I have to be honest, I have been the biggest fan of this writer since her astonishing debut , ''The Widow' launched her into my book shelves,and ever since she has been a must buy author.

So this was a huge opportunity to catch up with the protagonist of ''Local Gone Missing'

Elise King is still in the small coastal town of Ebbing, navigating her life as a detective , a single woman and a cancer survivor.

This time, she shares the narrative with reporter, Kiki, and mother Anna, as the missing, then murdered local woman, Karen Simmons, pulls all three of them together, each sharing their unique perspectives on this pivotal event.

Anna is the mother of a murdered child, Archie, found in the same woods as Karen, Kiki has possibly the last eveidence of Karen in the form of interviews regarding data in an internet age and Elise is finding her stride after having shared a work space with her ex in the previous novel.

The way that they, and the public at large view Karen reflects so well on the perceptions of women in modern society, and in turn bounces back on them as individuals and professionals.

For Anna, about to celebrate another of her children's impending marriage means not talking about the missing child, the one whose death is left unresolved and mouldering in her consciousness.

For Elise, her role as a quasi-spinster is unsettling-who and what does she want to be? As a detective and as a person there are certain perceptions of her to be dedicated to her work and that should entail certain sacrifices-but does it really? How does she move forward from trauma when she is constantly dealing with the fall out of others?

For Kiki, she starts as a journalist looking into internet dating, which is where she and Karen cross paths, but her death and the way that locals spin her death as sad, pathetic and almost deserving-this is reflected over and over, in the way men berated her as 'easy', 'promiscuous', 'asking for it' , openly and unashamedly, is hypertension inducing and so realsitc. It's not heavy handed, it's the instinctive way a lot of men who have met her online dating have regarded her as disposable, gradeable and forgettable.

Karen is the cautionary tale for those who dare step out and look for a connection on their own terms. It's also how we spin a tale to suit the victors-the parade of 'if onlys...' really reflect on the way Fiona's previous role as a journalist gives a truthfulness to how the general public like to box off and categorise.

It is the determination and character of the three central women who refuse to let societal tropes define them and how they live their lives, whilst acknowledging how we can be susceptible to playing on them, that drives home the tragedy of Karen's life and death.

Even as Kiki goes deep into the world of dating, she is ever conscious her role as a single parent of a young daughter, balancing worlds as herself and a role model

She is almost ashamed of herself for her determination to bring Karen back to life in order to promote herself from side bars to the front page.

The gripping murder investigation is page turning fiction at its best with a firm foot in the reality of middle aged women trying to be unapologetically themselves, The short, sharp chapters bounce back and forth, reminding me of the women in a Greek chorus, singing the tale of a woman just looking for love, in all the wrong place.

The presumption is that talking to strangers can lead to unwanted consequences, but those closer to home are more likely to be the culprit .

A gripping and wryly humorous novel that had me laughing to myself as well as feeling deeply sad and angry for the fate of Karen-was her name deliberately chosen to reflect the generic social construct of women who expect to want it all, I wonder?-and very much invested in Elise and Kiki's growing relationship.

EXCERPT: I'd counted on being home and in bed by ten-thirty, but Karen's wine buzz was fading fast and she had a little weep in the car. I couldn't just leave her at the door. So I ended up staying for a coffee while she slipped off her heels and she told me why I was a fool not to do online dating.
She'd hit the jackpot on week one, apparently. 'We danced on the beach,' she said with a watery smile. 'A bit of a cliche, I know, but nothing beats kissing for the first time under the stars, does it?'
I nodded. 'Nothing wrong with a good snog,' I muttered, wondering if I would ever have one again. I looked at my watch - I needed to leave. I'd have to pay an extra hour to the babysitter as it was. But Karen was in full flow.
'He was wonderful. A little older than me, separated and ready to try again. Mina thought it was all going a bit fast - she didn't want me to get hurt. But I really thought this was it. God, I even started reading articles about fertility in your forties.' And she fell silent.
'What happened?' I prompted gently.
'His wife,' she murmured. 'She came back. And he said he had to give it another chance. Just my luck, really. Still, I haven't given up. There is someone out there for me. Whenever I feel a bit down, I go online and read all the amazing love stories that have resulted from people meeting on apps and look at photos of their beautiful weddings. It'll be my turn one day. And I've met some nice men along the way.'
'And some horrors, I bet?' I tried to lighten the mood.
She laughed and moved on to the man in the world's worst toupee - 'Why do they even make them in ginger?' - and the one who'd brought his mum on the date. 'He said she didn't get out much. She drank us under the table and went home with a darts player.'

ABOUT 'TALKING TO STRANGERS': Three women. One Killer.
Talking to strangers has never been more dangerous...

When the body of forty-four-year-old Karen Simmons is found abandoned in remote woodland, journalist Kiki Nunn is determined this will be the big break she so desperately needs.

Because she has a head start on all the other reporters. Just a week before Karen was killed, Kiki interviewed her about the highs and lows of mid-life romance. Karen told her all about kissing strangers on the beach under the stars, expensive meals, roses. About the scammers, the creeps, the man who followed her home the other night...

While the police appear to be focusing on local suspects, Kiki sets out to write the definitive piece on one woman's fatal search for love. But she will soon learn that the search for truth can be just as deadly...

MY THOUGHTS: Fiona Barton's experience on reporting high profile criminal cases and her fascination with watching those involved, observing their body language and verbal tics, shines through in her latest novel, Talking to Strangers.

Her characters are crafted with care; we all know a Karen, an Annie, a Henry, but it is Gav who broke my heart in this story, and I closed the cover for the final time wondering what would become of him.

Talking to Strangers is not a thriller. It's not fast-paced and full of action. It is more a character study of the people involved. One household has so many secrets, and I quote - it's like a network of tunnels too close to the surface. Making the crust shiver with tension. People living with the ever-present risk of the whole thing collapsing in on itself. And burying them.

Barton shows how easy it is to assume, because someone is a little different, guilt - and the devastating consequences that assumption can have.

The story is narrated from three points of view: Detective Elise King, recently returned to work following her cancer treatment; journalist Kiki Nunn, looking to claw back her lost reputation; and Annie, mother of three. The chapters are short and punchy, easily read. But Barton had my head spinning with theories, possibilities. I was nearly right - but that's like nearly winning the lottery.

The final plot twist is a real sucker punch. My jaw hit the floor and bounced a few times before returning, rather bruised, to its correct place. This is something Fiona Barton is rather good at and why I always look forward to reading her books.

Although this is the second in the Elise King series, each book contains a complete mystery and is easily read as a stand-alone.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TalkingtoStrangers #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: What spurred me on to write were the voices and images, collected over a thirty-year career in news journalism, still clamouring to be put on the page – and the irresistible lure of a secret.

Irresistible because secrets expose the suspicion and fear we have about how little we really know other people.

We may pretend otherwise, but we all have hidden thoughts we don’t want anyone to know, things we’ve done that would change the way people feel about us or parts of our lives that we would rather forget.

And for most of us, our fabrications or omissions are so inconsequential that being found out would be mildly embarrassing at worst. But for some of us, our secret threatens to destroy everything.

A brilliantly plotted thriller with so many dodgy characters. Dark and fast paced I couldn’t whiz through those pages quickly enough. It really makes you think of the dangers some people put themselves in when meeting strangers irl after they met through dating apps. Although there are plenty of success stories too - but not in this story.

A woman found murdered in the local woods brings back memories of a child murdered in the same woods 14 years ago.

The child’s mother is taken back to the murder of her beloved son and feels she must revisit his murder as she has questions which need answers, but what she finds out will change her life.

Kiki the reporter is at her wits end trying to find a story to give her waning career a boost and senses this murder will be a game changer for her, but to get a good story she is going to immerse herself into the dark and sometimes very dangerous world of dating apps. There is a secret group of misogynistic men who share details of their conquests online in their chat group using pseudonyms, and Kiki begins to uncover their real identities.

Elise the DI investigating the murder of the woman is struggling to recover from breast cancer and is feeling lonely and vulnerable. But there is a new neighbour who wants to get to know her better.

Such a page turner with so many twists and so many suspects I didn’t know who to put my money on!

Talking to strangers by Fiona Barton.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the cover and blurb. I did like the writing style. I got into it straight away. Gripping and twisty. I did like Kiki. I also liked Elise and Caro.
I really thought I knew who it was. What a surprise. I was sort of right but wrong. I still enjoyed it though. I did feel for Annie. This certainly had me I really didn't see that coming. Wow.

Having read and enjoyed the first in this series, Local Gone Missing, I was excited to return to the world of Detective Elise King as she tackles another case. This time, the body of a local woman Karen is found by some early morning walkers.

