Parade’s “10 Books Written by Women We Can’t Wait to Read in 2019” | She Reads’ “Most Anticipated Thillers of Summer 2019” | Pure Wow’s “The Best Beach Reads of Summer 2019” | CrimeReads’ “The Most Anticipated Crime Books of Summer”From bestselling author Michele Campbell comes A Stranger on the Beach, an edge-of-your seat story of passion and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very … and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Caroline Stark’s beach house was supposed to be her crowning achievement: a lavish, expensive space to showcase what she thought was her perfect family. But after a very public fight with her husband, she realizes things may not be as perfect as they seem: her husband is lying to her, the money is disappearing, and there’s a stranger on the beach outside her house.
As Caroline’s marriage and her carefully constructed lifestyle begin to collapse around her, she turns to Aidan, the stranger, for comfort…and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aidan’s infatuation with Caroline, her family, and her house becomes more and more destructive. But who is manipulating whom in this deadly game of obsession and control? Who will take the blame when someone ends up dead…and what is Caroline hiding?
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Several points of view, who’s telling the truth?
Caroline Stark, a forty-something year old mother of one is in her dream home alone. Her daughter, Hannah, is in college, leaving Caroline and Jason empty nesters. Caroline is trying to get her interior design career back in gear, while Jason is an investment banker.
Caroline notices a man gawking at her home several times, and while out for a run encounters him. They introduce themselves to one another, and that’s the night, Caroline’s marriage is about to change; after twenty years. She informs Jason that she is throwing a party to combine Jason’s birthday and showing off the new house. Except Jason, informs her that he can’t make it because he’s stuck in Cleveland. Caroline knew he was lying.
Aidan Callahan is the local bartender, whose brother is the Chief of Police. Aidan got into some trouble, and his brother Tommy, watches out for him, trying to help him including finding him the bartending job. The town people view Aidan with suspicion, and Aidan is always dreaming of a better life.
Caroline out of despair finds herself in the same bar that Aidan works. They flirt, and Caroline has a bit too much to drink. Aidan takes her home in her vehicle and ends up spending the night. Caroline pours her heart out about her broken marriage, telling Aidan, that her husband took all the money. Then Aidan told Caroline that he’d help her get her money back.
From there, the story evolves into Caroline’s version of what is happening, then switches to Aidan’s version of what is happening as the story plays out. Both believable, and the story kept me glued to the book to find out what would happen next. This was an original, suspenseful, full of twists that kept me guessing read!
I received an ARC from NetGalley via St. Martin’s Press in exchange for my honest review.
This is what all psychological thrillers aspire to be. Michelle Campbell has gone above and beyond with this narrative, delivering a truly outstanding piece of literature. The characters are all wonderfully developed with unique attributes and flaws that draw the reader in. The plot creepy and manipulative and everything this genre needs. Campbell’s writing is clever and addicting, allowing the reader to become submerged in the story rather than left on the outside as a spectator. Amazing. 5 stars.
Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for this ARC of A Stranger On The Beach in exchange for an honest review.
Such a good read. This book will keep you guessing up until the very end. This book was told from the viewpoints of Caroline and Aidan. Each character tells their version of the same events. I found myself second guessing who I believed throughout the whole book. This book was truly a page turner.
That is a get read. Starts as she said he said and you will not believe where it will lead you. Very hard to put down and highly recommend!!
Put on your seat belt as you are in for a roller coaster of a ride with A Stranger on the Beach !
It’s a book that has it all: lies, deceit, treachery, murder, family .
Not all is what it appears to be.
Caroline decides her husband is lying to her and so the ride begins . She meets Aiden on the beach , has a one night stand and chaos results.
Who is telling the truth ? Who can you believe ? Any of them ?
A book where the pages fly by as you try and decide what you think. I thought i was right, then I would change my mind again.
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read A Stranger on the Beach.
Put this on your must read list !