Reviewed By: Ali Karim - RAM
Strangers
Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC
Carla Banks
Class/Genre: Mystery Thriller Psychological Suspense
£20.00 HarperCollins UK
This is the second psychological thriller from Danuta Reah. She debuted with her non-de-plume Carla Banks in ‘The Forest of Souls’. This is a dark and dangerous tale set against the backdrop of Saudi Arabia and a terrifying and claustrophobic look at characters displaced against an alien landscape.
I lived and worked as an ex-pat in this desert kingdom in the 1980’s and this work is certainly well researched as it reminded me of the heat, the oppressive regime and the link this land has to the oil that powers its economy, and the religion that lies at the heart of its soul. The story has Roisin and Dr Joe Massey meeting by chance and falling for each other in a head-spinning romance, and then instead of heading to Canada, they end up going to Riyadh where Joe can practise medicine and Roisin teach. Things however are not as they seem as the prologue gives us a taste of what will follow as Joe is concealing a secret, one that can cost lives. Roisin takes up her position in tutoring English to Saudi women, but finds the politics of relationships in this authoritarian culture a surprise. Written is an easy-going style, it is a very fast read though we do get anxious for Roisin as she sees less and less of Joe, due to his work patterns and the secrets he is harbouring. The second part of ‘Strangers’, is a sweaty ride, as the couple hope to leave for Australia, only to find that Joe’s secret may trap them in this land, where consequences for past doings can provide terrifying results. A great addition to the Carla Banks stable – Ali Karim
Ali Karim - RAM
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM
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