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Five Strangers
With its grassy hills and breathtaking city views, London’s Hampstead Heath is the perfect place to spend an afternoon with friends and loved ones—and on an unseasonably warm Valentine’s Day, the lawns are especially full. So when an aggressive lovers’ quarrel breaks out, there’s an audience of park goers nearby to hear the shouts traded back and forth, and to watch as the violence escalates suddenly to murder, then suicide.
For the five strangers who observed the gruesome act, the memory of the gore is unshakable. But one of them—disgraced journalist Jen Hunter—is compelled to question the truth of what she thought she saw. Are the facts of the case plain as day, or were they obscured, in the moment, by the glaring sunlight?
As she mounts an obsessive investigation for a seemingly-impossible alternative, the lives of the other witnesses begin to unravel, each in its own particular way. Soon one thing becomes clear: the crime they witnessed was more terrible, more twisted, and more far-reaching than they ever could have imagined.
For the five strangers who observed the gruesome act, the memory of the gore is unshakable. But one of them—disgraced journalist Jen Hunter—is compelled to question the truth of what she thought she saw. Are the facts of the case plain as day, or were they obscured, in the moment, by the glaring sunlight?
As she mounts an obsessive investigation for a seemingly-impossible alternative, the lives of the other witnesses begin to unravel, each in its own particular way. Soon one thing becomes clear: the crime they witnessed was more terrible, more twisted, and more far-reaching than they ever could have imagined.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 273 reviews
June 20, 2021
Two unreliable narrators, a brutal crime scene, seven witnesses! Here’s our main question : are those witnesses also reliable?
But…What if their perceptions are also distorted! What if what they think they’ve seen is a lie, an illusion, an orchestrated play?
It seemed like a peaceful Valentine’s Day at London’s Hampstead Heath with its gravy hills and breathtaking views. Couples holding hands, planning romantic dinners, looking at the beautiful London-skyline. But a shout cuts the peaceful silence that couples share: 28 years old Daniel Oliver starts screaming at his 26 years old girlfriend Victoria De Silva, threatening to kill her, smashing broken Champagne bottle into her mouth. A brave middle aged bystander Jamie wrestles the bottle off him but Daniel takes out his knife to finish what he’s started, slashing his lover’s and his own throat.
Jamie: hedge fund manager who couldn’t stop him this time, his boyfriend Alex who videotaped the traumatic event, Ayesha Ahmed: 25 years old young doctor who performs CPR to save them, Julia Jones: middle aged, Labour MP gets startled after witnessing this horrible crime, unidentified young black man and a jogger passing by were the witnesses alongside Jen Hunter who was there to meet her friend Bex.
Jen Hunter is also one of our unreliable narrators of this story. She was a journalist, writing a popular column about her personal life till she suffered from a nervous breakdown and got sagged.
But the tragic event she’s witnessed opens can of worms and intrigues her to write a special article from the entire witnesses’ perspectives and when an anonymous Twitter account starts texting to warn her Daniel is not the one killed his girlfriend, she decides to dig out more. Could all those witnesses make a terrible mistake? Could they be misled?
Jen gets intrigued because this story gives her a chance to make a fresh start. She can return back to her writing job. She can have a chance to make things right with her ex Lawrence.
But her overprotective friend Bex is so worried that she can have another nervous breakdown and she keeps eye on her friend by watching her every move because somebody is already after her to threaten her life!
I’m not giving away more. There are so many twists in this book. The big one is foreseeable but the last one was one played. The entire conclusion was a little far fetched but I always admire great written, sick, dark obsession stories and balanced pacing, riveting development of the book still kept me on my toes.
There are still some plot holes and some too exaggerated explanations but I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 cat-mouse game, manipulative, mind bending, pathological liar stars.
I couldn’t put this delicious mystery down. It was so much fun to read!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Scarlet for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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But…What if their perceptions are also distorted! What if what they think they’ve seen is a lie, an illusion, an orchestrated play?
It seemed like a peaceful Valentine’s Day at London’s Hampstead Heath with its gravy hills and breathtaking views. Couples holding hands, planning romantic dinners, looking at the beautiful London-skyline. But a shout cuts the peaceful silence that couples share: 28 years old Daniel Oliver starts screaming at his 26 years old girlfriend Victoria De Silva, threatening to kill her, smashing broken Champagne bottle into her mouth. A brave middle aged bystander Jamie wrestles the bottle off him but Daniel takes out his knife to finish what he’s started, slashing his lover’s and his own throat.
Jamie: hedge fund manager who couldn’t stop him this time, his boyfriend Alex who videotaped the traumatic event, Ayesha Ahmed: 25 years old young doctor who performs CPR to save them, Julia Jones: middle aged, Labour MP gets startled after witnessing this horrible crime, unidentified young black man and a jogger passing by were the witnesses alongside Jen Hunter who was there to meet her friend Bex.
Jen Hunter is also one of our unreliable narrators of this story. She was a journalist, writing a popular column about her personal life till she suffered from a nervous breakdown and got sagged.
But the tragic event she’s witnessed opens can of worms and intrigues her to write a special article from the entire witnesses’ perspectives and when an anonymous Twitter account starts texting to warn her Daniel is not the one killed his girlfriend, she decides to dig out more. Could all those witnesses make a terrible mistake? Could they be misled?
Jen gets intrigued because this story gives her a chance to make a fresh start. She can return back to her writing job. She can have a chance to make things right with her ex Lawrence.
But her overprotective friend Bex is so worried that she can have another nervous breakdown and she keeps eye on her friend by watching her every move because somebody is already after her to threaten her life!
I’m not giving away more. There are so many twists in this book. The big one is foreseeable but the last one was one played. The entire conclusion was a little far fetched but I always admire great written, sick, dark obsession stories and balanced pacing, riveting development of the book still kept me on my toes.
There are still some plot holes and some too exaggerated explanations but I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 cat-mouse game, manipulative, mind bending, pathological liar stars.
I couldn’t put this delicious mystery down. It was so much fun to read!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Scarlet for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
blog
twitterm
April 17, 2021
Review published in: https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
4,5 ⭐️
When I first read the synopsis of Five strangers on NetGalley I thought "mmm, I want to read this, it's totally up my alley". Then I learnt that the author is Andrew Wilson writing under a pen name and thought "mmm, I NEED to read this!". He has written some books I've thoroughly enjoyed in the past (I love his Agatha Christie series) so I knew I was in for a treat.
Five strangers is an absolutely gripping story. It takes off with one of the most powerful first scenes I've read lately when journalist Jen Hunter and four other people witness a murder/suicide. When she starts questioning what she saw, Jen enters into an obsessive spiral that will threaten her own sanity.
The premise was fantastic. How is it possible for the killer not to be guilty when they all saw him commit the murder? The dual POVs worked really well, making me doubt everyone. Is Jen saying all the truth? Is she an unreliable narrator? I found her a bit too gullible at times and could not understand how she took everything she was told at face value.
Once things started to unravel the reading turned into a rollercoaster. Although the culprit was not a surprise it was so much fun learning about their backstory at the same time all the puzzle pieces fell into place.
I didn't see the ending coming at all! Although it did not leave any loose ends I think it required too many coincidences for all those things to happen.
Really enjoyable read with interesting characters and a very well constructed plot that will make it nearly impossible for you to stop reading until you've reached the last page.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
4,5 ⭐️
When I first read the synopsis of Five strangers on NetGalley I thought "mmm, I want to read this, it's totally up my alley". Then I learnt that the author is Andrew Wilson writing under a pen name and thought "mmm, I NEED to read this!". He has written some books I've thoroughly enjoyed in the past (I love his Agatha Christie series) so I knew I was in for a treat.
Five strangers is an absolutely gripping story. It takes off with one of the most powerful first scenes I've read lately when journalist Jen Hunter and four other people witness a murder/suicide. When she starts questioning what she saw, Jen enters into an obsessive spiral that will threaten her own sanity.
The premise was fantastic. How is it possible for the killer not to be guilty when they all saw him commit the murder? The dual POVs worked really well, making me doubt everyone. Is Jen saying all the truth? Is she an unreliable narrator? I found her a bit too gullible at times and could not understand how she took everything she was told at face value.
Once things started to unravel the reading turned into a rollercoaster. Although the culprit was not a surprise it was so much fun learning about their backstory at the same time all the puzzle pieces fell into place.
I didn't see the ending coming at all! Although it did not leave any loose ends I think it required too many coincidences for all those things to happen.
Really enjoyable read with interesting characters and a very well constructed plot that will make it nearly impossible for you to stop reading until you've reached the last page.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2021
"I told you I'd kill you and you didn't listen...In an instant...both so quickly...and also so slowly...I hear the smash of a bottle and then a cry." Five strangers witness a horrific murder-suicide on Hampstead Heath on Valentine's Day. In addition to the five witnesses, a jogger runs past the scene and a bicyclist, in a black hoodie, bypasses the Heath.
Disgraced columnist Jen Hunter, one of the witnesses, writes an article about the city trader, Daniel Oliver, from a working class family, who murders his girlfriend Victoria da Silva, an interior designer and daughter of a multimillionaire, and then takes his own life. In an attempt to write an additional piece, one that addresses the trauma of witnessing a crime, each witness, unwilling at first, describes the crime from their vantage point. This rehashing dredges up far reaching trauma from each individual's past.
Jen and Bex are joined at the hip. These unreliable narrators advance the story in alternating voices. Friends since university, their camaraderie is one of codependence. Jen has always leaned heavily on Bex. When Jen was sacked for discrepancies in her newspaper column and lost her high paying job, Bex was there to pick up the pieces. Bex said, "I've been worried about her. I hope it doesn't trigger another...". After a five year courtship with Laurence, Jen's world collapsed as the relationship ended. Jen cried on Bex's shoulder. A new woe came to the forefront in the form of a Twitter feed: @Watching You Jen Hunter "Daniel Oliver didn't kill Victoria Da Silva"
In Jen's words, "I had to forget about myself and my own opinions. I had to get to the rotten heart of the story. At the root ...a mystery...Who was responsible for the crime?...What was the motive behind the killing?..."
According to Bex, Laurence was the mystery jogger who ran past the unfolding criminal act. She kept this information from Jen, feeling that Laurence might be violent. Was Laurence behind the continuous Twitter messages of a threatening nature? Was the crime committed by more than one culprit?
"Five Strangers" by E.V. Adamson describes a violent crime committed on Valentine's Day. Witness accounts are perhaps skewed when the memory of prior trauma rises to the surface. Can these accounts be trusted? What started as a compulsive read seemed to fizzle out for me. My taste might not be representative of others. I did not find the themes of dark obsession, codependency and manipulation to be compelling.
Thank you Scarlet Publishers via Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Disgraced columnist Jen Hunter, one of the witnesses, writes an article about the city trader, Daniel Oliver, from a working class family, who murders his girlfriend Victoria da Silva, an interior designer and daughter of a multimillionaire, and then takes his own life. In an attempt to write an additional piece, one that addresses the trauma of witnessing a crime, each witness, unwilling at first, describes the crime from their vantage point. This rehashing dredges up far reaching trauma from each individual's past.
Jen and Bex are joined at the hip. These unreliable narrators advance the story in alternating voices. Friends since university, their camaraderie is one of codependence. Jen has always leaned heavily on Bex. When Jen was sacked for discrepancies in her newspaper column and lost her high paying job, Bex was there to pick up the pieces. Bex said, "I've been worried about her. I hope it doesn't trigger another...". After a five year courtship with Laurence, Jen's world collapsed as the relationship ended. Jen cried on Bex's shoulder. A new woe came to the forefront in the form of a Twitter feed: @Watching You Jen Hunter "Daniel Oliver didn't kill Victoria Da Silva"
In Jen's words, "I had to forget about myself and my own opinions. I had to get to the rotten heart of the story. At the root ...a mystery...Who was responsible for the crime?...What was the motive behind the killing?..."
According to Bex, Laurence was the mystery jogger who ran past the unfolding criminal act. She kept this information from Jen, feeling that Laurence might be violent. Was Laurence behind the continuous Twitter messages of a threatening nature? Was the crime committed by more than one culprit?
"Five Strangers" by E.V. Adamson describes a violent crime committed on Valentine's Day. Witness accounts are perhaps skewed when the memory of prior trauma rises to the surface. Can these accounts be trusted? What started as a compulsive read seemed to fizzle out for me. My taste might not be representative of others. I did not find the themes of dark obsession, codependency and manipulation to be compelling.
Thank you Scarlet Publishers via Edelweiss for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2021
I had heard some good buzz about this book, so I requested it for review. The premise is intriguing: a group of people witness a murder/suicide in a London Park, but did they really see what they thought they saw? One of the main witnesses, Jen Hunter, is a journalist who has recently been fired (for reasons we find out much later) and she writes an article about her experiences and sets off to interview the other witnesses, as well as to find out more about the deceased couple.
The writing for this book is incredibly tedious. I didn't like Jen or her BFF Bex at all. They were both pretty unreliable as narrators, which can be fine, but in this case I knew they were both hiding things and their histrionics were offputting. I'm never a fan of the characters knowing something that the reader does not, and the cause of Jen's firing was withheld from the reader for too long, with the characters alluding to what happened without coming right out and saying it.
As the narrative continued and Jen delves deeper into her armchair investigating and her overdramatic paranoia, everything just spiraled into something I couldn't and didn't want to believe. There were a couple of plot points that turned into "twists" that I figured out from the very beginning, especially as I got to know the characters and their deviousness. I didn't care about or like any of the characters, so it was difficult for me to root for their success.
It could have been a good story, but it just didn't work for me. If you are able to suspend disbelief and go for it, you might connect with it more than I did.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The writing for this book is incredibly tedious. I didn't like Jen or her BFF Bex at all. They were both pretty unreliable as narrators, which can be fine, but in this case I knew they were both hiding things and their histrionics were offputting. I'm never a fan of the characters knowing something that the reader does not, and the cause of Jen's firing was withheld from the reader for too long, with the characters alluding to what happened without coming right out and saying it.
As the narrative continued and Jen delves deeper into her armchair investigating and her overdramatic paranoia, everything just spiraled into something I couldn't and didn't want to believe. There were a couple of plot points that turned into "twists" that I figured out from the very beginning, especially as I got to know the characters and their deviousness. I didn't care about or like any of the characters, so it was difficult for me to root for their success.
It could have been a good story, but it just didn't work for me. If you are able to suspend disbelief and go for it, you might connect with it more than I did.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
April 28, 2021
I SO wanted to love this
5 Strangers witness a murder suicide on Hampstead Heath, yet are they sure what they have seen?
There’s a premise to get you intrigued if ever there was one
Now the beginning is really well done and I loved it was set ( even though gruesome ) on Parliament Hill ( part of Hampstead Heath ) and love it there, the views are outstanding, it was a tense, troubling and dramatic start
But then it slowly became unbelievable, in so much as some of the 5 were linked and in the strangest ways and as the story evolved it became less intriguing and more of a ‘mmmmmm, really?’
