I loved this book from page one! Rona Halsall created a fabulous twisted plot with characters you’ll instantly bond with. Many times a thriller will leave you suspicious of everyone and their possible guilt or role in the demise of another character. What I liked about this story was that I felt that there was no way anyone in this story could be guilty!
First, Steph seemed like a middle aged woman going through a tough divorce while learning ways she could gain her independence. She has an admirable job helping the homeless get on their feet. She doesn’t want to sell the house she shared with her husband so she’s working on finding a way to keep it.

Then, Andy…her ex seems to have suspected Steph of an affair leading to their demise as a married couple. He wants to sell the house and get his share. I mean other than being a nuisance about it, he doesn’t really seem too suspicious of anything other than being kind of a jerk.

After Steph lends a hand to a young homeless boy, Noah, who reminds her of her estranged son, she takes him under counsel on a wing and a prayer that she made the right decision.

Weird things happen in the house and it seems like someone keeps intruding but she has no reason to suspect anyone.

Bee her daughter is worried about her mom and tries to convince her mother to move in with her.

It seems like everyone’s intentions are good but it doesn’t seem to answer the big question about why anyone would be trying to scare Steph out of her house! When you learn how all of the pieces fit together, you’ll love it!

This is a great thrilling read that will definitely keep your guessing until the end.

I had the audio book and the kindle edition which was good to keep reading/listening. I preferred reading to listening as I couldn't take to the accents in the audio. A slow starter as we learn about Steph, an empty nester whose husband has left her. It takes on darker tones as strange things happen. A little unbelievable in parts but a good read with a great twist.

Life for Steph has been a bit rocky lately. After many years of marriage her husband has walked out on her & now wants half the proceeds of her house. Her son, Max, left home many years ago & she still misses him. Her daughter, Bea, is caring & eager to help but Steph finds her a bit overpowering. Her home has been her sanctuary but when strange things start to happen she begins to feel rather nervous. In her work at a homeless charity she meets a young man down on his luck. He reminds her of Max & she gets him to do some odd jobs around her house, eventually asking him to stay. This does not go down with Bea or her husband. Before long she isn't feeling safe anywhere.

This was a good read. The atmosphere became more menacing & I really felt for Steph. I did guess what was going on, but that didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the story. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This book is creepy, and made me feel uneasy... I can only imagine the terror of having someone in your house uninvited and this book was written in a way that perfectly conveyed that fear and sense of unease.

The characters were likeable (mostly) and well-written, each playing their part perfectly as the story unfolded. My heart went out to Steph on many occasions.

I enjoyed the twists and trying to guess the who and the why - I did have an inkling, but nowhere near the full story. What an ending!

Definitely a book I'd recommend.

You think you’re safe in your home. You’re wrong. Steph realises that someone is out to scare her… Someone who will stop at nothing to make her never, ever feel safe again. The most twisty and unputdownable thriller of the year! Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and Gone Girl.

This thriller was so captivating and kept me on the edge of my seat. I got so caught up in it, I hated to put it down. How incredibly creepy to think (and then KNOW) someone has been in your home? Who could it be? I couldn’t help but wonder how I would react, and also couldn’t help be shocked at how Steph did (and didn’t). The characters and their relationships were fantastic, I was really impressed. The author talks about her inspiration for the book in her letter at the end of the book and explains that the idea sparked when reading a column about homelessness. She wanted to expand on how anyone can find themselves homeless, just from a bad series of events. I found it interesting to read about that topic and so appreciate the support that not only characters in the book received, but knowing there is a network out there to help people find shelter, food, and support to help them get back on track.

This is the first book i have read by this author and I am a new fan! I loved this one so much that I just added all of this author’s books to my TBR list!

EXCERPT: Steph sniffed the air as she opened the front door, shaking raindrops from her hair.

Cigarette smoke?

She stopped and sniffed again. This time she was sure, the hairs rising on the back of her neck, goosebumps prickling her arms. She lived alone and didn't smoke. Nobody in the family smoked.

Is there somebody in the house?

ABOUT 'THE GUEST ROOM': You think you’re safe in your home. You’re wrong.

Ever since Steph’s husband walked out after a thirty-year marriage, home hasn’t felt like a safe haven. Her daughter Bea thinks she’s imagining things. But Steph knows that the noises in the night, the open windows she knows she left closed, the strange smell in the kitchen – none of it feels right.

Then her house is broken into, and a young man named Noah helps her fix the front window. He’s fallen on hard times and Steph impulsively offers him a place to stay. At least if he is there, she won’t be home alone.

Before long Noah is living in Bea’s old bedroom, paying rent, and getting his life back on track. Steph’s ex-husband and Bea are furious. But Steph feels secure at last.

