A brilliant read, made better by the unique angle of 'phrogging' - I had never heard of this practice but have since looked it up and it's fascinating, if a little terrifying! The story really illustrates the tense situation and would make a cracking film/miniseries.

This story had a different perspective by telling it through the eyes of a phrogger. I enjoyed the suspenseful tale and could hardly put the book down. The twist ending did catch me a little off guard but it tied things up nicely. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Omg, I absolutely loved this book! From the very first line, I was hooked, and the suspense never let up. Gemma Rogers did such an incredible job pulling me into this world—I honestly couldn’t put it down. The whole story from start to finish was superb.

The concept of phrogging was completely new to me, and I found it fascinating. It added such a unique and creepy twist that kept my heart pounding the entire time. There were so many moments where I literally found myself yelling at the main character because of the risky decisions she was making—like, ‘Girl, do you want to die?!’ That kind of emotional involvement is rare for me, and it just shows how gripping and immersive the writing was.

What really stood out for me was how original the story felt. So many thrillers start to feel the same after a while, but this one brought something fresh to the table. The tension, the atmosphere, the unexpected twists—it was all so well done.

Enjoyed this book, it was different with the ‘Phrogging’ I haven’t read a book with this scenario in before. It made the storyline more intense.

When I initially read the synopsis for THE STRANGER AT NO. 6, I was so intrigued. The premise is instantly compelling as I'd never read a book surrounding the notion of "phrogging," only having a cursory knowledge of what it was. And I'd never read a novel by Gemma Rogers before, but had heard fabulous things about her, so I couldn't wait to get started. Well, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I honestly loved it! On to my review!

THE STRANGER AT NO. 6 is a uniquely constructed story with an equally unique protagonist at its center. Molly is wonderfully developed and incredibly likable, albeit not always making the wisest of decisions. She finds herself "staying with" what she believes to be a normal, happy family--but we soon learn the Reillys are anything but normal or happy. Secrets abound at No. 6 Church Road, and Molly becomes ensnared in a mystery that starts as a disappearance, soon becoming a murder investigation. And Molly's inside knowledge of the happenings in the Reilly household start her on a dangerous path where nothing is as it seems.

In addition to Molly, the reader is introduced to an interesting cast of characters, some quite likable, others not so much. Jack is the philandering husband and father within the tight-knit Reilly family, and soon becomes the focal point of suspicion in the murder investigation of a young woman with whom he worked. His wife Helena and son Nathan seem oblivious to his duplicitous behavior, and Molly becomes very protective of them. But as tensions rise and the mystery begins to unfold, the identity of the culprit comes into question, and the line between victim and villain begins to blur.

THE STRANGER AT NO. 6 is an addictive psychological thriller that thrives on tension and nail-biting suspense, with its perfect pacing and short chapters propelling the plot forward at warp speed. Molly is instantly likable and very memorable, and I’m secretly hoping we might see her again in a future novel! Once starting, you’ll find it near impossible to put this book down.

I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley, Gemma Rogers, and Boldwood Books for gifting me the ARC of THE STRANGER AT NO. 6. I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review. It was a privilege to be able to read this novel before publication in September.

The Stranger at No 6 had me hooked from the start, I could not put this book down or at least not for long.
I really enjoyed the style of writing and how each chapter had you guessing what was going to happen next. The book was not overwhelming with characters but described those involved perfectly so you could really picture and imagine everything perfectly.

Before I read this book I had never heard of the term phrogging. However, The Stranger at No 6 had me checking every cupboard and under the bed. It's creepy and has a compelling storyline. Once I started I could not put it down as I had to find out what happened next. The characters are intriguing, and yet the twist in the tale at the end was brilliant, reminding us all to never assume. What a wonderful writer. I can't wait to read her next book.

Molly is 22 and a junior reporter. She's also a phrogger but has many rules so she doesn't get caught and is able to stay out of sight easily. But when she moves into Jack and Helena's home she gets more than she bargained for as hiding in the wardrobe gives her clues as to who these people are. Of course their young son Nathan has no idea what's going on and as Molly follows the news she knows she must do something when she realizes what this couple has done!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I always love that Gemma Rogers books are easy to read without being complicated yet still deliver strong and gripping storytelling, and this one is no exception.
Not being familiar with the concept of phrogging before reading, I found it both fascinating and slightly unsettling to learn that it's something people actually do.
The book is full of flawed but compelling characters,Molly stood out for me,despite the unconventional way she lived,she has a strong sense of scruples that made her easy to root for.
Tension was perfectly built throughout with the added bonus of Mollys blog to her fellow phroggers a brilliant touch.
Suspense everywhere,and the unexpected ending made it a binge read.
It left me thinking I should probably check the loft just in case.
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the Arc.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Stranger at No. 6 by Gemma Rogers, published by Boldwood Books

Another must read by Gemma Rogers. Finished this late last night, could not put it down. This book will not disappoint, you'll be on the edge of your seat reading this novel. The main character gets herself into some crazy predicaments.
I really enjoyed the characters in this novel and the various settings. The author is great at describing her characters and setting the stage for the twists that happen in the novel.i loved learning about phrogging, I'd never heard of this before, and sure hope no one is phrogging in my house!
Main character Molly has decided after doing some observation, that the family that lives at 6 Church rd would be a great option for laying her head at night. Well she gets more than expected and becomes involved in solving a crime.
I always jump at the opportunity to read Gemma's books, I've read them all. I love her writing style and ability to engage the reader on page one. Looking forward to what she comes up with next

I was already familiar with the concept of phrogging and had even seen a film about it that I loved! What I’m about to say might be a bit unfair because the author’s writing, although repetitive, is good, but in this book, I just couldn’t suspend my disbelief.

The story is set in London, where houses are quite different from those in America, where phrogging is apparently more common. Here, it didn’t make sense to me. The way the author describes and justifies why Molly is entering that house, and the fact that she hides in the wardrobe, feels completely unrealistic. I understand that the flat in question isn’t used much, but it would be so easy for someone to discover that there was a person hiding there. It just didn’t feel credible.

Moreover, the plot twist wasn’t surprising at all. By 40% into the book, I was already suspicious, and by 50% I was certain who the villain was. Unfortunately, the story ends up being both repetitive and predictable.

The Stranger at No 6 by Gemma Rogers
Publication Date September 8, 2025

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Wow!! This book is about a small town journalist living in other peoples homes without them being aware of her presence. It’s called phrogging. She has to sneak in and out and almost gets caught several times. There is a cheating husband, a missing girl, a murder (?) and all this time she is writing a blog about phrogging and the goings on with the family she is living with as well as stories for her paper. My heart was pounding throughout this entire book. I finished it in a day. It was a quick, easy read which is my favorite kind of book. It has a surprise ending and heart stopping moments. I love Gemma Roger’s books and highly recommend this one, it absolutely earned all 5 stars!

While this wasn’t my favorite thriller of all time, I still enjoyed this read and would read other books by this author. Here is what I loved and what prevented it from being a five star for me personally. Please know I’m a really picky reader.

What I loved:
-The premise
-The cover is cool
-The writing style is easy to follow
-There is definitely some violence in here and it gets spooky

What would have made this a 5 star read for me:
-more sub plot points (this book seemed to have one main event that occurred around 30% in and then everything else around that event, this to me made the book a bit overdrawn in a little bit overwritten because it didn’t feel like there was enough happening, and there were so many details put into one aspect only)
-more character development
-Fewer blog posts
-Slightly fewer characters


3.5 rounding up to 4

Would I recommend to thriller lovers?
Yes if you are newer to them and want something more mellow.

Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

I ❤️ all of Gemma Rogers books but WOW this has got to be my favourite! Once I started reading it, I just couldn't put it down. The whole book kept you wanting to page turn, and when Molly was hiding out there were afew times I felt my heart was going to stop with the thought she was going to get caught. Gemma you are AMAZING this has got to be one of my favourite books so far this year! Thank you Netgallery for letting me read it early. Everyone needs to keep their eyes 👀 out when this book is released. Definitely ❤️ highly recommend 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Molly, a young journalist trying to save, lives in stranger's houses (while they are there) - by hiding in attics and basements, eating their food, using their wifi. I suspect most people who read this story will come across this concept of 'phrogging' for the first time.

While living in a cupboard in the loft, Molly learns something about the family that she later connects to a young woman's disappearance. Naturally she investigates, finds stuff, and the mystery is resolved.

The mystery itself isn't anything special - it's really the weirdness of living in someone's house that gives this story the hook.

It's well-written and easy to read. If there were half stars I'd give it 3.5, but it's not a 4 to me.

I was drawn to the unusual premise of the story, someone squatting unseen and unknown in the presence of the homeowners. I can't imagine how it worked but it probably requires a much bigger house than I have!
This was a good domestic thriller with an interesting twist and I thought it worked really well. All the characters had their flaws which always makes for a good read, the only one I felt sorry for was the poor son getting dragged into the family's dramas!
I would definitely recommend this book.

This story had me hooked from the very first page. The atmosphere is tense and unsettling, with a creeping sense of suspense that builds beautifully as the chapters unfold. The characters felt authentic and layered, each one adding to the intrigue and making me question what was really going on. It’s a gripping, addictive read that kept me turning pages late into the night.

The Stranger at No. 6 introduced me to the concept of phrogging, which I had never heard of. What could go wrong, living in someone else's home, unknown to them? You learn all of their secrets while remaining a secret, maybe even get caught up in a murder mystery.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

I cannot get enough of this author, I don't understand why she is not more popular. This book was so good, I could barely breathe when she was living in the house with the family. I did not want to put it down, nice work Gemma Rogers!

Gemma Rogers has become a favourite author of mine who knows how to write twisty stories that grab your attention from the first page and soon have you completely immersed in the story.

Wow, I had never heard of this concept of phrogging before and I found it fascinating. I am not sure I could ever do this or even want to but there were times throughout the book that I found myself screaming for Molly to get out. The author did a brilliant job of building the suspense and the tension. The pacing is fast, and the brilliant plot was extremely well developed. Molly was a fabulous character, very realistic and perfect for this story. The ending was well executed and quite a surprise. If you are looking for a great thriller you cannot go past this book, highly enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.