If you are looking for a clever, complex and super interesting domestic thriller which oozes drama, you have to check out A stranger on the beach by Michele Campbell. Today I'm going to be reviewing this twisty domestic thriller which was kindly sent to me by HQ books*.
What is A stranger on the beach all about?
Her spectacular new beach house, built for hosting expensive parties and vacationing with the family she thought she'd have. But her husband is lying to her and everything in her life is upside down, so when the stranger, Aiden, shows up as a bartender at the same party where Caroline and her husband have a very public fight, it doesn't seem like anything out of the ordinary.
As her marriage collapses around her and the lavish lifestyle she's built for herself starts to crumble, Caroline turns to Aiden for comfort...and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling that means nothing to Caroline and everything to him, Aiden's obsession with Caroline, her family, and her house grows more and more disturbing.
What did I like about A stranger on the beach:
The first thing that stood out to me about this book was the writing style. I thought it was very engaging and drew me right in from the first page.
I also loved the amount of the action in this book. I find that a lot of domestic thrillers can lack real action and tend to focus more on the dialogue between characters but A stranger on the beach, really got the balance right between the two.
This was a really fast paced and gripping story. There was plenty of drama and a few quite shocking twists.
A stranger on the beach was a very clever and interesting story. It covered a lot of complex themes like trust and grief. Although the characters may not be the most likable people I've ever read in a book, I did find myself getting sucked into their stories.
The ending was really interesting and I didn't see it coming. I liked how it wrapped up, although I can't really say too much more without giving spoilers.
What did I not like about A stranger on the beach:
I did have an issue with some of the wording of the synopsis on the back of the book. I think that is is quite misleading and could even be considered a bit of a spoiler (I removed it from the synopsis I have included in this review) because I think it is best to always go into thrillers, not knowing too much.
However, that being said, that isn't a direct issue with the story itself. Therefore, would be unfair to judge the book based on that issue. If you can, try not to read too much into this book before going in, if you want to get the most out of it.
Who would I recommend A stranger on the beach to:
I would recommend A stranger on the beach to all domestic thriller lovers. This is definitely one of the better domestic thrillers I have read.
If you want to get into the thriller genre but don't know where to start or are not a fan of gore, guts and blood, I think you will love this book! It's complex, interesting and full of domestic drama.
Overall thoughts:
I really enjoyed A stranger on the beach. I think it is a great domestic thriller, if you are looking for a complex but interesting plot, with lots of action and some morally grey characters.
The eBook and audio book are already out. Paperback comes out on the 9th Jan 2020 in the UK.
Thank you for reading, as always X
*This book was kindly sent to me for review, however, all opinions are my own and I'm not being paid to write this review.