The whole idea of them witnessing something they hadn’t doesn’t really follow through tbh and by the end of the book it became a touch ‘silly’ for want of a better word
The theme of stalking/obsessiveness is well done and the characters well portrayed and the alternate chapters between the 2 main players good but at the crux of all of it sadly it just did not ring true or plausible
I did finish the book and there was a gasp moment just before the ending to settle the overall disappointment
5/10
2.5 Stars
5 Strangers witness a murder suicide on Hampstead Heath, yet are they sure what they have seen?
There’s a premise to get you intrigued if ever there was one
Now the beginning is really well done and I loved it was set ( even though gruesome ) on Parliament Hill ( part of Hampstead Heath ) and love it there, the views are outstanding, it was a tense, troubling and dramatic start
But then it slowly became unbelievable, in so much as some of the 5 were linked and in the strangest ways and as the story evolved it became less intriguing and more of a ‘mmmmmm, really?’
The whole idea of them witnessing something they hadn’t doesn’t really follow through tbh and by the end of the book it became a touch ‘silly’ for want of a better word
The theme of stalking/obsessiveness is well done and the characters well portrayed and the alternate chapters between the 2 main players good but at the crux of all of it sadly it just did not ring true or plausible
I did finish the book and there was a gasp moment just before the ending to settle the overall disappointment
5/10
2.5 Stars
April 26, 2021
Jen Hunter is a journalist, of sorts. She has a column in the paper which boils down to spilling her guts about her own trials and tribulations. She talks about her friends and boyfriend and, although the names are changed, her boyfriend, Laurence, is sick of being a laughing stock at work so he dumps her. Then she loses her column because she told certain lies about how and when her parents died. Already I am not liking Jen! It transpires that on Valentines Day she is walking on Hampstead Heath and, along with a bunch of other people (actually more than five) witnesses a murder-suicide. It is pretty horrific, imagine seeing that?
Jen soon starts getting cryptic messages that suggest things were not as they seemed and she starts to crumble again. Her best friend Bex is there to pick up the pieces. She has helped Jen through thick and thin since they met at uni many years ago. The story is told from the perspectives of Jen and Bex. The anonymous messages get more threatening and Jen becomes determined to tell the story of what happened that day from the perspective of the people who witnessed it. But as she talks to the other witnesses, it just opens up all her old wounds again and she is falling apart, wondering who is taunting her. When she gets attacked one day it is nearly the last straw for Jen.
Well, I could see this one coming a mile away! None of the characters were particularly likeable and in fact Jen got really annoying over the course of the book. They all got annoying! Jen made some really dumb decisions and she was being pulled in different directions by Bex, Laurence and Penelope (an older former journalist who was renting a room to Jen). Of course everyone of the witnesses had secrets and of course they all had to come out. The ending of the book was, to me, a bit silly and quite unrealistic.
What can I say, I kept reading to see if there was going to be more to the story but there wasn’t. It wasn’t a bad story, but it certainly wasn’t great. The red herrings weren’t that red and, while I kind of enjoyed reading it this is a story that I will soon forget. Maybe I read too many so-called thrillers. You should note that many people enjoyed this more than I did so I urge you to make up your own mind. For the occasional thriller reader this will quite satisfying. Thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and E.V. Adamson for providing the ARC to review. My opinions are my own.
Jen soon starts getting cryptic messages that suggest things were not as they seemed and she starts to crumble again. Her best friend Bex is there to pick up the pieces. She has helped Jen through thick and thin since they met at uni many years ago. The story is told from the perspectives of Jen and Bex. The anonymous messages get more threatening and Jen becomes determined to tell the story of what happened that day from the perspective of the people who witnessed it. But as she talks to the other witnesses, it just opens up all her old wounds again and she is falling apart, wondering who is taunting her. When she gets attacked one day it is nearly the last straw for Jen.
Well, I could see this one coming a mile away! None of the characters were particularly likeable and in fact Jen got really annoying over the course of the book. They all got annoying! Jen made some really dumb decisions and she was being pulled in different directions by Bex, Laurence and Penelope (an older former journalist who was renting a room to Jen). Of course everyone of the witnesses had secrets and of course they all had to come out. The ending of the book was, to me, a bit silly and quite unrealistic.
What can I say, I kept reading to see if there was going to be more to the story but there wasn’t. It wasn’t a bad story, but it certainly wasn’t great. The red herrings weren’t that red and, while I kind of enjoyed reading it this is a story that I will soon forget. Maybe I read too many so-called thrillers. You should note that many people enjoyed this more than I did so I urge you to make up your own mind. For the occasional thriller reader this will quite satisfying. Thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and E.V. Adamson for providing the ARC to review. My opinions are my own.
July 9, 2021
Such a strong opening premise that ultimately failed to delivery.
The shocking start sees the aforementioned five stranger's witness a brutal murder/suicide on Parliament Hill in Hamstead Heath.
It's really gruesome stuff as boyfriend Dan initially attacks his girlfriend with a bottle before slicing her throat with a knife, he then proceeds to kill himself.
Even worse this all happened on Valentines day.
One of the witnesses is disgraced journalists Jen Hunter who feels compelled to follow up the story with the hope of getting her career back on track.
The explosive start raises some strong questions that take up the bulk of the novel.
What caused Dan to flip?
Why did Jen lose her job?
The other four stranges are interviewd by Jen over the course of the story, but once she starts to recieve threating Tweets it soon makes her the primary focus of the novel.
It's still an engaging read but at times the stretch of plausibility threatens to derail a curious thriller.
The shocking start sees the aforementioned five stranger's witness a brutal murder/suicide on Parliament Hill in Hamstead Heath.
It's really gruesome stuff as boyfriend Dan initially attacks his girlfriend with a bottle before slicing her throat with a knife, he then proceeds to kill himself.
Even worse this all happened on Valentines day.
One of the witnesses is disgraced journalists Jen Hunter who feels compelled to follow up the story with the hope of getting her career back on track.
The explosive start raises some strong questions that take up the bulk of the novel.
What caused Dan to flip?
Why did Jen lose her job?
The other four stranges are interviewd by Jen over the course of the story, but once she starts to recieve threating Tweets it soon makes her the primary focus of the novel.
It's still an engaging read but at times the stretch of plausibility threatens to derail a curious thriller.
September 9, 2021
Well... I enjoyed this book way more than I ever expected to. I've been hearing some whispers about E.V. Adamson's upcoming mystery/thriller,
Five Strangers
, and I've been intrigued about picking it up. This book starts off with a BANG—legitimately one of the best opening chapters that I've ever read in my life. The story focuses on Jen Hunter, a down on her luck journalist, who witnesses a murder-suicide in broad daylight. Jen, along with several other bystanders, are completely traumatized, but Jen's form of therapy is to write about it. First, specifically talking about the crime, and then next investigating to learn more about why it happened. As Jen dives into the crime at hand, she realizes that this murder-suicide was a lot deeper than just a lover's quarrel.
Five Strangers was an unexpected success for me! I read this book in two sittings, which has been rare for me lately! Although the pacing is a bit too slow for my liking, overall it still was a very bingeable read. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable and unreliable, but this book navigated the mystery very well. I really enjoyed reading the gruesome crime (does that make me psycho?) and Jen's deep dive into the mystery of it. Each of the witnesses had their own personal stories, yet it didn't overcast Jen's investigation. I felt like I was reading a psychological thriller version of the game Clue. Five Strangers dives into love, obsession, mental health, and power dynamics. I had a really fun time with this book and cannot wait to read more by E.V. Adamson.
