I have three deadly problems: 1. I’ve seriously offended a maniacal killer. 2. I just had a bullet removed from my brain. 3. My new daughter is growing up too fast–and she’s in the line of fire. Living on an obscure, technology-free island off California means safety from the murderer who hunts Kellen Adams and her new family…or does it? Family time becomes terror-time, and at last, alone, … terror-time, and at last, alone, Kellen faces a killer playing a cruel game. Only one can survive, and Kellen knows who must win…and who must die.more
It’s the third book in the series and although I haven’t read the first two, I really enjoyed it.
From the characters that I need to know a bit more and I think I will go back to read the first books , to the easiness the married couple act around each other with so much love and care and I feel like we need more stories like this, to show how life is still good and a couple still enjoys their intimate moments even if they had children and had to go through a lot of obstacles.
Now, the story gets very interesting and heart beating so hard as we get to know the killer and the gripping moments will keep you mouth open at times.
This is book three in this series and they just kept getting better with each one. You really need to read each book in order (the full length ones) to really appreciate the story and the characters. Kellen and her family move to an island to hopefully get away from a killer that is after them. There are a lot of twists and turns throughout. Her daughter learns a few lessons also. Loved this book and this series. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Kellen is still healing and trying to grow stronger after her surgery but the past once again comes to the present. Trying to keep her family safe, her husband and daughter temporarily move to a secluded island but danger finds them once again and Kellen must pull her strength to overcome the risks to get family.
This installment in this series is by far very intense and a definite page turner!
I received a reviewer’s copy of Strangers She Knows from Christina Dodd. I was so excited to get the book and see how the trilogy ends but I had a hard time actually getting through the middle of the book. I really would give this 3.5 stars but want able to. There were many things that I really liked about this book – Kellen, Max, and Rae bonding as a family, Max and Kellen finally getting to be together, Rae growing up and being a pre-teen with all the ups and downs that entails, the story-within-the-story of Ruby and her diary and subsequent appearance, the cat-and-mouse between Kellen and Mara. But overshadowing the whole plot were the TSTL moment of which not explaining to Rae about Mara and the danger they were in really ticked me off. Really? After all the danger in What Doesn’t Kill Her that Rae experienced? I found myself yelling at the characters for their bad decisions! The only thing that saved the book for me was the final showdown between Kellen and Mara. All in all a flawed but ultimately satisfying finale to the Cape Charade trilogy.
Wow, what an awesome book! Christina Dodd has again written a book that kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next. The action begins in the front of the book where you read “The Cape Charade undertaker, Arthur Earthman, never wanted to hear noises in the casket display room, especially after midnight,” to the end of the book. Mara, the maniac killer, escaped from prison and is back to her deeds. The one thing on Mara’s mind is that she wants to take everything from Kellen and make her suffer. Kellen has other plans, as does hubby, Max. Rae, their hormonal teenager, and Luna, Rae’s doggy companion, are left in the dark about what is going on and believe they are on vacation. Their hide-a-way was not as secret as they once thought as Mara did find them on Isla Paraiso. From the island feel at the beginning, to the suspenseful ending, you will want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I loved the side story of Ruby, her journal, and her family injected some mystery into the story. The final sentence of the book left me laughing out loud. I could just picture Max and Kellen’s faces with as Rae spoke. Cannot wait to see what Mrs. Dodd has in store for us next. Hopefully will not have to wait too long.
I have loved the Cape Charade series since its debut, but the latest installment maybe the best yet. I loved this book and devoured it in a matter of days. The characters really develop here and you can see the family issues as adjustments are made. You have a mystery within a mystery and good thriller action. Congratulations to Christina Dodd on another wonderful book. I can’t wait to see where she takes this series.
Heart racing, action packed, emotionally charged adventure filled with unknown danger, scary exciting charters and chilling twists and turns….. was an excellent reading experience! I really enjoyed reading this emotional roller-coaster of a journey and recommend this series to any suspense lover!
Strangers She Knows by Christina Dodd is the third and final book in the Cape Charade series. Ms. Dodd has perfected the art of writing a gripping suspense novel and yet providing a little humor throughout the story to relieve the tension.
I adore Rae. She has grown so much throughout this series. She reflects both her mom and her dad’s strong characteristics. The plot moved at breakneck speed that kept me turning the pages all day. Honestly, I could not put the book down. I was terrorized by Mara. Ms. Dodd’s descriptive writing of Mara had me filled with fear as I read. Seriously, that woman was scary. A gripping suspense filled with action from beginning to end. The ending was perfect as Kellen, Max and Rae have become a true family with more peace for all of them in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. All of the above opinions are my own.
OMG Christina Dodd has done it again! I absolutely love this book. I could not put it down. If you have never read any of her books you really need to get busy because you will LOVE every single one of them. Each one I read I love her writing even more. Thank you Christina!
