Perfect Strangers

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I LOVE a good health spa, and the remote Tranquillum House sounded absolutely breathtaking. Nine people sign up for a 10 day visit to achieve a "cleanse" and do a bit of recharging. They have absolutely no idea whats in store for them. Lets just say the rather exotic director, Masha is downright creepy and she might be a bit of control freak. At one point Masha tells her guests, "This is a health resort, not a prison." Hmm...time to worry I'd say! Liane Moriarty's latest offering is a hugely enjoyable psychological thriller that is pure fun and entertainment whilst incorporating a look beneath the issues of a wide cast of characters and the moving stories that lie behind the facade of their everyday lives. Set in Australia, Tranquillem House is a health and wellness resort that many clients claim transformed their lives for the better. The latest batch of arrivals are 9 strangers that get considerably more than they bargained for with their 10 day cleansing programme of diet, light exercise, therapy and spa treatments. It is run by the Russian Masha, a ruthlessly ambitious former company executive whose near death experience led to a complete change in her life direction. Masha had a dark and hidden agenda for her latest customers, driven by the best of intentions, supported by her primary staff members, Yao, and Delilah. Overall I'm a huge fan. Of this one, of the one that came before it. Megan Miranda goes firmly onto my "must read" list. No brainer. The girls move from Boston to Pennsylvania, where Leah has lined up a high school teaching job and hopes to start a new life. It’s certainly not Boston.

Leah Stevens needs to find the Exit sign immediately if not sooner. Her short career as a Boston journalist, newly crossing the threshold, is soon to hit the skids. Leah was following a story in which multiple female suicides had happened at the local university. Suspicion wafted in the air and Leah followed through with her story. Although she never fully divulged the name of the perpetrator in her article, the damage was done and the newspaper would likely face libel charges. Even her boyfriend convinced her to quit and leave town. Noah was not welcoming guilt by association. The police are growing suspicious that Leah’s’ story isn’t making sense. They begin to question whether this Emmy is real or just a figment of Leah's imagination. Did you ever have an imaginary friend when you were little? Someone you would conjure up when you were feeling lonely or scared? Maybe it’s just as simple as that. Meanwhile the bodies are piling up and all eyes are on Leah. With no one, including the police believing her, she takes it upon herself to bring Emmy to life and clear her own name. How well do we really know someone? How far would you go for a friend who has done a lot for you? Does one questionable action in our past doom us forever? The Perfect Stranger strives to answer all of those questions. It definitely keeps you guessing, because you aren't sure how reliable of a narrator Leah really is. The book's setting helps add to the tension, adding an almost moody feel to the whole thing.First let me say, however, that the one thing that drove me batty was the overwhelming number of times the protagonist talked about the window through which the stalker could watch her at night. Here's a clue: CURTAINS! Damn, get a sheet girlfriend!! Now......

Great veins,” he said. Nurses often said that about Frances’s veins. She always felt momentarily proud and then kind of depressed, because what a waste of a positive attribute.” Olivia and James interactions were filled with passion, and it felt at times too good to be true. Especially, when they both decided to not get personal with each other. Despite how much at times they wish too.She doesn't disappoint. While not as amazing as ATMG, it's an engrossing read. Since I finished this on baseball’s opening day, I'll use a baseball analogy. If ATMG was a grand slam, this is a home run. There are three components necessary for a successful book - good writing, strong character development and a convincing plot. Miranda gets the first two spot on. My minor quibbles with this book rested with the story line. If you’re curious about the mystery element to this book’s synopsis, then skip this. Any “suspenseful” or “mysterious” elements to the plot are, well, going to be a huge letdown. The trailer begins with Nicole Kidman asking the strangers whether they want to get well, apparently seeking to help them, before she demands, "surrender yourself to me". Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin. Tony Hogburn, a former American football tight end struggling with his addiction to food, tv and alcohol