Sarah talks her husband into purchasing a murder house fixer-upper in a very affluent small town. After moving in, strange things immediately start happening. She's hearing strange noises, receiving notes, and starts believing the house is rejecting any updates. She can't decide if it's the house itself or if a neighbor is trying to dredge up her past and scare her away so the house can be torn down. All of these weird occurrences start to make her feel like she's going crazy; she's becoming disoriented and losing gaps of time. Is Black Wood House haunted or is there a much simpler answer to what is happening?

I did enjoy The Stranger Upstairs and I wasn't totally expecting the plot twist. Some parts of the story were a bit slow and I wish we would have had more of Sarah and her husband's backstory. Overall, I'd recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery!

Thank you to Lisa M Matlin, Random House Ballantine - Bantam, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Slade is a best-selling author and a social media darling. In an effort to expand her brand, she purchases Black Wood House, the scene of an infamous murder-suicide. Her goal is to renovate the house and flip it for profit. Soon after moving in, she begins to hear noises and discovers that the previous owner has gone missing. Sarah shares a striking resemblance to Amanda, the previous owner, but Sarah knows that people aren't all they appear to be. She should know, she is keeping a tremendous secret that will forever change her life.

I expected a good solid thriller out of this book but I was disappointed. The writing seemed spastic and the storyline was a bit convoluted. It just felt like it took too much effort to read and concentrate on. The main character was really unlikeable - it was too easy to root for her ending. She had done some despicable things and treated people like dirt beneath her feet. I'm hoping to read more by this author with a better main character and a more stable storyline.

Spooky and creepy. I’ve been reading a lot of books about influencers but this one hooked me. Suspenseful til the end.
Many thanks to Random House and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 rounded up

First off, this book creeped me out a lot more than I thought it would. At first, I was getting a lot of Amityville Horror vibes but this took a turn into something much more than just a cursed murder house.

This story is full of:
Secrets
Hostile Neighbors
Possible haunted murder house that does not want to be fixed
Unreliable character narration
Cheating husband

This would be great for any thriller/mystery/horror lover.

I received this ARC to read and review from NetGalley. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this ebook.

First I need to say.. LOOK AT THAT COVER!! It’s beautiful! The Stranger Upstairs is the debut novel from Lisa M. Matlin. It was not what I expected! It’s not just another haunted house story!

Therapist, author and social media influencer Sarah Slade just bought Black Wood House, aka “Murder House”. It takes a certain type of person to buy a murder house and Sarah is that person. She moves in with her husband, Joe, and her rescue cat, Reaper. Sarah doesn’t mind that the previous occupants died in the house in a murder-suicide. They’re even buried in the back yard! She’s determined to renovate this house and even makes her bedroom in the ‘murder room’. Unfortunately, the entire neighborhood seems to want her gone and she starts hearing things upstairs when she’s alone. Is she going crazy?!

The Stranger Upstairs is an awesome psychological thriller. It’s atmospheric, spooky and full of dark humor! It would be perfect for any spooky season TBR! I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC! 4 stars!

Oh my gosh, I’m not even sure where to start with reviewing this! What. A. Ride. We meet social media influencer/therapist Sarah and her husband Joe as they’re relocating to the perfect town of Beacon, where you’re only allowed in if you’re “one of them” and anyone else is treated like an outsider. The couple buy Black Wood House, where a gruesome murder suicide took place 40 years prior. The locals say the house is haunted and want the property bulldozed but Sarah has her sights set on a sweet 6 figure profit if she and Joe get going on renovations. As the renovations begin, and Sarah shared the journey on her IG and blog, it becomes clear that someone or something does not want her to improve the home. Sarah slowly becomes unhinged, her marriage is threatened, and her sanity is questioned to the point where we the reader cannot trust her. I was HOOKED from start to finish with this deliciously creepy read.

I knocked one star because we never find out what happened to Janet, the surviving daughter from the original murder; and also there needs to be extreme suspended belief for the big reveal at the end. Overall, a wicked debut and I will Absolutely read this author again.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 rounded to 5

“Maybe it’s Maybelline. Or maybe it’s murder.”

This one has a bit of a slow burn but consistent pacing which worked for me to add to the creepiness factor. It’s pretty descriptive in the beginning and sometimes that’ll sorta lose me.

However, at about the 46th page things started creeping me out. Oh yeah, so I’m thinking ok, this book is soooooo for me. Oh and the talk about the “roos” coming out and night grinding their teeth….I’ve never thought of them like that and it’s sorta terrifying. The cat’s behavior weirded me out.

I don’t want to give anything away but I wouldn’t say this is a stereotypical thriller, but maybe mystery verging on horror? I mean the creepiness was spot on. This was like unreliable narrator in a haunted house kinda deal. I don’t really know how I’d classify it (partly because I’m exhausted - I read this in one sitting) but I know I liked it.

I loved her dedication in the beginning of the book and the author’s note. It made the darkness of the book make so much more sense. I loved that she channeled her dark thoughts into this creepy novel. A lot of the feelings she had are so relatable which made me love this book even more. I’m someone who rarely reads author’snotes but I felt that I needed to for this one.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
It took a while for me to get into this book. The idea of the house speaking to them.
Who moves into such a controversial house for social media fame? No thanks.
Then about halfway in, you start to see what’s happening and it makes sense. I enjoyed it. Couldn’t stop reading once I got going.

They always say don’t judge a book by its cover, but this beautiful cover drew me in to this book. Then I read the synopsis and knew it was one I had to read. When I saw there was a house where a murder had occurred and a blogger decides to buy it I was all in. This book was full of eerie moments that have you on edge but the ending is the real kicker!

This is a wonderful debut novel by the author who I also want to give kuddos to for sharing her mental health story in the note from the author. As someone who can relate to your words, thank you.

Spooky and intriguing! I have to admit, it takes a lot for a book to scare me but this one gave me jump scares at night at any little noise, lol. I loved all the darkly funny wisdom nuggets coming out of our main characters thoughts, I highlighted a lot of passages, especially in Part 1. I went into this story expecting a thriller but I would call it more like horror with the pacing of a thriller. It’s probably best to go into this blind and enjoy the ride so I’m not going to say much about the plot to avoid spoiling anything for future readers. Just know that this one is dark and will take you to very unexpected places. This debut was very well done and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on September 12, 2023

The overall premise for this story is very good and I was super excited to read. This debut novel starts off strong . . . thick with small-town mystery and spooky vibes. A popular therapist/author with an expanding social media presence buys an infamous murder house with the intention of rehabilitation. This situation is simply ripe with madness and eerie possibilities.

Without giving anything crucial to the plot away I must admit that the POV character Sarah Slade became abrasive, unlikeable, and nearly intolerable to me. Being in her mottled head filled me with high anxiety and it was not fun at all there for a minute. If you don’t mind the narrative being occasionally disjointed or slow and uncomfortable for a bit, the story does eventually get back on a more coherent and enjoyable track before the end.

If you enjoy spine-tingling stories or mild horror, this might be a good pick for you this Halloween season.

Available for purchase September 12, 2023

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Stranger Upstairs for my unbiased evaluation.  3 stars

Sarah Slade is a best selling author, therapist, and aspiring social media influencer who is looking for something to bolster her career and save her dying marriage. She decides buying an infamous murder house in a small town and documenting the renovations will do just that. However, strange things start happening when she moves into the house and she must find out if it's the townspeople or the house itself that want her gone... before it's too late. This book was very atmospheric and descriptive with perfect haunted house vibes. The majority of the story is told in the perspective of our slightly unreliable narrator, which I think added to the mystery and suspense of the story since it kept the reader second guessing. The pacing of the story was a little bit slow in the beginning but did pick up about halfway through. I think this would be perfect for fans of Home Before Dark and Amityville Horror.

Sarah Slade is a best-selling self-help author and therapist. She and her husband purchased Black Wood House, a run-down Victorian house where a murder occurred 40 years ago. Sarah’s goal is to fix it up and resell it for profit. However, she soon discovers hostile neighbors that want the house demolished. The house also emanates a creepy feeling that does not seem to dissipate whether day or night. When creepy notes begin to appear, Sarah becomes certain that someone is out to get her, but who? Sarah’s life spirals further and further out of control.

Lisa M. Matlin creates a setting that is genuinely creepy here. I really enjoyed the premise of the story, buying a murder house and living in it. I found myself racing through the beginning of the story. Then, about midway, I realized I wasn’t really connected to any of the characters. I feel the characters of the story were never fully developed. However, if you can look past the characters not being fully developed, this is a great creepy read for spooky season. The twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy thrillers with unreliable narrators this one is definitely for you! I give it 3/5 stars.

This is one of the better haunted house books I've read. I did dock a star because I found the main character so unlikeable that it was a struggle to feel any kind of sympathy for her. I read the book in two sittings and was intrigued by the plot. None of the characters were particularly endearing and that includes the house itself. I would have been interested in a little more background on what exactly was wrong with Sarah.

Good spooky novel for a cold fall evening.

Sarah Slade, bestselling self help book author and therapist decides to buy a murder house with her husband Joe. She wants to renovate it and then sell it. But the house doesn't seem to want to be renovated. Her marriage is falling apart. This book was a wild ride and kept me saying to myself, "Just one more chapter." It kept me intrigued the entire time. It had immaculate murder house, spooky vibes. For this to be the authors debut novel is very impressive. I would definitely read more from this author in the future! Go pick this book up! Thanks to netgalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random house publishing group for the opportunity to read this book!

When Sarah Slade buys a murder house to renovate, she gets more than she bargained for! Mysterious and terrifying things start happening to Sarah. She’s determined that this fixer upper will allow her to double her investment, but will she stay alive?

This book took me a while to get into. There was a lot going on and I remained confused up until the very end.. You will definitely be kept guessing but keep with it because it will all be revealed. Who is Sarah Slade anyway??

🙀🙀🙀.5 (cats instead of stars, once you read you’ll understand). What a fabulous debut novel for Lisa Matlin. I loved that the beginning of the book gave me Amityville Horror house vibes. I will say some parts were predictable but some twist I did not see coming! I loved the added blog posts, diary entries and news articles. It helped break up the book and made it that much more suspenseful. Although, I thought parts of the book dragged on a little too long.. overall I thought it was a great book and I’d definitely read from this author again!!

I want to thank the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Stranger Upstairs! What a debut read from . Can’t wait to read more! It had the right amount of suspense. I spent the entire book sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I didn’t guess the ending but I liked it.

Definitely would recommend this one. And the best part it’s being released right before spooky time

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Ballantine for a copy of The Stranger Upstairs in exchange of an honest review.

The Stranger Upstairs is a psychological thriller debut. It is also billed as gothic and a haunted house story, but I don’t feel that this book really falls into those categories. The main character, Sarah is a hot mess and very unreliable narrator. This book is not going to be for everybody, there are plot holes and things that are left unresolved. I only recommend if you enjoy books with unlikeable characters, unreliable narrators, and don’t mind having parts of the story unresolved in the end. Otherwise, I would skip this one.

Twisted psychological thriller/horror/mystery. It is difficult to follow as there are so many personality changes and switches in character throughout the book. Only a couple of characters are even remotely relatable or likeable and that is short lived. Good for a debut book but I suppose I was expecting something less convoluted from the disruption. Not really my cup of tea. I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.