Books › The Stranger
The Stranger
First published 1993 · 224 pages
A tense, atmospheric descent into obsession where a magnetic attraction gives way to a terrifying truth.
What it feels like
This briskly paced horror tale plunges the reader into a tense, dread-soaked atmosphere fueled by dangerous obsession. The narrative thrives on the push and pull of a dark, magnetic attraction, capturing the unsettling feeling of being drawn to someone who is fundamentally unsafe. As the protagonist's fascination deepens into an all-consuming fixation, the mood shifts from eerie mystery to outright terror. The prose is accessible yet highly suspenseful, designed to keep the pages turning as the story hurtles toward a chilling revelation in a deserted, isolated setting. It is a perfect read for those who devour youth-oriented horror stories that blend the intense, conflicted emotions of a new connection with the creeping dread of uncovering a terrifying secret.
- Mood
- eerie
- dread-soaked
- mysterious
- tense
- Tone
- suspenseful
- ominous
- intense
- dramatic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- dangerous obsession · fatal attraction · hidden secrets · dark side of friendship
- The writing
- Accessible and suspense-driven, focusing heavily on internal conflict and mounting dread.
- The arc
- Moves from an intense, conflicted fascination to a terrifying, undeniable revelation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who enjoy atmospheric, fast-paced youth horror centered on dark secrets and obsessive crushes.
Content notes
- obsession
- fear and dread
About the book
From the first moment she sees him in class, Nicoletta is drawn to Jethro, fascinated by his dark, mysterious face. She is attracted yet repelled, interested but afraid. Nicoletta becomes obsessed, unable to think of anything but this strange boy.
But she knows so little about him.
Until she follows him to a deserted cave on the edge of town... and learns the truth.
Jethro is not like the others. No, not at all.
He has a terrifying secret. A secret no one must ever find out.
Description from Open Library.
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