The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson is an entertaining little holiday mystery novella.
Peter Swanson is an amazing writer and his thrillers never disappoint.
The storyline was fast-paced, fun, shocking and unputdownable.
The writing is so well done. He always keeps me hooked till the very last page.
A fun, clever and cozy little murder mystery that sucked me in on page one.
This Christmas thriller will be the absolute best thing you read if you’re looking for something a little different to devour during your holiday reading.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and William Morrow for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Christmas at cozy English manor house. Check. 80s throwback with dreamy, gothic atmosphere. Check. Diary entries by a relatable young protagonist. Check.

All the elements are present for a wintery, seasonal cozy delight.

But masterful author Peter Swanson flips everything on its head and the winter wonderland turns sinister.

Excellent novella length and an atmosphere that will safely transport you to your cozy, winter English countryside mystery dreams. Highly recommend you pick up this quick read. Please note that I was provided with an advance review copy via NetGalley.

You would be wrong if you think The Christmas Guest is just a sweet tale about Christmas. This book is a mystery and it spans between 1989 (via entries in a diary) and the present day. I wasn't sure I would like it at first but in a very short time I found myself turning the pages (of my Kindle) as fast as I could.

Highly recommend this book.

Every year I read one of Dickens' Christmas stories (there are 5 of them). In the author's note, Swanson mentions that he intended this novella to be readable in a solo sitting. It is! It felt very similar to my seasonal Dickens read. Quick, engaging, and takes the reader away to a new place! I loved the set up for the story and the first section of the book was great! Bouncing back and forth between dialogue and diary entries, the events felt very real. The second part of the book started off rather slow and sedate compared to the first half but thankfully gets a bit more suspenseful as it goes along. While those Dickens' stories are usually the only rereads I do, this one might get thrown into the rotation just to spice things up!

Ashley Smith is content to spend Christmas alone. With an ocean between her and her home back in the States, her choices for company--aside from her art studies--are few and far between. When out of the blue, the alluring Emma Chapman invites Ashley to her family's grand estate for the holidays, things seem almost too good to be true.

From the Cotswold Manor House to her quarters in Starvehood Hall, Ashley couldn't be more enamored with how her London Christmas has panned out. Until, that is, she meets Emma's handsome brother Adam, and the holidays grow more interesting by the night.

"The Christmas Guest" is a perfectly atmospheric, mysterious novella written to be devoured in a single setting. In its own, dark way, it boasts the kind of coziness readers seek out for wintertime while maintaining both strong plot and prose throughout. Coming in at just over 100 pages, to say much more in this review would be to spoil Peter Swanson's giftedness--yet again on display here just as it was in his unforgettable novel "The Kind Worth Killing."

Grab a mug of mulled wine, find a crackling fire after dark, and wait for the snow to fall: that's when you know it's time to read "The Christmas Guest."

I typically find novellas disappointing. But since it's a Peter Swanson book I gave it a chance. And I am glad I did.

This little book packs a big punch.

An American college student studying in London is invited to a fellow students house for the Christmas holiday. She is looking for the cozy family atmosphere that is lacking in her own life. She does find that, but also some things she didn't want.

Christmas, a crush worthy brother, missing woman, deception, betrayal and murder all wrapped up in a small package.

A quick and fun read!

Thanks to netgalley and William Morrow for the arc.

Ashley is an American who is studying abroad in England. Emma, twin of Adam, invites Ashley to spend the Christmas holiday at the family’s estate.
It was totally not what I was expecting. Definitely not your typical Christmas story. If you’d like to read something different, maybe a creepy horror novella will do the trick. In a word - chilling. It’s a really good read if you like your stories short and on the sinister side. 3.75 stars

A cute and delightful tale with a very surprising ending! Not quite the cozy mystery I expected. Very enjoyable and a quick afternoon read.

A captivating tale from the very first page. It is a novella, but the story reads like something longer because of the twists and turns it takes. Ashley, an American student in London is invited for Christmas at a classmates home in the country. This will be so much nicer than being alone. Ashley realizes that all is not well at the manor, and she may have made a terrible decision.

This novella is chilling, dark, and Christmassy at the same time! The first part is in journal entries from Ashley Smith's diary in 1989. It sets the stage for a Gothic feel with a huge country mansion and nighttime walks through the woods to local pubs. Ashley's friendship with Emma isn't as genuine as she thinks it is even though it is Emma who invited her to spend the holiday with her family. The second part is written in the present day from Emma's musings of Ashley. I highly recommend and can easily fit into a busy holiday schedule!

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the arc.

This was a cute little novella! When I say cute, I mean cute like how Gremlins are cute 😂. I didn’t even read the blurb, I love the author so I requested it, it did not disappoint. I read it in about an hour or so. It was a very good little story.

Are you serious, Peter Swanson?!! Amazing. Everything you write is just awesome. This is no exception.

I INHALED this novella. Wow. This was this a twisty, fun, thrilling, quick holiday read! That twist... so good, and so unpredictable! I did not see any of that coming.

I love Peter Swanson and this short story/novella is everything I hoped it would be. I liked the holiday/winter setting and I immediately was drawn into the story and I loved the ride it took me on. Highly recommend this!

I was worried that I was going to want to read this over Christmas, but October 17th is the perfect pub date for this creepy little novel. This is cozy and chilling at the same time and it goes down easily. Like The Nightmare Before Christmas, this has both the scary Halloween and the cozy Christmas vibes, and Swanson fans will find a lot to enjoy in these few pages.

Peter Swanson is one of my favorite authors, so I was super excited when I won a copy of this through GoodReads! I love reading novellas because they always seem to pack a big punch in a small book, and this one did not disappoint! It was fun, creepy, weird, full of Christmas, but also murder. It took off fast, then had a mind-bending twist that blew me away, I loved it!!

This was such a fun holiday mystery! Peter Swanson is one of my favorite thriller authors and I was really excited to read his Christmas dark novella thriller. Some of his books feel drawn out but this was the perfect length for him! This could easily be read in one sitting. I really loved the epistolary - journal elements.

Ashley Smith is an American student living in London and she has been invited to spend Christmas at an estate in the English Countryside. This is full of bad characters and has a really good plot twist! I loved the atmosphere of the country estate surrounded by the woods, a quaint village, and how creepy it all felt. Peter Swanson delivers with a sinister plot, psycho characters, and a solid twist. The story is told in two parts - part one is Ashley's diary in 1989 and part two is told 30 years later and has some really fun twists.

This is a creepy little story with a twisty plot and some really bad characters. The immersive "Christmas in England" details only highlight the shallowness and dislikeableness of the characters. I didn't see the plot twist coming, but it made for a pleasurable quick read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for a complimentary copy of this book.The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson is a 112-page novella that serves as a perfect short Christmas mystery read! I couldn’t put it down!!! Ashley Smith is an America attending art school in London. When Emma, another art student, hears Ashley has no plans for Christmas, Emma invites her to her family’s residence, Starvewood Hall. Emma’s brother, Adam, is also there and Ashley becomes infatuated with him. But at the same time, the local police are looking into the murder of a local girl, with Adam as the prime suspect.

This novel spans 30 years. It begins with Ashley’s diary from 1989 and concludes in present day New York. My only complaint is that I wish this book would have been longer! Definitely 5 stars for me!!! I enjoy this author’s books and he is an automatic read for me!!!

This novel is a testament to the author's narrative prowess, skillfully weaving together multiple timelines and delivering a captivating reading experience. The writing is sophisticated and engaging, drawing readers into a rich and intricate story.

While the unconventional storytelling might not be everyone's cup of tea, it adds a layer of complexity that can be intellectually stimulating for those who enjoy a fresh narrative approach. It's a daring departure from traditional storytelling, offering a unique and thought-provoking adventure.

In summary, this novel is an ambitious and commendable exploration of storytelling techniques. It may not cater to all tastes, but for those who appreciate inventive narratives, it provides a rewarding and engaging journey.

This was such a fun, quick Christmas read! I was hooked and read this in about an hour! I would love to see a follow up to learn more about what happens to Adam and Emma. I loved the stone mansion spooky atmosphere in conjunction with the warm and cozy Christmas vibes.