The Secrets of Strangers (Jess Kitching, S&S)

Despite brimming with suspects, lies and a cast of clichéd small-town characters, The Secrets of Strangers by Jess Kitching (The Life Experiment) is anything but a stereotypical “cosy crime” novel. Set in the picturesque English countryside, this crime thriller explores the psychological effects of loss, rejection and obsession, while offering insight into the healing power of love, friendship and forgiveness. Janine is a deeply flawed yet entirely genuine protagonist. Her bumbling, slightly unhinged manner brings levity to the heavy intersecting storylines, which deal with miscarriage, infant loss and infertility, as well as a missing person, torture and death. Janine’s fixation on the disappearance of a local woman – and her increasing involvement in the investigation – casts suspicion on her and propels the plot through a series of twists and red herrings. Kitching’s exploration of secrets, concealment, and society’s compulsion to expose every skeleton is deftly woven into this tense thriller. Her references to the technologies that make tracking someone easier – and hiding so much harder – offer sharp commentary on the 24/7 accessibility of the modern world. The novel suggests that, even in a quaint country town, going “dark” online signals that something is seriously wrong. Cleverly plotted and well paced, The Secrets of Strangers builds to a tense climactic showdown that proves you never really know your neighbours or what goes on behind closed doors. Recommended for fans of JM Green, Shelley Burr and Christian White.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Kate Frawley is a former bookseller and a librarian in training. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Friday Unlocked reviews Reviews