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Kill A Stranger
They took your fiancée. They framed you for murder.
You're given one chance to save her. To clear your name. You must kill someone for them.
They give you the time and place. The weapon. The target.
You have less than 24 hours.
You only know that no-one can be trusted... and nothing is what it seems.
You're given one chance to save her. To clear your name. You must kill someone for them.
They give you the time and place. The weapon. The target.
You have less than 24 hours.
You only know that no-one can be trusted... and nothing is what it seems.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 26, 2020
135 people are currently reading
1003 people want to read
About the author
Simon Kernick
73 books1,158 followersSimon Kernick (born 1966 in Slough, Berkshire) is a British thriller/crime writer now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and two daughters. He attended Gillotts School, a comprehensive in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Whilst he was a student his jobs included fruitpicker and Christmas-tree uprooter. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in humanities. Kernick had a passion for crime fiction writing from a young age and produced many short stories during his time at polytechnic. After graduating Kernick joined MMT Computing in London in early 1992, where a relative was the Chairman and Managing Director. Kernick was a key member of the sales team and was very highly regarded. However, he left the company after 4 years in the hope of trying to secure a publishing deal. Despite interest from a number of publishers Kernick was unable to secure a deal, so he joined the sales force of the specialist IT and Business Consultancy Metaskil plc in Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1998 where he remained until he secured his first book deal (The Business of Dying) in September 2001. His novel Relentless was recommended on Richard & Judy's Summer book club 2007. It was the 8th best-selling paperback, and the best-selling thriller in the UK in the same year
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
November 15, 2020
If you are a Simon Kernick full on fan this will be a treat
I used to be, devouring every book the day of release and then haven’t read the last few so was keen to see how I fared with this one
All the things I loved about his books are still present, the ‘in your face’ no nonsense beginning, the ending of chapters with a ‘cliff hanger’ sentence, the no let up in action and suspense, the ever changing story and the ‘race against time’ element that is in so many of his previous stories, it was reassuring to see this and easy, really easy to get back into the authors writing
This story basically is one of a man coming home to find a dead woman in his bed where his wife should be sleeping and then finds out she has been kidnapped and he has to ‘kill a stranger’ to get her back, of course there is much more to it than that, many secrets and lies and revelations as you would expect
The characters are strong, loved Diane the step mum but not so keen on either main leads, Kate especially a very dry, insular character who I didn’t care much what happened to
A good, robust ending which bought a smirk of satisfaction!
All in all a good read, I know some friends have loved this book, I would say I more than liked it
7/10
4 Stars
I used to be, devouring every book the day of release and then haven’t read the last few so was keen to see how I fared with this one
All the things I loved about his books are still present, the ‘in your face’ no nonsense beginning, the ending of chapters with a ‘cliff hanger’ sentence, the no let up in action and suspense, the ever changing story and the ‘race against time’ element that is in so many of his previous stories, it was reassuring to see this and easy, really easy to get back into the authors writing
This story basically is one of a man coming home to find a dead woman in his bed where his wife should be sleeping and then finds out she has been kidnapped and he has to ‘kill a stranger’ to get her back, of course there is much more to it than that, many secrets and lies and revelations as you would expect
The characters are strong, loved Diane the step mum but not so keen on either main leads, Kate especially a very dry, insular character who I didn’t care much what happened to
A good, robust ending which bought a smirk of satisfaction!
All in all a good read, I know some friends have loved this book, I would say I more than liked it
7/10
4 Stars
December 10, 2020
I finished the book purely because that is what I do.
If the author continues to write (& hopefully improve with better editing etc) I would suggest they do not repeat the mistake of writing in first person - and then compounding the mistake by writing in first person from 4 different POVs and doing it badly.
Writing 101 teaches you to SHOW, DON’T TELL - but allll the way through this book the characters are constantly telling you what is in their head, and precious words are wasted with a character (usually Matt ) explaining why he is doing certain things. No. Just no. Good crime writers don’t do this, ever.
So much of this was ludicrous, and I can’t believe I made myself finish reading it, only continued in the hope it improved (no, it didn’t) and to see if I had guessed “whodunnit” (yes I did, in the first 15 mins).
Edit: cannot believe so many people gave this 4 and 5 stars - I can only surmise that they have not read many good quality crime novels.
If the author continues to write (& hopefully improve with better editing etc) I would suggest they do not repeat the mistake of writing in first person - and then compounding the mistake by writing in first person from 4 different POVs and doing it badly.
Writing 101 teaches you to SHOW, DON’T TELL - but allll the way through this book the characters are constantly telling you what is in their head, and precious words are wasted with a character (usually Matt ) explaining why he is doing certain things. No. Just no. Good crime writers don’t do this, ever.
So much of this was ludicrous, and I can’t believe I made myself finish reading it, only continued in the hope it improved (no, it didn’t) and to see if I had guessed “whodunnit” (yes I did, in the first 15 mins).
Edit: cannot believe so many people gave this 4 and 5 stars - I can only surmise that they have not read many good quality crime novels.
June 18, 2021
Sure enough, by the end of the first chapter, there’s already a dead body. But then, I’d expect nothing less from “The Body Count King” Simon Kernick.
Failed actor turned hotelier Matt Walters returns home from London to find a strange woman in his bed. Unfortunately for Matt, she’s dead. Also, his fiancee Kate has been kidnapped and his only chance of getting her back and himself cleared is by killing a man he’s never heard of, let alone met.
As the novel progresses, the mysteries mount up as, inevitably, does the body count. Is Kate really who Matt thinks she is? Is Matt really who we think he is?
As with all this author’s novels, the pace is relentless with almost every chapter ending in a cliffhanger or startling revelation. The tension becomes almost unbearable by the end where there is one further totally unforeseen twist.
A must read for all those who like their crime thrillers suspense-filled, fast and furious.
Failed actor turned hotelier Matt Walters returns home from London to find a strange woman in his bed. Unfortunately for Matt, she’s dead. Also, his fiancee Kate has been kidnapped and his only chance of getting her back and himself cleared is by killing a man he’s never heard of, let alone met.
As the novel progresses, the mysteries mount up as, inevitably, does the body count. Is Kate really who Matt thinks she is? Is Matt really who we think he is?
As with all this author’s novels, the pace is relentless with almost every chapter ending in a cliffhanger or startling revelation. The tension becomes almost unbearable by the end where there is one further totally unforeseen twist.
A must read for all those who like their crime thrillers suspense-filled, fast and furious.
April 7, 2021
Simon Kernick, one of my favourite authors, often known for his great action thrillers. Here we have a rare stand-alone thrillers with a different pace, very unusual storyline, but great pace, gripping, full of surprises, shocks, and a real guess whodunnit thriller.
Filled with great characters, told from different angles, a rare story with no real heroes, no main characters, just filled with various characters who you are not sure if they are good or bad.
This story keeps you guessing all the way, right to the last few pages.
The question you ask yourself....
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SAVE YOUR LOVED ONE?
AND DO YOU KNOW WHO SHE REALLY IS?
They took your fiancée.
They framed you for murder.
You're given one chance to save her. To clear your name.
You must kill someone for them!
They give you the time and place.
The weapon. The target.
You have less than 24 hours.
You only know that no-one can be trusted...and nothing is what it seems!
Very entertaining, very different and highly recommended.
Clear four stars
Filled with great characters, told from different angles, a rare story with no real heroes, no main characters, just filled with various characters who you are not sure if they are good or bad.
This story keeps you guessing all the way, right to the last few pages.
The question you ask yourself....
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO SAVE YOUR LOVED ONE?
AND DO YOU KNOW WHO SHE REALLY IS?
They took your fiancée.
They framed you for murder.
You're given one chance to save her. To clear your name.
You must kill someone for them!
They give you the time and place.
The weapon. The target.
You have less than 24 hours.
You only know that no-one can be trusted...and nothing is what it seems!
Very entertaining, very different and highly recommended.
Clear four stars
October 10, 2020
Another absolutely brilliant story from the mind of Simon Kernick.
How far would you go for someone you love? Would you risk your life for them? Would you kill for them? Questions that have you wondering what you would do in the same situation as Matt who is just trying to save his pregnant fiancee Kate who’s been kidnapped.
