Pinter confidently delivers a solid police procedural and an emotional domestic thriller in the outstanding A Stranger at the Door ... strikes an impressive balance, illustrating how the intelligent, resourceful Rachel handles the challenges that motherhood and her job bring ... Pinter delves deep into his characters while creating credible, realistic suspense and terror ... Strong plotting, sharp dialogue and believable characters elevate A Stranger at the Door.
I would not have thought it was possible, but I found myself enjoying A Stranger at the Door, the second book in the Rachel Marin series from Jason Pinter, even more than I enjoyed the first book Hide Away ... filled with action and mystery that will keep readers turning page after page ... Pinter weaves all of these threads together with masterful skill to create a thriller that is impossible to put down.
... a solid read, and Rachel Marin is tough to root against even when she frustrates at every turn by often becoming her own worst enemy. The bottom line for her is the safety of her family, which makes her tactical mistakes understandable.
Danger is heightened by brothers Raymond and Randall Spivak, loan sharks turned murderers who use the love of mothers for their sons as leverage in their crimes. This second in the Rachel Marin series maintains the promise of the first, with full-bodied characters in a compelling plot and graphic elements leavened by doses of humanity. Not for those who prefer less-violent stories, but a sure bet for other crime-fiction readers.
... builds on the success of Hide Away, reinforcing the grit and tenacity of his determined single-mom protagonist ... Pinter subtly weaves into his page-turner themes about family bonds, challenges of same-sex parenting, relationships in single-parent families, even bonds between coworkers ... Pinter’s strong depictions of diverse types of love, respect, and loyalty resonate loudly in this nail-biter novel.
... outstanding ... Rachel’s no female Jack Reacher, but she’s tough physically and morally—even while struggling with qualms about her own past actions and terrified of what could happen to Eric and her daughter, Megan. Readers will cheer her every step of the way. This powerful family-values thriller is a convincing, moving performance.
