I initially marked this as "I will not give feedback" but I have realised that a more accurate description is that I was unable to access this book and so was unable to provide valid feedback. A pity as I do like the author's work.

I love a good faced paced story that keeps me hooked in, and the narrator did a fab job with it as well! the only downside, was that quite a few characters which made it a bit too confusing.

I downloaded this by mistake as I don’t read audiobooks. Sorry, I’m not sure I can write anymore on this review that will be useful when I haven’t read or heard the book

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

My first C.L Taylor book.... I'll certainly be back for more!

This beautifully narrated, fast-paced story, easily brought the characters to life and captured this listener's attention.

For me, any 'thriller' is more captivating as an audiobook, and this Strangers is no different.

I enjoyed this audiobook immensely, however, as there are so many characters, having the same narrator for all of them, made this a little confusing...

I really love this book! I was a bit worried i would struggle to keep up with the plot via audiobook as it centres around 3 different characters but it was written so well and in such a way that this didn't happen. The characters themselves were everyday relatable so easy to read along with and become invested in.

A great overall read!

They are strangers to each other, every one of them living their life the best know how to. Ursula is living with the horrible memory hidden somewhere down, (unknowingly) punishing herself. Yet, she is kind and brave. Alice is not sure if she still has her voice and chance to love, too. Yet she tries. Gareth is not sure if there is more to his life than slowly aging and caring for his beloved elderly mum. Yet he perseveres.

And all of three of them have met with a problem. Ursula thinks one of her customers is in a violent relationship. Alice might have a stalker. And Gareth mum's missing.

Yet, there is also a point in time, where they meet.

This is more a psychological, human drama than a police procedural kind of mystery, and I like these parts (the most chapters of the novel) the best. The characters are quite ordinary people (but Ursula, who is a bona fide heroine), whom you can identify with and relate to. They are kind, hard-working, good people. Whom are meeting with troubles which are more-less relatable, I mean they are nasty, but believable issues.
The point when they are meeting is well-explained, too - but my problem lies with a culprit, whom is a kind of unbelievable, unrelatable person. Maybe because the moralization enters the place with him. Now we are out of the area of making the human mistakes and we are moralizing the issue that should be rightly punished, according to the writer - and here I do not agree. Also, the culprit is weakly written.

But what will stay with me is the kindness of the ordinary people and the quite lovely thought that what we see at the first sight/s might not be (entirely) true and that there might be a story behind.

The audiobook was narrated by Ms Clare Corbett and she did very good job. Sh reads the story intelligently, her voice is pleasant; also she can give the characters their own personality and "feel". She works with the accents wel, too. I am interested in her other works!

This was my first C. L. Taylor psychological thriller and it was one that I certainly enjoyed.

Three complete strangers - what thread could possible connect them in a city with thousands of humans beings. But they are connected or they will be, in a way they wouldn’t have ever imagined.

The book follows three seemingly separate characters - Ursula, Alice and Gareth. All with their own problems and mundane lives. Their POVs aren’t connected with each other until that only single night.

I have got to say, it should have been difficult to follow three different POVs, especially in audiobook format - but it honestly wasn’t. The chapters and the changes flowed through seamlessly and made for an enjoyable experience.

Though the book itself was an okayish read - I wish it had wowed me, as much as I had expected it to. Maybe other Taylor books might? I am still gonna give the author a chance.

Although this is told from three perspectives it flows really well, the plotting is good and there are several cliffhangers as you progress through and it becomes very hard to put the book down. The characters are well depicted and many are likable. There are of course some weird and very creepy characters and some that are potentially dangerous. There are a number of very intense scenes, there’s plenty of suspense and some moments that are fear inducing. It’s an action packed book with lots of interconnecting storylines. happy with this being the first book ive read from this author

Alice, Gareth and Ursula; three strangers whose lives are about to collide so spectacularly that they’ll never be the same again. Alice has recently met charming gentlemen Simon – but is he as perfect as he seems? Someone definitely wants to keep her away from him, but who? Gareth has been looking after his elderly mother for years, plodding along in his boring security job, when he starts receiving mysterious postcards. When his mother goes missing, he can’t help but wonder; are the two linked? Ursula is grieving and has spiraled into a life she never imagined for herself. Stealing has become an addiction, but is it one that her secretive, creepy new flatmate will put a stop to once and for all?

Strangers was an absolutely fantastic piece of writing. There was drama, intrigue, emotion, surprise, fear and humour – C.L. Taylor left nothing out of this work of art! I really loved each of the characters – all of them bringing their own background and dilemmas into the wider tale. I felt connected to each of them because of the way they were developed throughout the beginning of the book, a skill that not a lot of authors end up mastering. The tension was really intriguing because there was always an undercurrent of something amiss, but it was really hard to predict and put your finger on how the characters were connected, or where the narrative was going to lead the reader.

Truthfully; initially I did find it a little bit hard to get into at first, because it felt like an overload of characters and a lot going on straight off the bat. The only thing I would have improved on this book would be to have introduced the main characters with a bit more focus, before entering some of the side characters. It was a lot of names and backgrounds to take on board right out of the gate – but once the story got going I couldn’t get enough! The characters became perfectly intertwined and the end was an excellent culmination. It wasn’t overkill, it wasn’t excessive and it wasn’t over complicated. It was simple, but flawless, exciting, shocking and enjoyable without leaving anyone or anything out. The random, unexpected shocking twists really added another level of greatness.

C.L. Taylor is an excellent writer, clearly showcased with this multi-character narrative. If you’re into big plots, lots of drama and great character development then she’s the author for you. I’ve not had the pleasure of reading any of her work previously, but she definitely won’t be a stranger on my bookshelf in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Audio for my advanced reader copy! 💕

I did enjoy this one and connected with the characters. It’s not my favourite of this authors but I did enjoy it. Also liked the narrator.

Ursula, Gareth and Alice have never met before and one chance meeting will change their lives forever when they all come under the attack of a person with vengeance againt Alice’s date/ boyfriend.

Ursula thinks she killed the love of her life and shoplifts to keep make herself feel better
Gareth’s mom has been receiving strange postcards, and Gareth is not sure who is sending them to his mother.
And Alice is being stalked or is her boyfriend being stalked?

Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.
This was a very nicely written book, not fast paced but yes something intriguing and makes the reader crave for more and to know what’s going to happen next!

Received an audio copy from netgalley with a bonus in the end where CL Taylor is interviewing the narrator Clare Corbett
#strangers #netgalley

Listened to this audio book going and returning to work
Claire Corbett is an exceptional narrater
And brings the characters alive

It is a fabulous read which keeps you gripped to the end
3 different peoples stories of
Which all connect together at the end

Highly recommend

Thank you netgalley, C L Taylor and Harper Collins Audio UK

Another brilliant story from this amazing author.

Loved reading the actual book and have throughly enjoyed listening to this via audio.

Well narrated and made the book come alive

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for ARC

A domestic thriller. There is a dead body. We know little else then go back in time to explain how the lives of strangers Alice, Ursula and Gareth, collide around that body.
An ok plot about three different, ordinary people with someone in their lives which they'd prefer not to be. A blind date who got too physical, a creepy landlord and a jumped up colleague who uses blackmail, a little difficult to believe that any of them would actively go and kill these people as they are an annoyance yet not really worth the jail time! So who is the dead body and was it an accident?
A worthy ending of excitement, a good old chase and hostage situation which brought us neatly back to the beggining.
An ok domestic thriller I prefer a little more darkness and intrigue 3*.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins audio UK for the ARC

This book left me utterly confused. I don’t think I understood what was going on until about 80% the way through the book. I listened to the audiobook and I had a lot of time to listen so I kept going. I get that they are strangers, hence the title of the book but when they eventually did start to make sense I was bored. I didn’t really like any of the characters except Ursula 🤷‍♀️ She was affected massively by a traumatic event from her past and she found ways to cope with it albeit not a great way. I liked the growth her character had and she is pretty much the reason this book got three stars from me and not less.

3/5


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Three strangers, two secrets, one terrifying evening.

Oh my goodness what a fabulous read this was. I am still thinking about this book after I’ve finished it. CL Taylor is one of my absolute favourite authors and honestly this book is just amazing. I read this book in 2 sittings as I just couldn’t put it down. A tense and unputdownable thriller.

I enjoyed the narrator of this book. The book was a slow burn with three separate stories that connect late in the book. I felt like things were not progressing fast enough, but that seems to be purposeful. While it was not a book for me, I will be checking out the author's other books.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator channels the characters perfectly, I think the story would be more gripping as a book rather than audio but that could be to do with my lack of multitasking skills.

Three strangers. Three secrets. And one big lie.

First there’s Ursula. Unable to face up to the tragedy that consumes her, her world has shrunk to an almost unrecognisable state.

Then Alice, who’s in the first flush of her relationship with Simon, a man she met by chance,

And Gareth, who lives a humdrum life as he struggles to cope with his mum’s increasing dementia.

I enjoy books by CL Taylor, and this was no exception. From the start she pulls you in. The characters are flawed and relatable. I read this book in one day as I wanted to know what happened, how the characters come together in the end. An enjoyable book and one I would recommend.