Most people wouldn’t buy an infamous murder house to renovate for fun . . . but Sarah Slade is not most people.
“This debut novel deftly explores our shadows—the dark parts of ourselves we don’t want others to see. I couldn’t stop reading.”—Julia Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat
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.
Thank you, Penguin Random House, for the free digital book!
The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin
- One-word review: Creepy
- Emojis: 🏚️☠️👷🏼♀️😱
- Rating: 4.5🌟s
My thoughts:
What a thoroughly creepy story! I get goosebumps just thinking back on it. I kept thinking about Amityville Horror the entire time I was reading it. However, it never crosses that far into the horror genre. But make no mistake – it does ride that line between thriller and horror.
It’s completely atmospheric, though the pace never gets sluggish as often happens in atmospheric tales, and it’s set in a small rural community in Australia, which I found fascinating. I loved the unreliable narration provided by Sarah. I never knew what was caused by her mental health issues and what indeed took place. That feeling of constantly feeling off balance propelled me quickly through the story. Also, I want to note that the author handles mental health issues authentically. I appreciated what she shared in her author’s note at the end.
The house, Black Wood House, is a character in its own right. It’s an old Victorian where a murder/suicide once occurred. It seems to anyone venturing near that it’s telling them to stay away, and if they don’t, it tells them, “You’re going to pay for that.” Have you felt that chill up your spine yet? Mysterious things happen in the house that no one can explain.
The Stranger Upstairs is the perfect fall read, especially for readers like me who do not enjoy true horror stories but are comfortable with creepiness.
Enjoy the promo reel the publisher sent me:
18 responses to “The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin #BookReview #thrillerbooks #horror”
This sounds delightfully creepy x
It definitely is!
It certainly sounds creepy, coupled with a questionably reliable narrator. Great review, Tessa💜
It’s the unreliable that keeps the horror down because you never know what to believe.
This is on my TBR list, and I can’t wait to get to it. Wonderful review, Tessa!
Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
This sounds like the perfect Halloween read, but I’m on the fence if it will be TOO spooky for me. That book vid had my pulse-pounding. I think we’re a lot alike in that we can do creepy but not horror. Since you were okay with it, Tessa, I’m keeping it on my reading radar.
The unreliable narrator helps keep the horror level down since you never what what’s real and what’s in her head.
Good to know.
This books sound amazing, although probably a little spooky for me.
It does have a spookiness that is for sure!
I also have this one on my NG shelf – woohoo! If it wanted to venture into Amityville Horror territory I wouldn’t mind a bit.
I think you’ll enjoy it. It’s your type of October read.
I enjoy atmospheric books these days. This sounds really good.
It is! Atmospherically creepy – perfect for the fall
Great review! I’ll definitely be snagging a copy of this when I get a chance!
I think you’d enjoy it!
Thank you! It does sound like my kind of read.