Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

The First Official Stranger Things Novel

By: Gwenda Bond

Narrated by: Kristen Sieh

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller

If you think you know the truth behind Eleven’s mother, prepare to have your mind turned upside down in the first official Stranger Things novel - “[T]he prequel story that fans have been waiting for.” (Kirkus Reviews).

It’s the summer of 1969, and the shock of conflict reverberates through the youth of America. As a student at a quiet college campus in the heartland of Indiana, Terry Ives couldn’t be farther from the front lines of Vietnam or the protests in Washington. But the world is changing, and Terry isn’t content to watch. When word gets around about an important government experiment in the small town of Hawkins, she signs on as a test subject for the project, code-named MKULTRA. The remote lab, deep in the woods, contains a mystery Terry is determined to uncover.

Behind the walls of Hawkins National Laboratory - and the piercing gaze of its director, Dr. Martin Brenner - lurks a conspiracy greater than Terry could have ever imagined. To face it, she’ll need the help of her fellow test subjects, including a young girl with unexplainable superhuman powers and a number instead of a name: 008.

Amid the rising tensions of the new decade, Terry Ives and Martin Brenner have begun a different kind of war - one where the human mind is the battlefield.

Praise for Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds

“You’re left hungry for more, but in the best way possible, as the book manages the balancing act between interconnected prequel and standalone story.” (Cinelinx)

“Highly recommended for those readers interested in expanding their knowledge of the Stranger Things universe, this book is also a dark and captivating story that will stick in the readers’ minds even if they are not fans of the franchise.” (The Unseen Library)

©2019 Gwenda Bond (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“You’re left hungry for more, but in the best way possible, as the book manages the balancing act between interconnected prequel and standalone story.” (Cinelinx)

“Suspicious Minds is the prequel story that fans have been waiting for.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Highly recommended for those readers interested in expanding their knowledge of the Stranger Things’ universe, this book is also a dark and captivating story that will stick in the readers’ minds even if they are not fans of the franchise.” (The Unseen Library)

Well done

I enjoyed this book. I listened to it to affirm it would be suitable for my daughter of 12, as the series Stranger Things is her obsession. I will be allowing her to read this book and I am thankful they kept it PG even though it contained the aspect of a love story in the under part of this mystery.

Great book. Wonderful narrator. Wonderful insights into parts of the Stranger Things world.

Great book. Well written and narratorated. Looking forward to listening to more books written about the world of Stranger Things.

Requisite Backstory

3.5 stars. I wanted more of that Eleven-interaction-with-friends type of action. The background story does the job but it's almost a big info dump. The writing is solid, and it's not like Eleven's mother could slay monsters in the Upside Down, so the author did a good job with what she had.

Made me love Stranger Things even more!

Great book and great narrator! Loved learning more about the happenings at Hawkins Lab. Made me appreciate the show so much more. Really would love another book to pick up where this one left off!

In-depth backstory well done!

This flushed out a lot of the backstory and bring things full circle for the characters, (especially the new characters such as 008 & Terry) on Stranger Things 2. I will now happily rewatch the series with this new knowledge in mind. I look forward to the second novel about Hopper as well as Stranger Things 3!

Awesome setup for the Stranger things to happen!

it was good. could've lead to many different avenues but so can just about any other good novel but overall very well pleased and can't wait for the next installment!

Awesome! A must read!

absolutely loved it! This is a definite must read. The only problem I have is it ends quickly and does not tell the whole story. I do love it though!

Pleasantly Surprised

Could a book based off a Netflix Original series really be any good? I assumed it would be a long stretch at trying to recreate the retro vibe the Duffer brothers have reached with Stranger Things.

I was wrong.

Don't worry I will keep the review simple and with out spoilers.

This stand alone prequel novel begins in 1969 and follows the M.K. Ultra experiments of the fictional Hawkins lab in Indiana long before the events of Stranger Things.

we do meet a younger Doctor Brenner, as well as a very young Kali. There is also a brief glimpse at a reporter we may or may not know from the series as well as a description of possible monsters in the lab that definitely sound like the demi gorgan. This and a few other Easter eggs dabbled throughout make the novel relatable and a lot of fun for Stranger Things fans but wont confuse or mislead those Using Suspicious Minds as a primer before completing the series.

Our main character Terri Ives and her friends Alice, Gloria, and Ken take us inside the experiments of Hawkins lab while also spinning a great story of love and friendship that is beautifully written without irony or cliche.

The book takes place during an important time in American history and we see our characters experience or witness events like Woodstock, the moonlanding, the Manson family, and the Vietnam War draft in addition to their drama within the lab. The book does a great job at keeping the time period real without actually telling us how different the 60's and 70's were from our present day. The characters mention things in passing kids today wont get but may be curious enough to ponder or even look up on their own. a good example is our main character discussing wearing nylons panty hose under her pants and it being far more comfortable than the stockings and girdle she wore previously but still warm and binding. Another example is a scene where some minor characters are seen wearing plastic Halloween masks. This may fly over a younger persons head and seem silly but as someone who is a child of the 70/80 I could smell the nostalgia and cheap plastic Halloween masks!

Overall I liked this book and have already preordered my copy of the next one staring Elle and Hopper. My one critique is I wish the author had fleshed out our characters a little more beyond their involvement in MK Ultra and with Terri. I think I would have cared more about the ending if I cared more about the other main characters.

must read for any fan

excellent prequel to the show. gives you all the insight to how everything began before the show.

Expanded universe-yes please

Admittedly I am a sucker for expanded universes in stories I enjoy. This was no exception. Voice acting was well down and the story was interesting enough to keep me listening.