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 Thoughts…

What to Expect:
👻 Set in Austrailia
👻 Murder House
👻 Paranormal
👻 Secrets Galore
👻 Unlikeable Character
👻 Toxic Relationships

🫶 What worked for me…
“The Stranger Upstairs” by Lisa M. Matlin is an eerie debut thriller mixed with gothic horror. I loved that this was a short read, at only 273 pages, and I was able to fly through it with ease. I thoroughly enjoyed all the unlikeable characters, with the main character Sarah being the absolute worst. In regards to the actual murder house, “The Stranger Upstairs” captures the atmosphere very well. It will certainly have you glancing over your shoulder with any little noise. Matlin writes Sarah so well that you’re guaranteed to become invested in her thoughts, and you will soon trust no one in this book.

🤔 Would I recommend it…
I would recommend this book to thriller lovers who enjoy paranormal elements with mild horror. If you don’t like reading about a full cast of unlikeable characters, then it’s probably best to avoid this book. Know that some people may not enjoy the ending of this one, but I went along with it, and it was unique in a sense.

⚠️ Trigger warnings…
Graphic- Mental illness, Murder, Alcoholism. Moderate- Suicide, Death, Animal Cruelty. Minor- Infidelity

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5