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Sweet Valley High Super Thrillers #7
A Stranger in the House
When Ned Wakefield learns that John Marin, man he sent to jail for murder, is out, he's gripped by fear. He'll never forget Marin's last "I'll get you, Wakefield. Your precious little girls will never be safe again."
Ned hires a private detective to keep an eye on Jessica and Elizabeth, and cautions his daughters be alert to strangers. But then Elizabeth meets Ben, a young novelist, and Jessica meets Scott, a gorgeous television intern. Forgetting their father's warning, they fall right into Marin's deadly trap. Can Ned rescue the twins -- or will they be John Marin's next victim?
Book One in this petrifying two-part Super Series.
Ned hires a private detective to keep an eye on Jessica and Elizabeth, and cautions his daughters be alert to strangers. But then Elizabeth meets Ben, a young novelist, and Jessica meets Scott, a gorgeous television intern. Forgetting their father's warning, they fall right into Marin's deadly trap. Can Ned rescue the twins -- or will they be John Marin's next victim?
Book One in this petrifying two-part Super Series.
215 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1983
About the author
Francine Pascal
1,153 books1,867 followersFrancine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 15, 2018
I hadn't read this book in years, but it was just as insanely fantastic as I remember! The complete ineptitude of the Sweet Valley police department, the idiocy of Ned not telling his family they were in danger, and (most of all) Marin's numerous "menacing" monologues full of courtroom jargon - this book has it all.
Oh, and another tally on the "Liz cheats on Todd" scoreboard!
Oh, and another tally on the "Liz cheats on Todd" scoreboard!
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September 23, 2019AKA the sweet valley version of Cape Fear which is even name dropped by Elizabeth. It’s funny to re-read this as an adult. It’s cheesy and Ned Wakefield really is going for ‘worst father of Sweet Valley’ by not warning his entire family about the murderer coming to get them.
October 15, 2023
I first read this back in '95. I loved it then, probably because I was a 13 year old version of Elizabeth and romanticized her and "Ben Morgan".
Well, I recently bought this and a Killer on Board to re-read for nostalgia.
*Sighs* Well. I never cared for ol Todd, but geez...as an adult, re-reading this...I would feel bad for him if he wasn't an idiot. Like he even apologizes to Liz for basically being boring and that she felt like she had to sneak around with "Ben". So...your girlfriend cheats on you and YOU'RE apologizing? C'mon Todd, grow the fu*k up and leave Liz already. Now I know why you ended up getting with Jessica later on. That's a creepy sick and twisted revenge on Liz.
Anywho...now that I went on that rant, I'll say that I did enjoy my re-read. Everyone in this book doesn't have a functioning brain cell between them (Ned, you're stupid. Jessica...you're an idiot, Liz...you're a flake and John...stop fu*king talking out loud all the time.)
Well, I recently bought this and a Killer on Board to re-read for nostalgia.
*Sighs* Well. I never cared for ol Todd, but geez...as an adult, re-reading this...I would feel bad for him if he wasn't an idiot. Like he even apologizes to Liz for basically being boring and that she felt like she had to sneak around with "Ben". So...your girlfriend cheats on you and YOU'RE apologizing? C'mon Todd, grow the fu*k up and leave Liz already. Now I know why you ended up getting with Jessica later on. That's a creepy sick and twisted revenge on Liz.
Anywho...now that I went on that rant, I'll say that I did enjoy my re-read. Everyone in this book doesn't have a functioning brain cell between them (Ned, you're stupid. Jessica...you're an idiot, Liz...you're a flake and John...stop fu*king talking out loud all the time.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2019
Title: A Stranger in the House
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Series: Sweet Valley High Super Thriller, 7
Format: paperback
Length: 215 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: When Ned Wakefield learns that John Marin, man he sent to jail for murder, is out, he's gripped by fear. He'll never forget Marin's last words: "I'll get you, Wakefield. Your precious little girls will never be safe again."
Ned hires a private detective to keep an eye on Jessica and Elizabeth, and cautions his daughters be alert to strangers. But then Elizabeth meets Ben, a young novelist, and Jessica meets Scott, a gorgeous television intern. Forgetting their father's warning, they fall right into Marin's deadly trap. Can Ned rescue the twins -- or will they be John Marin's next victim?
Book One in this petrifying two-part Super Series.
Favourite character: Jane
Least favourite character: Marin
Mini-review: This was crazy. I didn't like how you were in the dark for the majority of the book. It's a complete turn from the Margo storyline. With Margo we followed her every move, knew her every victim, knew her every disguise. And I guess because it's a thriller, rather than regular series they were trying to up the tension, but they upped it a little too much in my opinion. My 12 year old self would've been terrified after this book.
Anyway, you're completely blindsided by John. Luke you'll find it obvious and the second guess you guess and then start to go back to it being obvious and it's just a mess.
Also any time they wanted to emphasize something they put whatever the character was saying (usually Ned) in italics, which messed with my head a bit.
Fan Cast:
Elizabeth Wakefield/Jessica Wakefield - Lili Reinhart
John Marin/Scott Maderlake/Ben Morgan - Colton Haynes
Ned Wakefield - Patrick Warburton
Jane O'Reilly - Emma Stone
Todd Wilkins - Blake Michael
Enid Rollins - Joey King
Lila Fowler - Danielle Campbell
Winston Egbert - Joey Bragg
Alice Wakefield - Laura Dern
Bruce Patman - Gregg Sulkin
Amy Sutton - Peyton List
Steven Wakefield - Timothée Chalamet
Maria Santelli - Francesca Reale
Mr. Jenkins - Roger Bart
Marianna West - Bryce Dallas Howard
Author: Francine Pascal, Kate William
Series: Sweet Valley High Super Thriller, 7
Format: paperback
Length: 215 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis: When Ned Wakefield learns that John Marin, man he sent to jail for murder, is out, he's gripped by fear. He'll never forget Marin's last words: "I'll get you, Wakefield. Your precious little girls will never be safe again."
Ned hires a private detective to keep an eye on Jessica and Elizabeth, and cautions his daughters be alert to strangers. But then Elizabeth meets Ben, a young novelist, and Jessica meets Scott, a gorgeous television intern. Forgetting their father's warning, they fall right into Marin's deadly trap. Can Ned rescue the twins -- or will they be John Marin's next victim?
Book One in this petrifying two-part Super Series.
Favourite character: Jane
Least favourite character: Marin
Mini-review: This was crazy. I didn't like how you were in the dark for the majority of the book. It's a complete turn from the Margo storyline. With Margo we followed her every move, knew her every victim, knew her every disguise. And I guess because it's a thriller, rather than regular series they were trying to up the tension, but they upped it a little too much in my opinion. My 12 year old self would've been terrified after this book.
Anyway, you're completely blindsided by John. Luke you'll find it obvious and the second guess you guess and then start to go back to it being obvious and it's just a mess.
Also any time they wanted to emphasize something they put whatever the character was saying (usually Ned) in italics, which messed with my head a bit.
Fan Cast:
Elizabeth Wakefield/Jessica Wakefield - Lili Reinhart
John Marin/Scott Maderlake/Ben Morgan - Colton Haynes
Ned Wakefield - Patrick Warburton
Jane O'Reilly - Emma Stone
Todd Wilkins - Blake Michael
Enid Rollins - Joey King
Lila Fowler - Danielle Campbell
Winston Egbert - Joey Bragg
Alice Wakefield - Laura Dern
Bruce Patman - Gregg Sulkin
Amy Sutton - Peyton List
Steven Wakefield - Timothée Chalamet
Maria Santelli - Francesca Reale
Mr. Jenkins - Roger Bart
Marianna West - Bryce Dallas Howard
April 17, 2026
It's Sweet Valley High meets Cape Fear! When Ned Wakefield was a district attorney 10 years ago, he helped put away John Marin for murder. Now, Marin has been released from prison and is out for revenge. His targets are twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield. Ned makes the strange decision to not tell his family about the situation. Meanwhile, Jessica and Elizabeth are waitresses for the summer. Jessica is romanced by Scott, a TV location scout, and Elizabeth is romanced by Ben, a writer. Which one is Marin? Could he be both???
This one just slips by with 3 stars. It is quite a slow-burn, with nothing much really happening until the final 40 or so pages. Most of it is taken up with Jessica and Elizabeth competing to get the most tips in a competition run by the cafe owner. I mean, can you think of a more blah plot than that in what is supposed to be a thriller? It really, really drags down what could have been a fun thriller romp. That time could have been spent on scenes between the twins and the boys romancing them and developing the suspense of the scenario. Instead, it's mostly "I'm going to win the tip competition!" "No, I am!" Snore.
It's still readable, and reading it as an adult, I enjoyed some of the snappy dialogue. But so much more could have been done with this concept. Hopefully part two is a little more intense!
This one just slips by with 3 stars. It is quite a slow-burn, with nothing much really happening until the final 40 or so pages. Most of it is taken up with Jessica and Elizabeth competing to get the most tips in a competition run by the cafe owner. I mean, can you think of a more blah plot than that in what is supposed to be a thriller? It really, really drags down what could have been a fun thriller romp. That time could have been spent on scenes between the twins and the boys romancing them and developing the suspense of the scenario. Instead, it's mostly "I'm going to win the tip competition!" "No, I am!" Snore.
It's still readable, and reading it as an adult, I enjoyed some of the snappy dialogue. But so much more could have been done with this concept. Hopefully part two is a little more intense!
July 15, 2025
3.5 stars. Sweet Valley High’s version of the movie/book Cape Fear. A murderer gets out of jail and seeks revenge on the man who put him there, the twin’s father Ned Wakefield. The best way to get back at Ned is by tormenting and plotting murder against his wife and kids.
Bit of a slow burn for a thriller but it was still really enjoyable. The teen talk and shallowness was silly and absurd in the best way. Most of the action takes place in the last 30 pages or so.
Bit of a slow burn for a thriller but it was still really enjoyable. The teen talk and shallowness was silly and absurd in the best way. Most of the action takes place in the last 30 pages or so.
June 3, 2022
A blast from the past and as hilarious as expected.
December 14, 2022
Omg this is just the best follow up ever to the Margo saga,
*Chefs kiss*
*Chefs kiss*
January 26, 2010
I am reading this book and i am at the part where marin is trying to kill the girls. This book is kind of a horror book. My favorite character would probebly be Elizabeth because she is really smart and is really pretty. I also like her because when jessica is with Scott a guy she barly knows, she still thinks of nothing but herself. This book is clearly a 5 star already.
May 27, 2021
Dragged until the last 20 pages or so. Summer themed. Loved that they both dated the same guy and didn’t know it. I think I read this one as a kid because I remembered that plot point about halfway through. So many red herrings.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 5, 2010F PAS svh
January 3, 2012
I don't know that I will keep these after I finish them!
May 8, 2013
A very gripping tale , after I read it I was all but inspired to write a tale of my own !
July 9, 2013
I have read so many of these books I can't remember all of them.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews