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The Stranger in Our House
What would you do if your son became a stranger overnight?
Everything has fallen into place for the Aiken family. Tired of the city, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. The new cottage looks out over the many miles of woodland beyond. It’s a far cry from their cramped London apartment and the perfect fresh start.
Until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the forest. For three days, a search party combs the woods. Aaron braces himself for the worst convinced his son is lost forever. Until he finds Noah alive, hiding in the hollow of a tree. It feels like a second chance.
But why doesn’t Noah remember those three days in the woods? And why are there strange cuts slashed across his torso? Why did he cover himself in mud and hide away in an old oak tree?
Once a studious and gentle boy, Noah becomes a troublemaker at school. He withdraws from his family, sleepwalks at night, and creates eerie sketches of Dark Valley Forest. Aaron tells himself that Noah just needs time to readjust. He’ll soon be himself again. But Meera believes otherwise. This new version of Noah is harsh and cruel—a complete stranger.
A mother knows when something is wrong with her child. Aaron may be deluded, but she knows the boy who came back from the woods is not their son.
Everything has fallen into place for the Aiken family. Tired of the city, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. The new cottage looks out over the many miles of woodland beyond. It’s a far cry from their cramped London apartment and the perfect fresh start.
Until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the forest. For three days, a search party combs the woods. Aaron braces himself for the worst convinced his son is lost forever. Until he finds Noah alive, hiding in the hollow of a tree. It feels like a second chance.
But why doesn’t Noah remember those three days in the woods? And why are there strange cuts slashed across his torso? Why did he cover himself in mud and hide away in an old oak tree?
Once a studious and gentle boy, Noah becomes a troublemaker at school. He withdraws from his family, sleepwalks at night, and creates eerie sketches of Dark Valley Forest. Aaron tells himself that Noah just needs time to readjust. He’ll soon be himself again. But Meera believes otherwise. This new version of Noah is harsh and cruel—a complete stranger.
A mother knows when something is wrong with her child. Aaron may be deluded, but she knows the boy who came back from the woods is not their son.
267 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2023
257 people are currently reading
4264 people want to read
About the author
Sarah A. Denzil
46 books2,500 followersSarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.
She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.
You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3
Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/
Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil
Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/
Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
January 10, 2023
What would you do if your son became a stranger overnight?
Everything has fallen into place for the Aiken family. Tired of the city, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. The new cottage is the perfect new beginning for the family.
Until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the forest. For three days, a search party combs the woods. Aaron braces himself for the worst convinced his son is lost forever. Until he finds Noah alive, hiding in the hollow of a tree. It feels like a second chance.
But why doesn’t Noah remember those three days in the woods? And why are there strange cuts slashed across his torso? Why did he cover himself in mud and hide away in an old oak tree?
Once a studious and gentle boy, Noah becomes a troublemaker at school. He withdraws from his family, sleepwalks at night, and creates eerie sketches of Dark Valley Forest. Aaron tells himself that Noah just needs time to readjust. He’ll soon be himself again. But Meera believes otherwise. This new version of Noah is harsh and cruel—a complete stranger.
This is my third book in three months with a superstition angle. After being pleasantly surprised by them, I wanted to give another one a shot. I am very happy I did. If you’re into novels with a mix of suspense, psychology and the supernatural this will be a safe bet. The story is told from diary entries and voice notes. The events unfolds in real time and we see what happens from all the family members POV besides Noah. Denzil was adept at creating characters with different personalities that matched with their age and attitudes. I also liked the excerpts from the notes from the psychologist who treated Noah. The story flowed nicely along, without any unnecessary details. It was also well-written with metaphors matching the creepiness you felt when reading. The book also includes drawings made by Noah and it created a tense atmosphere. You could imagine acting like the characters did from the trauma they went through and their vulnerabilities.
The different threads were deftly tied together in the ending. It didn’t leave you wanting more. It was overall well worth my time and I’m happy requested the book.
Thanks to netgalley and victory editing negalley co-op for the arc in exchange for my honest review
The different threads were deftly tied together in the ending. It didn’t leave you wanting more. It was overall well worth my time and I’m happy requested the book.
Thanks to netgalley and victory editing negalley co-op for the arc in exchange for my honest review
April 10, 2023
My thanks to Victory Editing, Sarah A. Denzil and Netgalley.
I'm not usually a fan of this type of writing. Text, diary and whatnot, but I really liked how the author managed this story.
This tale was kind of creepy. Not the skin crawling type of creepy, but still the sort where you just want to shudder and shake the ick off!
I started off not liking this story much.
My only thought is that it quickly gets better.
Yes, this is a lousy review! I've had a complete life overhaul, and not really been thinking about "review, talk, blah, blah!"
I'm not usually a fan of this type of writing. Text, diary and whatnot, but I really liked how the author managed this story.
This tale was kind of creepy. Not the skin crawling type of creepy, but still the sort where you just want to shudder and shake the ick off!
I started off not liking this story much.
My only thought is that it quickly gets better.
Yes, this is a lousy review! I've had a complete life overhaul, and not really been thinking about "review, talk, blah, blah!"
January 17, 2023
2.5 Stars
As a parent, I was so intrigued by the premise. However I was terribly disappointed by the narrative style. Told in a series of diaries, therapy notes and messages, the narrative just felt so flat. I'm typically not a fan of these non-traditional formats and this one did not work well. It had a lot of potential but ultimately fell flat.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As a parent, I was so intrigued by the premise. However I was terribly disappointed by the narrative style. Told in a series of diaries, therapy notes and messages, the narrative just felt so flat. I'm typically not a fan of these non-traditional formats and this one did not work well. It had a lot of potential but ultimately fell flat.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
June 1, 2024
Wierd and disturbing
What kind of mother locks her son in a room in order to starve out a spirit?
A son goes wandering out in the woods and is missing for a couple of days. His dad finally finds him stuffed in an overturned tree branch bloodied and bruised, but otherwise okay.
Or so he thought..
