Book Review of 'The Stranger at the Door' by Henry O. Arnold

Hello Bookworms!

The first book in The Urban Chronicles was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and I am so excited to finally have the opportunity to review the next book in the series! These novels hit so hard and so incredibly powerful, so I have a lot to share.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Christian Thriller and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours, and have a wonderful weekend!

The Stranger at the Door JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Stranger at the Door by Henry O. Arnold, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Stranger at the Door
Series: The Urban Chronicles #2
Author: Henry O. Arnold
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: March 5, 2025
Genre: Christian Thriller

When a beat-up van screeches to a stop in front of The Mercy Seat church late one night and a young woman leaps out in an effort to escape her captors, Maxwell Crane and his family jump to her rescue. But is this desperate girl the innocent victim she appears to be?

The family’s act of kindness leads to dire consequences. When the young woman and the Crane sisters are abducted by members of a ruthless cartel out for revenge, Maxwell is yanked into yet another harsh reality of life in Hell’s Canyon.

There are no good options. All strategies for rescue could exact a terrible price. Still haunted by the tragedy he caused the last time he took justice into his own hands, Maxwell can only cast his broken soul upon the mercy of God. He would rush into the gates of hell to save his daughters, but will he get there in time?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

My Review

Talk about impactful! Wow! This novel has a slower start, but the intensity comes out of nowhere and packs a powerful punch, gripping you tighter and tighter until the climactic and emotional end.

Though I do believe this novel is more impactful by reading the first book in the series, it’s not necessary as the author does a great job of getting the reader up to speed on past events and what’s led the characters to where they are now. Maxwell is clearly going through immense guilt and personal crisis after the events of the last novel, which is both heartbreaking and understandable considering what all happened, and this novel pretty much picks up where the first book left off.

There are multiple POVs, which gives a well-rounded and deep glimpse into the situation at hand and what everyone is feeling. There is some heavy subject matter handled, but it’s through a Christian lens, so while it can be uncomfortable to read, these situations are handled with the upmost respect.

Seeing the faith of each family member and how tightly they held on to God, their trust in their family and one another was truly inspiring. What they endured is the stuff of nightmares, yet this is a reality that sadly many endure on a daily basis. My prayers go out to anyone who has been affected by human trafficking of any kind.

It was practically impossible to put this novel down, and I devoured it in mere hours. It has such a raw and real feel that it wouldn’t have surprised me if this was based on a true story. Gritty and steeped in truth, this faith-based novel is incredibly written and impactful, and I felt uplifted and empowered after reading it. Truly wow...

My Rating: ★★★★★

About the Author

Mr. Arnold's career as an actor/author spans over five decades with multiple stage and film credits. He has recorded over one hundred audiobooks and is the author of the Urban Chronicles suspense series and the multi-volume biblical/historical fiction series entitled The Song of Prophets and Kings (available in all formats wherever books are sold). When not writing, he can be found hiking on a trail somewhere in the world. He and his lovely wife Kay have two beautiful daughters, married to two handsome men, with three above-average grandchildren.

Connect with Mr. Arnold by visiting henryoarnold.com to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The Stranger at the Door & $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 17, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 24, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!