The Stranger In The Room by Luca Veste

 

Three murders in a short space of time in a small town and the police have no idea who is responsible. The rest of the town are pretty sure they know who the murderer is, eighteen-year-old Mia had issues with each victim just before they were murdered. Why can't the police see what everyone else sees?

The Stranger In The Room by Luca Veste is more of a why dunnit than a who dunnit. From the very beginning, Mia Johnstone is the main suspect in the murder of Ben Lennon. The police don't seem interested but social media is abuzz. All the clues point to Mia after her acrimonious break-up with Ben because he cheated on her. There are also the two unsolved murders of a teacher and another student, both of who had run-ins with Mia. Mia doesn't help herself either, she's vague at times, economical with the truth and can't explain the blood-like stain on her clothing.

The real focus of the story is the obsession of Alison Lennon, Ben's mother. In such a small town everyone knows everyone else's business and it's impossible to avoid gossip. She is frustrated that the police refuse to accept what everyone else clearly knows so sets out to find the proof she needs. Consumed by grief and resentment at the perceived inaction of the police, it is easy to see how logic and reason are replaced by helplessness, pain and irrationality. There is a distinct lack of support from her family; an already fragile marriage is on the brink. The only person who truly understands is the mother of the teenage girl who was murdered a year ago.

Despite a huge guilty sign hanging over the head of Mia, you get this strange feeling that there must be more to the story. She keeps denying any involvement with any of the murders but it feels half-hearted. I felt very unsettled by the ambiguity the story offered, unable to know with any certainty who the murderer actually was. The revelations in the conclusion were shocking and chilling.

The Stranger In The Room by Luca Veste will be published on 16th January 2024 in paperback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Staughton for a review copy.

Author Details

Luca Veste is a writer of Italian and Liverpudlian heritage, married with two young daughters, and one of nine children. He studied psychology and criminology at university in Liverpool. He is the author of the Murphy and Rossi series, which includes DEAD GONE, THE DYING PLACE, BLOODSTREAM, and THEN SHE WAS GONE. Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, his books follow the detective pairing of DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi. The novels are set in Liverpool, bringing the city to life in a dark and terrifying manner...with just a splash of Scouse humour.

He is also the editor of the Spinetingler Award nominated charity anthology 'Off The Record', and co-editor of 'True Brit Grit', also an anthology of short stories for charity.

He is a former civil servant, actor, singer and guitarist (although he still picks it up now and again), and now a full-time writer.

He can be found at www.lucaveste.com and on twitter @LucaVeste