The Stranger Diaries Audiobook By Elly Griffiths cover art

The Stranger Diaries

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The Stranger Diaries

By: Elly Griffiths
Narrated by: Andrew Wincott, Esther Wane, Sarah Feathers, Anjana Vasan
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About this listen

From the author of the beloved Ruth Galloway series, a modern Gothic mystery for fans of The Magpie Murders and The Lake House.

Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school English teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she teaches a course on it every year. But when one of Clare’s colleagues and closest friends is found dead, with a line from R. M. Holland’s most famous story, “The Stranger”, left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with the story lines of her favorite literature.

©2018 Elly Griffiths (P)2018 Recorded Books
Detective Fiction Gothic Mystery Police Procedural Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Scary Suspense
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What Audible Listeners are saying about The Stranger Diaries

Editorial reviews

Elly Griffiths’s knockout novel begins with a story-within-a-story: a hair-raising reading from “The Stranger,” a ghost story by the mysterious author R. M. Holland. Cut to the present day, where English teacher Clare Cassidy works in a school set in Holland’s former house—and where the murder of Clare’s best friend appears to be a perplexing case of life imitating art. I don’t know what it is about books-about-books, but I always find them irresistible, even when they aren’t as brilliantly executed as this one! So it was a pleasure to find an exquisite homage to Wilkie Collins and M. R. James wrapped up in a twisty contemporary plot and told via alternating points of view. My favorite character might have been the queer Sikh detective Harbinder Kaur, but the expert narration from four different performers made each perspective a treat to hear, while the mystery kept me guessing throughout. Immersive and sure-footed, The Stranger Diaries, like all great ghost stories, delights in casting a spell—and listeners will be just as delighted.
Kat J., Audible Editor

Our favorite moments from The Stranger Diaries

A chilling apparition haunts the school
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An excerpt from R. M. Holland’s ghost story, The Stranger
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Clare receives some dreadful news
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We always fear what we don’t understand…
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  • The Stranger Diaries
  • A chilling apparition haunts the school
  • The Stranger Diaries
  • An excerpt from R. M. Holland’s ghost story, The Stranger
  • The Stranger Diaries
  • Clare receives some dreadful news
  • The Stranger Diaries
  • We always fear what we don’t understand…

What listeners say about The Stranger Diaries

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Nice change of pace for Elly Griffiths

I lost interest about half way through Griffiths's well known series, but remembered liking her writing so decided to give this book a chance. Once you get past a person handing their diaries over to the police without a fuss, keeping in mind we all know the rules about not having to incriminate yourself, it is a good story. The killer was obvious to me, but a fun listen anyway. The cast of characters are likeable, perhaps another reason the book should do well.

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Don't write a story unless you can end it well

My title is a little harsh, but summarizes my main complaint with both the story and the ghost sub-story within. The book was a little slow in grabbing my interest, but at some point I was quite involved in figuring out the mystery. Unfortunately, the resolution was a bit weak and unsatisfying. It's not as if you have enough information to definitively solve it yourself, a la Agatha Christie, even if you wouldn't succeed in doing so. The story within a story ends basically the way you think it will. I think it actually could have been saved if it had been further developed in the conclusion, but the turn and explanation thereof are rushed. I loved the idea of the school with the mysterious author and famous short story, which you get to hear, the ending of said story just needed to be better!

The narrators are excellent, especially for the ghost story.

I did eventually not mind this aspect, but the 3 perspectives seemed more like an annoying storytelling device than a useful one. More meat in other areas might have worked better to develop things and allow for clues/misleads for the reader.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

The narration was outstanding for this gothic story!

I really enjoyed The Stranger Diaries, and I definitely think that the audiobook is the way to go! The gothic feel to this mystery was so spooky. I know “atmospheric” is often misused, but it’s absolutely the way to describe this book. The old school with the writers office still intact, the spooky short story snippets interspersed, and the diary entries. There were at times a ghostly feel to this book, and the narration really brought it out. Fantastic!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

lackluster scary story

I'm done and I am still only scared that I was able to make it to the end. The story has potential and it just doesn't make it there. The multiply readers did an excellent job, but they could not make this story scary nor any good.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good book

I enjoyed this book, but there was one performer who made a lot of mouth noises. It grossed me out.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

I did enjoy this book immensely, however I agree with previous reviewers, the narrative for the detective in the story makes a lot of mouth noises. This was quite a distraction.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A fun listen

Fun, lighthearted murder story firmly rooted in a victorian/modern setting. Enjoyable. Several plot twists easily maintained this listener's attention. I wanted just a little more.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

was alright.

I struggled to finish. The story didn't really grab me. The perspective changes didn't transition well and were confusing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I absolutely loved this book. Unique, spooky, and wonderfully descriptive, I could not put this one down and sadly finished it in two sittings. I’ll be buying a lot more EG in the future.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging story. Wonderful narrators!

Was sorry to come to the end of the book. So enjoyed the characters which were brought so nicely to life by the actors! Great fun!

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