Book Review: A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

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A Stranger in the House

Title: A Stranger in the House

Author:  Shari Lapena

Published: July 31st 2017

Publisher: Penguin Books Australia

Pages: 320

Genres: Mystery, Psychological, Fiction, Contemporary, Suspense, Thriller

Rating: 4 stars

RRP: $32.99

Introduction

Today, I’m going to share my thoughts on a book I recently read, A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena. This is a thriller novel about a woman who loses her memory after a car accident and becomes a suspect in a murder case. Sounds intriguing, right? Well, let me tell you more about it.

Plot Summary

The book “A Stranger in the House” is about Karen and Tom Krupp, a married couple that lives in a nice neighbourhood. They would appear to have the ideal life, but one day, when Tom returns home, they find Karen gone. The car, purse, and phone are missing, and he has no clue what happened or where she went. 

Within a matter of time, he receives a call from the police, informing him that Karen has been in a car crash in the worst neighbourhood. She has a concussion and cannot recall anything from before the collision. The police are suspicious because of a dead man found in an abandoned restaurant near the accident spot. 

He was killed by shooting and the remaining pink rubber gloves. Is she concealing something else? He believes that Karen could never do something like that, but he does not know much about her past. He begins to doubt whether he actually knows his wife. At the same time, Karen is attempting to heal from her harm and restore her memory. 

She is uncomfortable in her own home as if someone has already visited. She also observes that her friend, neighbour and distant cousin Brigid is behaving abnormally. Brigid has a crush on Tom and is obsessed with their marriage. She watches them and wishes to separate them. However, she also has knowledge that might destroy Karen’s life.

The police investigate the murder; they discover lies and secrets that involve Karen, Tom, Brigid and even the victim. They understand that all is not what appears, and everyone has a secret.

My Opinion

I enjoyed reading A Stranger in the House book because it was fast-paced and suspenseful. I liked how the author created a sense of mystery and tension throughout the story. I was curious to find out what had happened to Karen and what secrets she had been keeping. I also liked how the author portrayed the characters, especially Karen and Brigid. 

They were both complex and flawed, and I felt sympathy and frustration for them at different points. I think the author did a good job of showing how people can be driven by fear, jealousy, and love.

However, I also had some issues with the book, A Stranger in the House. One of them was the predictability of some of the plot twists. I guessed some of the major reveals early on, and I was not surprised by them. I also felt that some of the characters were not very realistic or likeable. 

For example, Tom was very naive and passive, and he let himself be manipulated by others. He did not seem to have much personality or backbone. I also did not like how the police were portrayed as incompetent and biased. They jumped to conclusions and ignored evidence that did not fit their theory. They also harassed and threatened Karen, even though she was a victim of a crime. I think the author could have made the police more professional and fair.

Final Rating

Overall, A Stranger in the House was an average thriller. It had some strengths like the style of writing, suspense and characterization. It also had some flaws, including predictability, realistic portrayal, and ending. I would suggest this book to domestic thriller enthusiasts seeking a light and enjoyable read. Yet I would advise them not to place too much hope in it or to treat it as something significant.

I hope you enjoyed it, and I would appreciate your feedback on the book. Was you like it or not? What were your thoughts about the characters, plot and ending? Please reply in the comments section. Also, do not forget to visit our other review articles for other book reviews and posts.

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