If you read The Au Pair, you will be familiar with the author's writing style. If not, you are in for a treat, as she does twisty plots and characters that seemingly have no connection to each other in a way that pulls you right into the story. The Perfect Guests is told by Beth(1988), Sadie(2019), and an unknown narrator whose place in the timeline is gradually revealed. Since I see myself as an amateur book sleuth, I immediately tried to determine how these characters were connected, which was not an easy task.
Beth lost her parents and brother and is now an orphan, except for her Aunt Caroline, who is too busy to raise her. When the opportunity arises for Beth to live at Raven Hall as a companion, her aunt is quick to agree. Compared to what Beth's life has been, living with Markus and Leonora and their daughter Nina is almost too good to be true. She is asked by Leonora to play a little game, one that seems harmless at first but will have lasting repercussions.
Sadie is a down on her luck actress, always a day away from living on the streets. When she is hired to play a role in a murder mystery, she is thrilled. It soon becomes apparent though that there is more going on behind the scenes. She might be lucky to get out of this job alive.
This was a twisted tale full of lies, secrets, madness, and revenge. The gothic atmosphere was the perfect backdrop and I struggled to connect all the dots before the author reveals(and pretty much failed). All of the characters were intriguing whether their intentions were good or bad(and that is something we will discover). I loved Beth, who had lost so much and did not deserve all that happened to her.
I race read through The Perfect Guest as both Beth and Sadie's tales were compelling, and the identity of the unknown narrator added another layer of mystery to the story. 4.5 stars.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE PERFECT GUESTS by Emma Rous in exchange for my honest review.***

4.5 STARS

In the 1980’s, Beth, a teenage orphan goes to live in Avermere, a gothic estate inhabited by Markus, Lenora and their teenage daughter Nina.
In 2019, Sadie, a twenty-eight-year old struggling actress is offered a role as a player in a murder mystery weekend at the that same mansion. Past and present collide is startling ways.

THE PERFECT GUESTS is a near perfect mystery filled with compelling characters, a unique plot, intrigue and lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed Emma Rous’s word building and the fast pace of the story. Beth was a particularly sympathetic character and I enjoyed her first person narration. Sadie was a less developed character. Her narrative was third person and more difficult for me embrace.

Because the reading experience of THE PERFECT GUESTS was so pleasurable, I rounded up to five stars.

I absolutely loved this book... Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. I really loved Rous previous book, The Au Pair, and was so excited to receive this book. The Perfect Guests did not disappoint! Although it's told in two storylines, it's not like the typical style... The two storylines are only about 3o years apart. Both storylines are great in their own right... Though they are certainly intertwined. The concept of the murder mystery weekend was an absolute delight... Sort of like the movie Clue or th r really fun episode of Golden Girls with the museum benefit weekend (sorry.. Obscure reference). I devoured this book in just over a day while on vacation and can't wait to recommend it to all my book friends

Two story lines, both set at Raven Hall, one in 1988 and the other 2019. In 1988 a 14 year old orphan Beth is taken to Raven Hall to live with the Averills she becomes fast frinds with the daugther Nina but quickly things get strange for Beth. In 2019 we are reading about a muder mystery party, set in Raven Hall. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the mystery guests were and how they fit into the story and connected to the Averlills. Great first half of the book but once the fire took place and the guests were milling around putting the pieces together I was disapponted. Felt like the chapters didn't flow toward the end of the book..

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of THE PERFECT GUESTS through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thanks for hosting the contest, and stay safe!

I enjoyed the story. I would describe it as a game of Clue but without and actual murder. There are two stories told in two different times that come together in the end to solve the mystery.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A three generational love story centered around a house. There are lots of unexpected twists in this novel.

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous is the story of an orphan, Beth, who gets whisked off to the grand Raven Hall to live with her new family, The Averells. Leonora, Markus, and Nina seem to be the perfect family until odd incidents start to surface.

There are lies and manipulation gluing the family together. Beth learns how the mother, father, and brother she knew before Raven Hall were fake. The Averells are more fitting, but deceitful. Who is Beth’s real family and how are they all connected to Raven Hall?

I enjoyed the first half of the book. The second half I lost a bit of interest. The end itself was okay. It’s just the story kind of got sluggish.

This book is a little all over the place and hard to keep straight. It centers around Raven Hall, a mansion located in the isolated East Anglian fens. It jumps from different time periods, with Beth in 1988 being taken in by the family that lives at the estate, and Sadie in the present. Sadie has been invited to take part in a murder mystery dinner party at the estate, but has no idea she has a connection to it. A little confusing, but I did enjoy the plot twists and the pull of the house.

