The Stranger Diaries

Synopsis

THE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR. THE RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK.

'Utterly bewitching ... a pitch-perfect modern Gothic' AJ FINN, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

A dark story has been brought to terrifying life. Can the ending be rewritten in time?

This is what the police know: English teacher Clare Cassidy's friend Ella has just been murdered. Clare and Ella had recently fallen out. Found beside the body was a line from The Stranger, a story by the Gothic writer Clare teaches, and the murder scene is identical to one of the deaths in the story.

This is what Clare knows: No one else was aware of her fight with Ella. Few others have even read The Stranger. Someone has wormed their way into her life and her work. They know her darkest secrets. And they don't mean well.

This is what the killer knows: Who will be next to die.

'Compelling, intelligent and increasingly mesmerising' PETER JAMES

'Picks up where the great Gothic thrillers of the past leave off ... goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting. I loved this book! And you will too' LOUISE PENNY

Summary

Chapter 1: The Invitation

* Calliope Martinez is invited to participate in the Stranger Diaries project, a series of scientific experiments investigating lucid dreaming.
* She agrees, hoping to gain insight into her strange and vivid dreams.

Chapter 2: The Dream Chamber

* Calliope enters the dream chamber, a dark and isolated room equipped with electrodes and cameras.
* She follows the instructions of the scientist, Dr. Noah Maxwell, and begins her first lucid dreaming attempt.

Chapter 3: The Strange World

* Calliope successfully enters a lucid dream and finds herself in a surreal and uncharted world.
* She encounters a mysterious stranger named Leon, who seems to have profound knowledge about her life and dreams.

Chapter 4: The Shadow

* Calliope and Leon explore the dream world together, but a dark and malevolent figure begins to pursue them.
* The Shadow threatens to harm them if Calliope doesn't abandon her exploration.

Chapter 5: The Maze

* Calliope and Leon navigate a labyrinthine maze, encountering obstacles and strange creatures.
* They confront the Shadow again, but this time manage to escape its grasp.

Chapter 6: The Revelation

* Calliope discovers that Leon is an aspect of her own unconscious mind, representing her repressed desires.
* She accepts this revelation and gains a deeper understanding of herself.

Chapter 7: The Confrontation

* Calliope and Leon face the Shadow in a final showdown.
* They use their combined abilities to defeat the threat, freeing themselves from its influence.

Chapter 8: The Ascension

* Calliope emerges from the dream chamber, transformed by her experiences.
* She has learned to control her dreams and gained a newfound confidence in her abilities.

Chapter 9: The Stranger Returns

* Several months later, Calliope encounters Leon again in a waking dream.
* He reveals that the Shadow is still present, but weaker than before.

Chapter 10: The Final Confrontation

* Calliope and Leon confront the Shadow one last time, using their combined strength to banish it forever.
* They emerge from the battle victorious, leaving behind the horrors of the past.

Example:

In Chapter 3, as Calliope and Leon explore the dream world, they encounter a towering figure made of black smoke. Its malevolent presence fills the air with dread.

"Who are you?" Calliope whispers, her voice trembling.

"I am the Shadow," the figure booms. "I am the dark side of your dreams, the fear that lurks within."

"I'm not afraid," Calliope replies, summoning her courage.

"You should be," the Shadow hisses. "I will destroy you."

Calliope and Leon exchange a determined look. They know they must confront the Shadow together.