Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

“A late night lift home? Or a fatal mistake…”

It’s time for book number four in my 12 in 2025 reads! 🥳 Okay, so I bought the hardback of this book titled One Wrong Turn, and since then, it has been released in paperback with a new title and cover. And I have to say, I love the refresh! My beaut friend Beth Reads Crime recommended that I read Strangers in the Car – I knew I would love it as Beth and I read such similar genres. If she recommends something, I know it’s gonna be good. So thrilled to be sharing my review of this one, and now I need to grab every single book this author has written!

About the book

Late at night . . .

Abi and Ben are driving home down foggy country roads, arguing about having had to cut short their weekend away, when they take a wrong turn. Abi’s driving, but her eyes leave the road for a moment as she says something to Ben – just as he gasps. A man is in front of the car, waving a torch. Abi swerves to avoid him.

You see a family stranded . . .

Ben tells her they should stop and go back, but Abi refuses. It’s dark, the roads are isolated and they don’t know this stranger. But, as Abi continues on, they see a broken-down car. Every instinct is still telling Abi to drive by, but then she notices the woman holding a car seat with a baby in it.

Would you stop?

For a moment, Abi hesitates, but they can’t leave a mother and baby on the side of the road. Agreeing to give the family a lift, they set off again. But now these strangers are inside their car – and it might be the worst mistake they have ever made…

The beginning

I loved how instantly atmospheric this book was, and I was sucked straight into it! I couldn’t help but imagine myself in Abi and Ben’s situation… even though I would have done the exact opposite of what they did 😅 They’re driving, mid argument, and have to swerve to miss a man in front of their car. Driving conditions and visibility are horrendous, but a mother and baby are stranded with this man next to a broken down car. They couldn’t leave them in the middle of nowhere… could they? I could smell trouble as these two couples chatted, I could feel the tension as Abi reluctantly agrees to give them a lift to the nearest hospital, I was constantly on edge as they slowly get to know these two strangers. Just how much of what they were saying was the truth? I loved the dual timelines as we also read chapters from Samantha, Paul and baby Lila, the family Abi and Ben pick up. It was clear there was some sort of danger involved, and I couldn’t wait to see what they were caught up in! The opening to this book was so strong, the tension and intrigue just *chef’s kiss*! 👌

“I rubbed my arm and conjured an awkward smile without saying anything. I wasn’t sure what it was about the couple exactly, but something about them put me on my guard. I could feel the hairs rising on the back of my neck. A tingling spreading across my scalp.”

I went from being incredibly suspicious of Samantha and Paul, to feeling such intense sympathy after learning more about their story, their predicament. What had happened to them. The danger they were in. How long they’d been fighting. I had to catch my breath; it was so completely chilling, all-consuming. But after this, there was still a part of me that didn’t quite trust Paul in particular. I was completely blown away by how this author – quite effortlessly – ramps up the tension, throwing in an early little twist and scattering plenty of suspense-filled moments in each of the short, sharp chapters I just adore in a book like this. Even though we know what Samantha and Paul are going through, it still made me sense such an overwhelming feeling of impending danger, and I had a nasty feeling that Abi and Ben were going to get caught up this mess. I could so vividly see each of these characters we follow, and I loved getting to know them all better. Abi was going through a lot, and I hoped to God what was about to go down wouldn’t send her spiralling…

The middle

Both timelines, both perspectives were so fast-paced, so full on which I completely loved, the cliffhangers making it impossible to take a break. There was so much uncertainty as Abi and Ben are torn away from one another as things get out of control. In such a short space of time, there’s a gun, a dead man and an uncertain future for both of them. But my god it was perfectly written, so explosive and completely wild. I definitely forgot to breathe at times because I was so immersed in every little masterful detail. There’s also a new perspective added to the mix here; Ben. He had to get back to Abi, somehow. Abi was also desperate to get back to him. In each of their seperate perspectives, they think about their relationship, how things hadn’t been the easiest recently, all the things left unsaid. I felt this really made them more human and made me understand them so much better. I couldn’t help but wonder how on earth all these characters would not only deal with everything that was about to come their way, but also how they’d be able to live with the aftermath of such trauma.

