A review by booklvrkat
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Sarah, is not who the world thinks she is. She’s in the middle of a failing marriage (this takes a huge backseat for most of the story), her work life is a disaster, and she doesn’t have any friends to speak of. What she does have is a murder house that she’s spent her life savings on in the hopes of selling it at a big profit. Black Wood House has its own reputation, and the rich neighbors aren’t happy she’s moved in. 
 
 Layer upon layer is revealed in this horror-slash-psychological thriller. Sarah makes a remarkable number of bad decisions that will make you wonder if she is truly unstable. Unreliable narrators have become the *chefs kiss* of storytelling and this tale by debut author, Lisa M. Matlin, excelled at this technique. There are disturbing moments, a cat named Reaper (foreshadowing?), and some uninvited visitors to which we aren’t introduced. Leaning more to the horror side, this story at once pushed me away and then gripped me so hard I didn’t want to stop. If you like to guess story endings this one is going to surprise you, and I’m interested to hear what you think. 
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