Days pass, and the son (Noah) begins to act strangely and claims that he was taken by a folklore legend named "guytrash." The family continues to try to convince Noah that guytrash is just a legend, but he seems to become less like Noah every day and more like something else entirely.
Every member of his family thinks they have a solution for 'curing' Noah, but they have no idea what they're actually dealing with.
‐‐-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I listened to the audiobook, which is free through Audible. My only complaint with the narrator is that he used the same voice for each character, so I never knew who was speaking until their name was mentioned. Different fluctuations in his voice would have made a better listening 🎶🎧 experience.
What kind of mother locks her son in a room in order to starve out a spirit?
A son goes wandering out in the woods and is missing for a couple of days. His dad finally finds him stuffed in an overturned tree branch bloodied and bruised, but otherwise okay.
Or so he thought..
Days pass, and the son (Noah) begins to act strangely and claims that he was taken by a folklore legend named "guytrash." The family continues to try to convince Noah that guytrash is just a legend, but he seems to become less like Noah every day and more like something else entirely.
Every member of his family thinks they have a solution for 'curing' Noah, but they have no idea what they're actually dealing with.
‐‐-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I listened to the audiobook, which is free through Audible. My only complaint with the narrator is that he used the same voice for each character, so I never knew who was speaking until their name was mentioned. Different fluctuations in his voice would have made a better listening 🎶🎧 experience.
February 19, 2023
The Stranger In Our House is a thriller seeped in Yorkshire folklore, specifically the legend of the Gytrash.
The Gytrash usually takes the form of a black dog-like beast with glowing red eyes. But it is also said to take the guise of a horse or mule. It haunts lonely roads, perhaps to play tricks on travellers such as giving them wrong directions. But some see it as a much more evil presence, hellbent on causing chaos and destruction to all it its wake. An omen of death.
Doesn’t this sound exactly like something I’d love? Seemingly, a possession story with a folk horror/psychological twist. Yet, surprisingly, it took me a little bit of time before I felt invested in the story.. I’m assuming it’s because the narrative is made up of journal entries, voice recording transcripts, and therapist notes. I suppose that is a good thing as it gives each character their voice and perspective of what is happening, however it took a little while to fully engage me. When the character of Larissa invites the Sykes family to her home to talk to them about local folklore is the moment when I started to feel more invested. I think this story would actually work really well as a found footage horror movie, especially the parts in the woods and the family home.
A couple and their two teenage children move from London into the countryside. To a village called Little Crake. One night their eldest child, a son, Noah goes missing in woodlands surrounding their home. A search party is sent out, his family assumes the worst may have happened to him. Until, curiously, he is found within a hollow of a tree-trunk. He has been missing for three days, yet remembers none of it. He has huge cuts across his torso. Why was he covered in mud and hidden away, alive, within a tree?
His father Aaron feels like Noah just needs some time (and therapy sessions) to process whatever may have happened to him out in the woods, but his mother Meera is convinced that the son that has returned is not the son that left into the woods that night. He is withdrawn from his family, lashing out at school, sleepwalking throughout the night and constantly drawing the woods - The Dark Valley Forest.
This is not the son they know. This is A Stranger In Our House.
”I hastened to Mrs. Fairfax's room; there was a fire there too, but no candle, and no Mrs. Fairfax. Instead, all alone, sitting upright on the rug, and gazing with gravity at the blaze, I beheld a great black and white long-haired dog, just like the Gytrash of the lane.” - Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
3.5 stars
The Gytrash usually takes the form of a black dog-like beast with glowing red eyes. But it is also said to take the guise of a horse or mule. It haunts lonely roads, perhaps to play tricks on travellers such as giving them wrong directions. But some see it as a much more evil presence, hellbent on causing chaos and destruction to all it its wake. An omen of death.
Doesn’t this sound exactly like something I’d love? Seemingly, a possession story with a folk horror/psychological twist. Yet, surprisingly, it took me a little bit of time before I felt invested in the story.. I’m assuming it’s because the narrative is made up of journal entries, voice recording transcripts, and therapist notes. I suppose that is a good thing as it gives each character their voice and perspective of what is happening, however it took a little while to fully engage me. When the character of Larissa invites the Sykes family to her home to talk to them about local folklore is the moment when I started to feel more invested. I think this story would actually work really well as a found footage horror movie, especially the parts in the woods and the family home.
A couple and their two teenage children move from London into the countryside. To a village called Little Crake. One night their eldest child, a son, Noah goes missing in woodlands surrounding their home. A search party is sent out, his family assumes the worst may have happened to him. Until, curiously, he is found within a hollow of a tree-trunk. He has been missing for three days, yet remembers none of it. He has huge cuts across his torso. Why was he covered in mud and hidden away, alive, within a tree?
His father Aaron feels like Noah just needs some time (and therapy sessions) to process whatever may have happened to him out in the woods, but his mother Meera is convinced that the son that has returned is not the son that left into the woods that night. He is withdrawn from his family, lashing out at school, sleepwalking throughout the night and constantly drawing the woods - The Dark Valley Forest.
This is not the son they know. This is A Stranger In Our House.
”I hastened to Mrs. Fairfax's room; there was a fire there too, but no candle, and no Mrs. Fairfax. Instead, all alone, sitting upright on the rug, and gazing with gravity at the blaze, I beheld a great black and white long-haired dog, just like the Gytrash of the lane.” - Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
3.5 stars
February 7, 2023
This book wove together therapy notes, diary entries, letters, and more to create a unique reading experience. Normally I’m not a fan of this style of writing but it worked in this case. The twist was unimpressive to me. I had hoped it was going in a certain direction only to be disappointed.
Meera and her family move from the city to village of Little Crake. Their cottage is surrounded by woods that are part of a disturbing local legend. The family is excited and hopeful for a fresh start. Everything is going great until 15 year old Noah wanders into the woods and goes missing for 3 days. When he is found inside and oak tree, Noah’s family is relieved. The days following the incident Noah is not acting like himself. He is sleepwalking, causing problems at school, and he can’t remember what happened in the woods. Noah may have returned to his home but his mother knows the boy who came out of the woods is not her son.
