This is the story of two women, Mabel and Belinda. They meet in the care home, Sunnyside- home for the young at heart. Belinda works there after being released from prison for murdering her husband, Mabel actually owns the place but it is perfect for her has she has lived there sin she was a child. She came to live there with her aunt after her mother sister are killed in the blitz and her father was away fighting in the war.

The stories of the two women revealed throughout the book and we gradually get to know them and to understand how they came to be at this point. I felt a great deal of sympathy for both women. Mabel had a miserable time in a house where her only friends were the cook and the maid. Belinda seemed to have been extremely unlucky to receive the sentence she got for the death of her husband- surely that was manslaughter not murder? There is also the mysterious 'stranger in Room 6' from the title. I'm not really sure how she was really vital to the story.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

This is a book told in a past and present timeline. It's the perfect combination of historical and thriller fiction. I couldn't put it down. I love my family drama, and this one was perfect.

It’s been 15 years since Belinda was wrongly convicted of her husband’s murder now she’s ready for her life to begin again and she sat on that happening at Sunnyside home for the heart where she’s recently got a job and false pretences.

The owner Mabel has spent her life here first as an evacuate during the blitz and now as the care home’s oldest residence Mabel has held the secrets of this house for as long as she can remember secrets that could kill if in the wrong hands

But history won’t stay hidden forever and someone is onto them both watching and listening from room number six. I’ll stop at nothing to find out the truth.

In this story, we meet both Mabel and Belinda and listen as they become friends and tell each other their stories revealing secrets never told before. But someone is out for revenge who is anyone safe?

I really enjoyed getting to know both Mabel and Belinda and learning more about their stories and how they came to be where they are now. The author has done a fantastic job of introducing the characters and helping you to get them know them better. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this story thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity.

I loved getting to hear Mabel’s story and Belinda’s was quite relatable! I enjoy prison stories and each chapter had me gripped. I liked the way they spoke to each other as we learned their fate. I wasn’t so keen on the strangers chapters and felt it got a little complicated with the politics

I am a huge fan of Jane Corry, she's a great author and her stories always touch the nerve. However, this time, this story felt somehow forced. I can't put my finger on why but it felt flat and so disjointed. The characters are interesting, though I think Mabel was overdone with her being so naive, even if it was wartime, it was too much for me. Belinda... I still have a feeling that I don't really know her, that I don't know what makes her ticks, if I knew better I'd say she was perhaps bi-polar, wanting to kill people and in the next moment behaving like a lamb. The two narratives don't always melt smoothly together and it feels very wooden when they start to tell their stories again. "It's your turn now", "No, it's yours to tell your story"...

The "Stranger in Room Six" itself absolutely didn't fit to the whole plot for my liking, it was far fetched and it felt very convenient what happened with them - the mystery person drama didn't feel like mystery. The end was oh so melodramatic. It's a shame really, because I normally enjoy Jane Corry's books - and I don't mean I didn't enjoy this one, it simply was not my read this time and I know she can do so much better.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jane Corry and having read the synopsis, thought it would be right up my street. I was not left disappointed!

The story centres around Belinda who has recently been released from prison and Mabel who owns a care home that Belinda starts working at. They pair strike up an unlikely friendships and share their life stories with one another whilst a mutual threat is close by.

The chapters flit between both characters and their experiences that has got the. Both to Sunny Side Home for the Young at Heart. I absolutely loved reading about both stories and didn’t favour one over the other. Both kept me gripped throughout and I liked the variety of finding out about these two very interesting women.

I found this a very easy read, that kept me gripped throughout. It kept me wanting to read one more chapter. Thought the ending was decent too.

I will definitely be reading more from this author and give this an easy 5 stars. It has made for an ideal holiday read!

Thank you to Penguin General and NetGalley who provided me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great story. Goes backwards and forwards between present day, the past and way back in history. Many many chapters end with one thinking,"just 1 more chapter'
Like many if Hane Corrys other books, I really enjoyed this.

An interesting plot told by two main women and set over differents timeperiods. As the book starts, Belinda is stuck in a boring marriage and after her husband forgets his lunch, she not only finds out that he is in a long term relationship with another woman, but also causes his death when confronting him about it. Her life changes completely by this. Mabel is living in London during WW2 when her life too changes when her mother and sister are killed in an air raid . She is sent to live with her aunt in a Devon village.
As the years pass, we follow their lives, through difficult times. These are described as Belinda and Mabel meet in a carehome and tell each other their life stories and secrets.
I thought the book was well done, both lifestories were interesting and at times with unexpected twists . Maybe the loose ends are too well sewn up, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment. Not sure about Belinda's conviction. Descriptions of life in prison and behaviour seem realistic, though I don't have any personal experience of that. I was engaged with the book from the outset and it kept me interested throughout.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARc

I really enjoyed this book. Both the main characters were likeable and both their past stories were interesting.
Mabel who grew up through the Second World War and fell in love, which led to a very troubled colourful life. As an old woman living in a nursing home now she retells her story to her new carer Belinda.
Belinda spent many years in prison, estranged from family and seeking revenge, she arrives at the nursing room for another reason.
Both are seeking redemption through the telling of their secrets and stories to one another, but it may be the death of them.

Interesting plot with plenty of drama, I was eager to finish it and find out the outcomes of both women.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC in return for an honest review.

From the moment I turned the first page of Jane Corry’s "The Stranger in Room 6," I was utterly captivated. This is a novel that manages to be warm, funny, and moving, all at once.