As with Local Gone Missing, we follow various characters' perspectives as we get an insight into their experiences in the aftermath of (and sometimes also in the run-up to) Karen's death. I always enjoy reading different narratives and this book does it brilliantly. Elise's perspective is always interesting as we get the Police investigation and the pressure on Elise and her colleagues. I think she's a brilliant protagonist - sharp and quick-witted but currently battling some of her own problems too. We also follow Kiki as she follows the story and tries her hand at solving the mystery, and Annie, who has two sons, but still hugely misses Archie, her son who was killed a long time ago.

In this novel, we see Elise get back into the dating game as she tries to balance work and romance, as well as Kiki's exploration of the darker side of online dating. The case is interesting and, despite some very dark themes, there are some humorous lines here too. I loved the twists thrown at the reader too (but I won't say more than that - this is one to go into without knowing too much!).

Talking to Strangers is a satisfying, dark and twisty whodunnit. It's a great follow-up to Local Gone Missing and has made this series one I'll definitely be reading more of when they come!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Detective Elise King and her team have a murder to solve. Local hairdresser Karen Simmons has been found dead in the woods, propped up against a tree. Karen was single, had wanted to meet someone so had been using on line dating apps, she loved fun, could be heard in the pub some evenings enjoying herself.,who would want to harm her, was she putting herself at risk by meeting strangers?
As well as Elise and her team investigating, the local reporter Kiki is running her own investigation, she is keen to restart her carer with a groundbreaking story. Two strong female characters who put themselves at risk as part of their job.
In the background there is another story about a young boy who had been murdered almost 16 years ago, in the same woods, are the two murders connected? Elise also has a personal background story.
This book definitely puts a spotlight on todays modern world of internet dating, the risks and pitfalls, Karen wanted a forever person, but not everyone is looking for the same thing, and some of the male characters in this story were vile. The story is cleverly weaved together as it approaches its end, with long buried secrets from the past revealed.
I highly recommend this gripping whodunnit read, I will look forward to more in this series from this very talented author.

Karen Simmons, a local, single hairdresser in her forties, who has been looking for love via online dating apps, has been found dead in the woods.

Kiki Nunn, a journalist whose career is in serious need of a boost, met the victim shortly before her murder and is convinced there is a connection with the online dating scene.

Elise King, who is recovering from breast cancer and still suffers from brain fog, is the DC in charge of the murder investigation.

Annie Curtis lost her young son, Archie, almost sixteen years ago and his body was discovered in the same place. Could there be a connection between the two deaths?

Elise thinks that Kiki, through her dogged pursuit of a scoop, is in danger of hindering her own investigation into Karen’s murder. But, in the end, Elise and Kiki have to work together to get to the truth. And they will uncover more than they bargained for.

A former crime journalist, Fiona Barton has written another brilliant novel. Although we have met some of the characters in Local Gone Missing, her latest psychological thriller, Talking with Strangers, is also a standalone. It raises timely issues, such as online dating in the age of social media, violence against women on the one hand, and, on the other hand, victim blaming for women who dare to connect with “virtual” strangers.

A blisteringly good, miss-your-stop read that raises some timely issues such as online dating, violence against women and victim blaming. Fiona Barton at her best.

Did I like the book?
Fiona Barton’s books are always a blast and this one is no exception. I truly enjoyed diving into the characters’ world and lives. Talking to Strangers creates a realistic web of connections between people and their needs and desires, for better or for worse!

Did I enjoy reading it?
The writing is fluid and easy to follow. The different point of views helped me get a broader feel for the stories unfolding. The author really knows how to use her words so that chapters feel knitted together in a strong and gripping way.

What did I feel?
My dislike for journalists was reignited, haha! But I loved tutting and rolling my eyes at Kiki. What could have remained an annoying character turned into a pivotal element in the plot. On top of that, she actually became a full-fledged character I ended up warming up to. Fiona Barton managed to bring enough layers to Kiki that I had no other choice but to see it in her entirety, and not just as the journalist ready to do anything for a first-page article. Well done!

DI Elise King is a really fascinating character. Still reeling from her cancer treatment and newly back at her position within the police force, she has to face a murder that shakes her town and sheds light on women and the dating scene.

On top of a rich characterization, I simply couldn’t get enough of the author’s dissection of the subject of dating. The differences between how men and women deal with online dating or dating in general, the difficulties of meeting someone, the dangers that come with putting oneself out there, all of it was beautifully, dreadfully realistically drawn and I shuddered more than once when faced with the situations the characters had to deal with. Far from simply delivering clichés and banalities, Fiona Barton looked deeper to the core of our search for a partner. Or for some, simple good times, whatever if means for them! Another interesting point was the judgement we all are guilty of when we pair dating and women over 30! What is wrong with it? Who decided a woman had no business trying to find love after her twenties? Why are we so quick to judge? Why does it matter to anyone what someone tries to be happy? I loved getting brain food to chew on while I was trying to figure out what had happened to poor Karen.

For quite a while I was intrigued by our third POV, Annie Curtis, a woman who had lost her son years prior to the killing of local Karen. I was struggling to see a link between the two cases, despite enjoying the plot itself. When it all made since, I was quite impressed!

Quite early on, I got an hunch on who might be the killer. You don’t read hundreds of crime novels without getting a few skills, eh eh! Turned out I was right! Instead of feeling a tad disappointed, I was impressed by how the author added enough twists and turns so that when the big reveal happened, I was still shocked and gripping the kindle as if I could jump into the book and help the characters.

How would I describe it?
Real on all levels

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for the arc of Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton

5 star read 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - such a page turner, gripping thriller rollercoaster ride of a lifetime I loved this so much!! Fiona is a sensation!! Highly recommend

Detective Elise King is investigating the death of Karen Simmons who was killed on Valentine's Day. It looks like Karen’s death may be connected to her online dating activity. Elise is feeling the pressure to solve this case but it’s a challenge since she is still recovering from her cancer treatments. Erica "Kiki" Nunn is a reporter who longs for the day when she was a serious crime reporter and sees a way to get back onto the assignments she loves by looking into the local dating scene for middle-aged women. Each is committed to the investigation, but neither realizes how dangerous the investigation they’re working on really is.

Technically this book is the second in the Elise King series, but it reads like a standalone. As both Kiki and Elise look into Karen’s death, there are some very scary and all too realistic moments that can be hard to read. The book is told from both Elise and Kiki's point-of-view, and I think the pacing would have been better if the book would have stuck with those two narrators. However, some of the chapters are narrated by Annie Curtis, a woman whose son was killed in the same location as Karen. Her chapters give insights into the current case, but for me it slowed the building drama that Elise and Kiki were going through. However, I still found the book to be a tense and suspenseful book. I was actually able to predict two out of the three major twists at the end, but I still liked the book. I assume there will be a third book because one thing unrelated to the case is left unanswered at the end of this one. I didn't enjoy this one as much as others by Barton, but she is still an author I will follow because of her memorable characters and engaging writing style. 4.25 stars

I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley and the publishers but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

Karen Simmons is a well-known, outgoing character in her local area and when journalist Kiki wants to do a piece on online dating as an 'older' woman, she is one of the first to get involved. When Karen is found dead not long after speaking to Kiki it sparks a whole investigation into the online dating culture and Kiki may end up putting herself in danger while trying to make links to the men behind the online persona's and Karen. Also investigating from an official angle is DI Elise King. Still struggling to get back to full fitness after cancer treatment, she also has a personal like to this case as she had spent time with the same group of women as Karen.

This is the second book in the DI Elise King series and it is another great instalment. The two sides of the investigation made it a very well-rounded read and the timeliness of the subject made it a very realistic read too.

A multi-layered police procedural, <em>Talking To Strangers</em> follows an interesting and painfully relevant case that explores the dangerous side of the online dating scene, the reality of victim-blaming culture, and the dark side of the web.

The story is told through three perspectives, each a strong woman who adds an important perspective to the story. The pace is quite slow, and I didn't particularly find it gripping, but I felt that the story was very suspenseful, and there were some good twists along the way.

This is the first book in the Elise King series that I have read, and I don't think we get to know Elise very well, but she was likeable, and there's a lot I'm curious about, and I definitely intend to read the first book to get to know her better.

A woman, Karen Simmons, is found murdered in woodland adjacent to a usually peaceful village. The local journalist, Kiki Nunn starts investigating the murder as she knew the victim. The backdrop is the local dating scene and the use of apps- did Karen meet her killer via an App? The site of the murder is also where a child was murdered previously. Could the two killings be connected? How can Kiki discover the killer’s identity? Of course, the local police are also trying to find the killer and the cat and mouse chase between Kiki and Elise, the detective running the case, makes an interesting tale.
A great narrative with strong female voices that captures the issues faced by women every day, especially in relation to social media and the perils of dating. A whodunnit and the twist is one that is properly gobsmacking!

This is a gripping crime thriller. Characters have secrets and they were intriguing. I really like the author’s writing. It’s engaging. It has police procedural, murder investigation and suspense. A woman is found dead while the police is investigating her death but that is not enough for Kiki, the journalist. She wants to herself do the investigation and find the person behind such an unfortunate event. The truth is twisted and secrets are deep. There are some twists. The ending was heartbreaking.

Many Thanks to the Author and Publisher.

I’ve been a big fan of Fiona Barton’s writing for years, but I definitely think her latest novel, Talking to Strangers, is her best and most gripping book to date. The characters really do leap off the page and there is a real emotional depth to her latest story. The opening immediately hooked me in, with the discovery of the body of forty-four-year-old, local hairdresser, Karen Simmons. We then meet journalist, Kiki Nunn, who had recently interviewed Karen, and she makes it her mission to find Karen’s killer.

I really liked Kiki and her voice comes through really strongly on the page, particularly in her dialogue, and Fiona Barton does a brilliant job of this in her book. You can see Kiki is willing to go to extreme lengths to find Karen’s killer and to write the story. This includes bringing to light a group of local men, who openly share online their conquests with women. Kiki feels certain Karen’s killer is hiding amongst them, and this really makes it feel as though she is sailing close to danger, as she tries to get close to the group. She does this by setting up dates with some of the men, and I could really feel the tension as these scenes played out on the page, especially as she’s never sure if whether or not she’s actually spending time with Karen’s killer.

The resolution is a heart breaking one, and I found the writing so tense, in the scenes showing the moments leading up to when Karen was murdered. I could really sense what was going through the character’s minds in these scenes; I could see why they were making the decisions they were. It made for such gripping reading and I turned the pages faster and faster as the book raced to its conclusion.

Talking to Strangers is definitely one of my favourite reads of the year so far. I loved how Detective Elsie King’s investigation intertwined with Kiki’s and especially how this added to the tension. It really kept me invested in the story as I was reading, as I could really see what was driving both women. I was particularly rooting for Elsie, after the recent troubles she has had in her life recently. Although this is the second book in the Detective Elsie King series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Fiona Barton fans are in for a treat with her latest book. I’m really looking forward to seeing where she takes this series next.

I really enjoy fiona Barton books and this was another twisty police procedural story. Lots.of twists that I never seen coming. Highly recommended xx

Having read Fiona Barton's other books I knew I was in for a good read, but I think this one surpassed the others. As ever Fiona Barton
gives her characters a fully rounded description, which immediately adds to the interest. This book revisits Elise King - not in the capacity of an officer off sick (as in 'Local Gone Missing'), but back behind her desk in her official capacity. There are still appearances from her neighbour and friend and the local character who knows everything going on in the village, which adds humour to the story.
There are several strands to this book - the death of a local woman who uses online dating looking for love, local men who use and abuse the online dating apps; Kiki who is a reporter trying to regain her status as a reporter as her daughter gets older and Elisa fearing that her recent cancer treatment has impaired her abilities to run her team.
The various strands overlap; one strand I felt I knew what may have happened (and was proved right) but another I found to be a twist in the tale.
A very solid 4*
Many thanks to Netgalley/Fiona Barton/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

What an excellent read!

Fiona Barton is another author who never disappoints! Her books are always fast reads with great twists at the end.

Although I predicted some of the twists (only because I read a lot of thrillers and try to think outside the box), the last chapter still had me stumped!

Karen Simmons's earnest desire for love raises the question of whether it ultimately led to her tragic demise. Was she a victim of one of the men she encountered on online dating platforms, or was her murder the result of more sinister circumstances?

The narrative follows two women determined to uncover the truth.

Kiki Nunn, an ambitious reporter, yearns for an opportunity to tackle a substantial and serious story. However, it remains to be seen how far she is willing to go in pursuit of a compelling narrative.

DI Elise King, having recently overcome a cancer diagnosis, finds herself back in active duty, still grappling with the challenges of her condition.

It remains uncertain whether she will be able to manage the complexities of the case effectively.

Furthermore, the puzzling connection between the murder of a young boy fifteen years ago and the current murder adds an intriguing layer of mystery to the plot.

Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

When Karen, a serial online dater, is murdered Detective Elisa is on the case. So too is local journalist Kiki, who decides to join the online dating scene herself to get an insider’s view for a new newspaper column. With Karen being murdered in the same wood as a child several decades ago, Kiki tries to be one step ahead of the police in interviewing suspects, friend and family from both cases, despite there having been an admission of guilt from the previous case.
This is a good book, although there are a lot of characters, some with more than one name. Also, all of the men have a dark side to them. However, I like how Elise and Kiki form a temporary truce in order to find out the true identity of the murderer.
Well worth a read.

This was such an exciting read all way through and as with other Fiona Barton books I have read the twists and turns kept me hooked.