Marianne Perry's Blog - Posts Tagged "shari-lapena"
A Stranger in the House
Book Comment: A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena
Karen and Tom Krupp are a thirty-something two-year married couple living in trendy New York State. She leaves her home hastily one evening and has a vehicular accident in a “questionable” neighborhood resulting in her suffering amnesia. She is eventually linked to a murder in this area.
Across the street from where they reside are Brigid and Bob Cruickshank. Brigid had an affair with Tom prior his marriage. With this unknown to Karen, she and Brigid become best friends. Brigid's inability to bear a child and her stalking the Krupp's adds another twisted element to this compelling murder mystery.
As the novel unfolds, we learn Tom knew scant about Karen's past when they wed. It is revealed she changed her name and identity plus faked her death to escape an abusive marriage. The murder victim is confirmed to be her first husband, Robert Traynor.
Brigid appears to have followed Karen the night of her accident and witnessed what happened. As the book progresses, Karen's version clashes with Brigid's and nothing at all is at it seems! Every character is shown to be someone else and every incident or detail is turned on its head.
Shari Lapena's prose is spare. With minimal description, imagery or backstory, this is a clean, clinical and sharp plot-driven novel. The action clips and as soon as the reader believes “she's got it,” Lapena pulls the proverbial rug from under our feet. The detectives Rasbach and Jennings are effective agents through which readers can state their assumptions and Lapena then refutes.
The resolutions to the various conflicts are unexpected but the concluding chapters, satisfying and logical. The title is brilliant for the person I believed “The stranger in the House” at the beginning was different than the one revealed at the end. Shari Lapena has penned a great goodread.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
Karen and Tom Krupp are a thirty-something two-year married couple living in trendy New York State. She leaves her home hastily one evening and has a vehicular accident in a “questionable” neighborhood resulting in her suffering amnesia. She is eventually linked to a murder in this area.
Across the street from where they reside are Brigid and Bob Cruickshank. Brigid had an affair with Tom prior his marriage. With this unknown to Karen, she and Brigid become best friends. Brigid's inability to bear a child and her stalking the Krupp's adds another twisted element to this compelling murder mystery.
As the novel unfolds, we learn Tom knew scant about Karen's past when they wed. It is revealed she changed her name and identity plus faked her death to escape an abusive marriage. The murder victim is confirmed to be her first husband, Robert Traynor.
Brigid appears to have followed Karen the night of her accident and witnessed what happened. As the book progresses, Karen's version clashes with Brigid's and nothing at all is at it seems! Every character is shown to be someone else and every incident or detail is turned on its head.
Shari Lapena's prose is spare. With minimal description, imagery or backstory, this is a clean, clinical and sharp plot-driven novel. The action clips and as soon as the reader believes “she's got it,” Lapena pulls the proverbial rug from under our feet. The detectives Rasbach and Jennings are effective agents through which readers can state their assumptions and Lapena then refutes.
The resolutions to the various conflicts are unexpected but the concluding chapters, satisfying and logical. The title is brilliant for the person I believed “The stranger in the House” at the beginning was different than the one revealed at the end. Shari Lapena has penned a great goodread.
Marianne Perry
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
www.marianneperry.ca
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Multiple murders and strange deaths in an isolated New York State inn during a weekend storm cutting guests and owners off from the world. Every time I thought I knew who the murderer was, Shari Lapena proved me wrong. Perhaps, I asked myself while reading, the crimes committed by the wealthy New England heir; the husband who secretly loathes his wife; the author of true crime books; the attorney cleared of murdering his wife; the war correspondent suffering PTSD; or the owner's son with a drug history. Lapena duped me with character revelations and unexpected events. I could not stop reading this mystery novel. Told from the various perspectives of guests during a period from Friday to Sunday afternoon, Lapena begins each chapter with day and time indicated. Clever tactic to maintain suspense and reader engagement. The identity of the murderer and the final twist were masterful.
Thank you for a great read.
Marianne Perry
www.marianneperry.ca
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
Multiple murders and strange deaths in an isolated New York State inn during a weekend storm cutting guests and owners off from the world. Every time I thought I knew who the murderer was, Shari Lapena proved me wrong. Perhaps, I asked myself while reading, the crimes committed by the wealthy New England heir; the husband who secretly loathes his wife; the author of true crime books; the attorney cleared of murdering his wife; the war correspondent suffering PTSD; or the owner's son with a drug history. Lapena duped me with character revelations and unexpected events. I could not stop reading this mystery novel. Told from the various perspectives of guests during a period from Friday to Sunday afternoon, Lapena begins each chapter with day and time indicated. Clever tactic to maintain suspense and reader engagement. The identity of the murderer and the final twist were masterful.
Thank you for a great read.
Marianne Perry
www.marianneperry.ca
Writing inspired by genealogical research to solve family mysteries.
