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The Stranger at the Table
A family gathering, but not everyone who sits down to dinner will survive it. Poisonous lies, family secrets, addiction and revenge - always a dish best served cold - are all on the menu. For readers of Sally Hepworth, Jo Dixon and Ali Lowe, this twisty domestic suspense holds you captive from its gripping beginning to its shocking denouement. Maz Antonio has spent the last two years in prison so is determined to make the first major family gathering in their new home deep in Australian suburbia as perfect as possible. She owes it to everyone after the terrible mistakes she's made ... mistakes for which she will always be trying to atone. This special lunch is her chance to make things right for her husband and children, to show everyone that she can maintain her sobriety, that things can go back to normal. (Whatever normal looks like when you have traumatic, confusing flashbacks of that fateful day where two innocent lives were lost.) Her sister, Elli, is in. So is her husband's brother. Her distant father-in-law is gracing them with his presence and her mum Margaret is on the way from Newcastle, bringing a colleague - a virtual stranger she impulsively invited. But is this man really a stranger? Or could it be that he is intimately connected to the past that Maz has so desperately been trying to put behind her - a past that's about to explode across the dinner table in the deadliest of ways...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
58 people are currently reading
659 people want to read
About the author
Cassie Hamer
7 books100 followersCassie Hamer has a professional background in journalism and PR, but now much prefers the world of fiction over fact. She has published four novels, which focus on the dark side of suburbia.
Cassie lives in Sydney with her terrific husband, three, mostly-terrific daughters, and a labradoodle, Charlie, who is the least demanding member of the family. In between making school lunches and walking the dog, Cassie is also working on her next novel but always has time to connect with other passionate readers via her website – CassieHamer.com – or through social media.
You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Cassie lives in Sydney with her terrific husband, three, mostly-terrific daughters, and a labradoodle, Charlie, who is the least demanding member of the family. In between making school lunches and walking the dog, Cassie is also working on her next novel but always has time to connect with other passionate readers via her website – CassieHamer.com – or through social media.
You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
February 20, 2025
For Marianne and Andrew Antonio it’s going to be a special Christmas this year and they plan on celebrating it with their two daughters and family. Maz has spent the last two years in prison, they have moved away from Newcastle to suburban Sydney, and she’s looking forward to waking up to the girls squeals of delight when they see Santa has been and having a delicious lunch.
This is her chance to makes things right with her husband and daughters, mother Margaret, father-in-law Frank and sister Ellinor, show everyone she’s a good mother, reformed and sober. Maz did a terrible thing, she killed two innocent people, and she can’t remember what happened that day and she wonders if it’s her minds way of coping, and she keeps having mini flashbacks and her husband tells her to leave the past behind her and she should concentrate on moving forward.
I received a copy of Stranger at the Table by Cassie Hamer from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. As we know for many people Christmas day isn’t a happy one, they find it stressful and not everyone gets on. This gathering is tainted with family secrets, lies, betrayal, gas lighting, and history of addiction and postnatal depression, mistrust and suspicion, an unexpected guest and someone seeking revenge. All is not what it seems, emotions are running high and it’s a scene ready to implode, one person who sits down to dinner will not live to see Boxing Day! It reinforces you really have no idea what happens behind closed doors and in Australian households and within families.
During the twenty one days leading up to Christmas you discover what Maz did, how she’s coping being out of jail and how guilty she feels. I didn’t see the big twist coming towards the end and despite already piecing some of the clues together, and this is the first book I have read by Cassie Hamer and won’t be my last, five stars from me and I highly recommend.
This is her chance to makes things right with her husband and daughters, mother Margaret, father-in-law Frank and sister Ellinor, show everyone she’s a good mother, reformed and sober. Maz did a terrible thing, she killed two innocent people, and she can’t remember what happened that day and she wonders if it’s her minds way of coping, and she keeps having mini flashbacks and her husband tells her to leave the past behind her and she should concentrate on moving forward.
I received a copy of Stranger at the Table by Cassie Hamer from NetGalley and Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. As we know for many people Christmas day isn’t a happy one, they find it stressful and not everyone gets on. This gathering is tainted with family secrets, lies, betrayal, gas lighting, and history of addiction and postnatal depression, mistrust and suspicion, an unexpected guest and someone seeking revenge. All is not what it seems, emotions are running high and it’s a scene ready to implode, one person who sits down to dinner will not live to see Boxing Day! It reinforces you really have no idea what happens behind closed doors and in Australian households and within families.
During the twenty one days leading up to Christmas you discover what Maz did, how she’s coping being out of jail and how guilty she feels. I didn’t see the big twist coming towards the end and despite already piecing some of the clues together, and this is the first book I have read by Cassie Hamer and won’t be my last, five stars from me and I highly recommend.
April 12, 2025
EXCERPT: Why would a man, a stranger, recoil from her with such horror? Yes, she is getting old and society generally has a distaste for the elderly. But this was different. It was the shocked expression of stumbling on a dead body or witnessing a terrible car accident. It was also fleeting, a blip that lasted no longer than half a second but it was not a thing you could ignore. The expressions said, I know something terrible about you - but where was that something? There were several 'somethings' of which Margaret was not proud. Which one did this man know? The fact he regained composure so quickly told her he did not want to share. It also told her that he did not expect her to remember him. He underestimated her and this was not surprising. Underestimation came with age. Once you turned seventy, people expected you to be daffy and hopeless. Most of the time, it enraged her. On this occasion, it helped. Dominic assumed she did not remember.