Five Strangers was an unexpected success for me! I read this book in two sittings, which has been rare for me lately! Although the pacing is a bit too slow for my liking, overall it still was a very bingeable read. Most of the characters are completely unlikeable and unreliable, but this book navigated the mystery very well. I really enjoyed reading the gruesome crime (does that make me psycho?) and Jen's deep dive into the mystery of it. Each of the witnesses had their own personal stories, yet it didn't overcast Jen's investigation. I felt like I was reading a psychological thriller version of the game Clue. Five Strangers dives into love, obsession, mental health, and power dynamics. I had a really fun time with this book and cannot wait to read more by E.V. Adamson.
January 7, 2022
The premise of this book sounded so intriguing, unfortunately, it really didn't work for in in its execution. The plot could have been stretched to about 150 pages, but it was not enough for 350. Added to that, I saw every twist coming and found myself annoyed at the utter obliviousness of Jen, one of the protagonists, a journalist at that! It started off at a good clip, but I agree with other reviewers in that it started to lose momentum about halfway through. I'm sorry to say, this was not a winner for me, but that's just how it goes sometimes. If you decide to give this one a read, I hope you enjoy it a lot more!
Find my book reviews and more at https://maliayz.wixsite.com/princessa...
Find my book reviews and more at https://maliayz.wixsite.com/princessa...
June 30, 2021
I felt that Five Strangers by E.V. Adamson (a pseudonym for journalist-biographer-detective novelist Andrew Wilson) was based on a really interesting premise, but ultimately fell a little short of my expectations.
On an unseasonably sunny Valentine's Day in London, several couples and individuals converge separately on the Parliament Hill Viewpoint on Hampstead Heath, enjoying the sun and the panoramic view of the city skyline.
Sitting on the various park benches set out on the brow of the hill are disgraced (and now unemployed) journalist Jen Hunter, who's waiting for her friend Bex to arrive, Ayesha Ahmed, a young doctor on her lunch break, Labour MP Julia Jones, who's stopped to take a brief break from jogging, hedge fund manager Jamie Blackwood, his partner Alex Hughes and their dog. The titular five strangers are horrified as they witness the exchange between a young couple occupying another bench turn from romantic to deadly, as a violent argument breaks out and the young man, Daniel Oliver, attacks his girlfriend Victoria Da Silva with a broken champagne bottle. Jen and Jamie attempt to disarm Daniel and calm the situation, while Ayesha steps in to provide first aid.
Having been recently "let go" from her position as a columnist at a major London newspaper, Jen is at a loose end professionally and personally. With the encouragement of her aging but glamorous landlady, Penelope Frasier - herself a former hack - she sees an opportunity to leverage her unique perspective into an article she can sell to a newspaper for some much-needed income. Jen makes contact with and begins interviewing each of her fellow witnesses, probing their recollections of the pivotal events on the Heath and how the reverberations of their shared traumatic experience has affected each of them in their day-to-day lives. However, the more she learns, the more she begins to question the narrative of what she and the other bystanders actually witnessed that day on the Heath - could there be more to the story than she thought, and how might the events connect to her own personal life?
This struck me as a great premise for a novel investigating the ripples caused by acts of violence and the - often undocumented - longer-term trauma experienced by random bystanders and good samaritans. The vagaries of eyewitness testimony and recollection are well-known, providing intriguing fodder for a mystery. In the early stages of reading, I had also anticipated a redemptive storyline for journalist Jen, the nature of whose personal and professional transgressions are gradually revealed over the course of the story.
However, Five Strangers actually turned out to be more a psychological thriller, with alternating unreliable narrators in Jen and Bex and a plot that I felt was more convoluted than intricate. We're drip-fed tantalising details from the long history of the two women's intense but dysfunctional friendship. Jen's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and ill-considered as she chases down yet-to-be identified witnesses who fled the scene and learns crucial information about the nature of Victoria and Daniel's relationship. Meanwhile, the reader begins to question Bex's role in enabling or encouraging Jen's fragile mental state. I found it hard to accept these characters as successful professional women aged in their early 40s, as their personal preoccupations and histrionic behaviour seemed more fitting to women at least fifteen years younger, even allowing for complex psychology.
That said, it was an action-packed, if pretty crazy, ride to the final reveal and an entertaining read for those willing to suspend their disbelief a little. I'm yet to read any of Andrew Wilson's series featuring author Agatha Christie as a sleuth, however I assume that Five Strangers is quite a departure from the style he employs in those books. On that basis, I can understand the reasoning behind the use of a nom de plume.
I can't see any real scope for this novel to spawn a series itself, but I would love to read more material featuring supporting character Penelope Frasier. She'd make a great amateur sleuth, with all those old journalistic contacts, her ability to spot male fides, not to mention her capacious Hampstead home as a setting for putting witnesses at their ease...
I'd recommend Five Strangers to readers who are comfortable with unreliable female characters / narrators and tangled narratives with lots of unexpected twists and turns.
My thanks to author E.V. Adamson (Andrew Wilson), publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley UK for the opportunity to read and review this title.
On an unseasonably sunny Valentine's Day in London, several couples and individuals converge separately on the Parliament Hill Viewpoint on Hampstead Heath, enjoying the sun and the panoramic view of the city skyline.
Sitting on the various park benches set out on the brow of the hill are disgraced (and now unemployed) journalist Jen Hunter, who's waiting for her friend Bex to arrive, Ayesha Ahmed, a young doctor on her lunch break, Labour MP Julia Jones, who's stopped to take a brief break from jogging, hedge fund manager Jamie Blackwood, his partner Alex Hughes and their dog. The titular five strangers are horrified as they witness the exchange between a young couple occupying another bench turn from romantic to deadly, as a violent argument breaks out and the young man, Daniel Oliver, attacks his girlfriend Victoria Da Silva with a broken champagne bottle. Jen and Jamie attempt to disarm Daniel and calm the situation, while Ayesha steps in to provide first aid.
Having been recently "let go" from her position as a columnist at a major London newspaper, Jen is at a loose end professionally and personally. With the encouragement of her aging but glamorous landlady, Penelope Frasier - herself a former hack - she sees an opportunity to leverage her unique perspective into an article she can sell to a newspaper for some much-needed income. Jen makes contact with and begins interviewing each of her fellow witnesses, probing their recollections of the pivotal events on the Heath and how the reverberations of their shared traumatic experience has affected each of them in their day-to-day lives. However, the more she learns, the more she begins to question the narrative of what she and the other bystanders actually witnessed that day on the Heath - could there be more to the story than she thought, and how might the events connect to her own personal life?
This struck me as a great premise for a novel investigating the ripples caused by acts of violence and the - often undocumented - longer-term trauma experienced by random bystanders and good samaritans. The vagaries of eyewitness testimony and recollection are well-known, providing intriguing fodder for a mystery. In the early stages of reading, I had also anticipated a redemptive storyline for journalist Jen, the nature of whose personal and professional transgressions are gradually revealed over the course of the story.
However, Five Strangers actually turned out to be more a psychological thriller, with alternating unreliable narrators in Jen and Bex and a plot that I felt was more convoluted than intricate. We're drip-fed tantalising details from the long history of the two women's intense but dysfunctional friendship. Jen's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and ill-considered as she chases down yet-to-be identified witnesses who fled the scene and learns crucial information about the nature of Victoria and Daniel's relationship. Meanwhile, the reader begins to question Bex's role in enabling or encouraging Jen's fragile mental state. I found it hard to accept these characters as successful professional women aged in their early 40s, as their personal preoccupations and histrionic behaviour seemed more fitting to women at least fifteen years younger, even allowing for complex psychology.
That said, it was an action-packed, if pretty crazy, ride to the final reveal and an entertaining read for those willing to suspend their disbelief a little. I'm yet to read any of Andrew Wilson's series featuring author Agatha Christie as a sleuth, however I assume that Five Strangers is quite a departure from the style he employs in those books. On that basis, I can understand the reasoning behind the use of a nom de plume.
