A Stranger in the House

Sweet Valley High Super Thrillers #7

by Francine Pascal (Creator), Kate William

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Romance, Childrens

215 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1983

About the author

Francine 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.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[Steph]

AKA 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.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Otis & Richie's Books & Coffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.)

[Amanda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A blast from the past and as hilarious as expected.

[gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this is just the best follow up ever to the Margo saga,
*Chefs kiss*

[Crystal B · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F PAS svh

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know that I will keep these after I finish them!

[Lubna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gripping tale , after I read it I was all but inspired to write a tale of my own !

[Sheila Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read so many of these books I can't remember all of them.

[Ashton Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE