Strangers We Know

by Elle Marr

The search for a serial killer leads a woman into the twisted tangle of her own family tree in a chilling novel by the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of The Missing Sister and Lies We Bury.

Adopted when she was only days old, Ivy Hon knows little about her lineage. But when she’s stricken with a mystery illness, the results of a genetic test to identify the cause attract the FBI. According to Ivy’s DNA, she’s related to the Full Moon Killer, who has terrorized the Pacific Northwest for decades. Ivy is the FBI’s hope to stop the enigmatic predator from killing again.

When an online search connects Ivy with her younger cousin, she heads to rural Rock Island, Washington, to meet the woman. Motivated by a secret desire to unmask a murderous relative, Ivy reaches out to what’s left of a family of strangers.

Discovering her mother’s tragic fate and her father’s disappearance is just the beginning. As Ivy ventures into a serial killer’s home territory, she realizes that she may be the next victim of poisonous blood ties.

• ISBN10: 1542032776
• ISBN13: 9781542032773
• Publish Date: 1 May 2022
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thomas & Mercer
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 284
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

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.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Kim Deister]

This is a book that I enjoyed, but one that also had some things I didn’t love. The things I did enjoy… At the top of the list would be Ivy. She is a great protagonist. She’s adopted but loves the family she’s had her entire life. But mysterious medical issues have caused her to try to find her birth family. Which leads to the second thing I enjoyed… the mystery aspect. Her search brings her to the attention of the FBI, and that sets up the plot of the book. Added to the mystery, are the perspectives of both Ivy’s mother and Samson. Their storylines were so good, so twisted. I also loved the setting, the Pacific Northwest. The author’s descriptions made me feel as if I were there. Really the only thing I didn’t truly love was the end. It wasn’t that it wasn’t satisfying. It just felt rushed. So much happened too fast, too much for the short space within the larger story that it was given. I wanted more anticipation and suspense leading up to it, as well as some more resolution to some of the other relationships that had been developed over the course of the novel. But even that wasn’t enough to truly dampen my enjoyment of the book!