A totally captivating read! Once I started this book, there was no getting away from the situation of Alice. She saves a man from jumping off a bridge, only to realize that her compassion would lead to problems. The unstable man she saves sees a "link" between them, and he becomes her stalker.
There were so many complex and intriguing aspects to this book. At first, my attention was devoted to the plight of the "foreigner" in a society. Alice tries for help from the police, only to realize that, as a British woman living in Switzerland, language problems worked strongly against her. She tried but could not achieve language dexterity. The fact that she was a "foreigner" - and worse yet, one who wasn't proficient in the language - always made her as an outcast in the village in which she lived. Reading this gave me an increased awareness (and sensitivity) to how difficult it would be for an outsider, a foreigner who did not speak the language, to manage.
Alice's attempts at speaking the local language were clumsy, although her two sons and her husband managed well. And this proved to be a serious problem for Alice in her attempts to explain the stalker threat to the police. She was trying to obtain lawful attention to a dangerous situation--a stalker whose spiraling attention would drive her close to insanity. Yet, the police were rude and argumentative.
And Alice was often alone. As the threat from her stalker was increasing, her husband's job demanded more and more foreign travel. When he was home, he didn't seem to really grasp the nature of the problem that so anguished Alice, as she strived to protect her two sons and the stability of the family.
Another part of the story that was so intriguing: Alice was a competitive runner. Besides her family, running was an important part of her life. There were wonderful and authentic looks into the life of a person dedicated to her sport. She trained for marathons and had run successfully. And her sport served as a link to friendship, which was so precious to her, in her outside position. And then, after training and traveling to a distant city to run, she finds herself face-to-face with her tormentor. He had scrutinized her life to such an extend that he always knew where she would be--and he would be there too. The results of her marathon were disastrous.
Alice was left with nowhere to turn. At one point, much later in the story, she asks her husband if there is any chance of ever returning to her England. But no -- for Alice, there was no escape. She's finally driven to extremes to protect her family from a man who was turning toward violence in his obsession.
Outstanding debut novel! Wonderfully well-written, totally convincing, frightening and disturbing. I recommend "Strangers on a Bridge" with 5-STARS-plus.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:$14.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
There are 5 books in this series.
Kindle Price:
$14.97
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Customers also bought or read
Page 1 of 1Start over
- My Loving Husband: A completely gripping and totally addictive psychological thrillerJust releasedKindle Edition$3.99
- The Boyfriend: An utterly gripping psychological thriller from John NichollJust releasedKindle Edition$2.99
Loading...
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start over
From the Publisher
About the author
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2018
- Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2018
- Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2018
- Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2018
Top reviews from other countries
- SharonReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 14, 2018
One to watch - accomplished debut
- Beach and BooksReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2020
An addictive psychological thriller, with a chilling edge!
What would you do if you found someone who was about to take their own life by jumping off a bridge? You’d want to help, right? Well, that is exactly what Alison did and she very quickly lived to regret it!Beach and BooksAn addictive psychological thriller, with a chilling edge!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 12, 2020
Manfred is eternally grateful to Alison for saving his life but now he seems to think they have a connection and that they are destined to be together. Initially, Alison just thinks he’s a lost soul who needs a bit of help, however, she soon realises that her friendliness was a mistake and she has inadvertently encouraged this man’s obsession with her.
We follow Alison as she tries to shake off her stalker, but with the police and her husband not taking her seriously she’s at a loss for what to do! With some unexpected twists and turns along the way this really was an enthralling read.
The first chapter is fantastic and hooks you in straight away, making you want to read on to see what happens next. The book overall is not too fast-paced which I think suits this type of story just perfectly. I liked Alison as a character although she did make some rather silly decisions. I found that I felt sorry for her and got frustrated with her in equal measure. You can understand why she does what she does at times and I’m sure in her shoes many of us would have made the same decisions/mistakes, but as much as I wanted to shout at her at times, I mainly wanted to shout at those that wouldn’t listen to her or help her.
The description Louise uses is just wonderful and makes the book so atmospheric. I have been to Switzerland once but not to the alps, this book makes me want to go as it just sounds so beautiful. I had such a clear picture in my head of the setting all the way through.
This is a really great debut and I look forward to reading more by Louise Mangos.
Images in this review
- HenrietteReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2020
Not the best psychothriller of the year
