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Hidden Strangers
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Expected 14 Jul 26A desperate mother on the run becomes entangled in family secrets, lies, and murder in a chilling novel of suspense from Minka Kent, the Thriller Award–nominated author of Unmissing.
After a series of unsettling events, Camille Prescott is on the run from her dangerous husband. With their two small children in tow, she flees to the Chicago estate of her estranged and manipulative mother, Lucinda—the last place anyone would think to find her.
Inside the sprawling manse, Camille meets Lucinda’s new husband, Rob McClindon—wealthy, aging, and in rapidly declining health—and Zoey, their unnervingly observant teenage daughter. Then there’s Evan, the mysterious tenant living above the garage.
The longer Camille stays, the faster the household’s facade cracks. Rob worsens. Lucinda’s hospitality borders on disturbing. Zoey’s late-night behavior raises unsettling questions. Evan’s stories don’t quite add up. Then a note appears under her You’re not safe here.
Someone in the McClindon house wants her gone. Someone else wants her trapped. One of them has already chosen her fate.
Camille survived her childhood. She survived her marriage. But surviving the strangers she calls family is another story entirely.
After a series of unsettling events, Camille Prescott is on the run from her dangerous husband. With their two small children in tow, she flees to the Chicago estate of her estranged and manipulative mother, Lucinda—the last place anyone would think to find her.
Inside the sprawling manse, Camille meets Lucinda’s new husband, Rob McClindon—wealthy, aging, and in rapidly declining health—and Zoey, their unnervingly observant teenage daughter. Then there’s Evan, the mysterious tenant living above the garage.
The longer Camille stays, the faster the household’s facade cracks. Rob worsens. Lucinda’s hospitality borders on disturbing. Zoey’s late-night behavior raises unsettling questions. Evan’s stories don’t quite add up. Then a note appears under her You’re not safe here.
Someone in the McClindon house wants her gone. Someone else wants her trapped. One of them has already chosen her fate.
Camille survived her childhood. She survived her marriage. But surviving the strangers she calls family is another story entirely.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 14, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mannn… I struggled with this one.
Hidden Strangers had such a promising beginning with an irrefutable pull. My intrigue and curiosity started flipping pages all by themselves, with mystery and foreboding that was thick, slick and seductive.
But sadly, it wouldn’t last.
I began to notice a pattern. And once I clocked it, I kept clocking it. This is a 250 pg book with the word “like” used around 440 times. There was an absolute torrent of metaphors and simile’s and I could not get past it or wrap my head around it.
A tiny sampler:
(But I highlighted 111 total. And that’s just the ones I caught.)
~ His breath tastes like stale coffee and hatred..
~ I find my way to a closet that smells like cedar and success..
~ I can see through this like cellophane..
~ I nod as if reassured, though taste the truth like metal..
~ Lucinda lowers her lashes, wearing grief and exhaustion like a shimmering veil.
~ The place smells like burnt coffee, disinfectant, and the sweat of too many lies.
🥴
Additionally, I am left completely bereft. I have fortyleven unanswered questions.
But the one sitting on my chest, with its claws locked in me, like the old night hag about to have her way — well, let me try to articulate..
A woman flees her “monster” husband, her 2 young kids in tow, heading for her estranged mother’s home where they can hide out until she finds her feet. Her mother, who she hasn’t seen since she was a teenager, who has never met her grandkids, & who is also dubbed a “monster” — but a monster with money, which is exactly what she needs while on the lam.
The FMC swaps her children’s genders when meeting this grandmonster for the first time. Chops off her daughters locks down to a crew cut & puts a pony in her sons hair, swaps their clothing, coaches them to answer to a version of the other siblings name….. I mean, whattt? Why was that even remotely necessary? But also, who can’t tell the difference between a sister and brother, ages 7 & 5, regardless of the clothing and hair styles, especially while all living under one roof. These kids went swimming in grandmonsters pool every day, yet there was never any mention of their swimsuits, which was incredibly convenient. And I simply can’t imagine this super protective mom sending her young daughter outside, topless in board shorts all in the name of confusing her mother. What difference did it make if the grandmonster knew which grandchild was the boy and which was the girl? She’s meeting them both regardless, they’re living with her even if it is temporary. Why can’t they just be themselves, ffs? And of course we eventually learn grandmonster was never fooled anyway. I mean, of course she wasn’t. She wasn’t blind & she certainly wasn’t stupid.
