Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Bookbub

Description:
When Karen Simmons is murdered on Valentine’s Day, Detective Elise King wonders if she was killed by a man she met online. Karen was all over the dating apps, leading some townspeople to blame her for her own death, while others band together to protest society’s violence against women. Into the divide comes Kiki Nunn, whose aggressive newsgathering once again antagonizes Elise.

A single mother of a young daughter, Kiki is struggling to make a living in the diminished news landscape. Getting a scoop in the Simmons murder would do a lot for her career, and she’s willing to go up against not just Elise but the killer himself to do it.

Review:

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton is the 2^nd book in her Elise King series.  This is another one of Barton’s exciting suspense novels, with Detective Elise King, once again the lead. We also get to see two other POV’s, one from Kiki Nunn, a journalist who is investigating the recent murder, and one from Annie, who lost her son 13 years ago in the same woods that Karen Simmons was recently found murdered.  

Detective Elise King is assigned to the case, even though she still has her own issues getting over her treatment of cancer. Karen’s body was found in Ebbing Woods, propped up against a tree and suffocated. Elise wonders if someone from the dating community met her murderer from there, as Karen has a reputation of having interactions with various men. Was one of them a stalker?  Most of the town knew about Karen’s reputation, and believed she reaped what she sowed.

Kiki Nunn is a reporter, and had recently interviewed Karen on the pros and cons of online dating. After Karen’s murder, Kiki is determined to jump on the case, to get her on the top of her field. She is upset about the murder, and is willing do everything to help find who killed Karen; Kiki constantly calls Elise to give her some clues, which does drive Elise crazy; since it’s too dangerous for Kiki to be involved with trying to discover clues.

Though 13 years ago, Annie lost her son, but with the murder taking place in the same woods, she is determined to look further into what has happened.  Annie and her husband have problems, and she suspected him of having affairs; which led him to tell Annie that years ago, he did have an affair with Karen.  Annie now decides she needs to get more information about her son’s death, and find the truths.

I did think that for almost half the book, it was a bit slow, especially going back and forth with all three narrators; but the last half picked up a lot, and became very exciting. I really did like Elise, who really was a great detective, especially so focused on the finding the killer. Kiki was another good character, as she was brave, but she took too many chances that endangered her life.   Annie was very good, and will learn more information about her son’s death, that would change everything. From the start to finish, there was so much going on, with many suspects, which did cause the beginning to be slow.

Talking to Strangers was a very good exciting mystery thriller, that was challenging and kept our attention throughout.  Talking to Strangers was very well written by Fiona Barton.  If you like mystery thrillers, a great detective, I suggest you read Talking to Strangers.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher