A Stranger in the House: A Novel book cover

A Stranger in the House Summary

A Novel

Shari Lapena
3.68(179254 Reviews)

A Stranger in the House Summary Overview

When a car crash leaves Karen with amnesia, her perfect marriage unravels into a web of secrets. This NYT bestseller sold rights in 28 countries, leaving readers "sleeping with the lights on" according to Bustle. What can't Karen remember - and who's watching?

Key Themes in A Stranger in the House Summary

  • retrograde amnesia
  • domestic deception
  • hidden identities
  • suburban secrets
  • unreliable spouse

Best Quotes from A Stranger in the House Summary

  • Every certainty he held about Karen suddenly seems suspect.

  • His implication that Karen already knows the victim's identity hangs heavy in the room.

Characters in A Stranger in the House Summary

  • Karen KruppA wife who suffers amnesia after a car crash
  • Tom KruppKaren's husband whose life is upended
  • Detective Marcus RasbachA veteran homicide investigator on the case
  • BrigidKaren's best friend
  • Officer Sarah KirtonThe police officer who responds to the crash

About the Author

About the Author of A Stranger in the House

Shari Lapena is the #1 internationally bestselling author of A Stranger in the House and a master of domestic suspense thrillers that expose the dark secrets hidden beneath ordinary suburban life. A former lawyer and English teacher, Lapena brings psychological depth and razor-sharp plotting to stories exploring marriage, trust, and the dangerous unknowability of those closest to us.

Her breakout debut, The Couple Next Door, sold over 4 million copies worldwide and was named WHSmith's "Book of the Year" in 2016, establishing her as a leading voice in psychological suspense. Following A Stranger in the House, she has continued her bestselling streak with An Unwanted Guest, Someone We Know, Not a Happy Family, and Everyone Here is Lying—all becoming New York Times and UK Sunday Times bestsellers.

Writing from her farm outside Toronto, Lapena has seen her books translated and sold in 40 territories worldwide, with four selected as Richard & Judy Book Club Picks and multiple titles optioned for film and television adaptation.

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