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Stranger in the House
National bestselling author Patricia MacDonald spins a tale of nerve-shattering suspense that leads readers down the dark, winding roads of a picture-perfect suburban town.
WHAT DID HE SEE?
WHAT DOES HE KNOW?
Eleven years ago, Anna Lange's life was shattered when her young son, Paul, disappeared -- though she never gave up hope that he might be alive. Now, her son has been returned. The joyful family reunion is short-lived, however, as the nervous, withdrawn Paul begins to behave strangely. Anna's husband and daughter grow fearful living in the same house with him. But Anna believes that Paul is still recovering from the extreme psychological trauma he experienced the night he disappeared -- though he claims he has no memory of that time.
Dgoes he or doesn't he? Someone remembers -- and will stop at nothing to keep the truth a secret. Now Anna will have to contend with a nightmare from the past that will either tear her family apart, or destroy them together....
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1983
203 people are currently reading
593 people want to read
About the author
Patricia MacDonald
70 books556 followersLibrarians note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.
Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.
Patricia MacDonald is the author of several psychological suspense novels set in small towns. MacDonald grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut and has a master's degree from Boston College. Before writing her own novels she was a book editor and was once an editor for a soap opera magazine in New York. She is married to writer Art Bourgeau. They live in Cape May, New Jersey and have one daughter.
Her first novel, The Unforgiven, published in 1981, received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. Secret Admirer (1995) won the literary prize at the 1997 Deauville Film Festival in France, where MacDonald is consistently a number one bestseller. She’s also been awarded the prize for literature at the International Forum of Cinema and Literature in Monaco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
June 6, 2016
Ugh! Another book that has left me baffled. The ending was so abrupt that it left me with more questions than answers. There were parts of the book that made NO sense at all! (The lesbian affair for example) it had a good plot but fell way short of being good.
December 31, 2025
A maudlin thriller but a fine family drama!
Tom Lange is at work. Anna's at home with the kids. Paul, a two year old toddler plays happily in the yard while Anna nips inside to take a quick look at Tracy, who's crying and sick in bed with a cold. Only a few moments later, she comes back out to a parent's worst nightmare - Paul is nowhere to be found. Eleven years later, Tom and Tracy have long since given up hope but Anna has remained so completely obsessed with the possibility that Paul is alive and will return to them someday that their family relationships are on the verge of collapse. A family friend, Detective Buddy Ferraro now shocks them with the news that a death bed confession from one of the kidnappers has resulted in Paul being found and returned to his family.
STRANGER IN THE HOUSE is actually two stories happening simultaneously. Suffice it to say that the "thriller" half of the tale is monumentally maudlin. MacDonald lets us know who the real villain of the tale is almost from the outset of the story and the only tidbit held in reserve for the climax is the reason.
The other story is the evolution of the Lange family after Paul returns. Tom feels tremendous guilt and remorse that he was obviously wrong to have given up hope and yet he cannot get rid of the anger he feels at Anna for having ignored the family for so long. Tracy is a completely normal, sullen, self-centered teenager who is upset at having an instant sibling with whom she is now expected to become friends and share. Anna is delighted at Paul's return and fails to recognize that she continues to be obsessed with her son to the exclusion of her husband and daughter. Paul is tormented with nightmares stemming from his experiences with his kidnappers and initially encounters serious psychological difficulties re-adjusting to his new family - even his name and his birthday are different from what he has grown up with! The drama of these problems and how the family avoids near-certain break-up is extremely well done and is far and away the more interesting of the two parts of the novel.
A weak two stars only for the "thriller", four stars for the "family drama" - OK, we'll call it a three star rating!
Paul Weiss
Tom Lange is at work. Anna's at home with the kids. Paul, a two year old toddler plays happily in the yard while Anna nips inside to take a quick look at Tracy, who's crying and sick in bed with a cold. Only a few moments later, she comes back out to a parent's worst nightmare - Paul is nowhere to be found. Eleven years later, Tom and Tracy have long since given up hope but Anna has remained so completely obsessed with the possibility that Paul is alive and will return to them someday that their family relationships are on the verge of collapse. A family friend, Detective Buddy Ferraro now shocks them with the news that a death bed confession from one of the kidnappers has resulted in Paul being found and returned to his family.
