Book Review: A Stranger In The House by Shari Lapena

“It's like something in her mind is twisted, and we're caught up in it somehow, like we're part of some fantasy she has.”

― Shari Lapena, A Stranger in the House

The New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and Not a Happy Family has written another gripping domestic suspense book. You'll be reading A Stranger in the House at night for weeks. You won't guess the finish from this clever and intriguing book.

Synopsis from Wikipedia...

The story started when Karen and Tom Krupp are happily living in New York, as newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. Then one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished leaving her purse behind. After searching, Tom received a knock on the door wherein he was confronted by the police who took him 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 making her memories of the accident forgotten. 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 about the accident happened to Karen which led them to another horrific questionable case that also happened in the busy state of New York.

My reaction to the novel...

When I had some free time, I finally got a chance to read this book, which I had long since purchased. Given that I genuinely adore reading mysteries and thrillers, I was able to add this to my list.

In comparison to her prior work, The Couple Next Door, I finished this book in less than a week, so I'm happy with that. I'd say Shari Lapena has a little twisted mind, which I enjoy. It is just what a thriller enthusiast would want. I enjoy it when a writer keeps me in the dark. Even though it's easy to read, each chapter in this book will keep you interested.

I find Karen's demeanor to be genuine. There are many women out there who are in challenging circumstances and would do everything to escape. Karen was a genius, but the only thing that disturbed her tranquil existence was her injuries. At the conclusion of the novel, I was a bit surprised by who she really was. Her disposition is amazing.

Tom Krupp strikes me as being quite feeble. Because, now that I think about it, I'm curious as to how he was able to forgive Karen and how quickly she won back his trust. I know that love had a role, but really? Why won't he carry out further investigation? As if things were back to normal? I sincerely hope he continues and finds out more about the struggles her wife has had. I think it will eventually be his own tragedy if he keeps acting that way.

Now Brigid appears. I think she's a complete crazy. If you have a friend like her, you'll feel entirely at ease, but once you find out what she's up to, you'll be horrified. She terrifies me more than Karen. She is a tough opponent, and you have no idea what she is thinking. She is a great example of a crazy person, but in a different way.

The story, in my opinion, was great. I'm happy to recommend it to those who share my love of suspenseful and mysterious novels. After reading the book, you'll still have questions and make assumptions. I've had a great time reading this, and I can't wait to read more. Everyone should read this fantastic book since it is so good.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

“What is love anyway, she thinks, but a grand illusion? We fall in love with an ideal, not a reality. People falling in and out of love, as their perception of reality changes.”

Most people have a perfect kind of love. We fall in love with the anticipation that those ideals will come true, causing you to fall in love once more.