Book Summary:
Sarah Slade is on the verge of losing everything she worked for. Perhaps that's why she made a desperate move, nabbing up the infamous murder house (aka Black Wood House). Not only does this give her a project to fix, but it gets her into an otherwise unattainable neighborhood.
Naturally, things aren't quite going the way she hoped. The murder house is more of a challenge than she hoped or expected. Worse, her relationship is floundering, and Sarah struggles to focus on what is important.
My Review:
You know me, I like a good thriller. So when I saw this bright and pretty covered one on BOTM, I just had to snag it. The Stranger Upstairs promised to be a darker thriller about a social media influencer and a murder house. What could go wrong?
A lot, as it turns out. And I don't just mean drama for the main character. The truth is that I struggled to stay connected to this one. Sarah is just not a likable character. That's okay; not all main characters have to be likable. But it did make it harder to root for her.
Having an unlikable character that later becomes an unreliable narrator is an interesting choice. It works in some areas but not in others. Perhaps a bit more workshopping could have perfected it? I'm not sure.
One thing I am certain of: About halfway through The Stranger Upstairs, I found myself thinking, "huh, this sure sounds like [removed for spoiler reasons]." Turns out, I was right. I was not expecting to be right! If you had the same thought as me, please reach out. I would love to talk about it.
Highlights:
Murder House
Unreliable Narrator
Secrets Upon Secrets
Trigger Warnings:
Murdered Family
Stalking Behavior
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Reading updates
- Started reading
- 16 October, 2023: Finished reading
- 16 October, 2023: Reviewed