I can't see any real scope for this novel to spawn a series itself, but I would love to read more material featuring supporting character Penelope Frasier. She'd make a great amateur sleuth, with all those old journalistic contacts, her ability to spot male fides, not to mention her capacious Hampstead home as a setting for putting witnesses at their ease...
I'd recommend Five Strangers to readers who are comfortable with unreliable female characters / narrators and tangled narratives with lots of unexpected twists and turns.
My thanks to author E.V. Adamson (Andrew Wilson), publisher HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley UK for the opportunity to read and review this title.
October 11, 2021
3 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This contemporary mystery/thriller intrigued me at the beginning, but sadly evolved into a hot mess that I had trouble finishing. It's a beautiful Valentine's Day in London. On Hampstead Heath people are enjoying the day until an aggressive argument between a man and woman turns into a murder/suicide. Five strangers that saw the incident and tried to intervene are forever bound by witnessing the violent act.
One of the strangers, disgraced journalist Jen Hunter, receives a message questioning if the incident really happened the way she thought it did. Already mentally vulnerable from recently being fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, Jen heavily relies on her college best friend Bex to keep her grounded. As Jen starts interviewing the other witnesses, and attempts to get back together with her boyfriend, she is taunted by an internet troll that becomes increasingly aggressive. Her only source of security is Bex, who always has her back and acts in Jen's best interest. Or does she?
As I said, this book started out pretty good. The story is told from the viewpoint of two narrators, Jen and Bex. Jen starts out in a vulnerable place, but initially seems able to persevere and come out stronger. But the more she investigate the incident, the less stable she becomes. Her story devolves into a series of rambling inner dialogue and self-doubt where she jumps to conclusions and makes accusations without ever bothering to simply talk to someone. Likewise, Bex starts out as a concerned, dependable friend helping Jen through her crisis. But as we learn more about Bex, her motives become less and less altruistic. In addition to two unreliable narrators, the author throws in multiple time-line flashbacks and ridiculous situations. A little more than halfway through the book I stopped caring what happened and was just along for the train wreck, outlandish conclusion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Scarlet. All opinions are my own.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
This contemporary mystery/thriller intrigued me at the beginning, but sadly evolved into a hot mess that I had trouble finishing. It's a beautiful Valentine's Day in London. On Hampstead Heath people are enjoying the day until an aggressive argument between a man and woman turns into a murder/suicide. Five strangers that saw the incident and tried to intervene are forever bound by witnessing the violent act.
One of the strangers, disgraced journalist Jen Hunter, receives a message questioning if the incident really happened the way she thought it did. Already mentally vulnerable from recently being fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend, Jen heavily relies on her college best friend Bex to keep her grounded. As Jen starts interviewing the other witnesses, and attempts to get back together with her boyfriend, she is taunted by an internet troll that becomes increasingly aggressive. Her only source of security is Bex, who always has her back and acts in Jen's best interest. Or does she?
As I said, this book started out pretty good. The story is told from the viewpoint of two narrators, Jen and Bex. Jen starts out in a vulnerable place, but initially seems able to persevere and come out stronger. But the more she investigate the incident, the less stable she becomes. Her story devolves into a series of rambling inner dialogue and self-doubt where she jumps to conclusions and makes accusations without ever bothering to simply talk to someone. Likewise, Bex starts out as a concerned, dependable friend helping Jen through her crisis. But as we learn more about Bex, her motives become less and less altruistic. In addition to two unreliable narrators, the author throws in multiple time-line flashbacks and ridiculous situations. A little more than halfway through the book I stopped caring what happened and was just along for the train wreck, outlandish conclusion.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Scarlet. All opinions are my own.
Did Not Finish
September 18, 2021Our MBC pick for October! 🥳 This month Michelle (@ifyougivemichelleabook) and Ian (the_librar.ian) are joining us so there’s two extra reasons to get excited!!!
*Thanks to Penzler Publishers for an advance review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
*Thanks to Penzler Publishers for an advance review copy!
**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
April 18, 2021
Sometimes you read a book which turns out to be completely different to what you expected. Most of the time it is because the blurb is leading you in the wrong direction. This is the case here with this book. I expected to read a story about five strangers who observed a murder-suicide in a public place and it turns out that all of them experiencing this gruesome act in a different way. I expected to get something about the unreliability of the human memory or that the story has some deeper layers to it. Getting something different than what you expected is not a bad thing. But it still should be a good story. And for me this was not the case.
Jen is one of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered in a book. She is a neurotic mess, whiny and self-centered. She used to write a column in a newspaper about her life, using real person, friends, and her interactions with them for her work. Obviously none of them enjoyed turning up as work material for Jen’s column. Even her boyfriend of five years left her because he is sick of being a laughing stock at his work because of Jen turning intimate things into an entertaining read for the masses. Something I can totally understand. Then Jen loses her job. Somebody found out that she lied about the way her parents died. This was the point when I began to despise Jen. So Jen has a breakdown and only one friend left: Bex. She is overprotective about Jen. Soon we will learn that she is a very devious character.
The story turns not out to be like the blurb tells us. Jen is getting mails suggesting that maybe not everything was as it seems with the murder-suicide. But this is only a red herring laid out for her. Actually, there is someone in the back who orchestrated the whole thing but there is nothing about the murder-suicide and all five witnesses remember the accident in the same way. The story is about the mastermind behind it all. This could have made a great story but unfortunately it did not turn out that way. There are some twists but they are all so far-fetched, so unbelievable I just could not get my head around it. Jen is a weak character and can be easily influenced, so far I can follow. But bringing her so easily to the point she is willing to kill someone? She gets threatening twitter mails but she never considers showing them to the police. Instead she is lead on by her friend to believe that she knows exactly who is behind all this and the best way to stop it is to kill him. This is absolutely bonkers. And this is not the first time the “mastermind” is leading someone to the point where they are willing to kill someone. I just could not believe it. I found this development ridiculous.
I was not happy with the book. The story is absolutely unrealistic and Jen is a horrible weak character. And Bex is not a villain you love to hate. I was just annoyed by both of them. I chewed for eight long days on this book and I wished I abandoned it when I first considered of doing so.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jen is one of the most annoying characters I have ever encountered in a book. She is a neurotic mess, whiny and self-centered. She used to write a column in a newspaper about her life, using real person, friends, and her interactions with them for her work. Obviously none of them enjoyed turning up as work material for Jen’s column. Even her boyfriend of five years left her because he is sick of being a laughing stock at his work because of Jen turning intimate things into an entertaining read for the masses. Something I can totally understand. Then Jen loses her job. Somebody found out that she lied about the way her parents died. This was the point when I began to despise Jen. So Jen has a breakdown and only one friend left: Bex. She is overprotective about Jen. Soon we will learn that she is a very devious character.
The story turns not out to be like the blurb tells us. Jen is getting mails suggesting that maybe not everything was as it seems with the murder-suicide. But this is only a red herring laid out for her. Actually, there is someone in the back who orchestrated the whole thing but there is nothing about the murder-suicide and all five witnesses remember the accident in the same way. The story is about the mastermind behind it all. This could have made a great story but unfortunately it did not turn out that way. There are some twists but they are all so far-fetched, so unbelievable I just could not get my head around it. Jen is a weak character and can be easily influenced, so far I can follow. But bringing her so easily to the point she is willing to kill someone? She gets threatening twitter mails but she never considers showing them to the police. Instead she is lead on by her friend to believe that she knows exactly who is behind all this and the best way to stop it is to kill him. This is absolutely bonkers. And this is not the first time the “mastermind” is leading someone to the point where they are willing to kill someone. I just could not believe it. I found this development ridiculous.
I was not happy with the book. The story is absolutely unrealistic and Jen is a horrible weak character. And Bex is not a villain you love to hate. I was just annoyed by both of them. I chewed for eight long days on this book and I wished I abandoned it when I first considered of doing so.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2021
Free ARC from NetGalley. Dialogue dialogue dialogue — so much dialogue — and in a way which seems totally fake. Unbelievable coincidences propel the story and outcome.
Misleading title — the other witnesses are thrown in as weak subplots, which just muddied up the story because their backstories did very little for the story.
*Jen’s parents died, but she lied about the way they died — not even sure why. Jen meets
* Bex in college and Bex changes Jen from frumpy nobody to fairly pretty cute girl. Bex’s parents died, too, although SPOILER: Bex set it up (fake love letters, aftershave, receipts) to make her dad kill her mom in a fit of jealous rage, but the mom turns the tables and kills him and then herself. Bex is SPOILER: obsessed with Jen and can’t handle people leaving her. One day when Bex is meeting Jen on Parliament Hill, Jen witnesses a murder/suicide AND realizes
* Laurence, her ex boyfriend, was the mysterious jogger who happened by but didn’t stop to help.
Spoiler: Laurence had a fling after he and Jen broke up with the girl, Vicky, who was murdered in public. Bex set L up with this girl. Vicky was leaving her current boyfriend, Daniel, for Laurence, but Laurence didn’t want the relationship and was confused as to why Vicky thought he did. But Vicky thought that because Bex, who had befriended her, told her L was in love with her and wanted children with her.
Basically Bex was spurned by Daniel years ago, played the long game, got his trust as a friend, made friends with his current girlfriend Vicky just for the purpose of setting Laurence up with her to get L away from Jen. And also to hurt Daniel for hurting her years earlier. Daniel loses it and kills Vicky and then himself, which was a bonus for Bex.
Bex then sends anonymous, creepy messages to Jen, making it seem like Laurence, and implying the murder she witnessed was not as it seemed. Also, Jen is living with some incredibly rich woman who has absolutely no point.
Spoiler: Bex is a psychopath who killed her parents, becomes obsessed with her friend Jen, tries to kill Jen’s ex, Laurence, who had slept with Bex five years ago before getting together with Jen and Bex sent Jen’s employer proof that she’s lied about the way her parents died so she’d get fired and then have to depend on Bex but Jen moved in with this rich lady and then it looked like Jen was getting back together with Laurence and Bex couldn’t have that so she set it up so L would go save Vicky from Daniel when Vicky broke up with Daniel bc she wanted to be with Laurence because everyone knew Daniel had a bad temper and Bex made sure Jen witnessed it so she could then take care of her and frame Laurence and the longest run on sentence in the world can’t explain all the stupid coincidences and stuff that happens but in the end one of the 5 people whom we barely know runs up out of nowhere because she’s conveniently following Jen for her protection and ends up killing Bex because Bex had been the reason her son died.
Seriously.
Misleading title — the other witnesses are thrown in as weak subplots, which just muddied up the story because their backstories did very little for the story.
*Jen’s parents died, but she lied about the way they died — not even sure why. Jen meets
* Bex in college and Bex changes Jen from frumpy nobody to fairly pretty cute girl. Bex’s parents died, too, although SPOILER: Bex set it up (fake love letters, aftershave, receipts) to make her dad kill her mom in a fit of jealous rage, but the mom turns the tables and kills him and then herself. Bex is SPOILER: obsessed with Jen and can’t handle people leaving her. One day when Bex is meeting Jen on Parliament Hill, Jen witnesses a murder/suicide AND realizes
* Laurence, her ex boyfriend, was the mysterious jogger who happened by but didn’t stop to help.
Spoiler: Laurence had a fling after he and Jen broke up with the girl, Vicky, who was murdered in public. Bex set L up with this girl. Vicky was leaving her current boyfriend, Daniel, for Laurence, but Laurence didn’t want the relationship and was confused as to why Vicky thought he did. But Vicky thought that because Bex, who had befriended her, told her L was in love with her and wanted children with her.
Basically Bex was spurned by Daniel years ago, played the long game, got his trust as a friend, made friends with his current girlfriend Vicky just for the purpose of setting Laurence up with her to get L away from Jen. And also to hurt Daniel for hurting her years earlier. Daniel loses it and kills Vicky and then himself, which was a bonus for Bex.
Bex then sends anonymous, creepy messages to Jen, making it seem like Laurence, and implying the murder she witnessed was not as it seemed. Also, Jen is living with some incredibly rich woman who has absolutely no point.
Spoiler: Bex is a psychopath who killed her parents, becomes obsessed with her friend Jen, tries to kill Jen’s ex, Laurence, who had slept with Bex five years ago before getting together with Jen and Bex sent Jen’s employer proof that she’s lied about the way her parents died so she’d get fired and then have to depend on Bex but Jen moved in with this rich lady and then it looked like Jen was getting back together with Laurence and Bex couldn’t have that so she set it up so L would go save Vicky from Daniel when Vicky broke up with Daniel bc she wanted to be with Laurence because everyone knew Daniel had a bad temper and Bex made sure Jen witnessed it so she could then take care of her and frame Laurence and the longest run on sentence in the world can’t explain all the stupid coincidences and stuff that happens but in the end one of the 5 people whom we barely know runs up out of nowhere because she’s conveniently following Jen for her protection and ends up killing Bex because Bex had been the reason her son died.
Seriously.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2021
This is the biggest bag of horse shit I have had the unfortunate displeasure to read in quite some time. I wish I was the 6th stranger to this entire piece of literary diarrhea.
It’s absolutely unbelievable and outrageously stupid.
I wouldn’t even line a bird cage with it.
It’s absolutely unbelievable and outrageously stupid.
I wouldn’t even line a bird cage with it.
September 8, 2021
Wilson is that you? I was so shocked to learn I had read a novel from this author previously under a different name, but then I started to connect the dots while I came to the conclusion! I do really appreciate how well thought out Five Strangers is and how it makes for a cohesive reading experience. The introduction is enough to clue you in on how "brutal" the novel is, and the twists pull no punches. Very excited to see what the author is cooking up next!
August 3, 2021
The premise of this was right up my street, and the introduction hooked me immediately!
But then it lost me for a while. To the point I DNF'd it, and then came back to it a few weeks later and tried again. Because I wanted to love it!
This time I managed to finish it, and I'm glad I did, because the ending was great. I think it was a combination of unlikeable characters (surely on purpose, but still hard to root for anyone), several characters with different backgrounds that made it hard to follow at times, and the middle part being a little slower paced.
This made it a rather frustrating read, but a solid thriller. I'm glad many readers enjoyed it too.
But then it lost me for a while. To the point I DNF'd it, and then came back to it a few weeks later and tried again. Because I wanted to love it!
This time I managed to finish it, and I'm glad I did, because the ending was great. I think it was a combination of unlikeable characters (surely on purpose, but still hard to root for anyone), several characters with different backgrounds that made it hard to follow at times, and the middle part being a little slower paced.
This made it a rather frustrating read, but a solid thriller. I'm glad many readers enjoyed it too.
September 29, 2021
3.5 stars
Five Strangers made a great fall time read. It was filled with a ton of mystery and suspense. I truly felt like I was on a roller coaster with this one. It was SO up and down that you couldn’t keep track of the situation no matter how hard you tried.
It was twisty, on top of twisty!
The characters were complex enough to make you interested and invested. I think that’s why I continued on reading this one. Because despite how slow it was at times, it still kept me wanting to know “who’s behind it all”
However, I think it could have been cut down 100 pages and less repetitive. And if you aren’t a big fan of gory scenes, this one does have graphic moments and one of them is with an animal…
Five Strangers made a great fall time read. It was filled with a ton of mystery and suspense. I truly felt like I was on a roller coaster with this one. It was SO up and down that you couldn’t keep track of the situation no matter how hard you tried.
It was twisty, on top of twisty!
The characters were complex enough to make you interested and invested. I think that’s why I continued on reading this one. Because despite how slow it was at times, it still kept me wanting to know “who’s behind it all”
However, I think it could have been cut down 100 pages and less repetitive. And if you aren’t a big fan of gory scenes, this one does have graphic moments and one of them is with an animal…
October 8, 2021
Happy pub day to Five Strangers!
Thank you to Scarlet, E.V. Adamson, and Mystery Book Club for my gifted copy!
Jen Hunter is waiting to meet her friend in London's Hampstead Heath when a couple enjoying a Valentine's Day lunch breaks into a heated argument. Jenny and four other strangers are horrified when the fight escalates to a murder/suicide.
As a former journalist, Jen isn't entirely satisfied with what she witnessed with her own eyes. Is a murder/suicide really the whole story? As her obsession with the truth heightens, shocking truths come to light.
If you've seen this one floating around Bookstagram, you no doubt have heard about the absolute STUNNER of a first chapter. I don't think I have ever been so enthralled by an opening scene of a book. I was surprised to find the story is told from two different viewpoints: Jen and her best friend, Bex. I expected to hear from all five of the characters who witnessed the grisly crime, but was pleasantly surprised to have only had Jen's insight into what happened.
Every time I thought I had any idea what was going on, I was sorely mistaken. This one takes gaslighting to a whole new level. Highly, highly recommend to thriller lovers everywhere!
Thank you to Scarlet, E.V. Adamson, and Mystery Book Club for my gifted copy!
Jen Hunter is waiting to meet her friend in London's Hampstead Heath when a couple enjoying a Valentine's Day lunch breaks into a heated argument. Jenny and four other strangers are horrified when the fight escalates to a murder/suicide.
As a former journalist, Jen isn't entirely satisfied with what she witnessed with her own eyes. Is a murder/suicide really the whole story? As her obsession with the truth heightens, shocking truths come to light.
If you've seen this one floating around Bookstagram, you no doubt have heard about the absolute STUNNER of a first chapter. I don't think I have ever been so enthralled by an opening scene of a book. I was surprised to find the story is told from two different viewpoints: Jen and her best friend, Bex. I expected to hear from all five of the characters who witnessed the grisly crime, but was pleasantly surprised to have only had Jen's insight into what happened.
Every time I thought I had any idea what was going on, I was sorely mistaken. This one takes gaslighting to a whole new level. Highly, highly recommend to thriller lovers everywhere!
July 23, 2021
QUICK TAKE: one of the darkest openings to a book I've ever read, but it definitely set the stage for what has been one of my favorite thrillers of the year so far. A disgraced journalist witnesses a brutal act of violence in the middle of a public park in broad daylight. In an attempt to revive her flailing career, she decides to write an investigative piece about the attack and interviews the four other witnesses from the scene of the crime, only to discover what they saw might not actually be accurate. What's really fun about this one is seeing how Adamson writes himself out of a corner here, flipping a traditional murder mystery on its head, and really playing with red herrings and the idea of gaslighting. I was a huge fan of this one, and think it will definitely be a book a lot of people will be talking about.
October 17, 2021
Five Strangers
Author: E.V. Adamson
Pages: 346
Genre: thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, crime fiction
Rating: ★★★★.5
**Thank you Penzler Publishers for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!**
One of the most dramatic and darkest openings that I’ve read this far! It really sets the stage to a twisted, compulsive, sickly obsession thriller.
There are many twists in the book, a few of them predictable, but the last one was jaw-dropping! The entire conclusion could of been far fetched but it could of happened.
The development was riveting, the short chapters kept you turning the pages to figure out what would happen next.
My only issue was it felt like a lot of twists were spoiled really early on in the book. You not so much have to figure out the WHO rather you figure out the motive, the WHY.
I was a huge fan of this one, as soon as I started, I could put it down. Finished it in less than 24 hours! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new thriller read 👻
Author: E.V. Adamson
Pages: 346
Genre: thriller, mystery, psychological thriller, crime fiction
Rating: ★★★★.5
**Thank you Penzler Publishers for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!**
One of the most dramatic and darkest openings that I’ve read this far! It really sets the stage to a twisted, compulsive, sickly obsession thriller.
There are many twists in the book, a few of them predictable, but the last one was jaw-dropping! The entire conclusion could of been far fetched but it could of happened.
The development was riveting, the short chapters kept you turning the pages to figure out what would happen next.
My only issue was it felt like a lot of twists were spoiled really early on in the book. You not so much have to figure out the WHO rather you figure out the motive, the WHY.
I was a huge fan of this one, as soon as I started, I could put it down. Finished it in less than 24 hours! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new thriller read 👻
April 29, 2021
3.5 stars
This book had a great start and whilst there’s a bit of a lull in the middle, it picks up at the end again.
Jen Hunter witnesses a brutal murder/suicide in her local park whilst waiting to meet her friend. She’s left shaken after what she saw and being a journalist, is persuaded to write about it.
Jen receives some cryptic messages that question whether what she saw actually happened, so she goes to each of the other people who witnessed it and asks them questions.
Her friend Bex is concerned for her mental wellbeing as this is taking over Jen’s life and knowing her for many years, it seems she’s struggled to cope in the past.
As Jen continues to ask questions of the other strangers who witnessed the horrific event, she becomes more and more certain that there is more to it than meets the eye - but is she right?
This is a different mystery thriller that is a good read.
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This book had a great start and whilst there’s a bit of a lull in the middle, it picks up at the end again.
Jen Hunter witnesses a brutal murder/suicide in her local park whilst waiting to meet her friend. She’s left shaken after what she saw and being a journalist, is persuaded to write about it.
Jen receives some cryptic messages that question whether what she saw actually happened, so she goes to each of the other people who witnessed it and asks them questions.
Her friend Bex is concerned for her mental wellbeing as this is taking over Jen’s life and knowing her for many years, it seems she’s struggled to cope in the past.
As Jen continues to ask questions of the other strangers who witnessed the horrific event, she becomes more and more certain that there is more to it than meets the eye - but is she right?
This is a different mystery thriller that is a good read.
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
December 20, 2021
I really just did not like this book. It was a chore to finish it, but I had a case of the sunk cost fallacy. I had assumed the author was a woman, so I was surprised the women were written so badly. When I saw the author was male, it all made sense. Bex's psychosis is VERY male - I can't really explain it but her character seemed like it was written as a man and then at the last minute the author just changed the pronouns and name and called it a day. Jen was wimpy, submissive, and shallow - a man trying to write a woman. The plot was stupid and there was SO MUCH wasted time of Jen and Bex running back and forth and stalking and pondering. The dialogue was really simplistic and there wasn't much around it; just like, pages of dialogue with nothing else. That's what it felt like, anyway. This book was really just not for me.
March 14, 2022
3.5 stars
A real roller coaster plot that had sooo many twists & turns it was hard to keep up.
A real roller coaster plot that had sooo many twists & turns it was hard to keep up.
June 26, 2021
It’s Valentine’s Day in London and Hampstead Heath is filled with people celebrating the holiday. Suddenly a fight breaks out between a man and woman as they start to yell at each other. This argument then leads to violence that leaves the woman dead and then the man proceeds to commit suicide.
There were five strangers that had observed the entire incident. One of them, Jen Hunter, is a journalist and instinctually questions the facts of the event they had witnessed. Is there more to the story than a simple lover’s quarrel gone wrong?
E.V. Adamson has created a fantastic thriller that will pull you in and keep you guessing. I loved the fast pace and the alternating POV between Bex and Jen, this kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. It was a mental puzzle with all of the pieces falling into place one by one. I can highly recommend this one to thriller/mystery fans!
Many thanks to Scarlet and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
There were five strangers that had observed the entire incident. One of them, Jen Hunter, is a journalist and instinctually questions the facts of the event they had witnessed. Is there more to the story than a simple lover’s quarrel gone wrong?
E.V. Adamson has created a fantastic thriller that will pull you in and keep you guessing. I loved the fast pace and the alternating POV between Bex and Jen, this kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. It was a mental puzzle with all of the pieces falling into place one by one. I can highly recommend this one to thriller/mystery fans!
Many thanks to Scarlet and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
July 27, 2021
This was one of my favorite books I have read thus far this summer. Five Strangers needs to be bought by everyone who enjoys a good thriller! E.V. Adamson, does an incredible job with character development and shows the depth of personalty of each one.
This is a dual narrated novel told from the perspective of both Jen and Bex. Jen , is one of 5 strangers who withness a terrible murder/suicide on Hamstead Heath. Jen becomes attached to the case and needs to know what actually happened. Sometimes things are not always what they seem.
I loved the short chapters and the pace of this book. I would highly recommend this to all my fellow thrill loving book enthusiasts !
This is a dual narrated novel told from the perspective of both Jen and Bex. Jen , is one of 5 strangers who withness a terrible murder/suicide on Hamstead Heath. Jen becomes attached to the case and needs to know what actually happened. Sometimes things are not always what they seem.
I loved the short chapters and the pace of this book. I would highly recommend this to all my fellow thrill loving book enthusiasts !
October 19, 2021
This was a highly anticipated read of mine as I was IMMEDIATELY drawn in by this gorgeous cover! I think it’s definitely one of my favourites of the year! Then I read the description and was immediately intrigued.
I really enjoyed the concept on this one and found it incredibly clever and unique! I also relished in the dual POVs of Bec and Jen and liked that they were both unreliable narrators that kept me continually guessing!
While I was certainly engaged and invested throughout the entire read, I did find it to be a little long and slightly repetitive, but all around an entertaining and twisted thriller!
I really enjoyed the concept on this one and found it incredibly clever and unique! I also relished in the dual POVs of Bec and Jen and liked that they were both unreliable narrators that kept me continually guessing!
While I was certainly engaged and invested throughout the entire read, I did find it to be a little long and slightly repetitive, but all around an entertaining and twisted thriller!
June 12, 2021
WOW! I have to say I enjoyed this book way more than I anticipated. I would give it a good 4.5 rating! In five strangers, we follow Jen Hunter, who on a random Valentines Day, witnesses a horrible incident along with other strangers, but what did they actually witness and what else is there to it?
I completely fell in love with the storyline! As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down! My only issue with it was I felt like a lot of things were spoiled really early on in the book, but I guess the point was more to see how things would unfold? rather than uncover the WHO in this book. Apart from that I found the story to be very addicting!
I completely fell in love with the storyline! As soon as I started it, I couldn't put it down! My only issue with it was I felt like a lot of things were spoiled really early on in the book, but I guess the point was more to see how things would unfold? rather than uncover the WHO in this book. Apart from that I found the story to be very addicting!
December 10, 2021
Thank you Scarlet Suspense / Netgalley for the gifted copy.
I willingly admit this is one of those books where the cover and summary totally grabbed my attention. Fortunately, the story delivered and I ended up really enjoying what ends up being quite a twisty, thrilling read for sure!
This book has one of the most darkest, brutal openings I’ve read in a while and from there, I was totally hooked. I loved that the story is told from two perspectives, Jen who witnesses the murder-suicide along with four other people, and Bex who is Jen’s friend. Right away, I got the feeling there was something unreliable about both our narrators but I just couldn’t quite put my finger on what and I loved that I wasn’t sure who I could trust more.
This book explores so many interesting topics, mental health and obsession being at the forefront, but gaslighting and being able to trust what we really see were also explored. It’s definitely more of a slower-burn, but I found myself completely glued to the pages as I just needed to know where it was all headed, and while I did have my theories, and was partly correct, I was still caught off-guard with the final reveal. This one really did take some turns I did not see coming.
This is the first book I’ve read by E.V. Adamson, who is pseudonym for Andrew Wilson. As I really enjoyed his writing, I will certainly be checking out book under both names!
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
I willingly admit this is one of those books where the cover and summary totally grabbed my attention. Fortunately, the story delivered and I ended up really enjoying what ends up being quite a twisty, thrilling read for sure!
This book has one of the most darkest, brutal openings I’ve read in a while and from there, I was totally hooked. I loved that the story is told from two perspectives, Jen who witnesses the murder-suicide along with four other people, and Bex who is Jen’s friend. Right away, I got the feeling there was something unreliable about both our narrators but I just couldn’t quite put my finger on what and I loved that I wasn’t sure who I could trust more.
This book explores so many interesting topics, mental health and obsession being at the forefront, but gaslighting and being able to trust what we really see were also explored. It’s definitely more of a slower-burn, but I found myself completely glued to the pages as I just needed to know where it was all headed, and while I did have my theories, and was partly correct, I was still caught off-guard with the final reveal. This one really did take some turns I did not see coming.
This is the first book I’ve read by E.V. Adamson, who is pseudonym for Andrew Wilson. As I really enjoyed his writing, I will certainly be checking out book under both names!
You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/
October 5, 2021
What the heck did I just read?? This was a cat and mouse game that slowly twisted and turned that left your head spinning, and no one can be trusted!
It’s Valentine’s Day and everyone is celebrating it appears at the Hampstead Heath. Jen whose a journalist had her own column, until she lost her job by lying, she is there to meet her friend. Suddenly she hears an argument between a man and woman, the fight turns violent and soon a bloody scene unfolds with both the man and woman dead! Five strangers witness the crime including Jen. Jen decides to dig into the past of the man and woman, she feels like there’s more to the story than just a lovers quarrel. When she begins to receive anonymous messages from someone who appears to be following her she begins to question her sanity, is her ex stalking her? Luckily Jen has her best friend Bex to help her and calm her down. Jen starts by questioning the other witnesses did they really see what truly happen that day at the park? Soon it appears someone is lurking in the background and they don’t want Jen to uncover the truth or are they stringing her along to their own twisted sick game? This was such a great read! I loved that it was narrated by Jen and Bex you got two different perspectives which helped build the suspense and added layers to the mystery! Five stars!
It’s Valentine’s Day and everyone is celebrating it appears at the Hampstead Heath. Jen whose a journalist had her own column, until she lost her job by lying, she is there to meet her friend. Suddenly she hears an argument between a man and woman, the fight turns violent and soon a bloody scene unfolds with both the man and woman dead! Five strangers witness the crime including Jen. Jen decides to dig into the past of the man and woman, she feels like there’s more to the story than just a lovers quarrel. When she begins to receive anonymous messages from someone who appears to be following her she begins to question her sanity, is her ex stalking her? Luckily Jen has her best friend Bex to help her and calm her down. Jen starts by questioning the other witnesses did they really see what truly happen that day at the park? Soon it appears someone is lurking in the background and they don’t want Jen to uncover the truth or are they stringing her along to their own twisted sick game? This was such a great read! I loved that it was narrated by Jen and Bex you got two different perspectives which helped build the suspense and added layers to the mystery! Five stars!
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