The Stranger Diaries (by Elly Griffiths)
I’m thoroughly enjoying Goodreads’ Community Challenges because they’re helping me move books from the bottom of my TBR pile to the top. I was thrilled to see The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths as a qualifying title for the Acclaimed Titles challenge. It’s been patiently waiting in my Audible library for quite some time now.
I absolutely adore the cover of this book! The setting of an old mansion where an acclaimed writer, R.M. Holland, used to reside is an enchanting setting for me. I couldn’t help but imagine the top floor study! With spooky reading season just around the corner, this book promised to be an intriguing read. It features anonymous, mysterious notes being left behind and a murderer lurking in the shadows.
The story is narrated from four different perspectives. Clare Cassidy, a high school English teacher, is writing a book about R.M. Holland, who used to reside in the mansion that has now been transformed into a school. Tragically, her colleague and best friend is found murdered, sending shockwaves through the school. A chilling note is discovered next to the victim, bearing a line from R.M. Holland’s short story, The Stranger.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pace of the narrative, as the suspense and mystery built at a satisfying speed. R.M. Holland occasionally narrates The Stranger in a chilling, eerie voice that I found captivating. I particularly liked the story within a story aspect of this book. Clare, her daughter Georgia, and detective Harbinder Karu all provided compelling perspectives, each with their own unique voice and character traits. While I found all of the characters to be likable, my favorite was undoubtedly the family dog, Herbert.
While I thoroughly enjoyed following the story from each character’s point of view, I must admit that the narrative became repetitive at times, particularly in the beginning of the book.
The Stranger Diaries is the first book in The Harbinder Karu Mysteries series, followed by The Postscript Murders, Bleeding Heart Yard, and The Last Word. While I genuinely enjoyed The Stranger Diaries, I don’t feel compelled to continue the series.
As I mentioned earlier, I purchased The Stranger Diaries using my Audible membership. The four narrators, Andrew Wincott, Esther Wane, Sarah Feathers, and Anjana Vasan, delivered exceptional performances.
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