To me, the first half of this novel was a five star read. Everything current was here, a gothic mansion, a murder mystery party invitation send to ‘random’ guests, the dual timelines, the different POV we now expect. Our main protagonist is Sadie, a struggling actor who was hired by a production company to act as one of the characters in the mystery murder weekend. By the middle of the second half, I was disappointed as there was so much fluff and disjointed chapters that it was a three star read and the ending feel flat and contrived. For series readers of psychological thrillers this is lacking, but for occasional readers of the genre it will probably be a hit.

This story is split into two years, 1988 and 2019, and one house (Raven Hall). In 1988, Beth goes to live at Raven Hall after her parents die. In 2019, Sadie is an actress who goes to Raven Hall for a weekend to act out a who-done-it party. Something tragic happens in 1988, which puts Sadie in danger in 2019.

I really enjoyed this story and it's characters. Beth and Sadie have no clue what's going on when they first arrive at Raven Hall. I enjoyed every minute of reading. There were no slow parts. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.

I'm not sure what the author had in mind with this book. It has the back-and-forth in time that many historical fiction has; it has gothic elements; it has a "And then there was None" vibe. However, I never really cared about the characters and there were way, way too many coincidences that were revealed at the end. I kept putting the book down and reading other books which is always a sign that it isn't grabbing me. I did finish because by the middle there were so many mysteries I needed to find out what was really going on.

I liked the back and forth timelines here. Sometimes that doesn’t work for me but it was nicely done. Creepy setting, kept my interest, finished in one sitting!

This was a great "generational mystery". The story is told in both in the modern day and from decades ago, so lots of flashbacks. Of course the mystery of the past is informing the mystery of the present. The whole story centers around a gorgeous, remote house and the families who live there. There are secrets and affairs galore. Super surprise ending that I didn't see coming. Great read.

#ThePerfectGuests
A another wonderful novel from Emma Rous. It has the same twisty and at times creepy vibe that the Au Pair did, but with a more breezy feel. I enjoy Rous' writing and the different voices she narrates with in her novels. It will be a hit with readers who love the suspense without all the gore type mysteries.

The stories of two people, a teenager from foster care and a young woman trying to jumpstart her acting career, are intertwined in this novel by Emma Rous. Told from different decades, both stories pivot towards a grand estate called Raven Hall. The teenager, Beth, is delivered to the mansion in the late 80's by her Aunt Caroline and expected to be a companion to the owner couple's only child who isn't allowed to leave the property for any reason. While it seems that the couple simply chose a child from a foster home, family secrets will eventually reveal that their selection is not as random as it originally seems. Sadie's story begins in 2019 when she takes an unusually well paying acting job that requires no audition. She must arrive at Raven Hall and play the roll of a murder mystery guest for advertising purposes. But does the "too good to pass" offer have sinister strings attached?

I loved this book because of the numerous twists and turns that keep you guessing until the final chapter. In the end, the stories of Beth, now an adult, and Sadie collide, explaining the relationship between both women.

Is it possible for a book to have too many "OMG, I didn't see that coming!" moments? Emma Rous seems to want to test this in her book The Prefect Guests. There are so many twists and turns that you may be tired of them by the end. Also, too many narrators. Overall, an enjoyable read in its genre, but also hard to follow at times.

A great read with a gothic vibe. I couldn't help thinking that it had that Withering Heights type feel to it. I was quickly drawn into the story and I enjoyed the time switch aspect. This book held my attention and as I was reading I was thinking of who I could gift it to this Christmas! The end of the book felt like rapid fire plot reveals but all in all a rollicking creepy good time! Thank you so much publisher, Emma Rous, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a page-turning thriller/mystery that I absolutely loved. Two parallel stories take some time to reveal how they are related. Set in 2019 and 1988, the current day story is that of Sadie, a struggling actor. Sadie is paid to act out a dinner party in a grand home. In 1988, we meet Beth who is taken to live with a family after her parents are killed. Beth becomes fast friends with the young daughter in the family. Soon, she realizes that this family has some abnormal habits. Unfolded in a steady pace is a perfect twisty tale.

<i>The Perfect Guests</i> is definitely a page turner!! Beth is sent to live at Raven Hall with Nina, Markus and Leonora after her family is in a tragic accident. To Beth, it feels magical—a huge house and an automatic best friend and sister. But sinister things lurk behind the walls of Ravel Hall.

In present day, Sadie is an out of work actress, who is given a last-minute role at a murder mystery dinner at Raven Hall. The guests are in place and it seems like the evening will be perfect. Too perfect.

Put the <i>The Perfect Guests</i> on your To-Read list now. This well-written and dark novel will definitely surprise you.