Author: Elle Marr
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Released: May 1, 2022
Received: NetGalley
Elle Marr is back with another thriller, and you know that I had to dive in headfirst (seriously, I didn’t even read the description before starting!). Strangers We Know is perfect for those that loved The Missing Sister and Lies We Bury.
Ivy Hon is adopted, a fact that she has always known. She doesn’t know much about her biological family – it was a closed adoption when she was only a few days old. It wasn’t until she got sick that this became a concern.
Her illness forced her to have a genetic test run. That is eventful enough without having the FBI show up on her door. Her DNA indicates that she is related to the Full Moon Killer, meaning that she is now one of the FBI’s few leads.
I feel like the entire basis of Strangers We Know stems from a dark fear many people have. I’m talking about that creeping suspicion that rises anytime somebody talks about one of those DNA/Ancestry tests. You never know what they’re going to find, right?
Granted, I think what happens to Ivy is far worse than even our worst fears, or it goes in a different direction. That made for an exciting (and terrifying) read. If I’m being honest, one that was very difficult to put down.
I’ll admit that there are a few issues with Strangers We Know. First, it doesn’t do a great job sucking readers into the story. The first chapter could have used another round of editing (with maybe a sensitivity reader?).
The pacing was another issue. I usually love it when a book switches perspectives, but there were times when it seemed to slow down the story more than push it along. And trust me, I hate saying that.
I still think Strangers We Know is worth reading, especially for those that love DNA thrillers/horrors. It hits those tones perfectly.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat’s Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks 