Wow. This book was great. I wouldn’t have guessed the ending at all I was completely thinking a different path but I loved the way it played out. This was a great book and will be recommending to my friends!! Will also be looking into this author more as I like her writing style!!

The Stranger Upstairs is a mind bending psychological thriller about an instagrammed and her husband who buy a murder house to fix up. Soon she starts hearing noises, getting notes, and falling apart. What is really going on in the murder house?

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

What a wild story! Sarah, a therapist and influencer, moves into a house where a Violet murder has been committed with the plan of doing renovations and selling the house at a higher price. Her husband doesn’t want to be there. The neighbors don’t want them there. And Sarah starts having strange experiences that are only made worse by her alcoholism. Without saying much more and giving away the good stuff I will tell you that I enjoyed this way more by the end than I thought I was going to. While reading it parts seemed to be way too over the top but in the end all the pieces fit together.

I was drawn to the cover and premise of this book and it didn’t disappoint. My only regret is that I didn’t read it for spooky season bc this story is definitely spooky! Haunted house stories can be so hit or miss, but this was a hit for me. Creepy and atmospheric, it kept me turning pages to find out the secrets. Once I hit the 65% mark, it turned into a one sitting book bc I had to know how it ended. There were a few parts that didn’t come together for me or add up (possible spoiler - why does her husband dye his hair? But she can be all over insta?), but overall those were easy to look past and get caught up in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy and a chance to read this early. All opinions are my own.

"The Stranger Upstairs" by Lisa M. Matlin is a psychological thriller that had its fair share of strengths and weaknesses. While the book managed to captivate my interest with its initial premise, it fell short of delivering a truly memorable reading experience.

One aspect I appreciated about the book was the author's ability to build tension. Matlin skillfully crafted scenes that made me question the characters' motives and left me guessing about their true nature. The pacing was generally well-executed, with moments of heightened suspense that kept me turning the pages.

That definitely got my attention! A murder house? Oh yes.

Sarah and her husband are moving into the scene of a grisly murder. Sarah plans on not only renovating it but also blogging about it to her many followers. Probably not the best idea when her husband is not interested in the least and is harboring a lot of hate for Sarah. But why?

The neighbors are far from welcoming. There are whispers and then the noises begin. Then the notes. Someone wants her gone as well as the house.

It's like the house is really ticked off she is inside. And it just keeps getting worse.

Much like the house, Sarah is also keeping secrets. And they are a doozy! This ending was really good. Sarah is probably the most unlikeable character and yet the story wouldn't be the same if she was.

Great read!

NetGalley/ September 26, 2023, Random House/ Ballentine/Bantam

Sarah Slade is an influencer and therapist who just bought the infamous Black Wood House - aka the Murder House. Sarah's life continues to spiral until she can't take it anymore. Who is on her side and who is against her? And where does the house fall?

This book was good and had a great plot but there were times I found it a bit chaotic and hard to follow. I appreciate the framing of the story as it felt like something I had not read before. Given the build up of the house I loved that it felt like its own character. Maybe the chaotic feeling was meant to be, as the main character was a bit chaotic herself. However it didn't necessarily grab me. I thought that the book was going one direction and it took a sharp right turn. I thought some of the plot from the beginning was dropped and wish that had been continued a bit more. The interspersed media articles were interesting, but am not sure they were necessary in driving the story forward. Maybe one or two, but not them all.

This one was a little slow to start, but once it did, I couldn’t put it down! Sarah moves into a home that was the site of a gruesome murder years before. It has allegedly been abandoned since. Sarah purchases the house as a fixer upper but quickly realizes why the house has been vacant for so long. I was really hoping that this didn’t turn into a supernatural ending, and I was pleasantly surprised. Sarah was so incredibly unlikable, but as the unreliable narrator, she was well written. Secondary characters weren’t developed well and there were too many that ended up being inconsequential. I would rather fewer, better developed characters. Although Reaper the Cat…..best one in the book and well developed!

Would you live in a house where someone was murdered? That is the premise of The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin. A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah 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.

This is a good haunted house story with characters that have plenty of secrets. I enjoyed the small-town setting and the characters. There were a few unresolved elements, but the story kept my interest, and The Stranger Upstairs was an enjoyable read.

I would rate this a 3.75 out of 5 (rounded to 4).

#TheStrangerUpstairs #NetGalley @atrandom

“The house doesn’t want to be fixed…and neither do I.”

Good read, but not great. The baseline psychological thrill was there but I found it lacking compared to other thrillers.

Fantastic haunted house story! Parts were creepy and exciting and i couldn’t put it dow. The whole story was compelling, intriguing, and so fun to read. Sarah is a very complex character with a backstory and history you know is bad before you really learn about it, and watching her unravel was full of wild moments

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinion. Highly recommend this book!

Sarah is a social media star. She has written a best-selling book and is working as a counselor. Her career seems to have stagnated and in an effort to revitalize it, Sarah and her husband decide to buy a "murder house" in an upscale area and flip it. By posting the progression of the renovation, Sarah hopes to gain viewers and entice someone into buying the house. The neighbors are not welcoming and when they have a plumbing problem, no one wants to help. While this would cause most people to reconsider, Sarah plows on. She lives for the affirmation she receives from her followers. Cracks begin to show in Sarah's carefully crafted life. Will she be able to make the necessary renovations to interest a buyer? Sarah and her husband do not seem happy. Is the house causing stress in their marriage? Do Sarah's followers pressure her into bad decisions?

What a creepy story! Lisa Matlin took social media, murder houses, and psychology and twisted them together giving us a true thriller. This is one of those books you shouldn't read right before bed because you won't sleep! At first look, Sarah seems to be a rational, ambitious woman. The more we get to know her, the more we see her flaws. Sarah is a very complicated character and with the turn of each page, more of her unique personality emerges. Throughout the book, the attic is the main point of interest. Yet Sarah doesn't venture into the most interesting place until more than half of the story is over. It was a frustrating point for me and I know other readers may not mind. For a debut book, Lisa Matlin amazes me! It is evident that she is fearless and more that capable of keeping readers thrilled to the very end.

This book is an extremely bingeable thriller that will make you want to sleep with the lights on!

Sarah is a therapist who has recently purchased Black Wood House with her husband Joe. She plans to renovate it, posting videos on Instagram and her blog to get attention for it, and then sell it for a large profit. Black Wood House is already famous as the site of a murder suicide 40 years ago, and Sarah is convinced that the attention from its history will only help her sell the house. Strange things start happening when they move in, and nothing and no one are what they seem.

The author is fantastic at creating an unbelievably tense atmosphere, making me very uncomfortable while reading. I had to put it down when trying to read at night and go back to it in the morning! The house felt like a character all its own, with its spooky sounds and the feelings it stirs up in Sarah.

There is an underlying mystery of what happened to the prior owners layered on top of what is happening to Sarah, and the whole thing was compelling, intriguing, and so so entertaining. Sarah is a very morally grey character, and watching her unravel all her secrets was full of OMG moments.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a heart-pounding novel that will captivate readers from start to finish. The author skillfully crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns, ensuring an enthralling reading experience.

The story introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. As the plot unfolds, their lives become intertwined in a high-stakes game of danger and deceit. The author expertly maintains a sense of suspense throughout the book, keeping readers guessing and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its ability to create a palpable atmosphere of tension and unease. The author's vivid descriptions and attention to detail transport readers into the world of the story, making them feel as if they are right alongside the characters, experiencing the thrilling events firsthand.

I just wanted to start by saying, can we talk about this cover? holy smokes. it's GORGEOUS.
I absolutely loved this book, classic haunted house story with a great suspense build for the story. I found it extremely hard to put down. The social media updates throughout the book were awesome (although full of lies) and made you feel like you were being updated on the renovation but also learning more about Sarah before she deleted her thoughts. The main character was quite fascinating and boy, did she have skeletons in her closet. This book kept you on edge the whole time, it was fast paced and a great thriller overall.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to devour this book. This will be coming out in September 2023 and I truly hope anyone who grabs a copy devours it like I did.

This book had me clenching my teeth and lord knows I heard every creak in my house throughout the two days that I engulfed this book. I found myself feeling numb in Sarah’s lowest moments and frazzled and eye darting during the mayhem. I always say I want to live somewhere that if I scream loud enough the neighbors would hear me and I can say I am thankful to have neighbors who watch out for one another. Buying a home you never know how welcoming the neighbors and community will be. You can count me out from buying a murder house but I’ll be first in line to buy a copy to read about it!

A note to the Author: Lisa you smashed this debut novel. I want to thank you for being authentic and open about your struggles and your encouraging words to those currently struggling.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

Pub Date: September 26, 2023

I just finished this book, and I am still reeling from the ending. First, I love a story with a gray protagonist, and Sarah definitely checks that box. All of the twists and turns and figuring out one piece of the puzzle, only realize you have unlocked a bigger puzzle! I was kept guessing through the whole story, and then, left guessing a little more, even after the epilogue. I am so glad that Netgalley and this author and publisher approved my wish, because this was one of the best haunted house stories that I have read!

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Marlin is a perfect haunted house story. It starts with a social media influencer determined to flip a murder house for a profit and to reignite excitement for her blog. As unexplained noises, notes, and signs of trespassing occur, Sarah Slade wonders if she made a mistake. What may start out as a typical ghost story, The Stranger Upstairs finishes with an explosion of secrets from the past. This is one of the better haunted house stories I have read and would recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC!

Thank you Penguin and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was an interesting ride for sure! To say that Sarah has a LOT going on in her life is an understatement. With a creepy murder house that she starts to lose herself in, I had to wonder if it was Sarah that was the one who was crazy or the creepy murder house

Social Media influencer Sarah buys a house famous for a double murder. Her plan is to fix up the house and her failing marriage while boosting her career as a horror house star. The only problem is almost from the start her postings are flat our lies. The house doesn’t seem to want to be fixed or welcome anyone home. Her marriage is disintegrating, and Sarah ignores clues of the house’s haunted-ness while desperately trying to keep up online appearances. This was a quick read, nicely written little haunted tale. I did not like the characters, especially Sarah and her fakery but that is what sold the storyline and made it believable that anyone would continue to live in a haunted house. I actually enjoyed the portrayal of her selfie, Instagram, social media obsession because it actually portrayed what’s really going on behind all those “candid” shots. Sometimes unlikeable characters are the best to watch fall apart! Thank you Netgalley, author and publisher for this advanced reading copy. This is my honest opinion in exchange for the chance to read the ARC.