But Margaret Hardie never forgets a face. Ever.
It's the son. The thought had popped into her head, as nimble as a cat chasing a bird. It's the son. So what is he doing here?
ABOUT 'THE STRANGER AT THE TABLE': A family gathering, but not everyone who sits down to dinner will survive it. Poisonous lies, family secrets, addiction and revenge - always a dish best served cold - are all on the menu.
Maz Antonio has spent the last two years in prison so is determined to make the first major family gathering in their new home deep in Australian suburbia as perfect as possible. She owes it to everyone after the terrible mistakes she's made ... mistakes for which she will always be trying to atone. This special lunch is her chance to make things right for her husband and children, to show everyone that she can maintain her sobriety, that things can go back to normal. (Whatever normal looks like when you have traumatic, confusing flashbacks of that fateful day where two innocent lives were lost.)
Her sister, Elli, is in. So is her husband's brother. Her distant father-in-law is gracing them with his presence and her mum Margaret is on the way from Newcastle, bringing a colleague - a virtual stranger she impulsively invited.
But is this man really a stranger? Or could it be that he is intimately connected to the past that Maz has so desperately been trying to put behind her - a past that's about to explode across the dinner table in the deadliest of ways...
MY THOUGHTS: Inviting a virtual stranger to share Christmas lunch with one's family seems such a kind thing to do and Margaret may have had the best of intentions, but in this case it was rather like dropping a lit match into a powder keg!
Maz may be out of jail, but she is anxious that someone is going to recognize her and is struggling against her alcohol addiction. Add to that the stress of hosting the family Christmas dinner and the family dynamics at play, and you have a situation ripe for disaster.
Going against the advice of her husband and her sister, Maz has been seeing a hypnotherapist to try to recover her memory of the accident. Disconnected fragments are coming back to her, but they don't make sense - until suddenly they do.
Unfortunately, I put together the pieces well before Maz managed to - there are plenty of clues if you know where to look and this did somewhat impact my enjoyment. But while I may have solved the puzzle of what happened with the accident that sent Maz to jail for almost two years, I had no idea of the identity of the person who died on Christmas Day until it was revealed.
The Stranger at the Table is a family psychological drama where the characters include a manipulator, the manipulated, a mother with a decades old secret and a stranger who isn't as much of a stranger as those gathered at the table think. The big question is - who doesn't survive Christmas Day?
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheStrangeratTheTable #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Cassie Hamer has a professional background in journalism and PR, but now much prefers the world of fiction over fact. She is the author of three novels, including the Australian bestseller After the Party, and her stories focus on ordinary characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations.
Cassie lives on Gadigal Country in Sydney with her terrific husband, three mostly terrific daughters, and a labradoodle, Charlie, who is the least demanding family member. (Source: cassiehamer.com)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Stranger at the Table for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But Margaret Hardie never forgets a face. Ever.
It's the son. The thought had popped into her head, as nimble as a cat chasing a bird. It's the son. So what is he doing here?
ABOUT 'THE STRANGER AT THE TABLE': A family gathering, but not everyone who sits down to dinner will survive it. Poisonous lies, family secrets, addiction and revenge - always a dish best served cold - are all on the menu.
Maz Antonio has spent the last two years in prison so is determined to make the first major family gathering in their new home deep in Australian suburbia as perfect as possible. She owes it to everyone after the terrible mistakes she's made ... mistakes for which she will always be trying to atone. This special lunch is her chance to make things right for her husband and children, to show everyone that she can maintain her sobriety, that things can go back to normal. (Whatever normal looks like when you have traumatic, confusing flashbacks of that fateful day where two innocent lives were lost.)
Her sister, Elli, is in. So is her husband's brother. Her distant father-in-law is gracing them with his presence and her mum Margaret is on the way from Newcastle, bringing a colleague - a virtual stranger she impulsively invited.
But is this man really a stranger? Or could it be that he is intimately connected to the past that Maz has so desperately been trying to put behind her - a past that's about to explode across the dinner table in the deadliest of ways...
MY THOUGHTS: Inviting a virtual stranger to share Christmas lunch with one's family seems such a kind thing to do and Margaret may have had the best of intentions, but in this case it was rather like dropping a lit match into a powder keg!
Maz may be out of jail, but she is anxious that someone is going to recognize her and is struggling against her alcohol addiction. Add to that the stress of hosting the family Christmas dinner and the family dynamics at play, and you have a situation ripe for disaster.
Going against the advice of her husband and her sister, Maz has been seeing a hypnotherapist to try to recover her memory of the accident. Disconnected fragments are coming back to her, but they don't make sense - until suddenly they do.
Unfortunately, I put together the pieces well before Maz managed to - there are plenty of clues if you know where to look and this did somewhat impact my enjoyment. But while I may have solved the puzzle of what happened with the accident that sent Maz to jail for almost two years, I had no idea of the identity of the person who died on Christmas Day until it was revealed.
The Stranger at the Table is a family psychological drama where the characters include a manipulator, the manipulated, a mother with a decades old secret and a stranger who isn't as much of a stranger as those gathered at the table think. The big question is - who doesn't survive Christmas Day?
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheStrangeratTheTable #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: Cassie Hamer has a professional background in journalism and PR, but now much prefers the world of fiction over fact. She is the author of three novels, including the Australian bestseller After the Party, and her stories focus on ordinary characters who find themselves in extraordinary situations.
Cassie lives on Gadigal Country in Sydney with her terrific husband, three mostly terrific daughters, and a labradoodle, Charlie, who is the least demanding family member. (Source: cassiehamer.com)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harlequin Australia, HQ & MIRA, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Stranger at the Table for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 17, 2025
⭐️5⭐️
The Stranger at the Table
Plot:
Marianne Antonio has just gotten out of prison and wants to make things right by hosting a perfect family lunch to show she’s changed. But secrets, past mistakes, and a surprise guest turn the meal into a dangerous showdown where someone might not survive.
My Thoughts:
I was immediately hooked by the second chapter. Marianne’s character dives deep into the raw, emotional layers of postpartum and the relentless challenges of motherhood. I could honestly read about birth experiences endlessly, and Marianne’s was written in such a relatable, honest way. What I really loved was the hits of humour running through the book. Cassie places humour into her book which still feels authentic to her characters and plot.
Every character felt distinct and alive, each with their own quirks and depth, which made the story even more immersive.
I could sense the plot twists and even the ending from about a quarter of the way in. I think this is because I was just so deeply invested in every word and page that I found myself thinking about the book constantly throughout my day. It’s one of those stories that really stays with you.
I am thrilled to have received an early copy from HQ and will happily read another book Cassie Hamer has written.
The Stranger at the Table
Plot:
Marianne Antonio has just gotten out of prison and wants to make things right by hosting a perfect family lunch to show she’s changed. But secrets, past mistakes, and a surprise guest turn the meal into a dangerous showdown where someone might not survive.
My Thoughts:
I was immediately hooked by the second chapter. Marianne’s character dives deep into the raw, emotional layers of postpartum and the relentless challenges of motherhood. I could honestly read about birth experiences endlessly, and Marianne’s was written in such a relatable, honest way. What I really loved was the hits of humour running through the book. Cassie places humour into her book which still feels authentic to her characters and plot.
Every character felt distinct and alive, each with their own quirks and depth, which made the story even more immersive.
I could sense the plot twists and even the ending from about a quarter of the way in. I think this is because I was just so deeply invested in every word and page that I found myself thinking about the book constantly throughout my day. It’s one of those stories that really stays with you.
I am thrilled to have received an early copy from HQ and will happily read another book Cassie Hamer has written.
March 22, 2025
I was thrilled when I discovered that The Stranger at the Table by Cassie Hamer was the March Thriller BOTM from Harlequin Australia. I have really enjoyed this authors previous books and this one sounds like my kind of book. Full of family secrets and drama, it kept me up late turning those pages and I am not sorry about it! What an absolutely fantastic read.
Maz is determined that this Christmas will be the best one ever. Their first in their new house in Sydney, and her first since being released from prison. She wants to show her family that she is a better person now, sober and a great mother. Of course things never go smoothly and by the end of the day one of the guests will be dead.
There was so much going on with all these characters. We see how the accident that put Maz in prison affected not only her but the whole family. She has no memory of what happened but thugs are coming back to her and some pieces of the puzzle don’t seem to fit. She is still struggling with her addiction and what happened and it has a ripple effect on those around her.
So many lies and secrets, and trust me there are some doozy’s here! Despite what Maz had done, I couldn’t help but feel for her and want things to go right for her for once.
Another fantastic Aussie crime thriller that I just couldn’t put down.
Thanks so much HQ for my physical and e-arcs. Published in Australia on April 2nd.
Maz is determined that this Christmas will be the best one ever. Their first in their new house in Sydney, and her first since being released from prison. She wants to show her family that she is a better person now, sober and a great mother. Of course things never go smoothly and by the end of the day one of the guests will be dead.
There was so much going on with all these characters. We see how the accident that put Maz in prison affected not only her but the whole family. She has no memory of what happened but thugs are coming back to her and some pieces of the puzzle don’t seem to fit. She is still struggling with her addiction and what happened and it has a ripple effect on those around her.
So many lies and secrets, and trust me there are some doozy’s here! Despite what Maz had done, I couldn’t help but feel for her and want things to go right for her for once.
Another fantastic Aussie crime thriller that I just couldn’t put down.
Thanks so much HQ for my physical and e-arcs. Published in Australia on April 2nd.
May 21, 2025
Nothing better than an Aussie thriller - this one is a domestic thriller that has perfect pacing and enough twists to keep the reader hooked. I couldn’t put it down and this book deserves all of the 5 star ratings it’s receiving. Can’t wait to read more from this author!
August 24, 2025
Domestic suspense at its best, featuring a thought-provoking and nuanced exploration of toxic secrets, alcohol dependence, guilt, life-changing choices, and complex family dynamics.
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This fantastic story reminds me of a Liane Moriarty novel, which is high praise as she is an auto-read author for me.
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This fantastic story reminds me of a Liane Moriarty novel, which is high praise as she is an auto-read author for me.
March 20, 2025
Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Prominent author Cassie Hamer is back with a thriller slash crime fiction book that will keep you up very late.
Her new, exciting and wickedly good, tale is full of thrills and chills and one which you will devour quickly.
It’s that good!
The Stranger At The Table is your next reading adventure and be prepared not to move until you finish.
In the suburban jungle Marianne, aka Maz, Antonio has come home after spending time in prison, now trying to get sober and healing from the fatal accident that took two lives.
Now seeking peace and atonement she wants her first get together to be a success and for her family to see she is making progress.
The family and guests arrive including a mysterious stranger…..
Now this dinner party is about to shatter until the truth is finally revealed.
I read this in two sittings and the last 80 pages or so, had me glued to the pages and I didn’t breathe until that final sentence.
Switching up genres is a magnificent choice and one that I’m hoping Cassie will stay in.
This book is addictive, devilish, irresistible and all round entertaining.
It has all the qualities I love in my thrillers, betrayal, twists, revenge, secrets, lies, deception, mystery and that only touches the surface.
A novel not to be missed…..
Prominent author Cassie Hamer is back with a thriller slash crime fiction book that will keep you up very late.
Her new, exciting and wickedly good, tale is full of thrills and chills and one which you will devour quickly.
It’s that good!
The Stranger At The Table is your next reading adventure and be prepared not to move until you finish.
In the suburban jungle Marianne, aka Maz, Antonio has come home after spending time in prison, now trying to get sober and healing from the fatal accident that took two lives.
Now seeking peace and atonement she wants her first get together to be a success and for her family to see she is making progress.
The family and guests arrive including a mysterious stranger…..
Now this dinner party is about to shatter until the truth is finally revealed.
I read this in two sittings and the last 80 pages or so, had me glued to the pages and I didn’t breathe until that final sentence.
Switching up genres is a magnificent choice and one that I’m hoping Cassie will stay in.
This book is addictive, devilish, irresistible and all round entertaining.
It has all the qualities I love in my thrillers, betrayal, twists, revenge, secrets, lies, deception, mystery and that only touches the surface.
A novel not to be missed…..
April 2, 2025
This is a compulsive, twisty, gripping novel that I just ate up with a dessert spoon…loved everything about it!!!!!!!
Thank you so so so so very much HQ for letting me read an early copy!!! It does explore some very serious issues, but really sensitively done!!!! My new favourite Cassie Hamer novel!!!!
Thank you so so so so very much HQ for letting me read an early copy!!! It does explore some very serious issues, but really sensitively done!!!! My new favourite Cassie Hamer novel!!!!
May 31, 2025
4 ⭐️s
Great read. Really enjoyed this one. Loved all the twisty twists.
Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda/HarperCollins
Read by Rebecca Macauley
Duration:11 hrs, 21 min. 1.25x Speed
Great read. Really enjoyed this one. Loved all the twisty twists.
Audiobook via BorrowBox
Published by: Bolinda/HarperCollins
Read by Rebecca Macauley
Duration:11 hrs, 21 min. 1.25x Speed
April 9, 2025
The Stranger at the Table was a family domestic thriller where I wasn't even sure who had died until the end of the book. It was told from multiple points of view, which I really enjoyed. It started on Christmas day with the paramedics attending a household where a man has fallen - but no one admits to knowing what happened of even who the man is. We are then taken on a journey of different points in time where we get not only the lead up to this event, but to prior events which have shaped the characters lives.
It was a slow burn build up which I really enjoyed, with plenty of secrets and betrayals.
There were some serious themes, but they were tackled well. Great story.
It was a slow burn build up which I really enjoyed, with plenty of secrets and betrayals.
There were some serious themes, but they were tackled well. Great story.
May 17, 2025
I wanted to like this more than I actually did. I have come to terms that this is a slow burning domestic drama rather than the thriller its marketing wants it to be. But the plot relies on each character to behave unrealistically and make over the top decisions in order for every event to transpire. Entertaining but this is more sensationalism more than prose.
Read
January 21, 2025I enjoyed this novel about the machinations of a family and the fallout of a complicated event.
April 2, 2025
Thanks to Better Reading for an ARC of The Stranger At The Table. This is the first book I’ve read by Cassie Hamer and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I thought I had the plot twist worked out but wow, what just happened, I didn’t see that coming! This book had me hooked from the first page until the last and kept me up late at night as the drama unfolded. Two families involved in a tragic event with a conclusion I did not predict. I highly recommend putting this on the top of your reading list.
April 29, 2025
Thought-provoking, suspenseful Aussie drama!
Maz Antonio is desperate to prove she’s turned her life around after serving time in prison. Hosting a family Christmas lunch in their new suburban home, she’s hoping for redemption and a fresh start, despite battling addiction, guilt, and fragmented memories of the accident that changed everything.
But when her mother brings an unexpected guest to the Christmas lunch—a man who may not be the stranger he claims to be—the day spirals into chaos. Old secrets resurface, tensions boil over, and someone at the table won’t survive.
A gripping family drama full of twists, lies, and buried trauma, where the real danger comes not from outside, but from within.
Maz Antonio is desperate to prove she’s turned her life around after serving time in prison. Hosting a family Christmas lunch in their new suburban home, she’s hoping for redemption and a fresh start, despite battling addiction, guilt, and fragmented memories of the accident that changed everything.