The Stranger in Our House is available now.
Thank you netgalley and victory editing netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Meera and her family move from the city to village of Little Crake. Their cottage is surrounded by woods that are part of a disturbing local legend. The family is excited and hopeful for a fresh start. Everything is going great until 15 year old Noah wanders into the woods and goes missing for 3 days. When he is found inside and oak tree, Noah’s family is relieved. The days following the incident Noah is not acting like himself. He is sleepwalking, causing problems at school, and he can’t remember what happened in the woods. Noah may have returned to his home but his mother knows the boy who came out of the woods is not her son.
The Stranger in Our House is available now.
Thank you netgalley and victory editing netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 17, 2023
Let me start by saying I LOVE Denzil's book and was excited to read this. That being said, I didn't enjoy it.
I read a lot of reviews of this book, after reading it and before posting my own, stating that the style/format it was written in just wasn't their taste. That was not the case for me. I read plenty of book in the "diary" / "found footage" style and normally enjoy them.
This book just didn't quite make sense for me. It felt disjointed, and the story was all over the place. One minute, it seems like a horror/supernatural book and the next a psychotic break. You do eventually find out which it is, but by then, the ending was a letdown. As if the author just wanted to be finished with this particular book.
Normally I can read a Denzil book in a day. Get lost in the story, and before I know it, it's 2am, and I've forgotten everything I needed to do that day. This book kept losing my interest. I kept putting it aside. I had just enough interest to push myself into finishing it. Very disappointing.
My lack of enjoyment in this particular book is in no way, shape, or form will prevent me from picking up the next Denzil book. I look forward to reading her future writing. I applauded her for stepping out into a new style of writing, even if I didn't enjoy the tale. It takes great bravery to try something new on an established audience.
I read a lot of reviews of this book, after reading it and before posting my own, stating that the style/format it was written in just wasn't their taste. That was not the case for me. I read plenty of book in the "diary" / "found footage" style and normally enjoy them.
This book just didn't quite make sense for me. It felt disjointed, and the story was all over the place. One minute, it seems like a horror/supernatural book and the next a psychotic break. You do eventually find out which it is, but by then, the ending was a letdown. As if the author just wanted to be finished with this particular book.
Normally I can read a Denzil book in a day. Get lost in the story, and before I know it, it's 2am, and I've forgotten everything I needed to do that day. This book kept losing my interest. I kept putting it aside. I had just enough interest to push myself into finishing it. Very disappointing.
My lack of enjoyment in this particular book is in no way, shape, or form will prevent me from picking up the next Denzil book. I look forward to reading her future writing. I applauded her for stepping out into a new style of writing, even if I didn't enjoy the tale. It takes great bravery to try something new on an established audience.
April 15, 2023
This was a creepy read, centered on a teenager named Noah hi foes missing in the woods in a small town and comes back “different”. I thought the book was going to be about Noah’s mental health but it actually bordered more on the supernatural and was legitimately scary at times.
Aaron and Meera are Noah’s parents and both have different ideas around what happened to him and what they should do about it. I felt that both perspectives seemed reasonable under the circumstances. I liked reading about the history of the town and the potential curse that came along with it. The ending of the book was satisfying to me and provided a couple of surprises.
All in all, decent book with some creepy parts- I’d say it’s a mix of horror and psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aaron and Meera are Noah’s parents and both have different ideas around what happened to him and what they should do about it. I felt that both perspectives seemed reasonable under the circumstances. I liked reading about the history of the town and the potential curse that came along with it. The ending of the book was satisfying to me and provided a couple of surprises.
All in all, decent book with some creepy parts- I’d say it’s a mix of horror and psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2023
This novel was spooky and creepy and I am glad I read it in a few hours during the daytime!
Aaron and Meera need a change. They find a new cottage away from London, in a tiny village, Crake. Their teenage children, Noah and Uma are not impressed but Meera knows the family need this. Until one day, their son Noah, wanders alone into the woods. Days later, he is found but when he returns home, he isn't the same person and he becomes withdrawn or cruel. A wild and wicked tale then unfolds.
The suspense the author created kept me turning the pages and while I wasn't terrified, it was scary in places. The woods and folklore stories added to the eerie atmosphere, though I can't say more, save for spoilers. Another enjoyable novel by the author.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the gifted review copy.
Aaron and Meera need a change. They find a new cottage away from London, in a tiny village, Crake. Their teenage children, Noah and Uma are not impressed but Meera knows the family need this. Until one day, their son Noah, wanders alone into the woods. Days later, he is found but when he returns home, he isn't the same person and he becomes withdrawn or cruel. A wild and wicked tale then unfolds.
The suspense the author created kept me turning the pages and while I wasn't terrified, it was scary in places. The woods and folklore stories added to the eerie atmosphere, though I can't say more, save for spoilers. Another enjoyable novel by the author.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the gifted review copy.
January 31, 2023
This was a strange read. A mixture of folklore, possession and family. There was a creepy element running through the book but that was all it was. As for the ending it was different but not surprising. This book promised so much and for me did not deliver.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
April 11, 2025
The reader gets to make up their mind about the "why" for this creepy story. Free on Audible.
July 11, 2024
Until fifteen-year-old Noah Aiken wandered alone into the forest. Three days later he was returned to his family. What occurred whilst he was stranded and alone remained a secret to those who loved him. Did a sinister entity lure him away? If not, what caused him to run and why didn't he return until found?
This initially had me gripped! It was strange, spooky, and unsettling and I spent some time attempting to figure out if there was going to be a paranormal edge to this novel or not. My issues stemmed from the actual answers to the mysteries present here being revealed far too soon. They weren't confirmed until right at the very end but were prevalent enough to lead to their accuracy feeling like a let-down.
This initially had me gripped! It was strange, spooky, and unsettling and I spent some time attempting to figure out if there was going to be a paranormal edge to this novel or not. My issues stemmed from the actual answers to the mysteries present here being revealed far too soon. They weren't confirmed until right at the very end but were prevalent enough to lead to their accuracy feeling like a let-down.
January 29, 2023
So very creepy.. written in diary and notes from therapist. Such a different, unique way to write a book. Definitely glad I didn't read this at night.
Soared through this as just had to hold onto the weirdness and creepiness happening.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Soared through this as just had to hold onto the weirdness and creepiness happening.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
January 19, 2023
One of the creepiest, most disturbing books I’ve read in a long time.
The Stranger in Our House is a unique blend of horror and thriller, leaving you equally unsettled and terrified.
Beautifully told, with evocative settings and characters with real depth, this book is guaranteed to leave you with goosebumps and in a desperate race to find out what’s really going on.
The Stranger in Our House, told in an innovative style, is both spooky and spellbinding. Imagine The Blair Witch Project with all its jump scares in written form. It’s that good. Compelling, chilling and utterly gripping.
The Stranger in Our House is a unique blend of horror and thriller, leaving you equally unsettled and terrified.
Beautifully told, with evocative settings and characters with real depth, this book is guaranteed to leave you with goosebumps and in a desperate race to find out what’s really going on.
The Stranger in Our House, told in an innovative style, is both spooky and spellbinding. Imagine The Blair Witch Project with all its jump scares in written form. It’s that good. Compelling, chilling and utterly gripping.
July 11, 2024
About an hour in and I knew it was going to be a slog. The less said about it the better. Listening to this it became more background noise, I was so disinterested in the story and the characters. The story started okay, then devolved into utter garbage. Worst book I’ve listened to this year so far. Do not recommend.
January 14, 2023
The Stranger in Our House by Sarah A Denzil is a unique psychological domestic thriller with some horror elements which will give you whiplash from the speed in which you turn the pages. Told in a ‘found footage’ style, where we are treated to diary entries, video transcripts and interviews from individual members of this ill-fated family. The book would translate incredibly well into a movie (fingers crossed that might one day happen). The characters each add something to the plot and it’s hard to know whether to love, hate, despise, feel sorry for or cheer for each of them. The author weaves a delightful story which is somehow both heartwarming and creepy. Based entirely on the strength of this book, I would auto-buy any other books by this author without even reading the blurb. Thank you to Sarah A Denzil, the publisher and Netgalley for an opportunity to read this heart-pounding page-turner.
March 11, 2023
"A part of me now longs for the time before, because what I saw will haunt me for the rest of my life."
I loved the way this story was told--diary entries, news articles, reports, etc. It gave it a true crime feel and deepened the mystery and lore. However, I didn't enjoy the writing style (I'm American and this is very British) but more crucial was the slow pacing which really bothered me considering the subject. Not bad, not great.
I loved the way this story was told--diary entries, news articles, reports, etc. It gave it a true crime feel and deepened the mystery and lore. However, I didn't enjoy the writing style (I'm American and this is very British) but more crucial was the slow pacing which really bothered me considering the subject. Not bad, not great.
March 7, 2023
3.5/5 Stars.
Thanks to Sarah and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an ARC of this book!
This one was definitely interesting. I liked that the premise of the book immediately starts off with a child going missing in the nearby dark woods, straight to the point.
As the story progresses, we learn that the missing child; Noah, is found after 3 days and is already being looked at differently by his family, and peers due to a complete personality change, thought to be believed because of trauma suffered while lost in the woods, however; it could be, that something more sinister has had a role to play here.
I really liked the writing style and story/character development/progression, told through a series of Diary Entries from Noah’s Father(Aaron) Noah’s Mother(Meera) and Noah’s sister(Uma). We get a personalized view of what each character is experiencing and witnessing, as time goes on and on, as Noah starts to break down, day by day.
My biggest issue with this book is the almost out of sync ending where we read the climax of the suspenseful-ness of the story and than are thrown into a large time jump where the genre essentially turns into a fictionalization of a documented Family Drama with lots of talks of therapy and journalism that I felt didn’t fit with the rest of the book. That’s only MPO but other readers may agree/see different.
Again, I’m thankful for the arc and hope this review provides a eccentric detailed critique of The Stranger in Our House.
Thanks to Sarah and Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op for an ARC of this book!
This one was definitely interesting. I liked that the premise of the book immediately starts off with a child going missing in the nearby dark woods, straight to the point.
As the story progresses, we learn that the missing child; Noah, is found after 3 days and is already being looked at differently by his family, and peers due to a complete personality change, thought to be believed because of trauma suffered while lost in the woods, however; it could be, that something more sinister has had a role to play here.
I really liked the writing style and story/character development/progression, told through a series of Diary Entries from Noah’s Father(Aaron) Noah’s Mother(Meera) and Noah’s sister(Uma). We get a personalized view of what each character is experiencing and witnessing, as time goes on and on, as Noah starts to break down, day by day.
My biggest issue with this book is the almost out of sync ending where we read the climax of the suspenseful-ness of the story and than are thrown into a large time jump where the genre essentially turns into a fictionalization of a documented Family Drama with lots of talks of therapy and journalism that I felt didn’t fit with the rest of the book. That’s only MPO but other readers may agree/see different.
Again, I’m thankful for the arc and hope this review provides a eccentric detailed critique of The Stranger in Our House.
February 1, 2023
Psychological thriller meets horror story in Sarah A. Denzil’s latest page-turner, The Stranger in Our House.
The book is a collection of diaries, news reports, voice notes, letters and therapist notes that chart the experiences of the Aiken family following their move from Dagenham to a chocolate-box cottage in a pretty-as-a-picture village in North Yorkshire.
However, be warned: there is nothing pretty about this story. From the opening scene, in which fifteen-year-old Noah Aiken is found folded up in the hollow of a tree, covered in cuts and smeared with mud, right up to the final pages, it’s a creepily atmospheric tale that’s guaranteed to give you nightmares.
