A woman receives a bewildering inheritance that may have something to do with her past in this twisty and addictive psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author Entertainment Weekly calls “impossible to outwit.”
Struggling artist Skyler Moore is flabbergasted when she receives a suspicious phone call from a lawyer she’s never met regarding a “private matter.” As soon as she arrives at the law firm’s office, she learns she’s the recipient of a large inheritance, a life-changing sum that will allow her to realize her long-held dream of becoming a mother. But who was her benefactor, Christopher Whaley? The late man’s name means nothing to Skyler, and she has no idea why he would leave her such an enormous bequest.
Looking into his background, Skyler finally realizes they met once at a hotel bar and shared a one-night stand. But they never exchanged numbers, or even last names, and that was over a decade ago. She wonders if the inheritance is meant to be a message of some kind, but can’t imagine what it might be.
Chris’ family is confused and suspicious too, and his widow accuses Skyler of having an affair with her late husband, then threatens revenge. In order to protect herself, Skyler has to understand the reason the money was left to her. But as she digs for the truth, it becomes clear that Chris Whaley might have taken other secrets to the grave, ones that could have terrifying consequences for her . . .
Kate White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of nineteen novels of suspense: eleven standalone psychological thrillers, including The Last Time She Saw Him (2024), and eight Bailey Weggins mysteries.
A former Glamour magazine Top Ten College Women Contest winner and cover girl, Kate had a long career in the media business, eventually running five national magazines. For fourteen years she was the editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, which under her became the most successful magazine in single copy sales in the U.S. Though she loved her magazine career, she decided to leave eleven years ago to concentrate full-time on another passion: writing suspense fiction.
Kate’s first mystery, If Looks Could Kill, was a Kelly Ripa Book Club pick, a #1 bestseller on Amazon, and an instant New York Times bestseller. She has been nominated for an International Thriller Writers Award in the fiction category, and her books have been published in over 30 countries.
Kate is a frequent speaker at libraries, bookstores, and conferences, and has appeared on many television shows, including The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Morning Joe, and CNN’s Quest Means Business.
She is also the author of several bestselling career books, including I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This and the ground-breaking Wall Street Journal bestseller, Why Good Girls Don’t Get Ahead but Gutsy Girls Do.
Kate is an avid traveler and spends each winter with her husband at their home in Uruguay. She holds an honorary doctorate of letters from her alma mater, Union College, where she gave the 2022 commencement address.
An unexpected call from an attorney informing you that a stranger left you money in their will. Isn’t that a fantasy we all share!🤣
Skyler's life never quite got back on track after the death of her younger sister. Her mother always blamed her and she realized that she was destined to be on her own. She now lives the life of an artist, and even has an upcoming show that’s quickly gathering a lot of attention.
All that is great, but what Skyler desperately wants is to have a baby… but simply can’t afford it. That is until her fairy godmother, (AKA. an estate attorney) calls telling her she is about to inherit money. A timely windfall to be sure. But who is responsible for this gift?
As Skyler racks her brain trying to fathom the reason someone would leave her a trust I found myself just as curious and wanted to help her get to the bottom of it!
It’s not an edge of your seat thriller but there definitely enough mystery to keep me enthralled and wanting to get back to it any time I needed to step away!
A good solid thriller. I would recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks
Wow!! This was my first @katewhite_author book and I absolutely loved it!! 😍 I COULD NOT put it down!! 5 big shiny stars!! ⭐️ Okay… why did I love this??? See below ⬇️
Listen to this…you are a struggling artist 🖼 but that is about to change… when a stranger leaves you MILLIONS of dollars 💵… 🤔🤔.. His lawyer states… CJ knew you… NO he didn’t! 🤔… or did he??? You can’t place him… unless… he is that one night stand you had 12 years ago! 😳…
Someone is very unhappy that you are getting this money 💰… and they are going to make sure you know about it… 😬
This book had a creepy undertone as our girl Skyler was constantly being stalked… harassed… threatened… by whomever had found out she was inheriting this money… I was so wrapped up in this intense story… that my husband closed the closet door 🚪 and I jumped up yelling… What was that??? 😳😂😂😂🤷♀️ I was REALLY wrapped up in this!! It’s an intense thriller that makes you uneasy and you want to check all your door 🚪 locks 🔒… 😉My favorite kind!! I love feeling that adrenaline! 🤷♀️
Obviously I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read her backlist!! I never saw that ending coming! 😳 I now am going to be adding her backlist to my TBR!
A one-night stand twelve years ago and then a call from an attorney that some person Skyler hardly remembers has left her 3.5 million dollars.
That must have been some memorable night for him.
Skyler can't believe it, but it doesn't come without strings attached.
The wife is contesting it, people are breaking into her apartment, people are breaking into her studio, people are following her, and they are leaving her nasty notes.
What will happen? Who will win - the wife or Skyler?
But…the real question is WHY would the man named Chris Whaley leave her all this money?
BETWEEN TWO STRANGERS keeps you on edge and will have you turning the pages quickly because you will want to know who is harassing Skyler and what the answer is to all the questions.
Will you figure out this twisty thriller? 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Skyler Moore is a struggling artist, living in New York City and trying to make a name for herself. When she gets a call one day that says she needs to meet with a lawyer about a possible inheritance, she’s hoping to get a couple thousand dollars, but she’s not sure who would leave her money in their will.
When she meets with the lawyer, he tells her that a man named Christopher Whaley has left her his whole estate. The older man recently died of cancer, and Skyler is his only beneficiary, despite the fact that he was married and had children. It isn’t until the attorney calls Mr. Whaley “C.J.” that Skyler realizes who this man is. Twelve years prior, she had a one-night stand with an older man named C.J. She hasn’t heard from him since that night though - why is he giving her all his money?
This book started off so strong, with a lot of suspense. Unfortunately, it started to get slower as it went along. The writing was a little tedious; there was way too much description of every single mundane thing in the book. Sentences like “I wore a dark green turtleneck with my unconstructed blazer, along with a caramel-colored skirt that hits me mid-calf, and some earrings with chunky boots” or “I was hungry so I found a can of tuna fish and mixed it with some cannellini beans dressed with olive oil and vinegar, then paired it with toast and a Diet Coke” litter the book, and it just felt like too much.
The writing almost had a formal feel, when this boho artist doesn’t seem like a very formal person, and the book is written from her perspective. After awhile, this writing style really started to bother me. As I got closer to the end, I saw exactly what was coming, and that was also frustrating. This started off with so much promise, then ended with a fizzle. I’d give the beginning of the book four stars, and the ending three, so we’ll go with 3.5 for this one. It was a great and original plot that, for me, just wasn’t executed the way it could have been.
(Thank you to Harper Paperbacks, Kate White, and NetGalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for my review.)
I know this was a mystery and I should focus on the suspense, but I couldn’t get over how Skyler felt entitled to the trust money and that she was upset the family was contesting the will. She didn’t even remember the guy at first and had only met him once (over a decade ago), so it seemed very selfish and greedy to act this way. I don’t get why she’s so insistent she deserves the money or why she’s shocked the family thinks she shouldn’t keep it.
As for the main plot/mystery itself, it wasn’t developed well and largely overshadowed by Skyler’s poor personality. She was 38 but came across much younger and more immature. I also felt the ending wrapped up too nicely.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 16, 2023
Former Cosmopolitan editor Kate White delivers her eighteenth novel, “Between Two Strangers”, her tenth standalone psychological thriller, and she keeps getting better and better!
Skyler Moore is a struggling artist, barely making ends meet as a graphic designer until she can pursue her true passion of visual art, and earn enough money to have the fertility treatment she desires to make her other dream of becoming a mother a reality. So, when a lawyer contacts her out of the blue, stating she has inherited over three million dollars, obviously Skyler is skeptical. But the lawyer is legitimate and so is the fortune- left to her by a one-night stand she had over twelve years ago. But Skyler senses there is more to it than that, barely remembering the fling, she doubts she made that much of an impression on him. As much as she wants to take the money and run, Skyler has to figure out why Christopher Whaley would leave her money, even if it means risking her career, her future and her life.
Skyler Moore is living every working person’s dream- receiving a massive inheritance from someone you barely know (also the plot of many movies on the big and small screen). But of course, White wouldn’t just make it that simple, and she doesn’t disappoint, captivating the reader with small twists and turns that engage, entertain and tantalize through each and every page!
The story is told exclusively by Skyler both in the past, when she meets the mysterious Christopher for that million-dollar one night stand, and in the future, when Skyler receives the inheritance. Skyler, of course, has heartbreak in her past too, and White manages to weave this into the plot, especially the ending, flawlessly.
“Strangers” is a solid thriller, with enough twists and turns in the story to capture a reader’s attention (and keep it)! I loved White’s previous novels, including “The Fiancée” and “The Second Husband”, and her newest novel brought everything to the table I’ve come to expect from White- strong, relatable characters, a gripping plot, and a creative, well thought out ending. I look forward to reading White’s next foray into psychological suspense!
Skyler is a struggling artist and a part-time graphic designer living in New York. She receives a call one day from a lawyer telling her she was left an inheritance from a man named Christopher Whaley. Skyler can't recall who he is and thinks this is a huge mistake. After meeting with the lawyer and Christopher's mother, it suddenly becomes clear he was a man that she spent one night with 12 years ago. She has no idea why he left this huge inheritance to her. They had never spoken since that one night. Christopher's wife thinks Skyler was having an affair with her husband and threatens her. As Skyler tries to figure out what is going on, she soon discovers that someone is stalking her and creating havoc in her everyday life. Is it Jane, Christopher's wife, or someone else?
Kate White is so talented! I've been reading her books for many years now and this is definitely one of her best yet. I was glued to this exciting story filled with suspense and mystery! I promise you will not be able to put it down! I loved the past and present timelines and getting to know what really happened in Skyler's past to create the events that are now happening to her. Get ready to stay up late into the night reading as I did. Add THE STRANGER BETWEEN US to your reading list. I really think you'll enjoy it!
Many thanks to HARPER for my ARC.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I’m a big fan of White’s books, especially the Bailey Weggins series, so I was delighted to read this newest standalone novel. I found it a page turner, but I felt that the plot just didn’t hold together. Skyler Moore receives a mysterious inheritance and the rest of the book is devoted to trying to figure out why this large amount was left to her. The reliance on coincidence was too contrived for me.
When I pulled all the threads together, I realized that the plot really makes no sense and the ending is downright absurd. Skylar talks speaks about her desire for a child, but that is dropped by the author’s desire to end the book. This would have been an opportunity for an epilogue., but there is none.
Thank you Netgalley for this novel by one of my favorite writers. I look forward to more.
I received this book as a part of a Goodreads giveaway and devoured it in one sitting. I always have an appreciation for thrillers that aren’t so outrageous it takes you out of the story - this felt feasible and real and chilling. I didn’t predict a single part of it until the details were right in front of me. A quick, enjoyable read. 4/5
Thank you @netgalley for sending me an arc of this one!
➡️THOUGHTS: Imagine receiving a call that someone has left a trust to you in his will. The catch? You don’t even know this person. And it WASN’T a mistake. This is what happens to Skylar. I feel like the plot was unique and I had to keep turning the pages (well, clicking through them on my Kindle!) The characters are realistic and believable. I loved the past and present storylines and was invested in both plots. The twist was unpredictable, 👏🏼👏🏼. This is the perfect example of a suspense novel. Great job, Kate White! Excuse me while I go search up your backlist!
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennials and Paperback for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
At first, I was intrigued by the premise of a collage artist suddenly bequeathed with a million dollar trust by a man whom she never met or maybe she did. She doesnt know why this man chose her to be the inheritor to his trust after his death. Upon investigation, they were involved in a one night stand decades ago but only once.
There are flashbacks back and forth between past and present where there is another mysterious things happened where the main character's sister died in an unnatural circumstance and her case is unsolved. I was interested to know what exactly happened. But upon finishing it, I found myself lfet disatisfied by how easy and predictable it was. There wasnt much to hold your interest. The storyline was too long ans could be shortened with the unnecessary scenes. By the end, everything ended too simply and convenient. It wrapped up loosely without much wow factor to it.
Fabulous and confounding! You will stay up all night trying to make sense of the mystery! Skyler Moore is a struggling artist (loved the portions of the book about art) still reeling from the death of her younger sister. Her family has practically disowned her and it is through a series of flashbacks that we learn how the death came about. Just when Skyler things she is about to be evicted she received a call alerting her to an inheritance, a very large inheritance.
Skyler is immediately suspicious. She has no idea who Christopher Whaley, the recently deceased is nor why he left millions to her instead of his wife and children. Worse yet, someone else seems to be unhappy with these turn of events and Skylar suspects her apartment has been broken into and she is being followed. She needs to figure out her connection to Christopher before it is too late! If you dream of a mystery inheritance, love a good twist or just want to read a unique mystery, Between Two Strangers is for you! #Harper #HarperPerrenial #BetweenTwoStrangers #KateWhite
As if the covert-ish gay drop on page 36 wasn’t enough, now we have a blatant drop on page 153 with Rob and his boyfriend Dan.
Also a couple of shoe-horned in diversity checklist bingo characters who are described very specifically by race, when more main characters aren’t described in that level of detail at all.
I mean, write in who you want to write, but don’t just shove in “the little people” because you feel they’re “underrepresented “. It’s insulting. Editors: Knock this crap off.
I have read and enjoyed most of Kate White's books. Between Two Strangers is not a page-turning thriller, but there was enough suspense and mystery to keep me reading and keep me guessing until the end. I did NOT have this one figured out at all! An easy and entertaining read, as always.
Skylar is a struggling artist and shocked when she receives a call from a lawyer regarding a private matter. When she arrives at the lawyer's office, she learns that she is inheriting a large sum of money that is life changing. But who was Christopher Whaley, and why is he leaving her all this money? His name means nothing to her, but looking into his past, she realizes she met him one night 12 years ago at a hotel. Wondering if the money is supposed to be a message of some kind, his family seems to be confused and suspicious t00. As Skylar looks for the truth, she soon realizes that Christopher might have taken other secrets to his grave that could have consequences for her.
Between Two Strangers is twisty and entertaining. I listened to this as an audiobook and was able to start and finish within just a few hours. I wanted to know what was going to happen and I did not guess the ending. It didn't give me the weird suspenseful feeling I enjoy in thrillers, but it was enjoyable. If you're looking for an easy read or listen, this is it.
Another excellent book by Kate White. What would you do if you inherited something from a stranger? Definitely a creative thought. I highly recommend Between Two Strangers. Please see other reviews for more details.
This was probably one of my favorite Kate White books. I loved the premise to this story... Skyler receives a huge inheritance from someone she only met once. Why did he leave the money to her rather than his wife and kids? Was there something in her past that linked her to this stranger? All they had was a one-night stand 12 years ago.
I thought this was a compelling mystery / thriller that doesn't even involve a murder. It definitely has a creepy factor because after Skyler receives news of the inheritance, she starts getting stalked. Plus she knows that the man's wife is angry with her.
It is told from the POV of Skyler's past and present. An enjoyable read that keeps you guessing!
Underwhelming, two dimensional characters, especially the lead, who feels entitled to an inheritance she hardly deserves. As to the suspects, the most perplexing is the premise, not even the result of a crime. If you love mysteries, I recommend you skip this one.
Skyler Moore is a thirty-seven year old struggling artist/graphic designer who works out of a rented loft in Manhattan. She lives in a fourth floor walk-up apartment with her calico cat, named Tuna. She is somewhat estranged from her family back in Connecticut. Her mother has never really forgiven her for the part she played in the untimely death of her half-sister, Chloe.
Struggling financially, she is very skeptical when she receives a message that she is the recipient of an inheritance. It reeks of 'SCAM' to her. After some background checks she realizes that the lawyer who contacted her is genuine. But WHY would someone she doesn't know leave her anything? Then, when the lawyer mentioned the man's nickname, C.J., she begins to grasp that yes, she did know a man named C.J., but it was a one-night stand over a decade ago... The situation is very puzzling indeed.
C.J.'s wife and grown children are resentful of Skyler's bequest and his wife is quite overtly nasty to Skyler. Then, Skyler's apartment is broken into. Nothing was taken, but it is obvious to her that someone was there.
Sinister events escalate as Skyler tries to investigate the reason behind her large inheritance. But... perhaps it would be better for her if she just took the money and ran. She is fearful and paranoid about her own personal safety - and with good reason. Someone seems determined to ruin her life...
With spot-on pacing that is neither too slow, or too fast, this psychological thriller kept my rapt attention throughout.
I can heartily recommend this thriller to all lovers of the genre and plan to keep an eye out for further books by this author.
I really enjoyed this story about Skyler Moore, an artist who receives a phone call that changes her life. The story is told through two timelines and is intriguing and suspenseful. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I can say the book is full of surprises and very entertaining. I like the main character and was rooting for things to turn out well for her. Some of the plot relies on coincidence, but I still found this to be a solid thriller and recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced and suspenseful story.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and HarperCollins at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
I have lots of thoughts about this one. So many chapters in the first quarter of the book ended with “before the night went to ruins” or “what happened in the hours after…” kind of stuff. It frustrated me to no end and felt like a cheap way to include a cliff hanger.
The book is mostly filler pages- it felt like there was no point to anything. That seems like an exaggeration but I assure you it’s not. The pages that were wasted on talking about her cat, her art, her random dire desire to be pregnant? The many, unnecessary descriptive words...
The twist/ending wasn’t interesting. Ugh. Pros: the premise was interesting and there is underlying suspense that makes you want to keep reading
This is my third Kate White’s book, my favorite being The Fiancée.
Like her previous novels, this was a super easy to read that took me no time to finish.
Personally, I found it overall meh. There are some twists, but I was able to predict it from the beginning. Plus, I needed more suspense, a tiny stamp on your artwork calling you a whore isn’t very frightening.
For readers looking for an easy vacation read and is scared of reading most thrillers. This is a good one for you.
Between Two Strangers, by Kate White, was an absolute winner for me! What an incredible story that I truly enjoyed so much. I was drawn into the quiet narrative, hauntingly atmospheric tone and was captivated by the plot, desperate to know the why and how.
I found the main character, Skyler, to be a compelling figure and was drawn to her plight and private struggles. There was an emotional component to this story alongside an intriguing mystery that made it so much more impactful. The novel concluded in a way that felt realistic, satisfying and poignant, while also offering hope…in mankind; in second chances.
The story follows a budding artist, who once specialized in oil painting during graduate school, and has now turned to collages as a type of therapy after a traumatic event. Her works are just now receiving some recognition and are starting to be well-received. Perhaps she can even move away from her graphic design work to follow her dream of becoming a full-time artist and mother.
While she, and her slow-to-love cat, are struggling to find their way in NYC and attempting to create a new life for themselves, Skyler receives notice that she has inherited a windfall of money from a man she had a one night stand with many years ago. She finds the whole thing shocking and utterly perplexing; a puzzle she can’t leave alone until she unearths the reason this money was left to her. As she begins to investigate, she receives troubling messages and experiences some disconcerting, threatening occurrences. The story unravels the mystery thread-by-thread in a gripping and moving manner.
This story was evenly-paced, well-crafted, and kept me invested and engaged throughout the entirety of the plot. I’ve read all of Kate White’s previous novels and have always enjoyed them, but A Stranger Between Us is a new favorite.
Skyler receives a call from an estate attorney stating that she is the recipient of a large inheritance. At first, she has no idea who the man is or why he left her such an enormous amount of money. Until she finally realizes his nickname as a one-night stand she had over a decade ago. Now she must uncover the truth before it destroys her.
Another solid, addicting suspenseful story from Kate White that I finished in just a few hours! Not only is there the mystery of a death weaved into the inheritance plot but the twists held my attention. There’s a lot of Skyler’s internal dialogue and I actually really enjoyed that aspect. I loved the backdrops of NYC and Massachusetts; it brings me back to White’s Bailey Weggins mysteries and the glitz + glamour of the big city (and some murder.🫢) The past and present timelines come together in a unique and unpredictable way.
As you can see, I’ve been a Kate White Stan for YEARS. I’ve always loved escaping into her twisty, thrilling and entertaining storylines, yes…even if there were a few dead bodies along the way. 🤣 I might have even imagined myself as an armchair detective, kinda like Bailey Weggins. All this to say, if you haven’t read any of her books (especially the backlist ones), here’s your sign to pick them all up, including Between Two Strangers which drops TODAY!
Fast paced, with dual timelines from the past (12 yrs ago), and present kept the plot moving quickly, and kept me at the edge of my seat. The way the author wrote this with the alternating dual time lines, the reader is only given small glimpses into the past at a time, while weaving the story with present day. I enjoyed this one!
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy - out now!