, so I have to find it. I write this even though I was very disappointed in this case of Karl Alberg since it is not a case as such. No mystery, just a kid who seems to have lost his mind, a woman who is out of her mind and another woman who seems to be obsessed by keeping her house clean and men. After a tragedy, the kid, Eliot is placed in a detention center until it can be decided what happens to him. He runs away and tries to survive but he's just a little kid. So much for that. Betty, the woman who is out of her mind gets no help from her husband and no help from Alberg, who is her neighbor which leads her husband, Jack to blame everything that happens on Alberg and to seek revenge. And finally, Enid rents out her downstairs suite to a man and can't stop thinking about him. So very little police procedural, very little mystery, even though her writing is as good as ever.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all the Alberg stories before it, I gulped this down - turning the digital pages late into the night, first thing in the morning and in the back seat of the car .

Alberg is uncomfortable for most of the story, discomfited by the past. He’s confounded over and over by the inexplicable ways an ungovernable psyche can thwart both the interior lives and the wellbeing of everyday people .

The best of intentions, the loveliest of settings, or most helpful of neighbors, coworkers or friends is sometimes not enough to ward off tragedy .

What remains instead of optimism is an honor for the difference a little persistence, or constancy of love, or simple attention & companionship can bring . In a world of imperfect, hurtful people sometimes a quiet, patient attention can take the place of blame, forgiveness, and revenge and allow people a way forward, and sometimes Alberg demonstrates, that’s enough .

[Prtwin2001 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like this book at all. Too many characters/story lines and none of it came together at the end.

[Kristen Amen · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite in the series, very uneventful

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a downer but all characters were relatable. Except the crazy one, so I guess I can’t say that. Most characters were relatable. Simpler times decades ago. Not easier just simpler. Guess this one left me melancholy. Such a good writer.

[Sharon Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to miss these guys. Hope this author keeps writing!!!

Enjoyed these books very much. Interesting characters and believable plots. Got me through a tense time in my life. Forever grateful!!

[Ron Christiansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very little detective work in this one but still, as always, layered plots and characters. The theme of strangers plays out in interesting ways. I continue to wonder why this author did not get more attention. Seems to me Wright is much more than simply a genre writer. She's literary.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too weird -

I basically really like this series. However, I thought this book was more convoluted and I didn’t enjoy it as much. I have one more to read and I’m looking forward to it.

[Bill Silva · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s no real mystery here…just a bunch of moody, inscrutable (or downright deranged) characters. And very little Alberg and Cassandra. Wright is great with setting a scene…but she skipped the plot a bit too much for my liking.

[Leslie P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is very inconsistent. This book was focused on several stories including people with mental illness and they really aren’t related, except for a link to Alberg. I do enjoy watching the TV series, though.

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so much better than the last 3, yes they are well written but there still is something to be said regarding an economy of words. I love long lengthy narratives when they add something to the plot, but here they just don't.

[Deborah Gaspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psychiatric issues

This story is complex and weird with intense psychiatric issues of the past and current. It is a story that flows in all different directions that is hard to follow until the end.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another 4 star. The ending sort of wrapped up quickly as though the author ran out of paper?

[Libby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series, but still some interesting characters

[Ellie Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s all over the place. Don’t really care about the characters or the plot. I was bored to death. This was just awful. I forced myself to finish altogether I’m not sure why.

[Billie Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I liked this book. Was not what I was expecting. Worth the read! All the books I have read of L. R. Wright are great books in my opinion. Pick up that first one !

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though the beginning of the series was great, sadly, I'd say this was a 2. The characters are not fully developed and the two storylines have a very thin thread between them.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written & engaging mystery. Dark.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

These aren’t so much mysteries as…I don’t know. Character studies? Whatever they are, they are good.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two-haiku review:

Teen boy kills parents
And man in town watching Karl
But we don't know why

One of better books
Really felt for characters
But felt unfinished

[Lois Rooney-Giurin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much weaker plotting in this book. Love the characters, but I kept waiting for something to happen. Nothing did.

[JayeL]

Super sad story.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's amazing how much craziness exists in the seemingly tranquil Sunshine Coast - a teenage boy slaughters his parents, and Jack Coutts, a man from Alberg's past shows up prepared to kill him.

Alberg has suspected the boy was needing an escape from his family and had helped him find a job, but was totally unprepared for the violence that happened. He feels guilty about his failure to intervene, and for his earlier failure to prevent tragedy in Coutts' case. The passages describing Coutts' wife are truly creepy.

The series is full of interesting characters, but not for fans of action packed thrillers.

[Alline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite so far in the Karl Alberg series. Readers get to dig a little deeper into what drives Alberg, what ghosts he carries with him daily, and what guilt continues to prey on him...His compassionate side comes out, and the horrors of mental illness are briefly touched upon. I liked this a lot. Granted, it is not monumental fiction, but is a great way to leave my current world and take a trip to someone else's life...

[Niece · Rating 5 out of 5]

#8 in series--Set in Sechelt British Columbia-RCMP Karl Alberg and Librarian Cassandra Mitchell work on solving a light murder mysteries-likable characters


I was very sad when I heard this author passed away/several of us at work read her series and one co-worker actually visited the area in which her series was set.

[Kristie Saumure · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading this series, set on BC's sunshine coast. The setting almost seems like one of the characters (gloomy and unpredictable) and the real characters are great in that they are compellingly flawed. The mysteries are quite tight. This book clocks in at 251 pages, but they are 251 well used pages and I didn't come away feeling that anything was missing.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

L.R. Wright was one of the quiet Canadian Mystery Writers. Her books are worth a winter night's read or a beach afternoon. Nice depiction of place and atmosphere.

[Sharron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This time I listened to the audio version and it was very good. Rarely do I re-read a mystery but I figured - correctly as it happens - that I wouldn’t remember the story 28 years later.