The Stranger

by Kiersten Modglin

Never trust a stranger…
But, late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker have no choice.

With roads shutting down and cell towers out, running into each other and deciding to travel together could either be their saving grace or worst mistake. When they’re forced to take an unexpected detour and seek refuge in a roadside motel, the storm quickly becomes the least of their worries.

A disturbing discovery in the motel, the questionable actions of the mysterious owner and fellow guests, and a news report about a missing couple in the area set the scene for a terrifying night, but the worst is yet to come.

Each stranger holds a secret…but which one should be trusted?

From million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin comes a fast-paced, heart-pounding thriller filled with secrets, lies, and hairpin twists and turns as dangerous as the icy roads the story is set upon.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Fiction

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2024

About the author

KIERSTEN MODGLIN is a #1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books have sold over two million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Kiersten is a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. Kiersten grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her family. Kiersten's readers across the world lovingly refer to her as "KMod." A binge-watching expert, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her favorite people and evenings with her nose in a book.

CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN:

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Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:

➜ kierstenmodglinauthor.com/events

Reviews

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast pace, getting to the action straight away. Pretty decent twist, but also not one that wowed me!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
A quick and captivating read!

I was so sure that I had the entire story figured out, but as it turns out, I was wrong. Modglin once again threw me for a loop. It was a great read. I highly recommend checking out this novel if you're looking for a thrilling and page-turning experience.

*Minor complaint - The audiobook has a POV with a low-quality distorted voice that may hinder some readers' enjoyment.*

***Thank you to NetGalley, Kiersten Modglin, and Dreamscape Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

[Dusk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cunningly crafted psychological game that flips the script on the classic hunter and hunted narrative, ensnaring you in its icy grip.

In the midst of a snowstorm, a lone woman faces a choice: accept a ride from a stranger or brave the biting cold alone. Little does she know that this seemingly innocuous decision will thrust her into a blizzard of deceit and peril, blurring the lines between victim and threat.

As the two characters huddle in a roadside motel that reeks of secrets, the plot thickens. A disturbing discovery, the questionable actions of the motel’s owner and guests, and a news report about a missing couple in the area set the scene for a terrifying night. But the true suspense lies in the secrets each stranger guards. Who can be trusted when everyone wears a mask?

Unfortunately, the book’s potential is somewhat undermined by its ending. The ending relies heavily on coincidences and it feels somewhat predictable. A particular grievance is the clichéd triumph of the underdog in a physical confrontation—a trope that strains credulity when the victor lacks the means, motive, and strength.


Despite its conventional ending, "The Stranger" delivers a riveting journey with characters that resonate warmth in a cold, treacherous world. It’s a worthwhile weekend escape for any thriller enthusiast.

[STEPH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa. Now that's absolutely brilliant!

Two strangers. Stranded in the heart of a snow storm. A desolated motel. Two missing kids and a killer among them. Stranger danger, indeed.

What a fun read. Quick, witty and well drawn out. I specially liked the vivid atmosphere. I could almost feel the gelid rush of snow and I shivered at the mere mention of it. I expected it to be predictable, I thought I knew how the author would drop the ball but I was entirely mistaken because my guess is not even close. Well-played.

Trust. Such a strong word. This book truly is a cautionary tale of how we can be easily deceived by kindness and false concern.

Be careful out there. Grab this book if you want a cozy thriller.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a little different than Kiersten Modglin’s other works. This book you know a twist is coming but you can’t quite tell which direction it will be jumping from. It’s a little more subtle than some of hers but it kept me just as interested. This is a short book which only means I was able to binge it without staying up too past my bedtime. Walker is driving to visit his family for New Years when he passes a woman walking alone in the snowstorm. He stops to help and meets Tibby, a very independent woman who is determined to not need help from Walker or anyone. But the storm is bad. Cell towers are down and the roads are becoming more unsafe. But strangers hold secrets and not every stranger can be trusted. I loved this story because it’s the kind of story where you know bad things are coming and if you were in the characters’ place you wouldn’t be able to make any different choices or avoid the very bad thing coming.

