For those of us who get frustrated because we tend to figure out the twists and secrets far too early in a story, Catriona McPherson’s Strangers At The Gate may be the book you have been looking for! The twists and turns just keep coming. Every time you think you are a step ahead; you may find you are already a step behind.
The story begins as Finn, a deacon in the Church of Scotland, and her attorney-husband, Paddy, unexpectedly find themselves being offered new jobs, in a package that contains benefits they never would have expected, including their own home. While Paddy is ready to jump in with both feet, Finn can’t help but wonder if maybe this is all too good to be true.
Fighting her intuition, Finn goes along with Paddy, and they find themselves living in a relatively small village that is quaint, but clearly secretive. On one of their first night’s in their new location, they witness something horrific together. For their own separate, individual reasons, they decide to keep what they’ve seen a secret together.
The story’s tension comes primarily from that very decision. After that night, their time is spent trying to remember what version of events they have given to which people, and if they are both telling people the same details. Where will they trip up? What mistake have they made? Finn’s breathless worry is contagious, and the reader starts to feel that same sense of dread, remembering a time when they had to keep their own story straight.
With twists and turns, false leads, and never knowing who to trust (especially since everything and everyone in the town is new to them), Finn and Paddy are at first bonded together in their predicament. Perhaps it’s her position as a deacon in the church, but Finn becomes concerned about Paddy’s ability to be so comfortable living a life so duplicitous. Will their shared secret bind them closer, or ultimately tear them apart?
McPherson does an excellent job with pacing the story, and taking the reader through a steady march forward, building the tension constantly. There were plenty of times that I declared (yes, out loud), “Oh! I know where this is going!” But I am happy to say I was never right.
Strangers At The Gate is a perfect fall read. The creepy vibe that makes you wonder if this might turn out to be a ghost story, combined with the eerie descriptions of the setting and the constant dread that builds for Finn as she worries about just what will happen next, make for an excellent fall or winter, curl-up-by-the-fireside thriller.
Strangers At The Gate is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
Will you be picking up Strangers At The Gate? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
From the Agatha-award winning author of Quiet Neighbors comes a twisty, fascinating standalone that begs the question: how well can we ever know the people around us?
When Finn and Paddy decide to move from their home in the city to the small town of Simmerton, it feels like everything has finally fallen into place. Paddy’s been made partner at the law firm in town, and Finn has found full time work as the deacon. Paddy’s new boss has even offered them the use of the gate house on his property. Finn feels like this must be a fairy tale. Paddy thinks they’ve won the lottery. Either way, they agree: it’s perfect.
But only days after moving into the gate house, Finn begins to have doubts. She keeps hearing strange sounds, and the thicket of trees make her feel claustrophobic rather than safe. When she and Paddy discover the bloody bodies of Paddy’s boss and his wife, the fairy tale has officially ended. A strange email – supposedly sent from the dead man – makes it clear: this was murder.
Paddy and Finn’s dream of a new life quickly turns into a nightmare as the plot thickens and the tension grows. With strange neighbors and a haunting setting, Catriona McPherson once again weaves a page-turning tale of suspense.
