A Wild, Twisty Popcorn Thriller
Release date: July 14, 2026
Publisher: Thomas and Mercer
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
A desperate mother on the run becomes entangled in family secrets, lies, and murder in a chilling novel of suspense from Minka Kent, the Thriller Award–nominated author of Unmissing.
After a series of unsettling events, Camille Prescott is on the run from her dangerous husband. With their two small children in tow, she flees to the Chicago estate of her estranged and manipulative mother, Lucinda—the last place anyone would think to find her.
Inside the sprawling manse, Camille meets Lucinda’s new husband, Rob McClindon—wealthy, aging, and in rapidly declining health—and Zoey, their unnervingly observant teenage daughter. Then there’s Evan, the mysterious tenant living above the garage.
The longer Camille stays, the faster the household’s facade cracks. Rob worsens. Lucinda’s hospitality borders on disturbing. Zoey’s late-night behavior raises unsettling questions. Evan’s stories don’t quite add up. Then a note appears under her You’re not safe here.
Someone in the McClindon house wants her gone. Someone else wants her trapped. One of them has already chosen her fate.
Camille survived her childhood. She survived her marriage. But surviving the strangers she calls family is another story entirely.
Review:
If you’ve made it to Hidden Strangers, you’re already hooked on this wildly entertaining trilogy—and if you haven’t started it yet, do yourself a favor and begin with book one. This is absolutely a series that needs to be read in order, but the good news is that each book is short, fast paced, and ridiculously bingeable.
Minka Kent has a knack for writing the kind of thrillers that don’t ask you to overthink them—they just throw one outrageous twist after another at you and dare you to keep up. The story is completely unpredictable because it’s so delightfully unhinged. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, another surprise sent everything in a new direction.
These are pure popcorn thrillers: quick, twisty, dramatic, and impossible to put down. If you’re looking for a thriller that’s all about entertainment value and keeping you glued to the pages, this trilogy absolutely delivers.
Perfect for Readers Who Love
- Fast paced psychological thrillers
- Messy family secrets and dysfunctional relationships
- Unpredictable, over the top twists
- Binge worthy thriller series
- Domestic suspense with multiple shocking reveals
- Popcorn thrillers that keep the pages flying
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
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