Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback

This book was not for me. I read this via audio and while the narrater was great, I just couldn't follow the story. Everytime I thought I knew what was going on, something else weird would happen!

4.5 stars. Really loved this suspenseful mystery. Very broken and flawed characters who are not particularly likable, but yet I found myself hoping they would come through stronger in the end. At first I thought the mysterious events were a bit too over the top, but it came to a satisfying conclusion. The author's afterwords is also well worth reading.

Lisa Matlin's The Stranger Upstairs will be a good recommendation for readers who enjoy suspense. There is plenty of haunted house-ish creepiness! Those who enjoy an unreliable narrator as well as shifting perspectives will find a lot here to like as well. Spoiler alert: the cat does not die, but for people who have low tolerance for bad things happening to an animal, this might be problematic. It was for me as I have very little tolerance for reading about such things.

There were some loose ends that I would have liked to have seen resolved. For example, what did become of Janet Campbell? The initial murder mentioned in the book was in 1980, so it's not some 100 year old mystery. It's a bit hard to believe that no one knew what happened to this kid after her father murdered her mother. Why on earth did Sarah and Joe marry? What was the story on Amanda and her boyfriend? It makes me wonder if these ends were left untied with possible plans for more stories related to Black Wood House.

One murder house, one social media influencer, one rocky marriage and a neighborhood of people that hate you. WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?! enjoyed this thank you net galley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a reveiw

This was a fantastic book. Just when I thought inhad it all figured out, the twist knocked me on my butt. I would have never guessed. The writing and storyline were so well done.

A successful influencer moves into a “murder house” to fix it up and blog about it. She’s hoping the new house and remodel will also help improve her marriage. Unfortunately, things do not go as she had hoped.

The Stranger Upstairs is a story with secrets and drama. Shifting timelines are used, though I found it to be somewhat disjointed. This is a slow burning novel that picks up during the second half.

An atmospheric, creepy, and dark thriller. The Stranger Upstairs is an enjoyable debut novel. Good for readers who enjoy dark thrillers with unlikable and unreliable narrators.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**Review of "The Stranger Upstairs" by Lisa M. Matlin**

Lisa M. Matlin’s “The Stranger Upstairs” is a masterclass in suspense and mystery, crafting a narrative that is as thrilling as it is intricate. Matlin expertly weaves a tale of paranoia, mystery, and psychological drama that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Her ability to build tension and unfold the plot layer by layer is nothing short of remarkable, making it impossible to put the book down.

The characters are deeply developed, with the protagonist’s emotional journey providing a compelling core to the story. The setting is described with such vivid detail that it almost acts as a character on its own, enhancing the eerie atmosphere of the novel. Matlin’s writing style is fluid and engaging, drawing readers into the depths of the plot with ease.

“The Stranger Upstairs” stands out for its originality and gripping suspense, setting it apart from typical thrillers. Each chapter ends with a hook that drives the narrative forward, ensuring that the suspense never wanes. This book is a perfect blend of psychological intrigue and dramatic twists that satisfies from the first page to the last.

For fans of thrillers who crave deep psychological insight and relentless suspense, "The Stranger Upstairs" is a must-read. Lisa M. Matlin has truly outdone herself with this novel, earning it a well-deserved five stars for its brilliant execution and captivating storytelling.

Social media influencer Sarah Slade and her husband buy an infamous murder house in the neighborhood of her dreams. They hope to renovate and flip the property for profit, but the unfriendly neighbors want the house to be bulldozed. When strange things begin to happen, is the house haunted? Or is it the bad neighbors? Could it be something more sinister? As this seems like any typical Hollywood horror movie and something sinister lives within the house this seems far from what I was expecting and actually had me shocked at the end.

The author did a great job with pacing and kept me on my toes until the end.

Read this as part of a net galley early read. Loved this book. It kept me guessing the whole way through with a twisty, windy plot and ending I didn’t see coming! Can’t wait to read more from this author.

I was so excited to read this book-initially drawn in by the premise and captivating cover. Unfortunately, I found “The Stranger Upstairs” to be a bit all over the place. For some reason, I found it hard to get into the story and the side portions got me off track what I think the author ultimately wanted us to focus upon. This just didn’t end up being a memorable read for me, so 2 stars ⭐️. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an opportunity to access and review.

Sarah Slade, a social media influencer, decides a fresh start in a fixer upper with a dark past is the perfect escape from her own past. But when the secrets won't stay buried, Sarah begins to question is her fresh start was really worth it at all. The Stranger Upstairs is a stunning debut that grabs reader's attention from the very first chapter and never lets up. Sarah is a very relatable character, despite everything life is and has thrown at her, she just wants to push forward and make the best of things. Unfortunately, life has other, more sinister plans for her. The story was gripping and had me on the edge of my seat, going as fast as I could to figure out what happened next. The atmosphere is deliciously creepy, with Matlin keeping readers in perfect suspense. If this is only her debut, this is an author to keep an eye on!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded down.
This book started off so strong and I felt it was going to be rated much higher. But the middle to end just fell flat in my opinion and took a turn I didn’t expect and didn’t necessarily enjoy. Overall this was not a bad premiere novel for this author.

