Disclosure here: I read to about the 1/3 point, realized this wasn't quite what I thought I was getting in for, and skipped to the final chapters to find out the end. I did quite like the idea of how it wrapped up, but I struggled with the journey. This read more like a domestic thriller than the isolation thriller or locked room mystery I thought I was getting. So basically - just not for me, but probably fine if you know what you're signing up for

Victoria and Jamie are staying at a secluded B&B while they await the birth of their child. They awaken to an empty house, their car keys and phones missing, all the doors are locked from the outside, and Victoria is having contractions. That’s the set up for The Guest House, a middling thriller that loses too much steam with plodding chapters and implausible situations. Told in alternating time frames which instead of ramping up the tension, it has the opposite effect and dilutes the shock value for the reader. It’s a promising premise, but it just doesn’t deliver, and was a disappointment. I received an arc of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

What a fun read this was. I found most of the characters unlikeable, but in a good way!

Crazy twists and good character development. Definitely hard to put down!

I read alot of thrillers and its very rare to find a plot that is different from what Ive read before, what is even more rare is for me not to know the plot twist. I give great kudos to the author for managing to surprise me with this one, not many books mange to trick me!
I can't say I loved the storyline and I had a huge pet peeve: this book was set in the UK, it was also written by an Englishman, so why were so many American terms used for example, pacifier, highway and soccer amongst others. In the UK we don't use these words so why would the characters. I understand the author is thinking of his readers from over the pond but I'm sure they can understand the English terms just as we understand their terms and phrases when reading from an American author, just seemed a bit odd to be honest.
A solid 4 stars for a unique storyline with a genuinely surprising twist and unpredictable plot.
#NetGalley #TheGuestHouse

This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat !
Overall I would highly recommend this book
Thank you NetGalley for arc !

Jamie and Victoria are soon-to-be parents, away for one last romantic getaway before Victoria gives birth. When the baby comes unexpectedly and their weekend away becomes a long nightmare, they don't seem to be able to turn to each other for support. What happened to the baby and why? This thriller has plenty of twists, some of which the reader will see coming, others not so much.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Jamie and Victoria are expecting their first child in a few weeks, and decide to take a short getaway in the countryside. After a 7-hour car ride, they reach their destination, the middle of nowhere. The retired couple they are staying with, Barry and Fiona, are a bit off and giving weird vibes. So, after having a bite to eat, Jamie and Victoria call it a night. The next morning, Victoria awakens and needs fresh air. They find the guest house is locked, their phones and keys are missing, Barry and Fiona are nowhere to be found and Victoria is in labor. What do they do? The story does engage you, and I certainly don’t want to give away the plot and the twists.

There are multiple points of view, both past to present. It’s easy to keep track of the characters and the plot. Suspense builds when something in the present happens, giving you a hint of something in the past. It all works well and the character development is good. You really have a sense of each character’s personality, even if some of the characters’ actions are a bit over the top and don’t seem well-reasoned or sound. The problem is the plot didn’t work for me. It’s as old as the hills, and it felt like a long time getting to the point and the end of the story.

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Although I’m not usually an e-book person, vacation and e-books go perfect together. My Kobo travelled perfectly to the beach.☀️

The Guest House is a psychological thriller that will have you guessing and when it is finally revealed - Wow! I definitely recommend going into this one blind but here’s a brief synopsis - a couple takes a weekend trip before the birth of their long awaited baby. They find a small bed and breakfast with the strangest hosts and it goes completely sideways - and the ending will throw you.😳

This book was unputdownable. It will have your heart racing and your mind blown. Highly recommend this one - it’s a ride that once you’re on - you can’t get off! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is available September 2022. Save this on your TBR.

Thanks to the publisher for this copy!

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I read this book in one sitting! It kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat! I cannot wait for his next books!

I give this book three stars. While the story is full of suspense I found that I did not enjoy the back-and-forth timelines. Thanks to NetGalley,the author and publisher for this ARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am rating this book based the stars due to lack of time to leave a full review.

Jamie and Victoria are a young London couple expecting their first child who decide to take a quick vacation to a remote cottage. The parallel before and after timelines make it clear that something sinister happened there that the couple wants to keep hidden...but what?. Tense and terrifying throughout, but with a sensitive and realistic portrayal of Jaime and Victoria's relationship. Jamie's cerebral palsy adds an extra dimension to the story. I was a bit disappointed that the big twist deprived him of the chance to be the hero and end the nightmare, but the ending is still satisfying.

This book was very chilling and I never knew what was going to happen next. I was hooked from the start!

Jamie and Victoria are off for one last weekend before the baby is born when their worst nightmare happens! Victoria begins contractions and the guesthouse hosts are nowhere to be found. Jamie is terrified when he finds the doors locked and his keys and phone missing. What is happening? How can he save his wife? If you love a twisty tale, a unique take on the vacation gone wrong and of course devious adults then The Guest House is for you! #NetGalley #NetGalleyReads #poisonedpenpress

What an absolutely amazing book this is. By the end of the first chapter, I was totally freaking out. I can't put too much what this is about because it would spoil things. All I can say is this is not a book to miss. This author is a master at suspense. And the last few words at the ending blew me away. Do not let this book pass you by. One of the best books I've read. Definitely in my top three.

Contemporary Fiction

Victoria and Jamie are just about to have their first born child, They decide to take a quick holiday before the baby comes. They check into a guest house in a remote location. Before the first night is even over, Victoria has gone into labor and their patrons seem to have disappeared while locking them in. It was a bang up way to start off the book, unfortunately it trudged along after that initial burst. The timeline shifts back and forth as well as the POV, so the plot should have moved quickly, but it just didn't. The details of the confrontation that must happen are very slowly revealed. The author takes so much time getting there that it was pretty easy to forecast the outcome. There were two minor surprises for me at the very end of the book, but it wasn't enough to move this book into the good category.

This book has a lot going for it, a unique premise, complex characters and a creepy setting it just fell a bit short and ended up in the OK column.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

I absolutely loved loved loved this book. I didn’t let my husband speak to me until I finished. First of all, it is about time someone with a physical disability is a protagonist in a novel. Jamie’s disability was a part of him, but his heart and soul were the important part of him. The writing was riveting and the characters full of flaws, which is what should be when writing a good book.. one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read in a long time. Bravo!

I devoured The Guest House―absolutely loved it. Such a page-turner with the most excellent twist at the very end.

Let’s meet Victoria and Jamie who are expecting their first baby. They decide to get away for a few days and rent a guest house. While there, Victoria goes into labor but the doors are locked, they can’t find the keys and their mobile phones are no where to be found. Told in alternating chapters, I found myself second guessing what I had just read because it was fast forwarding then backtracking. But this book kept me on my toes! So many twists kept coming and coming. The ending was mind blowing!!Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published September 2022.

Jamie and Victora are due their 1st child within weeks, and decide to have one last break together before their new life as 3 begins.
They head off into the remote countryside to their home for the weekend and meet the owners. Of course, baby decides it's coming early, however the owners are missing - as are their phones and keys. They're stuck.

The twist in the book was fairly far fetched and frankly unbelievable, but I read this book as fast as I could to see where it was going!

Great job on Jamie having Cerebal Palsy, it's about time some disabled protagonists came to light!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.