The Kindness of Strangers: A Novel

by Emma Garman

A wildly entertaining debut and homage to the classic murder mystery set in post-WWII London where a stranger’s arrival at a boarding house sets a deadly chain of events in motion—perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson, Agatha Christie, and Richard Osman.

London, 1953. Jimmy Sullivan lies dying on the drawing room floor while his housemates look on, their lives about to change forever.

One foggy night in the dead of February, a young man arrives unannounced at 42 Tregunter Road in Chelsea. Self-styled Bohemian Mrs. Honor Wilson—who runs a minor literary journal and lodgings from this timeworn Victorian house—introduces him to her “dear house guests”: Robbie, the writer; Mina, the teenage sleuth; George, the debutante; and Saul, the haunted refugee. Jimmy Sullivan is a family friend, Honor says—yet clearly, something is not right. Despite everyone’s misgivings, she lets the stranger move into the attic.

As they each try to disprove Jimmy’s dubious account of himself, secrets, jealousies, and disturbing schemes come to light, fracturing the household’s delicate allegiances and setting in motion, unstoppably, a tale of perilous self-invention, complicated love, and murderous revenge.

In a house built on lies, the truth will get you killed.

Genres: Adult Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

​✰ 2.75 stars ✰

​“A lie can become the truth, you know, so long as you’re willing to convince yourself, first and foremost.​”

A literal visual representation of me above, after I finished reading. Pacing the room, with a fist to my mouth, as I tried to digest, okay, take an analytical approach to what it was I just read. I'm not confused about the outcome, nor am I conflicted, I'm just at this weird place, where I can see what the author wished to convey, but I'm not sure if I entirely agree with it.

So does that make it a bad read? ​No, but I think a warning about the extent to which an abortion would be portrayed needs to be taken into account, because I was not only caught off-guard, it gave me the creepy-crawly feeling that maybe that is hindering my overall judgment of it. And for readers who might be more sensitive to such topics, I am suggesting to please somehow forewarn readers of what to expect. It's not the only subject of concern, for me, that was the most triggering.

But as a rational reader, now that I'm a little more spirited as I collect my thoughts and the morning shock has worn off, okay, I'm still questioning what the overall message was. Is nature stronger than nurture? once a sinner always a sinner? do the ends justify the means, if you depict someone wholly undeserving of sympathy, when they are so full of faults. Does crime beget the end game? Are all men inherently wicked?

​“Some truths slashed a rent in one’s existence when spoken out loud, a rent that could never be repaired​.​”​

In a way it is thought-provoking, but also unnerving. I would have love​d a lot more mystery, but I'm starting to feel that my definition of what a mystery should be is very different from others. If the mystery is building up the character backgrounds, save for one reveal, which was a surprise, I was unable to garner much remorse or sympathy for them, for how​ strangely they were portrayed.

​And in ​post-WWII England, maybe that was the vibe, which​ also, never came to fruition for how much the settling remains trapped in the Victorian era. ​Was that a downside to it- no, but why then have it set in the 50s? it could have easily been in another time period and the actions, feelings, justifications would have been more fitting - well, aside from one character's backstory, which would then have been altered otherwise.

For someone called Honor, she really did not have much of that. It was hard to entirely like any of the characters; it's not even that they were all hiding much and even their —vindictive, pained, extraordinarily resolute— reasoning was not convincing. In the likes of the mystery writers this has been compared to - full disclosure - I have not read any of their works, only familiar with their adaptations.

​“People couldn’t help who they were, could they?​”​

​So, maybe this is how it's done. The ​tortured and tormented and broken have their reasons for behaving as they do and whether or not they get away with it, is up to the reader to decide. ​But at least​, ​convince​ me with a valid reason to do so, one where their own ​modus operandi​ should not be spearheaded by quick rash judgments. It just proved to me I would probably be better off without The Kindness of Strangers, for how uncaring I felt.

Part One was very heavy on info dumping of characters, that I felt like I should whip out a notebook to jot down their backstories, along with the subtle drops of hints that hinted of subterfuge dealings and depth to Jimmy being a suspicious character. It's not enough that the prologue itself is the moment the story is leading towards, a novel told in reverse, that the time jumps interspersed throughout were not my cuppa.

I really wanted to be more positive, but I don't think I liked the direction it took. ​It's not about right or wrong, it's the way it was treated that perhaps​ I'm not in favor of​. The epilogue, too, was very -- not mundane, but stale and lacked heart, almost sterile; which, considering what they have gone through, was it entirely fair? I don't know. I didn't feel it was fair, honestly, and I still don't know why I wasn't satisfied. ​So puzzling....

*Thank you to Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful debut novel set in England after the World Wars and features a diverse cast of characters. Ms Garman has fully developed each character and crafted a twisty set of connections that become clear as you get into the book. The tying up at the end felt a little rushed to me but I was glad to have read it, nonetheless. Very satisfying read.

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster (SummitBooks), and the author for this ARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

With first time published authors, I try to be a little more lenient than when I’m reading a long-standing author. And when you read this, understand that I am doing just that.

I was bored the whole time reading this. I know for some, this may hit the spot, so my opinion is just how it hits me and may not be how you feel after reading the book. The concept of the book was interesting. I was excited to dive into this novel. I just couldn’t get into it. Understand that I had just finished a first-time fiction writer that wrote a period piece mystery and was glued to every page. This one just didn’t hit.

The story drags. Not in the way of Agatha Christie establishing characters before a mystery actually happens at the halfway point, even though that may have been the goal. It just felt like they kept repeating the same things repeatedly (see what I did there). The complications between the characters felt forced, not natural.

My other complaint is one that I hesitate to share because it may come across as having an agenda. This novel felt like the author wanted to take a stand on social issues and showing them in light of 1953 was their best way. Fiction has been used to teach morals since about the beginning of time. There is no issue in that. But when it is done with a hammer, it is not effective. I think back to John Grisham’s “The Chamber”. He gave an emotional novel that sided with capital punishment only to make you question it in the end. THAT is how you use fiction with social and moral issues. Make the reader think. This is a writing lesson that this author should learn. It would allow you to write about the mystery more rather than taking a hammer and hammering your point over and over and over again.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kindness of Strangers
By Emma Garman

This is a rather clever murder mystery. It takes place after then end of World War II. The cast of characters resides in a boarding house and they are quite a mixed bag. The landlady is one Honor Wilson, though she has gone by various identities in the past. Her houseguests are: Georgina (George), much in need of funds for an illegal abortion; Robbie, a "strait arrow", separated from his wife and working with Honor on her literary journal; Mina, an underage girl trying to succeed I the big city; and Saul, a Jewish refugee from eastern Europe whose wife and daughter were lost during the war.

Into the mix appears one Jimmy Sullivan, claiming to be an old friend of Honor's. Jimmy sets the whole house on edge and brings out everyone's secrets and suspicions. When Honor announces he is moving in, the game begins. Who is this person really?

Needless to say, he is the murder victim. This is not giving the game away, because the murder takes place in the prologue.

The story brings out the back story of each of the characters and keeps the plot interesting.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Anne Wolters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Garman’s debut novel, The Kindness of Strangers, arrives with promise, especially for readers who enjoy mysteries and are curious to discover a new voice in the genre. The premise intrigued me, and I was eager to see how the story would unfold.
This is an intriguing story, with a cast of interesting characters. I found the beginning to be somewhat slow, as I was waiting to get into the heart of the mystery.
Even so, I want to acknowledge the ambition behind this debut. Garman clearly has a strong command of language and a desire to craft atmosphere and detail. For readers who appreciate richly layered prose and don’t mind a slower pace, this book may resonate more deeply than it did for me.
While my personal experience was mixed, I believe in supporting new authors and recognize the potential here. I’m giving The Kindness of Strangers four stars, with the hope that Emma Garman continues in her storytelling in future works.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly excellent and expertly written. This quirky and gritty tale in 1953 London sweeps you right in and carries you through to its ultimate end. The characters' lives swirl together in the past, present and future. Secrets are hidden and then start spilling out, especially once an investigation begins. What makes this novel so unique is that it unflinchingly shows the painful and dark sides of the characters' lives along with their humanity. Smart and clever, this was a superb debut novel.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once I got the cast of characters straight in my head, I enjoyed the twists and turns of the book. Not a single character was without flaw, which made them more appealing. The murder / who done it was central to the story line but other themes like loyalty, jealousy, and ambition were equally relevant. An enjoyable mystery.

Thank you to Simon Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review. To be published in May 2026.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Kindness of Strangers” ends on a very strong note. For much of the book, I thought the story was decent but not great, a little odd but with some good twists. However, the book becomes better in the final chapters when the circumstances around Jimmy’s death are revealed and the connections between the main characters are all fully explained. In addition, there is a rather unexpected twist involving Saul. And the reader learns what the future will hold for a number of characters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whodunnit - but also a 'who is it that has been dun'. The boarding house provides a cast of characters, many seemingly innocent until a nugget of information is revealed and suddenly they look rather guilty. There are lots of interesting observations on society at the time but there is enough intrigue to keep the pace moving along nicely. A rather jolly read.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific old style mystery with many multilevel characters and interesting life roads.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book.All thoughts and opinions are my own.