My mom has always enjoyed psychological thrillers and would watch the movies with me. When I was little, it was a little traumatizing for me, but I grew to love the genre and the suspenseful mood tingling throughout my body. So I was excited to read A Stranger In The House, a thriller by Shari Lapena.

Karen and Tom Krupp are your classic, happy, white-picket-fence couple in suburban New York – until one night when Karen Krupp does not come home. We later learn that, instead, she was recklessly speeding through one of the worst neighborhoods in the area and had an accident. Her accident occurred a couple blocks away from the murder of an unknown man. Karen is suspected of being connected to the crime, but her amnesia from the accident is of no help to her defense. The Krupps’ perfect life is shattered, and they must now face marital problems, a murder charge, fines, and the police.

The plot of the novel hooked me from the beginning; it was the best part of the book. The story is well-developed, and all motives and actions, for the most part, made sense. It was fun to guess who had committed the crime and who was involved. While any twists were predictable, I still did enjoy the overall plot.

The major criticism I have of A Stranger in the House is its lack of anything for the reader to connect to. I could not feel the love between the characters, and their personalities were clichéd – the cunning detective, the distant husband, etc. The writing style did not have an interesting tone. Instead, it comes off as too straightforward, telling the reader everything and not allowing  the reader to make some of their own conclusions. 

If you enjoy emotional reads and are looking for a deep, thoughtful story where you can fully submerge yourself in the writing, this book isn’t the one. If you want an easy book with a plot that hooks you, A Stranger in the House is one you’ll probably enjoy.