This is my new favorite author! I couldn’t put this clever psychological thriller down! Hannah, married to a heart surgeon, is a stay at home. She remodels the barn to stay busy and starts her own business renting it out. Things go horribly wrong when she rents to the tenants from hell! They play loud music, they are filthy and damaging the property, and then refuse to leave after claiming they were injured on the property. Finally when one of them turns up dead, you’ll realize that nothing in Hannah’s life is what it seems. The book keeps you guessing until the end. Looking forward to reading all of Rijks books!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It's the second one I've read from Miranda Rijks and it won't be the last. While I liked this book, it wasn't my favorite. The twist at the end I saw coming, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I wanted a little more of a sinister ending, but all in all, it was satisfying. I enjoy Rijks' writing style. She sucks you in from the first page and doesn't let go. This book was no exception. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes domestic thrillers.

Great audio as well. I really liked the narrator. 3.75 stars.

I recently finished What She Knew by Miranda Rijka and was ecstatic to have been approved for another ARC, The Visitors. I wasn't sure where the book was going initially, then I thought it was similar to The House Guest by Mark Edwards, and it was until about halfway through. Then, there were so many things I didn't see coming that made the book take on a whole new trajectory and I was hooked.

Back to the first half. There were moments when I simply couldn't understand Hannah's point of view. I get that it's a new business, but bad reviews are going to happen! It's not worth it! I absolutely despised Daniel. I'm exhausted of reading books where the husband is verbally/emotionally controlling and abusive, and their behavior is just accepted without any real consequences or remorse. (He works so hard, he's just tired, he's so busy, etc.). Hannah does eventually find confidence and sticks up for herself, which I greatly appreciated. I absolutely loved the ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Penelope Rawlins.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media for providing me with an ARC.

Wow! What a great book. This is one that grabbed my attention from the beginning. I look forward for more from this author.

The Visitors was a great read by Miranda Rijks.Hanna seems to have a perfect life. She is a full time mother to two kids and married to Daniel, a successful cardiologist. She has poured her heart and soul into converting their stone barn into a holiday rental. Visitors Mike and Nadia come to stay in their rental and things take a dark turn. They are not only noisy and dirty, but also disrespectful. Hannah is angry about their behavior and worried that they will ruin her barn. But the property damage is the least of her worries. They have a deeper darker purpose being there that threatens to destroy Hannah's life. Hannah must find the courage to fight back. Unfortunately Mike and Nadia are clever and ruthless and they know about a secret from the past that Hannah doesn't. I enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

Thank you so much to @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to an audio ARC of The Visitors in exchange for an honest review!

I was not a huge fan of this one. While the main character had the potential to be interesting, I found her character to be rather shallow and not fully developed. The story as a whole just didn't seem to be realistic enough. I didn't feel connected to any of the characters and thought some of the plot points weren't as exciting as I would expect from a thriller. However, I enjoyed listening to all of the voices of the audiobook's narrator and thought she did an excellent job.

This was a DNF for me. I couldn't get past the narrator. I've enjoyed Miranda's books before but this one just didn't have the same it factor for me. I may try picking this up from the library. Maybe I just didn't vibe with the narrator.

This book will make you think twice before opening an Air B and B. It will make you question all the conclusions we jump to on the norm. The author spins this tale with a perfect crescendo. I love the ending

I really feel like i gave this book a good try. I just don't think it was for me. It seemed really slow and I was pretty far into the book and I felt like nothing happened.

Hannah's perfect life begins to spiral when she begins to rent out her holiday rental to two problematic tenant's. The tenants from hell!
This domestic and psychological thriller was a fun read. The story was very engaging as well as the narrator, Penelope Rawlins. Penelope narration is fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her performance. She used a variety of tones and inflections to portray several scenes.
At times, I found myself creeped out especially listening in the evening but it was a good and intense listen. I didn't expect the ending and I honestly thought things would go differently than what they did. Several times throughout the book, I kept yelling at Hannah to leave Daniel.
If you enjoy reading domestic and psychological mystery/thrillers grab this book today!

The audiobook releases on August 1.
Special thanks to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the ALC.

My thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to review this audio book.

Hannah is a bored music teacher married to cardiothoracic surgeon Daniel. She takes a side project and turns her barn into a holiday cottage to rent out to guests. She gets the house guests from hell,,the Jones. Things don't quite turn out how she wanted.

On a positive note, good narrator, easy story, lots of twists, Mystery is decent.

Now here are my negatives. Very slow build up. Dead body did not turn up.till.past 50% in the audio for the really qgood stuff to start happening. Secondly I've seen part of this story before in The Man Who Came to Dinner ,with Nathan Lane where he is a dinner guest that breaks his leg at his hosts house,has to stay longer and keeps finding excuses to.not leave. However decent listen.

This was not for me. With all the good praises and the descriptions i was finally going to have a decent domestic thriller/psychological thriller. Well it was neither. It was slow and so predictable. I cant even describe what kind of book it was as it was just a story.

Thanks Netgalley for this arc.

I found this book to be very slow moving. Loved the couple twists at the end, but it took what felt like forever to get to some kind of “real” action/excitement. I’m a sucker for a happy ending though, so this book did earn some brownie points with me there.

Hannah has turned the stone barn on the property owned by she and her cardiologist husband, Daniel, into a vacation rental. Nothing has prepared her for guests Mike and Nadia, who show no respect for Hannah, her family or the property she has lovingly restored. But Hannah’s nightmare is just beginning, because the couple in her barn are not there for a holiday, they have something much darker mind. Rijks is a master at building suspense – and you thought your houseguests were bad…..

THE VISITORS is a page-turning cracker!

A dazzling hall-of-mirrors psychological suspense thriller: intelligent, furiously paced, with Miranda Rijks signature jaw-dropping plot twists.

If you LOVE the fast-paced, pulse-pounding, thrill ride of a novel with heart and relatable, flawed characters, look no further!

As the novel opens via the PROLOGUE, someone is being charged with MURDER. The question is, whom? You must wait until the end to discover.

Two weeks earlier, we begin and end 18 months later.

Hannah is married to Daniel, a cardiologist (consultant cardiothoracic surgeon), and works away more often. Hannah's parents moved closer to them and helps out with the kids, Rosa and Joel. He has been married previously.

Life is grand. Hannah has been undergoing her newest project, renovating their barn for a luxury vacation HOLIDAY rental. This way, she has company when Daniel is out of town for work in London or Manchester at least two nights a week. He was not keen on having people on their property but finally agreed.

This is HER holiday cottage project and little business. She is proud of all the work and can call it her own. She has spent seven years with the building out and fitting it. She has put so much love into it, down to the best linens, furnishings, and flowers, to make it an inviting home away from home. The property is there adjacent to her house.

Her first guests just left, and all went well. Now she is preparing for the next. She is hoping guests will leave an excellent review on Trip Advisor.

However, the next GUESTS will be a NIGHTMARE from HELL!

Mike, Nadia, and Kayleigh (daughter) Jones from Sussex. They are THE VISITORS. They are weird, loud, dirty, rude, obnoxious, complain about everything, and want the opposite of luxury. From the time they arrive, it is one problem after another. She finds herself jumping through so many hoops but keeping her cool, so they do not write a bad review.

This will be the LEAST OF HER PROBLEMS.

However, things escalate, and Mike takes a fall and then threatens to sue them. They will not leave when the time to CHECK OUT since this is a one-level cottage and their home is multi-level.

She has another booking checking in, and now she cannot get rid of them. Now she is forced to pay for a costly last-minute hotel accommodation for the next guests since she cannot get rid of THE VISITORS. She is going to so much expense due to these people.

Who are these crazy people?

If that is not enough, the woman tries to befriend her and her daughter and throws themselves into their lives with no boundaries for privacy. They are nosy and crude. They also get a dog. They do not allow pets. These people follow no rules. They even change the locks! One thing after another. Mike also keeps talking about how much money Daniel probably makes and is brass and crude.

What do these people want, and is something more sinister?

Hannah finds Daniel is not supportive and wants her to get rid of the holiday cottage. Nothing is worth this. Hannah is not ready to give up. Something is not correct. She is determined to get to the bottom of this with a little sleuthing. These nightmarish guests are wreaking havoc on their lives.

The problems escalate to a showdown, and someone winds up dead.

