Conjure the image of a stranger, a mesmerizing and beautiful one at that, who washes ashore in critical condition. When she comes to after an extended coma, she has no recollection of her identity. In another character’s reality, tragedy strikes deep with the loss of his true love, sending an otherwise successful man into a tailspin with no real end in sight and no real faith in the institution of love. Though the events seemingly have no connection, they are connected in every way.

Chris, a successful Wall Street banker, becomes the conduit for Borak to unravel multiple storylines, and it is precisely in his ability to tell multiple stories and fuse them into one inevitable collision course that Borak truly excels. A brooding Chris is at the beach when he runs into a girl named Arielle and her faithful companion, Abbey. It is not lost on Chris that her appearance—and disappearance—just seems so convenient, and when he meets Marisa Flores at a party where he intends to spend time with Arielle, the plot takes off at a breakneck speed. Where Chris is smitten by Marisa’s familiar presence, another side story is unfolding with the determined Detective Ramos.

Though the plot revolves around Chris’ burgeoning passion with Marisa and how he sees his dead love, Theresa, in her, Borak adds a unique dimension of magical realism that strikes a strong resemblance thematically to the surreal nature of Salvador Dali’s works, best captured in the artist’s The Persistence of Memory. The stranger that assumes the name of Maria Torres has an uncanny memory, mirroring that of Chris’ Theresa, and in the process of spiritual messengers and guardian angels, a deeper battle is brewing that involves prominent drug cartels, foreshadowing an imminent bloodbath.
At the center of the narrative is an appreciation for the characters’ deep faith, so strong that the divine must intervene and conspire against evil forces. In the darkest of moments, faith is the light that seeps through and provides the hope to show good souls the way out, to end heartache, and to provide companionship to two humans whose destinies hold the fate and betterment of society.

Overall, the depth of the characters is highly intriguing. and their humanness creates a relatability factor that will undoubtedly endear them to readers. With every treacherous turn the characters encounter, the level of investment in the characters and their role within the created world reaches its peak. By putting characters in pretty much no-win positions and seeing their enduring qualities, Borak continues to raise the stakes as well as the anticipation of what could happen, imbuing the work with an exhilarating dynamic that yields a page-turner that is an electric combination of suspense and action.

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

Hollywood Book Reviews ‘She woke to the smell of salt water, the gritty sand cold against her skin, but it was the emptiness inside her- an absolute void of memory.’ This line brings us to Marisa, a woman found unconscious on the shore with no memory of her past who struggles to piece together who she is and what happened to her. It was enough to pull me into Marisa’s world of mystery and vulnerability. Stranger on the Shore follows the journey of Chris, a former Wall Street analyst, who is deeply affected by the tragic death of his fiancée, Theresa. On the anniversary of her death, Chris meets Arielle, a mysterious woman who brings a sense of peace and intrigue into his life.

 As the story progresses, he encounters Marisa, a waitress who resembles Theresa and has a complex past. The themes of love, loss, and the challenge of moving forward after a significant loss feel so real as they resemble my journey. The central theme in this novel is identity- specifically, how we search for it, build it, and sometimes even fight to keep it. The author tackles the themes of trauma, resilience, and identity recovery with a sensitive and suspenseful approach. This makes it clear that discovering one’s identity can be as thrilling and dangerous as any mystery. The story’s thesis is that people are shaped by their memories and also by what they overcome. For Marisa, her journey is a blend of rediscovery and survival, as she’s haunted by the shadows of a dangerous past.

 This exploration of identity amidst danger gives the story an urgency beyond personal growth. Stranger on the Shore by author William J. Borak is simple to follow despite its complicated ideas like memory loss and trauma. This makes the book good for most people, not just experts. It blends romance, action, and spiritual exploration, highlighting the transformative power of love and faith. This could lead to talks about healing from trauma and crime and how people can be strong. But the book doesn’t get too deep into these topics. It’s more about the characters and their feelings. 

By the end of the book, readers will start thinking about their own experiences and the power of overcoming the past. Borak’s pacing is skillful, gradually unveiling secrets and building suspense, making this book difficult to put down.

 Stranger on the Shore is more than a mystery; it’s an exploration of community dynamics, the need for connection, and the layers beneath every first impression. This book will appeal to readers who enjoy stories with a hint of mystery and a setting that feels like a character in its own right.