I have read several of Heather Gudenkauf’s novels: “The Weight of Silence,” “Not A Sound,” & “This is How I Lied.” I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of these books. “The Overnight Guest” is another heart pounding thriller that I would highly recommend reading! This book had me staying up past my bedtime to just read a few more chapters!
The story is told from 3 different timelines and has many surprising twists. True Crime author Wylie Lark finds herself trapped in an isolated farmhouse during a snow storm while trying to finish her latest book. She then finds a small child in the snow outside the home and is visited by secrets and horrific memories through the night.
A big thank you to Park Row Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before publication in exchange for my honest review.

The Overnight Guest is a compelling, atmospheric novel for fans of mystery, crime, and suspense genres.

Wylie Lark is a true crime writer who decides to finish her new book in the isolated house where the crime took place. Two decades ago, on a hot summer night, two people were murdered here, and a teenage girl disappeared. Wylie has nothing to distract her here, no TV, no internet, nothing except the steadily falling snow and the bad winter storm that is predicted. When she lets her dog, Tas, out before going to bed, he doesn't come back when she calls him. Annoyed at having to get her gear on to go outside after the dog, she is surprised at how deep the snow is already, and how much ice has also fallen. There's sure to be a power outage soon. She sees Tas, and calls to him to hurry up and come in, but he won't budge. When she goes over to him, she finds him standing next to a small boy, seemingly frozen to the ground.

The story is told in three alternating storylines and time periods: current day with Wylie; the summer of 2000 through Josie a young teen who lives in the house where the murders occur; and the story of a little girl who is kept in a basement with her mother.

Gudenkauf keeps the reader engrossed as she delves deeper into each of the story lines, and weaves them together skillfully. There are lots of twists, some expected, some a complete surprise. This book had my heart pounding at times! I highly recommend it.

My thanks to Park Row for allowing me to access an advance review copy via NetGalley. Publication is scheduled for 1/25/22. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

The year is 2000 and the Doyle’s are living a typical American life. They are a family of four with a son and daughter. However, August of 2000 turned out to be a nightmare for the Doyle’s when things took a tragic turn. Fast forward to the present and Josie Doyle is left to fend for herself and is a true crime author writing about her own personal experience about her family and the events of August 2000.

So I know this a horrible synopsis but I cannot think of how to describe the book without spoiling it for everyone. However, I am telling you now that this is a must read. The story is told in a unique way as if you are reading three different books. The chapters flip between past, present and the story of a girl and her child. The stories come together in the best way possible at the end. This was definitely a page turner and I kept wanting to read more and more. I have now read two books by this author and absolutely loved both of them. You won’t be disappointed picking up this book when it’s released in January 2022

This was a perfect thriller for a cold, wintery night. An engaging story, it makes liberal use of flashbacks, but isn't confusing at all. It kept a tense and suspenseful pace, leaving you with an urgent need to know what happens. I read this one in one evening!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Author Wylie Lark is spending some time in a secluded cabin on the outskirts of a small town. She's taking advantage of a pretty significant snowstorm to spend time working on her true crime novel based on a series of murders that took place in the town almost two decades before. Wylie is all set to bunk down and ride the storm out - until she finds a small child outside in the snow.

In this multiple timeline novel, we get Wylie's story, we go back to the scene of the crimes, and we also have a third POV from a woman and young child trapped in a room by a violent man. Who are they?

As the story slowly comes together, the tension builds along with the snowstorm, creating an atmospheric, heart-pounding thriller that will make you want to turn the pages long into the night.

I was drawn to this because it was likened to the TV series "Mare of Easttown" - and I definitely see that, there's a similar vibe to it. It's well written, it's well paced, and it's a stand-out thriller for me.

This is one to watch.

Wylie Lark, true crime writer, is snowed in a farmhouse trying to write her new book. Weathering through the storm, she finds a small child outside nearly frozen in the snow. As she helps the child recover from the cold, she begins to realize that not everything or everyone is exactly what they first seem.
Heather Gudenkauf delivers another amazing piece of fiction which kept me on edge searching for answers. Highly recommended for all, especially those who enjoy psychological thrillers!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for my honest review

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review*

The Overnight Guest is a hypnotic, unsettling thriller set against the backdrop of a deadly snowstorm in rural Iowa. It unfolds through three separate but equally-captivating story lines that together tell the truth behind a small town family torn apart by tragedy, and the shrapnel of secrets laying dormant in the same town decades later.

