"Stranger in the House" is a well-scripted and well-performed melodrama-mystery. At the heart of the screenplay is the relationship of Jade Griegson and her husband Marco, a poor boy who has risen to make quite a catch in the heiress Jade.

Jade's father, Wayne Griegson, had bilked investors in a Ponzi scheme, and his high-priced attorneys enabled him to beat the rap. Wayne was disabled in an auto accident that took the life of his wife. As Jade and Marco depart on their honeymoon, they retain a physical therapist to look after Wayne full-time. But when they return, they discover that the caregiver Samantha has won the heart of Wayne and married him. Jade does not believe her father robbed the cradle, but that Samantha is a gold-digger.

What follows is a concatenation of events in which Samantha has connived to disinherit Jade. Wayne dies of an apparent fall. Shortly thereafter, Samantha is stabbed to death, and Jade is arrested for first-degree murder.

The filmmakers skillfully weave suspense into the attempt of Jade to clear her name. The two most important men in her life are Marco and Luke Harper, the police detective who arrests Jade, then helps her to prove her innocence. And for Jade, Marco is one constant in her life, the man she describes as "my rock!"

The strong performance by the lead actress playing Jade helped to sustain the suspense and resolve many unanswered questions. While the film's premise was fairly predictable, the action moved fast, and all the characters were well-developed. It was especially Samantha's gold-digger that turned the film into an intriguing whodunnit and a "guilty pleasure" type of film.

The villain du jour is a Madoff like Ponzi scheme financial guy gets off the hook but there is more in store for him.

His daughter is played by Emannuelle Vaugier - a Lifetime movie familiar face. She is quite good as she watches helplessly as a gold digger from hell caregiver marries her father. Doesn't get much help from her boyfriend who looks like Paul Ryan.

Things point quite obviously to the bad guys or in this case the bad guys with a bit of a justification. But things move along quickly and it's quite fun to see things unfold.

It's a bit of wish fulfillment for victims of financial fraud.

Wayne (John Novak) is a acquitted Ponzi scheme operator who is in a wheel chair due to a car accident which killed his wife. His daughter Jade (Emmanuelle Vaugier) is going on her honeymoon and has hired Samantha (Jordana Largy) to be a caretaker. Now we know one of 2 things are going to happen. Samantha is either going to kill Wayne because she lost money or marry him. Since this is a Lifetime film...they decided to use both options and then give us the expected twist.

Lifetime has their fans and I am sure this installment will have a loyal following. I found things to be too predictable once they exercised the double option. The acting and soundtrack I didn't find overly appealing either.