The first time I read this book but I only made it up till chapter 7 and stopped because I got sick at the end of February and I didn't want to read anything but when I was feeling better I felt like reading again so I restarted this one again at the end of March and it was the booktroop's book club pick for last year. I didn't really care for was Sarah or Lizzy whoever she went buy in the book and also her lazy husband Joe I thought he was not caring if Sarah went to him with some trouble but it seemed like he didn't want to help her out. But he was out cheating on her which didn't like at all but the both of them are good liars in their past. The only person that I liked and I felt bad when Sarah killed her was Emily and she was trying to help her and be a friend to her but she had to go and kill Emily for no reason and had a nerve to call herself Emily and now the poor kids and her husband are without a mother and a wife and I had to read with myself because I thought the narrator's voice was little annoying and I am giving this 3 stars. ( )

High action, murder mysteries, thriller, are all among my favorite genres but “The Stranger Upstairs” was just too much and yet I returned to finish it. The characters were unlikeable one and all, some more odious than others. The setting is suitably creepy, Black Wood House built in 1889 and best know for an horrific murder and about to be occupied by its new owners. The house is a disaster that needs to be completed renovated so it can be flipped for a large profit but things are not going according to plan.

There is a house that refuses to be renovated, a couple that is living a lie and not so subtle hints as what is coming are dropped on every page. It is hard to become invested when there is so much evil, gross deception, lies, gruesome wickedness and those are the positives. The Author’s Note explains much but doesn’t ease the level of discomfort and revulsion I felt throughout my reading of the book. Better to leave it as a miss for me.

Thanks to Bantam Books and NetGalley for a copy. ( )

Sarah Slade and her husband Joe have just bought Black Wood House aka "The Murder House", because a man killed his wife, attacked his daughter, and then killed himself there years earlier. Sarah is looking to renovate the house and post the progress on social media, hoping to profit from it.
However, both she and Joe are hiding secrets, and the house and the neighbors don't seem to want him there. Sarah is supposed to be a therapist helping others, but her marriage and her health are both crumbling. Sarah, it seems has a dark past, and it is all revealed during the telling of the story.
She is an unreliable narrator, and her descent into madness is frightening, but is it since she moved to the house, or has she always had mental health issues?
The book is made all the more memorable by the author's note at the end. ( )

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin is a 2023 Bantam publication.

This book was categorized as a horror/mystery/ Gothic/ Suspense novel. Naturally, the ‘Gothic’ part caught my eye. The reviews were a bit mixed, but I thought it might be a good “Halloween” read. (I’m running a bit behind on that holiday- LOL)

As it turns out, the book really isn’t ‘Gothic’ at all, in my opinion, which is something I encounter on a regular basis. There’s a big old mansion- but that’s the only thing that falls into the Gothic category. Because this happens to me every time, I think I might get a Gothic Suspense/Horror novel, I’m no longer all that disappointed.

Well so much for that...

The premise is a modern one- a social media influencer buys a rundown ‘murder house’ hoping to capitalize on its reputation. The plan is to renovate the house, then sell it for a tidy profit. Unfortunately for the buyers- a married couple with a dark past- things start to go awry right from the start. There’s trouble with neighbors, problems in the marriage, but most of all, the house itself is rebelling against the new occupants…

This one was a slow burn for me. I was instantly put off by the language- not one sentence without a colorful metaphor- but before long I found myself becoming more involved in the story and put my reservations to the side- though I still think the story would have been just as effective- if not more so- without the gratuitous language.

But, enough of my sermonizing-

The story does eventually pick up speed and there were times when I was fully invested in it. It has some great twists, and it does have a heavy atmosphere that puts one’s nerves on edge. Unfortunately, it’s a kind of a sloppy- all over the place-that made it a bit too chaotic for my taste, which watered down its full impact.

All that said, this is a quick, nerve wracking read- and would indeed make a great ‘Halloween’ read- or good book to spend a dark winter night with.

Overall, a bit unbalanced- in pacing and execution- but still effective. I’d probably label this book differently- I thought it was more of a thriller with strong psychological elements- but you can be the judge of that.

3 stars

*I always read the author notes at the end of a book- but if you are one that normally skips over those comments- I would urge you to make an exception in this case. It’s an important statement and I appreciate the author’s courage in sharing her personal struggles while writing this book. ( )

Sarah has just purchased a fixer upper. It is a beautiful Victorian home in a well sought after neighborhood. It is also the famous Black Wood House. An illustrious murder/suicide took place in this house. And the more Sarah delves into the renovations, the more she believes something is just plain wrong with this house!

Sarah is a character that I thought was a bit of a conundrum. I found her a bit selfish and pushy one minute and caring the next. But, sit tight…the story will reveal its secrets as it moves along.

Now y’all, this is just my opinion, but this book was a bit of a mess. It felt like it started as a creepy tale then the author changed her mind and wanted to write a psychological thriller. I guess both can be a possibility, but it just was not very smooth in the twists and turns. Now, don’t take my word for it. It is worth the read. I did stay interested in the story. I just had questions that went unanswered.

Need a creepy tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )