This is not a women's fiction Emilie Richards book, it is mystery, little bit 0f romance and absolutely riveting! I didn't want to put it down, I had to know what happened next. Even when the book ended, I wanted more. Lots of twists that I didn't see coming and it ended almost perfectly.

This review is based on a galley copy from netgalley, courtesy of the publisher. All opinions are my own. ( )

4.5 stars.

A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards is an engrossing family-centric novel that is quite suspenseful.

Ryan Gracey is the host of a successful cold case crime podcast and lives a few hours away from her family. The youngest in the family, she is not overly close to her much older sister Wendy Cartwright who is married with two young daughters, eight year old Holly and six year old Noelle. When Wendy phones her out of the blue, Ryan is expecting an update on their father who has recently undergone heart surgery. Instead, Wendy weaves a far-fetched tale of a murder in which she proclaims her innocence along with her fear the Sheriff will name her the chief suspect. She then requests Ryan's help in locating someone whom she believes will exonerate her. Wendy also asks her sister to take care of her daughters because she is planning to disappear until her name is cleared. Although unsure whether to believe Wendy's story, Ryan nonetheless agrees to return home and stay with her nieces until her sister's return. With the help of her best friend, Sophie, who also works on the podcast, Ryan begins investigating her sister's story. Will they uncover the identity of the victim? And will she locate the person whom Wendy insists will clear her of murder?

Ryan loves her nieces but she has not spent much time with them. She is a little troubled by their behavior but she is determined to make her time with them as fun and happy as possible. Little by little, Noelle comes out of her shell, but Holly is closed off and she initially resists Ryan's efforts to engage with her. The closer Ryan gets to her nieces, the more certain she is that something is very wrong in Wendy's household. She is determine to uncover the mysteries surrounding her sister, but is she fully prepared for what she is about to learn about Wendy and their family?

Ryan also reconnects with former K-9 police officer Mateo "Teo" Santiago. Their brief romance years earlier continues to haunt her and their fraught history leaves her very reluctant to talk to him. Finally deciding to take charge of this somewhat disturbing part of her life, Ryan is very surprised by Teo's reaction. Is there any chance she and Teo can overcome their painful past?

A Family of Strangers is a multi-layered novel that features a compelling mystery, many secrets and a heartwarming romance. The characters are richly drawn with enviable strengths and relatable flaws. Despite her mixed emotions about returning home, Ryan puts her nieces' needs ahead of her own and she is surprised by her emotional reaction to the young girls. She is also drawn into the mystery surrounding Wendy but will she allow her family loyalty blind her to the truth? With plenty of intriguing twists and unexpected turns, Emilie Richards brings this absorbing mystery to a realistic conclusion that is also quite satisfying. I highly recommend this marvelous novel. ( )

When Ryan Gracey gets an unexpected phone call from her older sister, Wendy, who’s out of town, asking her for a huge favor, Ryan is alarmed. Something sinister has transpired and Wendy insists that Ryan travel to her home and care for her two young daughters until further notice, a tall order from her near-perfect sibling, the mother of her two nieces of whom Ryan knows very little about. Stunned and confused by her sister’s instructions, Ryan finally relents and heads to Florida where their mother is currently watching her nieces, Holly and Noelle. The girls are taciturn, odd little precocious children, and Ryan quickly realizes the enormity of her decision. As days turn into weeks with very little contact from Wendy, Ryan begins to put her sleuthing skills to work to find out what’s going on with the sister she hardly knows. When the pieces of the puzzle begin taking shape will Wendy turn out to be an innocent victim, or a mastermind of deception?
Wowza!! I devoured this book. A Family of Strangers was like patiently awaiting a light rain transform into a thunderous storm. As the storm intensified I could feel the tension mounting and the mystery unfolding, relieving me of the unanswered questions that lurked in my mind. Why was Wendy refusing to come home? How would Ryan find out what happened to her? Was Wendy the golden girl everyone made her out to be, even her parents? Why were Ryan's nieces so peculiar? As the story
unfolded I got the answers to all of these questions and more.
I connect easily with Emilie Richards’ writing voice. I love the dialog between characters, and the length of her books allows for excellent character development, which makes for a great story.
There’s so much to love about A Family of Strangers; excellent character building, a thoroughly satisfying mystery, an enormous twist I didn’t see coming, intrigue, a little romance, an amazing dog and a couple of kids who eventually stole my heart. A great read. ( )

Ryan Gracey was never close to her much older sister Wendy. So, when she gets a desperate plea from Wendy for Ryan to take care of her daughters, needless to say, Ryan is shocked. Even more shocking is the reason that Wendy needs Ryan's help. Wendy tells Ryan that there has been a murder and that she might be the most likely suspect, so she has to disappear. What else can Ryan do but tend to the girls?

Ryan is much more than an aunt. She is acting as a stand-in mother. The girls father works at sea, and Ryan and Wendy's father is recuperating from surgery, so their mother needs to care for him. Ryan isn't content just to care for the girls. She wants answers from Wendy, but those answers do not come easy. Ryan is a a true-crime podcaster and excels in investigative skills. This comes in handy as she seeks to discover Wendy's whereabouts and what mystery and secrets that Wendy might be hiding.

What an excellent story. There are a lot of dynamics explored here. Not only does Ryan get to know her nieces, but she gets a chance to reconcile with her parents. She also learns something about her past that is truly shocking. Ryan's friend and partner in the podcasting was a nice addition. Another nice layer to this story is that Ryan meets up with an old beau and sparks begin to fly again.

This is the first book that I have read by Emilie Richards and I must say that I am impressed. A Family of Strangers masterfully delivered mystery, secrets, romance, family atmosphere and a touching conclusion.

Many thanks to Mira and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )

A Family of Strangers by Emilie Richards is a family drama and a murder mystery all rolled into one very dysfunctional family. The Graceys have two daughters: Wendy who is married with two daughters and Ryan, the much-younger sister who is single and hosts a true-crime podcast. Out of the blue, Wendy contacts Ryan asking her to move back to her hometown to take care of her two young daughters until further notice because she has gone into hiding. Ryan, using her crime investigation skills, sets off to find out why her sister disappeared. This is when the Gracey family begins to realize that they all have secrets. And those secrets will change the Graceys forever and may pull them apart. At almost 500 pages, this is a long read but the suspense never fails to keep the reader fascinated. Highly recommended. Thank you to Harlequin-Mira and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ( )