This was a great series. Christina Dodd writes a thrilling story from beginning to end.
This book was suspenseful, with interesting characters and good story besides just the fear. Going in, I didn’t realize it was book three but I was able to read it with no confusion, didn’t feel like I missed anything.
Kellen has gone through a lot, and her and her husband and daughter are trying to move past it all as a family. Kinda hard when there are bad people coming for you and you have to hide. Kellen’s hubby is sweet and supportive, her daughter is a typical preteen. The character development was really well done.
Not only was this full of action and scary moments, the diary was so interesting, the house was a mystery. This is the first I’ve read by this author and I totally would read more. I really enjoyed it.
Thrilling Romantic Suspense
I am not sure where to begin to review this awesome book. Kellen has so many challenges. She just had a bullet removed from her brain and here comes her archenemy from the past. Mara just escaped from prison ready to attack not only Kellen but also her family. Husband Max packs up the family to hide on his family’s private island where he feels they will be safe. Family includes Kellen, their daughter Rae and family dog “Luna”. The caretaker and his wife on this island are an interesting couple and the new cook is unique as well—not necessarily on the good side of interesting and unique. The lack of technology on the island makes Max feel protected whereas it makes Rae feel alone. Finding an old diary from one of the previous residents perks Rae’s interest—seeing a lady with silver hair late at night, not so much! Restoring a 1955 Ford-100 a pickup truck helped Max’s feelings of boredom. He was accustomed to activity. He included Rae in his many attempts to get the truck running which helped her as well.
Family dynamics include a lie of omission which creates problems and secrets that would be better shared, both increasing tension as the story unfolds. Kellen has a interesting way of cataloging people which brings up a quick evaluation in her brain which not only helps her but helps the reader understand her concept. She is also nursing a hand that hasn’t recovered it’s normal dexterity following surgery. She is trying to practice the piano to restore the flexibility to her fingers. Neither Kellen nor Luna approve of these sessions.
The suspense and the hunt involved in this story are thrilling as Rae needs medical help and Max races her to the mainland in a boat that can only seat two if he wants to get to land safely. There is a violent storm, a disabled helicopter and a killer. Kellen is alone to face it all. Definitely a Romantic Suspense in the truest sense of the word, part mystery, part thriller!
It’s all carefully wrapped up to make sense in the most satisfying of ways as Christina Dodd is so well known to accomplish. She never disappoints!
Warning: this book is difficult to put down so sleep may be lost but it will be well worth it!
I understand “Strangers She Knows” is to be the conclusion to the exceptional series about Kellen. I really hope that’s a threat rather than a promise as there is so much more to know about this family. Maybe if we hope enough they will come back.
The Cape Charade undertaker, Arthur Earthman, is used to dealing with the deceased. What he’s not used to is hearing noises coming from the casket display room, when he goes to investigate he finds Miranda Nyugen. Miranda, a widow, had told Arthur she was going to bring her deceased husband home for a proper burial, where she and their twins could visit his grave. Miranda wasn’t there to pay her respects in the dead of the night, and she wasn’t Miranda Nyugen either. After killing Arthur, she made sure that his wife delivered a message for Kellen along with leaving her calling card–cutting off the deceased hands. Mara Philippi, Kellen’s nemesis is back!
For the sake of precaution, Max and Kellen decided to take Rae, their ten year old daughter, and stay in Morgade Hall on Isla Paraiso. A remote island, with the three of them, a cook, and the couple, who are eccentric caretakers. Rae has to get used to having no cell phone or computer access. Kellen is recovering from brain surgery and trying to regain the use of her atrophied hand. As a way to spend time, Kellen and Rae search the house and find an attic with a diary. The three of them got engrossed in the long ago story of the life of the previous owner’s daughter.
As the family, scouts out the island, they have to deal with unfriendly caretakers, a cook that only is along for the money and the only means of outside contact is the radio in the helicopter. Rae makes a promise and as a storm brews takes off on her bike to deliver a message, but when she returns back home, it’s obvious something is wrong and Max has to leave Kellen behind, in order to get their daughter to the hospital. Left alone on the island, Kellen will have to win a game using her wits because she’s not alone at all, but she does have a guardian angel on her side.
I’ve been hooked on this series, since the first book came out. One of my favorite series! It draws you in and keeps you glued to the pages, wanting to know what happens next. Delivers one surprising twist after the next! I loved the ending of this book!
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from NetGalley via Harlequin-Romance and have voluntarily reviewed this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This was the second book I have read from this author. This was another awesome action packed thriller. I love Kellen, Max and their daughter Rae. The supporting characters in this book certainly had their issues, but that helped to make the storyline even more interesting. When a serial killer is headed your way, to kill you and your family what would you do to keep them safe? I would definitely recommend this to those that enjoy thrillers.
This is the last book, the grand finale as it were, in the Cape Charade series. The series has three novels and three novellas. This is a powerful ending to the series. I do not think you have to have read the others to enjoy this book, but if you have read then it is a more powerful story. I have read each book and novella in the series at least once. I don’t know what I am going to do while I wait for her next book.
You will enjoy this book. The characters are believable and the tension is strong. There are several people acting strangely, so it is hard to tell who is actually guilty until Dodd intends for you to know.
I think Kellan Adams is my favorite hero of all time, although Rae is a close second. Rae has grown into a child now and she still has a maturity level beyond her years. She is a little less perfect than she was in the last book, and I like that. She is still a child, after all.
Kellan has made an enemy who happens to be a serial killer. She has Kellan and Kellan’s family in her sights. It will take all Kellan’s abilities to defeat the enemy. Unfortunately, she has had a bullet in her brain for years. It recently started moving so it had to be removed. That makes her less mentally sharp and also reduces her physical abilities.
I do not want to give you any spoilers, so I will just say that you should read this book. It kept me up at night to finish reading. Who cares if I had to work in the morning? I NEEDED to know how it ended.
What a well written thriller! It is filled with unexpected twists and interesting characters that grab your attention for the entire story. I can only hope that there are no more crazed killers in Kellen and Max’s future because this family has faced more than enough danger and insanity in a few short years than anyone should ever have to live through. This is a standalone story but it’s infinitely more interesting to read every novel and short story in the Cape Charade series and easier to understand Kellen’s struggles. Will there be more adventures in the future?
Fair warning, I jumped into this book without reading the first two in this series. There was enough backstory to put me into step with all of the current action; however, I do wish I had read the others before. Kellen has suffered through a tumultuous past and retreats to an isolated island, trying to reclaim ‘normalcy’ to her family life. I expected the book to be full of darkness but there were a few moments that I’d let my guard down to laugh. Of course, when I turned the page, Dodd ramped the suspense back up again. As the mom of two teenagers, Rae was like reading about my own children and their friends at times (I was physically nodding my head, rolling my eyes, sighing…..crap, I think I returned to acting like a teen for those moments!). Mara is deeply disturbed and a clear case of how nurture (or lack thereof) does play a significant role in who we become. I can’t wait to go back and read the first two to fill in some blanks. Overall, a strong series that makes your head and heart pound. The hair on my arms stood up several times and I had to remind myself to breathe while reading!
I received a complimentary copy of the book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own!
Most of the time, when I finish reading a book with characters I love, I hate that the book ended. In the case of STRANGERS SHE KNOWS by Christina Dodd, I found myself hoping that Kellen Adams, Max Di Luca, and daughter Rae can go on to quiet, normal, non-thriller-material lives. If I never read about them again, that’s a good thing.
The series started with DEAD GIRL RUNNING. It’s the darkest of the three novels. WHAT DOESN’T KILL HER mixes in some humor among the bodies piling up.
STRANGERS SHE KNOWS is a perfect family drama-comedy-historical-mystery-thriller. It really is at least three books in one. The main story is about a serial killer with a personal grudge trying to destroy Kellen and her family. The family drama-comedy has the Di Luca trio disconnecting from everything and connecting with each other on an island vacation. Then there’s the story of the World War II-era woman fighting her own demons and pining for her true love.
If you’ve read the first two books, you won’t want to miss this one. Christina Dodd is at the top of her game with this exhilarating and action-packed climax. If you haven’t read the other two, well, you could read this one on its own, but I encourage you to start at the beginning.
Warning: Stock up on tissues before you get to the final chapters.
You know, on second thought, Ms. Dodd, maybe the occasional adventure for the Di Lucas wouldn’t be such a bad thing after all.
I received a free copy of the book to review. All opinions are my own. (I really loved it!)
The book almost creeped me out! At first, I couldn’t read at night but then I told myself repeatedly that it was going to be okay. I mean, it had to be since it was the last book in the series. But oh, how she got there was quite a ride!
Kellen is a badass and she’s raising her daughter to be that way too even if she hasn’t been a part of her entire life. Max has both their backs but he does have his job cut out for him. Together they create their own unique family if only they could get past some of the obstacles that continue to haunt them. Mara Phillipi is a psychopath who just won’t stop trying to torture and kill Kellen. They embark on a trip to stay ahead of her after she escapes from prison. The showdown will come at some point, but the when is never simple.
Loved the way the author also added some back story and made the story emotional as well as suspenseful. Huge winner for me!
I received an ARC from the author for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for the review.
I just finished Christina`s new book and I really enjoyed it It was a book you didn`t want to put down, from page one on. You just kept turning pages to see what happened next. The series is really great and the characters made you have alot of feelings for them. I really loved Ruby and her journal and the house on the island. I felt sorry for Keller and her family. The story had a great ending. Rae was a sweet kid who wanted to be grown up. I know you will enjoy it as much as I did.