Week 43 Review: The Stranger Upstairs

From Goodreads:

A social media influencer with a secret past buys a murder house to renovate, but finds more than she bargained for behind the peeling wallpaper in this gothic psychological debut.

Sarah Slade is starting over. As the new owner of the infamous Black Wood House—the scene of a grisly murder-suicide—she's determined that the fixer-upper will help reach a new audience on her successful lifestyle blog, and distract her from her failing marriage.

But as Sarah paints over the house's horrifying past, she knows better than anyone that a new façade can't conceal every secret. Then the builders start acting erratically and experiencing bizarre accidents—and Sarah knows there's only so long she can continue to sleep in the bedroom with the bloodstained floor and suffer the mysterious footsteps she hears from the attic.

When menacing notes start appearing everywhere, Sarah becomes convinced that someone or something is out to kill her—her husband, her neighbors, maybe even the house itself. The more she remodels Black Wood House, the angrier it seems to become.

With every passing moment, Sarah's life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. Though she desperately clings to the lies she's crafted to conceal her own secrets, Sarah Slade must wonder . . . was it all worth it? Or will this house be her final unraveling?

My Review:
Oh man, this was such a thrill to read! The synopsis sounded creepy and entrancing, and I had to read it and find out what was going on! It was a perfect spooky, atmospheric read for the season, so I'm glad that things worked out that way!

One question that I had was, what was she starting over from? What happened in her past that she's running form, that maybe this house is bringing up? Because yeah, buying a house that's notorious for having a ghastly crime, maybe not the best place to start over. 

Then there was the history of the house, with the deaths, and the disappearance of the previous owner. It was all so creepy, and given the way that the neighbours were acting.not the most welcoming of places, even if they weren't planning on staying there.

Oh, but that ending was just terrific! This book had been dark and atmospheric, and I loved learning what was going on, and oh, there were some reveals that were shocking! Plus, we had a bit of an unreliable narrator situation going on, so I loved getting the truth! 

Loved reading this book and I'd love to read more by Lisa M. Matlin! 

Author: Lisa M. Matlin
Read: October 25th, 2023
Source: Ebook.bike 
Reason Why: Sounded really great, and it's a DAC Book and a SAC 2023 Book!
Publisher: Bantam
Published: September 26th 2023

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars