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The Stranger
When you're the outsider, who do you trust?
Cornwall, 1940.
For decades, Penhallow Hall has stood frozen in time, protecting the secrets of its isolated inhabitants. But the far corners of England are no shelter from the war, and Penhallow must finally open its doors to strangers.
Three newcomers arrive, each looking to escape their past. They adjust easily to the routine - nightly blackouts, the threat of invasion - but tensions mount and secrets are forced into the open. For one of them is not there by choice. And then, in the hushed hours of deepest night, a young woman is taken by the sea.
Was it simply a tragic accident? Or should the inhabitants of Penhallow have been more careful about whom they invited in?
Cornwall, 1940.
For decades, Penhallow Hall has stood frozen in time, protecting the secrets of its isolated inhabitants. But the far corners of England are no shelter from the war, and Penhallow must finally open its doors to strangers.
Three newcomers arrive, each looking to escape their past. They adjust easily to the routine - nightly blackouts, the threat of invasion - but tensions mount and secrets are forced into the open. For one of them is not there by choice. And then, in the hushed hours of deepest night, a young woman is taken by the sea.
Was it simply a tragic accident? Or should the inhabitants of Penhallow have been more careful about whom they invited in?
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2018
37 people are currently reading
704 people want to read
About the author
Kate Riordan
11 books573 followersKate Riordan is a writer and journalist from England. Her first job was as an editorial assistant at the Guardian newspaper, followed by a stint as deputy editor for the lifestyle section of London bible, Time Out magazine.
After becoming a freelancer, she left London behind and moved to the beautiful Cotswolds in order to write her first novel, 'Birdcage Walk'. Her second novel, a haunting dual narrative story set in the 1930s and 1890s will be published by Penguin in January 2015 as 'The Girl in the Photograph'. In February, HarperCollins will publish the same book as 'Fiercombe Manor' in the US and Canada. She is now at work on her third novel, another dual narrative story full of intrigue and secrets, but this time set in the 1870s and 1920s, and about the lives of two very different governesses.
After becoming a freelancer, she left London behind and moved to the beautiful Cotswolds in order to write her first novel, 'Birdcage Walk'. Her second novel, a haunting dual narrative story set in the 1930s and 1890s will be published by Penguin in January 2015 as 'The Girl in the Photograph'. In February, HarperCollins will publish the same book as 'Fiercombe Manor' in the US and Canada. She is now at work on her third novel, another dual narrative story full of intrigue and secrets, but this time set in the 1870s and 1920s, and about the lives of two very different governesses.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
June 23, 2018
Kate Riordan sets this wonderfully atmospheric piece of historical fiction in the wild, beautiful and stunning landscape of Cornwall where women, apparent strangers, find themselves staying at Penhallow Hall, near the aptly named Breakheart Cove. Penhallow Hall has been opened by Eleanor and her querulous, abusive mother, to land girls, working the grounds to grow vegetables in their efforts to feed Britain in WW2 in 1940. This is a complex, character driven tale of women escaping the war to find refuge in Cornwall. It begins with the risk taking, wilful, meddlesome, and over curious Diana, a reluctant landgirl who took pleasure in needling the others, disappearing and the narrative, incorporating diary entries, goes back in time to understand how this came to be. It's a story of secrets, lies, deception, love, intrigue, loss, and grief amidst a background of blackouts, fears of invasion, and all the heightened tensions of being at war.
Each woman is troubled, haunted by their pasts, isolated, and trust is a huge issue between them as secrets begin to emerge. A chilling, claustrophic and menacing feel to the book intensifies as we got closer to the mystery of Diana's disappearance. The repercussions of what happens to Diana leads Eleanor, Rose and Jane to address the difficult issues in their lives. There is such a strong and vibrant sense of location in Cornwall, richly described, with its history of smuggling. Riordan is a wonderful writer, her complicated characterisations and well plotted story are a joy to behold, she draws on the great literature that is embedded in the psyche of the area to weave an enthralling war time novel. A brilliant read that I loved and recommend! Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
Each woman is troubled, haunted by their pasts, isolated, and trust is a huge issue between them as secrets begin to emerge. A chilling, claustrophic and menacing feel to the book intensifies as we got closer to the mystery of Diana's disappearance. The repercussions of what happens to Diana leads Eleanor, Rose and Jane to address the difficult issues in their lives. There is such a strong and vibrant sense of location in Cornwall, richly described, with its history of smuggling. Riordan is a wonderful writer, her complicated characterisations and well plotted story are a joy to behold, she draws on the great literature that is embedded in the psyche of the area to weave an enthralling war time novel. A brilliant read that I loved and recommend! Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
March 26, 2018
The Stranger is the third book I have read by Kate Riordan and I love the chilling atmosphere of the book. The book starts off very mysterious with a suggestive chapter "The Night Diana Devlin goes Missing", and then the book jumps back in time taking us six weeks back in time and then we get to learn the main characters in the book, land girl Diane Devlin, both through her POV and her diary, her roommate and also land girl Rose and also the lady of the mansion Eleanor. All three women have secrets and Diane is the catalyst that will bring past events to the light.
The Stranger is a book that at first felt a bit difficult to place, it definitely felt more chilling than the previous two books I have read by the author, more thriller than a mystery. Also, I found the characters a bit hard to connect to, especially Diane was difficult to figure out because the version you get to know through the diary feels a lot different from the person the other characters meet. Let me just say that she provoked so many people that I was not surprised that the book started off with her going missing. It was first towards the end that I realized that her presence in Penhollow perhaps was not so bad, she did set things in motion. Things that had to be dealt with. However, what will the consequences be?
I will end this review by saying that the ending was not what I expected and I want to say bravo to the author! It was such a great ending, so perfect!
I want to thank Penguin UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
The Stranger is a book that at first felt a bit difficult to place, it definitely felt more chilling than the previous two books I have read by the author, more thriller than a mystery. Also, I found the characters a bit hard to connect to, especially Diane was difficult to figure out because the version you get to know through the diary feels a lot different from the person the other characters meet. Let me just say that she provoked so many people that I was not surprised that the book started off with her going missing. It was first towards the end that I realized that her presence in Penhollow perhaps was not so bad, she did set things in motion. Things that had to be dealt with. However, what will the consequences be?
I will end this review by saying that the ending was not what I expected and I want to say bravo to the author! It was such a great ending, so perfect!
I want to thank Penguin UK for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
March 17, 2018
I absolutely adore the way Kate Riordan writes – So beautifully done, especially with regards to settings (in this case Cornwall) where you just sink into the story and live there for a while.
In “The Stranger” we find a multi-layered, intriguing character drama, three very different women hiding out from the war at Penhallow Hall – we start on the night one, Diana, goes missing, then we head back in time, seeing the weeks leading up to this – and it is fascinating, absorbing and wonderfully addictive.
The author captures the sense of time and place perfectly – telling a haunting tale of past and present, letting us come to know the characters through their thoughts and actions and weaving an intriguing web of relationships and secrets. Diana, the danger seeker, absolutely engaged me and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages until I came to the end.
It is richly layered, authentic and full of depth – set in a time of unrest and unease, that is exactly how the reader feels as they go through – Penhallow Hall a character in it’s own right and the rugged, beautiful Cornwall setting coming to life straight off the page.
The Stranger is another literary delight from Kate Riordan, I cannot wait to see what she does next.
