THE STRANGER INSIDE is a very different book for Laura Benedict. That is not to say that she doesn’t bring her trademark array of storytelling skills to the fore --- she certainly does --- but her latest eschews the spirits, malevolent and otherwise, that have populated her past novels for some very corporeal ones. The result is as fine a bit of suburban noir as you are likely to encounter this year.

After an intriguing opening chapter, the book introduces us to Kimber Hannon, a 38-year-old radio station advertising sales representative in the St. Louis, Missouri market. We meet Kimber as she is trying to enter her house upon returning from a weekend retreat. It is a surreal moment for her as the key no longer fits her door lock. The police are called, and in due course an unexpected occupant emerges.

"Supporting Kimber and cheering her on becomes somewhat of a labor of love at certain points, which makes the story all the more intriguing and believable as Benedict subjects the reader to more twists and turns than the St. Louis Screamin’ Eagle."

The gentleman, Lance Wilson, exhibits an air of polite befuddlement as he identifies himself as the landed tenant of Kimber’s home, producing a lease agreement duly executed by himself that bears what appears to be Kimber’s signature. Jenny Tuttle, an elderly neighbor, is quick to jump in, noting that she saw Kimber --- or someone looking quite a bit like her --- handing Lance the keys to the house a few days ago. Kimber has never seen him before, though it seems as if she should. Because Lance has an apparently valid lease, it’s not simply a matter of throwing the bum out.

Kimber also runs into some problems at work, as it appears that she has been fudging on her expense account to a degree that is less than acceptable in the industry. Fortunately for Kimber, she does have a support network that includes her ex-husband, an attorney who is her former boyfriend, her mother and stepfather, and her best friend Diana. Unfortunately, she is hiding secrets from all of them, some of which are deeply serious and stretch back to recent and remote periods of time. What we slowly learn is that Kimber is not exactly a totally sympathetic character.

Supporting Kimber and cheering her on becomes somewhat of a labor of love at certain points, which makes the story all the more intriguing and believable as Benedict subjects the reader to more twists and turns than the St. Louis Screamin’ Eagle. There may not be any ghosts here, but Kimber is certainly haunted not only by the actions of others but also by her own impulses, errors and omissions. Not everything ends neatly or well for everyone, but a justice of sorts is obtained for the innocent and guilty alike.

Benedict’s legion of loyal readers will not be disappointed at all by her foray into a suspense subgenre that is not completely identical to what has gone before. Her new focus, set entirely on the demons existing on this side of the veil, will undoubtedly also attract newcomers to THE STRANGER INSIDE. Once they start it, they’ll find it impossible to put down.