Five Total Strangers

Name: Five Total Strangers
Rating: 5.96 (206 reviews)
ISBN: 9781492657217

By Natalie D. Richards

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A New York Times Bestseller

A "page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end" (School Library Journal) about a road trip in a snowstorm that turns into bone-chilling disaster, from New York Times bestselling mystery author and "master of tension" (BCCB) Natalie D. Richards.

She thought being stranded was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.

Mira needs to get home for the holidays. Badly. But when an incoming blizzard results in a canceled connecting flight, it looks like she might get stuck at the airport indefinitely.

And then Harper, Mira's glamorous seatmate from her initial flight, offers her a ride. Harper and her three friends can drop Mira off on their way home. But as they set off, Mira realizes fellow travelers are all total strangers. And every one of them is hiding something.

Soon, roads go from slippery to terrifying. People's belongings are mysteriously disappearing. Someone in the car is clearly lying, and may even be sabotaging the trip--but why? And can Mira make it home alive, or will this nightmare drive turn fatal?

Perfect for readers who love:

YA horror books for teens
Mystery books for teens
Natasha Preston, Megan Miranda, Karen McManus and Ruth Ware

Praise for Five Total Strangers:

"A twisty thrill ride that will leave you breathless. I stayed up after midnight just to see how it all ended."--April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen

"Richards is a master of tension. Suspense fans will get all the ups-and-downs of a well-paced narrative, but they may never want to drive on a snowy road again."--BCCB

"A page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Just the kind of fun book one needs for a hot summer day or a cold winter's night."--School Library Journal on Five Total Strangers

"High thrill factor."--Booklist

Also by Natalie D. Richards:

Six Months Later

Gone Too Far

My Secret to Tell

One Was Lost

We All Fall Down

What You Hide

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Published Oct 6, 2020

320 pages

Average rating: 5.96

206 RATINGS

Community Reviews

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ValerieRuiz

Apr 06, 2026

8/10 stars

After her flight home for the holidays is canceled, Mira accepts a ride from a group of strangers she meets at the airport. But as a snowstorm traps them on icy roads, Mira realizes that her new companions aren't exactly who they claim to be — and one of them may have sinister intentions. With rising tensions and eerie incidents, Mira must figure out who she can trust before it's too late. You know how your mom always said, "Never get in a car with a stranger"? Yeah… turns out the same goes for FIVE of them. I really enjoyed this book — it gave me all the tense, snowy vibes I didn’t know I needed. Honestly, I consider this a Christmas book in its own twisted little way: frantic travel, snowstorms, and the desperate need to just get home. Natalie D. Richards does such a good job at slowly building that sense of dread, where you feel trapped right alongside the characters. Now, full disclosure: I’m really bad at predicting plots and twists. I’ll think I have it all figured out… and then BAM, wrong again. And let’s just say this book kept me second-guessing myself the entire ride. Every time I thought I knew who to trust, something would happen to make me question everything all over again — which made it even more fun to read. I’m giving it 4 stars because while I enjoyed the tension, I definitely could have used just a little more thrill and intensity at certain points. Also — fun fact — I didn’t even realize this was a young adult novel until after I finished it! It reads easily and quickly, but still delivers enough suspense to keep you hooked without feeling overly "teen." If you love snowy survival thrillers, books that make you feel like you’re holding your breath the entire time, or if you're a fan of fast-paced YA suspense with just the right amount of creepy uncertainty — this one’s definitely for you.

doubleokay

Feb 22, 2026

6/10 stars

3.5

siemelle900

Nov 28, 2025

4/10 stars

There was a lot of missed potential here.

I like the premise. I didn’t like that the characters fell flat for me. Also, I’m not a fan of each chapter ending in a cliff hanger for the next chapter. Also, pretty anticlimactic.

For what it was, it was just eh.

1mrsbeck

Feb 12, 2025

4/10 stars

Unlikable characters, unrealistic, no real climax, slow burn but did keep you wanting to know who was behind it all.

Anna

Aug 23, 2024

8/10 stars

3.5-4 stars!!!!! That was such a ride!!!!