Relatively Strange by Marilyn Messik is the second book in the Strange series and I really enjoyed both books. So when Marilyn's next book became available to read I had to request it and I was not disappointed, It was brilliant! The characters in both books were just excellent and all fitted in well within both books. Stranger is the sequel to Relatively Strange and I found it a better read that the first book.
Within this book Stella continues into adulthood and what I loved about it, it could be read as a stand alone as well. Not many authors can do that.

I highly recommend this book and Marilyn's first book Strange.

Big thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for allowing me a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After seeing the rave reviews for book 1 in this series, I was excited and prepared for a fantastic read. After reading a quarter of “Even Stranger” I had mixed feelings, wondering whether I was correct about my perception of the book’s weaknesses or if I had just missed the point.

Author Marilyn Messik began the book with an excerpt from the future, designed to excite the reader and drag us unwillingly into the story. I’ve grown tired of this ploy, and even more dismayed when the story I was dropped into seemed to ramble aimlessly during the first 25%.

At the same time there were positives to the book, which can be read as a standalone (I have not read book 1). With everything I listed above, why did I keep reading? Because the author has an incredible voice and the manner employed to construct sentences is refreshing. Stella is the main character and the story is told in first person. Stella is witty without being snarky (at least, not the lighthearted snarkiness present in so many characters nowadays) and even though I felt the plot could be moving forward in a quicker manner, I was interested in what she was doing in her day-to-day existence. Hats off to Ms. Messik as this is definitely her five-star element in this novel.

I came to view the story as a series of vignettes sharing space, weaving Stella’s personal life in-between her forays into the strange. Upon reflection, “Even Stranger” feels like a sci-fi noir novel, which is something one doesn’t come upon every day. Stella is “Strange,” part of a loose community of people who have mental abilities (and who, for obvious reasons, keep their talents hidden from the rest of the world). While some parts of the book possess an easygoing quality, the chapters where Stella uses her abilities can be quite dark.

By the end of the book, I was captivated by Stella and her struggles to live a normal life despite the constant pull by others to use her talents. I am definitely planning on reading the first book in the series and, based upon a bit of foreshadowing in this book, I am looking forward to Book 3. Four stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for a complimentary ebook of this title.

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
Despite most reviewers suggesting it was necessary to read the first in the series, and I hadn't, I thoroughly enjoyed this book without feeling I was missing anything and also liked that it was set in the 1970's.
I loved Stella's 'voice', she is hugely likeable, as are most of the other characters, and the explanation of her special talents is fascinating. The first half of the story is fun and interesting, what with the Stella's foray into her many secretarial jobs and finally starting her own business. Then the tension is slowly ratcheted up till the creep factor is off the scale! I won't go into detail, no spoilers here, but I guarantee not one reader will be able to put the book down, it's that good. Add a bit of romance and another round of terror and you will be panting for the third in this series...I know I for one can't wait what's next in Stella's life, which I assume wil be set in the 1980's.