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The Stranger
"Immersive, gripping, will pull at your heartstrings" Gilly Macmillan, international bestselling author.
Both thrilling and deeply moving, The Stranger is a devastating love story full of intrigue and dark secrets from Richard and Judy bestselling author Saskia Sarginson.
We all have our secrets. Eleanor Rathmell has kept one her whole life. But when her husband dies and a stranger arrives at her door, her safe life in the idyllic English village she's chosen as her home begins to topple.
Everyone is suspicious of this stranger, except for Eleanor. But her trust in him will put her life in danger, because nothing is as it seems; not her dead husband, the man who claims to love her, or the inscrutable outsider to whom she's opened her home and her heart.
Both thrilling and deeply moving, The Stranger is a devastating love story full of intrigue and dark secrets from Richard and Judy bestselling author Saskia Sarginson.
We all have our secrets. Eleanor Rathmell has kept one her whole life. But when her husband dies and a stranger arrives at her door, her safe life in the idyllic English village she's chosen as her home begins to topple.
Everyone is suspicious of this stranger, except for Eleanor. But her trust in him will put her life in danger, because nothing is as it seems; not her dead husband, the man who claims to love her, or the inscrutable outsider to whom she's opened her home and her heart.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2016
66 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Saskia Sarginson
16 books226 followersSaskia grew up in Suffolk and now lives in London. She is the mother of four children, including identical twin girls. She has a B.A hons in English Literature from Cambridge and an M.A in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway. She's worked as a Health & Beauty Editor,freelance journalist, ghost-writer and script reader. As well as writing and reading, she loves tango dancing and dog walking,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 26, 2017
"The Stranger" is an excellent page turner that really draws you in from the very first page and doesn't let go. There's a lot of twists and turns to this story, in fact I felt as if every page revealed something new. Part thriller, part love story (that has a dark feel to it) makes this a brilliant read that I truly enjoyed.
When Eleanor (Ellie) Rathmell's husband dies and a stranger arrives at her door, her safe and idyllic life begins to topple. Everyone is suspicious of this stranger, except for Ellie. Will this put her life in danger, as it soon becomes obvious that nothing around her is as it seems?
There's some good strong characters throughout and I particularly liked Luca.
The author - Saskia Sarginson - has clearly done her research regarding migrants, the refugee crisis and domestic slavery and its obvious that this is a subject close to her heart.
I did begin to suspect early on who the 'bad guy' was but that didn't spoil the enjoyment of the book as it was interesting to see where the storyline was taking my suspicions. With so many well developed characters there's many that could be 'the stranger'!
Quick, easy to read and follow, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this atmospheric and gripping read whilst also staying light and enjoyable.
4.5 stars
When Eleanor (Ellie) Rathmell's husband dies and a stranger arrives at her door, her safe and idyllic life begins to topple. Everyone is suspicious of this stranger, except for Ellie. Will this put her life in danger, as it soon becomes obvious that nothing around her is as it seems?
There's some good strong characters throughout and I particularly liked Luca.
The author - Saskia Sarginson - has clearly done her research regarding migrants, the refugee crisis and domestic slavery and its obvious that this is a subject close to her heart.
I did begin to suspect early on who the 'bad guy' was but that didn't spoil the enjoyment of the book as it was interesting to see where the storyline was taking my suspicions. With so many well developed characters there's many that could be 'the stranger'!
Quick, easy to read and follow, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this atmospheric and gripping read whilst also staying light and enjoyable.
4.5 stars
October 14, 2020
Three and a half stars.
Eleanor Rathmell, usually known as Ellie, has a secret she has guarded for years. Her husband William dies in a car crash she witnesses. Why was he out on the road when he was supposed to be at home? And where was he coming from at such a speed? Perhaps Ellie is not the only one with a secret? It is after this that a stranger appears at her door. His name is Luca. People in the community where Ellie lives are suspicious of this stranger, but Eleanor is not. She feels compassion for him. Ellie manages the tea rooms in the village so she hears all the gossip. But she doesn’t want to be the subject of it. When a neighbour whose wife has died shows interest in her, Ellie wants to keep it secret. At least until she decides if she can start again with someone else. He is the owner of a large local farm where many migrants work. It does seem somewhat hypocritical that the townsfolk treat the migrants shamefully yet still raise money for Syrian refugees. But, sadly that is often the way people think. It’s easy to throw money at things when they don’t actually impinge on your life and community. When strange events start to happen around Ellie and her business she wonders who is responsible and why she is the target.
This book got me in from the outset. I liked Ellie, who is caring if a bit naive. She is not without faults and at times makes stupid decisions, but that just makes her seem more real. I liked Luca and the mystery that surrounds him. And how does the Romanian refugee Anna fit into the picture and what does she have to do with Luca?
The story of these chracters is fleshed out with flashbacks that reveal more of their lives. Although I got annoyed with Ellie at times for some of her decisions, she was still easy to like. But is she is danger? And who from? There are a few twists and turns in the story. Towards the end it does seem to get a bit over the top, but overall I enjoyed it. Although it is quite long, it kept my interest as there was a lot going on. The plight of refugees was handled well in this story of secrets, greed, prejudice, abuse, and grief, just to name a few. Not a perfect read but certainly involving and raises some issues worth thinking about. Recommended as a good read.
Eleanor Rathmell, usually known as Ellie, has a secret she has guarded for years. Her husband William dies in a car crash she witnesses. Why was he out on the road when he was supposed to be at home? And where was he coming from at such a speed? Perhaps Ellie is not the only one with a secret? It is after this that a stranger appears at her door. His name is Luca. People in the community where Ellie lives are suspicious of this stranger, but Eleanor is not. She feels compassion for him. Ellie manages the tea rooms in the village so she hears all the gossip. But she doesn’t want to be the subject of it. When a neighbour whose wife has died shows interest in her, Ellie wants to keep it secret. At least until she decides if she can start again with someone else. He is the owner of a large local farm where many migrants work. It does seem somewhat hypocritical that the townsfolk treat the migrants shamefully yet still raise money for Syrian refugees. But, sadly that is often the way people think. It’s easy to throw money at things when they don’t actually impinge on your life and community. When strange events start to happen around Ellie and her business she wonders who is responsible and why she is the target.
