chantalsbookstuff's review against another edition
3.0
A really quick read with a cool plot. I found that the ending was kind of predictable.
alliepeduto's review against another edition
3.0
So I'm learning that first and foremost, Shari Lapena loves open endings that are super creepy. I like that her novels are very fast paced and are constantly switching perspective and revealing new information, but I'm never as shocked as I would like. It's like she just rearranges the facts and waits for you to catch up, and then rearranges them again. I did really like the reappearance of Detective Rasbach from "The Couple Next Door" and I hope that he continues to feature in her books, since of course I'm going to keep reading Lapena's work!
thereadingbee's review against another edition
3.0
Wasn't anything special throughout most of the book, but the ending was solid and made up for my meh feelings throughout. Solid thriller for those starting to dabble in the genre
brittany_tellefsen's review against another edition
3.0
Rating 3.5/5
This was my first Shari Lapena, and I quite enjoyed my reading experience because I found it fairly multi-layered.
At first, you find yourself engrossed by the initial conflict: Karen, a loving housewife, has wrecked her car in a bad part of town, a part she had no reason for being in, after driving extremely recklessly. Apparently, she fled her house in a rush with no cell, no purse, and the end of that excursion left her car totaled and her in the hospital. Tom, her husband, cannot believe what has happened as this is so out of character for her.
It further escalates when the police seem to find a connection between Karen a murder victim that was found near where Karen wrecked her car. Karen doesn't remember anything about that night, but she and Tom find their lives turned upside down as Karen becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation and Tom realizes his wife may not be who she says she is.
Meanwhile, there is some trouble brewing just across the street, trouble that may cause more conflict for Tom and Karen, not to mention all of the secrets that Karen is hiding.
Who is the dead man? Did Karen really kill him? What caused her to rush out of her house that night? All of these questions are answered slowly throughout the book leaving a slight little twist at the end that wasn't necessarily mind-blowing, but quite a bit devious.
I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!
This was my first Shari Lapena, and I quite enjoyed my reading experience because I found it fairly multi-layered.
At first, you find yourself engrossed by the initial conflict: Karen, a loving housewife, has wrecked her car in a bad part of town, a part she had no reason for being in, after driving extremely recklessly. Apparently, she fled her house in a rush with no cell, no purse, and the end of that excursion left her car totaled and her in the hospital. Tom, her husband, cannot believe what has happened as this is so out of character for her.
It further escalates when the police seem to find a connection between Karen a murder victim that was found near where Karen wrecked her car. Karen doesn't remember anything about that night, but she and Tom find their lives turned upside down as Karen becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation and Tom realizes his wife may not be who she says she is.
Meanwhile, there is some trouble brewing just across the street, trouble that may cause more conflict for Tom and Karen, not to mention all of the secrets that Karen is hiding.
Who is the dead man? Did Karen really kill him? What caused her to rush out of her house that night? All of these questions are answered slowly throughout the book leaving a slight little twist at the end that wasn't necessarily mind-blowing, but quite a bit devious.
I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!
novelesque_life's review against another edition
2.0
RATING 2 STARS
I picked A Stranger in the House for one of my book clubs. We were looking for a quick and easy read, and I really enjoyed Lapena's [b:An Unwanted Guest|38240386|An Unwanted Guest|Shari Lapena|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526389330l/38240386._SY75_.jpg|59633382] so recommended we read this one. This was a novel we all finished (yay us!) but didn't work for us. I felt like the title gave away too much of the book, and it already a bit easy to figure out (another person also figured it out pretty quick). For this reason I am not even going to attempt to write out my synopsis of the novel. The characters were a bit cliched and didn't really evolve much through the story. All was not lost for us, as we did have a good lengthy discussion about the book, and learned we all agree on this one.
I picked A Stranger in the House for one of my book clubs. We were looking for a quick and easy read, and I really enjoyed Lapena's [b:An Unwanted Guest|38240386|An Unwanted Guest|Shari Lapena|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526389330l/38240386._SY75_.jpg|59633382] so recommended we read this one. This was a novel we all finished (yay us!) but didn't work for us. I felt like the title gave away too much of the book, and it already a bit easy to figure out (another person also figured it out pretty quick). For this reason I am not even going to attempt to write out my synopsis of the novel. The characters were a bit cliched and didn't really evolve much through the story. All was not lost for us, as we did have a good lengthy discussion about the book, and learned we all agree on this one.
flippingthepages's review against another edition
4.0
Holy wow. Did not see that ending coming. Was very surprised in how it all wrapped up and ended. I really enjoyed this book!
anita_mv's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Un extraño en casa es sin duda un libro adictivo que he devorado en poco más de 24h. Está autora tiene la capacidad de enganchar y, aunque en La pareja de al lado no logró sorprenderme, en este libro si lo ha conseguido. Una trama en principio sencilla y dónde rápidamente supones culpables se va complicando llegando a ser muy enrevesada que juega con el lector y el final sorprende. Espero leer más de esta autora en el futuro porque parece que con cada libro mejora en su escritura y en la forma de engañar y jugar con el lector.
Un extraño en casa es sin duda un libro adictivo que he devorado en poco más de 24h. Está autora tiene la capacidad de enganchar y, aunque en La pareja de al lado no logró sorprenderme, en este libro si lo ha conseguido. Una trama en principio sencilla y dónde rápidamente supones culpables se va complicando llegando a ser muy enrevesada que juega con el lector y el final sorprende. Espero leer más de esta autora en el futuro porque parece que con cada libro mejora en su escritura y en la forma de engañar y jugar con el lector.
ana_mv's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Un extraño en casa es sin duda un libro adictivo que he devorado en poco más de 24h. Está autora tiene la capacidad de enganchar y, aunque en La pareja de al lado no logró sorprenderme, en este libro si lo ha conseguido. Una trama en principio sencilla y dónde rápidamente supones culpables se va complicando llegando a ser muy enrevesada que juega con el lector y el final sorprende. Espero leer más de esta autora en el futuro porque parece que con cada libro mejora en su escritura y en la forma de engañar y jugar con el lector.
Un extraño en casa es sin duda un libro adictivo que he devorado en poco más de 24h. Está autora tiene la capacidad de enganchar y, aunque en La pareja de al lado no logró sorprenderme, en este libro si lo ha conseguido. Una trama en principio sencilla y dónde rápidamente supones culpables se va complicando llegando a ser muy enrevesada que juega con el lector y el final sorprende. Espero leer más de esta autora en el futuro porque parece que con cada libro mejora en su escritura y en la forma de engañar y jugar con el lector.
marisas1985's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75