This is a real cat and mouse story written from multiple perspectives that have you guessing and double guessing who’s telling the truth as the book unfolds. It’s a very clever, very well written suspense thriller that really does have some shocking cliff-hanging chapters urging you to read on having made an audible gasp at what you just read. Just when you think you’ve worked out what’s going on Mr Kernick hits you with another twist that blows your theories clean out of the water putting you back to square one.
As a huge fan of the author I found this book refreshingly different to most of his others but just as brilliant and an absolute joy to read. With his usual fast pace story this really is one to add to your ‘to read’ list with a surprise ending that makes the journey you had getting to it well worth while.
Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
How far would you go for someone you love? Would you risk your life for them? Would you kill for them? Questions that have you wondering what you would do in the same situation as Matt who is just trying to save his pregnant fiancee Kate who’s been kidnapped.
This is a real cat and mouse story written from multiple perspectives that have you guessing and double guessing who’s telling the truth as the book unfolds. It’s a very clever, very well written suspense thriller that really does have some shocking cliff-hanging chapters urging you to read on having made an audible gasp at what you just read. Just when you think you’ve worked out what’s going on Mr Kernick hits you with another twist that blows your theories clean out of the water putting you back to square one.
As a huge fan of the author I found this book refreshingly different to most of his others but just as brilliant and an absolute joy to read. With his usual fast pace story this really is one to add to your ‘to read’ list with a surprise ending that makes the journey you had getting to it well worth while.
Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
November 28, 2020
Matt returns home from work to find his wife dead in his bed..except it isn't his wife at all, Matt has never seen this woman before in his life. He then starts to receive calls and finds out his wife has been kidnapped and in order to get her back he must get rid of the body, but this is only the start, what lengths will Matt go to get his wife back? And just how well does he really know her?
This is super fast paced and will definitely keep you turning the pages. It feels like there's a plot twist at the end of every chapter that really keeps you guessing where there is going. I couldn't fault the writing and this definitely was thrilling.
However, this does follow multiple perspectives as the story unfolds which provides lots of information so can be a bit confusing at times. You definitely to need to be concentrating not to miss any details.
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me a copy to read.
This is super fast paced and will definitely keep you turning the pages. It feels like there's a plot twist at the end of every chapter that really keeps you guessing where there is going. I couldn't fault the writing and this definitely was thrilling.
However, this does follow multiple perspectives as the story unfolds which provides lots of information so can be a bit confusing at times. You definitely to need to be concentrating not to miss any details.
Thank you to Netgalley and Headline for providing me a copy to read.
November 29, 2020
I read this in two days, it kept me guessing from the start, however I did guess who the culprit was quite early only, just intuition, mind.
It grips you from the start, no messing, straight into the action, a fast paced psychological thriller, which keeps you wanting to turn the pages.
Matt finds a dead woman in his bed, which fortunately isn’t his fiancé, he’s never set eyes on this woman before, however he has to get rid of her body and some.
‘She was lying on her front, fully clothed, her head turned sideways towards me, pale blue eyes staring blankly into space. I’d never seen a corpse before, but straight away I knew the woman in front of me was dead. But the thing was, it wasn’t Kate.’
Would you kill someone to save the person you loved? It’s a great plot, but not that realistic and becomes a tad more unbelievable when reading the second half, however it’s fiction and doesn’t have to be. I didn’t warm to any of the characters, not a nice one among them, everyone was out for themselves and I wouldn’t want any of them to be my friend. Who do you trust? Is it just all about the money? So many lies and deceit.
There’s lots of twists and turns and the end of every chapter leaves you in suspense as to what is going to happen next. Cliffhangers everywhere.
Kate, Matt’s fiancé, isn’t as innocent as she makes out to be either. Matt doesn’t really know that much about her and death, murder and deceit just simply follows her around.
There’s a race against time factor, which adds a little more suspense.
Matt stumbles from one chain of events to another which are quite catastrophic. I did find them quite humorous in parts (dark comedy sprang to mind) and without giving too much away Matt ends up being the fall guy in more ways than one. However the ending serves up its just deserts.
If you love a good crime thriller I would recommend this. I have only given it 4🌟 as I did find a comment quite offensive and not necessary. I’m not sure why Kernick felt the need to stoop so low in what is a really good psychological thriller. However this is just a personal reaction of mine.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Headline for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
It grips you from the start, no messing, straight into the action, a fast paced psychological thriller, which keeps you wanting to turn the pages.
Matt finds a dead woman in his bed, which fortunately isn’t his fiancé, he’s never set eyes on this woman before, however he has to get rid of her body and some.
‘She was lying on her front, fully clothed, her head turned sideways towards me, pale blue eyes staring blankly into space. I’d never seen a corpse before, but straight away I knew the woman in front of me was dead. But the thing was, it wasn’t Kate.’
Would you kill someone to save the person you loved? It’s a great plot, but not that realistic and becomes a tad more unbelievable when reading the second half, however it’s fiction and doesn’t have to be. I didn’t warm to any of the characters, not a nice one among them, everyone was out for themselves and I wouldn’t want any of them to be my friend. Who do you trust? Is it just all about the money? So many lies and deceit.
There’s lots of twists and turns and the end of every chapter leaves you in suspense as to what is going to happen next. Cliffhangers everywhere.
Kate, Matt’s fiancé, isn’t as innocent as she makes out to be either. Matt doesn’t really know that much about her and death, murder and deceit just simply follows her around.
There’s a race against time factor, which adds a little more suspense.
Matt stumbles from one chain of events to another which are quite catastrophic. I did find them quite humorous in parts (dark comedy sprang to mind) and without giving too much away Matt ends up being the fall guy in more ways than one. However the ending serves up its just deserts.
If you love a good crime thriller I would recommend this. I have only given it 4🌟 as I did find a comment quite offensive and not necessary. I’m not sure why Kernick felt the need to stoop so low in what is a really good psychological thriller. However this is just a personal reaction of mine.
Thank you to the author, Netgalley and Headline for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.
October 17, 2020
I loved reading the early Simon Kernick novels especially the Tina Boyd series and he quickly became one of my favourite authors. However more recently I have found some of his recent novels a bit hit and miss and thankfully this was back to his better work. Fast paced thriller with great characters and a tried and tested plot. Would you kill a stranger to save someone you love. Heard that plot before maybe but nevertheless Simon Kernick's writing will hook you and you will find it difficult to put it down.
This book gave me the desire to read the few Simon Kernick thrillers I am yet to read. Good fast paced thriller.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
May 17, 2021
fast paced thriller which make you think and enjoyed the twist and turns
October 17, 2020
I loved reading the early Simon Kernick novels especially the Tina Boyd series and he quickly became one of my favourite authors. However more recently I have found some of his recent novels a bit hit and miss and thankfully this was back to his better work. Fast paced thriller with great characters and a tried and tested plot. Would you kill a stranger to save someone you love. Heard that plot before maybe but nevertheless Simon Kernick's writing will hook you and you will find it difficult to put it down.
This book gave me the desire to read the few Simon Kernick thrillers I am yet to read. Good fast paced thriller.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This book gave me the desire to read the few Simon Kernick thrillers I am yet to read. Good fast paced thriller.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2020
Wowser!! This is one superbly written fast paced psychological thriller, with that many twists and turns your head will be spinning. I could not put this book down, it’s totally engrossing, gripping you from the first page until the very last where the final twist will surprise you.
Matt is 33 when he realises he is never going to make it as an actor, when one night something happens to him which makes him re evaluate his life. He decides to travel, it’s whilst he is Sri Lanka that he meets Kate a co-owner of a hotel, they are now engaged and expecting a baby. But how much does Matt really know about Kate? she has never really told him much about herself. They have now come back to the UK whilst Kate is pregnant with the intention of going back to the Sri Lanka and the business once the baby has been born.
Kate had lost her mum to cancer when she was just 17, she had never met her father and begged her mum to tell her his name at least before she passed away. One night someone killed Kate’s boyfriend and Kate suffered severe head injuries leaving her in a coma for 3 weeks, the killer was never caught, Kate claims to have some amnesia leading upto and just after the incident. Matt knows non of this. She did start to build a relationship with her father Sir Hugo Roper after this happened. He had helped her set herself up in Sri Lanka.
