The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin (Audiobook)

 

Remi York, night manager at a hotel in the Scottish Highlands, is on her last shift before she leaves for a new life in Chile. There's a storm heading towards the hotel but that shouldn't be a problem as it's the end of the season, all the other staff have left and there are only two remaining guests. Problems begin when an injured stranger knocks at the door of the hotel. He's a police officer, Don Gaines, part of a group who were transporting a dangerous prisoner when their vehicle crashed and the prisoner escaped. Remi tends his wounds and helps him to check out the security in the hotel in case the prisoner heads their way. Things become complicated when a few hours later another stranger turns up claiming to be Don Gaines.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The pace was a little bit slow to begin with as the scene was set; an isolated hotel at the end of the season and an approaching storm. The hotel and grounds are vast, giving lots of places for people to hide. The approaching storm makes communication with the outside world impossible and travel difficult. Once the first stranger turns up the pace does not let up for the remainder of the story and you are on edge wondering if Remi will be able to figure out who is genuine.

A very small cast of characters meant it was easy to keep track of who was who. Both strangers are entirely plausible as the police officer so you fully sympathise with Remi's predicament. The only support she has is one of the remaining guests, Jai. As the story progressed you even begin to doubt Jai as he admits to having a secret.

Every so often we hear about Remi's background and how she ended up working at the hotel. Her wayward younger brother got mixed up with criminals and ended up in the nearby prison where he was murdered. To add another complication to the mix, the escaped prisoner was responsible for the murder. 

As the tension increases and time starts running out you wonder how, or even if, Remi will survive. 

The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin will be published in hardback, ebook and audio format on 19th January 2023. My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a review copy.