Her Secret Upstairs: A Twisty Domestic Thriller With a Shocking Final Reveal

by Ian Erikson

Hannah doesn’t remember her life before Peter.
And in this quiet Victorian neighborhood, that’s exactly how he wants it.

The house is charming. The marriage seems perfect. The neighbors are polite in a way that feels rehearsed. But inside this carefully controlled world, one thing stands out—the locked upstairs room Peter insists she never open.

He tells her it’s a utility space with dangerous wiring.
He tells her her memory loss comes from “a traumatic past” she’s not ready to face.
He tells her she’s safe now, that he’s the only one she can trust.

But the late-night footsteps don’t match his.
The light glowing under the locked door shouldn’t exist.
And the neighbors’ constant surveillance feels less like friendliness and more like participation.

As Hannah pushes past the lies, she discovers the truth Peter has built around her—
her name, her marriage, her history, her identity—is a construction. A containment system.

She’s not the first woman he’s remade.
But she may be the first to uncover the real reason this neighborhood protects him.

Now Hannah must piece together a life she doesn’t remember while trapped in a street full of people who know exactly who she really is—and what Peter has already done.

Her Secret Upstairs is a tense domestic psychological thriller
• a controlling husband
• a locked room mystery
• memory manipulation
• a watchful suburban neighborhood
• hidden identities and gaslighting
• escalating danger behind a perfect marriage façade
Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, Shari Lapena, and Mary Kubica who love twist-driven stories about lies, obsession, and the secrets inside seemingly ordinary homes.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2025

Reviews

[Madisyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay but I actually liked this book! It had me hooked from the beginning, and although it felt like not my usual genre as it started to lean towards what felt like a science experiment, it took another turn and turned out better than I was expecting! I’ve never read anything by this author before and honestly didn’t read the blurb beforehand so I wasn’t 100% sure what I was in for. I definitely recommend giving it a shot because it was an easy read with short chapters and kept me engaged the whole time! I actually wish the ending was drawn out more to keep it going!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandi Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this one even better than the other book I read of his. This one really twist your mind around and draws you in hard. I had a hard time putting the book down because I needed to get to the end. Hannah and Peter aren't who you think they are.They seem to be the perfect couple living in the perfect neighborhood but are they really. This book gaslights you all the way to the end but in a good way. Can you try and figure out the secret upstairs. You won't believe the ending of this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author to me but I am definitely going to be reading more of his books. Great twisty book that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Hannan and Peter are great characters but aren't exactly who you think they are. Just when you think that you know what is going on you are shocked by the twists and turns. Definitely a must read.

[Cathy Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The depth of deceit and the intricacy of the involvement of the characters is very well written. In the middle of this quiet piece of suburbia with homes connected via an underground tunnel system and a much further reach outside of just one city makes this both unbelievable and potentially a truth telling.

[Samantha Shelton · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the dumbest books I have ever listened to. I do not recommend it!

[Theresa Hoke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I was going crazy listening to this!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but this story just didn't make much sense. Thought the ending was a bit far fetched too. Could have been better.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t know how I ended up picking so many books with so much gaslighting 🤣 oh well, pretty decent story.