J.A. Baker is the best-selling author of multiple thrillers, including Local Girl Missing, The Last Wife and The Woman in the Woods The Stranger is a gripping psychological thriller which will appeal to fans of authors like Shalini Boland, K.L. Slater and Rachel Abbott.

A village shrouded in mystery. Secrets buried deep....

When Ray moves to a new house in the village of Whitchurch, he wants nothing more than to leave the pain of his old life behind and start a better life in the countryside. The locals might be wary of him at first, but Ray soon realises that sleepy Whitchurch has its own fair share of problems. Last year, a woman's body was found in the woods nearby. The killer was never caught.

Soon, more suspicious things start to happen. Threatening letters are sent, cars are vandalised and headstones are desecrated. But who is responsible for these acts and why?

As the tension in the village builds, Ray begins to feel the pressure too. Someone is out to cause trouble, and that someone might be closer to Ray than he ever imagined.

What people are saying about J.A. Baker...

'Superbly written with a cast of crazy characters who will make you look differently at your co-workers from now on.' Bestselling author Valerie Keogh

'Fast-paced, riveting thriller. Gripped until the last page!' Bestselling author Diana Wilkinson

'A twisty, creepy story expertly told. Perfect for reading on dark winter evenings...with the doors double-locked and bolted. Highly recommended!' Bestselling author Amanda James

Please Note, this book was previously published as The Cleansing