Firstly, I didn’t quite understand the title. They are not perfect strangers. Three of nine are a family comprising father, mother and daughter. There is another married couple, and that’s five already. The remaining four are an author, a retired football player, a lawyer and a housewife.
So while the nine of them are at the centre, they are subject to a rather unusual and disturbing regimen by the enigmatic retreat owner, Masha. A lot of time is spent of the back story of each of the characters, as well as Masha herself and her employees.
Anyway, the nine “strangers” are microdosed with hallucinogens, and then put in an escape room-type situation, where they each have to come to terms with the ghosts of their past. The whole experience is eventually cathartic, but not quite as intended.
Great writing, but way too much time and energy is spent in the various back-stories and the events leading up to their presence at the retreat. Overall, the story is a little unsatisfying, but the humour and situational comedy are a treat.