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A Stranger's Game
A gripping new stand-alone novel from USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble.
A wealthy hotel heiress.
Torie Bergstrom hasn’t been back to Georgia since she was ten, but she’s happy to arrange a job for her best friend at one of the family properties on Jekyll Island.
A suspicious death.
When Torie learns that her best friend has drowned, she knows this is more than a tragic accident: Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone swimming by choice.
A fight for the truth.
Torie goes to the hotel under an alias, trying to find answers. When she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter rescuing baby turtles, she finds a tentative ally.
But the more they dig, the more ties they find to Torie’s mother’s death twenty years before. Someone will risk anything—even more murder—to hide the truth.
A wealthy hotel heiress.
Torie Bergstrom hasn’t been back to Georgia since she was ten, but she’s happy to arrange a job for her best friend at one of the family properties on Jekyll Island.
A suspicious death.
When Torie learns that her best friend has drowned, she knows this is more than a tragic accident: Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone swimming by choice.
A fight for the truth.
Torie goes to the hotel under an alias, trying to find answers. When she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter rescuing baby turtles, she finds a tentative ally.
But the more they dig, the more ties they find to Torie’s mother’s death twenty years before. Someone will risk anything—even more murder—to hide the truth.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2022
500 people are currently reading
7530 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Coble
152 books6,127 followersUSAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Arizona. She is the author of dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 6 million books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 781 reviews
July 4, 2025
This is a Romantic Suspense. I feel this book is a great mix of Suspense/Mystery and Romance. The beginning of this book took me a little bit to get into the story, and it also took a little bit to figure out what was going on. Once, I was into the story I really was pulled into it. There was a lot going on, but I feel it was done so well. I love the characters in this book, and I also loved all the animals in this book. The plot/storyline was so great in this book as well. This book will keep you guessing and wanting to find out what is going on. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Thomas Nelson) or author (Colleen Coble) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
October 18, 2021
I had a lot of trouble with this book, from the very beginning. Everything about it felt flat and unbelievable to me. No one connects “Torie Berg” with “Victoria Bergstrom?” Torie, asking a lot of very obvious questions that the police really should have asked themselves? Then characters saying, “I hadn’t thought of that,” when the math added up for me like 2+2=4. I just…didn’t like it.
I didn’t like the characters. Torie annoyed me, and Joe did nothing for me. Hailey was cute, but a lot of kids are. No one really had any depth to them, outside of the tragic backstories. Why do so many novels have sad backgrounds for their characters? You don’t need to have heartbreaking, unexpected, dramatic deaths to draw in readers. Dead wives, dead mothers, and a “wicked stepmother”-like aunt. One character, misunderstood, with a lot of money. Meanwhile another who has to scrape by. Too many clichés. Not a fan.
The mysteries are secondary to the romance in this novel. And I didn’t even like the romance. The plot moved along by forced danger that didn’t seem to truly fit with the story. And at one point, the novel talked about catching a bad guy who committed suicide…but then later in the novel, he revealed his motives? How could he, I thought he died? Or was there a second bad guy? The plot in which this bad guy was involved…didn’t even add anything to the story. It was like Coble had to have some excitement just for Joe, separated from the “big mystery” surrounding Lisbeth’s death.
Nah, I wasn’t a fan of this novel. I wish I could be, but I can’t. I didn’t like the author’s voice or writing style—personal preference, to be sure. I didn’t like the ineptitude of so many of the characters. I didn’t like the plot…not inclined to read any other work by this author.
*Note: I was given a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.
I didn’t like the characters. Torie annoyed me, and Joe did nothing for me. Hailey was cute, but a lot of kids are. No one really had any depth to them, outside of the tragic backstories. Why do so many novels have sad backgrounds for their characters? You don’t need to have heartbreaking, unexpected, dramatic deaths to draw in readers. Dead wives, dead mothers, and a “wicked stepmother”-like aunt. One character, misunderstood, with a lot of money. Meanwhile another who has to scrape by. Too many clichés. Not a fan.
The mysteries are secondary to the romance in this novel. And I didn’t even like the romance. The plot moved along by forced danger that didn’t seem to truly fit with the story. And at one point, the novel talked about catching a bad guy who committed suicide…but then later in the novel, he revealed his motives? How could he, I thought he died? Or was there a second bad guy? The plot in which this bad guy was involved…didn’t even add anything to the story. It was like Coble had to have some excitement just for Joe, separated from the “big mystery” surrounding Lisbeth’s death.
Nah, I wasn’t a fan of this novel. I wish I could be, but I can’t. I didn’t like the author’s voice or writing style—personal preference, to be sure. I didn’t like the ineptitude of so many of the characters. I didn’t like the plot…not inclined to read any other work by this author.
*Note: I was given a free copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All views expressed are my own.
January 7, 2022
Prolific author Colleen Coble’s latest romantic suspense fiction release is A Stranger's Game. A daughter returns to Georgia to her family’s property on Jekyll Island. She is there undercover to investigate her friend’s supposed suicide when events spiral out of control with bombs, a rising body count and her secret identity exposed. With nicely building tension, the odd religious reference and a minor level of romantic themes makes for a leisurely paced venture with a three-star rating. With thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and are made without fear or favour.
