The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

 What did I just read???

It was all over the place, but I eventually knew where it was going (even though I don't know how I got there).

I believe the author's aim was to have us believe the house was haunted but in a very obscure, realistic, sort of believable way.

This wasn't really a book I liked, so my review is a bit negative.  Would love to hear from others that have read it and liked it, though.  There were elements that would probably be better off left out.  For example, the newspaper or online clippings.  I think the story was good if left linearly and told chronologically.  I didn't feel she needed to add the cliffhanging newspaper articles leaving us in suspense about who was left dead in the house.  I liked the rest otherwise.

I think she should have had the missing girl, who was almost killed by her father, come back somehow, too.  Would have been a great element to the story, in my opinion.

Psychological Elements

The main character is definitely suffering from an identity crisis.  She takes over other people's identities, essentially after she kills them.  This could be related to a dissociative identity disorder.  What's weird is how it starts as a somatic symptom of physical discontinuity - she had to bite her arms because she thought they were not there or disappearing.  She didn't feel whole again until she became someone else.  

The house was creepy, but was it really haunted?  Everyone who lived in it became insane one way or another.  However, Sarah/Lizzy Slade seems to have been insane prior to living there.  

I also have to question Joe/Liam's reasoning behind going along with this.  Was he scared?  Did he feel guilty or responsible for the death of the real Sarah Slade, so he went along with it so Lizzy wouldn't implicate him?  It was just weird.  

Anway - what you do think?

Dark Corners by Megan Goldin

 I'm pretty sure I've read another Rachel Krall novel before, but I can't remember.  There wasn't any in my blog, so if I did it was a while ago.

Anyway, this book was great.  I enjoyed how the author led us on from the beginning, leaving us guessing until the very end who the real murderer was.  I mean, she definitely gave it away, but it plays out so expertly you would have thought someone else was involved, when they weren't.  

The love story was given or take, but it was a nice added touch, as well.

What I didn't love but was apparently essential to the story plot and elements, were the social influencers.  It is a very contemporary plot line, though.  If anyone is going to understand that world it would be the new millennials.  Way to appeal to the times!

Psychological Elements

This one was a bit tricky.  There is definitely the psychopath element for the serial killer.  His problems were brought on by his poor upbringing and bad parenting.  Unfortunately, he had an incurable disease that made him unapproachable; however, for some reason he chose a profession where his appearance and odor would be judged.  That was an interesting choice.

Terence Bailey's and Maddison's characters were interesting too.  They chose to change their personas in different ways to hide from this killer and blend into their new environments.  One of them was prison, the other was hiding in plain sight on Instagram.  I also found it strange that Maddison chose to put her image out there when she was trying to hide.  Both killer and would be victim were "hiding in plain sight."

She Started It by Sian Gilbert

 Not my favorite.  Point Blank.  It takes place on a deserted island where a begrudged bride to be knocks off her past bullies.  It was so unnerving to even think about doing something that ridiculous as going to a deserted island without cell phone service with someone who essentially blames you for ruining her life.  Needless to say, many end up dead.  

Until the last few chapters, there is very little thriller components to it.  You spend most of the book hating the characters for what they did to this poor girl.  But, you sort of feel like it didn't matter because she became a rich, fancy doctor who can afford a private island retreat for 5.  Until the twist ...

Psychological Elements

Depression, suicide, self-mutilation, bullying, and more...

The high school girls were definitely mean and belittled the main character for seemingly no reason.  Much like many other young girls in high school, she was just trying to find herself.  All these girls did was ruin everything she held close to her.  Everything but her sister ...

Did I like the ending?  Not really.  But, come to think of it, I don't think I liked the beginning or middle either. 

This one was just not for me.  What are your thoughts?