Sarah Slade, a therapist and influencer, buys a Victorian house in a small Australian community, envisioning renovating it, sharing progress on her feed, turning a quick profit, and getting lots of endorsements. But the house was the scene of a brutal murder 40 years ago and has all the hallmarks of classic horror mansion. When the improvements start going wrong, and her marriage starts to crumble, Sarah starts to mentally disintegrate. Who or what is leaving her notes?

Billed as a psychological thriller, this veers more to the horror genre. The book oozes dread throughout, and with each page turned more hidden secrets are exposed. I didn't see the end coming. That's the sign of a great story.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review.

That was...weird. It was a very quick and easy read. It was certainly creepy. It featured an unreliable and unlikable main character, but that's fairly par for the course in the thriller genre these days.

I fell into the story fairly easily and quickly, but something about it never felt like it quite clicked with me the way I wanted it to. I'm still not sure why. There was a very unexpected big reveal, that I must confess I found a little unsatisfying even if it was somewhat more plausible then the series of things I was running through in my head as possible villains of the piece. Yet despite the explanation proffered, which did tie up many loose ends, I still felt like I had as many unanswered questions as answered ones by the end, and that is always a sticking point for me.

The writing was very easy to engage with and things moved along at a decent pace throughout. I did enjoy the incorporation of off-time line news and social media clips, which served as teasers for what was coming in a way that kept me engaged even when my interest sometimes flagged due to the repetitive bad choices and general unlikability of most of the characters.

I don't know, weird seems to be the word I'm stuck on overall though, as a general feeling about the story. It's not a judgment word, just a feeling. Maybe it's that I've read too many "Haunted House" books recently, as well as WAY too many "These characters are not who you think they are" stories for several lifetimes (I really should stop picking up anything even vaguely domestic thriller-ish as they're all blurring together into a slurry of distaste for humanity in my mind). But despite the quick easy read, I'm still at a solid three stars here.

Talk about a page turner, I was so invested the entire time. Entire time! I needed to know what happens but didn’t want it to end either.

Sarah and her husband move to Black Wood House for a fresh start. 40 years ago a tragedy occurred there. Sarah starts to hear and see things that drive her crazier. This was an excellent creepy read that I couldn’t hardly put down. This will have you wondering what will happen next. The ending was unexpected. Highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for allowing me to read this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

Wow, this book was reallllly good! I first saw it on someone’s Bookstagram page and her review immediately had me wanting to read this book!

I loved everything about it-the storyline, the characters, the writing, and the ending.

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

A murder house meets a therapist, want-to-be influencer, what possibly could go wrong? Sarah Slide is looking for a redo. She already lives a fairly public life, and affirmation through public opinion is what is keeping her going. When she relocates to a well-known abandoned house that was the very house of a murder/suicide, she believe this will be her ticket to fame. Once she arrives at the house, she realizes the house and the neighborhood has other plans for her.

Lisa Matlin did a fantastic job piecing together an intricate thriller full of toxic vices and hidden pasts. This was a fun and fast-paced read!

thank you NetGalley for this ARC, all reviews and opinions are my own.

Pub date 9/26/23!!!

The Stranger Upstairs is a melting pot of social media 'murder porn', characters who are each shadier than the last, and unreliable narration, culminating in a thriller you won't want to put down. There are many layers to both the plot and protagonist, which are only augmented by Matlin's visceral description. The Stranger Upstairs will be fun for both the thriller enthusiast and the horror connoisseur, and I will keep an eye out for anything else the author publishes in the future.

Note: I received a free ebook copy of The Stranger Upstairs from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sarah has decided to buy a "murder house" to document it via social media . Both her and the house have secrets that need to be uncovered. If you like the idea of an unreliable narrator or house that harbors secrets this will be for you!

I loved where the author went in regards to Sarah's character, while not much character depth I could see where the author was going and the usual story line that is found in all books nowadays wasn't followed. It was original on how it all came together and made for a great read.

What I liked: Sarah and her plot line as a therapist along with her feelings of the house, very descriptive and atmospheric. And that ending!!!! Very nice. The author gave the ending a different vibe that really worked.

What I didn't like: I didn't feel the supporting characters had much depth and were side plots. I would have liked to see more backstory between her and her husband along with the history of the house. I usually hate long books because they get too wordy but I would have loved more backstory/words with this one, it felt too short! Overall a super fast and engaging read. Can't wait to read more from this author

Thanks so much to Netgalley, author and publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

From IG (@HeatherBoazHere - having trouble linking from my laptop. Emojis not included below!):
"THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS -- Sarah Slade is a fixer, and influencer/ psychologist with her own blog and a plan to flip a murder house -- the scene of a grisly domestic murder scene-- for profit.
As the story continues, and Sarah's reality unravels, her paranoia builds and we begin to distrust our *possibly* unreliable narrator? The part she doesn't' reveal on her blog is how her own marriage is failing and she just can't seem to "fix" this problem (surprise, it's not a one-sided DIY...) Mysterious things begin to happen, like notes left all over the house with things only she might know, neighbors concealing and misremembering an *other* house owner the realtor conveniently left out, or her cat, Reaper, becoming very wary of the attic and getting unexpectedly sick nearly daily.
Sarah's own relationship to her identity is another curious exploration and mystery that unveils itself over the course of the book.
I could not put this one down, and deeply appreciated the attention to mental health, the highlighted dangers of gaslighting, and the honest first-hand experience and note of support and references from the author at the end with regards to mental health support. Can highly rec for your late summer getaway read. (Pubs Sept 2023!)"

