Well, that wasn't what I was expecting. Sometimes I don't read the blurb to see what a book is about. I love to read, so once I finish one, I jump right into the next. This one kind of took me by surprise. Scary stuff isn't really my genre, and this one turned out to be a "gothic psychological debut." Yes, it did.
I liked the premise of the book. A solid murder mystery that Sarah Slade has stepped right into. She's trying to be a house-rehabbing social media influencer (isn't everyone?) who is trying to make a fresh start and a little money with her husband Joe. Oooooh, but there are secrets! These secrets surround the house and the characters. I wish we'd had more of a description of the house. I couldn't really get a good picture of it in my head. The layout, the outside, the grounds...all I know is there are a bunch of bedrooms and two bathrooms and scary woods near by.
The characters aren't very well fleshed out, so when some of the backstory comes to light, it's a little confusing and definitely surprising. The house itself is creepy. That was set up quite well even though I can't picture the actual place. It did remind me of the Addams Family movie where the house routinely growls "get out"!
The book ended well enough, but what about Janet? Jeff? Author's prerogative and all that, but ol' Jeff needed his comeuppance. Some things weren't terribly plausible, but it's a decent read. Thanks to NetGalley for suggesting this one.

Lifestyle blogger and self-help writer/therapist Sarah Slade has just bought the ultimate social media clickbait- an old murder house called the Black Wood Estate. Planning on remodeling and reselling the house, Slade plans to up her social media presence by documenting every part of the reno on her blog.

What hides behind the facade is a failing marriage and a killer secret- Sarah isn't who we think she is. When Sarah and her husband move into the property renovations start to crumble faster than the wallpaper in the master bedroom.

Sarah starts to feel as if the house is alive and doesn't want to be fixed. As her thoughts turn from normal to manic, we see Sarah unravel- or is it the house? Footsteps at all hours, notes for Sarah- what is happening?

The Black Wood House's deadly demise may be starting again...this time with Sarah as its victim.

Holy cannoli as a first time author this book is amazing. the beautiful cover is going to pull you into the dark and twisted murder house. Sarah has decided she going to take her secrets and start fresh by buying and renovating the murder house. Boy does she realize fast she may have bitten off more then she can chew. This book kept me glued to my seat….if you like thrillers and books that have you guessing at every turn this one is for you.

The Stranger Upstairs is a twisty, provocative mystery by Lisa Matlin. Sarah Slade and her husband Joe are starting over in an affluent part of Australia. The only way they're able to afford to live there is by purchasing the murder house-where a man killed his wife years ago in a bloody episode neighbors and the community have not forgotten. We soon find out Sarah is a therapist and has written a best-selling book and became an influencer, all helping to pay the bills. Joe is a bartender and their marriage-while portrayed as happy and loving-is fractured. There are alternating perspectives and flashbacks, which serve to knit the story together as it is clear Sarah and Joe are running from something. Strange things are happening in the house: noises, items moved, notes left for Sarah, warnings. Neighbors are mostly tight-lipped but hint that the former owner said the house was making him crazy. Sarah's grip on reality is rapidly loosening and time is running out as she and Joe area about to be exposed. I enjoyed Matlin's twists (some unexpected!) and the setting was perfect for the upcoming spooky season. This is a quick read and if you like mysteries and thrillers, you will want to add this to your list!

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me access to an ARC of The Stranger Upstairs in exchange for my honest review.

What a way to debut as an author!! The Stranger Upstairs was such an incredible psychological thriller/suspense book that kept my attention from the first page to the very last!

You think Sarah Slade, social media influencer, is the main character but you’ll come to find the main character isn’t a person. The main character is the Black Wood House and it’s as creepy as it sounds. Sitting vacant for 40 years after a horrific murder suicide occurred, what would you expect.

I’m still wondering… What ever happened to Janet? I would’ve fled and never returned if something that horrific had happened to me or my family, so I can’t say I blame her.

I look forward to more from Lisa Matlin. I can only imagine how amazing the books from her in the future will be and I cannot wait to get my hands on them!

➠ ʙᴏᴏᴋ: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa Matlin

➠ ᴍʏ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4/5 sᴛᴀʀs

➠ ɢᴏᴏᴅʀᴇᴀᴅs ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 3.81/5 sᴛᴀʀs

➠ Pub date: August 12, 2023 (out now!)

➠ 💭 If you want to finish this book and have those facial emotions 😳😅😬🤯 or you want to say “what the F,” do yourself a favor and read this book.

If you enjoy reading about any of the following: love, heartbreak, independence, destruction, natural disaster, confronting your fears, special bonds between family and friends, kinship care, etc, this book is definitely for you!

Sarah Slade (an individual with an eery past), a social media influencer and therapist purchases the Black Wood House with her husband. Sarah tries to conceal the horrific past that occurred at this home in order to bring in more sponsorships to further conceal her failing marriage and her underlying issues. However, once the contractors she has hired have weird things that begin happening to them, does she realize something might truly be wrong and someone might be out to get her. She confides with a friend at work who tries to help her, but she gets in a little over her head.

This book truly made me say What the F. I never expected the ending. Even when it was playing out, I still didn’t believe it. The beginning was a bit slow for me, but once I hit 50% or so, it did and I thought it was fantastic. It was a great debut novel and I’m excited to see what is next for this author.

Thank you Sourcebooks for providing me a #Netgalley of this book! #gifted

Never judge a book by its cover because I definitely didn't think this book was going to go the way it went. But in a very good way! It's atmospheric, creepy & eerie all the things you want in a haunted house novel. There were some chapters that were slower than others but that didn't stop me from enjoying it & very good character development. This was an amazing debut novel, can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us!

I cannot believe that this is a debut! I was hooked from the start and had to force myself to put the book down when I needed sleep! It's not very often that I hate all the characters in a book and end up loving the book. But this is the exception! I cannot wait to see what else this author releases!

I was enamored by this book. I LOVED the unreliable narrator. I enjoyed the "neighborhood" drama of this murder house. I truly didn't know what would happen or how. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and would definitely recommend this spooky thriller.

Sarah Slade and her husband Joe buy the Black Wood House, the setting of a famous murder years before. Sarah's plan is to remodel the house and document the entire process on social media to boost her popularity and hopefully gain some lucrative partnerships. But the town doesn't want her there, her husband doesn't want to be there, and even more so, the house doesn't seem to want her there. As the days pass, Sarah fears all of her plans are going far off the rails.

This was one that was a real mystery. There were so many unlikable characters - meaning all of them - that there was no clear person to root for. I couldn't figure out the explanation for what was happening to Sarah, other than that everything in her life turned out badly.

Definitely a well written story and it kept me interested throughout. It's a quick read with lots of action and twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available September 12, 2023.

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M Matlin

My rating:
4/5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sarah Slade and her husband move into Blackwood House with the intention of renovating it. Blackwood House has a horrific past. Sarah starts to notice strange things happening to her and she starts to believe that the house does not want her there.


Okay this book genuinely blew my mind 🤯

I had no idea where this story was going up until the end and I did NOT guess the ending.

This was such a fast paced read that kept my attention. I also had to mention that I loved the main characters cat named Reaper 🐱

This was twisty, spooky and kept me on the edge of my seat. It is so refreshing to read a good thriller.

Give the author’s note a read at the end. It shares the author’s journey to write this book.

Overall I would absolutely give this one a read! I saw it was one of the Debut picks for September on Book of the Month! I was luckily approved to read an advanced copy from Netgalley.

I did have a couple unanswered questions so that’s why I didn’t give it a solid 5.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the ARC! You can read this one now!

Took me a bit longer to finish this book, I couldn't read it at night! Wow, keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page. Kind of creepy!

Sarah is a therapist and self-help writer. She also just bought a gorgeous past, with a not so pretty past. People have been murdered in her house. She got it for a great deal and is excited to renovate it. While she’s making the renovations, she plans to blog about it and get some social media points.

Things quickly become a nightmare. Nothing is going right. When Sarah’s cat ends up sick, she thinks someone is out to get them and is sabotaging their efforts. Something things to be making noise in the attic, and strange things are happening. Can Sarah figure out what is going on before the house gets the last laugh?

Ah this book! I love a good psychological thriller and this one did not disappoint. I wanted this one from the moment I read the blurb, and it lived up to all the expectations I had in my head. I am shocked that this one is a debut, it was really well written. There were a few plot holes that I was shaking my head on, but nothing major. I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to read this one in one sitting, because it is completely bingeable. I loved the twists; they kept coming right up until the end. They kept me on my toes and wondering what was next. I enjoyed the haunted house in a small-town setting; it was a lot of fun. I also loved that while I hated the main character, I couldn’t wait to find out more about her.

If you are looking for an utterly bingeable psychological thriller, then check this one out.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam and Netgalley, @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you PRH Ballantine and PRH audio for review copies! The Stranger Upstairs is a wild story that takes on the haunted house story and unreliable narrator tropes and runs with it. I really liked this one in places but I felt as well that pacing was a little off, it took me a while to get into the story as I was struggling to decide what the focal points were (a messy social media influencer, a marriage that wasn't great, a haunted house threatening the MC and past occupants) and some threads didn't seem needed to tell the story (such as some of what was happening with neighbors or her husband). But I was sucked in anyway, which brings me to the well done examination of someone falling apart, which I think is very well done and an ode to the author for bravely sharing parts of herself in this story, I was moved by the connection she offered readers with her note and that helped me better reflect on how she developed Sarah's mindset.
This is a good one for haunted house fans, it worked really well for me on audiobook as it helped to get into hearing Sarah's story so I recommend the audiobook in particular.
3.5 stars rounded up based on reflection with the author's note

🏠 The Stranger Upstairs - Lisa M Matlin

3.5 ⭐️ This was a really solid debut and perfect for spooky season! Haunted house vibes, a spooky murder house, and unlikable, extremely unreliable characters. This one is spooky, mysterious, and has plenty of twists and turns.