Just off-the-wall bizarre. And this isn’t the only instance. It’s merely the tip. I have a whole Carnival cruise ship locked & loaded with questions. But this review would go on till 2027 if I listed every ‘wtf?’, ‘why?’, ‘how?’, ‘huh?’ and ‘who the hell?’ I have sunnin’ on the foredeck, waiting for answers & and sense.
But even after this whole rant, I wouldn’t deny having enjoyed many of MK’s previous works. So regardless of the problems I had with this one, I won’t be deterred from reading her future works.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub:7.14.2026.
Hidden Strangers had such a promising beginning with an irrefutable pull. My intrigue and curiosity started flipping pages all by themselves, with mystery and foreboding that was thick, slick and seductive.
But sadly, it wouldn’t last.
I began to notice a pattern. And once I clocked it, I kept clocking it. This is a 250 pg book with the word “like” used around 440 times. There was an absolute torrent of metaphors and simile’s and I could not get past it or wrap my head around it.
A tiny sampler:
(But I highlighted 111 total. And that’s just the ones I caught.)
~ His breath tastes like stale coffee and hatred..
~ I find my way to a closet that smells like cedar and success..
~ I can see through this like cellophane..
~ I nod as if reassured, though taste the truth like metal..
~ Lucinda lowers her lashes, wearing grief and exhaustion like a shimmering veil.
~ The place smells like burnt coffee, disinfectant, and the sweat of too many lies.
🥴
Additionally, I am left completely bereft. I have fortyleven unanswered questions.
But the one sitting on my chest, with its claws locked in me, like the old night hag about to have her way — well, let me try to articulate..
A woman flees her “monster” husband, her 2 young kids in tow, heading for her estranged mother’s home where they can hide out until she finds her feet. Her mother, who she hasn’t seen since she was a teenager, who has never met her grandkids, & who is also dubbed a “monster” — but a monster with money, which is exactly what she needs while on the lam.
The FMC swaps her children’s genders when meeting this grandmonster for the first time. Chops off her daughters locks down to a crew cut & puts a pony in her sons hair, swaps their clothing, coaches them to answer to a version of the other siblings name….. I mean, whattt? Why was that even remotely necessary? But also, who can’t tell the difference between a sister and brother, ages 7 & 5, regardless of the clothing and hair styles, especially while all living under one roof. These kids went swimming in grandmonsters pool every day, yet there was never any mention of their swimsuits, which was incredibly convenient. And I simply can’t imagine this super protective mom sending her young daughter outside, topless in board shorts all in the name of confusing her mother. What difference did it make if the grandmonster knew which grandchild was the boy and which was the girl? She’s meeting them both regardless, they’re living with her even if it is temporary. Why can’t they just be themselves, ffs? And of course we eventually learn grandmonster was never fooled anyway. I mean, of course she wasn’t. She wasn’t blind & she certainly wasn’t stupid.
Just off-the-wall bizarre. And this isn’t the only instance. It’s merely the tip. I have a whole Carnival cruise ship locked & loaded with questions. But this review would go on till 2027 if I listed every ‘wtf?’, ‘why?’, ‘how?’, ‘huh?’ and ‘who the hell?’ I have sunnin’ on the foredeck, waiting for answers & and sense.
But even after this whole rant, I wouldn’t deny having enjoyed many of MK’s previous works. So regardless of the problems I had with this one, I won’t be deterred from reading her future works.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for review. I am always grateful.
Pub:7.14.2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐬--𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐤, 𝐛𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐦.
In this final book in the Dangerous Strangers series, Camille Prescott is once again running for her life, this time with her two small children in tow and nowhere safe left to hide. Desperate, she retreats to the last place she ever wanted to return: the sprawling Chicago estate of her manipulative mother, Lucinda. Waiting inside the house are Lucinda’s frail, wealthy husband, their unsettlingly observant teenage daughter Zoey, and a mysterious tenant named Evan living above the garage. The longer Camille stays, the more the carefully curated façade of the McClindon household begins to crack, and it becomes clear that someone under that roof doesn’t want her there while someone else may never let her leave.
While Kent has delivered some truly feral chaos in the earlier books of this trilogy, this final installment takes a slightly different approach. The tension here is quiet rather than explosive, letting suspicion creep quietly through every room of that enormous house. Every character feels like they’re holding something back. Lucinda’s 'Stepford Wife' hospitality borders on unsettling, Zoey watches everything a little too closely, and Evan’s stories never quite line up the way they should. Watching Camille try to figure out who she can trust (spoiler: probably no one) is half the fun.
Even though this finale isn’t quite as wild as the first two books, it still feels like the right ending for Camille’s story. The author clearly had a vision for where these characters needed to land, and the notes at the end explaining some of those decisions made the conclusion feel even more intentional. By the final pages, I found myself appreciating the way everything circled back to the messy, complicated idea of family; the people we survive, the people we escape, and the ones who might still be hiding something behind a perfectly pleasant smile. And if there’s one thing this trilogy has made abundantly clear, it’s the fact that sometimes the most dangerous strangers are the ones who already know your name. Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for this early copy. This installment will publish July 14, 2026.
In this final book in the Dangerous Strangers series, Camille Prescott is once again running for her life, this time with her two small children in tow and nowhere safe left to hide. Desperate, she retreats to the last place she ever wanted to return: the sprawling Chicago estate of her manipulative mother, Lucinda. Waiting inside the house are Lucinda’s frail, wealthy husband, their unsettlingly observant teenage daughter Zoey, and a mysterious tenant named Evan living above the garage. The longer Camille stays, the more the carefully curated façade of the McClindon household begins to crack, and it becomes clear that someone under that roof doesn’t want her there while someone else may never let her leave.
While Kent has delivered some truly feral chaos in the earlier books of this trilogy, this final installment takes a slightly different approach. The tension here is quiet rather than explosive, letting suspicion creep quietly through every room of that enormous house. Every character feels like they’re holding something back. Lucinda’s 'Stepford Wife' hospitality borders on unsettling, Zoey watches everything a little too closely, and Evan’s stories never quite line up the way they should. Watching Camille try to figure out who she can trust (spoiler: probably no one) is half the fun.
Even though this finale isn’t quite as wild as the first two books, it still feels like the right ending for Camille’s story. The author clearly had a vision for where these characters needed to land, and the notes at the end explaining some of those decisions made the conclusion feel even more intentional. By the final pages, I found myself appreciating the way everything circled back to the messy, complicated idea of family; the people we survive, the people we escape, and the ones who might still be hiding something behind a perfectly pleasant smile. And if there’s one thing this trilogy has made abundantly clear, it’s the fact that sometimes the most dangerous strangers are the ones who already know your name. Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for this early copy. This installment will publish July 14, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The latest in the Dangerous Strangers Thrillers sees Camille and her two young kids moving back with her mother, Lucinda, after running away from her monster husband, Will. Lucinda lives in an affluent suburb of Chicago, and Camille believes it’s the last place Will would look for her, due to her having told him all about her abusive childhood. Although really, if he’s such a mastermind, of course, he would think about that. So would everyone in the media who’s looking for her. Family members are the first place you’d check. Even if Camille has wiped her background, anyone can dig far enough to uncover that.
But anyway, she goes there and tries to lay low. Lucinda’s new husband is exactly how Camille pictured him - old, rich, and completely oblivious. Her half-sister is a young teenager who most likely inherited Lucinda’s personality disorder. There’s also a man living in a room upstairs that’s locked from the outside, and Camille doesn’t trust anything about him. She doesn’t trust anything anyone in that house says or does, basically. So she’s not surprised when it appears someone is trying to tip the media off with her location. Is it finally time for her to stop running?
I wish there had been more suspense throughout the book because everything unfolds exactly how you’d expect. I feel like after three books, there would have been more of an explosive end to the saga or even a cliched final showdown. It feels like the author just kept it safe and brought it gently to a close. And after all the previous drama, maybe that’s just what the characters needed.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
But anyway, she goes there and tries to lay low. Lucinda’s new husband is exactly how Camille pictured him - old, rich, and completely oblivious. Her half-sister is a young teenager who most likely inherited Lucinda’s personality disorder. There’s also a man living in a room upstairs that’s locked from the outside, and Camille doesn’t trust anything about him. She doesn’t trust anything anyone in that house says or does, basically. So she’s not surprised when it appears someone is trying to tip the media off with her location. Is it finally time for her to stop running?
I wish there had been more suspense throughout the book because everything unfolds exactly how you’d expect. I feel like after three books, there would have been more of an explosive end to the saga or even a cliched final showdown. It feels like the author just kept it safe and brought it gently to a close. And after all the previous drama, maybe that’s just what the characters needed.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free advanced reading copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hidden Strangers follows Camille Prescott, a mother on the run with her two young children, desperate to escape a husband who has become dangerously unpredictable. With nowhere else to go, she retreats to the Chicago estate of her estranged mother—a place she swore she’d never return to. The mansion’s grandeur only sharpens the unease, and the people inside it are even harder to read.
Lucinda, Camille’s mother, is as manipulative as ever, her hospitality edged with something unsettling. Rob, Lucinda’s wealthy and ailing husband, drifts in and out of lucidity. Zoey, their teenage daughter, watches everything with unnerving intensity. And Evan, the mysterious tenant above the garage, seems helpful… until his stories start to fray at the edges.
As the days pass, the house’s polished façade begins to crack. Strange noises. Odd behaviour. Secrets whispered through walls. And then a note appears beneath Camille’s pillow: You’re not safe here. The tension builds beautifully, turning the estate into a claustrophobic maze of shifting loyalties and hidden motives.
What makes the novel so gripping is Camille herself—wary, exhausted, and fiercely protective, yet forced to question every instinct she has. She’s survived her childhood and her marriage, but the danger inside this house feels more intimate, more insidious, and far harder to escape.
A chilling, compulsive read full of twists, family secrets, and the creeping dread of realising the people meant to protect you may be the ones you should fear most.
With thanks to Minka Kent, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Lucinda, Camille’s mother, is as manipulative as ever, her hospitality edged with something unsettling. Rob, Lucinda’s wealthy and ailing husband, drifts in and out of lucidity. Zoey, their teenage daughter, watches everything with unnerving intensity. And Evan, the mysterious tenant above the garage, seems helpful… until his stories start to fray at the edges.
As the days pass, the house’s polished façade begins to crack. Strange noises. Odd behaviour. Secrets whispered through walls. And then a note appears beneath Camille’s pillow: You’re not safe here. The tension builds beautifully, turning the estate into a claustrophobic maze of shifting loyalties and hidden motives.
What makes the novel so gripping is Camille herself—wary, exhausted, and fiercely protective, yet forced to question every instinct she has. She’s survived her childhood and her marriage, but the danger inside this house feels more intimate, more insidious, and far harder to escape.
A chilling, compulsive read full of twists, family secrets, and the creeping dread of realising the people meant to protect you may be the ones you should fear most.
With thanks to Minka Kent, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hidden Strangers is book 3 in the Dangerous Strangers series. I read the first book, Imaginary Strangers, a couple years ago but I never read book 2. When I requested this one from NetGalley, I didn’t realize that it was part of a series. I’m disappointed that I didn’t read book 2 before I read this one. I think it would’ve made it a more cohesive read. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it, but I think my experience would have been better had I read Circle of Strangers first. It is marketed as a standalone, but there definitely is a building up of knowledge of the characters.
In this book, Camille is on the run with her two children trying to escape the prison of her abusive husband, only to enter another prison by going home to her controlling, abusive mother. She finds her mother living in a sprawling estate, married to an older man and a half sister, Zoey, that she didn’t even know she had. She also encounters Evan, a strange man, living in a locked room above the garage. Everyone here is a liar and we never know who to trust. Camille and her children are entangled in a dangerous web with seemingly no way out.
