I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review

The House Guest by Mark Edwards is an engaging and suspenseful psychological thriller that pulls readers in from the very first page. The story builds an intense atmosphere with each chapter, introducing mysterious characters and unexpected twists that keep you racing through the pages. The plot is both fast-paced and captivating, with plenty of shocking moments that had me guessing and second-guessing what might happen next. Edwards' characters are well-crafted, especially the protagonist Ruth, whose vulnerability makes her an easy character to root for as she faces the enigmatic and sinister Gabriel. Gabriel, a chillingly charismatic antagonist, kept the suspense heightened, making me genuinely anxious to see if Ruth would escape his influence.

Though the conclusion is undeniably thrilling, the very end fell short for me. While I loved the ride and remained enthralled throughout, the final pages left me puzzled. It felt as if Edwards struggled to wrap up the story, with an ending that didn’t quite match the intensity and cleverness of the preceding chapters. Despite this, The House Guest remains a solid thriller with plenty of suspense and complex character dynamics, making it well worth the read for fans of the genre.

I didn’t find anything original in this book and I skimmed a lot of it. Not awful but just not one I could hand on heart recommend.

The House Guest by Mark Edwards is intriguing, mysterious and a gripping read about Ruth and Adam who are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York.
Creepy, addictive and dark.

I really liked the book, so I was sad when it got archived before I could finish it. I would have loved to know how it ended. I loved the writing style and the cover. It is different than other thriller I read but in a good way.

Fantastic thrilled fast paced I enjoyed it so much this book kept me guessing from start too finish this is worth a read

First time reading this author and he hooked me from the beginning. Fast paced, non stop action and who can you trust is the name of the game with this book. I did take a star off because I thought the ending was a little anticlimactic. I feel like there should have been more and I was disappointed with that part of the book

Very good start and middle, but I started to lose interest towards the end. Strayed into the realms of the totally unbelievable, Not the twisty ending i was expecting but quite enjoyable all the same.
I found myself wanting to get to the end but really only to see what was going to happen. I really wanted to love this book as I’ve loved some of his others (Here to Stay, Follow you Home) but it just drifted off the mark for me, however a good sunlounger read. 3.5 stars

How can you say "no" to someone who shows up at the house you are watching, presents themselves as knowing the owners well, and needs a place to stay? It is our inherent pull to be nice that gets Adam and Ruth drawn into a twisty entanglement. I really enjoyed the set up with Eden getting close to both of them. Reading along, it was easy to see how she was collecting their secrets and inserting herself into their lives. Parts of the story felt incredibly implausible, (Yes, I know it is fiction, but one can only stretch so far.) but overall it was a page turner.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to house sit for the summer in New York. It’s a chance to live in the city that is on the move. It’s fast paced and without a doubt the read you are looking for if you like to read at breakneck speed till the end. Ruth and Adam , two lucky twenty something’s who have a chance to live a dream in real time. Summer in New York opens them up to new possibilities and adventure true to the page. Enter a stranger , Eden, who assures them she has permission to be here , whenever she is in town. What begins as a charming gesture quickly evolves to a make or break moment. Luscious.

Would you invite a stranger into your house?

When Adam and Ruth invited Eden into the housesit, they trusted her.

Great concept for a read, lots of twists and lies, but sadly I found the story to lack depth. I never felt that I truly understood the personalities or the motives of the characters and the writing style failed to grip me.

2.5 stars (rounded up) ⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The House Guest is a fast paced, action packed, suspenseful novel full of twists and turns. Very original.

Another thrilling read from Mark Edwards! I adore Mark's writing style and imagination. Everything he writes completely draws you in.

The House Guest is wonderful psychological suspense that gives you pause about incarceration ting someone into your home. Definitely recommend!

I liked that this book was interesting & I never really felt like there was a dull moment, something new was always happening. The chapters are fairly short & it didn’t take long for the story to get exciting. I don’t wanna spoil anything by saying too much, but the reason that I gave it 3 starts is just because the overall topic of the book is something that kinda hits home for me.

Unfortunately, I got a new kindle device and no longer have the download to this novel. I will not be reviewing this title.

Big fan of Mark Edwards already and The House Guest was as brilliant as his other books. Well written and a shocking twist.

This arrived in the full thick of pandemic so I missed reading during pub month. Shame on me for missing out then but I am catching up now and what a story! As someone who has house sitters for my own home I strangely could see the couple I know doing this exact thing!! Allowing a stranger to move in and terrorize their lives! There are times when you want to say- “Hellooo McFly” to Adam but haven’t we all wanted to say this at some point to someone even ourselves. Questions do arise while reading but the author deftly answers them in a way which makes the suspense believable. This is the first book I’ve read by Mark Edwards and won’t be the last.

This was a fast paced thriller which I read in one sitting. I loved it I did not read the blurb so went in blind,which I think added to the enjoyment? I didn't guess the outcome at all

I love marks books and I have read them all!

The book kept me guessing which is one of the things I love about marks books. However I found some of the characters hard to connect with.

I will continue to read Marks books !