2.5 Stars

This sounded extremely intriguing and unique when I first picked it up and read the synopsis. However, I was expecting it to be more suspenseful and thrilling. Don't get me wrong, there was definitely tension and mystery, but I wasn't a huge fan of Kimber and I felt the story waned in the middle and end. Still, it was a decent mystery that I can see many enjoying.

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

I enjoyed this book although it did take me a minute to finish it. I would read so far then pick up a different book. I don't know if it was because I was annoyed with the story at the beginning or not. I would have like a little something extra because I felt like it was missing something.

Kimber returns home from a trip to find a man has moved into her house, without her permission. This man, Lance Wilson, knows her secrets, but she will have to work to find out his. Is he really who he says he is? And how much does he know?

I really enjoyed this thriller from Laura Benedict! Every character has secrets and it was super fun to read and find out what! Great pace, and great twists!

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Benedict for this great read!

Fantastic thriller with lots of twists! I found this title so compelling that I finished the entire book in one day. I found myself making theories the whole way through and frequently second guessing myself. Characters weren't always as fleshed out at they could have been, but still a fun and captivating read.

the story description had me itching to read this book and it did not disappoint. although i found kimbers a bit unlikeable i still enjoyed it and felt the emotions along with her.

well done to author.

Plot was intriguing. Characters were lacking depth and main character had horrible personality. Found ending slightly predictable.

In all honesty, I struggled with this book. I liked the plotline, but I wasn't too keen on the characters especially Kimber who I thought was revolting. Overall, I found the story a little weak.

**3.5 stars**
I picked up this book a few times, then put it aside for one reason or another. It seemed to meander for the first half and I nearly put it aside for good.
The story is set in the present day as Kimber returns from a few days away, to find a strange man having set up residence in her house. How did that happen? Who has forged her signature on the lease documents?
Slowly the story unravels with flashbacks to Kimber’s family life growing up. This works well, at first I didn’t like Kimber as a person but as the story evolves I warmed more to her.
I can’t say I loved this story but once I past the 1/2 way mark it certainly picked up pace.
ARC copy from Netgalley to read.

The story opens with the death, possible murder, of Michelle Hannon in the 90's.
Years later Kimber Hannon arrives home after four days away to find her locks have been changed and there is a stranger in her home who has a 6-month lease agreement seemingly signed by her! And she has no knowledge of any of these events!
On confronting the stranger along with two police officers, her lawyer, who happens to be her obsessive ex, and a very nosy neighbour, the stranger whispers "I was there. I saw what you did!"
The story flashes between the past - Michelle and the present - Kimber.
And as the story progresses you realise Kimber is hiding something. And that she is not one of the most innocent types around.
Halfway through the reader gets given a big hint that may explain a few things and opens up a whole new can of worms - and making Kimber see things that she thought she understood in a way different light.
An exciting read where things are not quite what they seem. I finished it within a day, it was so gripping.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.

The premise of The Stranger Inside pulled me in, and Laura Benedict kept the promise of the premise. The creep factor in this novel is high, and the tension makes it very entertaining reading. I think what I appreciated most was that the main character was so, so, so, awful. I commend Ms. Benedict for her ability to draw and layer so detestable a character and still make the story compelling enough to make me stay with it! Well Done! I would definitely read more from this author.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

TWO AND A HALF STARS

I was drawn to this book by the description and the cover, but was disappointed by the execution. Reading this book felt confusing rather than suspenseful, and I found it hard to sympathize with a rather unlikable protagonist.

Although the premise of this book was promising, lacklustre twists and an unsatisfying ending prevent me from giving it a higher rating.

I received an ARC of this book from Mulholland Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Stranger Inside is a unique read and my first novel by author Laura Benedict.
Finally with her life back on track Kimber Hannon comes home from a trip to find her key no longer opens her front door. There is a stranger living in her house. A stranger who has paperwork claiming he has every right to be there. When Kimber confronts him he whispers "I was there. I saw what you did".
Written in different timelines, from past to present, the many twists and turns make this a very suspenseful and enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a good mystery thriller, the start is very good and gripping, someone else claims your house is theirs!
Overall was a good read, although I didn't really "love" the main character, the plot was good enough to keep going.

What a page turner, definitely a psychological thriller. Twists and turns throughout the story all the way to the last chapter. Will recommend to our readers.

The Stranger Inside by Laura Benedict was just okay in my opinion. It wasn't the best book that I've ever read, but it wasn't the worse book either. I wanted to like this book more than I did .One of the aspects of this book that I struggled with was that I found the main character, Kimber, highly unlikable. From the beginning, she rubbed me the wrong way. I often found myself getting annoyed with her. However, I did like that she was a bit of an unreliable narrator, and I never really know if I could trust her or not. I did, however, figure out the twist pretty early in the book. That was slightly anti-climactic for me. However, it was a quicky and easy read, and for the most part, I found the story entertaining. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free e-copy of this book!

Could you imagine coming home from a relaxing weekend away, inserting your key to your home and it not working? I can't imagine what I would do if this happened to me. But The Stranger Inside details Kimber's story of just that and the horror. What an epic fast pace story. New author for me and I'm already looking forward to another book by her. This is definitely a solid thriller and well written.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Laura Benedict for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you came home one day to discover a stranger living in your home? Sleeping in your bed, eating your food, going through your most private possessions...

It gets worse. This stranger has changed the locks, produced a "lease" with your apparent signature, and convinced the police he's the rightful tenant. They think you're crazy. You know you're not.

Believe it or not, the story gets worse still.

The stranger knows you.

But who the hell is he?

I feel like The Stranger Inside had an incredibly strong premise with a less-strong delivery. It begins when Kimber Hannon arrives home from vacation to discover her key no longer opens her front door. As the hours turn into days, she realizes that the man now living in her home isn't just after the house, or her money---he's after her secrets. But which ones? After all, she has no idea who he is---but he certainly remembers her...

The main thing that ruined The Stranger Inside for me was that I simply did not like Kimber. She is, put crassly, a b*tch: she treats even the people who are kind to her like dirt scraped from the bottom of her shoes. While I initially felt horrible for her in the middle of this predicament, I felt less and less sympathy for her as the book went on.

That's a problem, because without a protagonist to cheer for, you're really just wading through a decades-old sea of lies, hate and bitterness. The reveal at the end was a head-turner, but by that point I didn't really care if Kimber made it out all right or not. Whoops. I think she's supposed to be a complex shades-of-grey gal but the heartlessness she had for her supposed best friend---who was an absolute angel to her---was a shade too much.

As for everyone else in the book, I guess they had their own reasons to be bitter, but also? It's been twenty years, guys. Get over yourselves.

The Stranger Inside is a psychological thriller filled with twists and turns. This is my first book to read by Laura Benedict. I enjoyed her writing style. It is very fast-paced.

the twist was somewhat worthwhile - but I just found the build up to the action in this book far too long.