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sfp85 's review for:
The Stranger Upstairs
by Lisa M. Matlin
Riddled with suspense!
The story started off strong, hooking me with its dark premise and unique voice. I was immediately drawn in by the protagonist, Sarah, who buys an infamous ‘murder house’ with her husband, Joe, after which they quickly move into despite the tragedy that occurred inside years prior. It’s clear from the start they’re having marital issues and at one point, she even admits her suspicion that he’s having an affair. Then the notes start appearing.
The setting did a great job at creating an underlying tension and at one point it left me wondering if there was a supernatural element to the story. The pace slowed down in the middle as Sarah’s drinking increased and she forgot to take her medication, but it picked back up again in the last quarter of the book. The characters were believable but very unlikable, except for Emily, which made the ending all the more difficult to read. The theme of mental illness was very clear and woven throughout the story in clever ways, but in the end I felt confused about the specific condition Sarah suffered from. Her slippery mental state was palpable to read, including the scene when she collapsed at work and had to be sent home. The twist was interesting and somewhat logical, although I felt it a little too coincidental that the effects would play out in the exact same way with the previous owners.
3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy dark topics, creepy settings, and unreliable female narrators.
The story started off strong, hooking me with its dark premise and unique voice. I was immediately drawn in by the protagonist, Sarah, who buys an infamous ‘murder house’ with her husband, Joe, after which they quickly move into despite the tragedy that occurred inside years prior. It’s clear from the start they’re having marital issues and at one point, she even admits her suspicion that he’s having an affair. Then the notes start appearing.
The setting did a great job at creating an underlying tension and at one point it left me wondering if there was a supernatural element to the story. The pace slowed down in the middle as Sarah’s drinking increased and she forgot to take her medication, but it picked back up again in the last quarter of the book. The characters were believable but very unlikable, except for Emily, which made the ending all the more difficult to read. The theme of mental illness was very clear and woven throughout the story in clever ways, but in the end I felt confused about the specific condition Sarah suffered from. Her slippery mental state was palpable to read, including the scene when she collapsed at work and had to be sent home. The twist was interesting and somewhat logical, although I felt it a little too coincidental that the effects would play out in the exact same way with the previous owners.
3/5⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy dark topics, creepy settings, and unreliable female narrators.