Because Noah is not the boy he was before he went missing in Dark Valley Forest…
Tightly plotted and totally addictive, this book is a chilling exploration into the ripple effects one traumatic event can have on a whole family.
The book is a collection of diaries, news reports, voice notes, letters and therapist notes that chart the experiences of the Aiken family following their move from Dagenham to a chocolate-box cottage in a pretty-as-a-picture village in North Yorkshire.
However, be warned: there is nothing pretty about this story. From the opening scene, in which fifteen-year-old Noah Aiken is found folded up in the hollow of a tree, covered in cuts and smeared with mud, right up to the final pages, it’s a creepily atmospheric tale that’s guaranteed to give you nightmares.
Because Noah is not the boy he was before he went missing in Dark Valley Forest…
Tightly plotted and totally addictive, this book is a chilling exploration into the ripple effects one traumatic event can have on a whole family.
January 22, 2023
First off, I’m obsessed with mixed media books. This book was written using diary entries, voice memos, drawings, psychiatrist notes, and video footage. With all the different media it made this a super quick read.
I loved the mix of folklore and history thrown throughout, and the twist at the end was SO UNEXPECTED. I had to reread it a couple of times for my brain to process lol. It was a little slow at times, but the overall story was great. This will be released next month!
I loved the mix of folklore and history thrown throughout, and the twist at the end was SO UNEXPECTED. I had to reread it a couple of times for my brain to process lol. It was a little slow at times, but the overall story was great. This will be released next month!
March 17, 2023
He looks like my son...he sounds like my son...but he's not my son...
What would you do if your son became a stranger overnight? One day he was your son and the next...a stranger took his place. He looks like your son, he even sounds like you son...but he isn't your son. He is a stranger. An evil malevolence that seeks to envelop and destroy your family. How will you get out of it alive? Thus, what ensues is an atmospheric psychological thriller steeped in Yorkshire folklore and the legend of the Gytrash. Not my usual trope but I do so enjoy a Sarah Denzil thriller. Needless to say, having not really read the premise beforehand, I had no idea what I was in for!
THE STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE is unique in its storytelling in that Denzil has created a narrative using solely diary entries, voice notes and articles which thus gives it an air of something derived from actual events. Even the Foreword is written in such a way that I had to wonder if this was in fact a true story. But Denzil was clever in her portrayal of this story that it seemed as such despite being entirely a work of fiction. Of course, at the time of starting the book I still had no idea just how "Amityville horror" it would be, without the levitating furniture and all that. This was something far deeper, something rooted within the psychological masquerading as folklore.
The Aiken family had had enough of London and wanted their children to grow up in the clean fresh of the rural countryside. So after a visit to a North Yorkshire village, Little Crake, and falling in love with the cottage Woodsman's Hut, Aaron and Meera sell their pokey little flat in Dagenham for the greener pastures of Little Crake. In less than a month, their entire lives would be irrevocably changed.
A couple of weeks after the move on his way home from school, their eldest child Noah goes missing in the woodlands bordering their cottage. A search party is summoned and after three days the family assumes the worst. Until curiously he is found sandwiched inside the hollow of an oak tree trunk. He is covered in mud and has criss cross cuts on his abdomen. His voice pleads in the still silence..."Help me!"
Noah remembers nothing of his ordeal and yet upon his return he is a completely different child to their usual quiet yet happy son. He is even more silent than ever and speaks only to utter words of anger or to taunt his younger sister, 13 year old Uma. But his taunts are not that of the usual sibling rivalry kind...they are cruel and harsh, bordering on violent. Uma comes to fear the brother she once adored, locking her bedroom door to stop him from coming in an standing threateningly over her as she slept. He would constantly stomp in the night in his attic bedroom, mutter to himself "I am not Noah, I am not Noah" and draw the most hideously frightening images of the woods which held him captive for three days.
Within the first day back at school, Noah is suspended for violently lashing out at a student. Aaron is forced to contend with Noah at home, but his son only locks himself in his attic bedroom, chanting to himself, staring at nothing or drawing those horrible images of evil faces and gnarled trees.
It isn't long before Meera begins to believe their son is possessed by this evil Gytrash a local woman told them about. But Aaron isn't so sure. Something happened to their son in those woods...besides consuming copious amounts of hallucinogenic mushrooms which no doubt contributes to his memory loss. He is withdrawn, lashing out in anger, sleepwalking and obsessed with drawing hideous images of the woods - the Dark Valley Forest. To help process what happened to him, Noah undertakes therapy but is it enough? Or is it too late to save him? To save themselves...
THE STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE turned out to be something completely different to what I expected (having not read the premise before I began). I'm not usually a fan of stories with a supernatural element unless they are done in just the right way. This one was and you are let feeling flummoxed as to the complete hash everything was made by Noah just wandering into the woods one day. We do learn why in the end though not before all hell has been wreaked upon this family and they have been ripped apart from the inside out. All the while reading about the Gytrash, folklore and the supernatural hold upon Noah I still kept waiting for the logical side to kick in. A psychotic break of some kind maybe? But which of it is it to be? You will have to read it to find out!
The story is wrapped up with a few drawings made by Noah and a conclusion that deftly ties the different threads together nicely. You aren't left with a feeling of unfinished business or loose ends and you aren't left wanting more. It ended just right.
The story definitely has a creepiness about it and the atmosphere tense throughout. If you like a mix of psychology, suspense and the supernatural then you will love THE STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE.
I would like to thank #SarahADenzil and #Netgalley for an ARC of #TheStrangerInOurHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
What would you do if your son became a stranger overnight? One day he was your son and the next...a stranger took his place. He looks like your son, he even sounds like you son...but he isn't your son. He is a stranger. An evil malevolence that seeks to envelop and destroy your family. How will you get out of it alive? Thus, what ensues is an atmospheric psychological thriller steeped in Yorkshire folklore and the legend of the Gytrash. Not my usual trope but I do so enjoy a Sarah Denzil thriller. Needless to say, having not really read the premise beforehand, I had no idea what I was in for!
THE STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE is unique in its storytelling in that Denzil has created a narrative using solely diary entries, voice notes and articles which thus gives it an air of something derived from actual events. Even the Foreword is written in such a way that I had to wonder if this was in fact a true story. But Denzil was clever in her portrayal of this story that it seemed as such despite being entirely a work of fiction. Of course, at the time of starting the book I still had no idea just how "Amityville horror" it would be, without the levitating furniture and all that. This was something far deeper, something rooted within the psychological masquerading as folklore.
The Aiken family had had enough of London and wanted their children to grow up in the clean fresh of the rural countryside. So after a visit to a North Yorkshire village, Little Crake, and falling in love with the cottage Woodsman's Hut, Aaron and Meera sell their pokey little flat in Dagenham for the greener pastures of Little Crake. In less than a month, their entire lives would be irrevocably changed.
A couple of weeks after the move on his way home from school, their eldest child Noah goes missing in the woodlands bordering their cottage. A search party is summoned and after three days the family assumes the worst. Until curiously he is found sandwiched inside the hollow of an oak tree trunk. He is covered in mud and has criss cross cuts on his abdomen. His voice pleads in the still silence..."Help me!"
Noah remembers nothing of his ordeal and yet upon his return he is a completely different child to their usual quiet yet happy son. He is even more silent than ever and speaks only to utter words of anger or to taunt his younger sister, 13 year old Uma. But his taunts are not that of the usual sibling rivalry kind...they are cruel and harsh, bordering on violent. Uma comes to fear the brother she once adored, locking her bedroom door to stop him from coming in an standing threateningly over her as she slept. He would constantly stomp in the night in his attic bedroom, mutter to himself "I am not Noah, I am not Noah" and draw the most hideously frightening images of the woods which held him captive for three days.
Within the first day back at school, Noah is suspended for violently lashing out at a student. Aaron is forced to contend with Noah at home, but his son only locks himself in his attic bedroom, chanting to himself, staring at nothing or drawing those horrible images of evil faces and gnarled trees.
It isn't long before Meera begins to believe their son is possessed by this evil Gytrash a local woman told them about. But Aaron isn't so sure. Something happened to their son in those woods...besides consuming copious amounts of hallucinogenic mushrooms which no doubt contributes to his memory loss. He is withdrawn, lashing out in anger, sleepwalking and obsessed with drawing hideous images of the woods - the Dark Valley Forest. To help process what happened to him, Noah undertakes therapy but is it enough? Or is it too late to save him? To save themselves...
THE STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE turned out to be something completely different to what I expected (having not read the premise before I began). I'm not usually a fan of stories with a supernatural element unless they are done in just the right way. This one was and you are let feeling flummoxed as to the complete hash everything was made by Noah just wandering into the woods one day. We do learn why in the end though not before all hell has been wreaked upon this family and they have been ripped apart from the inside out. All the while reading about the Gytrash, folklore and the supernatural hold upon Noah I still kept waiting for the logical side to kick in. A psychotic break of some kind maybe? But which of it is it to be? You will have to read it to find out!
The story is wrapped up with a few drawings made by Noah and a conclusion that deftly ties the different threads together nicely. You aren't left with a feeling of unfinished business or loose ends and you aren't left wanting more. It ended just right.
The story definitely has a creepiness about it and the atmosphere tense throughout. If you like a mix of psychology, suspense and the supernatural then you will love THE STRANGER IN OUR HOUSE.
I would like to thank #SarahADenzil and #Netgalley for an ARC of #TheStrangerInOurHouse in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
February 7, 2023
The Stranger In Our House by Sarah A. Denzil is a psychological thriller about a family whose son becomes a stranger overnight. Actually, I may consider this horror.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Aaron and Meera Aiken move to the small village of Little Crake to start fresh. They both need to get away from London. Their 15-year old son Noah is looking forward to getting away from his old school, but 13-year old Uma is not sure she wants to leave her friends.
Their new cottage is perfect, and looks over the deep forest behind them. But that forest has a history...as does the village of Little Crake. It may not be the fresh start that the Aiken's are looking for.
When Noah gets off the school bus one day and wanders into the forest alone, he isn't found for three days. He is found shoeless and shirtless, with strange cuts on his body. He was covered with mud, and had hidden in an old tree. He remembers nothing of his time in the forest.
But Noah has changed. He withdraws from his family, creates trouble at school, and sleepwalks at night. His attitude is harsh and cruel. He draws strange sketches of the forest.
His family is concerned, although Aaron thinks he will snap out of it. Meera is not so sure. This boy does not feel like their son. She begins to think he may be possessed.
My Opinions:
This one hooked me from the first page, and I just held on and enjoyed the ride. I loved how legend and reality were intertwined. A little bit creepy added to the psychological suspense.
As well, I liked the way the story was told, through diary entries, voice notes, news reports, etc. You knew this may not end well, but it wasn't until close to the end that I realized what was going to happen. I had somewhat anticipated what/who was behind the event, but was still pleasantly surprised as to who really saved the day....well what could be saved.
The characters were all well-developed, and their reactions to events as they unfolded seemed true. I didn't particularly like them all, and sometimes the only one I was cheering for was Uma.
As usual, this author delivered another good one!
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
January 8, 2023
The Stranger in Our House by Sarah A. Denzil.
Tired of the city, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. The new cottage looks out over the many miles of woodland beyond. It’s a far cry from their cramped London apartment and the perfect fresh start. Until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the forest. For three days, a search party combs the woods. Aaron braces himself for the worst convinced his son is lost forever. Until he finds Noah alive, hiding in the hollow of a tree. It feels like a second chance.
A brilliant read. Creepy and eerie. I loved the illustrations. Spooky. Great story and characters. 5*.
Tired of the city, Aaron and Meera relocate to the idyllic village of Little Crake along with their two children, Noah and Uma. The new cottage looks out over the many miles of woodland beyond. It’s a far cry from their cramped London apartment and the perfect fresh start. Until fifteen-year-old Noah wanders alone into the forest. For three days, a search party combs the woods. Aaron braces himself for the worst convinced his son is lost forever. Until he finds Noah alive, hiding in the hollow of a tree. It feels like a second chance.
A brilliant read. Creepy and eerie. I loved the illustrations. Spooky. Great story and characters. 5*.
February 26, 2023
Had potential to be Better
Had potential to be better. Wouldn’t call this a thriller in the slightest. The pictures in the book scared me more than the actual story did. I really think this had the premise to be a great book but the direction the author took, just made it fall flat. I read nearly 300 pages just to be let down by the end because it felt like the author didn’t truly have a good reason as to why Noah became the way he did. I would have accepted any logical explanation other than it was Noah, but he was just having a meltdown. The spirit possession would have been a hell of a lot more interesting to read. The only good thing about this book is the way it was written through diaries, transcripts, news articles etc. It made the writing fast paced and the chapters were quite short and sweet making it easy to get through.
Had potential to be better. Wouldn’t call this a thriller in the slightest. The pictures in the book scared me more than the actual story did. I really think this had the premise to be a great book but the direction the author took, just made it fall flat. I read nearly 300 pages just to be let down by the end because it felt like the author didn’t truly have a good reason as to why Noah became the way he did. I would have accepted any logical explanation other than it was Noah, but he was just having a meltdown. The spirit possession would have been a hell of a lot more interesting to read. The only good thing about this book is the way it was written through diaries, transcripts, news articles etc. It made the writing fast paced and the chapters were quite short and sweet making it easy to get through.
January 29, 2023
The Stranger in Our House by Sarah Denzil. Thanks to @victoryediting and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Aiken family has left behind city life for a new, quiet life in a small village. When their teen don, Noah, goes missing and is found injured in the woods, the village’s legends come out.
This was a very fast paced read. It speeds by and I finished it in one day. I loved the diary style writing and different perspectives. It escalates quickly and can be a bit unbelievable but was still an entertaining read.
“At that moment, I realized our family would never be the same again. What I don’t know is whether we’re simply cracked, or if we’ve been broken open. One is irreparable.”
The Stranger in our House comes out 2/7.
The Aiken family has left behind city life for a new, quiet life in a small village. When their teen don, Noah, goes missing and is found injured in the woods, the village’s legends come out.
This was a very fast paced read. It speeds by and I finished it in one day. I loved the diary style writing and different perspectives. It escalates quickly and can be a bit unbelievable but was still an entertaining read.
“At that moment, I realized our family would never be the same again. What I don’t know is whether we’re simply cracked, or if we’ve been broken open. One is irreparable.”
The Stranger in our House comes out 2/7.
January 15, 2023
This was a fantastic quick read! The best way I can describe it is it's about a family who starts spiraling, after the son goes missing in the woods for 3 days, and then they find him and he comes back home. It really felt like I was descending a spiral staircase throughout reading it. I love how everything concluded including something I didn't see coming!
I absolutely loved how the book was written - from the different POV's using diary entries, journals, letters, etc. It was perfect!!
I absolutely loved how the book was written - from the different POV's using diary entries, journals, letters, etc. It was perfect!!
September 16, 2023
I really liked The Housemaid by Sarah Denzil, so I was intrigued to read another by her. The premise of this book really interested me and I immediately ordered the audio version. The audio was incredibly fun to listen to. I really liked the narrator and I liked how they included music and sound effects throughout the reading. I thought it made it more fun and interesting to listen to.
This was a spooky read! I liked how the author got right into the meat of the story and kept it interesting throughout. I enjoyed how the story was told through diary entries, audio transcripts, and video footage. I really liked the folklore and creepiness presented by the character that went missing in the woods at the start of the book.
With that being said, I thought the ending of this book was very disappointing. We find out that Noah WASN'T actually possessed the whole time and there was just a weird dude high on mushrooms behind everything. This does not make sense to me. If Noah was traumatized and NOT possessed then why was he acting like that? Why did he randomly assault a classmate and attempt to murder an entire group of people in the school building? Why was he pacing around and watching his sister sleep? I just don't understand it if he was NOT actually possessed. He was a totally normal kid prior to disappearing in the woods and then comes back and is acting really creepy as a result. I'm pretty sure trauma would not turn him into a murderer for no reason. Also, what was his mom's problem? What was she all weird about before they moved to Little Crake? She kept alluding to the reason why she wanted them to move but it was never really explained why other than she was suffering from mental illness. Which I guess is a good excuse? I don't know. I wish it was an actual paranormal story and not just written to make us think it was one until the end.
The dad's character was really pure and full of good intentions. I was sad he died but it definitely made sense that he would sacrifice his life for his children. He appeared to genuinely love his family and want the best for them. I also really liked Uma (I apologize if I spelled her name wrong, I listened to the audio version). I liked how spunky and strong she was as a female teenage character.
All in all, a really fun and entertaining story but, in my opinion, the ending fell short and took it from a 5 star to a 3.
This was a spooky read! I liked how the author got right into the meat of the story and kept it interesting throughout. I enjoyed how the story was told through diary entries, audio transcripts, and video footage. I really liked the folklore and creepiness presented by the character that went missing in the woods at the start of the book.
With that being said, I thought the ending of this book was very disappointing. We find out that Noah WASN'T actually possessed the whole time and there was just a weird dude high on mushrooms behind everything. This does not make sense to me. If Noah was traumatized and NOT possessed then why was he acting like that? Why did he randomly assault a classmate and attempt to murder an entire group of people in the school building? Why was he pacing around and watching his sister sleep? I just don't understand it if he was NOT actually possessed. He was a totally normal kid prior to disappearing in the woods and then comes back and is acting really creepy as a result. I'm pretty sure trauma would not turn him into a murderer for no reason. Also, what was his mom's problem? What was she all weird about before they moved to Little Crake? She kept alluding to the reason why she wanted them to move but it was never really explained why other than she was suffering from mental illness. Which I guess is a good excuse? I don't know. I wish it was an actual paranormal story and not just written to make us think it was one until the end.