“How well do you know your husband? There it was. The question Samantha had been shying from. The question had plagued her in the small hours of the night and that had threatened to unpick the last fragile threads of her sanity.”

I could really feel Ben’s urgency as he tries to locate Abi. His desperation, his bravery, such an overwhelming sense of urgency to get her back, to save her. I was floored by another mid-point twist, another layer of darkness and drama that left me speechless. My opinions on different characters started to change drastically, even the characters that I was convinced I’d sussed out. I loved that Ben discovers such crucial information about the couple they’d picked up, and Abi also learns her own information about them; their desperation to communicate with one another really tugged at my heart and constantly had me racing to that next chapter. Every single chapter moved the story forward, there was a consistent intensity that was so bloody addictive. There was so much more at stake now aside from Abi and Ben finding safety. They were caught up in something much, much bigger than both of them, and at this point, they’d have to see it through to the end, no matter how much they wanted out. I genuinely had no clue where the ending would go!

The end

We learn of the events leading up to Abi and Ben coming across Samantha and Paul’s broken down car, which added more brilliant layers to this whole situation. I loved taking a step back and seeing the bigger picture! It was so masterfully plotted, everything slowly slotting into place and blowing my mind even more. I loved Abi’s development throughout this time; from being so scared and distraught, to feeling more confident than ever, more angry at the whole thing, more determined to get out of this ordeal alive when her chances were slim. The pacing was fantastic, the lead up to Abi finally getting out of this car when she’d had to drive for miles and miles made me feel sick. What would happen to her next was so unclear, and I could feel her terror as everything unfolded. As things get darker and darker, and Abi slowly begins to understand her fate, she takes her one chance to escape, but it isn’t without its risks. It was a bit far-fetched and my face was pulling some strange expressions, but it didn’t bother me too much overall. I was just glad she’d taken the chance!

“How about we stop talking, and you start driving? Because if you don’t, I will kill you.”

The book rounded up really well and even though there were plenty of moments where I thought things could get even worse, where my heart was in my mouth, it ended on such a satisfying note. Abi was one hell of a character, a fighter, someone so selfless. All this really shines through in those final couple of chapters in particular. The ending to this one felt really unique, so far from other thrillers I’ve read lately. It was refreshing seeing the happy ending and a glimpse into the near future, but it’s also quite bittersweet which will become clear when you read it… I feel like I can finally breathe properly again after closing the book because WOAH, that was fast-paced. I bloody loved it! If you love a pacy thriller that you can’t stop thinking about, you will adore this one. Whenever I find a new author I love, I instantly go and check out their entire back catalogue, and every other book by C.M. Ewan sounds fantastic. So huge thanks to Beth for putting his books on my radar!

Overall thoughts

Strangers in the Car is a pacy, addictive read that left me breathless. I’m now desperate to read every other book this author has written! C.M. Ewan takes a seemingly innocent situation and flips it on its head, and I just devoured this. After spotting a broken down car on their journey with a mother and baby, and narrowly missing a man in the middle of the road, Abi and Ben stop, and agree to give them a lift. But things quickly turn messy; lies are told, people aren’t who they say they are, the danger ramps up, and the twists just keep on coming! The characters in this book are strong; Abi in particular is excellent, she’s relatable, determined and so incredibly brave. Others you will love to hate, especially when the whole truth is unravelled… The plot is truly wild, the writing is tense and engaging and I honestly couldn’t get enough. This is certainly one car ride you’ll never forget. Remind me never to pick up someone from the side of the road, ever!

You can grab your own copy of Strangers in the Car right now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books! Make sure you’re following the author on Instagram and X for more updates.

Thank you SO much to Beth for recommending Strangers in the Car as one of my 12 in 2025 reads! Beth has the best crime/thriller recs and writes fantastic reviews. Please give her a follow on the ‘gram! – @beth.reads.crime

Looking for book reviews?

If you’re in need of reviews for your own book, do get in touch to get on my submissions list! All the information you need is on my book reviews page. If you enjoyed this review and would like to support my blog, you can buy me a coffee 😊