For direct publisher feedback: I wish this were publishing a month, or even just a few weeks earlier! This is definitely a "read in the park on a solo picnic with your dog/ thrown in your bag for devouring in one setting on a day of margs and sandy sun-reading"-kind of book!

The Australian setting is refreshing - particularly for a thriller. And as mentioned in my IG post, the standout factor that makes this particularly special is the attention to mental health throughout. It can be tricky to write about it in a fictional way without weakening or disparaging the characters suffering from any disorder. But Lisa Matlin has a way to make the inner life of her characters real, and truly magnify how terrifying it can be to live in someone else's mind, needing help, and not knowing it, or even where to start.

Thank you for the chance to read!

Sarah and her husband have gotten a “killer” deal on a Victorian house. It turns out the deal they got was “killer” because a murder actually took place on the premises. Sarah, a therapist, is looking to spice up her blog, by detailing the renovations on the house, and also improve her marriage. It is nearly impossible however, to find anyone willing to work on the house. Also, strange things keep happening and her husband is hardly ever home or helpful. It seems as if purchasing this house has hardly been helpful for her blog, her life, or her marriage. What is going on with this house? Things fall apart for her at home and at her job. Did she really have everything “together” before buying this house? What is clearly becoming evident, is that Sarah Slade is not who she pretends to be, and her life is spiraling out of control. Is someone out to get her? Has someone intimately involved with the house on the scene attempting to force Sarah to leave? What happened to the last resident? Why isn’t anyone truly invested in helping and figuring out what is going on? I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and couldn’t put it down. I was thoroughly surprised at the twists and turns. I highly recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Set in Australia, Sarah and her husband Joe purchase a notorious home where a grisly murder took place 40 years prior. The plan is share renovation updates on social media and then sell for a profit. Things are already off the rails between Sarah and Joe even before moving in and literally everything devolves quite rapidly. Its hard to say too much without giving away spoilers, but it will definitely keep you on your toes! I felt like Janet was left as loose end though and would have loved more depth there.

The "Black Woods House " is a Victorian gothic from the late 1880's located in an elite neighborhood outside of Melbourne Australia. Most homes in this neighborhood are passed from generation to generation, so it is rare to ever have a home available for purchase. However, "The Black Woods House" is an anomaly because of its back story. This house was the scene of a grisly murder suicide 40 years ago, and has been vacant ever since.

Therapist and bestselling author Sarah Slade and her husband Joe are able to purchase the home for a low price and they hope to chronicle their renovation online as they flip it to earn a large profit. The couple soon learns that their new house may have other plans for their lives. From day one, the couple feels uncomfortable in their new home, and the feeling intensifies as each day passes. Threats and warnings begin to appear, and it is unclear if they are supernatural in nature or emanating from disgruntled neighbors. Is the home cursed? Are Sarah and Joe innocent victims of "the murder house" or are they complicit in their own web of secrets? The novel presents a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that unravels secret after secret as the story unfolds. It is a compelling fun read. The only criticism is that a few storylines could have been developed a bit more fully in the novel's conclusion.

Thank you for the copy to read!

There is a bit to unpack here. I liked the style of the writing. With that being said...this was a 2 star book for me. This book was all over the place. The plot was disjointed and many things were never answered or explained. I can't say too much without giving spoilers but the end does not make it clear what was going on the whole time.

The woods, the black birds, the cat......there was way too much about these things and they didn't even really play into the story at all. The cat did but goodness on and on and on about the cat everywhere all the time. There was a lot about the woods for them to never end up being important to the plot.

The main character was very unlikeable. Not one redeemable quality. The big secret about the sister was....disappointing. Again, we never got a clear answer as to what happened to her either. Did she do it? Did he do it? Did she do it herself?

None of the characters were likeable nor realistic. There is a lot of disbelief to suspend in this book.

The premise was a great one even if it is slightly a take on Amityville. I had to force myself to finish this book.

There wasn't a stranger upstairs...or was there? That question along with many more are never answered.

I enjoyed this book and read it quickly! I liked the plot and was very interested in the renovations on a “murder house” I just wish we had a little bit more.

Potential Spoilers: I am just a little confused by the ending and didn’t feel like the husband’s story wrapped up well or we really understood the pretend therapist license. I am also a bit confused about the contractor getting hurt. I suppose more character development would have been helpful.

I have to say that I am so surprised by this book. Not quiet sure what I expected, but I got so much more than I thought. Lisa Matlin definitely knows how to write a book that will keep you in suspense and keep you guessing as to what is going to happen next. I started this book and did not want to put it down until I was done. Not one you want to read when things go bump in the night though.