Atmospheric? Check.
Intriguing characters? Check.
Explosive plot twists? Check.

Gudenkauf absolutely knocks it out of the park here; it is twisted and propulsive, but also not for the faint of heart. For lovers of T. Marie Vandelly's "Theme Music," this wintery thriller will send chills down your spine and leave you scrambling to put together the final pieces of the story--right alongside of protagonist Wylie Lark--right up until the final pages. This book is deeply-complex, something I long for in thrillers but so rarely actually get. Haunting yet plausible (is that why it's haunting?), The Overnight Guest needs to be at the top of your January TBR piles.

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf is a rather brooding yet thrilling ride. It took a while to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked. Well written and kept my attention. Recommend.

This wasn't exactly a holiday read, but it's how I spent my Christmas weekend, and I enjoyed every minute of this quick read. As someone who would rather watch the snow than be out in it, this "snowed in in an isolated farmhouse" story touched every nerve in my body! The suspense builds on narratives that take place in several different time periods, which at first seem disjointed. But you'll catch on shortly to the connection between the first timeline and the true crime book the main character Wylie is writing. Then the timelines start to overlap and that's when the twist slaps you in the face!

You should definitely read this in a winter climate so you can experience what the characters are feeling when they are forced into the snow, sleet and darkness outside. A+ for atmosphere that will chill you to your bones.

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for an advance reader's copy.

❄️ BOOK / REVIEW ❄️

I am so beyond excited to share my #review for #theovernightguest by @heathergudenkauf! I picked this one up yesterday on a whim and finished it in a few hours. What a heart pounding, nail biting ride this was!! I love all of her books because they're fast paced and really unique. For a long time, I had no idea how the stories intertwined, and she threw in twists and turns up until the end! Also, this is definitely not the type of guest you would expect in a book! Highly recommend - this one drops in January, 2022! Thank you @netgalley and @parkrowbooks for my copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I am a fan of all of Gudenkauf’s books and this didn’t disappoint! With multiple twists throughout it kept me guessing the entire book. 4 stars!

There are three story lines here that eventually meld into a single narrative that is both scary, a mystery and dangerous. The present story line involves Wylie Lark, a writer examining true crime stories as a basis for her writings. Currently she is in a rustic farmhouse in Iowa during a raging blizzard. When things go very wrong in the house, she goes outside to discover a young child who is almost frostbitten. But where did this child come from in this awful weather?
There are also flashbacks to the story of a horrendous murder(s) that is forming the basis for Lark’s true crime novel. Thirdly, there is the story of an abused woman and a small child. Atmospheric, mysterious and perilous describes each of these narratives. Yet somehow, unlike most readers, I could not connect with the characters. Too much jumping around in time periods to emotionally invest in them and had a strong inkling of where this was all going. But I believe others may be up all night reading away. Too visceral for me, but have liked the author’s earlier books. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this title.

I really enjoyed this one. I'm a sucker for a good psychological thriller. I thought Heather Gudenkauf's writing was extremely compelling with a great atmosphere. She was able to build suspense and mystery for me very well. I also liked the different timelines and how everything converged. It's mildly predictable overall, but it was still hard for me to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy! The book is out on January 25, 2022.

This book was such an intense thriller that I actually read it as if I was watching it on TV with my feet ready to run and my actual cries aloud with some awkward stares at me. With an incredible atmosphere in a dynamic duo of the chilling winter blizzard scene now and twenty years earlier in the sweltering heat of Des Moines, Iowa.
With the fireplace popping and tree limbs snapping from the weight of the ice, you could feel the anxiety grow when the electricity goes out. Author Wylie Lark tries to stay warm in this old abandoned farmhouse to finish up her latest novel. She is known for her true crime research and she takes it to another level staying in a house that a horrendous crime took place. Twenty years earlier, a mother and father were murdered inside their home, two children missing and the lone survivor twelve year old, Josie escaped with a gunshot wound in the shoulder while she ran through a cornfield to escape the gunman.

During this blizzard, Wylie is shocked to find a young boy in the snow near frozen to death, which is becomes her overnight guest. Where did he come from? Searching for evidence of his appearance, she locates a wrecked vehicle with a deeply battered woman entangled in barb wire. When she runs to retrieve something to free her, upon her return the woman has disappeared. This part kept me on edge with every sound, every glowing light outside and unbelievable fear for their safety.

"It isn't the dark you should be afraid of it's the monsters who step out into the light that you need to fear."
With 3 story lines going, I found it thrilling to try and figure out how they are all connected. One part of the story is a young girl locked in a basement with her mother, reminding me of "Room".
Excellent writing skills with some outstanding metaphors and descriptors, that helps visualize the atmosphere without it overly done and appreciative for it.
There are some magnificent reviews on this book and I was so excited to receive this one. It did not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The Overnight Guest was the perfectly paced thriller I’ve been looking for! I couldn’t put this one down. I loved the multiple story lines, and the characters. The wintery atmosphere made this the perfect December read.
The Overnight Guest follows three stories of three women. Wylie has escaped her crumbling marriage and settled in at a farmhouse in the Midwest to work on finishing her true crime novel. While she’s there, a large snowstorms hits the area and she’s all alone. Or so she thinks! Wylie sees a child outside and saves them from the storm. When she goes searching, she finds the scene of the accident. But why would someone be driving during the storm?
Meanwhile, the book goes back 22 years ago and follows the story of a little girl named Josie. Her story is tragic and traumatic, to say the least. As the reader moves through the book, you can’t help but be invested in these stories, but you have to wonder how these stories may or may not be related. To top it off, the book mixes in a personal account of an unknown character’s experience in an abusive home. All the whole, the storm rages on in the present day.

This was a truly unique and tightly plotted book! Highly recommend for anyone looking to curl up with a great winter mystery!

I’m normally a huge fan of this author’s work but I just could not connect with this one at all. After about four attempts, I finally pushed through but it just didn’t work for me. With shifting timelines and short chapters, it was hard to connect with either timeline.

Some of her other work has been all time favorites for me so I’ll certainly chalk this up to a one off and be on the lookout for her next book!

Thank you to Park Row for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of The Overnight Guest in exchange for an honest review.

This was a pretty solid mystery! I think it's greatest weakness was also its biggest strength. The past and present timelines are key in making the story and suspense work but I feel like the pacing had to be more similar (or maybe more time given to the present POV and cutting a bit of the past stuff?) because since the past was so much slowly I consistantly found myself counting down the pages until I got back to the present. Would definitely read more from the author though.

This book grabbed me from the creepy start.
Returning to the Iowa farm house she grew up in, Wylie still haunted by her past, finishes writing her book. She is coming to terms with things she may never find out about the night her best friend went missing all those years ago. When a snowstorm blows in little does she know the trouble it will bring with it.
A real page turner!

Thanks to Park Row Books and Heather Gundenkauf for letting me read this one early. You can find The Overnight Guest on bookshelves January 25!

At first the multiple storylines felt confusing and I wasn’t sure my brain was in a place to be able to deal with this book. BUT THEN she hit me with the ultimate hook and I was trapped. I couldn’t put this one down. The atmosphere, the pacing, the characters, they’re all so well done. I’m a huge fan of this writer now and I can’t wait to read more.

True crime writer Wylie Lark is snowed in at an isolated farmhouse where she’s staying to finish up writing her book. She’s chosen this house because it’s the exact one the crime took place. Nothing could go wrong, right? As the storm gets worse, Wylie finds herself trapped, haunted by the house itself and her own secrets. When she discovers a small child lost in the snow, she takes the child in and starts searching for answers. She then realizes she’s not all that isolated out there and she’s now determined to keep this child safe.

A true crime writer is working on a book about a shooting in a small town. Three storylines make up the telling, the past, the present and then the story of a woman and her child locked away. The three points of view converge with a few surprises. Great character development and sense of place make this a tension building read.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley