Stranger Still (Strange Series Book 3) - Marilyn Messik

Telepathy, along with sundry other odd abilities, have landed Stella more than once, in situations at best controversial, at worst life-threatening. But she’s always known; you have to fight your own corner as best you can, no point beating yourself up about it.

Now though, times have changed, different priorities. She’s married, with a baby on the way and a flourishing business. She simply has to deal with a couple of worrying issues and then all should be smooth sailing.

But, isn't it a fact; just when you think you’ve got all your ducks in a row, life can turn right around and bite you on the bottom?

What did I think?

I've really been enjoying the Strange Series so the third book, Stranger Still barely hit the doormat before I'd scooped it up and started reading.  I do think you have to read this series in sequential order as Stranger Still, although hugely entertaining in its own right, won't make as much sense as a standalone.  For anyone new to the series, or a refresher for established fans, Marilyn Messik has very kindly included a cast of characters at the beginning.  I love little extra touches like this.

So in this third outing, we find newly married main character Stella in grave danger in the prologue.  I wasn't too worried as there hasn't been a sticky situation she hasn't yet got herself out of, however, as I continued to read the tension and danger seemed to mount.  Just what has Stella got caught up in this time?  Whatever it is, it had my heart in my mouth at times.  I think that not only because I have read the earlier books but because Marilyn Messik has created such an unusual and unforgettable character in Stella, I feel as if I know Stella personally so I was really worried for her and her friends.  Especially as Stranger Still has a darker feel to it than the other books.

Not only are the characters unique, but Marilyn Messik's style of writing is one of a kind.  Marilyn has a wonderfully dry sense of humour that adds depth to her quirky characters and she also has a knack for finishing her chapters with oodles of suspense which ensure you need to read 'just one more chapter' until there are no more left. 

With the usual 'strange' cast of characters, Stranger Still is another brilliant instalment in the exceptional Strange Series.  I thought Stranger Still was the conclusion to a trilogy but I was delighted to read in the acknowledgements that there are more adventures to come.  Uniquely different and strange with a capital S, I've loved all three books and I heartily recommend this series.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Even Stranger (Strange Series Book 2) - Marilyn Messik

With the swinging sixties staggering, shamefaced and flustered, into the slightly staider seventies, life for Stella, isn’t going as smoothly as she’d like. As an ordinary person, who happens to have some extraordinary abilities, it's frustrating to find that something as simple as holding down a job, throws up unexpected hurdles.

She'd be a darn sight better off if she could ditch the conviction she knows best which, together with a  chronic inability to keep her mouth shut and her nose out of other people's business, has led her more than once off the straight and narrow into the dodgy and dangerous.  Plans for a safer future, include setting herself up in business, squashing her over-active conscience and steering clear of risky and unpleasant.

Unfortunately, the best laid plans can lead to the darkest places.

What did I think?

Having read and enjoyed Relatively Strange, the first book in Marilyn Messik's Strange series, I couldn't wait to get stuck into book 2, Even Stranger.  I didn't think it was possible but Even Stranger is Even Better than Relatively Strange.  Reading about Stella as her life progresses through the 1970's is like catching up with an old friend; perhaps there's something strange about these books after all, as I didn't realise how firmly Stella had planted herself into my head.

I love Marilyn Messik's dry humour, which actually starts off as a very wet dunking in a lake for Stella.  It's not laugh out loud funny but it's more of a laughing at the strange events and very quirky family members in Stella's life.  The 70's has turned into a very eventful decade for Stella; not only has she started a new business but her gift is attracting attention from some unsavoury characters.  Stella gets herself into some jaw-dropping scrapes in this instalment of the Strange series that kept my eyes firmly glued to the page.

Not only can Stella fly, but she has the ability to see inside people's heads, which some might see as a gift but to others it's a curse.  As Stella grows older, her ability also grows with her and she can place, and even alter, thoughts in someone's head.  I don't envy Stella at all as I really don't think I would like to be privy to people's thoughts; it's bad enough seeing their dubious actions without actually knowing what they were really thinking.  Although Stella's gift can come in useful at times and when others like her get together, their power is extraordinary.

The Strange series is proving to be quite a unique, thrilling and riveting set of books and I can see myself reading them all over again in the future...or was that thought surreptitiously planted in my head by Stella?  Marilyn Messik has really outdone herself with this outstanding sequel and I'm chomping at the bit to catch up with Stella in book 3.  

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Relatively Strange - Marilyn Messik

Forced to call on resources she didn't know she possessed and thrust headlong into the violence of a situation for which nothing could have prepared her, Stella’s suddenly face to face with the stark reality of medical experimentation and its horrifying consequences.

But in a world of uncertainties, she’s sure of one thing - this hero stuff really isn't her. Normal, or as near as damn it is what she wants,  and if that means smothering her instincts and adjusting her expectations well so be it. At least she'll know should she slip off the wagon occasionally, it'll be choice not chance, and to suit herself.

Isn't it a fact though, just when you think you've got yourself on track, events can overtake and derail you?

Relatively Strange, the first in the Strange Series introduces Stella; her irreverent sense of humour, the conviction she always knows best and an overdeveloped sense of justice. Throw into the mix a complete  inability to keep her nose out of other people's business and some serious psi abilities, and results are as unpredictably uncomfortable as you might expect.

What did I think?

Relatively Strange is perhaps the strangest book I have ever read; Strange by name and Strange by nature indeed.  Stella is such an amazing character and the way that this book is written from Stella's birth makes you feel like you've known her your whole life.  

Stella is a child of the 1950's and I was shocked to discover that her school days weren't very different from mine in the 1970's.  For pity's sake, for how many years did children suffer the boiled cabbage lunches and frog spawn tapioca and jam pudding?  I felt very nostalgic reading about PE lessons in the school hall with the bars along the walls and the pointless throwing of the coloured bean bags.  Of course, I hated PE and would have much rather been reading a book than doing roly polies on the mat but it did bring back some long forgotten, although not so fond, memories.

I loved Stella's Grandma and her Grandma's sisters.  I don't think it happens so much these days but many of my Dad's aunts used to mouth their words so that young ears couldn't hear.  The only problem was that nobody else could understand what they were saying either unless they were proficient in exaggerated lip reading.  The whole family dynamic and Stella's place in the family was very interesting to read and I loved how a lot of her family were blind to her abilities.  She couldn't possibly have flown up that tree so she must have climbed it!

When Stella's abilities become known, everything gets more sinister with the evil Doctor Dreck experimenting on gifted children.  Someone has to stop him before it's too late and Stella joins forces with a motley crew of gifted people who have a plan to rescue Dreck's latest patient.  It felt a bit like X-Men as Stella is trained for her mission and her fearlessness and bravery is quite astounding.

I bet a lot of people have wished that they could read someone's mind, when you wonder what someone is thinking or how they feel about you.  Well Stella has that gift and it's not all its cracked up to be, that's for sure.  It's actually quite sobering to realise that you really don't want to hear someone else's thoughts.  It's hardly surprising really if you consider how often you have negative thoughts about yourself, but it's always more hurtful hearing it from someone else.  Although there's nothing wrong with being different, it's perhaps good to be normal.

Written with such amazing humour and warmth, Relatively Strange is a very unusual, nostalgic and thought-provoking book.  I am delighted to see that Stella's story continues in Even Stranger and I look forward to picking up with her where we left off.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon