A Stranger at the Door

by Mackey Chandler

Genres: Science Fiction

459 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2026

About the author

Mackey (Mac') Chandler is retired to Rochester Michigan from a working life that spanned a large number of occupations. Mold maker, aerospace machinist, plumber, mechanic and dozen more as well as owning several businesses. This life experience and travel show in the depth and variety of his writing.
A life long time reader of Science Fiction, the authors at Baen's Bar and their evening chat room motivated him to try his own hand at writing. His first effort was a short story titled "Common Ground" which sold to the short-lived Jim Baen's Universe.
His personal favorite book is "The Mote in God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Other favorite authors include Michael Z. Williamson and C.J.Cherryh.

Reviews

[Teresa Carrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid addition to the Family Law series. It started slow but the middle third was full of action and kept me up hours past my bedtime to reach a stopping place. There’s enough backstory bits scattered around that you don’t need to reread the previous books to enjoy the story but it probably won’t work as a standalone book.

While the story didn’t end on a cliffhanger, there was enough lead up for the next book that I found the ending unsatisfying due to the loose ends. I know I’ll enjoy rereading at least the middle third every two or three years.

[defenbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glowing Lovely

Odd trivia for this book searching lovely showed up 10 times over 31 chapters, I would have never thought to look if not for the rad new teenage badger saying 'glowing lovely' and 'radiant' making me chuckle and search. I may search previous books by this author on rereads to see if this is a norm in writing I missed previously lol. I was thrilled by this latest book in the series and was really happy that Aristotle had a presence in it, one of my favorite Derf characters. I was happy I found out it was available on a weekend because I devoured it in one sitting. Thanks for introducing me to potatoes Anna a search which led to a delightful YouTube video by Chef Jean Pierre. Looking forward to more in this series and more by this author.

[James Copley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series

One of the things I love about it is the continuing expansion of the scope of the plot without losing sight of the individual stories of the characters. This whole universe starts with a girl growing up on a space station and dealing with a hostile nation. Then its a station vs a world. Then multiple worlds.

Then comes.the family law series, and the plot expands to add a complete multi species civilization. And now, expands to potentially the entire galaxy.

Amazing!

[Laura Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spectacular SF series

I strongly suggest reading this series from the very first book. The series begins with a mining couple with an alien partner, and a daughter. They die in a mining accident and in their will they leave the alien as the guardian. Earth doesn’t like that and takes her away from the only family she’s ever known and the aliens don’t respond well to having a child of theirs taken away from them. The series greatly expands and just becomes better and better with each book.

[Paul Raulerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow! Just, Wow.

This episode of the Mackeyverse was just amazing. I admit, I was a tad bit worried that Mr. Chandler might have been running low on new ideas.

Silly me.

Let’s just say this book clarified and expanded on a whole bunch of threads that have come before. Then just went and introduced a massive number of new stories to be told. Absolutely amazing.

Get the book, read the entire series. Pray Mr Mackey stays healthy and chooses to keep writing. :)

Thanks for yet another great read!

[John Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected and amazing

Mr Chandler has really turned up the heat with this one and I love what he's cooking! Some incredible but logical twists and turns leading to a climax that leaves me anxiously awaiting the next volume already. I expect I'll be rereading this one in the morning to see what I might have missed, and then probably at least once more again.

[Badi Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent slash with returning to the series by the Arthur

This is an excellent new book in the continuing adventures of the family law series due to health concerns of the author I have been waiting for this new book to come out for scenes like in a very long time but it was well worth the wait I'm super happy with the end book

[Dragos Macelaru · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining

Very good space opera science fiction, with just enough action and interesting sapient interaction. A little better editing would have helped; too many periods breaking what would have been naturally flowing phrases into small chunks.
Looking forward to the next book of the series!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

solid story

The story goes to some unexpected places rather suddenly in the middle, and brings in some things that were hinted at over the last three books towards the end.
It’s not the best one of the series, but if you’ve read the rest of the series, it’s a good read.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's never boring !!

There is lot happening from Derfhome to Central , Providence,Fargone , Faraway and even Mars with revolution and genocide in addition to the usual politics and just when you thought this story arc was wearing thin Mac exploded a new plot !!

[Tom Maxey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book in Chandler’s very entertaining series Family Law. I am so pleased this will segue into new stories. Love both series written in the same universe!!
Very highly recommend!

[Mike Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Stuff

This story of a mysterious spaceship monitoring the Spacers progress was a very interesting read. I really thought it was the Anunakia.

[Monika Krisinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in one day. Now I'm depressed.

Love this series! The problem is when you read it in one day, and then know you will be on tenterhooks waiting for the next in the series.