STRANGER IN THE HOUSE is actually two stories happening simultaneously. Suffice it to say that the "thriller" half of the tale is monumentally maudlin. MacDonald lets us know who the real villain of the tale is almost from the outset of the story and the only tidbit held in reserve for the climax is the reason.
The other story is the evolution of the Lange family after Paul returns. Tom feels tremendous guilt and remorse that he was obviously wrong to have given up hope and yet he cannot get rid of the anger he feels at Anna for having ignored the family for so long. Tracy is a completely normal, sullen, self-centered teenager who is upset at having an instant sibling with whom she is now expected to become friends and share. Anna is delighted at Paul's return and fails to recognize that she continues to be obsessed with her son to the exclusion of her husband and daughter. Paul is tormented with nightmares stemming from his experiences with his kidnappers and initially encounters serious psychological difficulties re-adjusting to his new family - even his name and his birthday are different from what he has grown up with! The drama of these problems and how the family avoids near-certain break-up is extremely well done and is far and away the more interesting of the two parts of the novel.
A weak two stars only for the "thriller", four stars for the "family drama" - OK, we'll call it a three star rating!
Paul Weiss
December 30, 2020
Ten years ago, Anna Lange's son, Paul, was kidnapped. She never gave up hope that he would return home, even when the police and her husband, Thomas, did. And now he is coming home, after the woman who raised him admits on her deathbed to the crime. Paul is the stranger of the title, and the book explores how the different family members react to his return.
Younger sister Tracy is resentful and belligerent. Thomas can't reconcile the fifteen year old boy with the little one who went missing, and wonders if he even loves his son. Anna is paranoid and overprotective, terrified that something might take Paul away again. And she has good reason. The man who kidnapped him for his wife is still out there, and mentally ill. And there is another threat closer to home who isn't happy about Paul's return.
The book doesn't hide the identity of the additional threat, but I won't reveal it here. It means this is more your psychological suspense story, more than a mystery or outright thriller, as we wait for the antagonists to carry out their plans. It's a slow-burn story, but still with a couple of moments that I could picture delivering a good scare if this were a movie! Some extraneous subplots do slow things down and aren't even resolved. (The neighbour's wife, the motel owner).
But this does a decent attempt at demonstrating how something joyous like the return of a lost child can still bring on depression and uncertainty. The book ends very abruptly once the climax arrives. An epilogue would have been useful to address the minor story issues left dangling.
Younger sister Tracy is resentful and belligerent. Thomas can't reconcile the fifteen year old boy with the little one who went missing, and wonders if he even loves his son. Anna is paranoid and overprotective, terrified that something might take Paul away again. And she has good reason. The man who kidnapped him for his wife is still out there, and mentally ill. And there is another threat closer to home who isn't happy about Paul's return.
The book doesn't hide the identity of the additional threat, but I won't reveal it here. It means this is more your psychological suspense story, more than a mystery or outright thriller, as we wait for the antagonists to carry out their plans. It's a slow-burn story, but still with a couple of moments that I could picture delivering a good scare if this were a movie! Some extraneous subplots do slow things down and aren't even resolved. (The neighbour's wife, the motel owner).
But this does a decent attempt at demonstrating how something joyous like the return of a lost child can still bring on depression and uncertainty. The book ends very abruptly once the climax arrives. An epilogue would have been useful to address the minor story issues left dangling.
July 16, 2018
Paul Lange was playing in the yard when his mother, Anna Lange, had to go inside for a moment to check on his sister who was sick. When Anna comes back outside Paul is gone. Then 11 years later, the Lange family gets a call that Paul is found and coming home. But Paul doesn't remember his life from before.
The story is short but it does deal with the family's feelings about having Paul back. Things are not all rainbows and unicorns, as the family struggles to adjust. There is a sort of mystery as to what happened all those years ago but we get to know who the villain is fairly quickly.