This book got me in from the outset. I liked Ellie, who is caring if a bit naive. She is not without faults and at times makes stupid decisions, but that just makes her seem more real. I liked Luca and the mystery that surrounds him. And how does the Romanian refugee Anna fit into the picture and what does she have to do with Luca?
The story of these chracters is fleshed out with flashbacks that reveal more of their lives. Although I got annoyed with Ellie at times for some of her decisions, she was still easy to like. But is she is danger? And who from? There are a few twists and turns in the story. Towards the end it does seem to get a bit over the top, but overall I enjoyed it. Although it is quite long, it kept my interest as there was a lot going on. The plight of refugees was handled well in this story of secrets, greed, prejudice, abuse, and grief, just to name a few. Not a perfect read but certainly involving and raises some issues worth thinking about. Recommended as a good read.
September 9, 2018
A highly enjoyable thriller with plenty of twists!
I need to read more from this author.
I need to read more from this author.
May 28, 2017
A small town complete with a tea room is the setting of this nuanced tale by Saskia Sarginson. This is not the obvious psychological thriller with never-ending surprises that I was expecting, but unsurprisingly given the previous two books I’ve read by this author; The Other Me and The Twins, there is undeniable tension and that sense of needing to know what happens next.
Eleanor Rathmell is the owner of the aforementioned tea room, she also keeps an assortment of animals at her home which she shares with her husband William. All is good in her life, except the secret she has kept all her married life. With few cares in her world, Ellie’s life is turned upside down when she witnesses a horrific car crash, an accident that to her horror she discovers results in William’s death. Worse is to come as she finds evidence that she wasn’t the only one with a secret.
What starts as a fairly standard secrets and lies premise quickly morphs into a fairly issue-led novel about migrants. I was delighted to find although the author had clearly done her research, this not being a ‘shouty’ book from a soapbox, she hadn’t forgotten that we, her readers, want to be entertained. I can’t deny the social commentary on an issue that is far more complex than either side of the debate can sometimes appear to be willing to understand. The migrants featured in The Stranger work on a local farm working for David, a rich farmer with two grown-up children. The local’s mistrust of these migrants could seem at odds with the fundraiser they run for the refugees of the Syrian disaster. When a Romanian moves into Ellie’s garage to help out with jobs on the smallholding strange things begin to happen and there are no shortage of people willing to warn Ellie about the mistake she is making. Ellie has to decide whether the stranger she has welcomed is behind the acts or is someone trying to remove him from the scene.
From that short taster you can see that the plot lines of a widow struggling to comprehend the loss of her husband coupled with the secrets she has uncovered seem at total odds with the local issues of migrants but all of this is neatly tied in, often revolving around the tea room where everyday life continues and Ellie gets her life back onto some sort of track with the help of her assistant Kate. Inevitably there is some romance to sweeten the darker aspects of the storyline which emerge gradually and with great restraint as the book progresses.
The characters are distinct and the dialogue convincing which combined with the measured writing creates a subtle tension when life in the village begins to unravel and Ellie is left unsure who she can trust. The final outcome all the more shocking for the way the author plays the build-up straight down the line.
Although this wasn’t quite the book I was expecting to read I found it to be both an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Eleanor Rathmell is the owner of the aforementioned tea room, she also keeps an assortment of animals at her home which she shares with her husband William. All is good in her life, except the secret she has kept all her married life. With few cares in her world, Ellie’s life is turned upside down when she witnesses a horrific car crash, an accident that to her horror she discovers results in William’s death. Worse is to come as she finds evidence that she wasn’t the only one with a secret.
What starts as a fairly standard secrets and lies premise quickly morphs into a fairly issue-led novel about migrants. I was delighted to find although the author had clearly done her research, this not being a ‘shouty’ book from a soapbox, she hadn’t forgotten that we, her readers, want to be entertained. I can’t deny the social commentary on an issue that is far more complex than either side of the debate can sometimes appear to be willing to understand. The migrants featured in The Stranger work on a local farm working for David, a rich farmer with two grown-up children. The local’s mistrust of these migrants could seem at odds with the fundraiser they run for the refugees of the Syrian disaster. When a Romanian moves into Ellie’s garage to help out with jobs on the smallholding strange things begin to happen and there are no shortage of people willing to warn Ellie about the mistake she is making. Ellie has to decide whether the stranger she has welcomed is behind the acts or is someone trying to remove him from the scene.
From that short taster you can see that the plot lines of a widow struggling to comprehend the loss of her husband coupled with the secrets she has uncovered seem at total odds with the local issues of migrants but all of this is neatly tied in, often revolving around the tea room where everyday life continues and Ellie gets her life back onto some sort of track with the help of her assistant Kate. Inevitably there is some romance to sweeten the darker aspects of the storyline which emerge gradually and with great restraint as the book progresses.
The characters are distinct and the dialogue convincing which combined with the measured writing creates a subtle tension when life in the village begins to unravel and Ellie is left unsure who she can trust. The final outcome all the more shocking for the way the author plays the build-up straight down the line.
Although this wasn’t quite the book I was expecting to read I found it to be both an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
March 20, 2017
originally posted on HellyReads
I seem to be stumbling across books lately that turn out to be entirely different than I was expecting - in a good way. I was expecting a gentle 'getting over the loss of a husband' story, instead I got something much more sinister and complex.
This was the story of Ellie, who is revealing a secret from her past a piece at a time, which relates to what is happening in her life now.
Will, Ellie's husband has died, and as she is trying to piece things together, 2 men come into her life. One is David, the local landowner who runs a big farm in the village, the other a Romanian migrant who Ellie decides to try and help by giving him some work around her property. Not everything is quite as it seems, with snippets and clues being dropped in here and there. At around the 3/4 mark everything goes a bit crazy and lots of underhanded dealings are revealed, secrets are exposed, and without giving anything away, it is pretty hard to describe the potential disater in these people's lives.
The village where this is set is in Kent, and the locals are all seemingly extremely conservative, and see all the migrants as 'foreigners' and potential thieves, rapists and criminals - basically Nigel Farage & UKIP's wet dream. Being an outsider, Ellie looks at the world differently and is more willing to be nice and to trust.
There is a growing sense of foreboding and the feeling of something sinister going on throughout this which I loved. It was very well written, with believable characters, lots of twists and turns, and it mad me feel as though I had no idea who to trust at all. The further on I got, the harder it was to put down.
It dealt with a whole host of issues relevant to modern life - migrant workers, refugees, grief, loss financial worries amongst others, but it did so in a very believable and relateable way.
Highly recommended to anyone fond of a page turner, twists and turns and attractive Romanians! Brilliant!
Received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I seem to be stumbling across books lately that turn out to be entirely different than I was expecting - in a good way. I was expecting a gentle 'getting over the loss of a husband' story, instead I got something much more sinister and complex.
This was the story of Ellie, who is revealing a secret from her past a piece at a time, which relates to what is happening in her life now.
Will, Ellie's husband has died, and as she is trying to piece things together, 2 men come into her life. One is David, the local landowner who runs a big farm in the village, the other a Romanian migrant who Ellie decides to try and help by giving him some work around her property. Not everything is quite as it seems, with snippets and clues being dropped in here and there. At around the 3/4 mark everything goes a bit crazy and lots of underhanded dealings are revealed, secrets are exposed, and without giving anything away, it is pretty hard to describe the potential disater in these people's lives.
The village where this is set is in Kent, and the locals are all seemingly extremely conservative, and see all the migrants as 'foreigners' and potential thieves, rapists and criminals - basically Nigel Farage & UKIP's wet dream. Being an outsider, Ellie looks at the world differently and is more willing to be nice and to trust.
There is a growing sense of foreboding and the feeling of something sinister going on throughout this which I loved. It was very well written, with believable characters, lots of twists and turns, and it mad me feel as though I had no idea who to trust at all. The further on I got, the harder it was to put down.
It dealt with a whole host of issues relevant to modern life - migrant workers, refugees, grief, loss financial worries amongst others, but it did so in a very believable and relateable way.
Highly recommended to anyone fond of a page turner, twists and turns and attractive Romanians! Brilliant!
Received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2017
Twisty, turny, dark and suspenseful.... who can you trust? The main protagonist Ellie becomes friendly with her upper-crust neighbour David, a year after her husband William dies in a car accident. William has lost his wife too, so they are lost souls together.
Ellie's worried about what the Kent villagers will think about her relationship with David and even more so when she befriends a migrant worker called Luca....
So far, so straight forward. But Saskia Sarginson weaves a darker tale from these threads - making for an uncomfortable read at times. It all comes together brilliantly but I did find that I had to put the book down and come back to it after a couple of days' breather!
All in all, it's a respectable 3.9* from me. Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book -- Saskia Sarginson's The Twins is one of my all-time-favourites - her writing is fabulous.
Ellie's worried about what the Kent villagers will think about her relationship with David and even more so when she befriends a migrant worker called Luca....
So far, so straight forward. But Saskia Sarginson weaves a darker tale from these threads - making for an uncomfortable read at times. It all comes together brilliantly but I did find that I had to put the book down and come back to it after a couple of days' breather!
All in all, it's a respectable 3.9* from me. Perhaps I wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book -- Saskia Sarginson's The Twins is one of my all-time-favourites - her writing is fabulous.
November 21, 2017
A good read
I loved this book a mystery that keeps you engrossed.
A modern book of migration and slavery which happens in rural uk
I loved this book a mystery that keeps you engrossed.
A modern book of migration and slavery which happens in rural uk
May 19, 2018
Wenn am Ende NICHT alles gut ist
Als Ellie Rathmell auf dem Fahrrad von ihrem Cafe „The Old Dairy“ auf dem Heimweg ist, fährt ihr Mann William wie gejagt an ihr vorbei – er stirbt unweit von ihr im Auto. Doch neben allem Schock, aller Erstarrung wirft die Folgezeit viele Fragen auf. Warum verhielt sich Will früher am Tag ausweichend ihr gegenüber? Wozu hatte er so viel Geld vom Konto abgehoben? Was bedeutet die Tasche mit Kleidung? Nachdem Ellie einem Fremden, einem Rumänen, Obdach gewährt in ihrer Garage und ihn mit Gartenarbeiten beauftragt, erlebt sie offene Feindschaft im nahen Dorf. Und bald muss sie sich nicht nur die Frage stellen, was hier los ist, sondern auch, wem sie trauen kann.
„Wie ich höre, beherbergst du einen Wanderarbeiter in deiner Garage.“
„Wie bitte?“
„Wir mögen hier keine Ausländer.“
Erwartungshaltung: vielen „typischen“ Thrillerlesern wird dieses Buch viel zu langsam voranschreiten und vermutlich nicht „krass“ genug sein. Es ist also wichtig, dass es eher eine „drohende Atmosphäre“ ist, die für den gemächlich erscheinenden Einstieg der Handlung vorherrscht. Hier wird nicht erst eine Gewalttat verübt und dann ermittelt, vielmehr merkt der Leser mit Ellie zusammen erst langsam, was für Machenschaften hier längst stattgefunden haben.
Wichtig: NICHT mehr zum Inhalt lesen. Ich hatte das Buch dank einer entsprechenden Aktion schon vor dem offiziellen Erscheinen und konnte somit völlig unbelastet in die sehr vielen „red herrings“ tappen, die die britische Autorin Sasika Sarginson ausgelegt hatte. Wer ist die junge Frau zu Beginn, die ihr Baby weggeben muss? Wer ist das Baby? Hatte Nachbarin Henrietta ein Verhältnis? Was verbindet Luca und Anca? Das ist definitiv so gestaltet, dass ich immer wieder zweifelte, ganz ähnlich wie Ellie.
Im Rückblick, ich hatte das Buch eher spätabends beendet, wird ein Verbrechen nie gesühnt werden: das Verhalten der anderen. Wer mich so zum Nachdenken bringt, ganz ohne erhobenen Zeigefinger, verdient 5 Sterne.
Als Ellie Rathmell auf dem Fahrrad von ihrem Cafe „The Old Dairy“ auf dem Heimweg ist, fährt ihr Mann William wie gejagt an ihr vorbei – er stirbt unweit von ihr im Auto. Doch neben allem Schock, aller Erstarrung wirft die Folgezeit viele Fragen auf. Warum verhielt sich Will früher am Tag ausweichend ihr gegenüber? Wozu hatte er so viel Geld vom Konto abgehoben? Was bedeutet die Tasche mit Kleidung? Nachdem Ellie einem Fremden, einem Rumänen, Obdach gewährt in ihrer Garage und ihn mit Gartenarbeiten beauftragt, erlebt sie offene Feindschaft im nahen Dorf. Und bald muss sie sich nicht nur die Frage stellen, was hier los ist, sondern auch, wem sie trauen kann.
„Wie ich höre, beherbergst du einen Wanderarbeiter in deiner Garage.“
„Wie bitte?“
„Wir mögen hier keine Ausländer.“
Erwartungshaltung: vielen „typischen“ Thrillerlesern wird dieses Buch viel zu langsam voranschreiten und vermutlich nicht „krass“ genug sein. Es ist also wichtig, dass es eher eine „drohende Atmosphäre“ ist, die für den gemächlich erscheinenden Einstieg der Handlung vorherrscht. Hier wird nicht erst eine Gewalttat verübt und dann ermittelt, vielmehr merkt der Leser mit Ellie zusammen erst langsam, was für Machenschaften hier längst stattgefunden haben.
Wichtig: NICHT mehr zum Inhalt lesen. Ich hatte das Buch dank einer entsprechenden Aktion schon vor dem offiziellen Erscheinen und konnte somit völlig unbelastet in die sehr vielen „red herrings“ tappen, die die britische Autorin Sasika Sarginson ausgelegt hatte. Wer ist die junge Frau zu Beginn, die ihr Baby weggeben muss? Wer ist das Baby? Hatte Nachbarin Henrietta ein Verhältnis? Was verbindet Luca und Anca? Das ist definitiv so gestaltet, dass ich immer wieder zweifelte, ganz ähnlich wie Ellie.
Im Rückblick, ich hatte das Buch eher spätabends beendet, wird ein Verbrechen nie gesühnt werden: das Verhalten der anderen. Wer mich so zum Nachdenken bringt, ganz ohne erhobenen Zeigefinger, verdient 5 Sterne.
November 21, 2016
With such acclaim for her previous two novels, The Twins and The Other Me (neither of which I've read), had high hopes and an open mind for this one.
But from opening chapters, wasn't a fan of staccato, breathless sentences, steam-rollered character introductions and heavy-handed plot previews. Nonetheless...
Carried on and by 234 pages (2/3) was ready to retire the book. A meandering, circular storyline of our 40 year old widowed protagonist Ellie going through a gamut of moods and motions which never got out of the wading pool of shallow descriptions and splishy-splashy romantic notions. Not only did I want to shake some sensibility into the poor gal with every plot turn, I honestly couldn't fathom how dumb yet deft she was supposed to be, being a Cafe business owner, respected self-taught pastry chef, jill-of-all-home-maintenance duties, hobby farm owner, orchard manager, domestic animal goddess, former mid-wife, all while being a fine looking, curvy, able-bodied lover. Right.
But with only 150 pages to go, figured I'd see The Stranger through. And surprise, surprise. Suddenly a whole series of capers, confessions and conflicts emerge. We jump out of the wading pool and head to the nearest Merry-Go-Round for some swift spin cycle turns and spirals. Interesting? Yes. As much as it's interesting to watch eddies and whirlpools forming on a bubble bath waterline before those yucky sucky sounds remind you it's all going to end up down the drain.
Farewell, scented girly bubbles. Would rather a good quick scrub in a hot shower to stimulate the senses. So farewell, The Stranger, chick-lit masquerading as thriller.
But from opening chapters, wasn't a fan of staccato, breathless sentences, steam-rollered character introductions and heavy-handed plot previews. Nonetheless...
Carried on and by 234 pages (2/3) was ready to retire the book. A meandering, circular storyline of our 40 year old widowed protagonist Ellie going through a gamut of moods and motions which never got out of the wading pool of shallow descriptions and splishy-splashy romantic notions. Not only did I want to shake some sensibility into the poor gal with every plot turn, I honestly couldn't fathom how dumb yet deft she was supposed to be, being a Cafe business owner, respected self-taught pastry chef, jill-of-all-home-maintenance duties, hobby farm owner, orchard manager, domestic animal goddess, former mid-wife, all while being a fine looking, curvy, able-bodied lover. Right.
But with only 150 pages to go, figured I'd see The Stranger through. And surprise, surprise. Suddenly a whole series of capers, confessions and conflicts emerge. We jump out of the wading pool and head to the nearest Merry-Go-Round for some swift spin cycle turns and spirals. Interesting? Yes. As much as it's interesting to watch eddies and whirlpools forming on a bubble bath waterline before those yucky sucky sounds remind you it's all going to end up down the drain.
Farewell, scented girly bubbles. Would rather a good quick scrub in a hot shower to stimulate the senses. So farewell, The Stranger, chick-lit masquerading as thriller.
December 1, 2016
Saskia Sarginson's latest novel departs from her familiar style of lightly infusing thriller-esque tensions into the narrative of the novel. Instead, 'The Stranger' opts for a more direct and purposed approach, and to great effect. That is not to say that Sarginson doesn't handle these new elements with elegance and subtlety, she does, as per, manage to gently build the pace of the novel to a 'crack-on-the-head, didn't see that coming' climax.
Like the narrative, character development is comprised of 'flashback' (for want of a better word) chapters, which gradually administer relevant background information pertaining to the characters within the plot. These 'flashback' chapters help us to both understand their motivations and build their otherwise dislocated actions into a richer implied and expressed backstory. Importantly, these characters feel vulnerable and real. For example, the protagonist, Ellie, often expresses relatable anxieties that afflict both her personal life and her professional life. Even the characters treading the periphery of the plot have a psychological depth revealed through dialogue, e.g. Kate's perpetual struggle for love revealing insecurities never explicitly expressed.
Most importantly, for me anyway, is the relevant social commentary that one can take from this novel. The exploration of the fear of the 'other' through the theme of immigration and the plight of the refugees elevates Sarginson's piece from an engaging thriller, to an important piece of commercial literature. Over the course of the narrative, Saskia Sarginson manages to transform the foreign characters in book from unknown, feared 'others' to human beings that we recognise we should care about. At a time when we're being buffeted by tabloid headlines telling us to fear migration and migrants, it's reassuring to know that there are sources of compassion and understanding to tap into as well.
Like the narrative, character development is comprised of 'flashback' (for want of a better word) chapters, which gradually administer relevant background information pertaining to the characters within the plot. These 'flashback' chapters help us to both understand their motivations and build their otherwise dislocated actions into a richer implied and expressed backstory. Importantly, these characters feel vulnerable and real. For example, the protagonist, Ellie, often expresses relatable anxieties that afflict both her personal life and her professional life. Even the characters treading the periphery of the plot have a psychological depth revealed through dialogue, e.g. Kate's perpetual struggle for love revealing insecurities never explicitly expressed.
Most importantly, for me anyway, is the relevant social commentary that one can take from this novel. The exploration of the fear of the 'other' through the theme of immigration and the plight of the refugees elevates Sarginson's piece from an engaging thriller, to an important piece of commercial literature. Over the course of the narrative, Saskia Sarginson manages to transform the foreign characters in book from unknown, feared 'others' to human beings that we recognise we should care about. At a time when we're being buffeted by tabloid headlines telling us to fear migration and migrants, it's reassuring to know that there are sources of compassion and understanding to tap into as well.
September 16, 2017
Rating: 3.5 stars
October 19, 2016
Saskia Sarginson has triumphed again with this, her fourth novel. She has a breathtaking command of human psychology in all its complexity, drawing her characters with skill and sympathy, and an equally impressive command of plot and narrative. The stories she writes are those we recognise, and within them, her characters move with emotions that are our own. Coupled with a poetry and lyricism to her prose and an unfailing sensuality, her books are rare treats. This one, however, moved into new territory – that of a thriller. Her earlier books contained these elements, but this is a more studied entry into the genre. I was gripped from the opening pages, and did not see the twists and turns as I followed the main protagonist through the murky pages of migrant exploitation – itself a timely topic which will make us look very differently at their plight. I thoroughly recommend this book – it is a page turner. It is a thriller. But as with the best of its genre, it is much more. It is also a study of grief and love, cruelty and ambition, prejudice and greed.
May 15, 2017
I was really looking forward to reading The Stranger after reading another of her books, Without You. In the opening prologue, I thought I was going to be reading a darker book than I got, but this isn’t a bad thing. Whilst The Stranger is a thriller, it was a much more nuanced and thoughtful piece of writing than I had maybe being expecting.
Migrants, and how we see and treat them, are at the heart of this story. Sarginson manages to highlight issues without being preachy and turns their plight and our response to it into a gripping read, one that kept me turning pages.
Possibly the only downside to the book is the bad guy became clear a bit too early for me as I like to be kept guessing BUT to make up for this there were other twists in the tale I didn’t see coming at all and which kept me reading. I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend it.
Migrants, and how we see and treat them, are at the heart of this story. Sarginson manages to highlight issues without being preachy and turns their plight and our response to it into a gripping read, one that kept me turning pages.
Possibly the only downside to the book is the bad guy became clear a bit too early for me as I like to be kept guessing BUT to make up for this there were other twists in the tale I didn’t see coming at all and which kept me reading. I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend it.
April 5, 2018
I very enjoyable read. It was a fast paced mystery/thriller, which I read very quickly. The subject matter of migrants was also very informative and not a subject I have read much about. The only very minor irritation was the protagonist Ellie, she was very trusting and naive and seemed to just go along with everything people wanted her to do, and whilst there were valid mitigating circumstances for her behaviour, I wanted to wake her up a bit a times. Overall a very good read and I will definitely seek more work from this author.
January 15, 2018
This was very, very flat.
An extremely underwhelming storyline that was also quite long-winded.
I can't say I enjoyed anything about this, it just didn't grip me - not even once. Perhaps I couldn't get on with the twee village/tea shop life and the farfetched scandal going on.. It didn't work for me. Many of the character's I didn't find particularly relevant or intriguing either.
An extremely underwhelming storyline that was also quite long-winded.
I can't say I enjoyed anything about this, it just didn't grip me - not even once. Perhaps I couldn't get on with the twee village/tea shop life and the farfetched scandal going on.. It didn't work for me. Many of the character's I didn't find particularly relevant or intriguing either.
July 31, 2017
While parts of this book were a bit predictable and the main character seemed a bit too clueless at times, I did enjoy reading it.
June 6, 2018
„The Stranger“ fiel mir durch die #NetGalleyDEChallenge in die Hände. Mir war nach etwas Britischem, und ich lebe als ehemalige Städterin selbst in einem Dorf, wo die Gerüchteküche schnell hochkocht, also passte das. Große Erwartungen hatte ich allerdings nicht. beTHRILLED ist ein Imprint von Bastei Lübbe, das ausschließlich eBooks veröffentlicht, in diesem Fall aus dem Krimi-Genre, und obwohl ich inzwischen eBooks genauso gerne lese wie Print, bin ich schon ein bisschen skeptisch, wenn ein Buch es nicht auch in den Druck schafft.
Aber ich lasse mich ja gerne vom Gegenteil überzeigen, also landet „The Stranger“ auf meinem Kindle. Das tut sich gar nicht schlecht an: ein mysteriöser, plötzlicher Todesfall bei Nacht, eine verstörte Hinterbliebene, und dann taucht ziemlich schnell (wenn auch nach einer etwas absurden Zirkusszene) der düster-wortkarge Luca bei Ellie auf. Eine Andeutung von Knistern liegt in der Luft. Ein zweiter Mann macht Ellie den Hof. Aha – ist das hier etwa romantic suspense? Wird es mehr um Ellie und die Männer gehen als um einen Krimiplot?
Krimi oder Romanze? Oder beides?
Nein. Es bleibt ein Krimi. Einer von der gemächlichen Sorte, wo in einem Dorf im Verlauf hinter der hübschen Landlust-Fassade ziemlicher Dreck ans Licht kommt. Dabei überrascht mich Saskia Sarginson (im übrigen gebürtige Engländerin trotz des skandinavischen Namens), weil sie das sehr aktuelle Thema Migration und Fremdenhass mit einwebt. Die Bigotterie der Dorfbewohner, die einerseits Spendenaktionen für Flüchtlinge auf den Weg bringen und andererseits den örtlichen Wanderarbeitern nur mit Verdächtigungen und Misstrauen begegnen, ist einer der traurigsten und auch realistischsten Züge der Geschichte.
Die Krimihandlung als solche ist solide, allerdings wird schon früh klar, wer sich später als Bösewicht entpuppen wird und wer als eigentlicher Held. Ein paar Wendungen sind leicht durchschaubar, andere nicht ganz so sehr. Das ein oder andere – wie z.B. Ellie’s traumatische Vergangenheit und ihre Eltern – wirkt überkonstruiert. Man sieht vieles kommen. Bleibt nur die Frage nach dem Warum und wie genau zu beantworten, und das tut Sarginson.
Es holpert hier und da
Einen Touch von romantischer Spannung behält das Ganze trotzdem. Lucas düstere Anziehungskraft und David’s großzügiges Werben führen zu einer typischen, zwischen zwei Kerlen hin-und hergerissenen Hauptfigur. Das ist ein bisschen sexy, manchmal ein bisschen nervig, bringt vor allem aber die größte Schwäche von „The Stranger“ ans Licht: Ellie. Sie ist als Hauptfigur zwar grundsätzlich sympathisch, verhält sich aber gerade in Bezug auf die beiden Männer mit ihren über vierzig Jahren immer wieder naiv, unstet, einfach nicht altersgemäß. In ihrer Ehe war angeblich sie die realistische, pragmatische Hälfte. Luca und David gegenüber wirkt sie abwechselnd hilflos, gutgläubig, unüberlegt, mal zu leichtgläubig, mal zu paranoid. Als Figur ist Ellie nicht schlüssig geschrieben, handelt zu gegensätzlich. Man mag sie, kriegt zwischendurch aber immer mal die Krise mit ihr.
Was den Schreibstil angeht, ist „The Stranger“ nicht anspruchsvoll und wirkt manchmal ein bisschen unrund. Hier wird eine Szene zu genau beschrieben, an anderer Stelle hüpft die Autorin zu schnell durch den Augenblick. Wie die Hauptfigur, haftet dem ganzen Buch ein leicht unrundes Gefühl an. Trotzdem lässt es sich leicht und schnell lesen. Die kurzen Kapitel halten einen am Ball. Es gibt genug Wendungen, Figuren und Spannungsmomente, um mit diesem eBook einen freien Tag oder ein Wochenende gut rumzubringen, ohne dass es einem den Schlaf raubt.
Fazit:
Ein Dorfkrimi mit leicht düsterem Romantik-Anteil, der mit den Hintergrundthemen Migration und Fremdenhass überrascht. Der Krimiplot ist ganz ordentlich, für Genre-Geübte allerdings durchschaubar. Der Romantik-Anteil nimmt nicht überhand, sorgt für ein paar knisternde Momente, allerdings auch für das Zutagetreten von Schwächen in der Figurenzeichnung. Die Hauptfigur ist inkonsistent, einiges ist überzeichnet. Stilistisch manchmal ein bisschen holprig, ist dieser Krimi dennoch unterhaltsam, besser als erwartet und alles in allem gut für einen faulen Lesetag auf dem Sofa.
Aber ich lasse mich ja gerne vom Gegenteil überzeigen, also landet „The Stranger“ auf meinem Kindle. Das tut sich gar nicht schlecht an: ein mysteriöser, plötzlicher Todesfall bei Nacht, eine verstörte Hinterbliebene, und dann taucht ziemlich schnell (wenn auch nach einer etwas absurden Zirkusszene) der düster-wortkarge Luca bei Ellie auf. Eine Andeutung von Knistern liegt in der Luft. Ein zweiter Mann macht Ellie den Hof. Aha – ist das hier etwa romantic suspense? Wird es mehr um Ellie und die Männer gehen als um einen Krimiplot?
Krimi oder Romanze? Oder beides?
Nein. Es bleibt ein Krimi. Einer von der gemächlichen Sorte, wo in einem Dorf im Verlauf hinter der hübschen Landlust-Fassade ziemlicher Dreck ans Licht kommt. Dabei überrascht mich Saskia Sarginson (im übrigen gebürtige Engländerin trotz des skandinavischen Namens), weil sie das sehr aktuelle Thema Migration und Fremdenhass mit einwebt. Die Bigotterie der Dorfbewohner, die einerseits Spendenaktionen für Flüchtlinge auf den Weg bringen und andererseits den örtlichen Wanderarbeitern nur mit Verdächtigungen und Misstrauen begegnen, ist einer der traurigsten und auch realistischsten Züge der Geschichte.
Die Krimihandlung als solche ist solide, allerdings wird schon früh klar, wer sich später als Bösewicht entpuppen wird und wer als eigentlicher Held. Ein paar Wendungen sind leicht durchschaubar, andere nicht ganz so sehr. Das ein oder andere – wie z.B. Ellie’s traumatische Vergangenheit und ihre Eltern – wirkt überkonstruiert. Man sieht vieles kommen. Bleibt nur die Frage nach dem Warum und wie genau zu beantworten, und das tut Sarginson.
Es holpert hier und da
Einen Touch von romantischer Spannung behält das Ganze trotzdem. Lucas düstere Anziehungskraft und David’s großzügiges Werben führen zu einer typischen, zwischen zwei Kerlen hin-und hergerissenen Hauptfigur. Das ist ein bisschen sexy, manchmal ein bisschen nervig, bringt vor allem aber die größte Schwäche von „The Stranger“ ans Licht: Ellie. Sie ist als Hauptfigur zwar grundsätzlich sympathisch, verhält sich aber gerade in Bezug auf die beiden Männer mit ihren über vierzig Jahren immer wieder naiv, unstet, einfach nicht altersgemäß. In ihrer Ehe war angeblich sie die realistische, pragmatische Hälfte. Luca und David gegenüber wirkt sie abwechselnd hilflos, gutgläubig, unüberlegt, mal zu leichtgläubig, mal zu paranoid. Als Figur ist Ellie nicht schlüssig geschrieben, handelt zu gegensätzlich. Man mag sie, kriegt zwischendurch aber immer mal die Krise mit ihr.
