Book Review: The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

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“Most people sweep monsters under the bed. I pull the covers back and let them crawl in.”

📚

The Stranger Upstairs is a twisty gothic/psychological horror debut that follows therapist, bestselling author, and social media influencer Sarah Slade as she embarks upon the renovation of Black Wood House. A Victorian Gothic mansion built in 1889 in the unassuming town of Beacon, southeast of Melbourne, Australia, the claustrophobic abode was the scene of a gruesome murder/suicide 40 years prior — a morbidly tantalyzing backstory that Sarah hopes will increase her social media and lifestyle blog audience and save her floundering marriage.

Despite Sarah’s determination, things quickly unravel as workers fall prey to strange accidents; her relationship continues to deteriorate; and she hears strange sounds in the attic, finds alarming handwritten notes, and feels her mental and physical health declining. An extremely unlikable protagonist right from the get go, Sarah comes across as an arrogant, dishonest, friendless, and outright repugnant protagonist equipped with a shadowy past and perfectly curated, social media-based front of false perfection that’s as cringe-worthy as it is depressing. And though the reader feels some empathy as the story progresses and Sarah’s mental health issues and backstory come to light, that sympathy quickly dissipates as cryptic hints and outright lies roll over into shocking truths and brutal realities. It’s a wonderfully crafted story of lies, omissions, delusions, and deceptions that essentially slaps the reader across the face with its brazen, page-turning storyline.

A bright spot is Sarah’s cat, Reaper, an adopted, six-year-old silver Angora with “angry blue eyes” who’s possessive, aggressive, crotchety, and “hates everything with an inexhaustible passion” — essentially Sarah in feline form. Equally as fascinating is the house, a character in itself that appears to thrive on negativity and shun any sort of cleaning or repairs. Thrown into the mix are unfriendly — and at times cagey and antagonistic — locals, a caring fellow therapist who functions as Sarah’s one lifeline, and a narrative that intersperses maddeningly ambiguous contemporary news reports, all of which combine to form a dark, winding, and suspenseful novel that keeps the reader hooked.

And while I enjoyed the journey overall and found this to be a twisty and interesting take on the haunted house, there were some questions and loose ends that continue to nag at my thoughts that I’d love to discuss with other readers. To view my full review containing spoilers (hidden behind a spoiler tag), click here to visit Goodreads.

❤Amanda

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