A friend of mine gifted me with a bunch of books and this was one of them. I had not read this author before. I liked it. Will I read more by this author? Probably.
The story is short but it does deal with the family's feelings about having Paul back. Things are not all rainbows and unicorns, as the family struggles to adjust. There is a sort of mystery as to what happened all those years ago but we get to know who the villain is fairly quickly.
A friend of mine gifted me with a bunch of books and this was one of them. I had not read this author before. I liked it. Will I read more by this author? Probably.
July 13, 2012
Confesso que quando vi a capa deste livro,e foi a capa do livro de bolso, achei-a fantástica. O título permitiu-me divagar, levando a minha mente para o típico caso de invasão de propriedade, reféns, etc... Mas depois li a sinopse. Uma criança de 4 anos desaparece da casa da família, e aparece 11 anos depois como que caído do céu. Despertou-me interesse. E finalmente consegui aceder ao livro para ler.
Começa com uma situação normal, umas brincadeiras no pátio, o filhote brinca, e é de forma natural que surgem as situações imprevistas para o desenrolar desta estória. A criança desaparece. Logo no 2º capítulo a vida das personagens avança 11 anos. Estamos no presente, e eis que surge uma novidade, a criança apareceu. Começa o nervosismo da mudança. Uns reagem melhor, outros não sabem como reagir. A adaptação é difícil, e não é bem aceite por todos. É neste clima pesado que começam a acontecer as peripécias de modo a dar a conhecer o que aconteceu naquele dia, e nos anos seguintes. No fundo, este rapaz é a Estranho em Casa.
Ao longo do livro acontecem um rol de situações que nos leva a saber o que aconteceu. A pouco e pouco, descobre-se que há um culpado malévolo, sem escrúpulos, de modo a conseguir o que quer. O perigo instala-se.
E é neste suspense que se desenrola o livro. Ao contrário de outros livros policiais, não é um assassinato o caso principal. É a vida duma família, magoada pelo desaparecimento do filho, que regressa 11 anos depois, levando a adaptações importantíssimas e nada fáceis, em paralelo com a estória daquele desaparecimento.
Gostei bastante do livro. A autora leva-nos a criar um empatia com todas as personagens. Esse foi o aspecto que gostei mais e que me levou a desejar tanto descobrir o que se tinha passado.
Um livro muito fácil de ler.. Aconselho...
Começa com uma situação normal, umas brincadeiras no pátio, o filhote brinca, e é de forma natural que surgem as situações imprevistas para o desenrolar desta estória. A criança desaparece. Logo no 2º capítulo a vida das personagens avança 11 anos. Estamos no presente, e eis que surge uma novidade, a criança apareceu. Começa o nervosismo da mudança. Uns reagem melhor, outros não sabem como reagir. A adaptação é difícil, e não é bem aceite por todos. É neste clima pesado que começam a acontecer as peripécias de modo a dar a conhecer o que aconteceu naquele dia, e nos anos seguintes. No fundo, este rapaz é a Estranho em Casa.
Ao longo do livro acontecem um rol de situações que nos leva a saber o que aconteceu. A pouco e pouco, descobre-se que há um culpado malévolo, sem escrúpulos, de modo a conseguir o que quer. O perigo instala-se.
E é neste suspense que se desenrola o livro. Ao contrário de outros livros policiais, não é um assassinato o caso principal. É a vida duma família, magoada pelo desaparecimento do filho, que regressa 11 anos depois, levando a adaptações importantíssimas e nada fáceis, em paralelo com a estória daquele desaparecimento.
Gostei bastante do livro. A autora leva-nos a criar um empatia com todas as personagens. Esse foi o aspecto que gostei mais e que me levou a desejar tanto descobrir o que se tinha passado.
Um livro muito fácil de ler.. Aconselho...
February 25, 2016
Desde as primeiras páginas, não tenho largado o livro, querendo continuar até saber o desfecho.
Na primeira parte em que o menino de 4 anos desaparece sem deixar rasto, a dor de mãe é expressa em palavras que nos atingem em cheio. Na pele, no coração, em todo o corpo. Ao fim de 11 anos, o filho reaparece quando a raptora morre. O que lhe aconteceu exactamente? Ele não se recorda. O raptor, que anda fugido e escondido, decide revelar um segredo sobre o filho à mãe... Só que ele é assassinado antes que este segredo fosse revelado. E só saberemos o que se passou exactamente no final do livro.
A escrita é fluída e envolvente, com o suspense se mantendo ao longo do livro. A descrição psicológica das personagens é palpável, o filho desaparece e depois reaparece... É um estranho, daí o titulo do livro.
Este é um dos melhores que já li da Patricia Macdonald.
Na primeira parte em que o menino de 4 anos desaparece sem deixar rasto, a dor de mãe é expressa em palavras que nos atingem em cheio. Na pele, no coração, em todo o corpo. Ao fim de 11 anos, o filho reaparece quando a raptora morre. O que lhe aconteceu exactamente? Ele não se recorda. O raptor, que anda fugido e escondido, decide revelar um segredo sobre o filho à mãe... Só que ele é assassinado antes que este segredo fosse revelado. E só saberemos o que se passou exactamente no final do livro.
A escrita é fluída e envolvente, com o suspense se mantendo ao longo do livro. A descrição psicológica das personagens é palpável, o filho desaparece e depois reaparece... É um estranho, daí o titulo do livro.
Este é um dos melhores que já li da Patricia Macdonald.
June 18, 2016
Esta história não se prende tanto por uma investigação policial, centrando-se antes na vida desta família, destroçada pelo desaparecimento do filho mais velho, e que mais tarde precisa de se adaptar ao reaparecimento do mesmo.
Opinião completa: http://quandoseabreumlivro.blogspot.p...
Opinião completa: http://quandoseabreumlivro.blogspot.p...
October 9, 2024
3.4
Just ok
It had great potential, but it slogged off
The big business guy was just too cruel and free to treat everyone like slime to be disposed of
The husband's attitude was not believable and the dalliance did not need to happen
Just ok
It had great potential, but it slogged off
The big business guy was just too cruel and free to treat everyone like slime to be disposed of
The husband's attitude was not believable and the dalliance did not need to happen
January 18, 2026
My gold standard by Patricia MacDonald is "The Unforgiven", but this second book came close to it. Unpredictable.
December 13, 2020
A fast read, but one I did not really enjoy. A young boy disappears from its family in the burbs of NYC; the mom Anna became something of a celebrity with her constant searching, TV appearances and so forth. Low and behold, ten years later, the boy turns up and is returned to the family. His kidnappers were a nurse and a bible-thumper who had been in and out of institutions for years. The kidnapper's wife confessed to the deed on her death bed and the bible-thumper (named Rambo) is on the run.
While Anna is pleased to have Paul back, Paul is quite an odd one, with horrible nightmares and fainting spells. Paul does not know what happened with the kidnapping, but finds it hard to adjust to his 'new' family. Meanwhile, the family's strange neighbor takes an interest in the boy for some reason and you know it will not be good. Anna is extremely paranoid about the missing Rambo, driving her husband nuts.
This is basically a mystery thriller and it throws some decent twists along the way, but all and all, fairly predictable and mundane. If you can relate to Anna, you may enjoy this; I found her rather stereotypical and boring. 1.5 stars rounding up.
While Anna is pleased to have Paul back, Paul is quite an odd one, with horrible nightmares and fainting spells. Paul does not know what happened with the kidnapping, but finds it hard to adjust to his 'new' family. Meanwhile, the family's strange neighbor takes an interest in the boy for some reason and you know it will not be good. Anna is extremely paranoid about the missing Rambo, driving her husband nuts.
This is basically a mystery thriller and it throws some decent twists along the way, but all and all, fairly predictable and mundane. If you can relate to Anna, you may enjoy this; I found her rather stereotypical and boring. 1.5 stars rounding up.
