I received an ARC of this book thanks to Net Galley and publisher Mulholland Books in exchange for an honest review.

Oh boy, this was a rough read. And it started off so promising! The Stranger Inside is about what happens when a woman comes home from a long break to discover someone else is living in her house. That alone is a great thriller premise but unfortunately that's pretty much the only great thing about this book.

A lot of other reviews have complained about the main character, Kimber, being incredibly unlikable. This actually didn't bother me much because a) I don't think anyone deserves horrible things to happen to them and so I have a high tolerance for terrible people in thrillers, and b) Kimber was so flat that she didn't have much of a personality for me to dislike. I just could not understand her actions at any point. From the very first chapter, the way she reacts to someone being in her house is just..off.

There is also unfortunately a serious case of the plot only happening because certain people act like morons. Pretty early on Kimber discovers something which could get the stranger out of her house. Does she tell the police? Nope. Instead she keeps it to herself and decides to investigate and continue not being allowed to live in her house. I understand curiousity but what she knows about the stranger isn't intriguing enough at this point for her to want to investigate further. From that point onwards I was just frustrated because everything could be stopped if only Kimber went to the police with what she knew.

The other major problem is that this book really dragged for me. This is a combination of poor pacing, a dull protagonist and a really weird way of doing plot reveals. One spoiler-free example goes like this: Kimber finds out the name of the stranger in her house. A flashback chapter then reveals who that stranger is in regards to her life. Then in the present day, Kimber finds out who that person is through a friend. Then another character tells her who that person is. Then she finds evidence to confirm who that person is. Then another character tells her who the person is. This is the same bit of information talked about again and again with no new details, and we have to sit through characters talking about stuff we already know.

The ending as a whole was a mess. There is one very weak 'twist' which you actually again, get told earlier on through narration. This basically amounts to Kimber going at one point 'Hmm, that mysterious person reminds me of X. But that's silly haha.' and then at the end, 'Omg, that mysterious person is X! Who could have seen this coming?'. I came dangerously close to not finishing reading this and I skimmed the end as a result. The final few pages hold another 'twist' which just erases a pretty major thing and it's about as awful as that sounds.

I really don't feel good when I dislike ARCs that I've requested but sadly, The Stranger Inside just did not do it for me. If characters really aren't important to you and you don't mind not being surprised by a thriller, then you might get more enjoyment out of this than I did,

Overall Rating: 2/5

When Kimber returns home from a weekend getaway she finds that her front door will not unlock. She cannot understand why her keys no longer work. Then, she sees someone inside. Kimber immediately called the police but when they arrive he presents a signed lease that allows him to live there. She is shocked to say the least! And then the man whispers to her, “I was there. I know what you did.” She needs to know who this man is and what he wants from her. She has tried so hard to hide her past.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book! I will be looking for this author’s next book. (less)

Imagine arriving home from a relaxing retreat only to find that you are unable to get into your own home and, in fact, someone else has moved in ... and that’s not where it ends! Laura Benedict weaves a web of secrets, lies and deceit which is wholly unpredictable. The Stranger Inside is a spellbinding, nightmarish story that held me in its grip from start to finish. Thanks to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a great new thriller! I received a copy of this book from Netgalley & the publisher.

The story follows Kimber, a St Louis area saleswoman for a radio station. She returns home from a long weekend away and finds that there is someone living in her house - a man - who says he has a sixth month lease bearing her signature. Kimber is astonished; who is he? How did he get this fake lease? In a small scuffle that winds up with Kimber getting arrested at her own home, he says he knows “what she did.” What DID Kimber do?

You find out the answer to that pretty quickly and the rest of the book is spent figuring out who is this man and why is he after her? It’s a creepy, weird thriller that kept me guessing repeatedly.

Thank you so much to Mulholland Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was super creepy to me and I can't even imagine having to go through this.

When Kimber returns home from a short vacation she's startled to discover that her keys no longer fit in the door. Thinking there's something faulty with her keys she goes to use her extra one hidden and realizes there's a bike on her porch that isn't hers and she sees a shadow in her window.  Quickly calling the police thinking they will take care of removing the intruder Kimber learns there's nothing they can do to help her.  This new tenant has a lease signed by her and is adamant that he is renting the house from her for the next six months.  Kimber calls her lawyer ex-boyfriend to help her but realizes no one can help her unless she reveals a secret that this stranger knows from her past.  Kimber's past is threatening to be revealed and she wonders why all of this is happening at once while dealing with a stranger in her house with her personal items and sleeping in her bed *insert creepy chills here*.

