BLOG TOUR REVIEW: THE PERFECT STRANGER, BY BRIAN PINKERTON

Released on February 11, 2025, by Flame Tree Press/Simon & Schuster. I'd like to thank Flame Tree Press for inviting me on this blog tour and for providing a copy of this book.

Synopsis

Everyone loves Alison, the new remote employee at a major energy company. She’s a rising star in the virtual workspace, displaying incredible intelligence and efficiency with digital technology.

But Linda, her manager, has growing suspicions that Alison is not the person she claims to be. As Linda probes Alison’s background, Alison fights back through cyber-attacks, ravaging Linda’s work, her family, and her safety. Linda must uncover the truth to save herself and discovers Alison’s past history is a lie – in fact, she has none. Is it possible Alison isn’t human at all?

Review

Pinkerton has crafted an effective story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking, leaving you pausing not only for breath, but to reflect on the increasingly pervasive influence of AI and the risk of its insidious integration into our everyday lives.

The story centres around Linda Kelly, head of public relations at a large energy company. She has struggled with keeping employees in the post-Covid, work-from-home era, so hires a new remote assistant. Alison quickly proves herself as indispensable: she is knowledgeable, efficient, and fulfils the role perfectly. Almost too perfectly. 

Alison’s flawless performance unnerves Linda, leading her to investigate just who her new employee really is. Alison doesn’t take too kindly to being under suspicion, and what follows is a series of confrontations, digital and real, that threaten Linda’s work, her job, and even her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, particularly the rather pertinent social themes of remote working, AI integration, and an increasingly digital world. Even our homes are becoming smarter, and us humans are becoming more and more dependent on technology to run our lives.

Pinkerton explores themes such as the blurred lines between virtual and real identities, and the challenge of maintaining human connection and trust in a digital world. We see what could happen if AI enters the corporate world, where its efficiency and work capacity puts even the most talented human employee at risk of being replaced. 

The second half of the book seems to drop these social themes and instead rides head first to an action-packed gallop where each twist gets progressively more crazy. Whilst exciting, at some points the storyline, for me, gets a bit far-fetched, a little “too much.” Aside from this, The Perfect Stranger was a captivating read and I look forward to reading more from Pinkerton.

Ciao for now,

Novel x