A Familiar Stranger

By: A. R. Torre

Narrated by: Christina Traister, Chris Ciulla, Patrick Lawlor, Leon Nixon

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's Summary

Such a quiet and ordinary wife and mother. Who will even notice what she’s done?

Lillian Smith leads an unexceptional life, writing obituaries and killing time with her inattentive husband and disconnected son. Then she meets David, a handsome stranger, in a coffee shop. Lured into an affair, she invents a new persona, one without strings, deadlines, or brooding husbands.

Lillian has never felt so reckless, unpredictable, or wanted. But as her affair with David intensifies, she withdraws from everything that’s real, even her closest friend. When evidence of her life as a secret lover finds its way onto her son’s social media, she risks ruining much more than her marriage or reputation.

As lies beget lies, Lillian’s two worlds spiral dangerously out of control. And betrayals run deeper than she imagines. Because Lillian isn’t the only one leading a double life.

©2022 Select Publishing LLC. (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved

Critic Reviews

“A whiplash suspenser that’s a model of its kind.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The author skillfully reveals the characters’ many lies and secrets. Torre knows how to keep the reader guessing.”—Publishers Weekly

Excellent story- Horrible Narrator and production!

I NEVER write anything negative here so I’ll start with the book and story- true to AR Torre- the book is awesome! Took twists that until I was upon them I didn’t see coming! I will always be a fan of Torre!
Ok - that being said, the production and female narrator were awful! Someone needs to go back in and edit again and again.
Better to pick up this book and read as opposed to listen so it does this author the justice she deserves!

Just awful, what did I just waste a credit on?

I almost never write a negative review and I listen to 3-4 books a week. This story had no redeeming qualities. The characters were weak and corrupt and very unlikable. I kept thinking it would go somewhere or get better. It did not. Do not waste a credit on this garbage.

Started good…..

This book started out good but then just got weird. It’s almost like the author was rushing to finish it. The performance from Lillian’s character was really good, but the voice acting from Mike’s character was awful. He wound sometimes have a British accent and sometimes not. I feel like the story had a lot of potential, and started off strong, but ended weak.

I loved it.

I thought it was a good twist of events. Was not dragged out and kept moving enough to keep my attention to the end. Worth the read.

Disappointed

Never grabbed my attention. Characters were not developed. Wanted to like it, but just can’t. ☹️

Not great

The storyline was poor and the characters were undeveloped. I was not invested in any of their well beings.

I've never heard a narrator mispronounce so many words. Also, the accents confused me! Why does the husband speak in a British accent only half of the time?

Good story awful narration

Don’t waste a credit on this title just read the actual book!!
Good story ruined by the narration

So many unanswered questions.

This book really made no sense. I feel like it had potential to be a great story, but wasn’t. I have so many unanswered questions regarding the story line and the characters. Maybe it reads better? I listened to this book on Audible and I wouldn’t recommend.

Anticlimactic at best. Mediocre at worst.

The story is about infidelity. How people can live two separate lives, how husbands and wives can be married and not have a relationship.
Lillian was the most important person in this story. Erratic, unreliable. Mike, her husband was so incredibly boring. I don’t know how Lillian ever married him let alone stayed married to him for 19 years. David, her lover is whatever… fake from the get go. Her best friend Sam is a snake in the grass and a sad excuse for a friend. What she saw in any of these men leaves a lot to be desired. My favorite character was Lenny. Lenny had depth and perception. Though he played a small role in this book, he really is the reason I gave this one a whopping two stars. Lenny saved the day. Literally.

Soooo boring!

This plot was decent but terrible writing and so slow. Even listening on audio was slightly torturous.

Terrible

The accents were comically bad and the story was terrible - I gave up
Give it a miss