Listened to the audiobook, and 1st thing I have to say is that the narrator didn't work for me at all. Eventually I got used to it, but it wasn't great fit. She sounded angry almost every time she read messages. Story itself was ok, but it wasn't gripping and keeping my on my toes as i hope a thriller would. It had more of a cozy mystery feeling, just without the mystery really. It wasn't completely bad I guess, it passed the time. Can't say I liked any of the characters much, they were all just bland and annoying. Stuck up lady of the house, cheating husband, jealous best friend, and a greedy cousin, nothing new or exciting there. For a slow and long autumn evening the book is just fine, but that's about it.

this book definitely kept me on my toes , the suspense was good and the characters were well written. you try to understand what is going on from the narrator's POV who is super unreliable. However, it felt a bit uncomfortable that her autism kept being brought up...

Juliet Mullen is taken aback when she recieves an Instagram message from her husband's distant cousin Alexis Lambert. Since Juliet and Hugh cannot have any biological children, Alexis is next in line to inherit the family mansion, Mullens End. Then, Alexis appears unnanounced at their door, and she's got a big suitcase with her. Whilst Alexis and Hugh get cozier than Juliet would like, it turns out there are a lot more secrets involved than anyone had thought.
I did like the general plot of this book, but I didn't particularly love how it was told. We have multiple characters who tell the story from their point of view, but the chunks in which they do are very big. This means that when the next character's POV comes around, the reader has already a great deal of knowledge about the things that are happening and new information only comes in from the character's thoughts. This made the story feel unnecessary long and sadly took out a lot of the suspense that was promised. Besides that, I think the author did a good job at painting the story and the characters, although some fell a little flat for me in their motivations. I did enjoy listening to this audiobook though, and would read another book by the author since the things I disliked were mostly story telling technicalities

Earlier this year I read “The Woman in Carriage 3’ and loved all the twists and turns. So, I was keen to read this new Alison James book “The House Guest’.

Hugh lives in Mullen’s End a rather lovely Surrey country house that he inherited and enjoys the security of a private income to fall back on. He lives there with his wife Juliet. They seem to have a very privileged existence and socialise with the professional couples in the village.

Their comfortable life is interrupted when Alexis, Hugh’s second cousin arrives and invites herself to stay for a couple of a couple of nights. Alexis is such a distant that she and Hugh had never met before. But, that said, it’s just not the done thing to not put up family.

The story moves along at pace from the point of view of Julia, then Alexis, followed by Hugh and Belinda (Julia’s best-friend). It very quickly becomes apparent that the facade of their comfortable lives is just that, and they all have their own agendas and are harbouring secrets.

I thought the story moved apace and there were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. The thing is, I just didn’t really like any of the spoiled characters. I wasn’t really rooting for any of them.

I will look out for other Alison James novels because she certainly knows how to tell a story and to constantly surprise you with twists and turns that come out of nowhere.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Bookouture Audio for making this e-audio-ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Bookouture for an advanced readers copy of the audio book of The House Guest by Alison James. I was truly pleased by this book. It was the first book I have read by this author, and was hooked.

This is a classic work of suspense that every time you think you have it figured out, the there is a new twist. The book tells the story from the perspective of the four main characters. And ends up covering the same territory multiple times, but each time adds something new. And the story builds. The book involves a married couple who live in a mansion which the husband, Hugh has a life-tenancy due to a family trust. But there is a catch, If he does not have a child, then the manor will revert to the next family member (the heir). The problem is his wife can not have children. But there is a heir -- a third cousin Alexis, who ealy in the book makes a surprise appearance, as a long-lost relative. She send an instagram message to Hugh's wife (Juliet) and wants to make contact with her cousin. She then shows up at the manor one Saturday evening, unannounced. And becomes the "house guest" as she is "in between flats."

But is everything as it appears? What is Alexis up to? Why has she showed up? What is she up to? Nothing is at it seems.

Do yourself a favor, and get the book (or audiobook) when the book comes out on November 1, and find iout for yourself!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!
If you love messy, spoiled rich people drama, this is the thriller for you! Trust me, you won't like a single character in this book, which is part of what makes it so appealing. The House Guest is told from multiple POVs and has so many twists and turns, up until the very last page.
Personally, I enjoyed it but wouldn't call it an instant favorite. A solid 3 stars from me.

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

The House Guest
Alison James

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the second book I've had from this author and is another amazing 5* read!

Once again, the writing style just pulls you straight in with an intriguing storyline and interesting characters.
I was hooked from start to end!

This was told through 4 different pov's and although there were quite a few characters to get to grips with, this was all easily distinguished and clearly narrated.
Using the different narrator's also helped to remember which pov we were in, although there was a difinitive split for each storyline.

I loved that this was a fairly complex plot again - not in the sense that it was hard to follow, but in that there were some brilliant twists throughout.
Every time, I thought that I could see how things would pan out, I was thrown by a new development in the whole scheme.
I was totally obsessed and couldn't stop listening to this .....I was just desperate to know how it would all end.

The characters were all brilliant to explore. Seeing the story from the different pov's was amazing as each new person told the same story but with a twist and with exciting new revelations. Adding a new layer on top of what we already knew.

Be prepared for your stereotypes in this - the stuck up manor house country types and the airhead flirt - they absolutely work so well!

This was fast-paced, exciting and I devoured it in only a couple of sittings. Brilliant! I'm off to pick my next read by this author because I am now hooked!




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

The House Guest by Alison James

Thank you to @netgalley, @bookouture, and the author, #alisonjames, for the opportunity to read this #advancedlistenercopy in exchange for my #honestbookreview. This suspenseful read will be available November 1.

Juliet and Hugh Mullen enjoy what appears from the outside to be an enchanted life in a mansion, provided to them by his family trust. But that shiny exterior begins to crack when a stranger shows up at their door during dinner one evening. Their guest claims to be Alexis, a long lost cousin of Hugh. She asks if she can stay there for a little while while she’s waiting for her new apartment to be ready and get to know them as well as the house that she will one day inhabit assuming that Hugh doesn’t have any children. Saying yes, was their first mistake. Life as Juliet and Hugh know it is about to change forever.

This was super twisty and crazy! Just when you thought you understood the characters’ motivations, and where everything was going, that POV shifted and you were left second-guessing everything you thought you had figured out. This was a very fast pace rate and kept me engaged. The end was a little bit sugary sweet, but this was a solid read. I recommend for those looking for a quick-paced , domestic suspense read.

TW: infidelity, loss of a loved one, identity theft, fertility struggles

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

The House Guest by Alison James

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hugh and Juliet live in a lovely family manor. One night as they are entertaining friends, their dinner party is interrupted by the doorbell. Juliet answers the door to a beautiful red-head. She claims to be Hugh’s distant cousin, Alexis. The stranger tells them she needs their help and Juliet reluctantly agrees to help her when Hugh says she can stay.

Hugh and Alexis get very chummy but cousin Alexis also befriends Juliet. She listens as Juliet opens up about trouble in her marriage. Juliet then suspects something is going on between Hugh and Alexis. Is she just paranoid? Juliet tries to find a way to get rid of their unexpected house guest but Hugh says they can’t just kick his cousin out.

The House Guest is a multi layered domestic thriller. The pacing is zero to one hundred and kept me up way too late listening to the audio which was a great way to read this book.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book.

I wanted to DNF this early on. I should have. It was exhausting. There isn't a single likeable character, anyone I cared about, and nothing positive. They’re all rich snobby people. There's a character who is non binary and uses they/them pronouns, which is described in the exact same way every time ('she or should I say they because they’re non binary now') like it was a hardship and was awful.
There is also poisoning dogs on more than one occasion, one dies, and it's seen as an inconvenience at best.
Everyone is cheating, has secrets. The POV changes every so often where said secrets are revealed, but it didn't make the story anymore compelling. They’re all the worst.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

<i> I let her into my home. And now she’s destroying my life…

I open the creaking oak front door of my beautiful country house to see a stranger on my doorstep. The woman is stunning with glossy red hair and flawless make up. ‘Can I help you?’ I ask.

That was my first mistake.

Alexis tells me she is a distant relative and shows me a DNA match on her phone. She has no family and would love to get to know us. My husband Hugh invites her in to join our dinner party. As we drink wine, she opens up about her sad childhood. Her amber eyes are mesmerising and I can see my husband is being drawn in by her story. Then she asks for our help.

Saying yes was the second mistake.

As Alexis and Hugh spend time together, swimming in our luxurious pool and playing tennis in the sunshine, my husband grows distant and the deep cracks in our relationship begin to show. And when our house guest gets me to open up about my marital problems, I start to wonder why she’s really here.

