🚨Debut novel alert🚨

Before I start my review I wanted to say that I got this book through @netgalley and @randomhousepublishing and was surprised/excited cause I didn’t ask for it and it sounded so good! Then what happens next month for @bookofthemonth it’s a pick! So that was a sign that I had to read it ASAP!

Let’s dive in! Murder house is for sale and what’s the first thing that comes to mind? STEER CLEAR….right?! Or so you would think. That’s not what Sarah Slade does. She does the opposite and buys the house to flip it, sell it and let all her followers get a first hand experience through her popular blog.

It’s a win/win for her until strange things start to happen. When Sarah is alone at night that when she starts to hear things in her attic, her cat is acting strange, she becomes ill and she is trying to figure out why this is all happening and why the town is being secretive about the previous murders that happened at her house.

This book is dark and twisted! There are many twists and turns in the book!

Final thought…is Sarah Slade just as unpleasant as her new murder house?

The Stranger Upstairs
🗓️ 09/12/2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah Slade has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.

But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.”

Just in time for spooky season, this is the psychological thriller we all need! Lisa Matlins talent shines in her debut novel that leaves you slightly afraid of the dark by setting a realistically eerie tone. I will admit, midway through the book I wondered where this was going as some story lines were slightly messy. Make sure you take the time to read the authors note at the end 🖤 Thank you @netgalley and for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

“Most people sweep monsters under the bed. I pull the covers back and and let them crawl in.”

What spooky reads have given you goosebumps??

The Stranger Upstairs follows Sarah Slade, a therapist and influencer who has just moved into a house where a famous murder was committed. Sarah’s plan is to renovate the house, document the process of the renovation on her popular blog, and then sell the house for profit. But of course Sarah’s time in the house doesn’t go according to plan. Sarah starts to find notes written around her house that haven’t been written by either her or her husband. She often hears noises coming from the attic. Her cat always seems to be terrified of everything and nothing. She feels like all the neighbors are hiding something about the house from her. The story follows Sarah as she tries to hold on to her sanity and figure out who’s behind the terrifying things happening in her house.

The main thing I want to say is that I really liked this approach to the classic idea of a haunted house. While reading it I truly couldn’t figure out who or what was behind what was happening in the house. I couldn’t even tell if the explanation would be paranormal or a real person/people. And I think it will be polarizing among readers but I thought that the “villain reveal” (I can’t think of a better term lol) was fantastic. I never would’ve thought of it and I thought it made complete sense. There is a certain point where the author wants the reader to start making the connections for themselves shortly before the reveal happens and I think it was done well. My thought process was basically “oh… OH… OH NO! SARAH GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!” all in a span of 30 seconds. There weren’t many twists in this book and I actually appreciated and respected that.

I thought Sarah’s husband was bland and unnecessary. The main story wouldn’t have suffered if he hadn’t been there. Sarah’s personal history and secrets from her past are important parts of the story but I didn’t really care about them. I just wanted to stick to the main plot that was happening in the present. The writing was just fine. Honestly I think the vast majority of it was mediocre and it was the interesting reveal that saved it from being a two star book for me.

Lastly I think The Stranger Upstairs will likely be marketed and described by a lot of readers as a thriller. It has the tone and the structure of a thriller. But I personally think it’s more of a horror. I can’t explain that without spoiling it but I want to tell you that if you go into this expecting a very traditional thriller I think you will be disappointed by the ending.

I think I recommend The Stranger Upstairs but not very highly. It might be worth the read but I don’t think it should be anywhere near the top of your TBR

I was expecting a spooky ghost story, and it didn't quite delivery on that front, but it was creepy at first and I enjoyed the suspension it built with the newspaper articles. It took a bit of a dark turn, I'm not sure how I felt about it, but all in all it felt well written and while I think the character took an abrupt turn that could have been done a bit smoother, I felt all in all it was done well.

Would definitely pick up more books by this author.

Self-help author Sarah Slade is starting over, purchasing the infamous Black Wood House in hopes of renovating and flipping it for a profit. However, the townspeople are unhappy with the purchase, and much rather would have seen the house bulldozed. Each house in the neighborhood is valued over a million Australian dollars, and Black Wood House — the scene of a gruesome massacre — is driving property values down.

