A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena is sure to keep you guessing right up until the very end, While I didn’t find this book to be as incredible as her debut, The Couple Next Door, this novel is packed with suspense and is definitely hard to put down. Lapena has a writing style that is easy to follow and quite succinct. The characters are very interesting, and can definitely be found in any suburban neighbourhood, making this story seem relatable.
Title: A Stranger in the HouseAuthor: Shari Lapena
Also by this author: The Couple Next Door
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
Genres: Thriller, Adult Fiction
Publication Date: August 15, 2017
Rating:
In this neighborhood, danger lies close to home. A domestic thriller packed full of secrets, and a twisty story that never stops—from the bestselling author of The Couple Next Door
He looks at her, concerned. “How do you feel?” She wants to say, Terrified. Instead, she says, with a faint smile, “Glad to be home.”
Karen and Tom Krupp are happy—they’ve got a lovely home in upstate New York, they’re practically newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. But one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished—her car’s gone and it seems she left in a rush. She even left her purse—complete with phone and ID—behind.
There's a knock on the door—the police are there to take Tom to the hospital where his wife has been admitted. She had a car accident, and lost control as she sped through the worst part of town.
The accident has left Karen with a concussion and a few scrapes. Still, she’s mostly okay—except that she can’t remember what she was doing or where she was when she crashed. The cops think her memory loss is highly convenient, and they suspect she was up to no good.
Karen returns home with Tom, determined to heal and move on with her life. Then she realizes something’s been moved. Something’s not quite right. Someone’s been in her house. And the police won't stop asking questions.
Because in this house, everyone’s a stranger. Everyone has something they’d rather keep hidden. Something they might even kill to keep quiet.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Review: A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
When a book grabs my attention so much that I am flipping pages all night long, it is safe to say that it is definitely one that has lured me in and won’t let go. Shari Lapena has crafted a murder mystery that unfolds in a quiet neighbourhood with a housewife at the centre of attention. As new details begin to be revealed, and the pieces of the story start to come together, you will want to keep reading to see where the plot is headed next. The concept and storyline are that intriguing to keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting to know more.
❀ Fantastic Plot
If you are familiar with The Couple Next Door, you will come to expect a certain style from Shari Lapena’s writing. Her style is very much to the point and is very easy to follow. A Stranger in the House has a fantastic plot, but it is just not as descriptive as I would have expected. While I enjoyed how quick this story is to read, I would have preferred more details about the setting and the characters than is offered. The book feels a little rushed, and it would have been amazing to have it slowed down just a little bit.
❀ Interesting Characters
This commuter neighbourhood in A Stranger in the House has some characters that will be easily recognizable. For instance, there is a very nosy neighbour that seems to know quite a bit about what everyone else is up to. Also, for those who have read The Couple Next Door, Detective Rasbach makes an appearance, which adds a bit of an interesting twist to the story because he is a character that we are already familiar with. Rasbach is a detective who seems to be able to solve any mystery, and is a very likeable character.
❀ Quick Read
A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena is a perfect thriller for your summer beach bag. The book is a quick read that will satisfy anyone who loves the genre. I look forward to reading more of Lapena’s novels and I am curious to find out if we will be seeing more of the infamous Detective Rasbach.
About Shari Lapena
Shari Lapena is the internationally bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House. She was a lawyer and an English teacher before turning her hand to fiction.
She lives in Toronto.
About Lori
Avid reader. Contributor to The Candid Cover. Educator.
Great review! I haven’t read this yet but it sounds very thrilling and exciting! I’m glad you loved it! 🙂
It really was quite an intense read! 🙂
This sounds amazing! And if her first book is even better I need it too. Thank you for the introduction to a new thriller author.
I think that you will really enjoy her novels! 🙂
The cover’s actually kind of beautiful, although this is a thriller!
Right?! It does sort of throw you off a little bit! 🙂
Interesting points on the comparison between both her novels I did think it was quite a quick time period between the two.
Yes there was a short turn around between the two books. The book is still very enjoyable, but I think it just needed something a little more to bring it up to par with the first one.
Good review; it sounds like a good suspenseful book. 🙂
I have’t read The Couple Next Door, but I have heard all about it. While I haven’t heard quite as much about this one, it still sounds good. Right now, I am looking for an incredible horror, but after I find that, these may be what fits the bill
Eeek! I hope that you enjoy the horror that you picked out. I can handle thrillers, but horrors are a bit too much more than I can handle. Enjoy! 🙂
Sounds interesting but not my kind of read. Amazing review!
Oh my gosh I need to get a copy of this soon! It sounds so amazing – definitely a great read for the end of the summer! I do a lot of camping so I feel like this would be the perfect book to read for it! Awesome review!
It sounds like a very exciting read. I’m not sure if it’s for me, but it does sound very intriguing.
I’ve read The Couple Next Door recently and it was so good! Now that I’ve read this review for a book by the same author, I kind of hate you now because my tbr pile just got a little bit higher lmao 😂 I can’t wait to read this one!