In “The Stranger” we find a multi-layered, intriguing character drama, three very different women hiding out from the war at Penhallow Hall – we start on the night one, Diana, goes missing, then we head back in time, seeing the weeks leading up to this – and it is fascinating, absorbing and wonderfully addictive.
The author captures the sense of time and place perfectly – telling a haunting tale of past and present, letting us come to know the characters through their thoughts and actions and weaving an intriguing web of relationships and secrets. Diana, the danger seeker, absolutely engaged me and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages until I came to the end.
It is richly layered, authentic and full of depth – set in a time of unrest and unease, that is exactly how the reader feels as they go through – Penhallow Hall a character in it’s own right and the rugged, beautiful Cornwall setting coming to life straight off the page.
The Stranger is another literary delight from Kate Riordan, I cannot wait to see what she does next.
March 14, 2018
THE STRANGER by Kate Riordan is a breathtaking story about family, first loves, and strength, and I fell into this spellbinding drama as it unfolded in front of my eyes.
As the war rages on it can almost be forgotten about on the wild shores of Cornwall where life seems to trundle on regardless. But after years of solitude and silence, the rooms of Penhallow Hall are stirring with life again as it opens its doors to three very different women, with very different secrets. And what exactly ails the gentle and kind Eleanor, one of the ladies of the house, who cannot leave the property and watches the world pass her by?
But as time passes, friendships old and new are forged, and the secrets from the past will come hurtling to the surface with unexpected consequences that will shake the foundations of those in Penhallow Hall for a very long time.
THE STRANGER by Kate Riordan perfectly captures the many different types of strength women are capable of as each female character has suffered greatly in their lives and fought their way through their trauma in their own ways.
The drama is rich, uncomfortable, and heartbreaking at times, but like the light in the darkness, there is always that glint of hope shining through each page. The setting is stunning and I was transported to the feral beauty of Cornwall every time I turned the page.
THE STRANGER by Kate Riordan is a thought-provoking tale that will stay with you long after you finish reading it and I urge all historical fans to pick up a copy - you won't regret it!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
As the war rages on it can almost be forgotten about on the wild shores of Cornwall where life seems to trundle on regardless. But after years of solitude and silence, the rooms of Penhallow Hall are stirring with life again as it opens its doors to three very different women, with very different secrets. And what exactly ails the gentle and kind Eleanor, one of the ladies of the house, who cannot leave the property and watches the world pass her by?
But as time passes, friendships old and new are forged, and the secrets from the past will come hurtling to the surface with unexpected consequences that will shake the foundations of those in Penhallow Hall for a very long time.
THE STRANGER by Kate Riordan perfectly captures the many different types of strength women are capable of as each female character has suffered greatly in their lives and fought their way through their trauma in their own ways.
The drama is rich, uncomfortable, and heartbreaking at times, but like the light in the darkness, there is always that glint of hope shining through each page. The setting is stunning and I was transported to the feral beauty of Cornwall every time I turned the page.
THE STRANGER by Kate Riordan is a thought-provoking tale that will stay with you long after you finish reading it and I urge all historical fans to pick up a copy - you won't regret it!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
April 10, 2018
4.5* --> 5*
All my reviews can be found on noveldeelights.com
Oh, what a wonderful novel this is. This is one of those stories that remind me why I love this genre as much as I do. As soon as I started reading, I knew I was in for a treat and I quickly found myself utterly immersed.
In 1940’S Cornwall, the war still seems to be pretty far off. Three women arrive at Penhallow Hall. Eleanor and her mother have opened the doors of their house to Rose, Diana and Jane who will work there as Land Girls, planting and growing vegetables to help out in the war effort. But tricky pasts and secrets will lead to a dramatic conclusion and their lives will be changed forever.
This story oozes atmosphere and has a fantastic cast of complex characters that you’ll either root for or want to slap in the face. Especially Diana Devlin, whom I accidentally kept calling devil in my head, which seemed rather apt at times. She’s quite the troubled young lady with a disturbing past and she’s bored. So very, very bored. Her need to liven things up just a little bit may just have consequences for innocent bystanders. Rose spent a glorious summer in Cornwall when she was sixteen. For various reasons, that period in her life has always stayed with her. Can she possibly recapture the spirit of the girl she used to be?
There’s a threatening, almost claustrophobic vibe haunting the rooms of Penhallow Hall, that feeling of something not being quite right. I found that to be the perfect contrast with the glorious descriptions of the Cornwall landscape. Kate Riordan’s writing is incredibly beautiful and pulled me right in. I could hear and smell the ocean, feel the sun beating down on my back and if Cornwall wasn’t already on my list of places to visit one day, it sure would be now.
From the first chapter, it’s obvious a mystery needs to be solved but as it turns out, that’s not the only one. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story of first loves, loss and grief, secrets and family. This is only the second novel I’ve read by Kate Riordan and it has left me wanting more so I’ll be catching up on her other books and very much look forward to whatever she comes up with next!
All my reviews can be found on noveldeelights.com
Oh, what a wonderful novel this is. This is one of those stories that remind me why I love this genre as much as I do. As soon as I started reading, I knew I was in for a treat and I quickly found myself utterly immersed.
In 1940’S Cornwall, the war still seems to be pretty far off. Three women arrive at Penhallow Hall. Eleanor and her mother have opened the doors of their house to Rose, Diana and Jane who will work there as Land Girls, planting and growing vegetables to help out in the war effort. But tricky pasts and secrets will lead to a dramatic conclusion and their lives will be changed forever.
This story oozes atmosphere and has a fantastic cast of complex characters that you’ll either root for or want to slap in the face. Especially Diana Devlin, whom I accidentally kept calling devil in my head, which seemed rather apt at times. She’s quite the troubled young lady with a disturbing past and she’s bored. So very, very bored. Her need to liven things up just a little bit may just have consequences for innocent bystanders. Rose spent a glorious summer in Cornwall when she was sixteen. For various reasons, that period in her life has always stayed with her. Can she possibly recapture the spirit of the girl she used to be?
There’s a threatening, almost claustrophobic vibe haunting the rooms of Penhallow Hall, that feeling of something not being quite right. I found that to be the perfect contrast with the glorious descriptions of the Cornwall landscape. Kate Riordan’s writing is incredibly beautiful and pulled me right in. I could hear and smell the ocean, feel the sun beating down on my back and if Cornwall wasn’t already on my list of places to visit one day, it sure would be now.
From the first chapter, it’s obvious a mystery needs to be solved but as it turns out, that’s not the only one. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story of first loves, loss and grief, secrets and family. This is only the second novel I’ve read by Kate Riordan and it has left me wanting more so I’ll be catching up on her other books and very much look forward to whatever she comes up with next!
March 19, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
This is a beautifully written, character-driven novel which takes us to the gorgeous setting of Cornwall, and right back to 1940.
The characters are really well crafted; though each has their own faults (some more than others) they felt far more realistic and convincing for this, and I really warmed to certain characters - particularly Eleanor and Rose. I increasingly wondered who exactly can be trusted and who had any involvement in the disappearance of Diana (this isn't a spoiler, you find out that she goes missing very early on), which always adds an interesting element to any story.
Although this isn't a hugely fast-moving story, it is deeply layered and atmospheric; Kate Riordan's skilfull writing meant that I felt almost like I could be right there with them, in such a beautiful place during such a contrastingly tumultuous time, with all the heightened tensions that such a situation brings. There are also some unexpected parts and twists which kept me intrigued, and some less-than-lovely parts which give the story even more depth and made me really think about the characters' situations.
Overall I really enjoyed this atmospheric story and feel it would be ideal for anyone who enjoys entertaining historical fiction.
[Rating: 3.5 bumped to 4/5]
* Many thanks to Michael Joseph for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review. *
This is a beautifully written, character-driven novel which takes us to the gorgeous setting of Cornwall, and right back to 1940.
The characters are really well crafted; though each has their own faults (some more than others) they felt far more realistic and convincing for this, and I really warmed to certain characters - particularly Eleanor and Rose. I increasingly wondered who exactly can be trusted and who had any involvement in the disappearance of Diana (this isn't a spoiler, you find out that she goes missing very early on), which always adds an interesting element to any story.
Although this isn't a hugely fast-moving story, it is deeply layered and atmospheric; Kate Riordan's skilfull writing meant that I felt almost like I could be right there with them, in such a beautiful place during such a contrastingly tumultuous time, with all the heightened tensions that such a situation brings. There are also some unexpected parts and twists which kept me intrigued, and some less-than-lovely parts which give the story even more depth and made me really think about the characters' situations.
Overall I really enjoyed this atmospheric story and feel it would be ideal for anyone who enjoys entertaining historical fiction.
[Rating: 3.5 bumped to 4/5]
* Many thanks to Michael Joseph for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review. *
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February 21, 2018A beautifully written story that I couldn’t put down. I loved it.
May 24, 2018
I dithered between three and four stars for this and finally settled on three.
I loved her book The Girl in the Photograph but is was very different.
It's set in the latter year of World War 2 and concerns three girls who are posted to a big house in Cornwall as land girls. They seemed to have it very easy there compared to other land girl stories I've read and didn't seem to do very much work. All three girls have their own secrets and reasons for being there.
Diana is a royal pain in the butt and the nosiest person ever. Why someone didn't tell her to bog off I'll never understand.
Rose is a very nondescript type of person. She seems to accept whatever happens in her life without question. Sort of goes with the flow, until she gets to Cornwall that is.
Jane's secret is not really her own and I guessed it quite early on.
None of them are that likable and I wasn't too bothered about what happened to them. The end was totally unsatisfactory to me. I turned the page and------nothing!!
The title is slightly misleading as well and it's only at the final 'denouement' that you realise that.
All in all slightly disappointing even though it kept me reading to the end.
I loved her book The Girl in the Photograph but is was very different.
It's set in the latter year of World War 2 and concerns three girls who are posted to a big house in Cornwall as land girls. They seemed to have it very easy there compared to other land girl stories I've read and didn't seem to do very much work. All three girls have their own secrets and reasons for being there.
Diana is a royal pain in the butt and the nosiest person ever. Why someone didn't tell her to bog off I'll never understand.
Rose is a very nondescript type of person. She seems to accept whatever happens in her life without question. Sort of goes with the flow, until she gets to Cornwall that is.
Jane's secret is not really her own and I guessed it quite early on.
None of them are that likable and I wasn't too bothered about what happened to them. The end was totally unsatisfactory to me. I turned the page and------nothing!!
The title is slightly misleading as well and it's only at the final 'denouement' that you realise that.
All in all slightly disappointing even though it kept me reading to the end.
March 30, 2018
It's June 1940 and three land girls arrive at Penhallow Hall, near a stunning Cornish cove with the prophetic name of Breakheart Cove. Rose and Diana both have secrets, and so do the occupants of the hall, Eleanor and her elderly mother. This is smuggling country, with treacherous breakwaters, vertiginous cliffs, mists rolling in off the sea, and locals who have all known each other since childhood and who are now intermarried. Diana turns out to be a restless troublemaker with a nose for long-buried secrets and as summer draws on, loyalties shift between the girls, and tensions heighten between them and the community. The sense of claustrophobia engendered by the small size of the place, as well as the war taking place not far away, make it obvious that secrets can't stay secrets any longer.
Kate Riordan is a stunning writer. I love the way she uses the landscape, history and rapidly-changing weather of Cornwall to illuminate her characters' inner struggles. She says on the first page of the book that she's an avid reader of Daphne Du Maurier and Agatha Christie, and to my mind this novel stands comparison with the very best of Du Maurier. I had to read faster and faster as the story developed because I simply couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Her characterisation, plotting and glorious use of language have propelled her right up into my list of favourite writers.
Kate Riordan is a stunning writer. I love the way she uses the landscape, history and rapidly-changing weather of Cornwall to illuminate her characters' inner struggles. She says on the first page of the book that she's an avid reader of Daphne Du Maurier and Agatha Christie, and to my mind this novel stands comparison with the very best of Du Maurier. I had to read faster and faster as the story developed because I simply couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Her characterisation, plotting and glorious use of language have propelled her right up into my list of favourite writers.
January 8, 2019
Loved this brilliant book
February 12, 2018
At the start I was drawn to this book by the Cornish location.
In this respect it lived up to my expectations. The descriptions and sense of geography add to the quality of this story.
I also liked the time setting, this being a novel set during the early stages of the Second World War. Charting life on the homefront.
The book is beautifully crafted, with a plethora of intriguing characters.
Without risking spoiling the story, I can safely mention that I liked the clever use of a count down calendar.... counting down to What?
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) For a copy in exchange for this review.
In this respect it lived up to my expectations. The descriptions and sense of geography add to the quality of this story.
I also liked the time setting, this being a novel set during the early stages of the Second World War. Charting life on the homefront.
The book is beautifully crafted, with a plethora of intriguing characters.
Without risking spoiling the story, I can safely mention that I liked the clever use of a count down calendar.... counting down to What?
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK (Michael Joseph) For a copy in exchange for this review.
March 22, 2018
It’s always nice when you get a book you realise you are going to love within the first few pages. It brings a smile to my face and means I can relax into the book.
The Stranger is told from the point of view of three women who have been brought together at Penhallow for the summer. Two, Rose and Diana, are landgirls at Penhallow there to work in the grounds, growing vegetables to aid the war effort. For the other woman, Eleanor, Penhallow is her family home where she has lived since she was a little girl and where she still lives with her cantankerous mother. All of these women have secrets that they have kept from each other and all are haunted by pasts events. These are slowly revealed as the story goes on leaving the reader very intrigued and glued to the page. I think what is most special about this book is that the way it is told allows the reader to get inside the woman’s heads so that you feel like you know them intimately and understand them completely. For this reason I didn’t have a favourite character as I enjoyed all their stories equally and liked all of them. I wanted all of them to have the opportunity to put their demons to rest and have a happy ending.
The setting of this book is brilliant, with the author’s descriptions being so vivid that you feel like you are there watching it all unfold. I could almost see the sea, feel the sun on my face and view the beautiful scenery. I felt I knew Cornwall and Penhallow really well like I had visited it personally.
This was one of those rare books that I simultaneously wanted to read more of to find out what happens and read slowly to savour the spectacular story. I was almost bereft when the story ended as I realised I had read a fabulous story and closed the book with a happy sigh.
There are very few books I believe deserve the comparison with Kate Morton but this one truly does, so if you are a fan of Kate Morton you will love this book!
Huge thanks to Jenny Platt and Michael St Joseph Publishers for my copy of the book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
The Stranger is told from the point of view of three women who have been brought together at Penhallow for the summer. Two, Rose and Diana, are landgirls at Penhallow there to work in the grounds, growing vegetables to aid the war effort. For the other woman, Eleanor, Penhallow is her family home where she has lived since she was a little girl and where she still lives with her cantankerous mother. All of these women have secrets that they have kept from each other and all are haunted by pasts events. These are slowly revealed as the story goes on leaving the reader very intrigued and glued to the page. I think what is most special about this book is that the way it is told allows the reader to get inside the woman’s heads so that you feel like you know them intimately and understand them completely. For this reason I didn’t have a favourite character as I enjoyed all their stories equally and liked all of them. I wanted all of them to have the opportunity to put their demons to rest and have a happy ending.
The setting of this book is brilliant, with the author’s descriptions being so vivid that you feel like you are there watching it all unfold. I could almost see the sea, feel the sun on my face and view the beautiful scenery. I felt I knew Cornwall and Penhallow really well like I had visited it personally.
This was one of those rare books that I simultaneously wanted to read more of to find out what happens and read slowly to savour the spectacular story. I was almost bereft when the story ended as I realised I had read a fabulous story and closed the book with a happy sigh.
There are very few books I believe deserve the comparison with Kate Morton but this one truly does, so if you are a fan of Kate Morton you will love this book!
Huge thanks to Jenny Platt and Michael St Joseph Publishers for my copy of the book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
November 12, 2019
This was certainly not the first time I chose a novel to read simply because of the cover. It was also not the first time that I found myself engaged in a plot that I never would have read unless I noticed the cover. For me this was another successful random reading selection.
June 4, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
The first thing to say about this novel is the glorious writing within. Kate Riordan can always be guaranteed to write a lyrical tale and this is no exception. The entire novel is one long ode to stunning Cornwall and the language, words chosen, sentences put together creates a wonderful picture. It’s one that draws you into the story and one you miss when you’ve finished it.
Penhallow Hall - the house in the novel. Doesn’t even just the name make you want to go there right now? It sounds gothic and real, creepy and you can imagine the Cornish sun gently heating the walls and the wind caressing the flowers in the ramshackle garden. Ooh I got carried away reading this.
Then there’s Breakheart Cove…..
The story is multilayered and told in flashbacks where we find out what happened that first night Diana went missing. Then what happened leading up to that day…
It’s a story of characters, secrets and events past and present woven into quite a magical tale. The weaves get stronger as you read and then when you see how they all fit together..it’s quite a treat.
The very idea that this house should have opened its doors to welcome land girls to the area is something very interesting indeed. They are there to work the land and grow vegetables in their efforts to feed Britain in WW2 in 1940. This is a fascinating story thread which continues to fascinate. Very real and insightful.
I always enjoy a Kate Riordan novel but this, with the ethereal cover, is especially memorable.
April 5, 2018
The Stranger is the tale of three women, all of whom leave their home to work in the land army. Another, Eleanor lives in the house in which they work and live. All of them have something they are trying to escape from.
The novel starts when the body of a young woman is swept out to sea. At the same time a diary is being read, in which secrets are revealed. It then goes back in time by a few weeks to the moment they all met and you learn what happens.
There are three narrators – Eleanor,emotionally abused by her mother, Diana, beautiful, wilful, damaged and quite often cruel and Rose, struggling with her feelings about her marriage and the past. All three are lonely for different reasons and all find their own way of dealing with it.
I liked Rose immediately, she somehow managed to cope with being on the receiving end of Diana’s antics quite well. Which at the same time managed to annoy Diana even more. But even though Diana isn’t the easiest to like I was too quick to judge, she wasn’t as devious as I originally thought. Eleanor has a terrible relationship with her harridan of a mother, who had a carer who was nearly as bad. But with her husband’s help she knew she could make her life better.
The differing views of all the women towards the war was convincing, Rose concerned for her husband, but not as much as she should have been, Diana was indifferent, just wanting to party and Jane, the third land army member wanting to know all the details.
There is also a storyline connected to minor characters that broke my heart a little bit. It was a part of the novel that was very small but had plenty of impact.
It is a beautiful novel. The remoteness and beauty of Cornwall, the history of smuggling and the families who had lived in the area for years. I could practically hear the sea, and visualise everything about the local area. I had thought that Cornwall was one of the more untouched areas during the war but reading the events in the novel I was proven wrong.
The Stranger is another fantastic novel from Kate Riordan which I read very quickly. Poignant, determined, and hopeful for the future.
April 6, 2018
Three new landgirls at Penhallow Hall will find their lives changed for ever.
Oh my goodness me. What a book! I adored every word of The Stranger. It was like reading a modern day Daphne du Maurier, but for me, so much better. The quality of the poetic and beautiful writing is gorgeous. Kate Riordan has the ability to create a tangible sense of foreboding that permeates the reader’s skin, giving them goosebumps. There’s a fabulous use of pathetic fallacy so that the weather, the sea and Cornwall all become inextricably woven into the narrative making reading The Stranger visual and filmic. The absolute power of place is deftly and convincingly created, with an oppressive, self destructive and menacing atmosphere crackling like an approaching storm that I found utterly compelling.
There’s a preternatural evil and claustrophobia lurking around Penhallow Hall making a tragedy an inevitability. Ghostly echoes of the past weave in and out of the narrative, tantalising the reader and making it impossible for me to pull myself away from the book. The plot is a cracker too. I was sucked into the story as if I were a character myself.
Speaking of characters, Diana is a magnificent creation. Kate Riordan uses the perfect voice for Diana’s first person diary accounts so that I loathed her entirely for the first hundred pages of the book. Diana created a visceral and physical response in me that quite shocked me by the violence I felt towards her. It’s a terrible thing to say but I wanted her dead because of her tainting and corrupting effect. I found her a far more malevolent person than the controlling Mrs Fox. However, as the book progressed I came to understand, pity, and even respect Diana and this is such skilled writing by Kate Riordan to be able to effect such a change of opinion.
There are so many layers to The Stranger too. Not only is it a love story, a mystery and in many ways an homage to other literature through subtle reference, but it explores so many fabulous themes. Oppressed and suppressed sexuality, relationships, the nature of good and evil, the present and the past, identity and the basic human need to be loved and accepted without which we all become the stranger, all reverberate through the story giving it a brilliant depth and making it oh so satisfying to read.
In case you hadn’t gathered, I loved The Stranger. It is one of those books that will stay with me a very long time. Wonderful.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/04/06/...
Oh my goodness me. What a book! I adored every word of The Stranger. It was like reading a modern day Daphne du Maurier, but for me, so much better. The quality of the poetic and beautiful writing is gorgeous. Kate Riordan has the ability to create a tangible sense of foreboding that permeates the reader’s skin, giving them goosebumps. There’s a fabulous use of pathetic fallacy so that the weather, the sea and Cornwall all become inextricably woven into the narrative making reading The Stranger visual and filmic. The absolute power of place is deftly and convincingly created, with an oppressive, self destructive and menacing atmosphere crackling like an approaching storm that I found utterly compelling.
