Oooofffff! This is terrifying! Imagine coming home and someone is in your house and have changed the locks.....and the neighbour us saying you’ve told them it’s fine. Read this ASAP as it’s amazing!!
5/5 on goodreads

DNF @60% mark

The premise was interesting, but the writing was not so much. The characterisation was not up to my taste and I cannot stressed how I hate Kimber and she's supposed to be the main character, the one I had to care about. There were a lot of secondaries that did not work out, considering Kimber had so many friends. The pace was too slow it did not work for me.

Others might love it, but I don't.

4 twisty stars. I liked this one a lot - I thought it was very original. It kept me glued to my seat and I definitely did not know how it'd all play out. I would recommend this to thriller fans. It's quickly paced, easy to read, and very entertaining.

At the start of The Stranger Inside, Kimber comes home from a long weekend away to find her key won’t open the door. As she’s trying to make it work and looking in the windows - she can see signs that someone else is in her house. She calls the police and when they arrive, a neighbor comes out as well. The neighbor says - you know who he is, you rented him your house for 6 months, I saw you give him the keys and help him carry in his stuff! Kimber knows she did no such thing and has no idea why the neighbor would think that.

As Kimber works to unravel what’s going on and learn why there’s a man in her house - she finds herself questioning everyone in her life and who she should trust.

This was a premise that I was totally here for - unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. You know that feeling when you’re watching a scary movie and you keep yelling at the characters - don’t go up there! Get out of the house! Why are you doing that?? I had many of those moments in this book. Kimber - what are you thinking??

I couldn’t relate to Kimber at all. I also felt like there were too many things happening at once. I wasn’t particularly surprised by most of the reveals and the intense moments felt less intense since I wasn’t invested in the main character.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

One of the rare books that I recently read that I struggled with a bit. The story failed to grip me and keep me hooked on. I didn't want to classify this book as a DNF so I tried till the very end but unfortunately it didn't work out for me. Still, a big thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

*** 4 Stars ***
Expected Publication: February 5th, 2019

This read is CRAZY.. like pure INSANITY. Kimber comes home from a relaxing weekend away to find that the locks on her home have been changed. Not only can she not gain access to her home, but there is a man living inside who has paperwork "proving" that she rented the home out to him. All her belongings are inside, everything she owns and suddenly has zero access to them. So that right there was enough to just really piss me off. (I've actually heard of things like this happening to people so it made it that more upsetting to me)
I can't imagine what I would do if someone did this to me! Who does this guy think he is? Why would he do this? Of course there is more to this story... and it is so insane that it's almost too much to deal with, which is why I didn't rate this 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, it had my full attention and I couldn't stop trying to figure out what was happening to Kimber and who this a-hole was. Another reason I didn't give this 5 stars is that I never fully connected with Kimber. I wasn't rooting for her, I didn't find her really likeable. Having said that, this is definitely a read I recommend to all; a very solid thriller that was well written.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Mulholland Books and Laura Benedict for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Kimber Hannon returned home from a brief trip, only to discover someone changed the locks while she was away from home... and they have taken up residence in her house. The man shows the police "proof" he has a short lease for the house, only to whisper a chilling message that leaves Kimber afraid and uncertain of whom she can trust. Nevertheless, she is determined to find out who he is—and what he really wants—before he completely destroys her life. She needs to do so carefully, however, lest he reveal a dark secret from Kimber's past.

Most people feel that their home is a safe refuge, so I am always intrigued with books that explore the idea of that safety being ripped away for baffling reasons. The thought of coming home only to find a stranger living in your house, having access to everything you own and hold dear, is frightening to consider.

The staging of the story was cleverly done, slowly revealing tidbits of information that ultimately leads to the intruder's true identity and purpose, while also giving tantalizing glimpses into Kimber's past regarding the tragic death of her older sister Michelle.

Kimber Hannon is definitely an unlikable character, neither trustworthy or kind to most of the people in her life. And yet... I couldn't help but feel sorry for what she was going through, and could easily understand how violated she felt.

I expected a stunning resolution to the story, but I was still surprised when the truth came out. It had me pausing to recall earlier moments in the story, seeing various events in a completely different light. There were a few extremely subtle moments that revealed the plot against Kimber was far more complex that I initially thought it to be.

Benedict's writing was excellent throughout, and even though this is the first time I've read one of her books, it most definitely won't be the last.

Overall, this was a great book, and I highly recommend it!

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Mulholland Books via Netgalley.

I felt like this became a little predictable towards the middle of the story but there were still several things that caught me off guard. Imagine coming home from a long weekend trip to find someone else living in your home with a forged lease then being arrested for assaulting him when the police refuse to make him leave. However, the last thing he says before she's taken away is "I know what you did." Who is this man and what does he know? As Kimber digs deeper into the situation trying to find out what he actually wants she has to take a hard look at herself and things that happened in her past: specifically when her older sister died years ago. When she has to rely on her friends, both current and former to uncover the truth, she has no idea the destruction she may cause for many others.

Imagine for just one moment: You return home from a weekend getaway only to discover that all the locks on your house have been changed, a strange man holding a signed lease is living inside among your belongings, and all of the existing laws favor the “renter.” What would you do? That is just the beginning of the dilemma faced by Kimber Hannon, the protagonist of The Stranger Inside, Laura Benedict’s excellent new stand-alone tale of psychological and domestic suspense.

Just as Kimber is about to get the police involved, this stranger leans in to whisper: “I was there. I saw what you did.” This subtle form of blackmail throws Kimber into a tailspin with nowhere to turn. Is it possible he is telling the truth? With the exposure of her long-buried secret at risk, Kimber decides she will have to handle this situation without the assistance of the police. Even though none of them know the truth either, Kimber amasses a “team” to help get her though this crazy situation. Several exes, her best friend, her boss and co-workers, and her less-than-supportive mother and stepfather all offer aid and advice of various sorts, but ultimately Kimber is going to need to rely on herself to ferret out the truth.

The more she uncovers, the more Kimber begins to understand that all of this leads back to that monumental day from her past: the day her sister died and her father vanished.

Laura Benedict pulls no punches in the way she manages to manipulate the reader. This is a writer unafraid to use all the tools in her arsenal. Throughout the novel, many techniques are used to obfuscate and complicate the narrative. First there is the fact that Kimber obviously knows things the reader is unaware of. But there are moments when the reader learns things that Kimber has not yet discovered. Benedict also nonchalantly drops major revelations into the text unexpectedly, causing the reader to reel back and say “wait…what?…omg.” Flashbacks to Kimber’s youth paint a broader picture, but many of those brush strokes color modern events in new, unexpected ways. And lastly, everywhere Kimber turns there are people working with their own agendas, independent of what is best for Kimber.

As the linchpin of the whole proceeding, Kimber Hannon needs to be a character readers care about. However, Laura Benedict has no interest in crafting a flawless heroine. Kimber has made mistakes, Kimber continues to make poor decisions, and Kimber seems incapable of getting out of her own way – not just in relation to this “stranger living in her home” situation, but in all of her life choices. And yet (or maybe because of that), it is impossible for readers not to bond with Kimber. The desire to see her reach new levels of self-understanding is powerful. People are not without failings and it is how we handle these blemishes that ultimately determines who we are.

The Stranger Inside reads at breakneck speed; perfect for a thrilling distraction from the everyday. Each character is fully-formed and relatable in their own way. Even the house itself grows in importance as the plot develops. Fans of Laura Benedict will find themselves stunned by the new depths to her writing this stand-alone unleashes; those coming to her work fresh will almost certainly be instant fans for life.

I really wanted to love this one after reading the description. A homeowner comes home to find a squatter has changed her locks and moved in. What a great premise, but it wasn't executed well enough to pull it all off.

Kimber Hannon is the homeowner and she was an unlikeable character although I could emphasize with her feeling of helplessness when her home was taken by this stranger. He also hints at "having something on her".

I struggled with this one (the pace and the side stories) and guessed the twists early on. I do think some readers will enjoy some of the more suspenseful parts, but I was overall a bit underwhelmed.

Thank you NetGalley, Laura Benedict and Mulholland books for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Kimber’s life is suddenly out of control when she comes home from a nice break at the lake to find that the locks on her own home have been changed and there is a stranger inside living there. He even has the paperwork to prove that he belongs there and it isn’t until she gets closer that he whispers, “I saw what you did”. She has no idea how this man knows her, but she does know what he is referring to and knows he isn’t there for her home. She must find out what it is that he wants and get him out of her life before she loses everything she has worked so hard for.

