Strangers tells the story of three people - each of them completely different personalities - but what happenstance could possibly bring them all together? If you choose to read Strangers, you're in for a stupendous read!

Alice, Ursula and Gareth’s lives are laid bare in this sublime account, when their respective worlds collide. Alice, the manager of a fashion shop, Mirage Fashions, in the Meads shopping centre in Bristol, is separated from her husband but is actively dating again. As head of security, Gareth, 47, is responsible for monitoring the CCTV cameras in Meads, though he and Alice haven’t yet met. He lives with his mother, Joan, who is suffering from dementia. Ursula, a parcel delivery driver and kleptomaniac is banned from the fashion store.

Told told from the perspectives of these three main characters, the story opens with a dramatic incident that immediately hooked and absorbed me into the ingenious storyline. Whilst enjoying all three of the distinct narratives, I had absolutely no idea how they might gel, but could certainly sense that the collision would be dramatic! With its fabulous pacing, and concise chapters many of which ended in mini cliff hangers, I found Strangers highly addictive as I suffered from 'just one more chapter' syndrome. Common themes in this tense, taut and twisty tale were family, loneliness and violence.

In essence, I adored Strangers by C.L. Taylor and I would recommend it, and the author, with confidence.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request from Avon Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Strangers By CL Taylor
I flew through this book, and enjoyed every bit of it!"
I liked the characters and felt they were well developed and I enjoyed the storyline. The book had me from the beginning and held my attention the whole way through to the brilliant ending.
I had lost my reading mojo during this pandemic, so the fact I read this book in two days speaks for itself.

'Strangers' is creepy and very plausible in today's world where insensitivity is masked with humor, often to garner attention without worrying about the price certain people have to pay for it.

Three strangers caught up in their own troubles are meant to cross paths. But some paths are dangerous and deadly. Taylor explores her characters extensively and halfway through the book they start to feel like the people we know and have met sometime in out very short lives. As a reader, you start rooting for them and wait with bated breath every time things start to go out of the ordinary. And that is why the climax felt so important (you'll know when you read it).

If I had to judge the plot as such, it's isn't the strongest or original. There are no hints lying in plain sight and no dots to connect. The plot flows the way the author chooses it to and things are pretty predictable after a point. I loved how different the characters were and yet, connected together by their grief and their innate nature as a human being.

Taylor explores their psychologies efficiently- the fear, the pain, the uncertainties, and the vulnerabilities. As a thriller, 'Strangers' is riveting.

This story follows 3 seemingly unrelated characters whose lives all intersect in a very interesting way. This was my first book by C.L Taylor. I was eager to pick one up because I've heard great things about her and I definitely wasn't disappointed. Started a little slow but picked up and quickly became unputdownable. Highly recommended!

​Mug of tea, foot stool and away I went. I have read some of this authors other books and always enjoyed them, so I was really looking forward to this. This turned out to be a mighty fine read.
The lives of three very different characters come together in this nail biting read. Ursula, Gareth and Alice all individuals, all different characters whose lives you can follow. Mainly focused around the shopping centre where Alice is a Shop Manager, Gareth works for the security team and Ursula is lets say a delivery driver. Three very different people who will all need to come together to save themselves.
This book is full of twists and turns a real page turner and at this moment in time a real good distraction from the realties of life.
I love how the book unfolded the way we got to know how things were or had happened, its written brilliantly and will grab you in from the early pages. If there is one thing I could criticise about this book is 'I don't know how to review it without giving to much away'
So what I'm going to say is, it's now Easter weekend 2020, the country is in lock down. Get yourself comfortable, get your feet up and treat yourself to this book. you will not be disappointed. This will take you to a world of fiction far away from your today world.

Thank you to the author for writing a book I needed to read. For me books are the best medicine in the world, and this would be a great read for anyone who enjoys a gripping read, open the pages and let that great big fishing hook reel you in.

Another amazing thriller from CL Taylor. Full of mystery and suspense from the get go, it will keep you hooked right until the end. A definite recommendation.

Three people linked more closely than they imagine.

It’s always a real pleasure to dive into a new C. L. Taylor novel and Strangers didn’t disappoint, not least because I hadn’t read the blurb for the book and had absolutely no idea how Ursula, Gareth and Alice’s stories might come together so I was kept guessing right until the end of the story.

Whilst there’s the usual twisty, fast pace and thrilling plot that I’ve come to expect from this author, I found Strangers more poignant than her other books because, although each character is flawed, even the most conventionally wicked or unhinged among them is harbouring a sadness, a completely understandable reason for their behaviour and an underlying loneliness and pain that I found very affecting. Indeed, the title Strangers is so apposite because, C.L. Taylor makes the reader understand that no matter how well or little we think we know someone, there’s always a crucial part that is unknowable, separate and unique to them. Ursula’s strand in particular brought this home to me very effectively as I discovered the reason for her compulsion to steal.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters and felt even the most minor ones were distinct and realistic. Whilst I found some of their attitudes and actions so frustrating I wanted to shake them, I was equally concerned for them too because C.L. Taylor made me care about them. Although the three main characters of Gareth, Alice and Ursula have their own clear and distinct narratives, again it was Ursula to whom I felt closest. Her seeming self-destruction felt so poignant.

The themes of loneliness, guilt, society and the impact of social media, stalking, domestic abuse, mental health and dementia and so on that weave in and out of the plot give a texture and depth that made me contemplate not just the lives of those in the book, but of others in my life and made me wonder how well I have supported them or made assumptions about them. I found this aspect of Strangers enormously unsettling. There’s a brilliant microcosm of society presented in Strangers that is as thought provoking as it is entertaining and that underpins the action without ever over dominating because of C. L. Taylor’s skilled writing.

Strangers is a super read. Cleverly plotted, sensitively handled and exciting I found it an absorbing and exciting narrative that I fully recommend.

When I pick up a C.L.Taylor book I know I am in for a good read & Strangers was no exception.

Gareth is a security guard in The Meads shopping centre. His life is a lonely one as his father disappeared twenty years ago & his mother is now suffering from dementia.

Ursula's life went to pieces after the death of her boyfriend. Still suffering from PTSD she finds the only thing that seems to help is stealing- even if this has meant she has had to leave the place where she was living & stay in a house with a very strange young man!

Alice is the manageress of a dress shop in The Meads (a shop that is a favourite for Ursula to steal from!) She has finally decided to step back into the dating game. After a narrow escape she thought Simon was perfect but who keeps sending strange messages?

It takes a while to find out what connects these people apart from 'The Meads'. The characters are all interesting & the author keeps the interest throughout. This was a great read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read this book.

This book is slow going but once all the pieces line up it gets really interested and you just cant put the book down. I would say the first 20-30% may bore you but push through it. This story is about 3 random strangers whos lives all meet up together in the end in a quite unexpected manner. I would read this author again and it was nice to see this book on the UK shelves already!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author, C L Taylor, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Strangers in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
A thoroughly gripping and enjoyable read from this author. While the premise of the storyline draws your interest, the actual story delivers.
The central characters are well defined and realistic. The plot keeps you guessing until the end.
Well worth a read.

Another great read from this author. Centred around three main characters who don't know each other this psychological thriller has many twists and with interesting characters and the many different locations it makes this book very special. A real page Turner

The three main characters in this book are so different that it made me wonder from the beginning how their lives would intersect. Alice is owner of a fashion store, divorced and seeking someone to fill the hole left in her heart by her cheating spouse. When she tries out Tinder, the man she is supposed to meet assaults her, but then Simon, a stranger, comes to the rescue. Ursula is a delivery person who is a former teacher and an unabashed kleptomaniac. She shoplifts everything she can and ends up stealing from Alice’s shop. Gareth is a security guard at the mall where Alice works and Ursula steals. So the scene was set early in the book for the three to interact. However, things are not as they seem. Not by a long shot! Everything that I guessed would happen was wrong as the author led me down a totally twisted and mind-bending path of thrills and heart-stopping events. I thought that the premise of the story was totally unbelievable until I got to the ending. The beginning captured my attention because Alice is standing over an unidentified corpse. From there, my attention was like a roller coaster. There were some parts of the book that were completely mesmerizing; then there were parts that I just wanted to say, “Please, just move on!” The tension in the book builds slowly, and that was the problem for me. I thought it moved too slowly. The ending was brilliant and totally unexpected, so I’m glad that I stuck with it, but I do think the whole experience was just average. Fans of suspense will enjoy the book as long as they don’t mind books that move slowly before they grab you by the throat and shake you.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Strangers started off so intriguing that it had me hook until the very end. With three interesting main characters who couldn't be different from each other, each of their stories are equally absorbing. Despite the multiple and alternating POVs, the stories were easy to follow and I was satisfied on how things played out. It's the second book that I've read from the author and I'm will make sure to check her other works.

Three people who have never met before suddenly find themselves linked in such a way that should they not stick together, one of them will die. Ursula, a woman with the compulsion to steal, believes that she has killed the love of her life, Gareth, a security guard, has been receiving strange postcards and Alice, out on a date for the first time in years, is being stalked. What bring them together and why do their lives now depend on each other?

After thoroughly enjoying the author's previous book, Sleep, I jumped at the chance to be one of the blogs on the tour for her latest book, Strangers. From the clever prologue where we have three apparent strangers standing around a dead body, I was immediately hooked and knew that this was going to be one of those books that I would be reluctant to put down.

The rest of the book is about the events leading up to that prologue, and gives us the back stories of the three main characters - Ursula, Gareth and Alice. Each of these characters have very different stories and, although it soon becomes apparent where they all converge, I loved how the author kept us waiting to discover who the victim is and their reason for being there. This slow build up led to a gripping finale where there were several heart-in-mouth moments, and I was definitely right about not being able to put the book down!

Throughout the book, the author takes us on an emotional journey as we get to know each of these characters. My favourite character was Ursula, a woman with her faults but whose tenacity and sense of justice shone through, even putting her own safety at risk to protect others. Although Ursula finds herself in a very frightening situation, it was, perhaps, Alice who I felt the most fear for. It was easy to see that all was not well with her new relationship, and I willed her to get out while she still could!

It was, however, Gareth's story that I found the saddest and the one that had the most effect on me. I defy anybody reading the conclusion of his part of the plot not to have a lump in their throat.

Strangers has a clever plot that is action-packed and full of surprises; parts of it will remain with me for a long time. Highly recommended.

Three almost strangers - Ursula, who has resorted to stealing things to cope with her grief, Gareth, an aging security guard who still lives with his mom, and Alice, a newly single mom - have their world collide in the worst way possible.

While the starting had me going “Hmm...maybe,” the story picked up pace soon after and was simply unputdownable!! This is the first CL Taylor book I’ve read, and I have become a fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

With thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

Three totally unrelated characters, three (seemingly) unrelated stories all come together in the final act with an almighty SLAM!

Ursula, Gareth and Alice, don't know each other at all.
Their stories gradually unfold throughout the book, adding plenty of tension as you go and also showing that although they don't know each other their paths cross quite frequently.

The story evolves at a good pace, the characters are vibrant and very well realised and your interest is held constantly.

I was consistently trying to see how the three threads would come together and kept getting it wrong.

When they eventually did it was exciting and nerve shredding.

Another triumph from C. L. Taylor.

Three strangers tell their stories with humour. They comes together in a devastate way. I found this to be a quick comfortable read. The characters are likable and I was rooting for them.
I will be looking to read more by this author.

Strangers...... Wow, Wow, Wow. Had me hooked from the very first page.
Three strangers Ursula, when we met her she is in the process of being evicted from her friends bedroom she has been staying in and moves into a house with a very, very strange man. Gareth works at the Meads Shopping Centre as a security guard helping to protect Alices clothes shop but goes home every night to look after his mother who is getting steadily worse from dementia. All three lead very different lives so you read three different stories in effect but wondering at the back of your mind how this is all going to tie together but don’t worry it does and when it starts to it’s like a steam train and will leave you not wanting to do anything until you get to the end.
I have been struggling to focus enough to read at the moment with the lock down but this book had my full attention from the first page, the writing style, the characters made it a really, really good read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

Strangers by C.L. Taylor is a thriller that has an interesting concept and lots of intriguing characters. The story takes a while to get going, but once things start to come together, readers are rewarded with an exciting ending. It is a book that will satisfy fans of the genre.

It is always hard to review a thriller without spoiling the plot, however, this is one book that I am glad to have persevered with. I really enjoy the idea of strangers who come together to help one another. The book is quite well written and the characters are engaging.

❀ SLOW TO START

This thriller starts off at a slow pace because it is really three stories in one. None of the stories are woven together until the conclusion, so there are many characters and events to keep track of. It seems daunting at first, but it does become easier as each subplot moves along.

❀ RELATABLE AND FLAWED MAIN CHARACTERS

The main characters are ones that are relatable and enjoyable to read about. Ursula seems to be dislikable at the beginning of the book, but as more of her backstory is revealed, she quickly becomes a favourite. All of the main characters are flawed, actually, and are transformed by the events of the story in their own ways.

❀ A SATISFYING READ

If you are in the mood for a thriller and have the patience to wait for Strangers by C.L. Taylor to rev up, it is a satisfying read. It comes together nicely towards the end of the story and the characters are engaging to read about. I am definitely interested in reading more of the author’s books.

My thanks to Avon Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Strangers’ by C.L. Taylor in exchange for an honest review.

‘Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.’

This is a superb psychological thriller set in Bristol. It focuses on three main characters, who have never met before.

Ursula is a former teacher, who blames herself for the death of the love of her life. She now works as a courier. Alice manages a clothing shop and has become aware that she is being stalked. Finally, Gareth works security at the shopping centre where Alice works. He is also dealing with his mother’s dementia.

How these three strangers come together is ingenious and kept me turning the pages late into the night. It is brilliantly plotted.

In addition, Taylor writes characters who are actually likeable people. That feels rare in a psychological thriller.

I really loved this and could appreciate why Taylor has such a good reputation. I now want to make time to read her other work.

Highly entertaining and so very clever.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.