[Youssra (semi ia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio: 5 stars!
Plot: 4 stars

Kiersten Modglin has never disappointed me. This was fast paced and twisty and just a fun time. She is the queen of romantic thrillers and you can always count on a fun time with her novels.

[Priskah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,0 ✨✨✨

(Audiobook)

[Eve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld, Traci Odom, John Pirhalla
Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins

When I read description of THE STRANGER it sounded interesting, although the plot sounded way too similar with many other thrillers I've read.

At first I was hooked but at some point when author added also Walker's POV and the killer's distorted voice, I just wanted to rush to the end and be done with it. Why should I get into the killer's head? Who would find pleasure in reading those sick and disgusting thoughts? Most of the time I felt like reader was left out of the story, there's not much backround. As to the ending...way too rushed and unclear I assume Tibby and Walker lived despite all those knife wounds? The real killer was caught by the police? As the story was so short, then author could have given some sort of Epilogue or something more at least!

Sadly this story was not good for me!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the setup for this one and especially the idea of being forced to trust and rely on a stranger or even more than one and found myself wondering throughout the book how I would react and what decisions I would make. Knowing that all of these people had some sort of secret they were keeping really had me switching back and forth on who was trustworthy and who wasn’t and as clues were slowly revealed I still never quite figured it out before things were over. This was a snappy read, very short but also incredibly fast paced with a lot of action packed in a small package and it begs to be read in a single sitting. It’s also perfect for this time of year if you’re a seasonal reader because it’s set during an epic snow storm which gives everything an added dangerous feeling. I always have fun with the authors books and I sure did here too!

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The new year is approaching and Walker is on his way to spend time with family. He sees a woman on the road, and the weather is rather awful. She hardly looks equipped to be out in a snowstorm. And, she is miles from anywhere. He does the kind thing and stops and offers her a ride.

Well, he is a stranger. Her name is Tibby and she is in a quandary. Yes, she is stranded. Yes, the weather is dangerous. And, yes, she only has a moment to decide whether to trust the stranger who has offered her a ride.

Meanwhile, there is a "before" in this latest thriller by Kiersten Modglin. There is a brutal killer out there in the elements. Is the killer traveling the same road that Tibby is now on with Walker, or could it be that either of them is actually the killer?

What a story! Want a book that will keep you glued to its pages, or to your ereader? Well, look no further than The Stranger. With nail-biting suspense, this book kept me guessing.

Many thanks to Kiersten Modglin for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loads of people love KMod’s books, and I’ve tried two of them, but I have come to realize that her books are just not for me. I can appreciate a thriller with some romance-y elements (Louisa Scarr’s Butler & West series comes to mind), but the insta-love or whatever was happening here sure didn’t make much sense and didn’t feel very well developed. It really didn’t help that the male narrator for Walker was… not my favorite. I think Walker was supposed to be a hunk (?), but I thought he sounded like a grown up Steve Urkel reading the weather. Yikes.

I did like the way the narrator of the “before” sections had a gender-neutral voice, which kept things open as to who the maniac was - I was kept guessing until the end, which was fun - but I think everyone needed more backstory to seem three-dimensional. Like maybe talk less about the snow and more about who they are and what makes them tick?

Anyway, I think KMod fans will absolutely want to check this one out, even though I was not a fan.

* thanks to Dreamscape Media for the NetGalley audiobook. THE STRANGER publishes 4/16/24.

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thrilling quick read that will keep you flipping pages. I loved the snowstorm/creepy motel combination. I didn’t see the twist coming at all. I had a wild guess for the ending and was still wrong. I wish there was an epilogue or a longer ending. I wasn’t ready for the book to end!

[momaddictedtobooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5⭐️

I really enjoyed this book. It also took place not far from me so that was fun haha 😂 it’s also set during a snowstorm. It was a quick read and hard to put down. The twist wasn’t huge but it was still pretty enjoyable!