There are a few twists that had me truly surprised. Some I did figure out, but the story still had me quickly turning pages to find out who would remain standing. I would recommend reading the first two books in the series before this one.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
In this book, Camille is on the run with her two children trying to escape the prison of her abusive husband, only to enter another prison by going home to her controlling, abusive mother. She finds her mother living in a sprawling estate, married to an older man and a half sister, Zoey, that she didn’t even know she had. She also encounters Evan, a strange man, living in a locked room above the garage. Everyone here is a liar and we never know who to trust. Camille and her children are entangled in a dangerous web with seemingly no way out.
There are a few twists that had me truly surprised. Some I did figure out, but the story still had me quickly turning pages to find out who would remain standing. I would recommend reading the first two books in the series before this one.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Camille is hiding in a place that has been her source of fear since childhood with residents that she doesn’t trust. She’s desperate to hide her children from her husband and this place offers her the chance to keep them safe since no one will suspect to look here.
…
Lucinda’s manor is a place of suspicious activity. Residents seem too perfect. Camille knows better, after all her mother Lucinda used to abuse her. Hiding in this place provides the perfect cover.
…
The Hidden Strangers by Minka Kent is a claustrophobic slow-paced thriller about a woman hiding from her husband in a place she thinks he’ll never find. The more time she spends in this place the more paranoid she becomes.
…
This is a very slow story. I’m not a patient person so reading a slow-paced storyline has me skim reading. Reading this slow-paced thriller is a reminder of how I prefer fast-paced thrillers. Kent provided all the key points by building the danger slowly, making the danger personal, creating that uneasy feeling that danger is close, providing an unreliable narrator, and focusing on an isolated environment where the MC feels trapped. Kent included all the right ingredients in this claustrophobic thriller. However, I’m not the intended audience to appreciate the slow-paced plot.
…
Lucinda’s manor is a place of suspicious activity. Residents seem too perfect. Camille knows better, after all her mother Lucinda used to abuse her. Hiding in this place provides the perfect cover.
…
The Hidden Strangers by Minka Kent is a claustrophobic slow-paced thriller about a woman hiding from her husband in a place she thinks he’ll never find. The more time she spends in this place the more paranoid she becomes.
…
This is a very slow story. I’m not a patient person so reading a slow-paced storyline has me skim reading. Reading this slow-paced thriller is a reminder of how I prefer fast-paced thrillers. Kent provided all the key points by building the danger slowly, making the danger personal, creating that uneasy feeling that danger is close, providing an unreliable narrator, and focusing on an isolated environment where the MC feels trapped. Kent included all the right ingredients in this claustrophobic thriller. However, I’m not the intended audience to appreciate the slow-paced plot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, & Minka Kent for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am no stranger to a Minka Kent book and had read previously read books 1 and 2 in the Dangerous Strangers trilogy so Hidden Strangers was one of my anticipated reads of 2026 and it did not disappoint.
As always Kent knows exactly how to keep her readers engaged with suspense and plot twists throughout and I devoured this in one sitting.
It had been a while since I had read book 2 and I was a little worried going into this I might have forgotten pieces but Kent done a great job of giving us the right information at the right times as little refreshers and honestly, I feel you could go into this even as a stand alone and read it without being lost.
A satisfying conclusion to a great series that I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to seeing what more is to come from this author in the future.
I am no stranger to a Minka Kent book and had read previously read books 1 and 2 in the Dangerous Strangers trilogy so Hidden Strangers was one of my anticipated reads of 2026 and it did not disappoint.
As always Kent knows exactly how to keep her readers engaged with suspense and plot twists throughout and I devoured this in one sitting.
It had been a while since I had read book 2 and I was a little worried going into this I might have forgotten pieces but Kent done a great job of giving us the right information at the right times as little refreshers and honestly, I feel you could go into this even as a stand alone and read it without being lost.
A satisfying conclusion to a great series that I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to seeing what more is to come from this author in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I've been impatiently waiting for this final book of the trilogy after being left hanging on the edge of a cliff from the last one, and I really enjoyed it. I'm glad that the author finally gave Lucinda a major role. She played a shadow character in the first and second books, haunting Camille at every turn with her childhood trauma, and it was dangerously exciting to finally see her up close and personal. And she was just as sadistic as the memories written about her. The story unraveled slowly with lots of tension and paranoia, but the pacing was fast and Camille's fear was palpable. I liked the ending and felt that it was a satisfying conclusion to the series; however, I wouldn't be opposed to the author continuing with a story about Zoey. I enjoyed her role in this book and would love to have more.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for granting me a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hidden Strangers by Minka Kent
⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5
When you’re in hiding because your husband is a lunatic, but you have two children and the only person you can go back to without your husband’s knowledge is your estranged mother. A mother you ran away from at age seventeen because she told you she was going to kill you. A mother who isn’t to be trusted with food or drinks because she once fed you a raw hamburger, cereal with little pebbles in them and much more. Which means you have to be hypervigilant when in her house, making sure she can’t hurt your children. A house she now shares with her husband, a millionaire and their thirteen-year-old daughter.
Want to read my full review on this book? You can find it here;
https://cindieslibrary.com/hidden-str...
⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5
When you’re in hiding because your husband is a lunatic, but you have two children and the only person you can go back to without your husband’s knowledge is your estranged mother. A mother you ran away from at age seventeen because she told you she was going to kill you. A mother who isn’t to be trusted with food or drinks because she once fed you a raw hamburger, cereal with little pebbles in them and much more. Which means you have to be hypervigilant when in her house, making sure she can’t hurt your children. A house she now shares with her husband, a millionaire and their thirteen-year-old daughter.
Want to read my full review on this book? You can find it here;
https://cindieslibrary.com/hidden-str...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was soooo excited when I seen Hidden Stangers on Netgalley, and couldn't download it fast enough! Unfortunately the book left me feeling like "that's all?". The ending of Circle of Stangers had my jaw on the floor and I was hoping it would continue from there. The story line is so slow and drug out longer than needed. More POV from Will or even Lucinda would have been nice. I mean, you drop that bomb for CoS and don't continue Will's side? As far as the ending, very unrealistic! Overall, I feel like this one just didn't play out well.
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, & Minka Kent for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date for Hidden Strangers is July 14, 2026.
Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, & Minka Kent for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date for Hidden Strangers is July 14, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of Hidden Strangers by Minka Kent from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an engaging psychological thriller that kept me curious about what was really going on beneath the surface. The premise immediately pulled me in, and I enjoyed the steady buildup of tension as the story unfolded. The author does a great job creating a sense of unease and making you question the characters’ motives.
While the story was intriguing and had some solid twists, parts of the pacing felt a little uneven for me, which is why this landed at about a 3.5 stars. Still, it was an entertaining read and I appreciated how the story gradually revealed its secrets.
Overall, a solid thriller that fans of Minka Kent and domestic suspense will likely enjoy.
This was an engaging psychological thriller that kept me curious about what was really going on beneath the surface. The premise immediately pulled me in, and I enjoyed the steady buildup of tension as the story unfolded. The author does a great job creating a sense of unease and making you question the characters’ motives.
While the story was intriguing and had some solid twists, parts of the pacing felt a little uneven for me, which is why this landed at about a 3.5 stars. Still, it was an entertaining read and I appreciated how the story gradually revealed its secrets.
Overall, a solid thriller that fans of Minka Kent and domestic suspense will likely enjoy.
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March 10, 2026Hidden Strangers by Minka Kent is book three in this Trilogy. The previous books are Circle of Strangers and Imaginary Strangers.
Reading this conclusion was bittersweet. Bitter because with this book her story comes to an end, sweet because I now know what happened.
Camille's character grew over the last books and now she's about to find her hea, or not, who knows.
I was so so waiting for this book and I was happy to get it in my hands.
I loved the suspense, the push and pull, the intrigue, the twists and turns that had me guessing til the last chapter.
I recommend the book and the series, 5 stars.
Reading this conclusion was bittersweet. Bitter because with this book her story comes to an end, sweet because I now know what happened.
Camille's character grew over the last books and now she's about to find her hea, or not, who knows.
I was so so waiting for this book and I was happy to get it in my hands.
I loved the suspense, the push and pull, the intrigue, the twists and turns that had me guessing til the last chapter.
I recommend the book and the series, 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.
To close the trilogy, Camille takes refuge at her mother's house. There, she also meets her sister Zoe. And when you bring together three people who are particularly skilled at manipulating others, lies, suspicions, paranoia and murder are inevitable.
