The Stranger Inside
A Novel
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4.2 • 568 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
Named a BEST BOOK by People Magazine, Boston Globe, BookBub, PopSugar, CrimeReads and more.
“Brilliant…. A well-crafted psychological thriller.” —The New York Times Book Review
When former journalist Rain Winter was twelve years old, she narrowly escaped an abduction while walking to a friend’s house. The abductor was eventually found and sent to prison, but years later was released. Then someone delivered real justice--and killed him in cold blood.
Now Rain is living the perfect suburban life, spending her days as a stay-at-home mom. But when another criminal who escaped justice is found dead, Rain is unexpectedly drawn into the case, forced to revisit memories she’s worked hard to leave behind. Is there a vigilante at work? Who is the next target? Why can’t Rain just let it go?
Introducing one of the most compelling and original killers in crime fiction today, Lisa Unger takes readers deep inside the minds of both perpetrator and victim, blurring the lines between right and wrong, crime and justice, and showing that sometimes even good people are drawn to do evil things.
Don't miss The New Couple in 5B, Lisa Unger's newest psychological thriller about a couple that inherits an apartment with a truly chilling past.
Looking for more spine-tingling thrillers? Check out these other titles by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger: Under My Skin Confessions on the 7:45 Last Girl Ghosted Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six The New Couple in 5B (coming March 2024!)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
A vigilante is killing people who may have gotten away with murder, most recently a man who was tried but acquitted of killing his pregnant wife, in this cleverly plotted if credulity-challenging psychological thriller from Edgar finalist Unger (Under My Skin) set in a small New York State town. Another victim of the vigilante may have been Eugene Kreskey, who 22 years earlier had a fateful encounter with three 12-year-old friends in the woods: Tess Barker, Hank Reams, and Rain Winter. Tess was killed; Hank was kidnapped but eventually escaped; only Rain eluded Kreskey that day; Kreskey had been stalking her and later spent 10 years in a psychiatric facility. As adults, Hank and Rain have thrived: Happily married Rain is taking a break from her career as a crime reporter to stay home with baby Lily, while Hank has made a name for himself as a psychiatrist specializing in victims of trauma. Despite Rain ostensibly being a stay-at-home mom, the latest case gets her investigating again. Unger's well-honed craft shows in her unmasking the avenger early on and using the reveal to ratchet up suspense. She also squirrels away several startling trump cards for later. Fans of serial killer novels won't be disappointed.
Customer Reviews
Excellent
Could not put down.
One thing though. I don’t think the author knows that Hank is a well known nickname for Henry. Very confusing.
Excellent
Great read
The Stranger Inside
Outstanding book that I greatly enjoyed reading! It described so well how trauma at a young age (or any age) can cause multiple personality disorders and tremendous emotional and psychological damage for an entire lifetime. There are effective and successful treatments available from highly skilled professionals. I thought of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as I was reading this, as well as movies The Three Faces of Eve, and Sybil. Loved the ending.