[Tara Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the very definition of “everything is not what it seems”. I was going to give it 5 stars, but then it just ended with no real resolution. Overall, this was a fast-paced, exciting thriller!!

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

OHMYGOD GIRL! Once again, you've created a tense and chilling story. This may be your Darkest story yet and nothing I've read before. What a breath of fresh air and oh so clever. This book clung to me from the very beginning to the very last sentence. Won't go into detail because you need to go in blind. Bravo! Easily all the stars and then some. You're such a Rockstar!

[Celeste Velocci (bookrecs_by_celeste) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ super quick thriller. I guessed the twist towards the end but wasn’t 100% sure if I was right or not. It did keep me guessing until the end. The last quarter of the book was a bit rushed and the only reason I’m not rating it a 4⭐️

This book has a super creepy vibe and would be good for spooky season!

I watch so much Dateline that I would never get in the car with a stranger if I was stranded on the side of the road but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures.

I recommend this author if you like popcorn thrillers some are better than others this one falls in the middle for me. It was good not life changing or jaw dropping but still good!

[Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I didn’t know what to believe….a very insistent male stranger offering to help a woman who is walking alone in a frigid storm. She makes it clear she doesn’t want or need his help. This very insistent individual won’t leave her alone or take no for an answer. Two strangers, in the middle of nowhere on a perilous night.

As the well paced story progresses, people and events become even more secretive and sinister. Danger and heavy dread is in the air. Trust is hard to have - how can you trust when you don’t really know anybody well or what their intentions might be? WOW! I enthusiastically listened to every word as a twisted and very surprised ending was revealed.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait, whaaaaaaaaaat?!?! Saying I'm blown away is a complete understatement, my jaw is on the floor.

KMod at her finest with The Stanger. I guess it's true, you never know who you should trust, and this book proved that.

I knew it was going to be as simple or cut & dry each time I thought I has things all figured out. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I never saw that ending coming.

[Bobby's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS | My first-ever KIERSTEN MODGLIN book I’ve read and now I’m speechless! My jaw is down and have a lot of questions after reading this book! I did not see that plot-twist and ending coming! THE STRANGER is a quick horror/thriller/romance book that was quite unputdownable! Set during a snowstorm, two strangers journey together to find help and head home for the holidays. But one is lying and hiding a dark secret. A perfect book to read for the winter time!

[Kay Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'So, let me get this straight. You needed to clear your head, so you decided to go for a walk down the interstate in the middle of the worst blizzard this area’s seen in a long time?' She’s a mystery, a giant question mark tied up in a little bow and suddenly thrust into my life, and I can’t stop wanting to unravel her."

Walker. A seemingly regular guy trying to do a kind thing for a stranger clearly in a bad spot. Or . . . a bloodthirsty predator capturing his prey.

"'You picked up a stranger on the interstate and never once questioned if I could be a serial killer, for one thing.' It’s a generous offer. One he has no reason to make, which has me immediately suspicious. No one is this nice."

Tibby. A girl with bad luck and a worse attitude, just trying to make it out of a storm. Or . . . a desperate criminal on the run willing to do whatever's necessary to escape unscathed.

I devoured this book. Could not put it down. I searched for every tiny clue in each characters' chapters to decide who the "bad guy" was. Their twisting, spiraling intentions kept me riveted. A wickedly deceptive thriller that will, in the end, take your breath away.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Kiersten Modglin's writing style! This book was very interesting, and I loved how it was written with 3 POVs. The past/present timeline added to the suspense and kept me guessing, which I love. A decent plotline - this one is fun and suspenseful! 3.5-4 ✨

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, okay, I know I say this every time but this has to be my favorite read by KMod everrrr!

The story starts off strong and holds true until the very end. I couldn’t stop reading and didn’t want this story to end. Trying to figure out these twists gave me a headache. Genius how those twists played out.

I couldn’t figure out what was happening nor who was responsible. Which I enjoyed much. I can so relate to Tibby and her stubbornness. People act like it’s such a horrible attribute to have but I’d disagree.

While Tibby struggled with who to trust - we struggled right along with her. I wasn’t even sure I could trust her character at times. This was just another layer of intrigue. Amazzzzzing story and an awesome read.

The acknowledgements made my heart hurt.

Also 9-1-1 doesn’t work here when you have no service. I always thought it was supposed to but my daughter found out the hard way as her friends and her got stuck overnight on a backroad with no service. It’d be great if they could get 9-1-1 to work with no service.

And also when you get frostbite you don’t always realize you have it until hours or days later. There’s really no symptoms to let you know at first. For me, it took over a week for my finger to even start hurting. Although mine was the most serve frostbite I felt nothing for a full week+ after the initial injury. Then it was pure HELL for three months. They have to wait to see how much of the frostbite will heal before they do surgery. It felt like needles being shoved under your nail over and over again x1000. I’m talking pain so bad you can’t sleep through and pain meds barely touch.

So I just loved that this book touched upon these subjects.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

It feels like a story the author threw together last minute to get a book out there. It wasn’t awful…just forgetful

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick listen. I enjoyed the story and while I wouldn’t say it’s hard to figure out, it’s definitely one that keeps you suspicious the entire time. It’s hard to form any connection to the characters because it is so quick, but I was still invested in seeing if they’d make it out alive and how all the dead bodies kept showing up 🤔

Recommend for anyone looking for a suck suspense. I will not that there are some voice changer POVs and the voice sounds like Sheldon Cooper from the Big Bang Theory and it sort of killed me a little, but I powered through. Lmao

*hoopla audio

[Tara Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy blizzards! I just snow plowed through The Stranger in one sitting! There’s absolutely no way you’ll put this down from start to finish. This is everything you could possibly want in a thriller. It’s fast paced from page one and builds along the way. Modglin drops Tibby off on the side of the highway in a winter storm with no sign of life in sight. She’s left to walk the hazardous road and either freeze to death before she finds shelter or accepts help from a persistent stranger. What would you do? The same day dual timeline and multiple POV’s will have you questioning til the very end - which stranger can truly be trusted? And would the quiet peace of falling asleep in the snow really have been so bad?

Modglin’s latest chilling thriller will leave you breathless and begging for answers at every page turn! She is a mastermind at twisting words together to form heart pumping quick reads that keep your “stubborn ass” planted on the couch! Because, let’s face it, you won’t be putting it down until you’re done! The Stranger does NOT disappoint!

[Katrina (Catching up on Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tibby and Walker are strangers, but when a snowstorm hits, they decide to travel together. What starts as a simple ride quickly turns unsettling as strange things begin to happen—and then a couple goes missing.

As the tension builds, the big question becomes: who can they trust? And can they even trust each other?

[Stefanie Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the newest book by the amazing Kiersten Modglin!! This was fast-paced, and it kept me guessing the whole time. I never saw the ending coming, and I suspected everyone!!

Bravo!!!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one sitting binge-read, I will never get tired of K Mod releases!!! This one is definitely another favourite! 🤯🖤

[Nikki | graciouslybooked]

I feel like this book needs a Chapter 23. Chapter 22 ends abruptly. I still have a lot of questions and there wasn’t really an explanation as to how that ending happened. I won’t discuss that to avoid spoilers. I love quite a bit of dialogue but I felt there was a bunch of dialogue back and forth and not much happening. Some things were repeated quite often. I expected a major twist and didn’t get one. Keep in mind I am a huge K-mod fan. This one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to the author for this early ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Alisonbookreviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Not bad for a short story.
A man picks up a woman stranded during a snowstorm.
Tibby doesn't trust this man but knows she has no choice.
With no cell reception, she wants to get the first place she sees.
Meanwhile, there's a killer on the loose, and the timeline is just before.
Lots of suspects in this short mystery/thriller.