January 5, 2022
A long-time favorite author, Colleen Coble, pens another absorbing tale of mystery and danger. So many suspenseful layers and twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
Torie Bergstrom has lost her best friend, Lisbeth, and goes undercover to find the truth behind her death. She cannot believe that Lisbeth took her own life or drowned by accident as is surmised. But who is trying to cover it up? And who is playing mind games with Torie? While at the resort where Lisbeth died, she meets widower Joe Abbot and his daughter Hailey. Joe is security for the resort and has a super interesting business training Sea lions for the Navy. All things ramp up with threats
coming from all directions. Does Torie’s investigation and Joe’s diving troubles have any connection?
Ms. Coble uses descriptions of the area to great advantage. I especially liked the baby turtles scurrying to the sea, the underwater reef diving and the interaction with the sea lion, Simon. The faith thread was natural and shows Joe quoting scripture with eight year old Hailey and using everyday observations to teach her spiritual things. “God uses all the bad things in our lives to make us more beautiful, too. Nothing is wasted-it all serves a purpose.”
Another winning suspenseful story.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Partners In Crime Tours. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Torie Bergstrom has lost her best friend, Lisbeth, and goes undercover to find the truth behind her death. She cannot believe that Lisbeth took her own life or drowned by accident as is surmised. But who is trying to cover it up? And who is playing mind games with Torie? While at the resort where Lisbeth died, she meets widower Joe Abbot and his daughter Hailey. Joe is security for the resort and has a super interesting business training Sea lions for the Navy. All things ramp up with threats
coming from all directions. Does Torie’s investigation and Joe’s diving troubles have any connection?
Ms. Coble uses descriptions of the area to great advantage. I especially liked the baby turtles scurrying to the sea, the underwater reef diving and the interaction with the sea lion, Simon. The faith thread was natural and shows Joe quoting scripture with eight year old Hailey and using everyday observations to teach her spiritual things. “God uses all the bad things in our lives to make us more beautiful, too. Nothing is wasted-it all serves a purpose.”
Another winning suspenseful story.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing through Partners In Crime Tours. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
February 7, 2022
A STRANGER's GAME
Colleen Cobie
I found the whole thing rather flat and I debated not finishing it more than once. In fact, the whole book I considered stopping. This was sort of religious romance suspense that never makes it to the bar on any. The rich guy's daughter should have been recognized right off as who she really was and the police in that town certainly need to be defunded.
2 stars
Happy Reading!
Colleen Cobie
I found the whole thing rather flat and I debated not finishing it more than once. In fact, the whole book I considered stopping. This was sort of religious romance suspense that never makes it to the bar on any. The rich guy's daughter should have been recognized right off as who she really was and the police in that town certainly need to be defunded.
2 stars
Happy Reading!
March 18, 2022
“This guy is playing a game of some kind, and none of us know the rules.
“I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. GO AWAY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.”
“God uses all the bad things in our lives to make us more beautiful too. Nothing is wasted - it all serves a purpose.”
2.5 Stars
Murders, kidnappings, sharks, sea lions, strangers playing games, insta-love, and the worst alias ever. This was my first Colleen Coble book and it was just okay. I thought her writing style was similar to Terri Blackstock. I enjoyed the beach setting and the Christian elements but the mystery was pretty tame and suspense at times not believable. I guessed the big reveal. I thought the dialogue could have sounded more authentic. And I honestly didn’t understand the purpose of what the stranger’s game was - seemed pointless.
I know it probably feels like a lot of negative things being said but it at least held my attention throughout. I just had high expectations and was hoping this was an author I was going to really enjoy.
“I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. GO AWAY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES.”
“God uses all the bad things in our lives to make us more beautiful too. Nothing is wasted - it all serves a purpose.”
2.5 Stars
Murders, kidnappings, sharks, sea lions, strangers playing games, insta-love, and the worst alias ever. This was my first Colleen Coble book and it was just okay. I thought her writing style was similar to Terri Blackstock. I enjoyed the beach setting and the Christian elements but the mystery was pretty tame and suspense at times not believable. I guessed the big reveal. I thought the dialogue could have sounded more authentic. And I honestly didn’t understand the purpose of what the stranger’s game was - seemed pointless.
I know it probably feels like a lot of negative things being said but it at least held my attention throughout. I just had high expectations and was hoping this was an author I was going to really enjoy.