4-4.5 stars

The premise of this story was really interesting: a social media influencer purchases a murder house and believes the fixer-upper will help her reach a new audience on her lifestyle blog. But with a failing marriage and strange happenings around the house, it might be more than she bargained for.

For a debut novel, this was very written, and I quickly became immersed into the story. While it is definitely a psychological thriller and checks off all of the boxes that make a story suspenseful, I was happy to see the author also touched on mental health. With everything going on in Sarah’s life between her crumbling marriage, the strange occurrences around the house, suspicious neighbors, and hearing footsteps in the attic, it was no wonder she felt like she was losing her sense of reality; and to be honest, it was a little sad.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more from this author!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing a copy of this book to review.*

This one was a bit of a disappointment for me.
I wish this author much luck in her future books but this one just let me down.

It started out pretty strong then just didn't hold my interest. I had to keep picking it back up and finally finished with a big sigh of relief.
Good premise and well written. I loved the author's notes and that seemed to help somewhat. Always read the author's note.

Thank you for this ARC.

The Stranger Upstairs follows Sarah Slade, therapist and social media self help guru, as she navigates moving into her new house. A house with a history or murder.

Overall I enjoyed The Stranger Upstairs. I wasn't super crazy about the ending but I really liked most of the book. I also wish we would have found out what happened to Janet. She kind of felt like just an unresolved piece. The same with Amanda too. We were led to think Amanda was mysterious as well and we never got any background on her either. It just felt like a lot of elements weren't fleshed out the whole way.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

"you repeat what you don't repair"

This psychological/horror thriller is absolutely chilling and will keep readers hooked until the very end! As soon as I saw the captivating cover and read the synopsis, I knew I had to dive into this book. I never saw what was coming. This story is haunting, shocking, and filled with darkness and twists. I read this through out the day, and let me tell you, when night time hit I was so spooked. I wanted to run into my bed and pull the covers up! The plot is filled with lots of twists and turns that will leave you questioning everything.

Sarah, is social media influencer with a mysterious past. She is running from something and as you get to know her more you see that her past is dark and sinister as the house she is living in. She purchases and renovating the Black Wood House that has a dark past. She soon realizes that this "murder house" is more than she bargained for. With peeling wallpaper, strange occurrences, a failing marriage, and suspicious neighbors, Sarah's reality begins to fall apart and unravel. Is she losing her mind, or is there someone or something in the attic with her?

This book takes you on a wild roller coaster ride! From beginning to end, I was completely captivated by this story. I loved seeing the book come alive. I really felt like it was in the Black Wood House myself. If you're in search of a unique and spine-chilling thriller that will keep you guessing, then this is the perfect book for you. I highly recommend reading it and give it a well-deserved 5-star rating.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Great creepy psychological thriller - highly recommended!

The Stranger Upstairs is a mysterious, somewhat creepy story of a couple moving to a new neighborhood to renovate a mansion where, forty years earlier, a husband murdered his wife, and his daughter disappeared.

If you enjoy mysterious books that feature multiple personalities, and greedy and vengeful neighbors, then this may be a good fit for you. I requested this title last fall, thinking it would be a great book to read leading up to Halloween, but I didn’t get to it in time. Overall, it was okay. BUT I’m not a massive fan of thrillers, so it’s likely just not the right book for me.

“You repeat what you don’t repair.” This quote was a center point for the novel, as the main characters both had issues that they didn’t deal with, leaving them prone to a repetitive, unhealthy lifestyle.

If you pick up this novel, you must read the author’s note. I have a greater appreciation for the story and the author after reading Lisa’s note.

I enjoy reading psychological thrillers. So, when a psychological thriller ends in my emails, I either accept the request (if it is through a publisher) or buy the book. And that was the case with The Stranger Upstairs.

The main storyline in The Stranger Upstairs centers around Sarah. Sarah is a therapist/blogger/self-help writer who had just bought a house where a man killed his wife, attempted to kill his daughter, and then committed suicide. She and her husband bought the house thinking they would show the renovations step-by-step and eventually sell the home for double what they paid. I felt the storyline was well written when it centered on Sarah, keeping me glued to the book.

Sarah wasn’t a very likable character and wasn’t a reliable narrator. She wasn’t forthcoming with the truth, and what she did admit to was a little suspect. Everything she remembered about her life before she left with Joe seemed skewed, and I honestly couldn’t figure out if she was telling the truth. As her mental health declined, the more I tended not to believe anything that came out of her mouth. By the end of the book, she had me so twisted that I couldn’t figure out which end was up with her.

The whole murder house mystery was intriguing. I could see someone taking an old house with a history, like Black Wood House, and flipping it. There are people out there who would pay good money to live in an infamous house. I also see how a small town would close ranks against a new house owner. Even the nasty jerk whose uncle was the chief of police was believable (there is always that one nepobaby who thinks they rule the town).

The mystery/thriller angle kept me glued to the book. I figured out what was going on with the little nasty things (being unable to get local help, the cold shoulders, and the rat in the mailbox), but I couldn’t figure out the more significant things until almost the end of the book.

My only complaint about the book was the ending. Several twists made sense and explained some things. But I didn’t understand what happened during that last chapter. It just didn’t make sense and left me with more questions.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, NetGalley, and Lisa M. Matlin for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Stranger Upstairs. All opinions stated in this review are mine.