But when her mother brings an unexpected guest to the Christmas lunch—a man who may not be the stranger he claims to be—the day spirals into chaos. Old secrets resurface, tensions boil over, and someone at the table won’t survive.
A gripping family drama full of twists, lies, and buried trauma, where the real danger comes not from outside, but from within.
July 30, 2025
Although the plot was great, this story was too drawn-out.
March 9, 2025
If you’re a fan of Sally Hepworth or Ali Lowe, you definitely enjoy this read.
This book deals with family secrets, trauma and self discovery through multi POV chapters. Our protagonist Marianne was recently released from jail after an unfortunate accident. A change of scenery to Sydney for her family is what she and her husband Andrew agree on, and she is trying to reintegrate to society.
There are many layers to this story, a lot of convoluted family dynamics with multi generational secrets.
It took me about 100 pages to truly get sucked in by this book, but then i just had to know what happened!
If you like Aussie family dramas this ones for you!
This book deals with family secrets, trauma and self discovery through multi POV chapters. Our protagonist Marianne was recently released from jail after an unfortunate accident. A change of scenery to Sydney for her family is what she and her husband Andrew agree on, and she is trying to reintegrate to society.
There are many layers to this story, a lot of convoluted family dynamics with multi generational secrets.
It took me about 100 pages to truly get sucked in by this book, but then i just had to know what happened!
If you like Aussie family dramas this ones for you!
February 28, 2025
The story of Maz and her husband Andrew leading up to Christmas, not just any Christmas but the first since Maz was released from prison. Add to that her and her family moving to a new location so she can start again as she killed two people in a car accident. The book goes through the days leading. The book is told from the viewpoint of some of the main characters and focuses on the fact that one person who is at the table for Christmas Day dies. How did they die? Who are they? Well you have to read the book to find out. It was a great read with some great twists which I couldn’t predict.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with this book for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for providing me with this book for an honest review.
August 7, 2025
It's Christmastime once more and Sydney mother of two, Marianne Antonio is determined to make it the best yet.
Two years after her alcoholism took the lives of two people, Maz is set on atoning for her sins. Everything about the season has to be perfect. That way, her family can see for themselves that she has a hold on sobriety, that everything is normal. Hosting Christmas lunch in their new house in the leafy suburbs will hopefully bring about a new beginning.
Sister Elli is flying in from London. Mum Margie is driving down from Newcastle. The brother-in-law and his family are attending. Even Maz's obnoxious father-in-law is gracing them with his presence.
Then there's the stranger, the interloper that Margie has brought along.
But, whilst he may be a stranger to them, he knows EXACTLY who they are, and what Maz is trying to hide.
Chances are, this perfect Christmas will end in disaster.
WHOA! I've never read a Cassie Hamer novel before now and I'm kicking myself for not doing so! What have I been missing out on? The family drama. The mystery behind the tragic accident. THE INTENSITY. Upper North Shore elite proving that whilst they may be wealthy, their hearts aren't especially made of gold. HOW RUDE!!! Like YOU haven't done something that you're not proud of!!!
I was glued to the pages, in particular toward the conclusion. This will be a family Christmas like no other and you simply can't miss it.
4.75 🌟
Two years after her alcoholism took the lives of two people, Maz is set on atoning for her sins. Everything about the season has to be perfect. That way, her family can see for themselves that she has a hold on sobriety, that everything is normal. Hosting Christmas lunch in their new house in the leafy suburbs will hopefully bring about a new beginning.
Sister Elli is flying in from London. Mum Margie is driving down from Newcastle. The brother-in-law and his family are attending. Even Maz's obnoxious father-in-law is gracing them with his presence.
Then there's the stranger, the interloper that Margie has brought along.
But, whilst he may be a stranger to them, he knows EXACTLY who they are, and what Maz is trying to hide.
Chances are, this perfect Christmas will end in disaster.
WHOA! I've never read a Cassie Hamer novel before now and I'm kicking myself for not doing so! What have I been missing out on? The family drama. The mystery behind the tragic accident. THE INTENSITY. Upper North Shore elite proving that whilst they may be wealthy, their hearts aren't especially made of gold. HOW RUDE!!! Like YOU haven't done something that you're not proud of!!!
I was glued to the pages, in particular toward the conclusion. This will be a family Christmas like no other and you simply can't miss it.
4.75 🌟
April 5, 2025
The book opens with two paramedics cruising in their ambulance on Christmas Day, they have had a busy day and looking forwards to their shift ending. Then they get called to a house where it is reported that a man has fallen and ceased breathing. When they arrive there are several adults present one of whom is trying to carry out CPR, but strangely they all seem reluctant to say how the man came to fall, why he was there and who he was.
Then the story recommences by going back to early December where the reader is taken on a journey from the viewpoint of a few of the main characters before it is revealed who the man is, how he came to die, and the aftermath
The story focuses around Maz (aka Marianne) who has been in prison for two years after she was involved in a fatal accident which resulted in a women and child being killed. She is still hazy about the events of that dreadful day but is trying to put the horrible events behind her by staying sober and being a better mother and wife. Maz decides that a Christmas lunch is the way to demonstrate to her family how well she is going. Her husband and their two children will be there, of course, as is her sister. Then her husband’s brother accepts, her father-in-law decides to come and then her mother announced that she is coming and has invited a work colleague to come with her. There’s going to be a stranger at the table, and the reader knows from the opening chapter that some one is going to die.
