The Kindness of Strangers
- Judith D Collins
- Dec 1
- 2 min read
By: Emma Garman
ISBN: 9781668222546
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 05/12/2026
Format: other
My Rating: TBR (ARC)
A wildly entertaining debut and homage to the classic murder mystery set in post-WWII London where a stranger’s arrival at a boarding house sets a deadly chain of events in motion—perfect for fans of Kate Atkinson, Agatha Christie, and Richard Osman.
London, 1953. Jimmy Sullivan lies dying on the drawing room floor while his housemates look on, their lives about to change forever.
One foggy night in the dead of February, a young man arrives unannounced at 42 Tregunter Road in Chelsea. Self-styled Bohemian Mrs. Honor Wilson—who runs a minor literary journal and lodgings from this timeworn Victorian house—introduces him to her “dear house guests”: Robbie, the writer; Mina, the teenage sleuth; George, the debutante; and Saul, the haunted refugee. Jimmy Sullivan is a family friend, Honor says—yet clearly, something is not right. Despite everyone’s misgivings, she lets the stranger move into the attic.
As they each try to disprove Jimmy’s dubious account of himself, secrets, jealousies, and disturbing schemes come to light, fracturing the household’s delicate allegiances and setting in motion, unstoppably, a tale of perilous self-invention, complicated love, and murderous revenge.
In a house built on lies, the truth will get you killed.
Praise
"I couldn't put down this intricately woven debut by the talented Emma Garman. Set in perfectly-drawn 1950s London, The Kindness of Strangers is a tantalizing historical mystery that revolves around a house full of boarders--all of whom have something to hide--and the mysterious death of a man who has recently moved into their home. Twisty, fast-paced, brilliantly plotted and deliciously entertaining, The Kindness of Strangers is an absolute must-read!"
—KRISTIN HARMEL, New York Times bestselling author
“A wholly delightful novel brimming with unpredictable characters and prose as elegant as it is sharp. With a true nod to Christie-esque tradition, Emma Garman whisks readers through fog-shrouded London, delivering every ingredient of a classic whodunnit with a wit and flair entirely her own. Fans of golden-age mysteries, buckle in for a thrill ride through this literary house of mirrors!"
—SARAH CROUCH, USA Today Bestselling author of Middletide
"What pure pleasure to discover Emma Garman's irresistible debut. Reading this ingeniously plotted, diabolically clever story of human deception and connection was like discovering a 1950s classic that was written with a surprisingly modern sensibility. Smart, original, darkly funny, and moving, it’s everything I want in a mystery. I adored it."
—KAREN DUKESS, USA Today bestselling author of Welcome to Murder Week
About the Author
Photo Credit: Hannah Judah
Emma Garman, a Brighton-based writer and critic, has been a columnist for The Paris Review and a contributor to Literary Review, The Daily Beast, Lapham’s Quarterly, and History News Network. She has an MA in creative writing from the City College of New York and an MA in literature from Queen Mary University of London. The Kindness of Strangers is her debut novel. WEBSITE
