Review: The Stranger Behind You by Carol Goodman

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Published: July 6, 2021

Source: Netgalley

Summary:

In the tradition of Daphne du Maurier and Shari Lapena, comes the newest mystery thriller from New York Times bestselling author Carol Goodman—a twisty, chilling story set in a former Magdalen Laundry in Manhattan that explores today’s #MeToo complexities.

You’re never really alone

Journalist Joan Lurie has written a seething article exposing a notorious newspaper tycoon as a sexual predator. But the night it goes live, she is brutally attacked. Traumatized and suffering the effects of a concussion, she moves into a highly secure apartment in Manhattan called the Refuge, which was at one time a Magdalen Laundry. Joan should be safe here, so how can she explain the cryptic incidents that are happening?

Lillian Day is Joan’s new 96-year-old neighbor at the Refuge. In 1941, Lillian witnessed a mysterious murder that sent her into hiding at the Magdalen Laundry, and she hasn’t come out since. As she relates to Joan her harrowing story, Joan sees striking similarities to her own past.

Melissa Osgood, newly widowed and revengeful, has burning questions about her husband’s recent death. When she discovers a suspicious paper trail that he left behind, she realizes how little she knew about her marriage. But it seems Joan Lurie might be the one who has the answers.

As these three lives intersect, each woman must stay one step ahead of those who are desperate to make sure the truth is never uncovered.

My thoughts:

I’m still relatively new to Carol Goodman’s writing, having only read one other book by her, but as soon as I saw the synopsis of this latest book, I was intrigued. Just the mention of Magdalen Laundry was enough to grab me!

I will say while I did like this one, it did take me a while to read it. I admit I easily put it aside when something else came up…and I think it’s because this one had a bit too much going on to really keep me completely engaged. It wasn’t until I finally got to the last third of the book that I found the book really took off.

What did keep pulling me back though is that I love gothic-style mysteries and this one sure did live up to it’s expectations. As soon as Joan meets her elderly neighbor Lillian, who has lived in the building since it was a Magdalen Laundry, things start to get really interesting. Lillian begins telling Joan her own story of how she became involved with a notorious crime group that ruled the city from the late 1920s to the early 1940s. This was definitely my favorite story line and ended with such a great twist – one I did not see coming!

All in all, I enjoyed this book and will certainly be checking out Carol Goodman’s other books…I love that I have a bunch to read while we wait to see what she writes next!