The story builds up slowly, but it never loses you as there is this constant feeling that the story being revealed may not be the whole truth. Maz finds memories of that day are coming back but they are confusing and she can’t work the sequences out. There is an air of menace throughout the story - of some thing bad. In the end the reader is taken on a ride of twists, secrets, lies, deception and utter betrayal.
I have read a few Cassie Hammer books, and she has never let me down with her page turning and plot twisting stories. I recommend this book as a great read.
Thank you to HQ Fiction for providing an advanced copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
Then the story recommences by going back to early December where the reader is taken on a journey from the viewpoint of a few of the main characters before it is revealed who the man is, how he came to die, and the aftermath
The story focuses around Maz (aka Marianne) who has been in prison for two years after she was involved in a fatal accident which resulted in a women and child being killed. She is still hazy about the events of that dreadful day but is trying to put the horrible events behind her by staying sober and being a better mother and wife. Maz decides that a Christmas lunch is the way to demonstrate to her family how well she is going. Her husband and their two children will be there, of course, as is her sister. Then her husband’s brother accepts, her father-in-law decides to come and then her mother announced that she is coming and has invited a work colleague to come with her. There’s going to be a stranger at the table, and the reader knows from the opening chapter that some one is going to die.
The story builds up slowly, but it never loses you as there is this constant feeling that the story being revealed may not be the whole truth. Maz finds memories of that day are coming back but they are confusing and she can’t work the sequences out. There is an air of menace throughout the story - of some thing bad. In the end the reader is taken on a ride of twists, secrets, lies, deception and utter betrayal.
I have read a few Cassie Hammer books, and she has never let me down with her page turning and plot twisting stories. I recommend this book as a great read.
Thank you to HQ Fiction for providing an advanced copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
August 16, 2025
This story takes you to a conclusion that you won’t see coming….
Told from multiple points of view, but mainly the key protagonist Marianne, this book centres around the events that occur at a family gathering, as well as the events leading up to it so that the reader has all the information. Well, you think you have all the information.
A tale skilfully created by Cassie, adding enough suspense that you can’t seem to put it down, with a mixture of heartbreak, hope and determination that makes you want to see where and how the characters end up. The way Cassie used the snippets of the past to fill in the emotional background and baggage that the characters were carrying, gave the story a realistic depth.
I will admit that I really felt for Maz. She has made a terrible mistake and served her punishment and is now trying to atone to her family and the world at large for what she has done, but now she is starting the wonder if she will ever be able to put it behind her and move on. She has times when she succeeds, times when she fails, and times when all she wants to do is make it all stop.
The characters all have their own emotion baggage and scars, not only from what Maz did, but also from their own past, which allows the reader to see the bigger picture and enjoy the fulfillment of a well-rounded story that takes you away from your own every day.
I’m not sure if the pace was speeding up towards the end or if it was just me getting so engrossed in the story that I was totally absorbed, but things do reveal themselves in what can only be described as blindsiding twists and turns that will have you breathless at the end, not really sure what just happened….
….but knowing that you have just had the pleasure of reading an amazing story.
#thestrangeratthetable
#cassiehamer
#familysecrets
#harpercollinsbooksaustralia
Told from multiple points of view, but mainly the key protagonist Marianne, this book centres around the events that occur at a family gathering, as well as the events leading up to it so that the reader has all the information. Well, you think you have all the information.
A tale skilfully created by Cassie, adding enough suspense that you can’t seem to put it down, with a mixture of heartbreak, hope and determination that makes you want to see where and how the characters end up. The way Cassie used the snippets of the past to fill in the emotional background and baggage that the characters were carrying, gave the story a realistic depth.
I will admit that I really felt for Maz. She has made a terrible mistake and served her punishment and is now trying to atone to her family and the world at large for what she has done, but now she is starting the wonder if she will ever be able to put it behind her and move on. She has times when she succeeds, times when she fails, and times when all she wants to do is make it all stop.
The characters all have their own emotion baggage and scars, not only from what Maz did, but also from their own past, which allows the reader to see the bigger picture and enjoy the fulfillment of a well-rounded story that takes you away from your own every day.
I’m not sure if the pace was speeding up towards the end or if it was just me getting so engrossed in the story that I was totally absorbed, but things do reveal themselves in what can only be described as blindsiding twists and turns that will have you breathless at the end, not really sure what just happened….
….but knowing that you have just had the pleasure of reading an amazing story.
#thestrangeratthetable
#cassiehamer
#familysecrets
#harpercollinsbooksaustralia
April 28, 2025
3.5 stars. I would recommend this. The last 100pages was really good! It started out really well! I was hooked for a while. The middle part dragged on for ages and could’ve been shorter. I didn’t really like the female main character I found her annoying.
