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The Stranger in the Room by Luca Veste

Published by Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: 16th January 2025

My thanks to the publisher who approved my request to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for an unbiased review

Book Description:

A STRING OF MURDERS. AND THE PERSON WHO LINKS THEM ALL IS . . . YOUR DAUGHTER.

Alison Lennon receives the worst news a parent can expect - her son, Ben, has been killed, in what looks at first like a random attack on a dark street in the middle of the night. Only, she knows that he isn't the first victim.

Mia Johnstone has just turned eighteen. Ready for the next phase of her life, she should be looking forward to university, studying, partying. Instead, she's thinking about how her boyfriend Ben is the third person close to her to have died.

Alison believes that Mia killed her son.

Mia needs people to stop calling her a killer.

And someone is desperate for the truth to never come out . . .

My Thoughts:

I discovered this author's books approximately 10 years ago now, and devoured the Detective Murphy & Rossi series. His subsequent books haven't grabbed me quite so much, but this one felt like a move back to those early crime detective tales so suited me very well.

The story covers the emotions felt by the family of teenage murder victim Ben Lennon who was killed a short distance from his home after an evening with friends. A recent split from girlfriend Mia is front and centre in mum Alison's mind, especially as the young girl was featured in local rumours surrounding two previous killings in the preceding months - but why aren't the police investigating her? In Alison's mind it's obvious they need to be arresting her as prime suspect, so when this doesn't figure as even a strong line of questioning Alison decides to take things into her own hands.

The reader is privy to insights from various characters some of which help clarify events, others purely following the rumours that are rife in the local area. The growing rift between Ben's parents is explored and the extra strain Ben's death puts on this fractured relationship does nothing to bring the two of them together. Ben's sister is very much left to deal with her grief alone as the parents battle rages on. But they would do well to take some time to listen to their daughter, because siblings often know far more about each other's lives than the parents would ever imagine.

The whole book felt very real, the emotions raw, and frustrations with how long the police were taking to make any progress came across strongly - and how the different individuals coped with the whole situation was extremely well delivered.

I feel the author has returned to what he writes best with this book. More of the same please, Mr Veste!

About the Author:

Luca Veste is a writer of Italian and Liverpudlian heritage, married with two young daughters, and one of nine children. He studied psychology and criminology at university in Liverpool. He is the author of the Murphy and Rossi series, which includes DEAD GONE, THE DYING PLACE, BLOODSTREAM, and THEN SHE WAS GONE.

Part psychological thriller, part police procedural, his books follow the detective pairing of DI David Murphy and DS Laura Rossi. The novels are set in Liverpool, bringing the city to life in a dark and terrifying manner...with just a splash of Scouse humour.