There’s a preternatural evil and claustrophobia lurking around Penhallow Hall making a tragedy an inevitability. Ghostly echoes of the past weave in and out of the narrative, tantalising the reader and making it impossible for me to pull myself away from the book. The plot is a cracker too. I was sucked into the story as if I were a character myself.
Speaking of characters, Diana is a magnificent creation. Kate Riordan uses the perfect voice for Diana’s first person diary accounts so that I loathed her entirely for the first hundred pages of the book. Diana created a visceral and physical response in me that quite shocked me by the violence I felt towards her. It’s a terrible thing to say but I wanted her dead because of her tainting and corrupting effect. I found her a far more malevolent person than the controlling Mrs Fox. However, as the book progressed I came to understand, pity, and even respect Diana and this is such skilled writing by Kate Riordan to be able to effect such a change of opinion.
There are so many layers to The Stranger too. Not only is it a love story, a mystery and in many ways an homage to other literature through subtle reference, but it explores so many fabulous themes. Oppressed and suppressed sexuality, relationships, the nature of good and evil, the present and the past, identity and the basic human need to be loved and accepted without which we all become the stranger, all reverberate through the story giving it a brilliant depth and making it oh so satisfying to read.
In case you hadn’t gathered, I loved The Stranger. It is one of those books that will stay with me a very long time. Wonderful.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2018/04/06/...
March 19, 2018
"The Stranger" was my first novel by Kate Riordan and I was incredibly excited to finally, eventually get her novel in my greedy mittens - I've heard tons of great things about this author and it's not a wonder that I wanted to see for myself what's so special in her books. And I think that this story is a great start if you, like me, haven't read Ms Riordan's novels before.
The story follows three women of different ages, billeted in a house on Cornish coast in the 1940's in Penhallow Hall, a house perched up on the cliffs. They were land girls, helping feed Britain during the Second World War when young farmers were away fighting. Jane is the youngest and she joined Rose and Diana as last, and it turns out she's the member of the family owning the house, and it quickly becomes clear that there are some misunderstandings between her and the owners Ms Fox and her daughter Eleanor. Rose was married but her first loved lived at the island. And last but not least, Diana. The girl who's meddling and stirring and doesn't let sleeping dogs lie.
The book starts with Diana going missing and then takes us back in time, several weeks, and with each chapter that takes us closer to her disappearance, in a kind of a count - down, we get to know the characters, their backgrounds and history, and start to like or dislike them. I think the author painted Diana in such a way on purpose - a girl with two faces, a girl with a very vulnerable side to her and a girl who wanted everything to be about her, who wormed her way to a friendship, who meddled and used everybody and everything for her own ends. A girl who longed to be liked and accepted but also a girl that pushed people away. Very complex and complicated character and the author really well captured this diversity in her. However, I didn't like her. I didn't have compassion on her. I did get when she was coming from but the way she went through life just made me feel antipathy.
It was an incredibly descriptive novel - and I must admit, even though it was beautifully written, in such a gentle way with love to the smallest details, it made reading for me a little bit difficult. It has hidden all the action, put it in the background in my opinion, and it's a pity, because it was a story with a brilliantly interesting storyline. However, it was also a novel that was hard to put down, guys.
"The Stranger" was a slow burner, but with brilliant descriptions and wonderfully developed characters with a depth and distinctive voices, a story that intertwined lives of different women. The author has managed to easily and effortlessly put all the frustrations, hopes and anger into words. This was a story full of secrets, some of them very dark, with a complex and ambitious storyline. The author had so beautifully captured the atmosphere of the uncertainty and mendacity. She also brought to life the beauty of Cornwall and the setting was one of the best things in this novel, you could so easily picture the sea, the village, the lighthouse. There were many turns on the way and the final twists were really interesting, though I'd say that, in comparison to the tense built - up, it felt too rushed. But altogether, this novel was very interesting and different and I highly recommend it to you all.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 18, 2018
1940 Cornwall, Penhallow Hall finds itself home to three Land Girls, sent to the coast to avoid the horrors of London’s Blitz. One of them, Diana Devlin cannot resist stirring up long buried secrets. When a young woman’s body is found lying broken on the shore, the promise of safety that the Hall offers is shattered. Was it an accident? Or has something more sinister happened at Penhallow Hall.
I was looking forward to this however found it very disappointing and overall confusing. The plot description makes it sound like a lot of this is concerned with the dead woman, whilst the book certainly builds to this, it is in no way a central point of the book and is dealt with rather quickly towards the end, this is where the majority of my confusion lay. Everything happened so fast that I did find myself confused over what had happened and to whom, which was a shame. Then, because the action happens at the end of the book, the rest of the plot is at a very sedentary pace and I found myself bored. I could easily have given up on this and it took a lot to persevere. There were flashes of brilliance which I thoroughly enjoyed but then all too soon they were gone and I was bored again.
I did enjoy the story of Diana, she is an interesting, fun character and I did enjoy the story of Rose, sadly I did not find myself particularly invested in any of the characters and it took a large portion of the book to get to know them, another shame. Eventually, this read gets going and I enjoyed it more, but it is eventually, from the second section on really I enjoyed it but in a way that was too little too late.
‘The Stranger’ is a really disappointing read, there is not enough going on to maintain interest and it descends into a confusing ending that left me with multiple questions.
I was looking forward to this however found it very disappointing and overall confusing. The plot description makes it sound like a lot of this is concerned with the dead woman, whilst the book certainly builds to this, it is in no way a central point of the book and is dealt with rather quickly towards the end, this is where the majority of my confusion lay. Everything happened so fast that I did find myself confused over what had happened and to whom, which was a shame. Then, because the action happens at the end of the book, the rest of the plot is at a very sedentary pace and I found myself bored. I could easily have given up on this and it took a lot to persevere. There were flashes of brilliance which I thoroughly enjoyed but then all too soon they were gone and I was bored again.
I did enjoy the story of Diana, she is an interesting, fun character and I did enjoy the story of Rose, sadly I did not find myself particularly invested in any of the characters and it took a large portion of the book to get to know them, another shame. Eventually, this read gets going and I enjoyed it more, but it is eventually, from the second section on really I enjoyed it but in a way that was too little too late.
‘The Stranger’ is a really disappointing read, there is not enough going on to maintain interest and it descends into a confusing ending that left me with multiple questions.
April 6, 2018
I have just finished reading The Stranger, Netgalley and the publisher kindly let me have a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book is based near the end of the second world war in Cornwall, in a large family mansion. It involves Eleanor the daughter of the lady of the mansion and 3 land girls. The story is told in third party by Diana, Rose and Eleanor. In the beginning a body is washed up on the shore after a party, the story the goes back a few weeks to tge the lead up to the party and the body being found.
I have read other books by Kate but I found this book quite hard to get into. First from the way it was written but secondly I didn't feel the story really got going until the last third of the book. Despite this I did enjoy the ending as there was a twist I didn't get till just before the reveal.
The book is based near the end of the second world war in Cornwall, in a large family mansion. It involves Eleanor the daughter of the lady of the mansion and 3 land girls. The story is told in third party by Diana, Rose and Eleanor. In the beginning a body is washed up on the shore after a party, the story the goes back a few weeks to tge the lead up to the party and the body being found.
I have read other books by Kate but I found this book quite hard to get into. First from the way it was written but secondly I didn't feel the story really got going until the last third of the book. Despite this I did enjoy the ending as there was a twist I didn't get till just before the reveal.
January 8, 2019
A twist in the tale ....
May 11, 2024
Slow moving but kept my attention.
Read
December 30, 2018This was a compelling and mysterious read. I loved it.
May 13, 2019
Who died? No idea, I skim read from half way through as the way the book was written made it hard work to follow the threads. In the end, I just didn't care enough for the characters and the multiple narratives. It takes a great deal of someones life to write a book, so I respect the effort the author has made and many seem to have enjoyed the story, but this one was not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2023
This was an intriguing book with lots of complicated characters, lies and secrets.
October 30, 2024
Beautifully written but didn't like the abrupt and confusing ending.
February 25, 2018
This Kate Riordan's latest novel 'The Stranger' takes us to 1940's Cornwall to Penhallow Hall, a house perched up on the cliffs in a sleepy hamlet near to Fowey, where four woman, all from different backgrounds have been billeted as land girls to convert the Hall's gardens to vegetable plots to help with the war effort.
The first chapter begins with a lone church bell ringing which brings the villagers outside, where the body of a woman is found on the beach. Each of the following chapters form a timeline going back six weeks earlier where we learn more about the events leading to the woman's death.
Although a slow burner the author is excellent at bringing emotional depth to her characters. We really do get to feel the frustration and guilt felt from Rose who is awaiting information about her missing navy husband whilst secretly meeting up with her first lost love Sam. Eleanor ,the daughter of Penhallow's owner suffers from agoraphobia and hasn't left the property in years, but we are not told why. Then there is Jane who is innocent and insecure whilst untrustworthy and scheming Diana has secrets of her own. We soon learn there are many secrets and lies which link the past to the present.
I love historical novels especially ones set in Cornwall and it is unusual to find one set during the wars years of WWII. I especially liked the scene where the soldiers are brought back from France into Fowey harbour by every type of vessel available. There was a real sense of ambiance to this scene when the villagers came out to greet the men from the boats.
I also thought the ending to this story was very well plotted and left me satisfied.
Readers who love a historical mystery with great characters set in Cornwall will love this book.
Thank you to Penguin UK-Michael Joseph, NetGalley and Kate Riordan for giving me the chance to read and give an honest review #TheStranger #NetGalley
The first chapter begins with a lone church bell ringing which brings the villagers outside, where the body of a woman is found on the beach. Each of the following chapters form a timeline going back six weeks earlier where we learn more about the events leading to the woman's death.
Although a slow burner the author is excellent at bringing emotional depth to her characters. We really do get to feel the frustration and guilt felt from Rose who is awaiting information about her missing navy husband whilst secretly meeting up with her first lost love Sam. Eleanor ,the daughter of Penhallow's owner suffers from agoraphobia and hasn't left the property in years, but we are not told why. Then there is Jane who is innocent and insecure whilst untrustworthy and scheming Diana has secrets of her own. We soon learn there are many secrets and lies which link the past to the present.
I love historical novels especially ones set in Cornwall and it is unusual to find one set during the wars years of WWII. I especially liked the scene where the soldiers are brought back from France into Fowey harbour by every type of vessel available. There was a real sense of ambiance to this scene when the villagers came out to greet the men from the boats.
I also thought the ending to this story was very well plotted and left me satisfied.
Readers who love a historical mystery with great characters set in Cornwall will love this book.
Thank you to Penguin UK-Michael Joseph, NetGalley and Kate Riordan for giving me the chance to read and give an honest review #TheStranger #NetGalley
March 27, 2021
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
Gorgeously atmospheric, The Stranger is a historical fiction novel packed with mystery and intrigue.
Set in a sleepy Cornish village during World War II, the story follows three Land Girls billeted at mysterious Penhallow. The backdrop of the war combines with all the best bits of classic Gothic mystery to create a memorable and highly enjoyable novel.
The three main characters - Rose, Diana, and Jane - are about as different from each other as it's possible to be. Rose is a working-class shopkeeper's wife with an artistic flair, chasing memories of a long-ago golden summer. Diana is an unruly debutante, expelled from boarding school and determined to carve out a new life to escape her family. Jane is the youngest of the trio, a hard worker with a mysterious familial connection to Penhallow. Each has secrets, yet as the unlikely group spend a summer together, it isn't long before their darkest secrets come to light.
Threads of romance and friendship also run through the story, combining with the mystery and suspense to weave a rich, twisting story. It's cleverly-written and well-paced - and you definitely won't expect the surprising twist!
The Stranger is a complex story yet it instantly draws you in, keeping you turning page after page. I read this in one day because I just couldn't put it down! Although it's a very character-driven book, the vivid descriptions and rich imagery really lend the story a strong sense of place. It's firmly anchored in rural Cornwall, and it's incredibly easy to picture yourself there right in the middle of the action.
Beautifully-written and highly descriptive, The Stranger is a brilliant read. I look forward to reading more from Kate Riordan in the future!
Gorgeously atmospheric, The Stranger is a historical fiction novel packed with mystery and intrigue.
Set in a sleepy Cornish village during World War II, the story follows three Land Girls billeted at mysterious Penhallow. The backdrop of the war combines with all the best bits of classic Gothic mystery to create a memorable and highly enjoyable novel.
The three main characters - Rose, Diana, and Jane - are about as different from each other as it's possible to be. Rose is a working-class shopkeeper's wife with an artistic flair, chasing memories of a long-ago golden summer. Diana is an unruly debutante, expelled from boarding school and determined to carve out a new life to escape her family. Jane is the youngest of the trio, a hard worker with a mysterious familial connection to Penhallow. Each has secrets, yet as the unlikely group spend a summer together, it isn't long before their darkest secrets come to light.
Threads of romance and friendship also run through the story, combining with the mystery and suspense to weave a rich, twisting story. It's cleverly-written and well-paced - and you definitely won't expect the surprising twist!
The Stranger is a complex story yet it instantly draws you in, keeping you turning page after page. I read this in one day because I just couldn't put it down! Although it's a very character-driven book, the vivid descriptions and rich imagery really lend the story a strong sense of place. It's firmly anchored in rural Cornwall, and it's incredibly easy to picture yourself there right in the middle of the action.
Beautifully-written and highly descriptive, The Stranger is a brilliant read. I look forward to reading more from Kate Riordan in the future!
February 16, 2018
Think Brideshead but land girls (or women) working in a garden during the wartime in a country manor. Three strangers brought together- but are they? One has been near there years ago for a holiday where she met what she thought at the time, her first love. She is now a married woman but thinks seeing him can’t hurt- can it? The youngest of the group who is not their of her own accord and the third, well, this is mostly about her. A woman who worms her way to friendship for her own ends, who turns away others but longs to be liked. She delves and she pries but what secrets is she really keeping herself?Partially written as a diary, this is the story of the three women mostly prior to the “event”- the timeline counts down as the book proceeds. This is a beautifully described piece set in Cornwall and you can picture the sea and the lighthouse as backdrops to the characters. A twist I was not expecting brought the book to a wonderful conclusion. A very different read for me which I enjoyed.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
September 22, 2018
THE STRANGER is a breathtaking story set in 1940s Cornwall, both atmospheric and haunting. It is something of a historical mystery with a plenty of secrets. It actually had a feel of Daphne de Maurier's "Rebecca" as I read it, with even a touch of Danvers in Payne and old Mrs Fox, and was like reading a modern day du Maurier but better.
Three women arrive at Penhallow Hall as "Land Girls" in their role during the war. Eleanor and her feisty controlling mother have opened the doors of their sprawling house to Diana, Rose and young Jane who, in their roles as Land Girls, plant and grow vegetables to aid the war effort. But it's not all smooth sailing. Each of the girls, as well as their hosts, bring their secrets with them to the Hall and will lead to a dramatic conclusion which may surprise you in the end. But one thing is for sure - none of their lives will ever be the same again.
This atmospheric story will draw you in from the very beginning as you step back in time and watch the drama and secrets unravel. There is a cast of complex characters you will either be cheering on or want to give a good slapping.
For me, the most irritating character was Diana Devlin. The story seemed to primarily centre on her for the most part. She is very much a troubled young woman with a somewhat sad and disturbing past. However she enjoys playing "the socialite" and at times appears to be looking down on the other two. She bores very easily and when Rose fails to live up to her expectations she abandons her and latches onto Jane. She spends most of her time delving into things that don't concern her, wanting to root out some interesting titbits and liven things up around the dark and boorish Hall. It's this interference that causes some horrific consequences for the innocent people in her need for drama.
Rose is my favourite, I think. She has ties to Cornwall having spent a beautifully memorable summer in a cottage just near the Hall when she was 16. It is something that has remained with her - both in her heart and memory - as being the last with her mother and the summer she fell truly in love. However, some sixteen years later she is now married and her husband is in the Navy while she does her bit in the land army. Her marriage is not an overly happy one, though it's not a sad one either. They just seem to exist together and despite her husband being away fighting the enemy, Rose finds herself drawn to that summer back in 1924 and her first love. One day on the bus to Fowey she spots Sam, her first love, in the street her breath is taken away. She can't find the words to speak and yet as if drawn to her, Sam looks up and sees her. He smiles that smile that has lived in her memory all these years and says he has never forgotten her. Then as the bus she's on moves away she whispers "I will find you." Can she recapture that love and the girl that she used to be?
Then there is Jane, a small dark and young boyish looking girl with an air of familiarity about her. She arrives a little later than Rose and Diana, and does her best to keep to herself. It is soon revealed that she is the granddaughter of old Mrs Fox, matriach of the Hall, and niece to a somewhat nervy Eleanor. And while it is later discovered that she is only 15, Jane says little but gets in and does the job she is there to do as a Land Girl.
And then there is Eleanor. She is a very nervy character, easily frightened and often teary. She relies heavily on her husband Gerald who dotes on her despite being in London much of the time. But Eleanor has secrets. And it is these that have eaten away at her and kept her mother nipping cruelly at her heels. Penhallow Hall is actually Eleanor's but her mother rules the place.
Diana makes it her mission to find out every little thing she can about everyone, regardless of the consqueneces. She even makes up a few little white lies for another's "own good", in her opinion, not caring whose toes she steps on in the process. She follows both Rose and Eleanor on their respective retreats - Eleanor to her little boathouse and Rose to Vennor - and slowly unearths their secrets.
The story unfolds for the first part with excerpts of Diana's diary thrown in between the atmospheric lead-up to her sudden disappearance and discovery of a body on the beach. It is haunting, sometimes threatening and even claustrophobic in parts with the feeling of something "not quite right". Diana likes to push the boundaries. She is a reluctant land girl, unwanted at home by her mother, with really nowhere else to go. Her diary reveals secrets she has no wish to share, as the main story continues to build up to the penultimate climax of the second part.
The scene is extremely atmospheric. I know I keep saying that, but it tuly is. It has that haunting feel with the threat of war just across the channel and with it also hitting London, and yet Cornwall seems so far removed from it all. Despite the blackout curtains put in place each night, this only adds to the tension of the story and gives it that real claustrophobic feel, and it is apparent that tragedy will be an inevitability. I love the way the sea, the weather, the landscape and the war all become woven into the story to give it that atmosphere. I could hear the waves crashing, smell the ocean, feel the sun and the rain upon me as I walked the coastal path with them. It felt as if I lived and breathed this story, not just read it.
This is the first book I've read by Kate Riordan, and if this book is anything to go by it will not be my last. I thoroughly and truly enjoyed it from start to finish, from beginning to end. It left me wanting more. One thing is for sure, THE STRANGER is a book that will stay with me for a very long time to come.
Highly highly recommended!!
Three women arrive at Penhallow Hall as "Land Girls" in their role during the war. Eleanor and her feisty controlling mother have opened the doors of their sprawling house to Diana, Rose and young Jane who, in their roles as Land Girls, plant and grow vegetables to aid the war effort. But it's not all smooth sailing. Each of the girls, as well as their hosts, bring their secrets with them to the Hall and will lead to a dramatic conclusion which may surprise you in the end. But one thing is for sure - none of their lives will ever be the same again.
This atmospheric story will draw you in from the very beginning as you step back in time and watch the drama and secrets unravel. There is a cast of complex characters you will either be cheering on or want to give a good slapping.
For me, the most irritating character was Diana Devlin. The story seemed to primarily centre on her for the most part. She is very much a troubled young woman with a somewhat sad and disturbing past. However she enjoys playing "the socialite" and at times appears to be looking down on the other two. She bores very easily and when Rose fails to live up to her expectations she abandons her and latches onto Jane. She spends most of her time delving into things that don't concern her, wanting to root out some interesting titbits and liven things up around the dark and boorish Hall. It's this interference that causes some horrific consequences for the innocent people in her need for drama.
Rose is my favourite, I think. She has ties to Cornwall having spent a beautifully memorable summer in a cottage just near the Hall when she was 16. It is something that has remained with her - both in her heart and memory - as being the last with her mother and the summer she fell truly in love. However, some sixteen years later she is now married and her husband is in the Navy while she does her bit in the land army. Her marriage is not an overly happy one, though it's not a sad one either. They just seem to exist together and despite her husband being away fighting the enemy, Rose finds herself drawn to that summer back in 1924 and her first love. One day on the bus to Fowey she spots Sam, her first love, in the street her breath is taken away. She can't find the words to speak and yet as if drawn to her, Sam looks up and sees her. He smiles that smile that has lived in her memory all these years and says he has never forgotten her. Then as the bus she's on moves away she whispers "I will find you." Can she recapture that love and the girl that she used to be?
Then there is Jane, a small dark and young boyish looking girl with an air of familiarity about her. She arrives a little later than Rose and Diana, and does her best to keep to herself. It is soon revealed that she is the granddaughter of old Mrs Fox, matriach of the Hall, and niece to a somewhat nervy Eleanor. And while it is later discovered that she is only 15, Jane says little but gets in and does the job she is there to do as a Land Girl.
And then there is Eleanor. She is a very nervy character, easily frightened and often teary. She relies heavily on her husband Gerald who dotes on her despite being in London much of the time. But Eleanor has secrets. And it is these that have eaten away at her and kept her mother nipping cruelly at her heels. Penhallow Hall is actually Eleanor's but her mother rules the place.
Diana makes it her mission to find out every little thing she can about everyone, regardless of the consqueneces. She even makes up a few little white lies for another's "own good", in her opinion, not caring whose toes she steps on in the process. She follows both Rose and Eleanor on their respective retreats - Eleanor to her little boathouse and Rose to Vennor - and slowly unearths their secrets.
The story unfolds for the first part with excerpts of Diana's diary thrown in between the atmospheric lead-up to her sudden disappearance and discovery of a body on the beach. It is haunting, sometimes threatening and even claustrophobic in parts with the feeling of something "not quite right". Diana likes to push the boundaries. She is a reluctant land girl, unwanted at home by her mother, with really nowhere else to go. Her diary reveals secrets she has no wish to share, as the main story continues to build up to the penultimate climax of the second part.
The scene is extremely atmospheric. I know I keep saying that, but it tuly is. It has that haunting feel with the threat of war just across the channel and with it also hitting London, and yet Cornwall seems so far removed from it all. Despite the blackout curtains put in place each night, this only adds to the tension of the story and gives it that real claustrophobic feel, and it is apparent that tragedy will be an inevitability. I love the way the sea, the weather, the landscape and the war all become woven into the story to give it that atmosphere. I could hear the waves crashing, smell the ocean, feel the sun and the rain upon me as I walked the coastal path with them. It felt as if I lived and breathed this story, not just read it.
This is the first book I've read by Kate Riordan, and if this book is anything to go by it will not be my last. I thoroughly and truly enjoyed it from start to finish, from beginning to end. It left me wanting more. One thing is for sure, THE STRANGER is a book that will stay with me for a very long time to come.
Highly highly recommended!!
March 26, 2018
Thanks to Jenny Platt at Michael Joseph books for letting me be a part of the blog tour for this fantastic book!
Full post here: https://readinginwellies.blogspot.com...
Once I got into this book I couldn't put it down. It's atmospheric to say the least! Cornwall is a much used and beloved location in literature, and its easy to see why. Secret coves and dramatic clifftops set the scene, making the perfect backdrop for events to come.
As in Kate's other novels, the house becomes a character in itself. Penhallow carries the history of its inhabitants within its walls, threatening to out their secrets at any moment. Ruling the Hall with a rod of iron is Mrs Fox, a formidable old woman determined to keep the past firmly where it belongs, particularly when her troubled daughter Eleanor, who hasn't left the grounds of Penhallow in some years, seems intent on inadvertently revealing all.
The three newcomers to Penhallow are members of the Women's Land Army. For all that I love historical fiction, I haven't actually read any novels about the WLA, and whilst I know Penhallow Hall is far from the usual billet, it was an interesting insight into that period of history that left me wanting to know more. Firstly we have Rose. Trapped in a loveless marriage she has come to Penhallow while her husband is at sea with the navy. But she has other, more personal reasons for choosing this particular corner of Cornwall to work in. Second, there's Jane, relation of the Fox family, and seemingly the black sheep of the family. Finally, and at the centre of all the drama, we have Diana Devlin. Sent to Penhallow against her will by her mother she initially comes across as a bit of a spoiled brat, reluctant to work and determined to stir up trouble. But it soon becomes clear that there is more to Diana than meets the eye. Beneath her beautiful exterior lies a clever and devious mind, but also a girl who is deeply affected by her past. Diana, intent on discovering all that Penhallow and its residents have to hide, also has her own dark secrets to bear.
The great mystery to this novel is, at its core, Diana's disappearance. We know from the start that something has happened, then we are taken back in time to the days leading up to the incident. But there are so many other intricacies of plot - every single character has their secrets to be unravelled - that my mind was constantly whirring with theories. The way that the novel is crafted is ingenious. You are drip fed information as you go along to help you piece together the truth, throwaway pieces of narrative or dialogue, or lines from Diana's diary that you suddenly realise are significant, compelling you to keep reading. Whilst I predicted most of the twists, I enjoyed the way in which they were revealed. Some of the clues are slipped into the narrative so casually you could miss them if you weren't paying close attention!
What really makes this book is its intense atmosphere. The changeable Cornish weather, the rolling tides, the colour of the sky, all reflect what's happening at Penhallow, or what's to come. As the summer wears on the threat of invasion becomes more apparent, the heat intensifies, and tempers and tensions begin to flare and break. The scenes leading up to the ball, the climax of the novel, are particularly ominous, as the languid oppressive heat of the previous days gives way to a dark and stormy night.
After I turned the last page I was surprised to have reached the end. We are left to draw our own conclusions, and I was left with so many questions about the fate of various characters. I would have loved an epilogue set a few years later updating us on what happened to them all.
The Stranger is an atmospheric and intense slow-burn of a story. Prepare to read it in one sitting.
Full post here: https://readinginwellies.blogspot.com...
Once I got into this book I couldn't put it down. It's atmospheric to say the least! Cornwall is a much used and beloved location in literature, and its easy to see why. Secret coves and dramatic clifftops set the scene, making the perfect backdrop for events to come.
As in Kate's other novels, the house becomes a character in itself. Penhallow carries the history of its inhabitants within its walls, threatening to out their secrets at any moment. Ruling the Hall with a rod of iron is Mrs Fox, a formidable old woman determined to keep the past firmly where it belongs, particularly when her troubled daughter Eleanor, who hasn't left the grounds of Penhallow in some years, seems intent on inadvertently revealing all.
The three newcomers to Penhallow are members of the Women's Land Army. For all that I love historical fiction, I haven't actually read any novels about the WLA, and whilst I know Penhallow Hall is far from the usual billet, it was an interesting insight into that period of history that left me wanting to know more. Firstly we have Rose. Trapped in a loveless marriage she has come to Penhallow while her husband is at sea with the navy. But she has other, more personal reasons for choosing this particular corner of Cornwall to work in. Second, there's Jane, relation of the Fox family, and seemingly the black sheep of the family. Finally, and at the centre of all the drama, we have Diana Devlin. Sent to Penhallow against her will by her mother she initially comes across as a bit of a spoiled brat, reluctant to work and determined to stir up trouble. But it soon becomes clear that there is more to Diana than meets the eye. Beneath her beautiful exterior lies a clever and devious mind, but also a girl who is deeply affected by her past. Diana, intent on discovering all that Penhallow and its residents have to hide, also has her own dark secrets to bear.
The great mystery to this novel is, at its core, Diana's disappearance. We know from the start that something has happened, then we are taken back in time to the days leading up to the incident. But there are so many other intricacies of plot - every single character has their secrets to be unravelled - that my mind was constantly whirring with theories. The way that the novel is crafted is ingenious. You are drip fed information as you go along to help you piece together the truth, throwaway pieces of narrative or dialogue, or lines from Diana's diary that you suddenly realise are significant, compelling you to keep reading. Whilst I predicted most of the twists, I enjoyed the way in which they were revealed. Some of the clues are slipped into the narrative so casually you could miss them if you weren't paying close attention!
What really makes this book is its intense atmosphere. The changeable Cornish weather, the rolling tides, the colour of the sky, all reflect what's happening at Penhallow, or what's to come. As the summer wears on the threat of invasion becomes more apparent, the heat intensifies, and tempers and tensions begin to flare and break. The scenes leading up to the ball, the climax of the novel, are particularly ominous, as the languid oppressive heat of the previous days gives way to a dark and stormy night.
After I turned the last page I was surprised to have reached the end. We are left to draw our own conclusions, and I was left with so many questions about the fate of various characters. I would have loved an epilogue set a few years later updating us on what happened to them all.
The Stranger is an atmospheric and intense slow-burn of a story. Prepare to read it in one sitting.
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