The Stranger House Author:Reginald Hill Twentysomething Aussie math whiz Samantha Flood has fiery red hair and a fierce determination to learn the truth about her paternal grandmother, an orphan shipped from her native England to Australia under suspicious circumstances. Sober Spaniard Miguel Madero, who experiences ghostly visions and painful sensations in his feet and hands, has aba... more »ndoned pursuit of the priesthood to engage in research about English Catholics during the Reformation.
The paths of Samantha and Miguel (known to all as "Mig") cross in the tiny English village of Illthwaite, home to the Stranger House, an inn that has hosted weary travelers for more than 500 years. Samantha and Mig, an unlikely duo, are drawn to one another as each discovers secrets simmering beneath the surface of Illthwaite's deceptively serene facade.
Creator of the critically acclaimed suspense series starring Yorkshire policemen Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe, Hill has rendered a stellar stand-alone packed with compelling characters, provocative plot twists, and a potent sense of place. "There's two histories of Illthwaite," says Noddy Melton, a quirky retired copper who regales Samantha with revealing yarns.« less