Sir Hugo Roper is not just Kate’s dad, but he is a very wealthy man the CEO of Peregrine Homes, he is dying of cancer only has a short time to live. He has lost one daughter after she fell off a roof after taking drugs, he has disowned his son, and he doesn’t like his stepson. DCI believes that Roper has had some very dodgy dealings over the years including people going missing but there is nothing he can prove.
DCI Cameron Doyle is in charge of the case and interviews the three, he knows they are all lying but his hands are tied as to who he can charge for what from the evidence he has.
Matt has been out with his mates, he arrives home late expecting Kate to be asleep in their bed, but he gets a shock, and Kate is not there. Kate has been kidnapped. Matt is contacted and has very strict instructions he must follow if he is to see Kate again. How far would you go to save the person you loved?
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good crime thriller, psychological thriller, you will not regret it. Simon Kernick has written and plotted a brilliant story.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #Headline publishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
Matt is 33 when he realises he is never going to make it as an actor, when one night something happens to him which makes him re evaluate his life. He decides to travel, it’s whilst he is Sri Lanka that he meets Kate a co-owner of a hotel, they are now engaged and expecting a baby. But how much does Matt really know about Kate? she has never really told him much about herself. They have now come back to the UK whilst Kate is pregnant with the intention of going back to the Sri Lanka and the business once the baby has been born.
Kate had lost her mum to cancer when she was just 17, she had never met her father and begged her mum to tell her his name at least before she passed away. One night someone killed Kate’s boyfriend and Kate suffered severe head injuries leaving her in a coma for 3 weeks, the killer was never caught, Kate claims to have some amnesia leading upto and just after the incident. Matt knows non of this. She did start to build a relationship with her father Sir Hugo Roper after this happened. He had helped her set herself up in Sri Lanka.
Sir Hugo Roper is not just Kate’s dad, but he is a very wealthy man the CEO of Peregrine Homes, he is dying of cancer only has a short time to live. He has lost one daughter after she fell off a roof after taking drugs, he has disowned his son, and he doesn’t like his stepson. DCI believes that Roper has had some very dodgy dealings over the years including people going missing but there is nothing he can prove.
DCI Cameron Doyle is in charge of the case and interviews the three, he knows they are all lying but his hands are tied as to who he can charge for what from the evidence he has.
Matt has been out with his mates, he arrives home late expecting Kate to be asleep in their bed, but he gets a shock, and Kate is not there. Kate has been kidnapped. Matt is contacted and has very strict instructions he must follow if he is to see Kate again. How far would you go to save the person you loved?
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good crime thriller, psychological thriller, you will not regret it. Simon Kernick has written and plotted a brilliant story.
I would like to thank #netgalley and #Headline publishers for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.
November 26, 2020
Phew! This is a pretty exhausting, relentless read. A story that takes the reader on a journey with twists, with dead ends and more than a few hill starts along the way.
In the prologue we are introduced to DCI Cameron Doyle; a long-in-the-tooth copper whose many years of experience means he's seen a lot. He may be jaded, but he's determined to get his man.
Kate and Matt are newly engaged and about to become parents. They run a luxury hotel in Sri Lanka but have decided to return to the UK to ensure the best healthcare for Kate whilst she's pregnant. They are renting a cottage and it's just an ordinary night. Matt has been out to see friends and returns home, expecting to find Kate tucked up in bed.
What he does find is the beginning of a nightmare few days for him, for Kate and for Cameron Doyle. Kate isn't in bed. Another woman is though, and she's dead.
Horrified and stunned, Matt receives a call from an unknown person. It becomes clear that if he doesn't do exactly as he is told, then he will never see Kate again.
Kernick tells this story through different points of view. We are there, as Matt is instructed what to do, and we are also aware of just what is happening to Kate. Taken in the boot of a car, blindfold and tied up and then held captive in a disused building. It's all very strange.
As the story progresses, and it does at a lightning speed, the reader soon becomes aware that someone is not telling the whole truth. These narrators are totally unreliable, there's something fishy about what's happening - but why, and who is behind it?
The reader knows far more about Kate than Matt does, despite the fact that they're a couple and have decided to spend their lives together. We learn about her childhood, and her father and the things that have happened to her in the past. She doesn't remember lots of it .... or does she?