The dad's character was really pure and full of good intentions. I was sad he died but it definitely made sense that he would sacrifice his life for his children. He appeared to genuinely love his family and want the best for them. I also really liked Uma (I apologize if I spelled her name wrong, I listened to the audio version). I liked how spunky and strong she was as a female teenage character.
All in all, a really fun and entertaining story but, in my opinion, the ending fell short and took it from a 5 star to a 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
Not what I expected from this author and definitely not my favourite.
This moderately engaging storyline was at best wildly unbelievable and at worst poorly executed. Written as diary entries from each family member, the plot belly flops between each person’s point of view. None of the characters appear to actually talk to one another during this traumatic period and the diaries record the characters inner monologue and actually divide the family more than bring them together.
I’ve read a couple of books where different media is applied to embellish the story and in most cases it really gives the reader a wider view of the situation and characters at play. These entries however don’t feel like real diaries the language is too complex and putting expressions in or writing ‘there’s someone at the door so I’ll write later’ felt a bit weird. Surely you’d just put the pen down and recall afterwards someone visited? If anything the most articulate person was Noah and he didn’t get an entry.
The whole possession element was odd. At the start it appeared to be headed towards some kind of ghost story or horror but by the time you get to the end you’re told there was no possession? All very strange.
The plot twists and turns are few and far between, most of which are obvious and don’t serve the plot other than to carry forward this ‘sense’ of fear. As I mentioned above this book is not what I was expecting and I think that it takes a lot of skill to branch off into horror/thrillers. For me Denzil is not this author, she’s best when she sticks to Fam-Dram and crime fiction.
All in all a very disappointing read that just won’t end! I skimmed the last chapters because I felt like it was just getting dragged out for no reason.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This moderately engaging storyline was at best wildly unbelievable and at worst poorly executed. Written as diary entries from each family member, the plot belly flops between each person’s point of view. None of the characters appear to actually talk to one another during this traumatic period and the diaries record the characters inner monologue and actually divide the family more than bring them together.
I’ve read a couple of books where different media is applied to embellish the story and in most cases it really gives the reader a wider view of the situation and characters at play. These entries however don’t feel like real diaries the language is too complex and putting expressions in or writing ‘there’s someone at the door so I’ll write later’ felt a bit weird. Surely you’d just put the pen down and recall afterwards someone visited? If anything the most articulate person was Noah and he didn’t get an entry.
The whole possession element was odd. At the start it appeared to be headed towards some kind of ghost story or horror but by the time you get to the end you’re told there was no possession? All very strange.
The plot twists and turns are few and far between, most of which are obvious and don’t serve the plot other than to carry forward this ‘sense’ of fear. As I mentioned above this book is not what I was expecting and I think that it takes a lot of skill to branch off into horror/thrillers. For me Denzil is not this author, she’s best when she sticks to Fam-Dram and crime fiction.
All in all a very disappointing read that just won’t end! I skimmed the last chapters because I felt like it was just getting dragged out for no reason.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
December 31, 2024
the premise sounded sooo good, however the execution 🥴 unfortunately this was a no and i’m so disappointed 😭
January 17, 2023
A family's nail-biting journey to exorcise the unknown evil that haunts them.
When the Aikens - Aaron and Meera together with their children Noah and Uma come across the Woodsman hut in the village of Little Crake, they believe they have found their forever home. But shortly after they move in, 15-year old Noah goes missing in the supposedly haunted Dark Valley Forest near their home and is found three days later, disoriented and injured, stuffed in the hollow of an oak tree. The Aiken family quickly realize that the person who has returned from the forest isn't their kind and caring teenager but a malevolent version of him. Fearing the worst, they reach out to a local, Larissa Skyes, to help expel the evil in their midst. But will the exorcism work or is it already too late for their family?
A psychological thriller with paranormal undertones, this book begs to be read in a single sitting. The narrative employs a unique nested story device - diary entries, voice notes, transcripts of therapy sessions, letters and newspaper articles compiled into a book, by Little Crake local journalist Cameron Hollis, to piece together what exactly happened to the Aiken family. Religion, superstition, mental health issues and supernatural elements vye for top spot in this bizarre family drama/thriller plot. The downward spiral of the Aikens - from a loving, happy middle-class family to a broken home dealing with an unknown danger - is brilliantly portrayed through the rambling diary entries and voice notes.
Overall, creepy as hell with a satisfying ending. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When the Aikens - Aaron and Meera together with their children Noah and Uma come across the Woodsman hut in the village of Little Crake, they believe they have found their forever home. But shortly after they move in, 15-year old Noah goes missing in the supposedly haunted Dark Valley Forest near their home and is found three days later, disoriented and injured, stuffed in the hollow of an oak tree. The Aiken family quickly realize that the person who has returned from the forest isn't their kind and caring teenager but a malevolent version of him. Fearing the worst, they reach out to a local, Larissa Skyes, to help expel the evil in their midst. But will the exorcism work or is it already too late for their family?
A psychological thriller with paranormal undertones, this book begs to be read in a single sitting. The narrative employs a unique nested story device - diary entries, voice notes, transcripts of therapy sessions, letters and newspaper articles compiled into a book, by Little Crake local journalist Cameron Hollis, to piece together what exactly happened to the Aiken family. Religion, superstition, mental health issues and supernatural elements vye for top spot in this bizarre family drama/thriller plot. The downward spiral of the Aikens - from a loving, happy middle-class family to a broken home dealing with an unknown danger - is brilliantly portrayed through the rambling diary entries and voice notes.
Overall, creepy as hell with a satisfying ending. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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