Social media influencer, Sarah Slade has decided to make a move; into the notorious Blackwood murder house, which she plans to renovate and update her followers on her blog. The problem? No one in the town wants her there, mysterious notes start appearing, contractors won’t work for her, and she starts to think she’s losing her mind. As her life starts to spiral out of control, crazier things start to happen in Sarah’s life and secrets come to life.

So, I enjoyed this one. It’s short and the chapters are short so it’s easy to fly through it. I enjoyed the twists, turns, and surprises, but the ending didn’t do it for me. I thought it was spooky, mysterious and building so nicely and then the ending flopped. I wanted more and or a different result? I’m not sure. Overall, I thought this was a social debut and will fulfill your spooky vibe cravings.

This book is set in Australia one of my favorite places for book settings and was so excited it was going to be one of my first haunted house book reviews in The beautiful country. I was sadly disappointed however because although it has all the trappings of the great haunting it really was a letdown. With Sarah who starts the book letting everyone know her and her beloved Joe, who stopped sleeping with her months ago, we’re on the run. Just bought a murder house called Blackstone mansion and despite her relationship being in tatters and most of her life being a complete lie she was hopeful she was going to remodel The possible Haunted Mansion for her Instagram account then she would sell the house and make a huge profit. She was also she pretended to be a marriage counselor and a famous self-help author who didn’t believe none of what she spouted and hated her clients. She only considered herself having a good day when her clients were having bad ones. There was one thing I found creepy and that’s she kept referring to Joe as her beautiful boy… I don’t know why but that struck me strange. Now onto the book the house had a history of murder a man murdered his wife and wanted to murder his daughter who supposedly got away. This happened in the 70s and supposedly no one lived there since then or at least that’s what the strange estate seller told Sarah and Joe. While Sarah was out jogging because despite the fact she ate fast food ate nothing but trash and drink immense amounts of alcohol and smoked she like to jog to plan out her revenge on all the people she hates. While doing this a woman stop her and gets emotional calling her Amanda and Sarah wants to know why but when she starts asking the villagers they say nothing. I haven’t even mentioned the strange things that have been happening like the movie she found in her house that was her sisters favorite movie and all the post it notes she keeps finding around the remote mansion. when her flat face cat Reave starts acting weird and help to find one of the mansions secrets it changes everything but there was way more to come. If you read this book as a thriller I think it will be more enjoyable but as a haunting not so much. They do have some very chilling parts like with her cat the sticky notes but it all gets explained in the end and it’s not enough to call this a haunting. Unfortunately the end doesn’t make Sarah or Joe better people it just further explains how horrible they are but having said that I would be lying if I said I didn’t find the book interesting I was just let down with the whole haunted aspect when there wasn’t that much of the whole thing but they’re not they have lots of twists and turns in the book. I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes

The Stranger Upstairs centers around a social media influencer named Sarah. She buys a murder house and plans to document the renovations all over her instagram. What better way to gain followers and promote her second book than buying a murder house? But is she truly alone in the house? Is the house talking to her? Does it want to be renovated? Why do all these terrible things keep happening to Sarah?

The premise of this book was SO promising but it really did just fall flat to me. I didn’t like any of the characters so I couldn’t relate to them or get invested in what happened to them. It definitely had spooky vibes and the ending leaves you guessing which is nice. The bones are good but I just had a hard time getting invested. If you’re looking for a more surface level book, you just might enjoy this! Giving it a 2.5 rounded up to a 3.

3.5⭐
With this beautiful cover, and interesting plot, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I was entertained from the start and read it in one sitting. An influencer and therapist buys a "murder" house to fix up and flip while she writes about it on social media to her followers. A modern day thriller that will keep you guessing.

Sarah Slade is trying to start over, she and her husband purchase the Black Wood House where a murder/suicide took place with the intention of recording the remodel on her blog. But things aren't as they seem when strange things begin to happen around the house. Accidents, notes left inside the home, someone knows her secrets.
She isn't sure who the threat is, and is beginning to wonder if it was all worth it. Will she be able to figure it out or will it become her undoing?

Thank you NegGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is kept different than typical thrillers I've read. At first I was so unsure where the story was taking me and I kept thinking "has Sarah been crazy this whole time?" This was wasn't a 4 star for me because by the end, it didn't *wow* me. I found it somewhat predictable but still enjoyable. I recommend this book if you like spooky houses, unreliable characters, and LOTS of mistrust and wrong-doings to people

This book is twisty and fun! I always enjoy a good debut! I also have to say I am obsessed with this cover. It may be my favorite of the year!

Thank you @Netgalley for my copy!