January 3, 2022
Jekyll Island, Georgia is the lovely setting for the suspenseful read where all old memories and new meet. Torie Berg is working at her family's island resort hotel undercover to find out what happened to her best friend, Lisbeth. It was reported that she committed suicide by drowning herself but Torie knows that Lisbeth was afraid of the water and would not put a foot in the water. Her mother fell from their family balcony eighteen years ago when Torie was just ten years old and she hasn't been back to the resort since so even her Aunt Genevieve doesn't recognize her. Only her father is in on her secret. She meets the handsome former Navy man Joe Abbott and his daughter Hailey, she falls for them but someone is trying to frighten Torie away. This is a suspenseful tale with a lot of different things going on at the resort and island, including a coming up meeting of the Federal Reserve and the arrival of a nuclear submarine. Joe trains sea lions to detect intruders who try to get close to the military on the island and nearby King's Bay, nuclear submarine base. Multifaceted issues abound amongst the budding friendship and romance developing along with the danger. This is a read that is a page turner from start to finish with great characters in the great setting of the Golden Isles of the coast of Georgia, a truly lovely area. In addition to the mystery going on in the current day, there are answers to a mystery from the past.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley but all thoughts are completely mine.
I received a complimentary ARC from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley but all thoughts are completely mine.
March 2, 2022
The sense this book did not make, y'all. I am speechless.
**Maybe spoilers ahead.**
This book is the bowl of slop for the hogs we'd compile at the end of the week when we'd clean all the leftovers out of the fridge. The only thing the ingredients in slop had in common was that they had been in the fridge at the same time, and the only thing the details of this book have in common is that they're in this book at the same time. And the characters... I cannot pick just one for the Worst Hot Mess of This Book, so here's a Top 6:
1. Torie Berg/Victoria Bergstrom
Because no one made that connection? She complains that people react to her name and don't give her a fair shake as an individual yet doesn't hesitate to then toss the power of her name around to get what she wants when it suits her. She's apparently tall and has large feet. It was important we know that. She conveniently and tidily finds all the clues in chronological order.
2. Joe
Randomly intensely quotes bible verses at his young daughter, is being targeted by "hostile swimmers" for literally no significant reason to the storyline, works security at the hotel supposedly but never actually works there because he's too busy training sea lions for the Navy?? And having his ship blown up?? But none of that is relevant to the plot. And he vastly overeacts to Torie's shortlived stint as not a Bergstrom. Major red flags all over the place as a potential love interest.
3. Aunt Genevieve
Is this woman actually 5 years old? The baby hissy fits she constantly throws and the absolute lack of any role she has in the significance of the story are just endlessly annoying.
4. Anton Bergstrom
Never takes a vacation but is on vacation this entire book. Cheated on his wife? Didn't cheat on his wife? No one knows. It's SUPER IMPORTANT until it's forgotten about, in favour of another random super important detail that will also be forgotten about. Also does absolutely nothing to add to the plot, except that he built the treehouse that serves as the completely unbelievable method in which the "bad guy" kidnaps Torie and Hailey for literally no reason.
5. Hailey
Dead mother, overbearingly bible quoting father, gets kidnapped not once but twice for absolutely no reason but no worries she has a therapist for that. Constantly either playing on Joe's phone or watching tv while Joe and Torie do "dangerous mystery solve-y stuff" like conveniently and easily find the hidden key to a safe that contains yet another random and pointless addition to the plot. Loves fish tacos??
6. Noah what's-his-name
Who?? Possibly the most pointless character of all. Does random weird things supposedly in the name of throwing Torie off the trail of the "plan" that we know nothing about.. But don't worry, he loves his mom and doesn't want her to get hurt. Oh yeah, and his mom is a glass blower and we get a mini crash course in glass blowing terminology. But there's no quiz on it because it isn't important or anything... it's just another random thing throw into this book.
(I proofread for typos but please forgive any I overlooked at 6:30 a.m. when I shouldn't even be awake yet)
**Maybe spoilers ahead.**
This book is the bowl of slop for the hogs we'd compile at the end of the week when we'd clean all the leftovers out of the fridge. The only thing the ingredients in slop had in common was that they had been in the fridge at the same time, and the only thing the details of this book have in common is that they're in this book at the same time. And the characters... I cannot pick just one for the Worst Hot Mess of This Book, so here's a Top 6:
1. Torie Berg/Victoria Bergstrom
Because no one made that connection? She complains that people react to her name and don't give her a fair shake as an individual yet doesn't hesitate to then toss the power of her name around to get what she wants when it suits her. She's apparently tall and has large feet. It was important we know that. She conveniently and tidily finds all the clues in chronological order.
2. Joe
Randomly intensely quotes bible verses at his young daughter, is being targeted by "hostile swimmers" for literally no significant reason to the storyline, works security at the hotel supposedly but never actually works there because he's too busy training sea lions for the Navy?? And having his ship blown up?? But none of that is relevant to the plot. And he vastly overeacts to Torie's shortlived stint as not a Bergstrom. Major red flags all over the place as a potential love interest.
3. Aunt Genevieve
Is this woman actually 5 years old? The baby hissy fits she constantly throws and the absolute lack of any role she has in the significance of the story are just endlessly annoying.
4. Anton Bergstrom
Never takes a vacation but is on vacation this entire book. Cheated on his wife? Didn't cheat on his wife? No one knows. It's SUPER IMPORTANT until it's forgotten about, in favour of another random super important detail that will also be forgotten about. Also does absolutely nothing to add to the plot, except that he built the treehouse that serves as the completely unbelievable method in which the "bad guy" kidnaps Torie and Hailey for literally no reason.