WOW!! Leave it to Miranda Rijks to pull out her signature jaw-dropping plot twists. (more than one).

There is a complex backstory and connection. These people have a plan and history and want blackmail. Another hidden agenda changes the course of Hannah and Daniel's perfect facade of a marriage. Do you know your spouse and your relationship's past and present?

From the first page to the explosive emotional conclusion, the author grabs you with vivid settings, riveting tension, and suspense. You feel the fear and pain. You can be ruined in a world of social media in the hospitality business.

Those looking for a modern-day "Hitchcock-esque" thriller will find a winner!

Thank you to #DreamscapeMedia and #Netgalley for an ALC audiobook to listen to, enjoy, and review.

Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars ✨✨✨✨💫
Audio Pub Date: Aug 2, 2022
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books

Miranda writes about strong women that face insurmountable challenges to overcome better on the other side. Again, as I have mentioned most recently, I have just discovered this UK author (living in the US), and this is my fourth book recently read, and highly impressed with each. I am making my way thru her back list. If you have not read this author, get on board!

My MR Reviews thus far:
THE INSOMNIAC (NEW)
WHAT SHE KNEW
THE NEW NEIGHBOUR
THE VISITORS

On a side note:
What I adore about the author's books —is her special notes (letters from the author). I wish more authors would include this. It makes for a nice personal touch to connect you with the book. (why I created the #AuthorElevatorSeries)—To learn the inspiration behind the book and what sparked the story. Some audiobooks do this, or there is a separate PDF to download.

In this case, I listened to the audiobook (no letter). While I loved the audiobook narrated by Penelope Rawlins for an outstanding performance for all voices, the audio mostly never gives you a letter or inspiration from the author. I wish more would do this. I was curious since I enjoy this so much—so I downloaded the e-book, and there it was!

What a powerful letter about her experience renovating a holiday barn (not the same outcome), but I was saddened by the author's emotional account of having to move after her holiday project and her diagnosis with Ewing's Sarcoma cancer. Thank you for sharing your personal moving story and all you do to inspire others through your beautiful writing and storytelling!

So, a stay at home mom is raising two young children and is bored not working, and spends a lot of time and money fixing up a barn as a vacation rental. It's a great location and the first tenants are lovely. Next week, they rent to a couple with a young daughter and things do not go very well. Trying not to get a bad review for this week, Hannah tries to be accommodating to these renters but, even that has to end when someone ends up dead. The narrator does a great job and it's a fun listen.

I truly loved this book!!
Wild!
And I honestly had no idea what was actually going on.
Didn't see that one coming!
The narrator was PERFECT!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to experience this marvelous creation!

I enjoyed this story. It’s an interesting murder mystery type story and I had to remind myself that this is not set in the US so while I’m rolling my eyes at some things it’s possible that the justice system and laws are different than I know from here. It’s easily researchable, but I honestly don’t care enough to check.

I felt so bad for the children in this story. They went through some crazy stuff and I’m sure it was horrible. The cover promises a “nerve shredding climax” but I must have missed it. It wrapped up easily with no real drama. I was expecting something crazy to happen for it to be nerve shredding, but it was pretty typical for a thriller - which is fine. Don’t get me wrong, it a good thriller but if you’re a thriller reader like me you’ll see the ending coming a mile away. The journey to get there was interesting though.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ because if we’re gonna claim “nerve shredding” it needs to at least not be typical.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audio copy!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Miranda Rijks for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was my first Rijks book and it certainly will not be my last. I enjoyed the story and how the author kept me engaged throughout the whole story. I enjoy characters that I love to hate and this one has a few that definitely fell into that category. The narrator also did a great job bringing the story and characters to life. I was hoping for more of a big twist at the end but I was still very satisfied with how it ended. I look forward to reading more by this author very soon!

3.5/5 This is a quick paced stand alone psychological thriller. The writing style is a little choppy in places and I struggled with the stereotypical characterization of the men and women. It does have good pacing and absolutely kept me connected to the story through the audiobook. I was able to predict some of the twists and turns but not so early on that it affected my engagement, and the ending had some white knuckle moments for sure. All in all if you're looking for a quick thrilling read by the pool this summer this would do the trick!

Thanks to NetGally and Inkubator Books for the ARC