The use of a house as symbolism is one with its roots in very real psychology. Carl Jung explored this concept after a dream of his own, and it's become a staple both in dream analysis and in fiction. THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS is the latest story to employ this—and does so masterfully, as it chronicles the breakdown of Joe and Sarah in the Black Wood "murder house."

Sarah is an influencer psychiatrist: by day she offers advice to in-person clients, and by night she curates her social media persona and works on her next self-help book. In an attempt to get more eyes on her socials, she convinces her husband Joe in flipping Black Wood House. The home was the site of a grisly murder/suicide 40 years prior, and has allegedly stood empty since then, with the surrounding town of Beacon looking to bulldoze it.

But strange things start happening once Sarah and Joe move in. The house appears to resist renovation. The pair's already rocky marriage takes a nose dive. Sarah begins finding notes from someone who appears to know far too much about her. And the whole time, shreds of the life she left behind come to life: the tragedy she's attempted to hide that could unravel everything.

THE STRANGER UPSTAIRS isn't so much the story of "who's trying to kill Sarah" as it is "who IS Sarah." The mystery is secondary. Sarah as a person—her past, her sins, the truth of her perfectly curated personality—is the real story at work. Lisa M. Matlin masterfully crafts a dual story of a woman and a house. Both hide grisly secrets. Both give a general sense of unease the longer one is around them. And, despite all efforts, neither truly wants to be changed.

Writing an unlikable protagonist, much less an unlikable narrator, is a challenge. But it's one that Matlin handles admirably. It's like finding yourself listening to a friend vent, and a bit too late realizing that they're the one in the wrong. It's a fascinating journey with a chilling conclusion. I can't wait to see what else Matlin creates in future.

WOWZER! This is one of those sit down and get comfy reads as once you start you are hooked and don't want to put the book down. It was fast paced, creepy, bizarre and so engrossing. I loved it! I was happy to see all the references to mental health as that is such an important issue and needs to be talked about more.

This book would be perfect for book clubs as all the discussions it would open up.

I can't believe this is a debut novel as it was so well written. I liked hearing the thoughts going through Sarah's head as at times they were hilarious. This book had so many different layers revealed and it was just fascinating to watch it all unfold. Well Done! Can't wait to see what this author does next.

I have a like/dislike mentality towards the main character. I kept going back and forth for wanting to root for her one minute and not liking her the next.

I like the different point of views the author told the story. The mix of the podcast, news paper, blog post and point of view of the characters blinded together nicely. It kept the story suspenseful and kept wanting me to keep reading.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, the author #LisaM.Matlin for the arc of #TheStrangerUpstairs

This book was extremely intriguing. The whole premise caught my attention from the moment I received the email asking me to read the book. As a debut novel, I think this was great. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, although the twist was decent. I would recommend and I give it 4/5 stars!

Sarah and her husband Joe buy a house in a upscale neighborhood that had a brutal murder decades ago.
When I read this I thought I was in for one creepy ride.
The very first chapter really grabbed hold of me but there was something with the following few chapters that made it really hard for me to want to continue reading. About halfway through the book I was hooked again and couldn't wait to finish. I have to say that the ending surprised me in ways that I didn't expect.
I would recommend this book as I think overall this was well written and a great story.
I definitely would like to read another book by this author.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was an excellent mystery/thriller that kept me reading late into the night. Especially enjoyed the characters and the setting.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61266198

This was so good!! I like a creepy haunt and this one doesn't disappoint!!! I couldn't put this down.

My first book from Lisa Matlin, and I will definitely be reading more! Sarah was a great character, a hot mess express, if you will. Throw in a creepy house and twists and turns and I’m just smitten. Highly recommend this read.

"The house doesn't want you here..."

So begins the story of Sarah and her husband Joe, who have just moved into Black Wood House with their adorably disgruntled cat Reaper. Previously the site of a brutal crime and a mysterious disappearance of the previous owner, strange things start happening to the couple after they move in. Threatening notes, dead rats, and things that go bump in the night... not to mention the fact that everyone in town seems to be in on a secret not shared with the Cosgroves. But what is out to get Sarah and Joe - is it paranormal activity in the house, leftover from its heinous past? Is it the neighbors, desperate to drive the newcomers back to where they came from? Or is it something more sinister?

Matlin's debut novel hooked me in from the very first page. She has an easy to follow, approachable writing style peppered with brilliantly vivid depictions of the setting. The tension builds steadily as the book progresses and I could feel Sarah's confusion, distrust, fear, and disorientation as the story unfolds. Throw in a few twists that will make you question every word you've read up to that point, and you've got a masterful page-flipping thriller from beginning to end.

Overall, 4 out of 5 stars! The ending had a lot going on - without giving away any spoilers, the author could have chosen any one of the variety of things she ties together and still had a satisfying ending, but the combination is sure to leave you stunned. I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I finished!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! This title will be available everywhere in September 2023.

This was a pretty interesting read, focused on Sarah and her husband Joe who buy a house that was the scene of a brutal murder a few decades ago. Turns out that the house may be haunted and the neighbors don’t want anyone living there. Sarah already has some pretty serious issues coming into the book, and something about the house is making her spiral into madness.

