International Bestseller Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel “This lively whodunit keeps you guessing until the end.” –People Death lies between the lines when the events of a dark story start coming true in this haunting modern Gothic mystery, perfect for fans of Magpie Murders and The Lake House. Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school teacher specializing in … House.
Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she even teaches a course on him. But when one of Clare’s colleagues is found dead, with a line from Holland’s iconic story “The Stranger” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with her favorite literature.
The police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her diary, the only outlet for her suspicions and fears. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that isn’t hers, left on the page of an old diary:
Hallo Clare. You don’t know me.
Clare becomes more certain than ever: “The Stranger” has come to terrifying life. But can the ending be rewritten in time?
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I don’t normally go for gothic but this gripping story with an underlying ghost tale was one I couldn’t put down. I really liked the point of view of three very different narrators.
You know those books you love so much that throughout the day you think, “I can’t wait for the day to be over so I can crawl in bed and read that book some more”–well, this is one of those books. It’s a creepy British murder mystery with Victorian gothic literature as its reference point, a spooky attic and even spookier abandoned factory–really, it’s just exactly the book you want to be reading in front of the fire on a dark and stormy night. Go do that right now!
Loved this mystery, an Edgar Award winner!
Fantastic! This is Book 1 in the series, though I read Book 2 first without any problem. This had a different tone, a spooky gothic story but a traditional mystery as well. I enjoyed all the characters and all the voices, ranging from a teenager to a female detective to a mom. A wonderful series!
I’m a sucker for a good mystery in an academic setting, and this one is a corker! Elly Griffiths not only creates a fictional Victorian gothic author, but writes a short story in his style which serves as the backdrop to the novel. When the long-dead Victorian starts communicating with the present-day academic through her diaries, the intrigue begins. Add in a wonderful detective–a wise-cracking lesbian Sikh who still lives with her parents–and you’ve got all the elements of a great read.
Every year I try and read the nominees/winners of the Edgars to see what the judges are thinking. As it happens I had already read The River and Good Girl Bad Girl (nominated). Stranger Diaries won for best overall novel. I really loved The River and Good Girl Bad Girl. Stranger Diaries, not so much. Everyone’s tastes are different. Stranger Diaries is written in a mystery construction, with a slow burning conflict which I didn’t have a problem with. I have said before I like a book that immerses me in the Fictive Dream, where my world falls away. What turned me away in this book was the point of view. The first section is a teacher who is a friend of the murder victim. This is in first person present tense. I really enjoyed this voice and wanted more. I wish the entire book had been written in her POV. Each time an author shifts to another point of view there is a risk of dumping the reader out of the Fictive Dream and that’s what happened. In the next section was the point of view of the cop. It’s written in first person past tense. I didn’t not like this character, she was too full of herself for my tastes. I stayed with it though hoping for it to change back. The next section was first person present tense of the first character’s daughter. I didn’t think the author pulled off the teenage voice and I was yet again dumped out of the Fictive Dream.
The story set in England where I didn’t understand the school system this didn’t help either. This book has great depth of character, it was the choice of voice that turned me away. If you like British mysteries, you might give this one a shot.
What more can I say: This book is so terrific! Absolutely original in every way, fast-paced and with an amazing voice. Unique and hilarious and sinister–highly recommended. I was riveted from page one–and surprised on every page that followed. Don’t miss this!
4 ½ stars rounded up to 5
I have to admit that the first time I started this book I was a little put off with all of the descriptions of gloomy gothic feeling British schools and talking about “The Stranger” a book by a supposedly famous author, none of which I knew anything about.
The second time I put aside an evening to immerse myself in this book and I was hooked after the first few chapters, actually I couldn’t stop reading it. There are so many interesting, unique characters, descriptions of the British countryside and Talgarth High School that I knew that I was in for a treat. The fact that this is a book within a book is very special, only a few authors that I’ve read can pull this off.
Clare Cassidy is a devoted English teacher who is teaching an adult course during the summer months to pick up some extra money, and she always enjoys introducing new students to one of her favorite authors, R. M. Holland. Clare is actually writing a biography on him, although at the time her writing has been frustrating her. The fact that she is teaching in Talgarth High, where the author, in his top floor study, wrote “The Stranger” adds added tension and mystery to the discussions in the class. She is actually in a good place, her divorce behind her, her daughter Georgia, age 15, is with her and lots of teachers she cares deeply for.
All of this changes when her teammate and friend Ella Elphick is found murdered, stabbed multiple times and a note left quoting a line from “The Stranger”, “Hell is empty”. Everyone is shocked, Ella was a favorite among colleagues and students. Detectives DS Harbinder Kaur and her partner Neil Winston are assigned to the case and quickly start interviewing everyone and searching for clues to the murder.
The novel is told from three points of view, Clare, Georgia and DS Harbinder. I enjoyed each of their viewpoints but really loved the character of DS Harbinder. She actually attended Talgarth High and so is very familiar with the stories surrounding R. M. Holland. She is a very meticulous investigator with a keen eye for details and a determination to find the murderer before more tragedy ensues, unfortunately there will be more murders but I will leave you to discover that.
The title “The Stranger Diaries” actually refer to Clare’s personal diaries which she has kept, locked in her bedroom, and has been journaling since she was young.
One of the hints I will share with you is that someone else is writing in Clare’s diary and writing very upsetting notes. We don’t know if this is the same person who killed Ella but it is notably creepy that he/she is able to gain access to the diary in able to write the notes.
I ended up loving this book and the incredible skill that Ms. Griffiths’s has as a writer. This is an intelligently written, deeply plotted mystery with a gothic feel and simply wonderful characters. Read this one, you will not be disappointed!
I received an ARC of this novel from publisher through NetGalley.
Creepy tale set primarily at a school, with undertones from the Gothic era. Clare Cassidy is a beautiful English teacher with a teenage daughter, Georgia. She is divorced from her husband Simon, and he is remarried with 2 young children. Clare is writing a book about a mysterious author who wrote The Stranger. When her best friend, Ella, another English teacher at the school is murdered, Clare is devastated. She writes of her feelings in her diary, and sees similarities to the mysterious author who once lived at the school. As more people close to Clare become harmed, she is both considered a suspect and a potential victim. DS Harbinder Kaur is assigned to investigate. (1st in series)
Cleverly weaving the present and the past, this is a ghost story that will have you guessing!
This beautifully written and crafted murder mystery has a ghost story at its heart and a killer in the shadows. It’s narrated by three characters: Clare’s an English teacher and colleague of murder victim, Ellie. But were they best friends? Georgie, Clare’s daughter, has a few secrets of her own. DI Kaur, who investigates the murder, uncovers the secrets others want to hide
When Clare’s fellow teacher and best friend, Ellie is murdered, there’s a striking similarity to a crime in a story she knows well – The Stranger. As the investigation progresses, Ellie’s life comes under scrutiny, exposing affairs and conflicts in her work and private life. Then, a second murder, which again has echoes of The Stranger, has Clare wondering if her own life is in danger. Then she discovers someone has left sinister notes for her in her diary…
I enjoyed the gentle way the suspense built as the story progressed. Seeing the details from three different viewpoints helped to increase the suspense and tension and cast doubt on the views and actions of other main characters. It also helped to develop a healthy cast of suspects.
As the tension mounted, the atmosphere became almost claustrophobic until the killer was revealed. I’m not often surprised, but this one caught me out in the best possible way. Masterful plotting and storytelling by an author at the top of her game.
If you like a tense, atmospheric murder mystery with great characters and twisting plot, look no further.
A horror story written more than a century ago, the author’s creepy house that’s now a school, frightening diary notations, and murder…The atmosphere alone makes this mystery worth reading.
Great Book one of a series that has a very interesting protagonist.
The Stranger Diaries, Harbinder Kaur series #1, by Elly Griffiths.
A darkish atmospheric read, set in an older British school. This is very suspenseful, with a twisted plot that moves at a good pace. I will be excited to read the next one.
While you’re waiting for your hold on the next Ruth Ware at the library, try Stranger Diaries. You’ll forget about Ruth.
I picked this up because it promised to be a gothic, ghostly thriller, described as a haunting mystery and, I thought, a great read for Halloween season. For most of the book it was headed in that direction: it was creepy and mystical and the tension kept layering and I might have rated this much higher if not for the ending and what turned out to be some of the most glaring, frustrating red herrings I’ve ever read in a mystery.
[Slight Spoiler Ahead!!!!]
I felt so duped by the end to realize all the ghosts and witches and horror stories and haunted houses were just distractions from what is a fairly basic and predictable stalker story. I don’t really understand why we ever needed Georgia’s POV chapters if we didn’t even get to see more of the murderer through them. I left this book really frustrated that I’d let myself get swept up, and even though I liked the writing and the intensity, I wouldn’t recommend this to mystery lovers.
I’m a big fan of Elly Griffiths’ “Ruth Galloway” and “Zigzag” books and I snapped this up when it was released. While I didn’t enjoy it as much as her series books, this is really interesting stand alone gothic thriller, built around an old ghost story called The Stranger. There are scary moments, some really interesting characters, especially Harbinger Singh, the police sergeant faced with solving a couple of gruesome murders. I had the feeling that she was being set up for a series of her own if there’s a reader demand.
A spooky psychological thriller–addictive in the best possible way!
This gothic mystery is a fabulous addition to this author’s canon. Loved it and hope to see more books with these characters.
A clever update on the gothic tale. Entertaining. Fun to read.
Haven’t read a book by this author I didn’t like.