Told through three distinct points of view and unfolding across two cleverly woven timelines, At the centre is Belinda, recently released from prison after serving fifteen years for her husband’s death. Her cautious hope and vulnerability leap off the page as she starts anew, taking a job at a care home. There, she meets the indomitable Mabel, a 98-year-old resident with a sharp wit and zest for life that is infectious.

The budding friendship between Belinda and Mabel is a masterclass in character development. Through their exchange of stories—both painful and laugh-out-loud funny the reader gets to know and love both characters. The novel’s dual timelines and shifting perspectives never feel forced; instead, they add layers of intrigue and emotional depth.

What truly sets "The Stranger in Room 6" apart is its remarkable warmth. Even as the story touches on darker themes, Corry’s writing is full of compassion and humour. The dialogue and moments of levity are pitch-perfect, making the story both entertaining and uplifting.

The pacing is spot-on; not a single page feels wasted. By the novel’s end, I found myself genuinely rooting for Belinda and Mabel, reluctant to say goodbye.

"The Stranger in Room 6" is a beautifully written, perfectly paced novel that seamlessly blends suspense, humour, and heart. Jane Corry has crafted a memorable story about forgiveness, friendship, and starting over, all wrapped up in an engaging and thoroughly entertaining package. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

Told in three time lines. Mabel Marchmont is a child during WW2. Sent to live with her aunt in her stately home in Devon when her mum and baby sister are killed by the Blitz, Mabel finds a very strange situation that she doesn't understand. Fifteen years before the present day, Belinda Walls' husband dies and she is jailed for his manslaughter. Now in the present day 98 year old Mabel is in the same stately home which is now a care home. Belinda is a new carer and the two hit it off, exchanging life stories they've never shared before. But a blast from Belinda's past is around insisting she provides information or her daughters will be harmed. This affects Belinda and Mabel, harming their friendship and threatening lives. This was an intriguing story, so many sad strands. Mabel was such an innocent all through her life and I really wanted things to work well for Belinda. A great read. #netgalley #thestrangerinroomsix

What a completely obsessive read that i just could not put down its one of them thriller reads where your like just one more chapter ok just one more chapter and before you no it you've binged the whole entire book

The Stranger in Room Six seamlessly interweaves two gripping timelines: Belinda’s attempt to start over after a 15‑year prison sentence for her husband’s murder and Mabel’s deeply buried secrets stemming from her time as a Blitz evacuee now living (and owning) the Sunnyside Home for the Young at Heart.

As the mysterious resident in Room Six begins pulling strings, watching and listening to both women, the suspense escalates. Jane Corry’s brisk, propulsive style shines as themes of trust, forgiveness, guilt and redemption ripple through the characters’ lives.

What I loved:
Dual narratives that deliver emotional depth and historical resonance: Mabel’s story during WWII is poignant and atmospheric, while Belinda’s journey in the present is both tense and human.
Complex moral shades: Neither Belinda nor Mabel is entirely innocent, yet both are empathetic, with motivations rooted in love, fear and flawed choices.
Atmospheric setting: Sunnyside feels almost like a character itself, its secrets and history echo through every room.

A few minor quibbles: Some plot developments feel a touch convenient and readers expecting a thriller will be disappointed by the historical and emotional weight of the story.

Final verdict:
A multi‑layered story with strong female leads, secrets that reverberate across generations and a twisty suspense plot. If you appreciate psychological fiction that blends past and present, this is well worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I’ve been meaning to read this book for a few weeks, and I’m now disappointed that I didn’t read it sooner.
I was totally engrossed in this story and characters. I loved the dual timeline and various twists throughout. It’s one that I’d definitely recommend.

What a great read! Loved both characters and particularly liked Mabel's past story and Belinda's prison time. Liked how they got together in the present day to share their stories of the past. Thanks for my ARC.

It has been quite awhile since I have read anything by Jane Corry and after reading The Stranger in Room Six I am wondering why. What a terrific storyline! i loved the dual timelines and had no idea how they related to one another. A very interesting and addictive read.

2 women with 2 very different lives form a bond in a care home. Mabel is 98 and has seen so much in her life, living through a war. Belinda is her carer and she has had a complicated life until now. The women become friends while telling each other their stories, but someone else is listening and wants something from them.

I got completely lost in both women’s stories as well as the current day story. So much mystery. I learnt a lot in the historical part of the story, it was fascinating.

Thank you to Penguin General UK for my copy of this book to read. Highly recommend.

Belinda was convicted of her husband's murder, but is now ready to move on with her life and becomes a carer at sunnyside home. 98 year old mabel owns the house and has lived in it since the war. Mabel and Belinda strike up a bond and start sharing their life stories, which are both equally tragic. A new resident moves into room six, the 2 women dont know the person however this person knows them and now knows all of their secrets.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow what a book! I really like Jane Corey’s books and this one didnt let me down. Had lots of emotions and enjoyed all the timelines!

The Stranger in Room Six by Jane Corry

When Belinda found out her husband, Gerald, was cheating on her she was so angry she confronted him right on the street, pushing him away not realising that he will fall over and hit his head, dying instantly. Very quickly Belinda’s life completely changes; she is jailed for fifteen years and her daughters don’t want anything to do with her.

Now years later Belinda is a helper at Sunnyside Home where she meets ninety-eight-year-old Mabel. They soon become close friends and tell each other their life stories.

This book is written in three points of view; Belinda, Mabel and the stranger in room six.

I loved everything about this book. It was a true edge on your seat thriller and as soon as one chapter ended, I had to read the next one.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin General UK for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review