Monday 28 January 2019

Book Review: The Stranger Upstairs by Melanie Raabe

Book: The Stranger Upstairs

Author: Melanie Raabe

Pages: 346

Read On: Kindle

Read In: 4 hours

Plot Summary: Several years ago, your husband, and the father of your young son, disappeared. Since then, you’ve dreamed of his return; railed against him for leaving you alone; grieved for your marriage; and, finally, vowed to move on.

One morning, the phone rings. When you answer, a voice at the other end tells you your husband’s on a plane bound for home, and that you’ll see him tomorrow.
You’ve imagined this reunion countless times. Of course you have. But nothing has prepared you for the reality. For you realize you don’t know this man. 
Because he isn’t your husband, he’s a complete stranger – and he’s coming home with you.
Even worse, he seems to know about something very bad you once did, something no one else could possibly know about . . . Could they?


Things I Liked: 

1. The premise of the book seemed really interesting. A man gone for seven years and an imposter has taken his place! What is not to like about such a premise?! I was quite excited to pick up this book to figure out if the man returned after seven years was, indeed, Sarah Petersen's husband or not. 

2. The build up of the story and suspense is nicely done. Once "Peter" returns, it is interesting to see how Sarah reacts and how "Peter" keeps baiting her- not fully saying whether he is Peter or someone else. 

3. There is some mystery connected to a date night gone wrong several years ago, just before Peter left for his ill-fated trip to Colombia. There is a fair amount of intrigue around that as well. 


Things I Didn't Like: 

1. The pace of this book was insanely slow! There were multiple useless, pointless chapters from Sarah's perspective ruminating about her days in the garden, about some long-ago event she went to with Peter- none of these were needed! They did nothing to enhance the story in any which way! 

2. There are also alternating chapters from "Peter's" perspective. They give us nothing! He just sounds sinister and makes it seem that he is not Peter in some of these chapters or that he is Peter in some other chapters! It is just so pointless! 


3. The book's ending was ridiculous! It was so weird, so silly and so inane that, as the kids these days say, "I just can't even!" I mean, the whole book was utterly pointless! (I don't want to spoil the ending for those who still want to read it!) 

Rating: 3/5 

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