Title: A STRANGER IN THE HOUSE
Author: Shari Lapena
ISBN: 9780593077412
Publisher: Bantam Books
Pages: 304
Source: Private Copy
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.
Official Summary
24 July 2025
If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, twist-filled domestic thriller where no one is quite who they seem, A Stranger in the House will hit the spot. Shari Lapena, well-known for The Couple Next Door, returns with another suspenseful tale about the secrets we hide from the people closest to us—and what happens when those secrets explode to the surface.
The premise is gripping right from the start: a woman disappears without warning, only to crash her car in a seedy part of town and wake up with no memory of what happened. Karen’s amnesia makes her an unreliable narrator by default, and Lapena plays with that uncertainty brilliantly. As the police dig deeper and Karen tries to piece together the missing hours, a creeping sense of paranoia sets in—what really happened that night, and who’s telling the truth?
Tom, the seemingly loving husband, is sympathetic at first but slowly becomes more suspicious. And then there’s the nosy neighbour across the street—who just might know more than she’s letting on. I loved how Lapena layered the narrative with subtle clues and misdirections. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist came along to unravel my theory.
This isn’t a book that spends time on deep character development—it’s all about the plot, tension, and the unravelling of lies. And in that department, it delivers. Short chapters and tight pacing keep the pages turning, and the reveals, while occasionally a bit dramatic, are undeniably entertaining.
My only small gripe is that some of the plot points felt slightly implausible, especially toward the end. But honestly? I didn’t care. I was hooked, right up until the final sentence—which adds one last delicious sting.
A Stranger in the House is a popcorn thriller in the best way—sharp, suspenseful, and full of juicy secrets. Perfect for fans of twisty domestic dramas where the past refuses to stay buried.
Also by Shari Lapena
SHE DIDN’T SEE IT COMING
When a beloved wife and mother disappears, a luxurious condo building transforms into a potential crime scene, and the investigation begins: can the detectives find her before it’s too late?
Bryden and Sam have it all: thriving careers, a smart apartment in a luxury condominium, supportive friends and a cherished daughter. The perfect life for the perfect couple.
Then Sam receives a call at his office. Bryden–working from home that day–has failed to collect their daughter from daycare. Arriving home with their little girl, he finds his wife’s car in the underground garage. Upstairs in their apartment, her laptop is open on the table, her cell phone nearby, her keys in their usual place in the hall.
Except Bryden is nowhere to be seen. It’s as if she just walked out.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
SHARI LAPENA is the #1 internationally bestselling author of seven suspense novels, including The Couple Next Door, A Stranger in the House, An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, The End of Her, Not a Happy Family, and Everyone Here is Lying.
A former lawyer and English teacher, Shari now writes full time from a farm in Ontario, where she lives with her husband.
Her first thriller, The Couple Next Door, was a runaway global bestseller, selling 4 million copies worldwide. It was WHSmith’s “Book of the Year” in 2016 and the #1 Adult Fiction Title in the UK for 2017. All of Shari’s novels have been New York Times, UK Sunday Times, and Globe and Mail bestsellers. Three of her books have been Richard & Judy Book Club Picks. Her books have sold into forty territories around the world and have been optioned for film and TV.
She doesn’t want you to be able to put her books down.
This one was a quick read. I loved the short chapters. Is it just me, but I find the longer the chapters, the slower I read? As always, thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy this one. Until next time… Happy Reading!
