This book was such a nice surprise! There were a few twists I didn’t see coming which definitely kept me reading! Excited to look into more of what this author has written.

The Guest House by Robin Morgan-Bentley is a gripping thriller that draws readers in from the very start. It follows the unsettling and increasingly tense story of Jamie and Victoria, a couple expecting their first child who plan a getaway at a remote guest house. What begins as a relaxing trip quickly devolves into something much darker as they find themselves trapped and at the mercy of their strange hosts.

The strength of this novel lies in its atmosphere and pacing. Morgan-Bentley does an excellent job building tension throughout, creating a sense of claustrophobia and paranoia that keeps readers hooked. The suspense is palpable, and the twists keep coming, with plenty of unexpected moments to leave you guessing.

However, The Guest House does ask readers to suspend disbelief, especially in the first three-quarters of the book. Some of the character decisions and plot developments might feel far-fetched, but if you’re willing to embrace the improbable, the narrative holds together well. The eerie isolation of the setting amplifies the psychological stakes, making it easier to overlook any implausibility.

The true payoff comes in the final quarter. The ending is satisfying, tying together all the loose threads in a way that feels both surprising and fitting. Morgan-Bentley manages to bring everything full circle, and while you might question some of the events leading up to the conclusion, the way it all wraps up will leave you with a sense of closure.

Overall, The Guest House is a solid thriller that keeps you on edge and delivers a strong finish. If you enjoy suspenseful reads with a bit of psychological depth, and you’re willing to go along for a somewhat outlandish ride, this book is well worth your time.

Overall, I think the story would make a better thriller/horror movie. It has lots of good visual detail, and the characters are drawn in the broad strokes that work well when creating heroes and villians for the screen.

This book started off pretty strong, but then I lost interest halfway through. While the twists were interesting, I just didn’t really like the characters and thought the book was overall just fine.

Wow, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did mainly because I don't tend to enjoy thrillers that are heavy on pregnancy. But this one I'm making an exception for because it legitimately had me thrown for a loop quite a few times. I loved how the author told the story from two different timelines instead of relying on telling the past first and the future later. That kept me really engaged in the story and really added a lot to the story. And when I say my jaw dropped quite a few times while reading this book, you know it was a good thriller. I loved how one of the most shocking twists wasn't even at the end. I actually had to put the book down for a couple of minutes to process it. The characters I wasn't a huge fan of until the end which I think is what the author intended to do. I have no idea if he intends on writing more books but bet your bottom dollar I'll read them!

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for the review copy!

This book is infuriating and I was quite bored for most of it. The characters are unlikable, especially Fiona and Victoria. Jamie is just completely clueless the entire time. There's no real loss with Barry.

The ending was interesting and opened up the possibility of a second book, considering Fiona is delusional and seems to think she will get her way.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! This is one that I read in the postpartum haze and promptly forgot to review.

It was a gripping psychological thriller about a young couple staying in a mysterious guest house. I think this is a good pick for any readers who enjoy dual timelines, the fast pace of a thriller novel, and twisty-turny plots. Suspend disbelief and go along for the ride, and you will have a lot of fun with this book. I think it would probably be a good pick on audio as well.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

This was creepy and kind of dark.. the perfect book to read during a snowstorm at my lake house in the middle of the woods!! Kept me at the edge of my seat and genuinely spooked me at parts! Loved it!!

This booked had me hooked and I loved the creepy vibes of it. I absolutely loved the plot twist and recommend this for thriller lovers out there.

What begins as a sweet couple about to have a baby turns into a creepy and concerning situation that quickly escalates to a worst case scenario. One must allow space for some suspension of disbelief with some of the plot line. For me, I couldn't get past the plot device.

The characters weren't very likable, which I don't necessarily need, but in this book I started to feel the length of the pages.

I did really appreciate and enjoy the plot twist, always a win in my book.

Overall, it wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book.

This book had two POVs one with à woman about to have a baby and the other with her husband. These characters were not believable in my honest opinion and it really made this story a bit hard to read and become invested in. I did like the premise of this story and it had the twists and turns that I expect in a mystery/ thriller, but I would lean more towards a domestic thriller with this one more than anything else. This was a book that I was able to easily put down and pick up at leisure, but sometimes I found myself struggling to pick it back up. The cover is gorgeous though!! I'm quite uneasy with the twists and turns of this story though and that may have been what also made this one a bit unbelievable as well. Overall, not bad but not great either.

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I found this book to be somewhere in the middle, in terms of ratings. The premise immediately caught my attention, but the overall delivery of the story just left me feeling meh...I found it hard to relate to the characters, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I find that I enjoy books more when I find at least one of the characters relatable or there is strong character development throughout the book.

I appreciate the author writing about a protagonist with a disability and I would love to see this from more authors in their books!

The end portion of the book did provide some twisty reveals, but they didn't leave me totally shocked when the truth came to light.

There are some trigger warnings for this one that I am not a fan of, so I take the blame for not looking ahead before reading this one. Let me know if you're curious about them!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely an enjoyable read. Perfectly creepy, and had me hooked right away. Characters were on point, and the twists were amazing. Couldn’t tell where it was going.

Thank you, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for my eARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I really enjoyed this thriller. There were a few plot twists that I didn't see coming, which was great, and I found myself not wanting to put this one down. I also loved that it was told in a dual timeline.

Highly recommend this one!

In "The Guest House" by Robin Morgan-Bentley, readers are plunged into a gripping and suspenseful tale that explores the depths one would go to protect their loved ones. Jamie and Victoria embark on a final getaway before the imminent arrival of their first child, choosing a remote country guesthouse for its tranquillity. However, their idyllic retreat takes a sinister turn when they wake up to find the guesthouse deserted, the proprietors missing, and all exits locked. As Victoria goes into labour with no means of escape, the tension escalates, weaving an intense narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. "The Guest House" is a masterfully executed suspense novel that delves into the lengths people will go to ensure the safety of their loved ones, making it a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

I have wanted to read this book for so long, but oh boy was it hard for me to read. A major plot point was a new mother being separated from her baby, and that is just hard for me personally to enjoy, no matter how good the writing, characters or overall story. The twist actually redeemed the book a little bit for me, but this is not a book I would necessarily recommend to new moms, or perhaps any mom. That said, it was a twisty, suspenseful thriller (or horror to some readers) that I can see many enjoying.

I am feeling torn about this one. I felt a lack of connection with every single character and I think that is why I struggled to care about what was happening. I feel like this story had great potential, but some of that was lost in the lack of character building unfortunately.

This one was great! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and I did not see that ending coming at all. A great story

This is the first book I read from this author and it was a pleasant surprise. I’ve really enjoyed the plot, characters and in my opinion it was a real page turner, full of unexpected twists. I just couldn’t put it down. I will definitely look for more books from this author.