I loved how this book from the very beginning started with creepy suspense and instantly hooked me.  I wanted to know who the heck was in this ladies house and how they came to have a lease with her signature on it.  Sadly this does happen in the real world all too often and I felt horrible for Kimber at first because this was happening to her but then the story went on and I started to detest Kimber because of the things she did in her past.  I'm not saying anyone deserves to have this happen to them but they do say karmas a bitch.

Suspenseful, well plotted and fluently written. Kimber, the central character, is a flawed but engaging narrator as she takes us on her quest to resolve the mystery of the man who has taken over her life and knows her darkest secret. I have now heard of this author and will look for other books by her as this was utterly compelling.

Michelle Hannon, age 16, has begun finding notes slipped into her school locker. One note says they know what her Dad is doing tonight. Other notes are more vulgar. Michelle does not understand it. Her Dad is a jovial man and her mother is a pretty lady. Not long after, Michelle does from a fall onto some rocks.

Kimber Hannon was 14 at the time her sister, Michelle, died. Afterward, her Dad left them and Kimber was a very confused young girl.

Today, Kimber, age 38, is just returning to her house after being gone for four days of rest and relaxation. But her key won’t open the door. Seeing a man inside, she calls the police. As she explains the situation to the officer, her elderly neighbor claims she saw Kimber give keys to her house to a man named Lance Wilson and said she’s renting the house to him for 6 months. Kimber denies this and calls Gabriel Silva, an attorney. At one time, they had been an item, but no more. When Lance shows the officer a lease with Kimber’s signature on it, she knows it has been forged. Furious, she jumps on the man who whispers to her: “I was there. I saw what you did.” She doesn’t know what he’s talking about. That’s when the officer arrests her for jumping on him. When she’s released from jail, she goes to stay with her friend, Diana, while this gets straightened out. Frustrated at this whole bizarre situation, Kimber starts her own investigation into what is going on.

Long buried secrets; love affairs; jealousy; murder; revenge; hatred; and pure evil. These are just a few of what you will find in this action-filed book. I read it and cringed as more things were uncovered This story is beautifully woven with surprises around each corner. I think thriller fans are going to keep the pages turning quickly with this book. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When Kimber returns home from a much needed vacation at the lake, she finds the locks changed and a complete stranger (or is he?) living in her house. Just who is this man and what does he want from Kimber? Little by little the story unfolds and it’s quite a doozy! A fast paced Psychological Suspense that you won’t want to miss!

Ohhh this was creepy! You come home from a long weekend and put your key in the door. Wait, why is not working? Maybe I have the wrong key, nope that is not it. What the hell is going on? As your panic builds you think okay well I have an extra key. Then you look up at your window and see a figure in the window. Who is in your house and why?!

Holy crap! As Kimber is calling the police and reporting a stranger in her home I am thinking surely this will be taken care of. Unfortunately for Kimber, it is not that simple. For people that think no way this could never happen, it can. I actually knew of someone this happened to. I know of someone that moved overseas and they planned on renting their home out. Except a scam artist beat them to it. He changed the locks, drew up a lease and rented it out to an innocent couple. So this can happen and does. Except this story is so much more! Is Lance just an innocent victim? Or is he in fact the scam artist?

Someone seems to know some details of Kimber's past that she has been trying to keep hidden. Could her life be turned upside yet again? Why is this all happening at once? On top of that she is dealing with thinking of someone in her home using her personal items, sleeping her bed. This sent creepy chills down my spine.

As this sinister plot evolves we learn more about Kimber and her past. Oh Kimber how could you? I found myself detesting Kimber as she revealed more and more of herself. Her ex Gabriel tries to help her through this hard time and I wanted them to get back together so badly! Do they or is that not in the cards? My lips are sealed, you will have to find out how Kimber fares in this whole nightmare for yourself!

I read this as a group read with my Traveling Sisters, please pop over and check out what they had to say!

Thank you to Laura Benedict, Muholland Books and Netgalley for this ARC.

Kimber Hanon, a successful sales executive with a leading magazine is met leaving work and arriving at her home. She is tired and looks forward to dinner and relaxing. Problem arises when she finds that her key does not fit the lock like it normally should. Quickly finding that the locks have been changed she rings the bell in order to find out what's going on. A man answers the door and says that he has an agreement from her allowing him to live in the house for six months. Kimber made no such agreement and calls the police to intercede. Problem arises when the stranger produces a document attesting to his right to live in the house and duly signed by her.
Ms Benedict weaves a very tight tale about what is going on. Her describing of the characters used in telling the story is masterful and the reader quickly grasps what the events are that encompass the novel's plot. Kimber is a flawed lady and in the first person narrative admits to the killing of her sister years ago, not being suspected for it, but living with the crime during the years after.
Many novels utilize a surprise ending normally enticing the reader. Ms Benedict skillfully leads the reader event by event into what is a totally logical finale. It becomes more and more logical as the plot unfolds. The book us certainly one that cannot be put down until finished and provides a definite reason to be on the lookout for more Laura Benedict novels. Very well done.

Excellent psychological thriller. When Kimber comes home to find the locks changed and a stranger living in her house, her life turns to chaos. With a realistic looking lease, the police take the squatter seriously and don’t remove him. Turning to an ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be an attorney, Kimber is desperate for help and advice. As Kimber investigates the hell that has become her new life, she soon realizes her past has come back to haunt her, and most everything happens for a reason. Crazy, infuriating novel that is impossible to put down.

The Stranger Inside should be a first purchase for most adult collections, especially those where domestic suspense is popular. Perfect for fans our Our House.

I've read several books by Laura Benedict that I loved. However, I couldn't even finish this one. The main character was annoying and I found the story not to be to my liking. Gave up after 30%...

I enjoyed this book overall, at times it was a bit slow and some situations were hard to believe but there are some interesting twists during the story. For me it is hard to keep reading a book when I can't empathize with the main characters and Kimber is a very unlikable character. But in this case I was very curious about the story and how it would end.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5

Just too much, this one. I was certainly entertained by it but it wasn’t overly satisfying. There are a lot of twists which normally I love but here it was a bit too much. At a certain point things become over the top and it was. The characters are awful. Well written, if that was the intent and I believe it was. I have said before that I don’t need to like them but if they are awful then give me something interesting about them - like intelligent and super manipulative or completely without remorse but that wasn’t the case here. The ending does wrap things up but left me wanting more. Overall ok and may try more by this author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Mulholland Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

I received a free e-copy of The Stranger Inside by Laura Benedict from NetGalley for my honest review.

Kimber Hannon comes home from vacation to find her locks have been changed and someone is living inside her house. She calls the police but he has paperwork to prove he is on the lease. But, Kimber never put him on the lease and never invited him in. Then he tells her that he knows something about her, and he wants everyone else to know it too. He says, "I was there. I saw what you did:."

What does this man know about Kimber? Does he really know Kimber's secrets that she left in her past, so many years ago. This man isn't wanting just a place to stay though, he wants to destroy Kimber's life and everything she knows. This is a suspense novel and it has twists and turns in it but it was very predictable at the same time.

Very interesting read ! I highly recommend!

Thank you netgalley for this opportunity to read this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

3.5*
This is the third book I’ve read recently with a similar premise; returning home to find someone else living in your house. What a terrifying thought! Can you even imagine? I feel chills just thinking about it!

After a trip abroad Kimber comes home and discovers her key no longer open the door. Odd...but when she sees a man inside her home her life begins to unravel. This man, this stranger, insists he has a signed lease and has no intention of leaving!
Will Kimber ever get her home back? What exactly does this man want from her? Just her home? Or is that just the beginning?

I loved the blurb when I first read it! I was anticipating an amazing read. While I enjoyed it, I wanted just a bit more (Ha! Don't I always!?). With so much potential, I’m hoping someone will take this premise and just blow me away with where they take it.

A buddy read with Susanne!❄️

Thank you to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Laura Benedict for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.

This is hands-down one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. I love thriller/mystery novels but feel they can often run a bit long. The length of this book is perfect. The writing is immaculate—I was glued to every page. The way Laura Benedict artfully writes, flipping between present and past, shows just how well she has refined her craft. In a time where more and more thriller/mystery books have become predictable ‘The Stranger Inside’ kept me guessing throughout the entire read. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone for the simply excellent writing alone.