A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena Summary
Overview of A Stranger in the House
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?
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Key takeaways
The Perfect Life Unraveled in a Single Night
The familiar becomes sinister when Tom Krupp returns home at 6:30 PM to find his front door ajar. Inside, life appears suspended in mid-action: a half-sliced tomato on the cutting board, water boiling on the stove, Karen's cooking playlist still playing. Her purse sits on the counter with her phone inside, but her car is mysteriously absent. As minutes stretch into hours without explanation, Tom's concern morphs into full-blown panic. Across town, Officer Sarah Kirton responds to reports of a vehicle driving erratically through an industrial district. The silver Lexus blows through four red lights before crashing at nearly ninety miles per hour. The registration: Karen Krupp of 47 Dogwood Drive. At Mercy Hospital, Tom identifies Karen's blood-spattered white cashmere sweater and the sapphire pendant he gave her for their anniversary. When she regains consciousness thirty-six hours later, her whispered response sends chills down his spine: "I don't remember anything... Why was I out there?" The situation darkens when three teenagers discover a corpse in an abandoned restaurant just blocks from Karen's crash site-a middle-aged man executed with surgical precision. As Detective Marcus Rasbach begins connecting these seemingly unrelated events, Tom's perception of his perfect marriage starts to crumble. Was his wife ever who he thought she was?
When Evidence Points to the Unthinkable
The Watcher Across the Street
The Woman Who Never Existed
Manipulation and Betrayal
The Frame Exposed
Perfect Deception
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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