This book wasn’t at all what I expected it to be and that’s okay because I enjoyed it nonetheless. I loved how the book starts off with Michelle at the bottom of the ravine and leaves you wondering what is happening in this story. I liked that you have no idea how this man as wiggled himself into her life and what it is that he is looking for. I loved Kimber even though she is very flawed and a villain in a few different peoples eyes. I liked the jumping back and forth between the past and the present to slowly figure out what this stranger meant by his earlier comments. There were so many unexpected twists in this book that made it quite enjoyable for me. I also enjoyed the short chapters because it allowed me to cruise right through the novel! I found this novel a bit different than others that I have read this year and I really appreciated that.

Out February 5th!

DNF - will not be part on my 2019 reading challenge.

The MC, Kimber, is going to require that a reader packs A LOT of patience and it is significantly more patience than I have. She is beyond an awful human being and I just can't muster the energy to continue reading about her. Such a shame! NEXT!

This started out as an interesting read and just went downhill from there. Seemed to drag out about what happened with her sister. Had a had time staying interested and wanting to pick this one up.


Thanks to net galley and the publisher for an early release of this book

I found this novel to be exciting at first and very draggy towards the middle and end. The concept was exciting and interesting, but as the plot unfolded, it became convoluted with many unrealistic twists. All in all, I enjoyed it. Although I don’t think I would recommend this title.

Thank you to NetGalley Mulholland Books and Laura Benedict for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Very different start to a story. Kimber Hannon comes home from a week away only to discover her locks are changed and that there is a stranger living in her house who somehow has managed to produce paperwork that she signed his lease to rent the house for 6 months.
I wasn't too much of a fan of this book. I found Kimber very VERY unlikable and I think because of that it made me not really enjoy the book that much. I was almost like "good she deserves this"

However, there will def be an audience for this book once it comes out so I don't think Benedict needs to worry about that!

**4 Stars**

In Laura Benedict's The Stranger Inside, Kimber Hannon's life seemed to be going smoothly until she returns from a vacation to discover someone has moved into her house and taken over essentially her entire life. She calls the cops, who are completely unhelpful. They tell her the person who is in her house has a valid lease, and that she will have to figure out somewhere else to live until the courts can get things figured out.

Shocked and having no roof over her head, she seeks solace from her best friend, Diana, who lives in a huge cushy mansion with her handsome husband and delightful young daughter. Things seem okay while Kimber is safely enclosed within the four walls of Diana's posh house, that is until she ventures out of the house and to her job. Things to start to deteriorate at work and in her personal life, making her wonder if someone - such as the person who has taken over her house - is intentionally trying to destroy her life. And just maybe Kimber holds some responsibility for this situation. 

If you enjoy books with an unreliable narrator and lots of shocking twists and turns, The Stranger Inside is definitely for you. It's well written and the suspense builds page after page. Thank you to Laura Benedict, Mulholland Books, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the book!

Moved slowly in the beginning but picked up steam in the middle. Keeps you guessing until the end. Would have liked a happier ending but all in all it didn't take away from the story.

I was originally excited about getting this book from netgalley because it sounded like a weird fear of mine- coming home to your house and finding out it’s not yours for some reason.
I zipped through it pretty quickly, as the house thing was only the top layer of the onion that is this mystery. (Banana? Something with peelable layers) I needed to know exactly how all of the many things that seem to have nothing to do with each other all fit together into a conspiracy I actually didn’t see coming.
I don’t mind a mystery where I can figure it out before the end, but I do love it when the twist is something I didn’t see coming.

The first chapter catapulted me into the story, and I had a very difficult time putting this down. The beginning scenario, as strange as it was, is almost believable. I could actually see something like this happening in real life. Then the story takes a few twists and turns, and you find out the victim is in many ways guilty of bad things herself. I don’t want to give anything away, you just have to give this book a try.

The author does an amazing job of setting the scene and making the characters come to life. My emotions were all over the place, feeling sorry for the main character, and then feeling a bit of total dislike for her. Other characters may be good, or they may be bad,; it's quite a ride to the finish when everything is revealed.

What if you came home from a weekend get away and find that your house key will not open your door? What if you find out that someone is now living in your house? This is what happened in The Stranger Inside.
This is a well written book and has a good flow for ease of reading. It keeps you thinking through out the entire book. Great read and author!