Description:

Most people wouldn’t buy an infamous murder house to renovate for fun.

But Sarah Slade is not most people.

A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.

But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.

Adele’s Review:

This reviewer has always had a soft spot for haunted house books and movies, so when I was offered an advance copy of debut novel The Stranger Upstairs, I gladly accepted. Author Lisa M Matlin has an amazing voice that allows readers to know and understand her protagonist Sarah Slade on the deepest levels. That strong voice kept me turning the pages and empathizing with Sarah as she slid into madness inside her “murder house.” Over and over, I wanted to save her. Of course, as a reader, my role is to observe and follow the storyline. And Sarah is not easy to like, but impossible to ignore. She’s one of the most unique characters I’ve ever read, and I rooted for her on every page. A highly recommended read.

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5494161106

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BR517TH6