The Stranger in the Lifeboat
Awe-inspiring
Easy read
Fast paced

The Stranger in the Lifeboat A Novel

Mitch Albom2021
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, nine 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 bestsellers 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.
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Reviews

Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo
4 stars
Aug 8, 2025
Easy read
Fast paced
Page turning
Photo of ً
ً@smiskae
3.5 stars
Jun 14, 2025
Photo of Kolby Denke
Kolby Denke@kolby
5 stars
Jan 26, 2025
Vivid
Artistic
Addictive
Remarkable
Page turning
Awe-inspiring
Contemplative
Photo of Sasha
Sasha@salsasunshine
4 stars
Oct 5, 2024
Photo of Caroline
Caroline@caru
5 stars
Apr 14, 2024
Photo of Madhuri Sridhara
Madhuri Sridhara@madhurireads
3 stars
Apr 19, 2022
Photo of Stefanie Sugia
Stefanie Sugia@stefanie_sugia
5 stars
Mar 10, 2022
Photo of Tori Nelson
Tori Nelson@torireadswhat
4 stars
Mar 8, 2022
Photo of Erica Wabi
Erica Wabi@ericawabi
5 stars
Jan 29, 2024
Layered
Profound
Visionary
Fast paced
Photo of Marlie
Marlie@biko
4 stars
Oct 6, 2023
Sweet
Unique
Simple
Easy read
Awe-inspiring
Photo of Julia
Julia @juliyor
2.5 stars
Feb 17, 2023
Photo of Haleigh Marshall
Haleigh Marshall@marshalh20
4.5 stars
Jan 5, 2023
Dizzying
Fast paced
Meaningful
Surprising
Photo of steph
steph@scorpiolibrary
4.5 stars
Aug 24, 2022
Photo of lucy lou
lucy lou@louhardy
2 stars
Aug 18, 2022
Photo of Chloe steinke
Chloe steinke @chloesteinke
4 stars
Aug 12, 2022
Photo of Diane Jones
Diane Jones@diane
5 stars
May 31, 2022
Photo of Simran Armstrong
Simran Armstrong@simcity
4 stars
Apr 27, 2022
Photo of Austin Wagner
Austin Wagner@wagneram
5 stars
Jan 27, 2022
Unique
Layered
Beautiful
Easy read
Photo of Darwin Jay Daduya
Darwin Jay Daduya @daduds13
5 stars
Jul 13, 2024
Photo of Jasmine
Jasmine@rosyclovds
4 stars
Apr 24, 2024
Photo of Natasha Mok
Natasha Mok@natamok
5 stars
Feb 28, 2024
Photo of Emily Mogg
Emily Mogg@missmogg13
5 stars
Dec 31, 2023
Photo of arth
arth@arts
3 stars
Nov 24, 2023
Photo of Dayakar
Dayakar@daya07
5 stars
Sep 2, 2023

Highlights

Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo
Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo
Photo of Cassandra Tang
Cassandra Tang@tangaroo
Photo of Haleigh Marshall
Haleigh Marshall@marshalh20
Page 241
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Haleigh Marshall
Haleigh Marshall@marshalh20
Page 96
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Haleigh Marshall
Haleigh Marshall@marshalh20
Page 91
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Haleigh Marshall
Haleigh Marshall@marshalh20
Page 30
Photo of Haleigh Marshall
Haleigh Marshall@marshalh20
Page 23