Meanwhile Cameron Doyle has to put this flimsy jigsaw together, and he's certain that only one man is behind all of this, but will that guy get justice? Or, will he evade punishment, just as he has for the whole of his life.
There were times when I had to suspend my belief a little during this story, but it moves with such a pace that I can get over that. There's a wide cast of characters and I struggled to like one of them, except for Cameron Doyle of course. Again though; cheater, liars and murderers are rarely likeable people so this bunch of fiendish villains were perfectly placed within the story.
Non stop action and a plot that is devilishly tricky. A great read.
In the prologue we are introduced to DCI Cameron Doyle; a long-in-the-tooth copper whose many years of experience means he's seen a lot. He may be jaded, but he's determined to get his man.
Kate and Matt are newly engaged and about to become parents. They run a luxury hotel in Sri Lanka but have decided to return to the UK to ensure the best healthcare for Kate whilst she's pregnant. They are renting a cottage and it's just an ordinary night. Matt has been out to see friends and returns home, expecting to find Kate tucked up in bed.
What he does find is the beginning of a nightmare few days for him, for Kate and for Cameron Doyle. Kate isn't in bed. Another woman is though, and she's dead.
Horrified and stunned, Matt receives a call from an unknown person. It becomes clear that if he doesn't do exactly as he is told, then he will never see Kate again.
Kernick tells this story through different points of view. We are there, as Matt is instructed what to do, and we are also aware of just what is happening to Kate. Taken in the boot of a car, blindfold and tied up and then held captive in a disused building. It's all very strange.
As the story progresses, and it does at a lightning speed, the reader soon becomes aware that someone is not telling the whole truth. These narrators are totally unreliable, there's something fishy about what's happening - but why, and who is behind it?
The reader knows far more about Kate than Matt does, despite the fact that they're a couple and have decided to spend their lives together. We learn about her childhood, and her father and the things that have happened to her in the past. She doesn't remember lots of it .... or does she?
Meanwhile Cameron Doyle has to put this flimsy jigsaw together, and he's certain that only one man is behind all of this, but will that guy get justice? Or, will he evade punishment, just as he has for the whole of his life.
There were times when I had to suspend my belief a little during this story, but it moves with such a pace that I can get over that. There's a wide cast of characters and I struggled to like one of them, except for Cameron Doyle of course. Again though; cheater, liars and murderers are rarely likeable people so this bunch of fiendish villains were perfectly placed within the story.
Non stop action and a plot that is devilishly tricky. A great read.
November 22, 2020
I read this book on the Pigeonhole.com book club app with other readers before publication. It was an interesting and intriguing read for the first few chapters, however the twists and turns began to spiral, the storyline became fogged, no 3D characters and in the main were unbelievable. The storyline began to loose itself in action, anomalies, and the point of view was getting lost. There was more telling not showing and not enough narrative and too much padding. Sadly I gave up on what I thought was a great story.
November 26, 2020
What a cast of characters - not a nice one among them.
Hard to review without spoilers, but nobody can be trusted. Everyone seems to be lying. Be prepared for double, and even triple crossed. There isn't a character who understands action and consequences and all seem to make bad decisions.
So many twists that this story will keep you on your toes. Who to believe?
Slightly mixed feelings about the ending, but had to smile at the final paragraph.
Thanks to Simon Kernick and Pigeonhole.
Hard to review without spoilers, but nobody can be trusted. Everyone seems to be lying. Be prepared for double, and even triple crossed. There isn't a character who understands action and consequences and all seem to make bad decisions.
So many twists that this story will keep you on your toes. Who to believe?
Slightly mixed feelings about the ending, but had to smile at the final paragraph.
Thanks to Simon Kernick and Pigeonhole.
November 26, 2020
Well what can I say? I read this over 10 days with Pigeonhole and there were twists at every corner. Each stave left you wanting to carry on reading and revealed more secrets about the main characters. Thanks for the opportunity to read this one Pigeon and Simon. A really thrilling plot.
December 24, 2022
Unfortunately this book was not for me. The writing was not good, the plot was quite silly and the characters... well, you could tell they were written. The internal monologue about their thought process and trying so hard to be "detectives" was so weird. And who reacts like that to a dead body?!!
February 6, 2024
Very interesting and easy to read. However, I’m not sure if I like the ending. Reminds me of how to kill your family.
July 4, 2025
Really enjoyed this!
Fast-paced and full of twists, Kill a Stranger is classic Simon Kernick—tense, gripping, and impossible to put down. The moral dilemma at the heart of the story pulls you in right away, and the plot keeps you guessing until the final pages. Perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers with a psychological edge.
Fast-paced and full of twists, Kill a Stranger is classic Simon Kernick—tense, gripping, and impossible to put down. The moral dilemma at the heart of the story pulls you in right away, and the plot keeps you guessing until the final pages. Perfect for fans of high-stakes thrillers with a psychological edge.
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July 3, 2024This was a good read. Had me hooked from the first chapter!
January 25, 2021
With apologies to the author and anyone who enjoyed this but it honestly was, for me, not worth the effort. It went beyond ridiculous very early on and then became increasingly ludicrous. The plot is full of inconsistencies (seeing someone squinting when they've been described in the previous sentence as wearing a blindfold that covered their entire upper face, one character was addressed by a name she wasn't using at that time, etc), wildly implausible coincidences and I saw the "twist/reveal" coming. The writing is not subtle either, I ended up feeling bludgeoned by certain phrases (Matt never seems to refer to Kate as anything other than "my pregnant fiance/mother of my unborn child" or other similar variants) and it probably goes without saying that there's far too much telling rather than showing.
My first read of this author and I'm sorry to say that based on this, I won't be seeking out any more of his works. I'm glad others have enjoyed this but safe to say, this wasn't for me! Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
My first read of this author and I'm sorry to say that based on this, I won't be seeking out any more of his works. I'm glad others have enjoyed this but safe to say, this wasn't for me! Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
November 26, 2020
With so many twists and turns and a cliff hanger at the end of almost every chapter this book certainly did keep me interested and intrigued. Sadly, I found it to be mostly unbelievable whilst at times a bit predictable. The characters were not likable at all so there was never any one to truly root for or care about. I'm still glad to have read this though just a little disappointed as it started with a lot more promise than it finished with
April 9, 2021
I was extremely disappointed in this book as it appeared to have an interesting plot. It was so far fetched and beyond the realms of possibility that I groaned every time a new twist appeared. This is a story purely for the lovers of make believe. It was too obvious who was orchestrating the events and how the destruction of key players would be presented to the reader . I guess it’s a good book to have in your handbag if you don’t want anyone sitting beside you on public transport .
November 26, 2020
Very clever plotting with lots of twists and turns. Who can you trust? Well probably no-one. I found parts of this hilarious (I hope I was supposed to). These are the parts where Matt is concerned. Matt is a handsome actor, whose only TV role of any merit was as a police officer in Night Beat. He met Kate in Sri Lanka and stayed there to be with her. When confronted with her kidnapping and attempts to save her, he really hasn’t a clue and turns into Frank Spencer from Some Mothers do ‘ave ’em.
Kate is the most suspicious. Has she really been kidnapped or did she stage it herself. And if she did then why. Sir Hugh Roper is her father, but for years he had nothing to do with her. Her mother was the cleaner with whom he had a little dalliance. Ex-wife Diana is a gold-carat bitch who hates Hugh’s illegitimate offspring. Her own daughter Alana died and son Tom is the black sheep who has been disinherited. Any of them could be guilty.
DCI Cameron Doyle doesn’t trust any of them. He thinks they are all lying. He could be right.
When Matt discovers Kate has been kidnapped he will kill to get her back. Literally. He will have to murder someone in exchange for her safe release. Then it’s a race against time to save her. Don’t bother I say! She’s not what or who you think. It’s a great, fast-paced read that will keep you up at night trying to guess the truth.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
Kate is the most suspicious. Has she really been kidnapped or did she stage it herself. And if she did then why. Sir Hugh Roper is her father, but for years he had nothing to do with her. Her mother was the cleaner with whom he had a little dalliance. Ex-wife Diana is a gold-carat bitch who hates Hugh’s illegitimate offspring. Her own daughter Alana died and son Tom is the black sheep who has been disinherited. Any of them could be guilty.
DCI Cameron Doyle doesn’t trust any of them. He thinks they are all lying. He could be right.
When Matt discovers Kate has been kidnapped he will kill to get her back. Literally. He will have to murder someone in exchange for her safe release. Then it’s a race against time to save her. Don’t bother I say! She’s not what or who you think. It’s a great, fast-paced read that will keep you up at night trying to guess the truth.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
November 26, 2020
Well, that story was definitely a page turner with plenty of twists and turns, but gosh, it didn't have a single likeable character! I felt a little bad for Matt towards the end (if I had to put a percentage to it, maybe 5%?).
With all the lies and possibly the double and triple crossing, honestly there was not a single character that you rooted for. They were all selfish, horrible and only out for themselves. Made it really hard to really care what happened to any of them, although (without giving anything away) what happened at the end did make me smile.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Simon for the chance to read this book.
With all the lies and possibly the double and triple crossing, honestly there was not a single character that you rooted for. They were all selfish, horrible and only out for themselves. Made it really hard to really care what happened to any of them, although (without giving anything away) what happened at the end did make me smile.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Simon for the chance to read this book.
August 6, 2021
A little disappointed with this book as it seemed so very, very similar to another book I had read recently. Not sure which book though as I read so many! As per the other story it was told from the first person perspective, but switched characters, and then also switched time lines to present time, so you knew no harm had ended up coming to the main characters, and also switched to the police viewpoint. And the plot whereby the main character woke up with a dead body and then had to kill someone was also the same. I also didn't like the ending - all I can say is everyone lies in this story.
November 30, 2022
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. First off it started fast paced and I was intrigued and was flying through it thanks to the reasonably short chapters.
However in spite of this it did drag for me in places and I found the characters to be a bit 2D and for some of it I struggled to care about what was going on.
Then in the final part my interest picked back up slightly and I started to enjoy it a bit more. I also really enjoyed the ending
However in spite of this it did drag for me in places and I found the characters to be a bit 2D and for some of it I struggled to care about what was going on.
Then in the final part my interest picked back up slightly and I started to enjoy it a bit more. I also really enjoyed the ending
December 6, 2020
Well, what a roller coaster of a story! A husband comes home to find the dead body of a woman in his bed and his wife missing. What happens next sends the reader on a frenzied and exciting journey with surprises at every turn and, of course, nobody is as they seem and nobody can be trusted.
This is such a fun and entertaining read. It’s full of twists and turns, the odd red herring and plenty of cliffhangers. I felt like I’d fallen down the rabbit hole at times, my mind was in such a whirl! It’s nearly as mad as Wonderland itself. You definitely have to suspend belief. I read this book via the Pigeonhole app and I looked forward to receiving each stave every day. I was eager to turn the pages so that I could find out how it was all going to end! If you enjoy fast paced and action packed thrillers, you’ll love this one. Just sit back, try to disengage brain (otherwise it will hurt) and enjoy the ride.
This is such a fun and entertaining read. It’s full of twists and turns, the odd red herring and plenty of cliffhangers. I felt like I’d fallen down the rabbit hole at times, my mind was in such a whirl! It’s nearly as mad as Wonderland itself. You definitely have to suspend belief. I read this book via the Pigeonhole app and I looked forward to receiving each stave every day. I was eager to turn the pages so that I could find out how it was all going to end! If you enjoy fast paced and action packed thrillers, you’ll love this one. Just sit back, try to disengage brain (otherwise it will hurt) and enjoy the ride.
November 2, 2021
3.5 stars.
I found this a bit too complicated at the end. Though it wasn't clear whilst reading the book, there were three seperate things (plotlines) going on and it felt too far fetched for me
I found this a bit too complicated at the end. Though it wasn't clear whilst reading the book, there were three seperate things (plotlines) going on and it felt too far fetched for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2021
Absolutely brilliant.
August 30, 2021
3.5- This was a good fast paced thriller, with all the right elements; multiple POVS, secrets, lies and the ultimate moral dilemma that makes you think what you would do in this situation. There are well written multilayered characters who are definitely not all that they seem! I enjoyed this, the short snappy chapters made me fly through it and I was keen to see what was happening. It reminded me of something you would see on a tv drama like 24. This was the first book I have read by this author and when I looked there is a massive back catalogue I will be looking at in the future.
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