The Stranger Diaries

This review is just to help me remember key points about the book. If you find it helpful or relatable that's cool too.
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“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”

2 Stars ⭐️

I liked the concept and that's about it. I wish they drew more parallels between the murders and the book. I know it's unoriginal to have a copy-cat killer but if you're focusing this much on classic literature in a murder case you might as well go all out.
I listened to this as an audiobook which subtracted from the reading experience. Three out of four of the povs' are British female characters and there's ten female characters with a speaking role so it's easy to get lost.
None of these characters have normal reactions and they're so nonchalant about murder. If you were working at a school that your daughter attended and one of your coworkers was murdered I feel as though that would make someone distressed and worried, not bitter that she has to watch rehearsals for a play.
There's a weird bit where she's withholding information from the police because she doesn't want the deceased to get ‘victim blamed' because she was involved in an affair. Her friend is dead and she's more worried about her supposed “feminism.”
I really dislike the daughter's pov. It feels unnecessary and barely progresses the plot. I didn't enjoy it because of the secondhand embarrassment I get from adults trying to write teenagers.
Now what the fck was the mother thinking letting her 15-year-old date a 21-year-old? The Dad doesn't like the boyfriend but it's not even because of the gross age gap! I understand why he had to be older for the awful twist but I still hate all of it.
Hate the villain, I don't feel like it makes sense and didn't see it hinted anywhere in the plot. All the stuff with the author didn't really matter and was pretty much a red herring. And then to top it all off at the end of the book they're talking about forgiveness. It's not just some school boy crush. He killed two people. He is a murderer and a stalker and he dated a 15-year-old to get closer to her mother.