In this latest novel, the ending is built up little by little, and even though you can sense what is going to happen, it manages to be totally satisfying.
Although it is not necessary, I would recommend reading the previous books to better understand the characters.
A novel that does not disappoint fans of Minka Kent and lovers of psychological thrillers.
To close the trilogy, Camille takes refuge at her mother's house. There, she also meets her sister Zoe. And when you bring together three people who are particularly skilled at manipulating others, lies, suspicions, paranoia and murder are inevitable.
In this latest novel, the ending is built up little by little, and even though you can sense what is going to happen, it manages to be totally satisfying.
Although it is not necessary, I would recommend reading the previous books to better understand the characters.
A novel that does not disappoint fans of Minka Kent and lovers of psychological thrillers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found this story a little slow to start with but picked up further into the book. I wouldn't say the outcome and twists in it really surprised me as I guessed what would likely happen, a little predictable. A toxic mother controlling her family, commits crimes to keep them under her control so she keeps all the power but ultimately it becomes her downfall. I didn't realise this was book 3 of a series, it worked as a standalone for me but I'm sure the other 2 books will give a better understanding of the characters and everything going on. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 📚
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had not realized while reading this story that there were other stories in the trilogy and quite frankly I was not lost or confused, this book stands on its own. I was sucked in immediately to Camille's story and was at times even dazzled by Lucinda and felt sorry for Zoe. There were a lot of side plots to follow and I did read certain passages twice. It had a good pace, the characters were certainly layered and the twists were wild. I did think that there were a few storylines that needed more finishing touches but overall a very good read
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Minka Kent's books. This one had my anxiety running high. It was so tense!
What a family!
The writing is terrific, the suspense is high octane, and did I mention those characters?
Camille has learned empathy, but her half sister and mother certainly haven't.
Lucinda is the most odious character. Cold, scheming, cruel - worse than Cruella de Ville!
I recommend this book, but believe me, you shouldn't trust anyone - behind those smiles, danger lurks.
4/5 stars from me.
March 12, 2026
I have been desperately waiting for this 3rd book in the series!! Camille is now a desperate mother on the run from her dangerous husband. She lands at her abusive mother’s home knowing it’s the last place he would think to find her.
This was a very quick read that you will not want to put down. Has her mother Lucinda changed or is her happy and helpful demeanor just another way to get to Camille? Lots of twists and turns and we’re always rooting for Camille!
This was a very quick read that you will not want to put down. Has her mother Lucinda changed or is her happy and helpful demeanor just another way to get to Camille? Lots of twists and turns and we’re always rooting for Camille!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was just as exciting as the first two in the series. I especially loved that Lucinda was a main character in the present day this time around. I am sad to see this trilogy come to an end. I would 100% keep reading to find out the latest developments in all the character's lives, but Minka Kent did a fantastic job of wrapping everything up! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Hidden Strangers by Minka Kent had an interesting premise and started off with a lot of intrigue. I was curious to see how the secrets and connections would unfold. However, the pacing felt uneven and some of the twists didn’t land as strongly as I expected.
Overall, it was an okay, fairly quick read, but it didn’t fully grab me the way I had hoped.
Overall, it was an okay, fairly quick read, but it didn’t fully grab me the way I had hoped.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved #2 in this series. This one was OK, I liked it better than #1 in the series. I would definitely recommend reading them in order. Easy to read, enjoyable psych thriller escapes! 6/10.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2026
3.5 stars. I have not read the other books in the trilogy, so I appreciated the backstory for context. The events are engaging and page-turning. At times, the plot seems abrupt and too easy. No major surprises. The ending ties things up nicely.
March 21, 2026
Minka’s done it again. All of her books are amazing and this one definitely did not disappoint!
March 18, 2026
So excited that I got to read this before it comes out in July! Highly recommend to read this trilogy back to back to back!! Each book moves so swiftly to the next and is done well!
Thank you Net Galley for the arc
Thank you Net Galley for the arc
March 12, 2026
A little slow at the start but it pulled me in and then I couldn’t put it down. I recommend reading the first two books in the series before this one to best understand the characters
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