I didn’t think the synopsis really explained the book well because Sarah had issues walking into the story that were pretty apparent to begin with. I also didn’t feel that I got a good idea of the dynamic between her and Joe- why was he so willing to move to a new town when he doesn’t even want to be with her and how did their relationship deteriorate to the point where the book begins? I also thought that depictions of Sarah’s sister left me wanting more info about what she was really like; I felt that the various references to things that had happened didn’t jive with each other. That all being said, the spookiness of the house and the things that were happening were really well done, and I appreciated the extra level of creepiness from the cat; all cat owners know that they can freak you out good in the middle of the night.

Overall, I could have used more character development but overall I thought the book was pretty good, bringing both spookiness and suspense. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Forty years ago, a man viciously murdered his wife, attempted to kill his daughter and then committed suicide in Black Wood House. The gothic style mansion, with its bloodstains and haunting history has been empty since then, falling slowly into disrepair. Enter therapist Sarah Slade who, with her husband Joe, buys the house and plans to write a blog as she painstakingly renovates each room. The house will be gorgeous, it will sell for a huge profit and Sarah’s blog will make her rich and famous. The house has other ideas.

This is all I will say without spoilers. This is a debut thriller and what a thriller it is! I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The pace is at first deliberately slow and narrated in the present. Brief newspapers stories from the near future give clues as to what has occured but then you see the events as they really happen. It’s a technique that had me turning pages as fast as I could. Buy or borrow The Stranger Upstairs! When you are finished, be sure to read the Author’s Note. And, Lisa Matlin, I can’t wait to see what you write next! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Lisa M. Matlin for this ARC.

This book!! Wow, you have to read this! It kept me up most of the night to finish it!!
I just reviewed The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin. #TheStrangerUpstairs #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Looking for a thriller with a web of lies spun so tight you don’t think it will ever unravel, until that one piece of thread comes loose and everything comes undone? Then this is the story for you. It will keep you guessing and wondering until the final pages. Sarah Slade and husband Joe Cosgrove aren’t your ordinary couple. Their marriage is failing and Sarah, being the therapist she is, wants nothing more to fix it. Will buying the infamous Black Wood Murder House do that for her? Or will her plan utterly backfire?

Lisa had me gripped right from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down until I had all the answers. There are the perfect amounts of creepy and madness sewn through the pages of this book. 5 out of 5! I definitely can’t wait for more!

Social media influencer Sarah Slade and her husband have just purchased a murder house. Forty years earlier, Black Wood House was the scene of a gruesome husband-wife murder-suicide, and it’s said to have been vacant ever since. The townspeople would rather bulldoze the house to the ground, but Sarah just knows she can renovate this house for clicks and likes and validation.

But the longer she stays at Black Wood House, the worse things seem to get. The neighbors are antagonistic and against the house being fixed up, and even the house itself seems like it doesn’t want to be repaired. Then the scary notes appear… someone seems to know an awful lot about the things Sarah wants to hide. Because the house isn’t the only thing in this story with a grim history, Sarah has a dark past of her own.

Lisa Matlin’s debut novel is an absolute trip! Part horror, part thriller, and all fascinating, I could not put this book down! I’m not a haunted house kind of girl, but the strange and creepy goings-on in this house had me hooked. As Sarah spirals out of control and gets sicker and sicker, she becomes more and more of an unreliable narrator, which is my favorite kind of narrator! I loved the blog posts and the way the articles interspersed in the chapters foreshadowed the mystery with such a sense of foreboding. I totally did not see the ending coming AT ALL!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I had a great time reading this book. While the characters weren't exactly likable, you'll found portions relatable. I think people will find this different angle on life as an influencer to be a breath of fresh air. I'm proud to say I didn't see the twist coming at all but loved what the twist was! I think thriller and horror readers will enjoy this one!

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Sarah Slade, a therapist and author, purchases an old home that was the site of a murder suicide 40 years prior.

While fixing up the home with her estranged husband, posting the progress it online, it soon appears the home does not want to be fixed.

Decent read with many twists, but the main character was not one to emphasize with.

I really liked this horror/ thriller. Great for a quick weekend read. It will keep you turning pages late into the night!

This is a solid book from a debut author. You can tell right off the bat that something isn’t quite right with the protagonist Sarah. She and her husband, who clearly have issues, have bought a home in which a famous murder took place 40 years prior. Sarah is a therapist who “fixes people” and now she plans to gain fame by fixing the house.

It doesn’t take long to see this plan isn’t going to work and that Sarah has a lot to fix about herself. There are lots of side comments about what has happened in the past so the story is intriguing but not so opaque that it’s frustrating. But it’s also the kind of story where I worry the resolution and explanation will never live up to the groundwork of the main mystery.

Overall, I’d say the conclusion is pretty satisfying, but that something preventing be from giving the book an outright rave, though it’s a definite recommend.

The authors writing style was a bit different than what I’m used to. She is more real life true talk. The storyline was engaging and sent me down a path of always guessing the twist. The ending was a bit tricky for me to follow. Overall a great thriller.

Sarah Slade, therapist and social media influencer, is looking for a fresh start. She and her husband purchase a "murder house," planning to document the renovations of the home that they are hoping to sell for a tidy profit. Simple, right?

From the start, nothing goes according to plan, and the more that Sarah learns about the history of the home and the neighbors' reactions to it, the worse everything gets. No one wants to set foot in the home, much less complete the work that needs done (and simultaneously keeps compounding.) Sarah can feel everything in her world sprialing, and her past crashes into her present.

With an ending that you don't see coming, this book is a slow burn that ignites, leaving readers looking forward to the next novel by Lisa M. Matlin.