A review by jillwedemeier
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin
dark
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
4.5
βπΎπππ π πππππ π
πππ ππ π πππππ? π©ππ πππ πππππ πππππππ πππ ππππ
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!βΒ
Read this book if you like:
π» Psychological thrillers
π» Debut authors
π» Dark humor
π» Suburban drama
π» Marriage issues
π» Haunted houses
π» Influencers
Social media influencer Sarah Slade is ready for a fresh start. She and her husband, Joe, are the new owners of Melbourneβs infamous Black Wood House, the scene of a murder-suicide 40 years ago. Sarah hopes that the fixer-upper will help her gain more followers on her successful lifestyle blog and Instagramβand distract her from her failing marriage. As the renovations begin on the β#murderhouse,β Sarah and the builders begin experiencing bizarre incidents. Sarah knows thereβs only so long she can continue sleeping in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and listen to the mysterious footprints coming from the attic. When frightening notes start appearing in the house, Sarah is convinced someone or something is out to kill her: her absent husband, her angry neighbors, or maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels the house, the angrier it seems to become, and the more Sarahβs life spirals out of control.Β
Reading this book was like riding a rollercoaster, with one twist after another. There were so many moments while reading when my heart was racing, and I could feel the hair on my arms rising. This book was so good that I genuinely canβt believe it is the authorβs debut novel. The spooky atmosphere and dark humor were just perfection. I read the entire thing in a day, staying up late so I could finish it. This book was a blast, and I highly recommend it for spooky season!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.Β
And a huge shoutout to the author for one of my new favorite dedications: βWith no thanks to: Everyone who thought I should get a real job instead of writing my stories. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA suckers!β
Read this book if you like:
π» Psychological thrillers
π» Debut authors
π» Dark humor
π» Suburban drama
π» Marriage issues
π» Haunted houses
π» Influencers
Social media influencer Sarah Slade is ready for a fresh start. She and her husband, Joe, are the new owners of Melbourneβs infamous Black Wood House, the scene of a murder-suicide 40 years ago. Sarah hopes that the fixer-upper will help her gain more followers on her successful lifestyle blog and Instagramβand distract her from her failing marriage. As the renovations begin on the β#murderhouse,β Sarah and the builders begin experiencing bizarre incidents. Sarah knows thereβs only so long she can continue sleeping in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and listen to the mysterious footprints coming from the attic. When frightening notes start appearing in the house, Sarah is convinced someone or something is out to kill her: her absent husband, her angry neighbors, or maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels the house, the angrier it seems to become, and the more Sarahβs life spirals out of control.Β
Reading this book was like riding a rollercoaster, with one twist after another. There were so many moments while reading when my heart was racing, and I could feel the hair on my arms rising. This book was so good that I genuinely canβt believe it is the authorβs debut novel. The spooky atmosphere and dark humor were just perfection. I read the entire thing in a day, staying up late so I could finish it. This book was a blast, and I highly recommend it for spooky season!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.Β
And a huge shoutout to the author for one of my new favorite dedications: βWith no thanks to: Everyone who thought I should get a real job instead of writing my stories. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA suckers!β
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Vomit, Suicide, and Blood