I didn’t like the unraveling at the end and the twists. Still a good book
I didn’t like the unraveling at the end and the twists. Still a good book
April 20, 2025
I very much enjoyed this latest book from Cassie Hamer which unfolds (or perhaps unravels is more apt!) over several weeks in the lead up to Christmas. It kicks off with an incident on Christmas Day with paramedics called to the scene of what may, or may not, be an accident. We then go back to earlier in the month to set the scene for what comes next.
Marianne, we learn quickly, has recently been released from prison where she was sentenced for driving when drunk and killing a grandmother and her grandchild. Hamer also takes us back to Marianne's younger years when she started using alcohol as a crutch.
We're introduced to her lawyer husband Andrew, and her mother (Margaret) and eventually, to her beloved sister Ellinor (also a lawyer, now working overseas but due home for Christmas). The upcoming Christmas is the first Marianne's spent with her family since her incarceration and she's determined to make it perfect.
Complicating matters is the fact that Margaret has befriended the son of the woman Marianne killed... who she wants to invite for Christmas, thinking it'll be cathartic for her daughter. We learn Margaret has some secrets of her own, as do Ellinor and Andrew. And... Mariane has secretly been seeing a therapist to help unlock some memories from the day of the accident - repressed by the trauma or the alcohol - she's not sure.
Some of Hamer's previous books have been centred around parenting cliques, so I've not always related to them as much as those with children (and traversing school pickup scenarios) would and we do meet some fellow school mums here but there's less of a focus on the parenting element.
I liked the sense of suspense Hamer builds here given we know 'something' happens on Christmas Day. We make assumptions (well, I did) in relation to WHO I think the victim of the accident will be, but... I was wrong.
I also appreciated the shades of grey Hamer paints her characters, with some moral or ethical questions that could be ably debated by book-clubbers looking for the perfect next read.
Marianne, we learn quickly, has recently been released from prison where she was sentenced for driving when drunk and killing a grandmother and her grandchild. Hamer also takes us back to Marianne's younger years when she started using alcohol as a crutch.
We're introduced to her lawyer husband Andrew, and her mother (Margaret) and eventually, to her beloved sister Ellinor (also a lawyer, now working overseas but due home for Christmas). The upcoming Christmas is the first Marianne's spent with her family since her incarceration and she's determined to make it perfect.
Complicating matters is the fact that Margaret has befriended the son of the woman Marianne killed... who she wants to invite for Christmas, thinking it'll be cathartic for her daughter. We learn Margaret has some secrets of her own, as do Ellinor and Andrew. And... Mariane has secretly been seeing a therapist to help unlock some memories from the day of the accident - repressed by the trauma or the alcohol - she's not sure.
Some of Hamer's previous books have been centred around parenting cliques, so I've not always related to them as much as those with children (and traversing school pickup scenarios) would and we do meet some fellow school mums here but there's less of a focus on the parenting element.
I liked the sense of suspense Hamer builds here given we know 'something' happens on Christmas Day. We make assumptions (well, I did) in relation to WHO I think the victim of the accident will be, but... I was wrong.
I also appreciated the shades of grey Hamer paints her characters, with some moral or ethical questions that could be ably debated by book-clubbers looking for the perfect next read.
May 15, 2025
3.5 rounded up. A well written book, but I found myself losing interest in the middle and really struggled to get to the end. The last few chapters were gripping and I wish the whole book was like that! Still a good read though overall
August 9, 2025
What a twister full of family secrets, addictions, that led to a stranger being asked to Christmas dinner.
I loved how the suspense built slowly and little hints were revealed in each chapter kept me engaged, guessing until the final twist at the end .
Loved it!
I loved how the suspense built slowly and little hints were revealed in each chapter kept me engaged, guessing until the final twist at the end .
Loved it!
August 9, 2025
great read
June 5, 2025
3.7 ⭐️
Expect the unexpected….. wtf!!! 😧🫥
Expect the unexpected….. wtf!!! 😧🫥
April 23, 2025
Well, Cassie Hamer you've done it again! I've read all 4 of your books and this one did not disappoint. I was gifted a copy of this book for honest review and anyone who knows me, knows that I love reading in my spare time.
The book begins on Christmas Day with the main character, Maz, wanting a perfect day for her family, after just being released from prison. The story then goes back over the previous 21 days and tells the interwoven stories of multiple characters. I couldn't help but feel for Maz, even though she'd committed a serious crime, as she just wanted her family to be happy, as that's what all mums want! The story culminates in an unexpected twist and a fantastic ending which I did not see coming.
I couldn't put this book down and give it 5 stars. I recommend any of Cassie Hamer's books but this one was definitely my favourite due to being a bit darker than her others. If you love Australian crime thrillers by the likes of Sally Hepworth or Ali Lowe then this will be right up your alley.
Perfect school holiday read 😍
The book begins on Christmas Day with the main character, Maz, wanting a perfect day for her family, after just being released from prison. The story then goes back over the previous 21 days and tells the interwoven stories of multiple characters. I couldn't help but feel for Maz, even though she'd committed a serious crime, as she just wanted her family to be happy, as that's what all mums want! The story culminates in an unexpected twist and a fantastic ending which I did not see coming.
I couldn't put this book down and give it 5 stars. I recommend any of Cassie Hamer's books but this one was definitely my favourite due to being a bit darker than her others. If you love Australian crime thrillers by the likes of Sally Hepworth or Ali Lowe then this will be right up your alley.
Perfect school holiday read 😍
July 13, 2025
One of those books once commenced you want to finish and ten wonder why.
March 9, 2025
Well, well, well! What a twisty lie filled, guilt-ridden, mind bending mystery? This contemporary, troubled family life story peels back the facades that these characters have been hiding behind, giving us a front row seat to the sights, sounds and challenges they face as they get caught up in some seriously tangled harrowing events. The Stranger at the Table by Cassie Hamer is filled with many surprises and quite a study on human behaviour.
Terrible mistakes have been made in the past that carry over into the present and these are all brought to the ‘table’ to be laundered at Christmas. Secrets abound that will shock, anger and fuel some unreversible actions. As the blurb states, one person will die who has attended the family gathering.
The title of the novel will be well understood in the wash up and believe me, what a wild ride it is to get to that point! The last quarter of the novel had me pinned to the pages and reading into the wee hours of the morning! Everything speeds up as a cyclone of events tips the balance and all hearts, intentions and secrets unravel.
While reading, I wondered what inspired such a chaotic, original story. For once, I did not check the author’s notes at the end first. I decided to wait until I had finished the last chapter and I am glad I did. I reasoned: why not take this riveting roller coaster plot as it comes and see where it ends up? Yes, there are some wicked twists that unhinged my jaw and left it open! But everything becomes clear. The Epilogue says a lot and ties everything together with sense and sensibility. There are some hard cutting truths and admirable reasons behind the writing of The Stranger at the Table.
A few areas covered are the pressures many families feel in putting on the perfect Christmas festivities. A huge dose of stress fuelled by expectations can unleash a tide of varied and intense emotions. The author also explores the many faces of alcoholism (an alcoholic is not always the one you expect). And is it a genetic weakness or a learned behaviour that results from bad experiences? Then there is the biggie of seeking atonement for a truly unforgivable act: the consequences of actions and remembering of details. Trauma can mess up the brain and as we see from Marianne, something may trigger those ‘real’ events and watch out when it does. There are some very dark tones in this novel for sure but Cassie Hamer handles it all like a pro.
Many of the characters give their viewpoint and it works well in the scheme of things. Marianne, Margaret and Elli certainly kept the plot rolling along. We get to know these ladies fully. The men in the story are well delivered, too, and a few cause great agitation. They are often not quite as they appear and there are lots of secrets, sharp edges and surprises hidden below the surface. Ironically, George, an older gay man, is a special character who becomes the normaliser amid the crazy actions that occur. He is there in the background but offers amazing support. Marianne calls him a ‘de facto family member, like a great uncle.’
I won’t say anymore but be prepared for an unusual and thought provoking journey as The Stranger at the Table will jar your mind and stir up your emotions probably like no other book you have read this year! Cassie is obviously a master at her craft and genre and fans of her work certainly won’t be disappointed by her latest adventure into contemporary life! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for a review copy.
Terrible mistakes have been made in the past that carry over into the present and these are all brought to the ‘table’ to be laundered at Christmas. Secrets abound that will shock, anger and fuel some unreversible actions. As the blurb states, one person will die who has attended the family gathering.
The title of the novel will be well understood in the wash up and believe me, what a wild ride it is to get to that point! The last quarter of the novel had me pinned to the pages and reading into the wee hours of the morning! Everything speeds up as a cyclone of events tips the balance and all hearts, intentions and secrets unravel.
While reading, I wondered what inspired such a chaotic, original story. For once, I did not check the author’s notes at the end first. I decided to wait until I had finished the last chapter and I am glad I did. I reasoned: why not take this riveting roller coaster plot as it comes and see where it ends up? Yes, there are some wicked twists that unhinged my jaw and left it open! But everything becomes clear. The Epilogue says a lot and ties everything together with sense and sensibility. There are some hard cutting truths and admirable reasons behind the writing of The Stranger at the Table.
A few areas covered are the pressures many families feel in putting on the perfect Christmas festivities. A huge dose of stress fuelled by expectations can unleash a tide of varied and intense emotions. The author also explores the many faces of alcoholism (an alcoholic is not always the one you expect). And is it a genetic weakness or a learned behaviour that results from bad experiences? Then there is the biggie of seeking atonement for a truly unforgivable act: the consequences of actions and remembering of details. Trauma can mess up the brain and as we see from Marianne, something may trigger those ‘real’ events and watch out when it does. There are some very dark tones in this novel for sure but Cassie Hamer handles it all like a pro.
Many of the characters give their viewpoint and it works well in the scheme of things. Marianne, Margaret and Elli certainly kept the plot rolling along. We get to know these ladies fully. The men in the story are well delivered, too, and a few cause great agitation. They are often not quite as they appear and there are lots of secrets, sharp edges and surprises hidden below the surface. Ironically, George, an older gay man, is a special character who becomes the normaliser amid the crazy actions that occur. He is there in the background but offers amazing support. Marianne calls him a ‘de facto family member, like a great uncle.’
I won’t say anymore but be prepared for an unusual and thought provoking journey as The Stranger at the Table will jar your mind and stir up your emotions probably like no other book you have read this year! Cassie is obviously a master at her craft and genre and fans of her work certainly won’t be disappointed by her latest adventure into contemporary life! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for a review copy.
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