The stager, by Susan Coll

This unusual novel starts out conventionally enough.  A wealthy couple with a 10-year-old daughter are trying to sell their oversized luxury home in a DC enclave in an iffy market prior to relocating to England for Bella’s new high-powered job.  Her husband, Lars, is a former tennis star, Swedish and gorgeous, who has blown out his knees and sunk into joblessness, depression, over-use of prescriptions with x and z in their names, and weight gain.  Leaving daughter Elsa at home in the care of an au pair during a week-long trip to London, they have hired a new real estate agent who brings in a “stager” to de-clutter and de-personalize their house for the Sunday open house.  Then things get a little crazy.  As Lars slips literally down the rabbit hole, the prior relationship between Bella and “the Stager," Eve Brenner, come into focus.  Elsa is caught in the middle.  A bright and perceptive child, she develops a fascination with the Stager.  What started out a bit like chick lit turns darker and stranger, but still hilarious in spots and the social commentary is delicious.  Look out for rabbits serving tea.  An unexpected pleasure.  272 pp.