Sarah and Joe Slade have just purchased a house that they are going to renovate and hopefully make a mint on, at least that is what they were thinking. When a house sits vacant for 40 years, there is a lot of work to be done. When a house is known as a murder house, there is even more work than just the physical repairs that need to take place. When every repairman that you call has hesitation to come out and do the work for you, you tend to wonder what you have gotten yourself into.

Sarah is an Instagram influencer and a therapist. Joe is a bartender. When Sarah decides that they should move into the murder house while they are renovating it, Joe is not so sure about it all. Joe and Sarah have had their fair share of problems and Sarah hopes that this can be the new beginning that they need. Sarah is also in the process of writing her second book that her fans have been begging for. That adds to the stress of everything else as well.

Sarah starts noticing strange things that are happening at the house and thinks that it is just her imagination, but when her cat also starts to act strange, she wonders if there are really things going on in the murder house that she can't explain. Joe starts staying at his friends house more just to get away from what is going on at the house. There are strange smells, strange things happening and strange notes being left around for Sarah.

You may think that you can figure this one out before you have finished the book, but I can promise you it is not like any other book you have read. Matlin has new ideas that will leave you shocked. I know you will enjoy reading about the murder house as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy. I highly recommend this read.

This story was not what I expected. I felt as though there was a bit of a supernatural side to it. The main character was not relatable, and the ending was unexpected, but I am not sure if it was in a good way.

Sarah Slade was looking for a real deal. The therapist has just purchased a Victorian in the neighborhood that she never thought she could afford! There are a couple reasons that she can afford the house. First of all, it needs restoration. It has sat empty for far too long. Second, it has sat unoccupied, because a murder took place at the infamous Blackwood House, her new home. Sarah has built quite a following on her blog, and she will have quite an audience as she and her husband restore the infamous Victorian. She expects that the renovations will go smoothly, and that maybe she will even be able to fix her decaying marriage at the same time. Everything looks so promising! She moves into the bedroom where the murder took place. ignoring the bloodstain that just won't go away, as she dreams of reselling the house and making some serious cash. However, the renovations don't go as smoothly as planned, and she has made some enemies in the neighborhood. Accidents, footsteps in the attic, and frightening notes all cause Sarah to lose control. Who's living upstairs?

As Sarah starts losing control, the reader is brought deeper and deeper into her life that has become a living nightmare. Excellent character development makes this book come alive! This one will give you nightmares!

A debut novel with a stunningly beautiful book cover, The Stranger Upstairs is listed under Suspense & Thriller and Gothic & Horror. There are definitely creepy vibes as the setting is an infamous, murder house built in the 1800s. 40 years ago, a man killed his wife, then himself, and nearly their daughter but she got away. Yikes. Cue creaky stairs, peeling wallpaper, blood stains on the floor, why not move in?

That’s what social media influencer Sarah Slade thinks. She moves in with her husband to fix it up and document the renovation process for her readers. But, of course, things don’t go as planned. Mystery sounds from upstairs. Ominous notes. And her cat falls ill.

Also, none of the neighbors seem interested in talking to her. Her husband is never around. Oh, and did I mention she’s also a therapist? This part irked me a bit because I felt she should’ve taken a personal leave since her focus was clearly elsewhere, but then again, hey - she’s human, too.

The writing was polished, felt like a seasoned suspense author, and moved along nicely with chapters broken up by Sarah’s updates to fans and news alerts (although the first one was jarring and I had to back and reread a few pages because I was confused). The author did a wonderful job of setting the scene and making the home a perfect character to build suspense.

An unreliable and unlikable narrator is hit-or-miss for me but I kept wanting to follow Sarah’s story and slow unraveling. Turns out she had other reasons from her past to make her extra paranoid. Plus, her husband wasn’t much help in figuring out the mystery of the home. There’s a special kind of person who can sleep in a room where a murder has taken place - and that comes from someone who loves anything true crime.

The buildup was good though the actual reveal was not as exciting. I wouldn’t call it a slow burn, but as someone who enjoys quick-paced thrillers, this was more of a settle-in-and-feel-increasingly-squeamish vibe, but I enjoyed the change of pace.

The Stranger Upstairs is a gripping and atmospheric debut novel by Lisa Matlin that kept me hooked from cover to cover. The story of Sarah and Joe's ill-fated decision to purchase and flip a murder house is both suspenseful and haunting, with twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end.

Matlin's writing is excellent, with vivid descriptions of the creepy old house and its eerie surroundings that made my skin crawl. I found myself completely immersed in the story and had to put the book down twice late at night because I got spooked out.

I highly recommend this book to fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries. However, I do caution against buying a murder house, as Sarah and Joe quickly discover the dangers that come with such a purchase.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was a pleasure to read and review The Stranger Upstairs.

Sooooo creepy!! It’s one that definitely will make people want to read with the lights on.

Is it paranormal? Is it psychological? It feels like both.

I didn’t expect to enjoy this one so much. But it’s a perfect mix of mystery and horror.