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The Stranger in the Lifeboat

A Novel

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The Stranger in the Lifeboat

Written by: Mitch Albom
Narrated by: Mitch Albom
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About this listen

Number one New York Times best seller

What would happen if we called on God for help and God actually appeared? In Mitch Albom’s profound new novel of hope and faith, a group of shipwrecked passengers pull a strange man from the sea. He claims to be “the Lord”. And he says he can only save them if they all believe in him.

Adrift in a raft after a deadly ship explosion, 10 people struggle for survival at sea. Three days pass. Short on water, food, and hope, they spot a man floating in the waves. They pull him in.

“Thank the Lord we found you,” a passenger says.

“I am the Lord,” the man whispers.

So begins Mitch Albom’s most beguiling and inspiring novel yet.

Albom has written of heaven in the celebrated number one best sellers The Five People You Meet in Heaven and The First Phone Call from Heaven. Now, for the first time in his fiction, he ponders what we would do if, after crying out for divine help, God actually appeared before us? What might the Lord look, sound and act like?

In The Stranger in the Lifeboat, Albom keeps us guessing until the end: Is this strange and quiet man really who he claims to be? What actually happened to cause the explosion? Are the survivors already in heaven, or are they in hell?

The story is narrated by Benji, one of the passengers, who recounts the events in a notebook that is later discovered - a year later - when the empty life raft washes up on the island of Montserrat.

It falls to the island’s chief inspector, Jarty LeFleur, a man battling his own demons, to solve the mystery of what really happened.

A fast-paced, compelling novel that makes you ponder your deepest beliefs, The Stranger in the Lifeboat suggests that answers to our prayers may be found where we least expect them.

©2021 Mitch Albom (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers
Fiction Genre Fiction Survival Life Boat

What listeners say about The Stranger in the Lifeboat

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

always a win!

love all books by this author and this one too has the perfect ending that leaves you with gratitude despite loss

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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An unforgettable journey

Thank you, Mr. Albom, for another unforgettable journey upon an elegant tapestry of verse. Bravo!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A great read

Loved the story that what you are looking for is always with you and God is our lifeboat

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Touched my soul

Beautiful story, if you liked Life of Pi you will enjoy The stranger in the Lifeboat. Thought provoking and although a little predictable, it was time well spent.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Read

Quite predictable but still deeply enjoyable. Definitely worth the read. Narration was nice and predictable.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Great Book

Really great book.. I found myself there with them on the lifeboat…I teared up and Mr. Albom made his characters very relatable

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Don’t listen to this unless you want to feel good.

The most beautiful story I’ve heard in years! Thank you Mitch Albom for your inspiration and your talent.

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wow! couldn't wait to see what happened in the end

....and when the end came....I wanted to start reading it all over again to try to piece together the parts I was left thinking about. I'm a big fan of all of the author's books, and this was no exception. It left me in tears of joy and hope, marveling at the beauty of life and death and everything in between!

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    5 out of 5 stars

Another Mitch Albom success!

Stranger in the Lifeboat was extremely well written. The story captivated my full attention. My first read of Mitch Albom was Tuesdays with Morrie. Then came The 5 People You Meet in Heaven and The Timekeeper.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Thought Provoking

I always look forward to reading a book by Mitch Albom. This was no exception. The story came with some unexpected twists, and left me mulling on the ideas presented through the characters. I recommend reading this book!

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