Was den Schreibstil angeht, ist „The Stranger“ nicht anspruchsvoll und wirkt manchmal ein bisschen unrund. Hier wird eine Szene zu genau beschrieben, an anderer Stelle hüpft die Autorin zu schnell durch den Augenblick. Wie die Hauptfigur, haftet dem ganzen Buch ein leicht unrundes Gefühl an. Trotzdem lässt es sich leicht und schnell lesen. Die kurzen Kapitel halten einen am Ball. Es gibt genug Wendungen, Figuren und Spannungsmomente, um mit diesem eBook einen freien Tag oder ein Wochenende gut rumzubringen, ohne dass es einem den Schlaf raubt.
Fazit:
Ein Dorfkrimi mit leicht düsterem Romantik-Anteil, der mit den Hintergrundthemen Migration und Fremdenhass überrascht. Der Krimiplot ist ganz ordentlich, für Genre-Geübte allerdings durchschaubar. Der Romantik-Anteil nimmt nicht überhand, sorgt für ein paar knisternde Momente, allerdings auch für das Zutagetreten von Schwächen in der Figurenzeichnung. Die Hauptfigur ist inkonsistent, einiges ist überzeichnet. Stilistisch manchmal ein bisschen holprig, ist dieser Krimi dennoch unterhaltsam, besser als erwartet und alles in allem gut für einen faulen Lesetag auf dem Sofa.
September 4, 2018
The Stranger von Saskia Sarginson
Erscheinungsdatum 1.06.2018 gelesen als ebook (kindle) im Mai 2018 dank netgalley
Genre: Thriller
Die Erzählerin erlebt am Anfang der Geschichte fast den Unfalltod ihres Mannes mit und kämpft mit dem Alltag und mit den Fragen, die sich daraus ergeben. Geld ist verschwunden, der Mann saß betrunken am Steuer, nichts passt zusammen.
Irgendwie bewältigt sie ihren Alltag, dei Arbeit im eigenen Café und die Versorgung der Tiere, die bei ihr das Gnadenbrot bekommen. Sie ist vertraut mit dem englischen Dorf und doch zugezogene Außenseiterin.
Ein mit ihr und ihrem Mann bekannter Gutsherr bietet ihr Hilfe nach dem Verlust an.
Dann taucht ein rumänischer Wanderarbeiter auf, den sie kurz vorher in einem Zirkus im vertrauten Umgang mit Tieren erlebt hat, und aus einem Impuls heraus gibt sie ihm Arbeit.
Selten habe ich einen Thriller gelesen, der sich so langsam und bedächtig entwickelte. Der Ort, das Setting, alles ist harmlos und vertraut, wie kleine Nadelstiche tauchen die Unstimmigkeiten und kleinere Merkwürdigkeiten auf. Nach etwa 1/3 des Buches hätte es sich auch noch zu einer Liebesgeschichte entwickeln können ohne dass man etwas geändert haben müsste.
Das Buch wechselt zwischen der Jetztzeit und der Jugend rund um den 18ten Geburtstag, da sich dort einige Weichen für das weitere Leben gestellt haben.
Zum Glück hat die Autorin nicht krampfhaft alle Fäden, die sich verwirrt haben, glattgezogen und verbunden - eine Vermutung der möglichen Verwicklung stellte sich zum Glück als falsch heraus.
Auf den letzten Seiten nimmt das Buch Fahrt auf, entwickelt sich und überrascht, läßt mitfiebern und endet - aber das wird nicht verraten.
Ein solider Thriller, der Wert auf ein gelungenes Setting und überzeugende Personen legt. Mir hat dieses Buch gut gefallen. Die Spannung war komprimiert auf den letzten Seiten und die Liebesgeschichte(n) waren nicht zu übertrieben, was mich bei einem Thriller eher gestört hätte.
#TheStranger-werBistDuWirklich? #NetGalleyDE
Erscheinungsdatum 1.06.2018 gelesen als ebook (kindle) im Mai 2018 dank netgalley
Genre: Thriller
Die Erzählerin erlebt am Anfang der Geschichte fast den Unfalltod ihres Mannes mit und kämpft mit dem Alltag und mit den Fragen, die sich daraus ergeben. Geld ist verschwunden, der Mann saß betrunken am Steuer, nichts passt zusammen.
Irgendwie bewältigt sie ihren Alltag, dei Arbeit im eigenen Café und die Versorgung der Tiere, die bei ihr das Gnadenbrot bekommen. Sie ist vertraut mit dem englischen Dorf und doch zugezogene Außenseiterin.
Ein mit ihr und ihrem Mann bekannter Gutsherr bietet ihr Hilfe nach dem Verlust an.
Dann taucht ein rumänischer Wanderarbeiter auf, den sie kurz vorher in einem Zirkus im vertrauten Umgang mit Tieren erlebt hat, und aus einem Impuls heraus gibt sie ihm Arbeit.
Selten habe ich einen Thriller gelesen, der sich so langsam und bedächtig entwickelte. Der Ort, das Setting, alles ist harmlos und vertraut, wie kleine Nadelstiche tauchen die Unstimmigkeiten und kleinere Merkwürdigkeiten auf. Nach etwa 1/3 des Buches hätte es sich auch noch zu einer Liebesgeschichte entwickeln können ohne dass man etwas geändert haben müsste.
Das Buch wechselt zwischen der Jetztzeit und der Jugend rund um den 18ten Geburtstag, da sich dort einige Weichen für das weitere Leben gestellt haben.
Zum Glück hat die Autorin nicht krampfhaft alle Fäden, die sich verwirrt haben, glattgezogen und verbunden - eine Vermutung der möglichen Verwicklung stellte sich zum Glück als falsch heraus.
Auf den letzten Seiten nimmt das Buch Fahrt auf, entwickelt sich und überrascht, läßt mitfiebern und endet - aber das wird nicht verraten.
Ein solider Thriller, der Wert auf ein gelungenes Setting und überzeugende Personen legt. Mir hat dieses Buch gut gefallen. Die Spannung war komprimiert auf den letzten Seiten und die Liebesgeschichte(n) waren nicht zu übertrieben, was mich bei einem Thriller eher gestört hätte.
