book cover of The Kindness of Strangers
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The Kindness of Strangers

(2026)
A novel by

 
 
'Superbly plotted . . . pure escapism and utterly joyful' JOANNA CANNON
'Vivid and entertaining, and powered by such a wonderfully dry wit'THE TIMES
'An excellent mystery . . . superbly rendered'GUARDIAN
'A beautifully woven debut full of escalating secrets . . . hugely enjoyable' AJ PEARCE
'An intriguingly tricksy story'DAILY MAIL

IN A HOUSE BUILT ON LIES, THE TRUTH WILL GET YOU KILLED.


London, 1953. One foggy night, in the dead of February, a diffident young man arrives unannounced at 42 Tregunter Road in Chelsea. Self-styled Bohemian Mrs Honor Wilson, who runs a minor literary journal and lodgings from this timeworn Victorian house, introduces him to her 'dear house guests': Robbie, the writer; Mina, the aspiring socialite; George, the debutante; and Saul, the refugee poet. Jimmy Sullivan is a family friend, Honor says - yet clearly, something is very amiss. Despite everyone's suspicions, she lets the stranger move into the attic.

As they each try to disprove Jimmy's dubious account of himself, secrets, jealousies, and disturbing schemes come to light, fracturing the household's delicate allegiances and setting in motion, unstoppably, a tale of perilous self-invention, complicated love, and murderous revenge.

'Intricate, compelling and intriguing . . . I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. A triumph' KATE KEMP, author of The Grapevine

'A skilfully constructed mystery full of sly twists, dark wit and rich period detail' THE ECONOMIST

'An exquisite debut mystery' SAINSBURYS magazine

'Twisty, fast-paced, brilliantly plotted and deliciously entertaining . . . an absolute must-read!' KRISTIN HARMEL, New York Times bestselling author

'A rich labyrinth of a story filled with deeply real, flawed, fabulous characters. Good luck putting it down' STEPHEN SPOTSWOOD, author of DEAD IN THE FRAME

'A wholly delightful novel brimming with unpredictable characters and delivering every ingredient of a classic whodunnit with wit and flair' SARAH CROUCH, author of Middletide

'An ingeniously plotted, diabolically clever story of human deception and connection' KAREN DUKESS, author of Welcome to Murder Week


Genre: Historical Mystery

Praise for this book

"A wholly delightful novel brimming with unpredictable characters and prose as elegant as it is sharp. With a true nod to Christie-esque tradition, Emma Garman whisks readers through fog-shrouded London, delivering every ingredient of a classic whodunnit with a wit and flair entirely her own. Fans of golden-age mysteries, buckle in for a thrill ride through this literary house of mirrors!" - Sarah Crouch

"What pure pleasure to discover Emma Garman's irresistible debut. Reading this ingeniously plotted, diabolically clever story of human deception and connection was like discovering a 1950s classic that was written with a surprisingly modern sensibility. Smart, original, darkly funny, and moving, it's everything I want in a mystery. I adored it." - Karen Dukess

"I couldn't put down this intricately woven debut by the talented Emma Garman. Set in perfectly-drawn 1950s London, The Kindness of Strangers is a tantalizing historical mystery that revolves around a house full of boarders--all of whom have something to hide--and the mysterious death of a man who has recently moved into their home. Twisty, fast-paced, brilliantly plotted and deliciously entertaining, The Kindness of Strangers is an absolute must-read!" - Kristin Harmel

"The Kindness of Strangers drew me in immediately with its distinctive, singular voice. From there, an intricate, compelling plot developed, driven by a cast of characters so intriguing I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to discover what they'd do next or what secrets lurked in their pasts. Here is sublime storytelling and I couldn't have been more delighted to be taken along for the ride. I had a riotously good time at 42 Tregunter Road. The ending was simply perfect and made me want to start reading from the beginning all over again. A triumph of a debut novel and I'm already eager to read whatever Emma Garman writes next." - Kate Kemp

"A beautifully woven novel full of escalating secrets and a found family of characters who tunnel their way into your heart. Hugely enjoyable, and with one of my favorite Epilogues ever, I've been recommending it to everyone." - AJ Pearce

"An acid-etched portrait of murder and manners in post-war Britain, The Kindness of Strangers is a sinister delight, like a chocolate-coated cherry bomb. Emma Garman's astonishingly deft debut is an absolute must-read, and heralds a brilliant new voice in crime fiction." - Julia Spencer-Fleming

"A rich labyrinth of a story filled with deeply real, flawed, fabulous characters. Good luck putting it down before you reach the dark secret at the center." - Stephen Spotswood


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