Laura Benedict | THE STRANGER INSIDE

Plot (via Goodreads):

Kimber Hannon's belief that she has complete control over her life is shattered the night that she comes home from a trip to find her key no longer opens her front door. There is a stranger living in her house. A stranger who claims he has every right to be there, with the paperwork to prove it. When she confronts the man, he lets her get close enough to whisper, "I was there. I saw what you did."

She doesn't know how he knows her, but with those words Kimber knows this stranger isn't after anything as simple as her money or artwork or charming Craftsman bungalow. She has to find out exactly what he wants and get him out of her carefully orchestrated life before he ruins it.

There are plenty of people in her life who might help, but should Kimber trust any of them? Her lawyer, Gabriel, is also her ex-lover; Diana, her best friend, doesn't know Kimber slept with her husband; her ex-husband has a new, happier life since leaving her; and her co-workers know she'll do anything to get her next sale. And no one can know the real reason this man is in her house. Without trust, everyone's a stranger.... 

Review:

THIS STORY! Wow. There was so much going on in the best way possible. I loved how this one started with an ominous and short chapter that kind of introduced the reader to the backstory of the plot and then dove right into the meat of the story in present time. I really enjoyed that this story just really kicked off without a drawn out opening and immediately kicked things off with the main plot of the story - who is this man and why is he in Kimbers house?

I was immediately immersed in this story and was side-eyeing every single character wondering if Kimber should trust them. Becoming overprotective of a character like this is generally a good sign I like them, so I was hesitant with about 75% of the characters in this one was I kept thinking "Girl, the closer you are to them the bigger the suspect they could be..." Nevertheless, I really enjoyed all of the characters in this one, especially Kimber. What I loved most about her character is that Benedict made her flawed in the best way possible. Kimber is harboring some really dark secrets regarding a few different things that have happened in the past and she's far from perfect. I enjoyed the danger of this story combined with the anxiety of her secrets being not only uncovered for me as a reader but the anxiety of them being revealed to other characters. It not only made the story fly by, but it was refreshing to read about a protagonist who is flawed and doesn't have the personality of Bambi.

The way this plot went back and forth between Kimber in the present time and her and her sister Michelle in high school was not only addictive, but blissfully entertaining to read. Just went I was getting somewhere with one timeline, Benedict would switch over to the other - giving me two plots to enjoy that were weaving dangerously close to one another. The last 25% of the novel was not only stunningly paced, but kept me holding my breath at times until the shocking and harrowing reveal. I already cannot wait to see what Laura Benedict does next!

Special thanks to Laura Benedict for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5