#TheStranger-werBistDuWirklich? #NetGalleyDE
August 7, 2018
Zum Inhalt des Buches wird auf den Klappentext verwiesen.
Eigentlich mag ich ja so geheimnisvolle Geschichten, die auf den ersten Seiten schon angedeutet werden sehr. Die Geschichte hat auch spannend angefangen. Man wurde direkt ins Geschehen geworfen.
Ab dann wurde es leider mühselig. Der Schreibstil ist gut und an sich auch flüssig geschrieben. Nur leider wollte irgendwie keine richtige Spannung aufkommen. Die Geschichte plätscherte zum Teil vor sich hin. Auch wenn hier ein wichtiges Thema behandelt wurde, konnte die Geschichte einen nicht richtig packen. Auch hatte man nicht das Verlangen danach sofort hinter das Geheimnis des Mannes zu kommen, da auch hier irgendwie die Spannung fehlte. Eleanor als Hauptprotagonisten konnte mich leider auch nicht überzeugen. Ihre Gefühle wurden nicht gut vermittelt bzw. ist es eher so rüber gekommen, als wären sie ziemlich gleichgültig.
Ich bin von einem Thriller ausgegangen, aber irgendwie fehlte mir die Spannung, die in einem richtig guten Thriller daherkommt.
Eine Lektüre für zwischendurch, mit der man ansich nichts falsch machen kann.
Eigentlich mag ich ja so geheimnisvolle Geschichten, die auf den ersten Seiten schon angedeutet werden sehr. Die Geschichte hat auch spannend angefangen. Man wurde direkt ins Geschehen geworfen.
Ab dann wurde es leider mühselig. Der Schreibstil ist gut und an sich auch flüssig geschrieben. Nur leider wollte irgendwie keine richtige Spannung aufkommen. Die Geschichte plätscherte zum Teil vor sich hin. Auch wenn hier ein wichtiges Thema behandelt wurde, konnte die Geschichte einen nicht richtig packen. Auch hatte man nicht das Verlangen danach sofort hinter das Geheimnis des Mannes zu kommen, da auch hier irgendwie die Spannung fehlte. Eleanor als Hauptprotagonisten konnte mich leider auch nicht überzeugen. Ihre Gefühle wurden nicht gut vermittelt bzw. ist es eher so rüber gekommen, als wären sie ziemlich gleichgültig.
Ich bin von einem Thriller ausgegangen, aber irgendwie fehlte mir die Spannung, die in einem richtig guten Thriller daherkommt.
Eine Lektüre für zwischendurch, mit der man ansich nichts falsch machen kann.
August 27, 2025
I loved this book. It gripped me from the start. I couldn’t see where it was going until the story started to unfold in front of me. The plight of the migrant workers being forced to work for no money and kept as slaves is harrowing. It’s hard to imagine this happening in our country but it has and still does. The characters are strong and relatable and the side stories are believable. I’m sad the book has finished which is always a sign to me that it is a good book.
December 27, 2017
3.5 stars - just felt a bit unbelievable towards the end
September 27, 2018
This book was readable but only just, very slow at the beginning and then in the last few chapters everything happened, too rushed and unbelievable in part.
Not really for me but did finish it.
Not really for me but did finish it.
March 25, 2018
The stranger , read it now!
Totally hooked from the beginning unable to put down, intrigued by each little twist , highly recommended. You will not be disappointed!!!
Totally hooked from the beginning unable to put down, intrigued by each little twist , highly recommended. You will not be disappointed!!!
December 4, 2016
I have enjoyed all of Saskia Sarginson's novels and this is no exception. It is a truly gripping page-turner. The setting is deceptively conventional, but as the story unfolds, Sarginson skilfully reveals unsettling truths about what is really going on in an idyllic-seeming English village.
It has all the elements of her other work - emotional depth, deftly drawn characters, darkness just under the surface, poetic prose - but it reads even more like an all-out thriller. And yet this is a book with something to say - not just about the complex and intriguing key players, but about contemporary themes that affect us all even though they are often kept hidden from public gaze.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
It has all the elements of her other work - emotional depth, deftly drawn characters, darkness just under the surface, poetic prose - but it reads even more like an all-out thriller. And yet this is a book with something to say - not just about the complex and intriguing key players, but about contemporary themes that affect us all even though they are often kept hidden from public gaze.
I can't recommend this book highly enough.
September 15, 2017
This book opens with Ellie unexpectedly witnessing the death of her husband in a car accident. Reeling from this and coming to terms with evidence he was cheating on her, Ellie must face the fact she doesn't know him as well as she thought she did. Then she meets Luca, a Romanian who she asks to help work on her property. But a stranger in a small village faces small minds and idle gossip.
I loved the premise, the story and the writing. Eloquent prose and a beautiful story. I also loved the backdrop of the refugee crisis and what people are suffering. The Stranger is a study of grief and love, and understanding that you don't have to know somebody to know they are inherently good.
I loved the premise, the story and the writing. Eloquent prose and a beautiful story. I also loved the backdrop of the refugee crisis and what people are suffering. The Stranger is a study of grief and love, and understanding that you don't have to know somebody to know they are inherently good.
April 16, 2018
I was waiting for something to happen. Details about the characters were being thrown out to create suspense but in the end were flat and anti climax. I don't know why this is a thriller, it clearly is not. It felt like I had read a Hallmark movie, which is slightly better than a Lifetime one I guess.
May 14, 2017
3.5 stars. A solid thriller, and an easy read during my holiday. There's an interesting premise at the heart of this story, and I really liked the two main characters. However, the "badness" of another character was a bit too obvious a bit too early in the story (for my tastes, at least).
October 20, 2017
A beautifully written, solid thriller, and an easy read for my holiday! There's an interesting premise at the heart of this story, and I really liked the two main characters, the complex relationships and how they intertwined. Definitely recommend! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
July 1, 2017
Sarginson does it again, a beautifully written, Heartwarming and insightful book with complex relationships intertwining. I have enjoyed all of her novels and this one was no different.
October 10, 2017
Thought provoking
Excellent reading material. Graphic characters and storyline. Recommended
May keep you awake at night trying to finish story. Gripping tale
Excellent reading material. Graphic characters and storyline. Recommended
May keep you awake at night trying to finish story. Gripping tale
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews