Karen Simmons, a local hairdresser in Ebbings, is found in Knapton Woods, killed by an unknown person. Karen had started her evening with a night out with best friend Mina Ryan celebrating Valentine's day in their local, The Neptune. On the day of discovery of Karen's body, Kiki Nunn is told by her editor the name of the victim. Kiki recognises the name as she had been doing a feature on online dating and had interviewed Karen for the Sussex Today website. DI Elise King and DS Caro Brennan from the Major Crimes Team begin their investigation into finding the person responsible. This leads them to discover a case from 2004, when Archie Curtis (8 years old) had been found in the same place. How do the cases connect? Why are they important? No spoilers as you will need to read the book to find the answers. The story is told in multiple POV and over different time lines. All the sub plots lead to a dramatic ending. It is a fast paced, page turning of a read. I will recommend this book.

Karen Simmons is a fun loving forty four year old who is looking for love, then on Valentine's Day, 2020 she is found dead in Knapton Wood. The police begin their investigations, headed up by DI Elise King and her team. Also interested in the case is journalist Kiki Nunn who, a week earlier, had interviewed Karen relating to an article she was writing about mid life romance and the problems she faced during the whole online dating experience and talking to strangers but, as she delves deeper into this story, could she be putting herself in as much danger as Karen?

Taking to Strangers is the latest thriller by Barton and brings Elise King back into our lives after first meeting her in Local Gone Missing. This one is a slow burn, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, and details what happens from before the murder and then throughout the investigation to its conclusion and beyond. There are some delicate subjects dealt with in this story; rape, grooming, misogyny and all are researched intricately by the author. It was interesting to read about how the public were divided on the reasons for Karen's death, some blamed it on her behaviour and how she dressed/acted where others were in complete sympathy with her and rightly so, nobody deserves to be treated this way, this does happen in real life and it's about time society woke up and realised this is not the attitude to have towards women. This is an intriguing read, with some good twists and, although I guessed who the perpetrator was, it didn't affect my perception of this story.

I'd like to thank Random House UK, Transworld and Netgalley for inviting me to read this book, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Secrets and lies in this book,a family ripped apart by a long ago event brought again to light by a recent tragedy in the same area,
The perils and pitfalls of internet dating,a collision waiting to happen and when it does it reverbates through the whole community.
A gripping and intense read,I raced through this book.

This was a good solid mystery, but I did not find it as good as the others books I have read from this author.
It was a slow burner that just simmered along.

A murder mystery set in a small coastal town, it starts with the killing of a local hairdresser on Valentine's Day. Written from multiple character viewpoints, the story ended with a satisfying denouement and it was an enjoyable read.

Told from multiple perspectives — we have a murder in a small town and a predator on the loose — and the investigation takes place over 17 days in 2020.

I have enjoyed this author's work in the past -- and this time was a great book too!

The pacing of this book is really good with intriguing chapters and characters, for me though the ending and the identity of the murderer were predictable for me by the middle of the story.

It is a fast-paced read, with moments of intensity that allow you to get lost in the mystery and the lives of the characters and how they are interconnected.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Told from different perspectives, DI Elise King who’s working the case; Kiki a journalist determined to look into this case and get the big scoop first by walking in Karen’s shoes. And Annie, on hearing the news of the dead woman in the park,, bringing back her worst nightmare, that was a reality…

Another great read from Fiona Barton, a definite should read with a final twist to end.

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Realistic storylines
- Plots that cover the dangers of online dating
- Adrenaline fuelled reads

With thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

The murder of local hairdresser, Karen Simmons, on Valentines Day in the small town of Ebbing. DI Elise King has her work cut out for her finding this killer. With help from investigative journalist Kiki.Nunn, the 2 women with unearthed so much more than they ever expected.

Fiona Barton books are always so interesting, with well fleshed out characters and storylines. This was a fast read, with plenty of potential assailants in the mix. A small town, where everyone knows everyone’s business, surely it can’t be that hard to get the killer. I had an inkling of who the killer was going to be early on and I was proved to be right which makes a change for me. Nonetheless I really enjoyed this murder mystery. It was nice to have Elise back in another story.

Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the advanced copy to read. Publishes on August 15th.

I really enjoyed this book, I found it realistic which made it all the more dramatic and exciting. Thankyou netgally for the early release of this book

This is no ordinary police procedural as the murder of hairdresser Karen in a small town where pretty much everyone knew her led to several more gruesome historical discoveries and the unearthing of many secrets that had been kept hidden for years. Detective Elise, newly returned to work after treatment for breast cancer is in charge of the investigation, and journalist Kiki Nunn is a thorn in her side, often getting vital information before the police. The story centres on the dangers of online dating and ‘Talking to Strangers’ as the title suggests. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged, along with an unexpected ending. There are several different voices speaking in the book and it was occasionally a little confusing, but overall this is a good story with an important message.

I enjoyed this and was gripped from the start, however I struggled to bond with some of the characters. Not my favourite book by this author, but a one I'm sure people will absolutely love

5* Brilliant intro to this author, with a strong female-led cast of females.

I'm not sure I was expecting to read this book in under 2 hours, but it was unputdownable. Starting it, I expected a simple murder and police procedural in small-town England, but got introduced to several female characters who each contributed to the denouement of the tale.

I didn't expect that Kiki, a reporter, would pick up the mantle and run with it, pretty much solving the murder with all the things that were divulged to her. Yes, she's a reporter, so akin to an estate agent or salesperson, but she did have a kind heart, though she remained self-serving. What she went through personally, to benefit her career, was shocking, but sadly, had feet in today's dating world. But, she didn't let trauma bog her down; getting a wrongdoer to justice helped her get stronger and take charge, and saved the life of potentially countless other females.

The lead detective, whose name I can't recall, came across as vulnerable but also caring. I'm not sure that she and her team would have 'solved' the case had Kiki not inserted herself into several families. She seemed to spend a lot of time wondering what others thought of her, but that wasn't unreasonable given her time off work due to illness. Her DS came across as cold and intolerant of others, but strangely supportive and there for her. It's this relationship that made me suspect this book isn't a standalone. She redeemed herself from her failures by being impressively there for Kiki in the aftermath of the latter's trauma.

The horrors of online dating are a warning that females need to be careful, especially ageing ones. Kiki took on a misogynistic gang of men and found out their identities, doing justice not just for herself. That part of the tale was brilliant but cautionary - sadly, it likely happens in real life, with hook-up apps/dating sites/social media, etc., as they exist, aiding and abetting men.

I wasn't expecting much of no-backbone Annie, who always seemed to smooth over the troubled waters at home and pretend that a hug made everything alright, but her mother's love made her strong at the right point, and yet the same kept her blind.

The ending, shocked me because the real killer hadn't just killed once, and was a bit of a side character, though toxic and part of the online dating group of psychos, and yet seemed inoffensive. But, ugh, that he got away with killing several times, worked, and yet was shocking in the sense that he manipulated justice being done and the closure of the case. It didn't spoil the tale but it did make me wonder how many more people would end up dying over the course of his life. We couldn't reasonably learn more but it both felt off, and yet not, that he'd manipulated things so that a certain person he detested got what they deserved, at least in his eyes, for wronging his family.

All in all, this was an excellent tale.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Random House, for my reading pleasure.

Don’t Talk to Strangers sang Rick Springfield!

It’s Valentine’s Day 2020 in Ebbing, and Karen Simmons is looking for love on a night reserved for couples. But it’s slim pickings at her local pub that night, so a depressed and lonely Karen heads home alone.

The next day, Karen’s body is found in Ebbing Woods – still wearing her red dress from the night before – suffocated, propped up against a tree. Why did Karen go out again after she got home? Who was she meeting? Most importantly, who killed her, and why? And Karen’s isn’t the first murder to occur in those woods…

The second book in the series is set a year after the events of the first and can be enjoyed as a standalone. I feel horrible saying this because #1, Local Gone Missing, was one of my top reads in 2022, but unfortunately, Talking to Strangers was average by comparison. The first half moved at a snail's pace, and even though the plot did pick up after that, it wasn’t by much. I kept finding other things to occupy my time, and it's never a good sign when you’d rather do the vacuuming over reading a book. I think two POVs investigating/researching Karen’s murder was one too many, as things tended to get repetitive. Annie’s POV was the most intriguing. My second complaint is that the mystery was pretty predictable, and the epilogue came as no surprise – the myriad of subtly placed clues that the first book contained were absent from this one. I preferred the secondary crime involving online dating apps and misogynous men. That plot was tense, emotive, informative, and disturbing – several times I wanted to punch my kindle screen imagining it was these disgusting men’s faces. If I didn’t already loathe dating apps, I would now. Also, I’d never heard of cyber flashing and immediately checked my Apple AirPlay privacy settings – so thanks for the info, Fiona Barton.

I enjoyed spending time with Elise, Kiki and company; just wish the main crime and pacing had been more to my liking. I will continue to read the series because I loved the first book, this author, and the recurring characters.

I want to thank NetGalley UK, Random House UK Transworld Publishers, and Fiona Barton for the e-ARC.

UK Release Date: 15 August 2024.

#TalkingToStrangers #NetGalley
Brilliant 5 ⭐
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise. A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.
I really enjoyed it. I was gripped from the start.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld Publishers Bantam for giving me an advance copy.

The book title should also include the word 'dating' as the story highlights the dangers. The search is on for the killer of Karen, a single woman in search of love on the local dating scene, who is found murdered in local English woodland.

Ms Barton tells the story mainly through three different points of view (all female) and showing how complex the relationship can be between a local, keen reporter, Kiki, and the DI, Elise, who tries to solve the case. In fact, Kiki annoyed me with her conduct but perhaps that is the author's intention?

The third narrator, Annie, is the mother of her young son murdered in the same woodland years earlier.. She like to return to the scene.

Whilst various men (and possible suspects) were introduced to the story, Elise eventually succeeds, but no more spoilers!

I really like Fiona Barton's work and look forward to her next book.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for the chance to read and review.

Wow, what did I just read!
This is first Fiona Barton book I've read and I'm blown away!
What an excellent writer! The story sucks you in right away and what a great story it is, from beginning to the end. With many unexpected twists.
Karen's murder shocks small town, solving the murder leads to many surprising places, uncovering local secrets and bringing back buried trauma.
DI Elise King is a good solid character, I did not realise this was book 2 of the series, but didn't feel like I've missed anything by not reading the first book.
This is completely stand alone story. I loved the police investigation part clashing with media (Kiki) who sometimes mess things up for the police.

It kept me guessing till the very end. I will now search for more books by this author!

A good read from this author but not one of my favourites. I found it hard to get into the storyline and gel with the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for this ARC.

My thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Talking To Strangers’ written by Fiona Barton in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Kiki Nunn is a journalist for Sussex Today and Elise King a Detective Inspector with the Major Crime Squad. Although working individually, they’re both after information that helps put a name to the person who killed Karen Simmons and left her body in Knapton Wood. They also need to know if this murder is connected in any way to what happened to Archie Curtis in the same area sixteen years before.

‘Talking To Strangers’ is a superb thriller told mainly by Kiki and Elise as they search for clues whilst having to deal with the problems in their own private lives. It’s a superb story that’s been skilfully written and has kept me fully engrossed from the moment I opened page one. As well as searching for a murderer, the plot explores the loopholes in online dating and the topical problem of women’s safety when out alone at night. The story becomes tense as the number of suspects increases and the drama, suspense and twists and turns keep me enthralled although unable to guess the identity of the killer. When I reached the final chapters I believed Elise and Kiki had found who they were looking for but I wasn’t expecting the epilogue which was a bit of a shocker and totally unexpected. This is an outstanding thriller with brilliant characters and I’d give it far more than five stars if I could.

Talk about twists and turns! This is the second book in the series following DI Elise King. This book has two other narrators, but Elise is the star in book one and two. This can be red as a stand alone, but the first book is also very good nd I recommend both. This had me guessing till basically the very end of the book. It had a few different sub plots which were also very twisty. I highly recommend.