The Stranger: Book 1

The Stranger: Book 1 is the first book in a trilogy of crime novels by Claire S. Duffy. The book tells the story of Alex, a retired detective haunted by the disappearance of a child. When a British family moves into the apartment where the child went missing, their son begins talking to an “imaginary friend,” and Alex and the family’s father team up to investigate and are led into a labyrinth of lies and corruption.

Plot

The plot of The Stranger: Book 1 is very engaging and suspenseful. The story begins with the disappearance of a two-year-old boy named Oskar. Oskar’s mother, who is mentally ill, is arrested and convicted of murder. One year later, a British family moves into the apartment where Oskar went missing. Their son, Alfie, begins talking to an “imaginary friend.” Alfie’s father, Fergus, fears that he is losing his mind and begins investigating.

Alex, the retired detective who investigated Oskar’s disappearance, is also drawn into Fergus’s investigation. Alex believes that the case is not solved and that Oskar is still alive. Alex and Fergus team up to investigate and quickly realize that there is more going on in their apartment.

Alex and Fergus’s investigation leads them into a labyrinth of lies and corruption. They soon discover that there are many people involved in Oskar’s disappearance, and that they all have a reason to hide the truth.

Characters

The characters in The Stranger: Book 1 are well-developed. Alex is a complex and intriguing character. He is a talented detective, but he is also haunted by his past. Fergus is a loving and caring father, but he is also struggling with his sanity. Alfie is a sensitive and intelligent child, but he is also facing traumatic experiences.

Themes

The Stranger: Book 1 explores a number of important themes, including:

• Truth and lies: The book raises questions about the nature of truth and how lies can be used to conceal the truth.
• Responsibility: The book explores the meaning of taking responsibility for one’s actions.
• Family: The book explores the importance of family and how families can support each other in times of difficulty.

Conclusion

The Stranger: Book 1 is an engaging and suspenseful crime novel. The book has a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and explores important themes. I highly recommend reading this book.

Here are some of the book’s strengths:

• Compelling and suspenseful plot
• Well-developed characters
• Explores important themes

Here are some of the book’s weaknesses:

• The book contains some descriptions of violence that may be disturbing to some readers.
• The ending of the book may be a bit rushed and confusing.