Fiction• Mystery

Review: The Trespassers by Stephanie Black

November 18, 2025

Synopsis:

Rayna Kirkpatrick has lived her entire life with a she possesses dangerous paranormal abilities. But she’s carefully kept her powers hidden from the world―or so she thinks. When new struggles in her life prompt her to seek information about her abilities, her internet search sends up red flags. Without her knowledge, she is placed under surveillance by a government team who monitors people with unique gifts like hers, individuals known as Trespassers. There are only two options for those manifesting such supernatural submit to regulation and scientific study or be eliminated.

Damon Hale is an invaluable asset to the government. As a Trespasser himself, he is perfectly positioned to determine how to handle others like him. When a series of unexplained deaths is connected to Rayna, Damon is assigned to go undercover to her California hometown to determine whether she’s the killer they suspect she is. As he gets to know this kind and charming woman, he’s determined to not allow his growing attraction to her to shake his objectivity. But the deaths surrounding her are no coincidence, and as his suspicions about her guilt begin to fade, he realizes he and Rayna must work together to discover the truth or risk becoming the next victims.

Review:

The premise of this book sounded interesting to me. It is described as a Paranormal Crime Thriller Romance. That is quite a lot that its want’s to be. Right?
Let’s start with the obvious one. It is not your typical romance. Romance is the Genre that describes it the least. For a Thriller it’s for sure not as intense as some others of this genre.

To make it simple. We have murders in a small town, that seem to be connected to our FMC. Is she to blame? Looking at it from the outside, she looks like an easy target. But when is it ever that easy? What is happening puts her on the map for a secret organization, looking for people like her. Her talent is dangerous if misused. Hence our MMC going undercover to understand if she is innocent or a threat.

Combine that with your typical small-town gossip, everyone knowing everyone and two sisters that love each other unconditionally, even if things aren’t easy. I enjoyed the interactions of the various characters and us learning about their backstories. We get a story done well, that doesn’t skip over obvious topics (we even get a smart detective here). The end was a bit too cliché for my liking, but overall, I enjoyed this one a lot. It was very easy to read, and I went through it very fast.

If you enjoy a small-town murder mystery while being open to add a sprinkle of paranormal, you’ll enjoy this one a lot. Looking forward to the second one in the series.

🌙 Recension: The Trespassers (Trespassers #1) by Stephanie Black
📚 Genre: Paranormal, Crime, Thriller
📅 Release Date: September 5, 2023
📖 Publisher: ‎ Covenant Communications
📗 available in various formats
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 Bought
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 377
⭐️ 4/5