And then I discover a secret about Alexis that makes my blood run cold.

Am I being paranoid? Or will inviting Alexis into our home destroy my marriage? And is it too late to get rid of her, before she puts our lives in danger…?

An absolutely addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. For anyone who loves Ruth Ware, Freida McFadden and Claire McGowan. </i>

I found all of the characters deeply unlikeable in this story. Add in that it was both unbelievable and predictable, and this was just not my cup of tea. But if you like the above-mentioned authors, it might just be yours.

Jan Cramer did a nice job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Alison James, Bookouture Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow! The structure if this story is a very unique one. The author did an amazing job put it all together in a way the reader would never have imagined. The mystery was gripping and each section brought it deeper. I highly recommend this book!

Very gripping read or, in my case listen).

I found this book to be fast paced and interesting with enough twists to keep you guessing (some predictable and some not).

It was suspenseful but not in a “edge of your seat biting your nails anxious was” as so many thrillers are. I was constantly plotting ahead trying to figure it all out. It was fun to find out if I was right or not.

The ending did not disappoint! All loose ends tied up in a very neat bow.

The House Guest was an interesting read about houses that belong to families and others who want those houses.

This book started out strong but once it got past the initial 4 perspectives, I lost interest. There were no shocking twists. It’s all quite predictable. I was waiting for the end to surprise me but sadly it did not. It’s like the author forgot what she was writing about 1/2 way through and just started making stuff up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was gripping and it took me a while to figure out what was going to happen. I enjoyed this thriller and thought the ending was great.

Book Title: The House Guest
Author: Alison James
Narrator: Jan Cramer
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: November 1, 2023
My Rating: 2.7 rounded up Stars!
Pages: 315

When I saw this audiobook story written by Alison James, I hurried to request it. I read two of her novels and loved both of them "he New Couple" and "The Women in Carriage 3". When I listened to the audiobook of "The Women in Carriage 3" my comments was -“Jan Cramer the narrator is great in performing the characters and made the story even more interesting”.

Juliet and Hugh are living in Hugh’s family beautiful estate Mullen’s End.
One evening Julie opens the door and there is a stunning woman who states she is a distant relative and shows a DNA match on her phone. She has no family and would love to get to know Juliet and Hugh.
I read a lot of Thrillers so this plot doesn’t sound unique; but I was sure Ms. James will come through with some twists and turns

Unfortunately this didn’t live up to my expectation – I enjoyed narrator Jan Cramer’s performance in other audiobooks but this time it wasn’t working for me- perhaps not her performance but the unlikeable characters.
However, I will read another Alison James story

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 1, 2023

This was a really good psychological thriller with lots going on throughout the book . Told from the points of view of the four main characters I really enjoyed reading the perspective from each character . A well written book with great albeit unlikeable characters this is one that I really recommend .

Holy crap!
Psychological thriller from hell! 😮
First I’ve read by this author, and it was amazing!
Twist after twist after twist…and I never saw any of them coming!
The House Guest by Alison James.
Release date 11.1.23…so, next week.

Juliet and Hugh Mullen live in an idyllic mini-mansion complete with tennis court, pool and lots of rooms! The home has been in his family for centuries…and it is passed down thru bloodlines. But…they have no children, yet… It’s called Mullen’s End.

Then, to Juliet’s surprise, one day she answers the door to find Alexis, one of Hugh’s distant cousins, on the doorstep. She is in town waiting for her flat to be ready…and invites herself into their home (and their life!)

Juliet notices Hugh staring at his distant cousin and begins to wonder….but no. He’d never….

And just like that, little hairline cracks turn into gaping holes….and their lives begin to fall apart in a downward spiral….

But, thank God, Juliet has her best friend Belinda to turn to. And her son and ex-husband….because without them, where would she be?

You do not want to miss this one! It absolutely pulls out all the stops and will have your mouth HANGING OPEN!

4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for me!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook!

#TheHouseGuest by #AlisonJames and beautifully narrated by #JanCramer.

To be released on 11.1.23, so look for it in stores then! Or pre-order now!

Check out all my upcoming reviews on Instagram @ #BookReviews_with_emsr

Thanks for reading with me! 📚📖
And, let me know your thoughts!! 😊

At first I didn’t know how I felt about this book…and then it started to pick up pace. It most definitely was one of the twistiest books I’ve read/listened to in a while! I loved that there was a part 2 that I learned everything in. Will definitely read more by this author!