5. Hailey
Dead mother, overbearingly bible quoting father, gets kidnapped not once but twice for absolutely no reason but no worries she has a therapist for that. Constantly either playing on Joe's phone or watching tv while Joe and Torie do "dangerous mystery solve-y stuff" like conveniently and easily find the hidden key to a safe that contains yet another random and pointless addition to the plot. Loves fish tacos??
6. Noah what's-his-name
Who?? Possibly the most pointless character of all. Does random weird things supposedly in the name of throwing Torie off the trail of the "plan" that we know nothing about.. But don't worry, he loves his mom and doesn't want her to get hurt. Oh yeah, and his mom is a glass blower and we get a mini crash course in glass blowing terminology. But there's no quiz on it because it isn't important or anything... it's just another random thing throw into this book.
(I proofread for typos but please forgive any I overlooked at 6:30 a.m. when I shouldn't even be awake yet)
January 16, 2022
4.5 stars
Colleen Coble has long been one of my go-to authors for romantic suspense, and she proves why in A Stranger’s Game! (She also made me love a seal named Simon, so there’s that. lol)
I really liked getting to know Torie, Joe, and Hailey, thanks in large part to Coble’s skill with character development, and I was especially intrigued with Joe’s unique job. There’s more than one suspicious death in play here, and part of the fun of this reading experience is trying to determine whether or not they were caused by the same person(s). Layers are revealed at just the right pace, and the ‘creepiness factor’ was spot on for me, too. As in, just enough creepy moments to make me look over my shoulder a little bit but not so much that I’m scared to go to sleep or move through the house without a bodyguard haha.
Bottom Line: A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble kept me glued to the page from beginning to end. Part psychological thriller, part romantic suspense, part mystery, it’s all riveting. The suspense and romance are well balanced so, if you don’t like romance with your suspense, you won’t feel like that part of story overshadows the suspense. Layered characters and a fun setting add further dimension to the plot, and the story takes several twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. A word of advice, though: Read this with the lights on and when you have plenty of time to finish it. I wasn’t able to put it down, and I suspect you won’t be able to either!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Colleen Coble has long been one of my go-to authors for romantic suspense, and she proves why in A Stranger’s Game! (She also made me love a seal named Simon, so there’s that. lol)
I really liked getting to know Torie, Joe, and Hailey, thanks in large part to Coble’s skill with character development, and I was especially intrigued with Joe’s unique job. There’s more than one suspicious death in play here, and part of the fun of this reading experience is trying to determine whether or not they were caused by the same person(s). Layers are revealed at just the right pace, and the ‘creepiness factor’ was spot on for me, too. As in, just enough creepy moments to make me look over my shoulder a little bit but not so much that I’m scared to go to sleep or move through the house without a bodyguard haha.
Bottom Line: A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble kept me glued to the page from beginning to end. Part psychological thriller, part romantic suspense, part mystery, it’s all riveting. The suspense and romance are well balanced so, if you don’t like romance with your suspense, you won’t feel like that part of story overshadows the suspense. Layered characters and a fun setting add further dimension to the plot, and the story takes several twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. A word of advice, though: Read this with the lights on and when you have plenty of time to finish it. I wasn’t able to put it down, and I suspect you won’t be able to either!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
June 28, 2025
This is a review for the audio version of this book, and I have to say up front that I had a very difficult time following this story at the beginning, especially since I listened to it while driving and shopping. I had no idea what the relationship was between Torrie/Victoria/Genevive/Lisbeth/Lily until I re-listened to the first four chapters and then it began to make sense, sort of. That is part of the problem with an audio version: you can't easily pause to digest a point or go back to review it. I don't always catch everything the first time around. Some books make better audio versions than others. After I figured out who was who the story took off and ended up being a really good mystery.
Hotel heiress, Victoria Bergstrom, is on a mission to find who killed her best friend, Lisbeth. She takes a job as Torie Breg at her families Jeckell Island resort in order to find a killer. What she finds is a hot widowed father, Joe Abbott, and a cute eight-year-old daughter, Haley. Being undercover didn't last long for Torie and a sick cat and mouse game begins with someone at the resort.
Joe is a marine biologist working for the Navy training sea mammals. Simon, a seal lion, is his current project. He has his own set of problems when the Naval base hosts war games and the visit of a nuclear submarine. This has attracted the attention of terrorists.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary audio Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
Hotel heiress, Victoria Bergstrom, is on a mission to find who killed her best friend, Lisbeth. She takes a job as Torie Breg at her families Jeckell Island resort in order to find a killer. What she finds is a hot widowed father, Joe Abbott, and a cute eight-year-old daughter, Haley. Being undercover didn't last long for Torie and a sick cat and mouse game begins with someone at the resort.
Joe is a marine biologist working for the Navy training sea mammals. Simon, a seal lion, is his current project. He has his own set of problems when the Naval base hosts war games and the visit of a nuclear submarine. This has attracted the attention of terrorists.