As Sarah begins renovations on the house, strange things keep occurring and it’s almost like the house wants her gone. The builders start getting injured in strange ways, and Sarah begins finding notes everywhere, threatening ones that reveal things no one should know.

I tried to fly through this book to find out what was going on but I can’t say I was blown away. Honestly, I felt like parts of this book dragged along, and there were so many plot points that had so much potential that fizzled out before leading to a shocking twist. (I definitely was unpopular with this opinion, so I still recommend giving this book a try!)

Thank you to Netgalley, Ballantine (Random House Publishing Group), and Lisa M. Matlin for providing an ARC of this book for me to read and review. As always, all thoughts and opinions were entirely my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Stranger Upstairs! I loved this book. It was so catchy, right from the beginning. I kept trying to guess what would happen, and the twists kept coming. I would definitely recommend this to any thriller lover!

When a house known for murder and making its inhabitants crazy is available to buy at a steal, influencer and therapist Sarah Slade is ready to take on the challenge of renovating it and making it her own. Is she paranoid about the exclusive neighborhood she lives in, or is the house haunted and getting to her, too?

Overall, this was a very quick read that kept me wanting to find out not only about the house and the strange neighbors, but also about Sarah's secret past that she doesn't want anyone to find out about. It is a great read for fall leading into spooky season and leaves you thinking about all of the noises and trustworthiness of those around you!

The Stranger Upstairs is a psychological suspense that makes you wonder what is really going on. Sarah Slade and her husband, Joe, move into a new home called "the murder house" on Black Wood St. The neighbors don't want them there and, it seems, neither does the house. As the couple start a new life trying to adjust to their new home and attempting to renovate it, things become more and more difficult. Sarah's "new life" is failing. As the story unravels you find out that the house, Sarah and Joe all have secrets of their own, all of which contributes to their struggles. Overall, the story is okay but there are parts where it is easy to get confused. It seems like there are multiple directions that were possibilities but none is completely developed. Most of the characters are unlikeable so it makes it hard to cheer for the "home team". Overall a decent story that had the potential to be a lot more.

From the publisher:
Most people wouldn’t buy an infamous murder house to renovate for fun . . . but Sarah Slade is not most people.

A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah Slade has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.

But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin was released September 12th, 2023 from Bantam Books.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's interesting - comes across as a gothic thriller. The plot moves along at a good clip. I haven't read a character quite like Sarah Slade before. And there are many twists that help to move the plot forward.

Sarah Slade has a shadowy past. What she has done to cause her to flee her home before this one isn't revealed all at once. It feels like she's being set up for an identity twist. As the book goes on, it becomes clear there is more to Sarah than meets the eye.

Speaking of twists, this book has many. I think I anticipated two of the twists. The rest of them surprised me right up to the final twist. This is a good thing.

It's sort of a gothic story. There are hints that the house or something in it may be a character. And there are hints that the town may be conspiring against Sarah. There is sort of a descent into madness that makes you question not only her sanity at the moment, but at every previous moment before that. There are layers to the story which just make it so much more enjoyable.

If you enjoy gothic thrillers, then this would be a good book for you. There are many surprising twists right up until the end. And it's a bit of a page turner. I give 5 out of 5 stars to this debut novel.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

This was a very frightening read. Sarah and Joe buy a haunted house that no one will touch: contractors, plumbers, neighbors. As soon as they walk in, they hear the walls telling them to leave. But what if Sarah and Joe aren't who they say they are? This one is hard to read at night, as it is creepy and suspenseful!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel!

I think was good for a debut! It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, though. I wanted more of that good stuff that happens towards the end. For me, the problem was that there seemed to be too much going on with the MC. And not enough going on with the house itself, or the social media. There's a backstory that i think would have made a great book on its own. The writing itself was good, and I'll be picking up the author's next book for sure.

In “The Stranger Upstairs”, Lisa Matlin’s combines horror, thriller and mystery that results in an absolute trip!

The plot takes place at a haunted house aka murder house. Family members have been killed there before Sarah Slade, a successful social media influence as well as thriving therapist moves in with her quiet husband. Sarah is the star of social media. Why wouldn’t her new neighbours be obsessed with her, right? Well, there is more to find out behind Sarah’s perfectly maintained façade.

Well done to Lisa Matlin on her debut!
It’s a perfect transition into the season 👻.
Don’t miss it out!

A grim story that deserves all 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Quick Synopsis:
The Stranger Upstairs gives off immediate horror-read vibes. The quick synopsis is Sarah Slade, a therapist, and Instagram influencer, buys a murder house to renovate and use as the substance for her upcoming book. Sarah’s life holds many secrets, including her past and crumbling marriage. As she begins to redesign the home, the home seems to fight back. The storyline details her decaying life’s plans inside her newly bought decaying home.

Characters:
The Stranger Upstairs’ MC, Sarah Slade, essentially introduces herself as a shopaholic and alcoholic. She also admits to recently purchasing the murder house, seemingly to get more engagement on her social media platform. Sufficed to say, the beginning of the story screamed unreliable narrator, and I was hooked.

Storyline/Pacing:
As the story continued, I struggled with how much I detested Sarah Slade’s narration. She oozed sociopathic tendencies, and for some reason, that slowed the pacing for me a bit. That said, the momentum speeds up about 40% into the story when Matlin begins interrupting each chapter with news stories foreshadowing upcoming events.

Author:
This was a well-written debut novel. I appreciated Lisa M Matlin’s candidness in her afterword, and I will look for more reads from her.

Overall:
In general, this was a good mystery/thriller read, perfect for the approaching Halloween season. I’d suggest this one to people who like creepy paranormal or atmospheric thrillers.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and Kathleen Quinlan at Random House Publishing Group for the digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was okay. I thought there would be more of a satisfying ending with characters getting what was coming to them but no such luck. Characters are unlikeable and the twist was underwhelming. I didn’t hate this book but it will not stick with me.

A solid 4⭐️ read! I’m a sucker for a book with a creepy house setting. This house was the home of a murder/suicide 40 years ago. It has been abandoned ever since. When Sarah purchases the house to renovate it with her husband nothing goes according to plan. While I think the unreliable female/mental illness trope is WAY overdone I still found this one super entertaining. And like a good thriller does, as soon as I thought I had this one figured out another big twist would come along.
I definitely recommend this one!

A suspenseful thriller that kept me going. Sarah is a liar and a sociopath. Even so, I found myself rooting for her as she tried to solve the mysteries surrounding her. The townspeople resent her purchase of the “murder house.” Are they complicit in sending her the threatening messages she finds? Are there ghosts in the house causing her to see and hear things that are frightening? And why is she becoming more and more mentally unstable? The answers to these questions are revealed in what I thought was a clever and believable ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a fast-paced horror / mystery that is perfect for readers that love a haunted, creepy house setting. An influencer with a bestselling self-help book buys a house that has sat vacant for 40 years. It's located in a small town, and it also happens to be where a brutal murder took place - a man killed his wife with a hammer and then committed suicide. Sarah and her husband Joe are hoping to make a nice profit off the house once they fix it up, but the restoration is more than they bargained for. Plus Sarah and Joe's relationship is on the rocks. And then Sarah starts to spin out of control. Is the house haunted? Or is Sarah just crazy?

I loved the creepy setting for this book. It's a great debut novel for this author. I enjoyed the twists, and Sarah is definitely a character to remember.

It was an interesting premise but the second part felt like several unrealized plot points thrown together.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Lisa M. Matlin for an ARC of this book!**

"Want a great deal on a house?

BUY ONE WHERE SOMEONE WAS MURDERED!"

(and if those two opening lines don't catch your attention, you probably haven't been personally victimized by the soul-crushing housing market as of late. Or you just MIGHT be asleep!)

Sarah Slade is looking for the Next Big Hit on her lifestyle blog, the one article that will draw in her legions of loyal followers like never before. When she learns of Black Wood House, the place where a terrifying murder-suicide happened years ago and sees the Bargain Basement price, she swoops up the property, hoping to renovate the insides and document the process. After all, Sarah has a lot on her mind: it's been a while since her last hit book, and her once passionate marriage to husband Joe has fizzled into something she hardly recognizes, and her career as a therapist has her hitting the sauce a little TOO often. (On top of taking her medication, of course).

And the town of Beacon isn't exactly thrilled about this new development either. Its inhabitants feel that her mere presence on the property is disrespectful to its original owners and the tragedy that took place...and if Sarah isn't mistaken, the house isn't too thrilled to have her either. As if having graves in the yard, a giant blood stain on the carpet, and creepy bird wallpaper on the walls isn't enough, Sarah starts to hear noises. Bumps in the night. And she even swears she can hear the last words of the previous murder victims echoing in her ears: "Don't kill me. Don't kill me. Don't kill me."

As the strange and unsettling occurrences multiply, Sarah begins to lose time and memory, coming to her therapist coworker Emma for help and struggling to keep a grasp on reality at any cost. But Sarah has more than just the house to contend with...secrets from her past are coming back to haunt her too. A certain person she lost many years ago has a bone to pick too...and hasn't ever left Sarah completely. As the noises inside reach a deadly crescendo, and two BODIES are found nearby, did the house find its newest victim in Sarah? Or did it simply unleash a hidden evil lying dormant within someone's mind?

I'm always a sucker for a good murder house tale. There's a reason my favorite season of American Horror Story was its very first season, the aptly named "Murder House". A creepy house personified can be one of the most terrifying characters you'll ever read, and in many ways, Black Wood House helped to create that atmosphere immediately and ticked all of the boxes. Though I certainly questioned Sarah's motives (website and Instagram or not) for LIVING in this house before anyone would consider it habitable, I went with it.

This narrative flows quickly and easily, and makes you feel as though you've always known her: there are bits of snarky commentary about social media, her clients, and observations about the world at large. In some ways, Sarah reminded me of a watered-down Joe Goldberg...if he decided to then become an author/social media darling/therapist. (And let's face it, he would probably not participate in at LEAST two of those professions on principle alone!)

The plot speeds along, with the house terrifying Sarah and the author keeping things pretty close to the vest UNTIL we are tossed a news article, seemingly out of nowhere, revealing that two bodies had been found near the property, unidentified. I'm okay with this as a device and it was certainly shocking, but for some reason it felt a bit jarring as a reader...and I think the author could have held this information back a BIT longer. It almost felt like "Well, we've hit x point in the narrative...time to drop a bomb" rather than a natural, shocking progression. I'm all for a curve ball and love a good twist, but it felt more like a micro info dump than a natural sequence of events.

Once the next set of reveals happens though, this book TRULY turns from a 'things that go bump in the night murder house thriller', into PURE psychological thriller territory. And there are certainly clues that the book will go this way; Sarah's aforementioned fondness for pills and booze and emotional instability shine from the first page. But as she becomes more and more unhinged...well, let's just say the book's title EASILY could have a double meaning (and perhaps Matlin even designed it this way!)

However, I have to admit, against my better judgment, this was a fairly unputdownable read, mainly because I COULD NOT stop thinking about it. Why against my better judgment, you ask? For one thing...there are some fairly large plot holes (AND a few red herrings thrown in, seemingly just to muddy the waters) and an ending that could be considered convenient at best. I'm certainly okay with suspending my disbelief to an extent, but the explanation provided seemed a bit lackluster after the dramatic events preceding it. The ending also went a bit OTT for the sole purpose of providing ANOTHER twist, and I don't think this last bit of flair was needed or believable. I'm not one for gratuitous twists, and the very last 'icing on the cake' moment was more like eating one more slice of cake when you're already full...and INSTANTLY regretting it.

Though this book didn't necessarily tread over any new territory, it was the sort of debut that catches you off guard JUST enough to crawl under your skin and keep humming in the back of your mind. And if there's anything I've learned since finishing this one, despite my better judgment and desire to stay snuggled under the covers....sometimes you just need to get out of the house and breathe in a BIT of fresh air.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

What an incredible gothic debut novel full of twists and suspense. Best-selling author and social media influencer Sarah Slade and her husband buy a community’s infamous “murder house” with intent to flip & sell. Beacon’s residents have been haunted by the murders 40 years before and everyone has wanted the Black Wood House gone, so naturally, they’re not welcome to newcomers like Sarah and Joe.
It quickly becomes clear that something is wrong with the house as renovations begin, from her cat’s weird behavior to strange noises upstairs. The real question - is it someone with ill intent…or is the house alive? And as Sarah begins to unravel, so do her secrets.
For a debut, Lisa M. Matlin really knew how to draw the reader in and keep them turning the page…I almost read this all in one sitting. My only gripe is with some of the unanswered questions — like a very prominent character mentioned early on whose fate still remains a mystery. Perhaps we could see a sequel?
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is out now.