Until the strange things start happening once more.

Until it becomes clear someone will stop at nothing to make her never, ever feel safe again.

MY THOUGHTS: I abandoned Rona Halsall's The Guest Room at 54%. I started by listening to the audiobook, but I didn't like the narrator, Emma Gregory. Her own speaking voice was perfectly pleasant, but the voices she used for some of the characters, Bea in particular, were forced, unnatural and irritating. So I switched to my Kindle copy and battled on to a little after halfway before I decided to abandon this read, unable to face the thought of picking it up again and grinding on. I was bored by this book.

My comments at the time were: 'Nothing is happening. I don't like any of the characters, I have no connection with them. I just can't understand a mother who hasn't heard from her son since he left to join the armed forces ten years earlier, and who hasn't tried to find him until now. Not my cup of tea.'

I have nothing else to add, other than this book has absolutely nothing in common with anything written by Lisa Jewell at all. The comment on the publicity blurb, 'perfect for the fans of Lisa Jewell' was what initially attracted me, but couldn't be further from the truth.

⭐


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T: @RonaHalsallAuth @Bookouture

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THE AUTHOR: Rona loves a puzzle to solve, so now she writes them... her challenge is to find domestic storylines with twists that keep her readers guessing right to the end.

She has been a bit of a nomad during her adult life, moving around the north of England. Then settled in Snowdonia, North Wales where she brought up her family while working as a business mentor. She now lives on the Isle of Man with her husband and two dogs.

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful glens and beaches on the Island while she's plotting her next book. She has three children and two step-children who are all grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing both a digital and audio ARC of The Guest Room by Rona Halsall for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Rona Halsall is another of my favourite thriller writers. I love the fact her novels are based so heavily on the psychological side of thriller.

It’s a slow burn novel that intricately weaves those suspicious characters through the chapters. They all seems to have their own secrets and I could really feel for the main character Steph. She was quite naive and truly takes people at face value and trusts them with no suspicion of their character. Each character has flaws and I loved how the story pans out.

With various suspects you’re thrown around and confused with who it’s going to be. I swapped my thoughts a few times but that ending was such a welcome surprise.

I loved how secrets were revealed and how the foreshadowing was done. It was all neatly tied up at the end and with such an atmospheric storyline it certainly had parts that really creepy and set me on edge.

Another fabulous thriller from Rona Halsall

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. I have loved all of Rona Halsall's books to date but have got to say that this one has been my favourite. This book has got me through Covid. I enjoyed this book so much I almost forgot how ill I felt! Read this in just over 24 hours. The characters and the plot kept me guessing throughout to the extent that I just couldn't put this book down. In my opinion, this is Rona's best work yet. Loved it!

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Guest Room' by Rona Halsall.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Rona Halsall, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 31st January 2022.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'Her Mother's Lies', The Ex Boyfriend' and 'The Liar's Daughter' and highly recommend them all.

I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I am also a huge fan of Rona's previous books and if this is half as good as her previous books it is sure to be great. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'The most twisty and unputdownable thriller of the year – perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and Gone Girl'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl', Lisa Jewell and Mark Edwards so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 46 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Steph and Noah. The benefits of third person perspective especially with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


Wow!!!! Well done Rona on another amazing success!!! An absolutely fantastic unputdownable psychological thriller. Extremely well written as are all Rona's books I have previously read with vivid descriptions that absorb you into the storyline.

The storyline is chillingly realistic and it kept me on the edge of my seat and then in the edge of my bed until late at night as I just could not out it down!!!. I love the fact that this book is based around homelessness as there are not many fiction books around, in fact none that I have read, that focus on this topic. People become homeless for so many reasons and it's a sad fact that many people blame those that are homeless for being in that position. Rona highlights that it can take one small event to end up in that position such as a divorce,, loss of a job, abuse at home, I could go on. If I was to think of one message that this book was to tell it would be to 'Be Kind', a motto that was all over social media not so long ago yet has been quickly forgotten. The other subject Rona did a fantastic job portraying is that of sibling rivalry between Max and Bea which most people have either experienced or know of but Rona explores it in a deeper way and what can happen when sibling rivalry becomes something more serious than what we normally see. I won't say anymore that that as I don't want to spoil it for others. I was yet again gobsmacked when the pieces came together and I discovered who was doing what. I had a feeling at approximately 80% but never worked out the extent of what was going on until Rona dropped the bombshells. Well done Rona as I am getting harder and harder to shock but you definitely managed it!! There were so many red herrings throughout and each time I thought I'd worked it all out to be put back in my place!! I was absolutely captivated throughout and the storyline was absolutely rammed with secrets, comoassion, deceipt, suspense, tension and red herrings all the way up until the very perfect ending. I absolutely adored how the book ended and everything was tied up and explained, I'm dreadful when it comes to loose ends and when something is mentioned in a book and then seems to be forgotten about it drives me mad but Rona always ends her books leaving the reader fully satisfied with everything. Well done Rona on yet another psychological thriller that jist kept on giving!!! Do not start reading this unless you clear your schedule as you will not be able to put it down!!! I started it this morning and could barely keep my eyes open when I finished it at midnight but it was definitely worth it!! This book would make an absolutely fantastic and gripping movie!!!!

The characters were all very realistic and well developed. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and loved finding out about them. Steph is a very strong women who is absolutely filled with compassion and just wants to learn to stand on her own two feet for once but everything is going wrong for her and she blames her kindness on many occasions. I must say I really bonded with Steph and on several occasions it felt like I was reading about myself. There have been many times where I have put myself it potentially dangerous situations giving random strangers lifts or helping out people I barely know and my family have not been impressed with it. Strangely enough I was actually having a conversation about some of the things I had done the other day. It is sad that we live in a world where we try to be kind and get either punished for doing so by the person we have tried to help or by people who care and worry about us so sometimes people then look the other way when a genuine person needs help. I really adored Steph kind heart and hope she gets the happiness she deserves. I won't say much about Bea, Andy, Max or Noah as if I said how I felt about any it would give too much away and spoil things for future readers so I will jist say that they were all well defined and strong characters who had a mix of personalities that worked perfectly with the storyline.

Congratulations Rona on what promises to be another HUGE success and for, yet again, manage to shock me when many fail. This would make an epic movie and I look forward to your next novel. This is exactly why you are one of my top 5 psychological thriller authors and here's to your next success 🥂


Overall an addictive, page turning psychological thriller that will shock you.

Genres covered in this book include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense and Psychological Thriller amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'The Girl on The Train', Lisa Jewell, 'The Family Upstairs', Mark Edwards, 'Gone Girl' and any fans of Rona Halsall and those who enjoy a surprise twist.


292 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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This book didn't really work for me and I just couldn't get in to it and didn't really warm to Steph.

Steph’s been married for thirty years but then her husband, Andy leaves her. She meets Noah who repairs a broken window in her home. He is in need of a place to stay so she takes him in as a lodger, however, Andy is not impressed and neither is Steph's daughter, Bea. Strange things have been happening in the house but Bea believes it's all in Steph's imagination.

The Guest Room was a fantastic read and I felt uneasy with each turn of the page. Even though I managed to figure things out it was still exciting to read on as I was curious about the motive and I could have been wrong! There were twists in the story, and the story touches on issues of homelessness, trust, family dynamics and betrayal. Well worth a read. 😀

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I really engaged with this clever psychological thriller. Steph is alone for the first time in her life. Her husband has left her, her son disappeared years before and her daughter has married. She is desperate to stay in the home she loves but her husband is pressing her to sell. Worries about money and being alone lead to her impulsively offering to take in Noah, a homeless guy, she meets at a shelter. Peculiar events have already been taking place but they become more frequent with the arrival of Noah. Steph doesn't know who to trust and who to blame.

Cleverly written, well plotted with just the right pace, this is an entertaining read. What really stood out for me is the way the author depicted the life of a homeless person; how he is treated and judged. It was a thoughtful background to a rewarding novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t overly keen on this book, I did feel as though it was a bit too far fetched, with some of it being quite predictable but I enjoyed some of the characters. I don’t have particularly strong feelings towards this book, but it was quite quick and easy to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in return for an honest review.

The Guest Room by Rona Halsall is a thriller in which Steph is being terrorized in her own home. She takes in a lodger Noah, someone she met at the homeless shelter where she works. Her ex husband and her daughter Bea think she is crazy but she feels safer with someone in the house. But strange things keep happening and Steph doesn't know what to do.

I really enjoyed this book, although I found it pretty hard to believe someone would open their home to someone they just met and knew nothing about, especially when they are a single lady living alone.

Enjoyed all the twists and turns.

A gripping read, packed with twists.

Steph is coming to terms with many changes after suddenly finding herself living alone, and is determined to finally start putting herself first, although her family find this difficult to accept. Her son has been missing for some time; her husband of 30 years has walked out of their marriage, believing she is having an affair; and she has recently had to start a new job. Although she loves that her work now enables her to support homeless people in finding housing and sorting out their finances, she is not earning as much as previously, so the separation comes at a particularly difficult time.

Her husband is very keen for her to move out so they can sell the property, but Steph doesn't want to leave behind the memories of her son or the hope that one day he will return. Growing increasingly unnerved by strange incidents, she decides to take in a lodger to boost her income so she can buy her husband out of the house, and to give her peace of mind amidst the strange goings on.

With everyone pulling her in different directions and the incidents continuing to escalate, Steph finds her job, her house and her life are in danger.

The Guest Room
Rona Halsall
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: January 31, 2022

Steph is living alone after 30 years of marriage. Her husband has left, her son has been missing for years, but she has a daughter, Bea, who helps her adjust to her new life. She starts hearing noises, finding open windows that she didn’t open, and smells cigarette smoke. She has a brick thrown through her front window and she calls the police again. There is definitely someone harassing her. But, who is it? Her soon-o-be-ex husband who wants her out of the house so they can sell it? Or, is it the homeless young man she took in as a lodger? Things are definitely getting scary and out-of-hand.

I really enjoyed this book. It is fast-paced and filled with twists, which I love in a thriller. I look forward to reading more of Rona Halsall’s work.

Thank you to #NetGallery, #Bookouture, and #RonaHalsall for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

4 stars

Well if this one isn’t something! I was completely dumbfounded as I was reading, trying to figure out what the heck was going on & who was torturing poor Steph. Upon hearing the narration of a character, I was annoyed with the voice. However, when it got closer to the end, I realized why that voice was so annoying! The ones I suspected were not the guilty parties. I won’t say anything else so as not to give anything away. This one is a good one! Thank you, Rona Halsall, Bookouture & NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Steph and Andy are separated after a long marriage. She worked for a bank for many years but lost her job when they started closing branches. Now, she has taken a job working for a homeless shelter. She loves her job and feels like she is truly helping people. But some anonymous person in her office sent some pictures to her husband of her and her boss discussing business things, and Andy immediately thinks she is having an affair. After denying his allegations, Andy finally moved out.

Steph and Andy are the parents to Max and Bea. Bea is is happily married to a wealthy man and is living a good life. She does not like her mother staying in the house by herself as the neighborhood has deteriorated over the years. But Steph refuses to move. Now, she has to find the money to buy Andy out. Max was always a difficult child and simply left ten years ago saying he was joining the Army. But, he has not been heard from since and this breaks Steph’s heart.

Arriving home one evening, Steph smells cigarette smoke and is sure someone has been in her house. She finds two open windows that she knows she closed and is worried. The police come but find nothing. Her co-worker suggests she take in a lodger for extra money and the security of someone else living in the house.

When Steph meets a young, homeless man named Noah at her office, she is impressed with him. After inviting him to dinner a couple of times, she offers him a room in the house which will, hopefully, add extra protection for her. But even with him there, more things happen and she begins to wonder about some of the things that Noah is doing. Is someone trying to frighten her away from her home?

Oh wow! This book ended with more twists and turns than a winding road. I never would have guessed the ending. Loved it. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love Rona Halsall’s books, they are always gripping and twisty, but I think this one is the best yet!

It’s hard not to like Steph, she’s so kind and caring, but a little bit too trusting, and I couldn’t believe it when she let Noah into her life and her house so easily. The trouble all starts just as he arrives, but there are so many possible suspects in this book, it really keeps you guessing.

When I finally began to figure it out, I really willed Steph to come to the same conclusion, and there’s some really tense moments when she seems oblivious.

The pace starts off slowly, which is perfect for building up the suspense. Then suddenly it all ramps up to breakneck speed, and the ending is really gripping.

A difficult one to put down, make sure you have plenty of time to spare before you start reading it, because it will have you totally addicted!

A really engrossing read, I’d highly recommend it for those who love a good psychological thriller.

The Guest Room by Rona Halsall
Pub Date 31st Jan 2022
You think you're safe in your home. You're wrong.
Ever since Steph's husband walked out after a thirty-year marriage, home hasn't felt like a safe haven. Her daughter Bea thinks she's imagining things. But Steph knows that the noises in the night, the open windows she knows she left closed, the strange smell in the kitchen – none of it feels right.
Then her house is broken into, and a young man named Noah helps her fix the front window. Unfortunately, he's fallen on hard times and Steph impulsively offers him a place to stay; at least if he is there, she won't be home alone.
Before long Noah is living in Bea's old bedroom, paying rent, and getting his life back on track. Steph's ex-husband and Bea are furious. But Steph feels secure at last.
Until the strange things start happening once more.
Until it becomes clear, someone will stop at nothing to make her never, ever feel safe again.
I have read and enjoyed most of Rona's books, and this is no exception.
The Guest Room is a well-written, fast-paced domestic thriller. With plenty of suspicions thrown on those close to Steph.
Exciting twists throughout make for an engaging, compelling read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Rona Halsall for a pre-publication copy to review.