My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary audio Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.
November 18, 2021
I have read this author a long time and you can always count on Colleen Coble to write a good book with a great mystery involved! This time she sets her story on Jekyll Island and the plot is quite good.
My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of the book via Net Galley. The opinion expressed in this review is expressly my own.
My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of the book via Net Galley. The opinion expressed in this review is expressly my own.
May 29, 2022
3.5⭐️
Started off great-thought this might be in my top favs of Coble’s books, but then around 3/4 of the way in, the “Christian suspense” formula really became evident and the ending felt way out of left field…🤷🏼♀️
Started off great-thought this might be in my top favs of Coble’s books, but then around 3/4 of the way in, the “Christian suspense” formula really became evident and the ending felt way out of left field…🤷🏼♀️
April 11, 2023
A Strangers Game was a quick and addictive read for me. Colleen Coble's books can be a hit or a miss for me but this one was definitely a hit!
January 11, 2022
I should've taken a hint from the first line of this book, and stopped reading there. "Victoria ... almost forgot to breathe ..." How does one ALMOST forget to breathe? You either do, or you don't. And you don't ever really, anyway, because breathing is an unconscious process. It's something we don't have to think about.
I SHOULD have quit reading, but I didn't. Every once in a while, I like to punish myself. And everybody's always talking about how fabulous Colleen Coble's books are. Her being a new-to-me author, I wanted to give this book a try. I wanted to LIKE it. I just ... didn't.
Joe was an idiot, and a jerk. He manipulated his kid using Scripture. And in the very next scene after Victoria explains to him that she has trust issues, she reveals the secret she's been hiding from him, and he gets mad because she lied to him. Um, of course she lied to you, she just got finished telling you she has trust issues! People with trust issues lie.
The big reveal of who killed Victoria's mother was anticlimactic, at best, as was the final resolution of it that came at the end of the book. Like, no emotion attached to it at all, which is odd, considering we're talking about the death of the MC's mother. The solution to the question of who killed Victoria's friend Lisbeth was melodramatic and even somewhat laughable. Can anyone say, "Completely inept kidnapper?"
Neither solution was a surprise, but given this is suspense, not mystery, you don't expect it to be. Still, the story wasn't compelling. The characters were annoying. And I'm still really mad at myself for not giving up on this book after the first line.
I'm sure I'm in the minority here. Perhaps I'll like another Colleen Coble book better. Maybe this one wasn't her best. It'll be a while before I pick another one up, though.
I SHOULD have quit reading, but I didn't. Every once in a while, I like to punish myself. And everybody's always talking about how fabulous Colleen Coble's books are. Her being a new-to-me author, I wanted to give this book a try. I wanted to LIKE it. I just ... didn't.
Joe was an idiot, and a jerk. He manipulated his kid using Scripture. And in the very next scene after Victoria explains to him that she has trust issues, she reveals the secret she's been hiding from him, and he gets mad because she lied to him. Um, of course she lied to you, she just got finished telling you she has trust issues! People with trust issues lie.
The big reveal of who killed Victoria's mother was anticlimactic, at best, as was the final resolution of it that came at the end of the book. Like, no emotion attached to it at all, which is odd, considering we're talking about the death of the MC's mother. The solution to the question of who killed Victoria's friend Lisbeth was melodramatic and even somewhat laughable. Can anyone say, "Completely inept kidnapper?"
Neither solution was a surprise, but given this is suspense, not mystery, you don't expect it to be. Still, the story wasn't compelling. The characters were annoying. And I'm still really mad at myself for not giving up on this book after the first line.
I'm sure I'm in the minority here. Perhaps I'll like another Colleen Coble book better. Maybe this one wasn't her best. It'll be a while before I pick another one up, though.
September 13, 2024
Her best friend was killed so she goes back to the place she swore she would never go back to, her father resort and the place she grew up. In disguise she goes to find the killer. Along the way she meets a man and his daughter. She never thought she would open her heart to anyone, let alone him, but as time goes on and weird things happening to her both, they start to have feeling for each other. Both are under attack but the question is by whom? Will they discover who is responsible for the murders and all the break ins? Will she ever be able to tell him the truth of who she is and will he forgive her for all her secrets? Read and find out! I have to say it was a solid story, but had me bored most of the time. I fell asleep twice reading it so not a great sign, but I love the romance in the story and the ending was exciting. Would recommend but still stand by my 3 star rating.
January 10, 2025
Overall Rating : D
A Lifetime Network original featuring a hot woman, a hot man, God, a smidge of intrigue, and for some reason, military-trained sea lions.
A Lifetime Network original featuring a hot woman, a hot man, God, a smidge of intrigue, and for some reason, military-trained sea lions.
April 10, 2022
2.5/5; 3 stars
I’ve never read this author before, although I’ve seen her books around at the library. I didn’t realize it was classified as ‘Christian fiction’ when I took it out and that is a genre I don’t usually seek out. The book wasn’t ‘preachy’ or heavy handed in that aspect so it didn’t bother me. I had a fairly neutral reaction to this story. I thought the characters and plot were ok but not ‘gripping’ as described in the book blurb.
Two things actually stood out as highlights in this book. One is that the story takes place on Jekyll Island and the author mentions the book, The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve, a couple of times. I’ve read this book and highly recommend it as an in depth look at some American banking history. The other interesting (only to me) thing was the author mentioned Torie’s mom’s favorite perfume as part of the story, Clive Christian No. 1. This happens to be one of my favorite fragrances and I’ve never heard it mentioned in a book before.
I’ve never read this author before, although I’ve seen her books around at the library. I didn’t realize it was classified as ‘Christian fiction’ when I took it out and that is a genre I don’t usually seek out. The book wasn’t ‘preachy’ or heavy handed in that aspect so it didn’t bother me. I had a fairly neutral reaction to this story. I thought the characters and plot were ok but not ‘gripping’ as described in the book blurb.
Two things actually stood out as highlights in this book. One is that the story takes place on Jekyll Island and the author mentions the book, The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve, a couple of times. I’ve read this book and highly recommend it as an in depth look at some American banking history. The other interesting (only to me) thing was the author mentioned Torie’s mom’s favorite perfume as part of the story, Clive Christian No. 1. This happens to be one of my favorite fragrances and I’ve never heard it mentioned in a book before.
January 8, 2022
Victoria Bergstrom is the daughter of a Hotel magnate. She has lost her mother to what has been claimed a suicide as well as her best friend also claimed a suicide, but Victoria doesn't believe either of them committed suicide. So she has gone to the resort owned by her father on Georgia's Jekyll Island to work and investigate the truth behind the claimed suicides. Joe Abbot lives with his daughter, Hailey, on the Island and works part time for the resort in Security; but he also trains sea lions for the Navy.
Colleen Coble never fails to pen a suspense read that doesn't keep me glued from start to finish. Torie was a strong, intelligent, independent woman who was well matched with Joe who was caring, astute, and intelligent. Hailey was the perfect addition to play matchmaker to Torie and Joe while they were busy trying to determine whether Torie's mother and best friend had been murdered or committed suicide. Throw in a few red herrings, and this was definitely a book that you couldn't put down.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
Colleen Coble never fails to pen a suspense read that doesn't keep me glued from start to finish. Torie was a strong, intelligent, independent woman who was well matched with Joe who was caring, astute, and intelligent. Hailey was the perfect addition to play matchmaker to Torie and Joe while they were busy trying to determine whether Torie's mother and best friend had been murdered or committed suicide. Throw in a few red herrings, and this was definitely a book that you couldn't put down.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
January 6, 2022
Another suspenseful book by Colleen Coble. I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is there were two characters who didn’t get what should have been coming to them. Legally and professionally. That was frustrating. Since it wasn’t wrapped up for them, I’m going to assume at the least they get fired.
January 24, 2025
Mystery, suspense with a dash of romance! Just enough mushy to keep me wanting more. Thought I had the mystery solved when at last, I did not.
March 9, 2022
Hotel heiress Torie Bergstrom comes to Jekyll Island to look into the suspicious death of her friend that she helped get a job at her father's hotel. Torie suspects foul play, and she is convinced that Lisbeth's death wasn't an accident when the killer begins to play games.
A stand alone read, that reminded me of why I started and kept reading Colleen Coble's suspense books. Full of suspense with well written characters, great interaction, while avoiding getting overly dark. Torie is quick thinking, but naturally more reserved, she doesn't have many that she can trust so the death of Lisabeth hits even harder.
Torie is befriended by Hailey and her military sea lion training father, Joe during her stay on Jekyll Island. Hailey is a outgoing and inquisitive child who break through Torie's more reserved nature. Joe is a man of man skills with a background in multiple kinds of work, he is outgoing and compassionate.
Overall, a gripping read with engaging characters and a riveting plot. I loved the unique setting and earning more about Jekyll Island. An excellent example of Ms. Coble at her suspense-writing best.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A stand alone read, that reminded me of why I started and kept reading Colleen Coble's suspense books. Full of suspense with well written characters, great interaction, while avoiding getting overly dark. Torie is quick thinking, but naturally more reserved, she doesn't have many that she can trust so the death of Lisabeth hits even harder.
Torie is befriended by Hailey and her military sea lion training father, Joe during her stay on Jekyll Island. Hailey is a outgoing and inquisitive child who break through Torie's more reserved nature. Joe is a man of man skills with a background in multiple kinds of work, he is outgoing and compassionate.
Overall, a gripping read with engaging characters and a riveting plot. I loved the unique setting and earning more about Jekyll Island. An excellent example of Ms. Coble at her suspense-writing best.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 11, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! I've read a few others by Colleen Coble and they are so intriguing they draw you right into the story.
Torie is back on Jekyll Island, where she grew up, to find out what really caused her friend Lisbeth's death. I love the setting and love that the author included the natural setting of the island and the sea turtles in the story. It is a well crafted story - lots of moving parts - the sea lions threw me off guard but wow, what an amazing part of the story! It's a fantastic mystery/romance!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
Torie is back on Jekyll Island, where she grew up, to find out what really caused her friend Lisbeth's death. I love the setting and love that the author included the natural setting of the island and the sea turtles in the story. It is a well crafted story - lots of moving parts - the sea lions threw me off guard but wow, what an amazing part of the story! It's a fantastic mystery/romance!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.
October 7, 2021
This book was so exciting for me! I finished it yesterday and am still thinking about it and wish that I could return to the story and the characters that were in it!
This author has become a new favorite of mine for her suspenseful writing. I mainly read romance but enjoy throwing in a suspenseful fiction every once in a while.
The story revolves around Torie who returns to her father's hotel to investigate the death of her best friend. She meets a man named Joe and his 8 year old daughter and they team up to solve the mystery. Unfortunately they are met with awful things happening to them throughout the story. This one will definitely keep you on the edge of the couch as you are reading!!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book also releases on January 4, 2022.
This author has become a new favorite of mine for her suspenseful writing. I mainly read romance but enjoy throwing in a suspenseful fiction every once in a while.
The story revolves around Torie who returns to her father's hotel to investigate the death of her best friend. She meets a man named Joe and his 8 year old daughter and they team up to solve the mystery. Unfortunately they are met with awful things happening to them throughout the story. This one will definitely keep you on the edge of the couch as you are reading!!
Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book also releases on January 4, 2022.
February 26, 2022
Colleen Coble has been one of my favorite authors for romantic suspense for a long time. Her stories are gripping and unique.
A Stranger's Game is a stand-alone novel. It had a bit of a slower start but enough to keep me engaged and moving forward. I enjoyed getting to know Torie, Joe, and Hailey. I especially loved Joe's job and his relationship with his daughter, Hailey.
Somewhere in the story, I got a little lost. One character mentioned something about another character in a way that suggested we had already been introduced to the character. I did not recall that name and it was never mentioned again. I did not understand why it was there but continued to read.
I enjoyed the story but did not love it as much as I normally would have. I am not sure what the problem is, the writing was good, the story was good, I guess I was not following and connecting to it.
A Stranger's Game is a stand-alone novel. It had a bit of a slower start but enough to keep me engaged and moving forward. I enjoyed getting to know Torie, Joe, and Hailey. I especially loved Joe's job and his relationship with his daughter, Hailey.
Somewhere in the story, I got a little lost. One character mentioned something about another character in a way that suggested we had already been introduced to the character. I did not recall that name and it was never mentioned again. I did not understand why it was there but continued to read.
I enjoyed the story but did not love it as much as I normally would have. I am not sure what the problem is, the writing was good, the story was good, I guess I was not following and connecting to it.
January 7, 2022
This book is a race from beginning to end, with momentary pauses for romance before the colliding suspense and mystery take over. I LOVED every page and was sad to reach the end. Set on beautiful Jekyll Island, readers can escape to a gorgeous location while falling in love with real characters. The tension is taunt and the descriptions pitch perfect. Race to your nearest bookstore to buy this latest novel from Colleen Coble.
January 26, 2022
Grabbed this one for a quick read b/c I'd read Coble's series last year; this one was hugely disappointing. Sloppy plot, weak and unloveable characters, and an unsubtle agenda being pushed by the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
Stilted and clunky - Bailed at 22% - just can't get into it 😞
June 4, 2022
This was, in my opinion, one of Colleen Coble's best novels! The danger was real but not dark, there were so many different angles going on that it was honestly hard to figure out the why (though I was suspicious of the who), and the characters & setting were idyllic! Highly recommend reading!
May 1, 2022
Is her name Torie Berg or Nancy Drew?
Torie goes undercover to her father hotel to help solve the murder of her best friend and meets a hand sea turtle saving man and his daughter along the way.
Torie goes undercover to her father hotel to help solve the murder of her best friend and meets a hand sea turtle saving man and his daughter along the way.
January 29, 2022
My feelings about this book are conflicted. On one hand, it was a really great, suspenseful mystery. On the other, there was an odd, positive emphasis on Greek and Roman mythology.
I thought the turtles were going to play a much larger role, so that aspect was disappointing.
The leading lady thought people using their First Amendment right to peacefully protest was “insane.” Whatever happened to being proud to be from the USA and knowing one’s rights and using them well and respectfully? The peaceful protesters in chapter one were apparently doing that, but the leading lady scoffed at them.
When a father panicked when his daughter vanished, the leading lady “chalked it up to an overly protective father.” Yet, two seconds later, she thought the girl’s disappearance was “none of her business, really, but she had to make sure the little girl was all right.” So she thought the dad was “overly protective” for worrying about his missing daughter, but a moment later she found herself concerned even though she hadn’t met the child yet. How does this contradiction make any sense?
The leading characters kept finding excuses to stay in the same cottage or house overnight. This felt sleazy and made me uncomfortable. It was not sticking to Bible-based moral standards, nor was it a good example for the man’s young, impressionable daughter to observe and learn from. Since the leading lady was involved in these low-moral decisions, I found it ironic that she would then accuse the leading man of having “no morals.”
At one point, a character was disappointed that her cover was blown—but she was the one who revealed her identity. I didn’t understand her train of thought on that, so her emotion was wasted on me.
The thing that bothered me most of all was that the leading lady encouraged a little girl to admire Greek and Roman mythological figures. She even touted them to be heroes to learn courage from. I’m not sure which myths she meant, because all the ones I’ve ever heard about are the devil’s way of twisting God’s truth into something completely convoluted. I had noticed a subtle mention of a mythological creature in a previous Coble book, but that one was neutral and basically only a cameo appearance. The mentions in this book were definitely in a positive light and had a lot more page time. This is a disheartening trend that’s creeping into her books now.
The core of this story was a really great mystery that was thick with good suspense and high-stakes action, but I had to wade through the aforementioned swamp to get to it.
The turtle hatchlings were amazing. I just wish there would have been a stronger presence of turtles in the remainder of the story. You know, past that first chapter.
The island was beautifully described and felt realistic. The setting, in and out of the water, came alive and was one of the best parts of the story. That was helped out by the spectacular sea lion scenes. I had never heard of Navy sea lions before, so this was a fascinating topic to explore. This part of the story was really well expressed and kept me riveted to the pages while the sea lions were upon them. I especially enjoyed the underwater scenes. These had me holding my breath!
I really enjoyed the mystery that Torie was trying to unravel and the troubles this journey threw in her face. This aspect provided many surprises and plot twists that kept me guessing most of the time. It was wonderful to see the layers peel back one by one until the big reveal. The suspense kept me on pins and needles throughout the story, even though I guessed one of the bad guys about a third of the way through.
Joe and Hailey were great together. Their father-daughter relationship was fun, and I liked that they began incorporating Torie into their close-knit group from pretty early on. Their runs for ice cream were so enjoyable!
I wish the negatives were fewer so that I could have enjoyed even more of this story.
Content: alcohol, crude sexual term, suicide mentioned often, mythology
I thought the turtles were going to play a much larger role, so that aspect was disappointing.
The leading lady thought people using their First Amendment right to peacefully protest was “insane.” Whatever happened to being proud to be from the USA and knowing one’s rights and using them well and respectfully? The peaceful protesters in chapter one were apparently doing that, but the leading lady scoffed at them.
When a father panicked when his daughter vanished, the leading lady “chalked it up to an overly protective father.” Yet, two seconds later, she thought the girl’s disappearance was “none of her business, really, but she had to make sure the little girl was all right.” So she thought the dad was “overly protective” for worrying about his missing daughter, but a moment later she found herself concerned even though she hadn’t met the child yet. How does this contradiction make any sense?
The leading characters kept finding excuses to stay in the same cottage or house overnight. This felt sleazy and made me uncomfortable. It was not sticking to Bible-based moral standards, nor was it a good example for the man’s young, impressionable daughter to observe and learn from. Since the leading lady was involved in these low-moral decisions, I found it ironic that she would then accuse the leading man of having “no morals.”
At one point, a character was disappointed that her cover was blown—but she was the one who revealed her identity. I didn’t understand her train of thought on that, so her emotion was wasted on me.
The thing that bothered me most of all was that the leading lady encouraged a little girl to admire Greek and Roman mythological figures. She even touted them to be heroes to learn courage from. I’m not sure which myths she meant, because all the ones I’ve ever heard about are the devil’s way of twisting God’s truth into something completely convoluted. I had noticed a subtle mention of a mythological creature in a previous Coble book, but that one was neutral and basically only a cameo appearance. The mentions in this book were definitely in a positive light and had a lot more page time. This is a disheartening trend that’s creeping into her books now.
The core of this story was a really great mystery that was thick with good suspense and high-stakes action, but I had to wade through the aforementioned swamp to get to it.
The turtle hatchlings were amazing. I just wish there would have been a stronger presence of turtles in the remainder of the story. You know, past that first chapter.
The island was beautifully described and felt realistic. The setting, in and out of the water, came alive and was one of the best parts of the story. That was helped out by the spectacular sea lion scenes. I had never heard of Navy sea lions before, so this was a fascinating topic to explore. This part of the story was really well expressed and kept me riveted to the pages while the sea lions were upon them. I especially enjoyed the underwater scenes. These had me holding my breath!
I really enjoyed the mystery that Torie was trying to unravel and the troubles this journey threw in her face. This aspect provided many surprises and plot twists that kept me guessing most of the time. It was wonderful to see the layers peel back one by one until the big reveal. The suspense kept me on pins and needles throughout the story, even though I guessed one of the bad guys about a third of the way through.
Joe and Hailey were great together. Their father-daughter relationship was fun, and I liked that they began incorporating Torie into their close-knit group from pretty early on. Their runs for ice cream were so enjoyable!
I wish the negatives were fewer so that I could have enjoyed even more of this story.
Content: alcohol, crude sexual term, suicide mentioned often, mythology
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