The Perfect Stranger by Megan Miranda Published by Simon and Schuster on May 28, 2019
Genres: Fiction, Thrillers, Suspense, Psychological, Women
Pages: 416
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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A masterful follow-up to the New York Times bestseller All the Missing Girls—the gripping story of a journalist who sets out to find her missing friend, a woman who may never have existed at all. “Think: Luckiest Girl Alive, The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl” (TheSkimm).
When Leah Stevens’ career implodes, a chance meeting with her old friend Emmy Grey offers her the perfect opportunity to start over. Emmy, just out of a bad relationship, convinces Leah to come live with her in rural Pennsylvania, where there are teaching positions available and no one knows Leah’s past. Or Emmy’s.
Then there’s a wave of vicious crimes in the community and Emmy Grey disappears, and Leah realizes how very little she knows about her friend and roommate. Unable to find friends, family, a paper trail or a digital footprint, the police question whether Emmy Grey existed at all. And mark Leah as a prime suspect.
Fighting the doubts of the police and her own sanity, Leah must uncover the truth about Emmy Grey—and along the way, confront her old demons, find out who she can really trust, and clear her own name. Deep, dark, and irresistibly twisty, “Megan Miranda’s eerie suspense thriller…smartly examines the slippery theme of personal identity” (The New York Times Book Review).
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Why Did I Read?
I remember loving Megan Miranda’s All the Missing Girls and I always am interested in a mystery/thriller that can really keep me guessing!
My Thoughts:
I was surprised that this story didn’t go in the direction that I initially thought it would! After the first bit though, I had a good idea of where things would go but I was always on the edge of my seat, eager to find out the details.
I liked the little flashbacks to the past and trying to figure out what kind of person Emmy, Leah’s missing roommate, was. There were little hints and tie-ins from the past and I always like those sort of clues as we move forward in the plot. The pacing did feel a bit slow at times but I was still kept interested. I never felt very attached to Leah though.
I liked the atmosphere of the book and I think it helped that I started reading this when I was backpacking so I was literally out by a lake in the wilderness and it added to the eerie feel. The reveals were on point and I liked the twists. I didn’t end up loving it like I did All the Missing Girls but it still hit most of the notes I like in a mystery/thriller!
In Short…
A mystery that will keep you interested and eager to find out more! The reveals and twists are good and while it isn’t my favorite by Megan Miranda, it was still enjoyable! I always appreciate a good thriller that keeps me on my toes!
1/2
This is my least fave of her books. It was good, but didn’t hook me like ALL THE MISSING GIRLS and THE LAST HOUSE GUEST and FRAGMENTS OF THE LOST did. Leah wasn’t my fave either 🙁 Great review.
Yeah, I loved All the Missing Girls! I definitely didn’t have that same love here. I haven’t read those other ones yet but I still am interested to check out her other thrillers.