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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
Not often does a book surprise me. I have to say this one did! It also renewed my fear of the dark lol! This was the perfect spooky read with a sidekick cat named Reaper! (How Stinkin’ cute) Very interesting plot and it kept me wanting to turn the page to see what else was going on. It was overall a fun read! This is my first time reading this author but not the last!
The Stranger Upstairs is about a woman named Sarah who buys an old Victorian home in her dream neighborhood for a price well under its worth because of a death that happened there. Her husband is less than thrilled about the place and he spends most of his time away from the home. Sarah decides she will document the process of fixing up the place to earn extra money influencing, but she’s not getting the views she had anticipated. The few comments she does get are warnings that she’s not welcomed. Contractors don’t seem to want to be hired to work on the place, and the one that does instantly regrets it. Bizarre things happen and we are left wondering if the house is haunted or if it’s someone in the neighborhood trying to scare her away. Sarah is also a therapist, but as the book goes on she sees less and less of her clients even forgetting days of the week. Was the house making her crazy? Was someone inside making her crazy? I thought I had it figured out but with a twist in the end that totally made sense, I was found shocked. At times this book had an eerie feel.
In the author notes at the end, Lisa Matlin talks about her own mental health struggles including needing to reach out to a lifeline. I feel like her own experiences helped shape the character in the book, and I’m glad she didn’t give up. There are resources at the end of the book for anyone needing help.
This is a fast-moving plot that revolves around a murder mystery.
Most people wouldn’t even consider buying a house where someone has been brutally killed. Yet, since it’s in an established neighborhood with a deep drop in price, it might be a good deal. Besides, the murder happened 40 years ago.
It didn’t take long for Sarah and her husband, Joe, to sign off on the Black Wood House. It had four large bedrooms and a library on two wooded acres of SE Melbourne. Other houses in the area were selling for more than $1 million. Their purchase price was $525,000.
Sarah had a great career as a self-help author and therapist while Joe worked as a bartender. She was convinced they could renovate and make a good profit. Afterall, she said, “I’m a fixer.”
The couple was happy. And then creepy things started to happen which didn’t seem to bother Sarah. “Most people sweep monsters under the bed. I pull the covers back and let them crawl in.”
The protagonist, Sarah, controlled her husband, friends and whatever happened up until the end. There were a couple of surprises in the plot but overall, there were no hair-raising moments.
My thanks to Bantam Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced book with an expected release date of September 26, 2023.
Most people wouldn’t even consider buying a house where someone has been brutally killed. Yet, since it’s in an established neighborhood with a deep drop in price, it might be a good deal. Besides, the murder happened 40 years ago.
It didn’t take long for Sarah and her husband, Joe, to sign off on the Black Wood House. It had four large bedrooms and a library on two wooded acres of SE Melbourne. Other houses in the area were selling for more than $1 million. Their purchase price was $525,000.
Sarah had a great career as a self-help author and therapist while Joe worked as a bartender. She was convinced they could renovate and make a good profit. Afterall, she said, “I’m a fixer.”
The couple was happy. And then creepy things started to happen which didn’t seem to bother Sarah. “Most people sweep monsters under the bed. I pull the covers back and let them crawl in.”
The protagonist, Sarah, controlled her husband, friends and whatever happened up until the end. There were a couple of surprises in the plot but overall, there were no hair-raising moments.
My thanks to Bantam Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced book with an expected release date of September 26, 2023.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m torn between giving this a 3 or a 4. I was really drawn in by the premise of a woman named Sarah grappling with the unsettling feeling that she’s losing her grip on reality. Her husband’s quiet revulsion toward her adds a layer of tension, though the reason behind it remains unclear for much of the story. There’s a strong thread of mystery and secrecy woven throughout, and I especially appreciated the exploration of mental illness. It gave me strong Yellow Wallpaper vibes, which I loved.
That said, the pacing did linger at times, and I think the story would have benefitted from introducing the dual POV earlier on. I really liked the ending, but I wish it had been developed more fully and given a stronger buildup.
I waited so long to read this - so long. I would go to the bookstore with the expressed intent of purchasing this book and then leave without it. Any time I viewed my good read Wishlist, there this book sits taunting me. So when I finally had enough plum points for $100 to redeem I said fuck it you are buying this book Alex and you will read it. And I did!
This book, as you can see from my read dates, consumed me. And to be completely honest, it had nothing to do with the characters; I couldn't stand Sarah. The other thing with this book is it reminded me of Never Lie (Freida McFadden) which made me think there was some unreliable narrating going on here. I made a massive leap in my assumptions at the beginning based off her relationship with Joe and how she talked about her sister/family - and somehow that leap was correct and ended up being a (simple) twist.
The larger twist overall was exciting to me. It wasn't fake or a 1 in a million chance this twist could happen; it was legit and it seemed the author did a good job of preparing for this twist! I didn't like Sarah but I didn't have to for this book to be enjoyable and consumed in hours. If you are a fan of the thriller mystery, specifically small town or "tight knit" town murders, you will enjoy this one!
This book, as you can see from my read dates, consumed me. And to be completely honest, it had nothing to do with the characters; I couldn't stand Sarah. The other thing with this book is it reminded me of Never Lie (Freida McFadden) which made me think there was some unreliable narrating going on here. I made a massive leap in my assumptions at the beginning based off her relationship with Joe and how she talked about her sister/family - and somehow that leap was correct and ended up being a (simple) twist.
The larger twist overall was exciting to me. It wasn't fake or a 1 in a million chance this twist could happen; it was legit and it seemed the author did a good job of preparing for this twist! I didn't like Sarah but I didn't have to for this book to be enjoyable and consumed in hours. If you are a fan of the thriller mystery, specifically small town or "tight knit" town murders, you will enjoy this one!