April 14, 2016
another great book by patricia macdonald
a young boy was playing in the yard when his mom went in the house to check on his sick baby sister, when she came out a few min's later he had disappeared. he was 4 yrs old
when he was 15 yrs old he was returned to them when his 'mom' was on her deathbed she confessed that her husband stole him. turned out the boys neighbor had hit him with the car and left him in the road and the man found him and took him home to raise
the neighbor had to cover up, so he killed the man that raised the boy, and abducted the boy and his mother. he lit the place on fire but the womans husband came and rescued them at the last minute
really enjoyed the book!
a young boy was playing in the yard when his mom went in the house to check on his sick baby sister, when she came out a few min's later he had disappeared. he was 4 yrs old
when he was 15 yrs old he was returned to them when his 'mom' was on her deathbed she confessed that her husband stole him. turned out the boys neighbor had hit him with the car and left him in the road and the man found him and took him home to raise
the neighbor had to cover up, so he killed the man that raised the boy, and abducted the boy and his mother. he lit the place on fire but the womans husband came and rescued them at the last minute
really enjoyed the book!
July 1, 2016
The mother drives everyone nuts with her obsession, bordering on OCD, concerning her missing son. Poor woman, years of stress, overwhelming sense of loss which she does not accept.
The characters are well defined allowing you to easily relate to them.
An interesting and enjoyable read.
The characters are well defined allowing you to easily relate to them.
An interesting and enjoyable read.
October 18, 2016
Un thriller exaltant. Quand on le commence on ne peut pus s'arrêter... Je n'avais jamais lu d'histoire comme celle-ci auparavant. J'ai pris ce livre dans ma bibliothèque sans conviction et finalement il m'a transporté et s'est laissé lire en seulement une après-midi. Je recommande vivement.
January 23, 2016
Adorei este livro!
June 9, 2017
If I wasn't on my cellphone my review would include more detail. Here it goes anyway..
1. Thought this was a different book, but I kept with it since I started it.
2. Sterotypes galore.
A. Most women : stay-at-home wives, meek, "women's intuition," always apologizing to their men-folk, can't really think for themselves, first hint of danger they are done for, stuck with all the house chores, any concern is ignored or they are told they are crazy.. Etc
B. Other women : worker, dresses for success in them stilettos, sleezy, trying to get with married people because that work life (sigh...), if in an art career they are lesbians, obviously.
C. All Men : suits, ties, trains, boats, golf, city office work, successful, ignores their partner unless for their own gain, doesn't contribute to household unless it's their money, etc ( I know.. Starting to sound like a soap opera.. Yeah..)
D. Lesbians : amazed that there were any since there was a huge lack of diversity. Most characters were blonde blue eyes or the typical soap opera style description.. And most characters were men. One woman was rich and ignored by her husband confused as to whether she was always a lesbian or ever loved her asshat of a husband / wanted to wear larger baggier clothes/called fat, the other was frumpy, artsy, hippy, etc
3. Poorly written, but if this is your first book or two.. Ok, cool, at least you wrote a book
4. Disregard for mental illness/the use of psychologists and therapy.
5. Clearly written in the early 80s it would make a great case study of what people perceived to be normal in media etc..
6. Unrealistic conversations between partners and parents to children
I could keep going... But, I will stop here.
It's a quick, simple read with too many unnecessary descriptive words as if she just found a thesaurus for the first time.
1. Thought this was a different book, but I kept with it since I started it.
2. Sterotypes galore.
A. Most women : stay-at-home wives, meek, "women's intuition," always apologizing to their men-folk, can't really think for themselves, first hint of danger they are done for, stuck with all the house chores, any concern is ignored or they are told they are crazy.. Etc
B. Other women : worker, dresses for success in them stilettos, sleezy, trying to get with married people because that work life (sigh...), if in an art career they are lesbians, obviously.
C. All Men : suits, ties, trains, boats, golf, city office work, successful, ignores their partner unless for their own gain, doesn't contribute to household unless it's their money, etc ( I know.. Starting to sound like a soap opera.. Yeah..)
D. Lesbians : amazed that there were any since there was a huge lack of diversity. Most characters were blonde blue eyes or the typical soap opera style description.. And most characters were men. One woman was rich and ignored by her husband confused as to whether she was always a lesbian or ever loved her asshat of a husband / wanted to wear larger baggier clothes/called fat, the other was frumpy, artsy, hippy, etc
3. Poorly written, but if this is your first book or two.. Ok, cool, at least you wrote a book
4. Disregard for mental illness/the use of psychologists and therapy.
5. Clearly written in the early 80s it would make a great case study of what people perceived to be normal in media etc..
6. Unrealistic conversations between partners and parents to children
I could keep going... But, I will stop here.
It's a quick, simple read with too many unnecessary descriptive words as if she just found a thesaurus for the first time.
September 24, 2023
I enjoyed this book. Can't image having your child stolen from you and then have people you thought were your friend try to kill you and your child after they are finally returned. The relationships among the characters seemed very authentic and felt like they could easily be real people living next door. The ending kept me wanting to read to the last sentence and did not feel like just a scripted movie with a happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2024
How would you feel if your young son disappeared for ten years the returned? That's the premise of this story and I was fascinated how the mother never gave up hope.
The husband and daughter were annoying, although, I could sympathise with their point of view up to a point and how perceptions can colour that view.
I enjoyed the mystery, the tension and suspense.
Well written, fast-paced, engaging with a twist or two.
Recommended.
The husband and daughter were annoying, although, I could sympathise with their point of view up to a point and how perceptions can colour that view.
I enjoyed the mystery, the tension and suspense.
Well written, fast-paced, engaging with a twist or two.
Recommended.
December 5, 2023
Fun read
I enjoyed this book during a difficult period, with covid, during the pandemic. Good easy read with enough to stay interested. That's all I asked and it responded! No one in particular to recommend, but I really appreciated having found how much fun her books can be. Write on dear!
I enjoyed this book during a difficult period, with covid, during the pandemic. Good easy read with enough to stay interested. That's all I asked and it responded! No one in particular to recommend, but I really appreciated having found how much fun her books can be. Write on dear!
April 30, 2025
A three is really too high for this book. At times you feel bad for Anna when her son was kidnapped when at 4. But when he is found and returned 10 years later she is still the anxious and carries on like a double helicopter parent. It gets t. D iring. And the ending is awful; leaving so many unanswered.
February 16, 2021
A three year old child is taken, but is found eleven years later. A mom who never stopped looking even though it put a strain on her relationship with her husband and daughter. It all comes to an explosive conclusion.
May 17, 2017
A young boy is kidnapped, but is located and returned to his family, years later. His kidnapper escapes, but remains in the area where the boy is now living...
April 22, 2022
Un polar plutôt bien ficelé, mais qui n'a rien de vraiment exceptionnel. J'ai trouvé la fin un peu vite expédiée.
June 20, 2022
On m’avait offert ce livre il y a un moment, et j’ai enfin pu le lire. Je pensais vraiment apprécier ce thriller, mais je n’ai pas accroché. La fin est très abrupte, et l’histoire paraît incomplète.
June 27, 2022
Good book. It had a good story line. It was a little slow for me, but had a good page turning ending. I liked reading a book written so long ago. A sequel would be kind of neat.
May 22, 2023
First time reading this author and it definitely won't be my last. Wow what an amazing read. Can't believe I've read it in 24hrs
July 31, 2023
A good book but with an abrupt ending so no explanation behind everything.
December 15, 2023
The end was dumb. The whole book didn’t really make sense. Too many questions left until
January 15, 2024
Complex
Vivid descriptions of human emotions. Made you feel each persons pain, fear, sorrow. Will definitely read more books by this author.
Vivid descriptions of human emotions. Made you feel each persons pain, fear, sorrow. Will definitely read more books by this author.
February 9, 2024
First read by this author and did enjoy it a lot. Have another one just started and it is looking good so far.
July 9, 2024
Another fantastic read with a nail biting finish from Patricia MacDonald.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews