A propulsive thriller about a writer who gets caught up in the case of a missing woman, for fans of Lisa Jewell, Paula Hawkins and Ruth Ware.
After suffering a loss, Janine and her husband, Kamal, need a fresh start. They leave their family and everything they know in Manchester and move to Bamblethorpe, a picturesque Lancashire village where they expect nothing but peace and quiet. It’ll be just what Janine, a thriller writer, needs to work on her next manuscript.
But the peace of their new village life is disrupted when longtime local Alexa Clarke goes missing. Did she leave her husband, like some people suspect? Or is there credibility to the rumours that something more nefarious has happened to Alexa?
Frozen by writer’s block, Janine stumbles into investigating Alexa’s disappearance, and the more she discovers about Alexa’s life, the more complicated things become. Nothing is as it seems, and Janine begins to realise that there are disturbing parallels between Alexa’s life and her own.
What starts as curious procrastination quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, lies and a truth Janine may not be ready to face … if she survives.
About the Author
Jess Kitching is an avid reader, writer and binge-watcher. Originally from Bradford, England, she lives in Canberra, Australia.
Industry Reviews
'Gripping, twisty and perfectly plotted. A mystery that just demands to be devoured.'
– Katy Brent
'The best twist I've read in years! Watch out, world – Jess Kitching is going to be huge. The Secrets of Strangers is an absolutely brilliant thriller – fast-moving, flawlessly executed, and written with immense talent. It's destined to be an instant bestseller. No notes. Just absolute awe. Wish I'd written it.’
– Fiona Taylor
'Such a thrilling ride, my heart was in my mouth throughout, and what a brilliant twist! All while still having fantastic characters I related to and loved.'
– Katie Hoskins
‘A clever, taut and twisty psychological thriller that had me turning the pages into the night. Jess Kitching has crafted a mystery that is both hugely compulsive and also full of heart.’
– Emma Babbington
'The Secrets of Strangers starts with a bang and does not falter, as thriller author Janine juggles a complex investigation, her tense marriage, the rivalries in her writers’ group, and her own profound grief. This gripping, but very human, story of loss, friendship, jealousy and courage will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime.'
– Kelly Gardiner, co-author of Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Detective
‘This book held me hostage in the best way. Gripping, twisty, and emotional, it grabbed me from the first page – and even made me cry.’
– Noelle W. Ihli, USA Today bestselling author of Ask for Andrea
'A compelling, unhinged tale that explores the moral ethics of turning a real-life crime into fiction, with a final twist that will blow your hair back.'
– Camille Booker
'Kitching delivers a thriller that is unrelenting, absorbing and delicately vicious. Using deeply emotional themes of loss and family as a vehicle for what unfolds, it will demand your attention until the very end.'
– Luke Johnson, author of King Tide
‘From the first page, The Secrets of Strangers grips you with its quiet menace and emotional intensity. Jess Kitching pulls back the curtain on the writing world – its obsessions, its vulnerabilities, and the way storytellers shape reality through narrative. At its heart is a powerful connection between two women whose lives intersect briefly yet irrevocably. What follows is a race against time, as Kitching proves herself a master of tension, delivering a thriller that’s as thought-provoking as it is impossible to put down.’
– Vikki Petraitis, author of The Unbelieved
‘A terrific writer with a smart, keep-on-guessing, plot-twisting story that will keep you turning the pages until you reach the final one ... then you’ll finally be able to take a breath.’
– Chris Carter, author of The Crucifix Killer
