The blurb was so intriguing, that I picked up this book thinking it to be a mysterious suspenseful read. The story goes thus, Sarah’s husband goes missing, and after seven years, along comes a man who knows everything about her and her husband, claiming to be her husband. I thought this would grip me as the pages turned, but sadly it felt staccato and very slow. I had to skim read to get to the ending.

I found this to be a very slow book and I just couldn't get into it so sadly just gave up . Not my kind of book

Reading the blurb of the book on Netgalley I was intrigued. First because of the story, second because I read a couple of German books each year for book report purposes. All German books have, in my view, a couple of things in common that make why they are so ‘typically German’.
First, there is not a shred in humour in German thrillers. Something I dearly miss because I think it is an essential part of a thriller/mystery. Second, people shrug, frown and shake their heads all the time. After a while it becomes annoying. On the other hand, the plots are always thorough and the characters well developed.
However, I was pleasantly surprised! Melanie Raabe gave me a story that I could relate to, without frowning and headshaking all the time, while still being able to describe the inner moods of the characters. It is a little slow for my taste, and there is still no humour to be found, but it is a rather captivating read in some parts.

I struggled with The Stranger Upstairs. I felt it was really slow moving and it did not hook me in therefore I had to give up on it.

A great story! The author took me through a range of emotions anger,fear,trepidation etc. I was kept guessing throughout. I enjoyed the journey! Thank you Netgalley,Melanie Raabe and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read an ARC

Having enjoyed Melanie Raabe's previous book 'The Trap' I was eager to read this one. Unfortunately, I didn't find it as compelling as I thought I would, and the slow and steady pace meant I was struggling to stay interested and invested in the storyline.

The core concept of the book is that Sarah's husband goes missing and in his place comes an imposter who knows everything about her marriage to husband Phillip. But how? Who exactly is he? One exceptional aspect of the story is that you never know who to trust and are never quite sure what will be coming next. The biggest twist was one I liked very much and did not predict. However, the book was rather difficult to get into, it took me quite a while before I became invested. Most of Raabe's books are written in German and translated into English which has me wondering whether some of the pace and tension was lost in translation. The flow of the story wasn't particularly good, and I felt that it stopped and started a little too often. This definitely threw me off my reading stride.

All in all, a decent read where all is not what it seems. Trust no one! This book explores how people can change so much that they become unrecognisable to their loved ones. It also explores the fallout from that situation.

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

There where a lot of aspects I liked in this story, but there also are some things I found frustrating and hard to understand. Didn't like the ending very much. But, all in all, I liked it enough to finish the book and give it three stars.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan!

I really loved the main characters and the brilliant plot. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

I really don't what to make of this book. Okay I have given it four stars.
How would you feel if your husband had been missing for seven years? You carry on with your life bringing up your son, your life is on hold. Until one day you get a phone call informing you that you husband has been found and is on his way home. You have been waiting so long and now he is back. At the airport you meet inside you are screaming This is not my husband, but he comes home with you. You are going home with an impostor.
The mystery and intrigue and how they skirt around each other is mesmerising. IS IT OR ISN'T IT???
The rapport between these two is always on a knife edge. WHO is he and where is her husband?
The wife becomes really scared when the stranger asks " What is the worst thing you have ever done??? The wife has a secret but HOW does he know ??
This book is well written and full of mystery and intrigue and the rapport between the two main characters is spellbinding. When I came to the conclusion of this book I had mixed emotions. Love can be pushed to one side but if you look deep enough it is always there. I really liked this book.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

This was a seriously creepy book! Sarah is shocked when her husband Phillip is released from a kidnapping ordeal in South America after 7 years of silence. She has been getting on with her life, raising her 8 year old son Leo, and this news causes her to have to reassess her life. When she meets Phillip at the airport, she does not recognise him and realises that the man who has returned to her is a stranger.
I couldn't stop reading this, Sarah is totally isolated as no-one believes her assertion that this man is not her husband. I felt so sorry for her as she becomes increasingly isolated and paranoid, and the stand off between her and the stranger becomes more and more terrifying.
The premise of this book is interesting and original and shows how our minds can be manipulated by traumatic events and skewed memories.

Thank you to Melanie Raab and Pan MacMillan for the opportunity to read and review this book. The Stranger Upstairs will get the cogs moving in your brain. What is the definition of love. Do we love someone for who they truely are or how we see.them. Sarah's husband leaves for a business trip and doesn't return home. She is left to raise their son Leo by herself. Her life is on pause. 7 year later she receives a phone call to say he is coming home, that he has been held captive all this time. But, it is not her husband Philip that returns, it is an imposter. What does he want and how come he knows everything about Sarah and Philips life. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat with the twists and turns it delivers. Just loved it. I will be adding Melanie Rabb to my to watch list.

Thank you to the author and net galley for the arc of The Stranger Upstairs.
This was a well written and expertly paced book that set the scene well.
The main character was believable and I was left not knowing what to think. Was he her husband really or not?
I think the book explored well the idea of how someone can change so much as a person that they become unrecognisable to those the closest to them.
A really good read and a book I would recommend

I struggled a bit with this one. Quite slow paced and it just didn't keep me gripped. Not much more I can say except I had high hopes for it but wasn't what I expected.

I really liked the sound of this book, but I found it a struggle to read, I was struggling quite early on and just didn't connect with it.Hopefully it was just me, I did wonder if maybe something was lost in translation but I have no idea if this might be true.I am afraid it just didn't flow for me.Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC.

I felt quite disappointed with The Stranger Upstairs, the pace was slow and I really struggled to get into it.

Her husband disappeared into thin air and she never expected to see him again. Then she gets word he’s on the way home. But the man who turns up is not her husband, even though he knows all about their life together, and even more importantly, he knows all about her and the things she’s done. A novel that had me doubting who to trust and wondering what on earth is going on