I really enjoyed the novel but at around the 95% mark it lost me a little bit. It came to a bit of an abrupt halt, we had this long story and a very quick ending. I don't feel that the over explanation of what happened after" brought much to the story. In fact I feel like more attention could've been given to the story of Belinda, her children and Imran.

3.5 rounded down

Sunnyside Home is for the young at heart, some are there for respite, others for long-term care, some work there but one person is there for an entirely different motive. Who is the stranger in room six?

This is the home that 98 year-old Mabel Marchmont owns, lives in and is cared for especially by Belinda. Mabel goes to live in the seaside house with her aunt Clarissa during the war, when tragedy strikes her family and she has lived there ever since. As for Belinda, fifteen years ago she’s bored in her marriage to dull Gerald, who it transpires, isn’t quite as dull as he seems. Belinda pays a high price for her astonishing discovery and the subsequent fury she inevitably feels. Now, as Belinda chats to elderly Mabel, the pair decide to tell each other their stories and as trust builds it appears that both have quite the tale to tell.

I like the premise of the novel very much and it’s worth reading the authors afterword about the wartime narrative. Mabel is fantastic, her story for me is the standout of the book as she has some very difficult waters to navigate especially via her aunt Clarissa. Belinda is harder to get a handle on which is probably understandable as life throws a lot at her. I like that both main characters are strong women who have coped admirably with difficult obstacles and tragedy. The mystery of the stranger is good up to a point, giving a tantalising air of mystery, until the identity is revealed!

However, although I can genuinely say that I enjoy a lot of it, the two narratives do not always meld together smoothly and there’s a disjointed feel to the storytelling. I can understand why the author does this but I think Mabel story would probably have been enough as it is packed full of drama, danger as well as much unhappiness. It’s poignant and emotional in places.

As the conclusion of the story arrives, it gets a bit melodramatic for my taste and also a far-fetched stretch.

Overall, it’s well worth a read and although I’m a fan of the author, I sadly don’t think this is her best book.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated EPUB in return for an honest review.

Mabel was fifteen when she lost her parents and sister in the war. She was sent to live with her aunt Clarissa and her friend Jonty in Devon. But things weren’t all as they seemed. Mabel’s innocence is tested.
Years later the house is a home for the elderly and Mabel who still lives there, has her secrets. Who is the person in room 6.

Short, punchy chapters mixing history with current day really pays off in this well planned out mystery. It felt a bit different to what Jane would normally pull out the bag with her books, but I liked it. Some of the characters were quite punchable but luckily the two leading characters, I did reason with. I’m sure this will be another hit.

Below is the blurb
"You may not know the stranger in room six. But they know everything about you.
It's been fifteen years since Belinda was convicted of her husband's murder. Now, she's ready for her life to begin again, and she's set on that happening at Sunnyside Home for the Young at Heart.
The owner, Mabel, has spent her life here. First as an evacuee during the Blitz and now as the care home's oldest resident, 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, they'll stop at nothing to find out the truth."

I just love this author. Every time a new book comes out I get nervous that I will be disappointed but so far it hasn't happened. This is so not my type of book (usually mystery/horror) but I just love everything she writes. Usually a story with a strong female lead or two flitting between stories and time periods that are somehow connected. I liked Beth's story more than Belinda's story but couldn't explain why! Yes, some of the twists or connections are a bit convenient but who cares! Another great read and can't wait for her next book.

OMG!! WOW!!... OH YES!!!. BOY. OH. BOY...
Incredible read!!... Will suck you in like never before!... Mind-blowing... LOVED this book!

This book kept me turning the pages into the early hours. Heart-pounding and very tense... Nail-biting.


A massive 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me!

Mabel tells her war story to Belinda who is now working in the care home. Belinda has been in prison and Mabel has her own secrets from the war. Full of emotion and its good how their stories interweave, connecting these women across the decades. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

The Stranger in Room Six is a suspense-filled story of two women of different generations, who meet at Sunnyside care home in Devon and begin to share their secrets from their past.

Belinda has recently been released from prison, where she spent 15 years for the murder of her husband. Now in her 60s, she has a reason for choosing Sunnyside as her new place of employment.

In her late 90s, Mabel not only lives at Sunnyside but she owns it - having moved here as a teenager during the war, to live with her aunt.

Now, someone has moved into room six who knows them both, and is determined to bring secrets to light!

I loved the way this story was told, through Belinda and Mabel looking back on their past lives and telling each other their stories. Their reflections were told as if it was the present day, so it was easy to get lost in them - and then we would be brought back into their actual present day conversation and be reminded of what is going on now. Their friendship was really lovely!

I don’t want to give anything away about their stories, but both the prison and World War 2 stories were brilliant and gripping, as well as very emotional! It was a gripping read and my favourite from Jane Corry so far.

Belinda has finally been released after being in jail for murdering her husband. She is at the Sunny Side care home in search of a life after her prison term. Mabel has been living in the house that is now a care home, where she is the oldest resident, for decades.

They both have secrets but someone is determined to advantage of the truth that they have each protected for so many years. Can the two women possibly find a way through the danger that they are unknowingly facing?

While this story does require some suspension of disbelief, woven around the lives of two very different women who are equally strong characters, it delivers a compelling read. This one gets 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this story of two srong women, each with a different burden to carry.
The story flowed well and kept me wanting to read on throughout, I especially enjoyed Mables's story. I learnt a few things I had no idea about.
A poignant tale filled with murder,friendship, and forgiveness.
A recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin General UK for the Arc.

A highly bizarre storyline that really shouldn't have worked but turned out to be an utterly compulsive read! Not at all what I expected and in hindsight quite surreal but quite enjoyable nevertheless.

An enjoyable dual perspective book about Mabel,99 year old owner of Sunnybank home for the young at heart, and Brenda, recently released murderer. The book documents the two recounting their trials and tribulations, each with their own agenda.

The story is about two strong women from different generations - Mabel and Belinda whose lives overlap in unexpected ways. They each have their own tragedies and traumas to deal with, Mabel's during World War 2.

Belinda's life is turned upside down overnight when she receives an anonymous call from a woman telling her that her husband has been having an affair. The fallout is severe with unexpected and tragic consequences. Excellent book with loads of twists and turns. Highly recommended.

Another fantastic book from Jane Corry which I couldn’t put down.
This book tells the stories of Belinda and Mabel and the trauma they both went through before meeting, sharing their stories and becoming unlikely friends. Mabel and Belinda are both excellent characters and such strong women. Both of the characters stories were so different but absolutely fascinating and I was hooked.
I loved reading about Mabel’s time during the war and her chapters were so descriptive.
The ending was excellent and not what I was expecting at all.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jane Corry and Penguin general UK for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Set in Devon, Belinda Wall is freed from prison where she was held for the murder of her husband.
she Trying to start a new life and move on she befriends an elderly woman, Mabel, who we discover has dark secrets of her own.

Both women are interesting characters and I loved seeing the dark sides of both of them

The telling of this story is difficult at times. it is a bit graphic and quite disturbing.

It is an intriguing read and I enjoyed my reading time

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. Wow! I was absolutely blown away by this new book from Jane Corey. I always love her books but this one is another level for me. It had so much depth, detail and fascinating characters that I grew so fond of. A truly captivating tale of family, friendship, love and grief. This book literally has it all. I didn’t want this story to be over and I sobbed at the end, it was really poignant. A captivating story that I will definitely recommend to everyone. 5 stars

Book Review: The Stranger in Room Six by Jane Corry

I had high hopes for The Stranger in Room Six, as I’ve enjoyed Jane Corry’s past works, but unfortunately, this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I found it a bit confusing and, honestly, the pacing didn’t flow as well as I’ve come to expect from her.

The premise was intriguing — Belinda, convicted of her husband's murder, finally seeking a new life at Sunnyside Home for the Young at Heart, while Mabel, an elderly resident, harbors dark secrets from the past. It has all the elements of a gripping psychological thriller. However, I struggled to connect with the characters, and at times, I found myself lost in the timeline and shifts in perspective. The alternating viewpoints felt jarring rather than complementary, and I had a hard time following the threads of the mystery.

In previous books, Corry’s writing felt more seamless, but here it felt disjointed and harder to follow. The tension didn’t build up as effectively, and by the time I reached the climax, I wasn’t as invested in the outcome as I should have been. I do appreciate a good slow-burn mystery, but here, it just felt like the story wasn’t unfolding in a way that kept me engaged.

I can see that some readers might enjoy the twists, but for me, the story was harder to follow than it needed to be, and the payoff didn’t feel as satisfying as in Corry’s previous novels. The potential was there, but the execution didn’t quite live up to expectations.

Overall, The Stranger in Room Six just didn’t work for me. It was a bit too convoluted and slow-paced, and I missed the clarity and flow I’ve enjoyed in her other books. I’d still give Corry another chance in the future, but this one left me disappointed.

Rating: 2/5
The concept had promise, but the execution felt confusing and didn't flow as smoothly as her previous works.

I'm a big fan of Jane Corry but have to admit this isn't her best.
Whilst the stories of Belinda and Mabel were somewhat interesting I felt that they weren't woven together well, as a result The Stranger in Room Six was quite underwhelming.
3 stars.

An ok domestic drama.
I did struggle at times as the storyline just didn't flow well for me.
Not one of the best from this author.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

This is a domestic thriller however for me it was more of a domestic drama as it just seemed to lack the thrill. I did enjoy the separate stories of the main characters who had both experienced very different but challenging times in their lives but I didn’t feel especially invested in either. There were a few twists and surprises in this and both storylines were thought provoking but would have worked better as individual stories with more depth as I think so much more could have been explored in each.