I have loved both of Shari Lapena's previous novels, A Stranger in the House and The Couple Next Door, and when I was asked if I would like to take part in the blog tour for her latest release, An Unwanted Guest, I jumped at the chance and may have squealed just a little as I got the confirmation email.

Shari's novels are very cleverly written, there is an every day scene which very quickly turns to disaster for the characters and the rest of the book is filled with the investigation into who did the terrible crime.

An Unwanted Guest quickly reminded me of an Agatha Christie Miss Marple style situation as guests travel to a remote hotel and on the first day one of the guests is murdered. Of course everyone is under suspicion and all the guests (and staff) are trying to find out who killed Dana. Add to this that bad weather draws in a snow storm means no one can get in or out of the hotel and with telephone and electricity both being cut off due to the adverse weather they must endure a scary few days until the authorities can be told of the crime and the body removed. However of course during those few days will all the guests and staff be safe with a murderer in amongst them?

I absolutely loved this book. Shari is a brilliant author who is able to write fantastic crime novels where the reader is able to discover the clues as the characters do themselves. I was transported to The Mitchell Inn, where it was cold and eerie with no lighting except the oil lights and the dwindling torch light from the guests iPhone torches. I enjoyed the story and truly could picture myself there as an observer watching the characters as they tried to decide which of them was the killer, trying to decide who they could trust, who to keep an eye on. When the murderer was revealed I had not seen it coming. Each of the guests had their own back story which could of meant any one of them, or the hotel owner and his son, could of done it. There is always a sneaky twist right at the very end of the books which I don't believe that anybody will foresee.

I read this book in the middle of the summer but was transported to the middle of winter and terrible snow and I felt I travelled on a roller coaster of a journey while reading it. I really do enjoy Shari's books and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you to Anne Cater and to Bantam Press for inviting me to take part in this blog tour, in return for an honest review, I have really enjoyed it.

Mitchell’s Inn is set in the beautiful, but isolated, Catskill mountains. A group of guests arrive, during a storm, to quickly find they are snowed in. Owner, and chef, James Harwood, assures them that he, and his son, Bradley, will be able to make their stay a pleasant one. Still, the snow, and lack of power, causes issues for some of the guests. For author, Candice Write, who has come to work and whose laptop is losing power. For Matthew Hutchington and his beautiful fiancée, Dana, who have come to escape the stress of wedding planning. For Beverly Sullivan, who is hoping to reconnect with husband, Henry. For Gwen Delaney and her friend, Riley, a journalist with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and for David Paley, a criminal defence attorney, who is looking to relax. Unable to enjoy the outdoors, the group of guests are forced to stay inside the hotel and confront their own, personal issues and petty arguments.

As the wind howls and the snow falls, darkness descends. Still, the group are merry – the fire crackles, the drink flows, food is served. However, by the morning, one of them will be dead and a nightmare will begin to unfold. For the group are cut off from help and, it seems, a murderer is on the loose. As tension mounts, the group begin to uncover each other’s secrets, to suspect members of the group and their motives…

I absolutely loved this novel. If you enjoy mysteries, such as, “And Then There Were None,” you will enjoy this. It has a fantastic cast of characters – each with their secrets, issues and problems. The author uses the setting perfectly, to create tension, which adds to the feeling of increasing horror. I have read, and enjoyed, this author’s debut novel but, without doubt, this is a mystery, written by an assured and intelligent author, who has created a modern twist on a classic crime plot. Loved it. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

When guests start arriving to stay for a weekend in a small family run hotel they are all looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend away from work and other life issues . No one is expecting anything untoward to happen but alas that is not the case . This is a gripping mystery thriller set in a small hotel outside of New York City. It had me gripped right from the start . The description of the hotel and the winter scenery was excellent. I actually expected to see Agatha Christie pop out of the book it so reminded me of an Agatha Christie mystery . I loved it .

A enthralling murder mystery from author Shari Lapena, this whodunit kept me fully engrossed from the first to the last page. I have enjoyed all her books. They are good fun to read without requiring too much concentration.

This books started with a lot of characters that got confusing. I had to take a paper and pen to remember who came with whom and who did what. After the first few chapters, it was easy to follow. The plot arc was simple: 8 people came to the quaint inn deep into the mountains filled with snow and found themselves stranded due to snowstorm with no electricity, no cell network or connectivity, and the landlines were out.

The murder starts... one by one... suddenly ... with no way to call the cops

The plot followed the tension filled paths as the characters followed the darkened hallways of the inn, trying to catch or identify the murderer. The snow outside with icicle formation and the isolation of the Inn further made the aura murky. Loved it. The secrets of the various characters kept the doubt and suspicion on the edge. A good rush!

The book did go on the natural finish with the identity of the murderer. The reasoning was a bit meh!!

Overall a good fast read, done in 2 hours.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really looked forward to this book, having read and enjoyed Shari’s earlier book The Couple Next Door. I expected a similar style but felt left a bit underwhelmed. It’s a twisting murder mystery along a similar vein of Agatha Christie, set in a snowy mountain area in the US.

Shari introduces us well to all of the characters, who end up stuck together in a remote Inn due to the bad weather. They invariably die along the way through the weekend, whilst trying to work out who is responsible for the killings. It’s an enjoyable lighter read, and if you enjoy Agatha Christie type whodunnits, you’ll love this I’m sure. I appear to be in the minority of people who didn’t gel with this story, but I would recommend it as an easy read.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

An Unwanted Guest reminded me of Agatha Christies And Then There Were None. The book was set in the remote Mitchell's Inn which lay in a forest. Mitchell's Inn was advertised as a place to relax, with no WiFi to allow guests to escape from the stress and strains of everyday life.

The hotel was owned by James Harwood and his son Bradley who had been in trouble with the police when he was younger. During a snowy weekend they had 10 guests due to stay in the hotel, however due to the weather conditions none of their staff could make it to work.

The guests were friends Gwen Delaney and her best friend Riley. Riley was a journalist who had been reporting in Afghanistan, who was now suffering from PTSD. Defence Attorney David Paley who wanted a weekend away from his highly stressful job. Ian Beeton and his girl friend Lauren Day who were there for a dirty weekend. Married couple Henry and Beverley Sullivan, their marriage had become stale and and Beverley hoped the weekend away would rekindle their marriage. Wealthy banker Matthew Hutchinson and his fiance Dana who was getting stressed organising the ceremony. Finally ghost writer Candice White who was a carer for her mother, Candice was in the process of writing her own book.

During the day the snow storm went on making the roads treacherous and further cut off from civilization. The next morning Lauren went downstairs and found Dana's body in a heap at the bottom of stairs with a gash to her head. During the night the telephone lines went down and the had hotel had suffered a power cut. David suspected that Dana's death was not an accident and told everyone to leave the body. Later in the afternoon Candice was found in her room strangled from behind with her own scarf. By the following day five of the group would be dead.

An Unwanted Guest was even better then Shari's first book The Couple Next Door. I was reading this book during a heatwave, I have to say the icy cold descriptions of Mitchell's Inn were much needed. My favourite part of the book was when the guests decided to stay together in the hotel lobby that night for safety. As night progressed you could chip away at the tension with an ice pick, secrets were told, and paranoia set in with guests turning on each other in terror

I did not guess the killer until the last couple chapters, but I could scarcely believe it. I recommend this dark atmospheric thriller,
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You can almost imagine it. An isolated inn with no phone signal. A snow storm that traps the guests inside the inn. A group of people who don’t know each other and don’t trust each other. And a dark and suspenseful atmosphere worth of an Agatha Christie’s novel. Mix it all up and you have the gripping new novel by Shari Lapena.

Told by many points of views, the protagonists of this novel are a group of completely different people. From a journalist back from Afghanistan and suffering of PTSD to a defense attorney looking for rest. From a newly engaged couple happily in love to a woman trying desperately to save her marriage. Add a writer looking for inspiration, a young man trying to make some money, a woman worried about her friend, and a husband who doesn’t know how tell his wife he’s not in love with her anymore. What all these people have in common? They are all trapped in the beautiful and isolated Mitchell’s Inn, in the state of New York, and they are all hiding a secret.

One morning, they wake up to find that there is no electricity in the inn and that there is a body at the bottom of the stairs. Nobody can’t get in and nobody can’t get out, so the killer is one of the guests. And as the body count raises, the guests start to suspect each other and I found really intriguing to see how each character reacted in that situation of danger and suspicion.

As a fan of Agatha Christie (And Then There Were None is one of my favourite novel), I really enjoyed this novel (I almost expected Hercul Poirot to turn up and solve the case). The author doesn’t give anything away and I couldn’t figure out who the killer was until it was revealed. The slow-paced narration and the different points of view fit perfectly in the story and I really didn’t expect the ending.

It wasn’t only reading about snow storm during a heat wave that made me completely engrossed in the new novel by Shari Lapena. It is unpredictable, full of twists, with a claustrophobic atmosphere and the author’s unique writing style and I’d like to thank Thomas Hill and Transworld for providing me with a copy of this thrilling and engrossing novel.

I loved this book! It had an Agatha Christie and then there were none feel to it. I highly recommend it.

Having read and loved Shari Lapena's previous novels, I was keen to read An Unwanted Guest and it did not disappoint.
This book is well paced, I raced through the pages as the tension was built up brilliantly. Set in a remote hotel, this story is a superb murder mystery full of suspense, intriguing characters and a creepy plotline you will be racing to reach the climax of. Highly recommended!

Shari Lapena writes a crime fiction mystery in the style of the classic golden age of crime. In the beautiful snowy Catskill mountains and forests, beside the Hudson River, is the location of Mitchell's Inn. The snow has brought its problems as many of the staff at the Inn have been unable to get to work, leaving owner and chef, James Harwood, with only his son, Bradley, to help look after the guests who have managed to arrive. However, the weather deteriorates even further as the place is gripped by an all encompassing ice storm, leaving the Inn with no power or telephone line. Wi-fi is not available, so guests are offered a secluded relaxing break, away from the frenetic pace of their everyday lives.

Matthew Hutchinson, a wealthy New Yorker, has arrived with his breathtakingly beautiful bride to be, Dana, looking to escape the chaotic planning of their wedding. Ian Beeton and Lauren Day are a couple who have come away for a naughty weekend. Beverly Sullivan hopes to reignite some passion into her marriage with husband, Henry, getting away from their boisterous teenage children. Beverly and Henry's relationship had dwindled to the point that they were purely functioning as parents with no sexual content in their marriage for a considerable length of time. Candice White is a writer who has plans to write her latest book away from the drudge and energy sapping role of being a carer for her mother. David Paley, a criminal defense attorney, is taking a break from his highly stressful and pressurising job. Gwen Delaney has persuaded her best friend, Riley Shuter, that her shattered nerves and anxiety will benefit from staying in a rural and peaceful haven and give them the time for Gwen to help her. Riley is a journalist suffering from PTSD after the horrors she has witnessed and experienced in Afghanistan, she is prone to panic attacks and plagued by flashbacks.

At first, the strangers mix well on arrival, but fear and menace creep in when one of the guests is discovered dead at the bottom of the staircase, and evidence suggests that it might not be an accident. As unease increases, there is no doubt that a killer is amongst them when another guest is strangled. More murder follows, and no help is at hand, with the police completely uncontactable. Tempers fray, as no-one is above suspicion and the guests harbour thoughts as to who is the murderer. Secrets emerge and feeling desperately unsafe, unable to sleep or trust anyone, will they survive until the police arrive? Lapena writes a great story that made me nervous and unsettled as I tried to work out the real killer. If you like Agatha Christie and writers of that ilk, I think you will like this too. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.

I'm a huge fan of Shari Lapena having read The Couple Next Door and A Stranger In The House so I couldn't wait to read An Unwanted Guest. Shari has a way of writing that totally hooks you in and makes you keep saying "Just one more page" until before you realize it you've finished the book. An Unwanted Guest was absolutely fantastic I loved the story line and all the different characters and we got to know them all very well as the story went on and they all had their troubles that they were trying to get away from for the weekend. I've always wanted to go on a murder mystery weekend and this book drew me right in and made me feel like I was there and I loved the whole Agatha Christie feel to it. I never guessed who the murderer was either which really added to the story it really could have been anyone so I gave up trying to guess! What a fantastic addictive read!!!

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the ARC if An Unwanted Guest my review is honest and unbiased.

I’m must confess, that this is the first book of Shari Lapena that I have read. I have heard so much good things about her books.
The Unwanted Guest starts with several guests arriving at the Mitchell Inn in the Catskill mountains. When, a blizzard starts half of the staff haven’t turned up for work and the Inn is only half full of guests. They all get snowed in and the electricity goes off, they all spend time together in the lounge. James the owner and his son Bradley, do the best they can be feeding and entertaining the guests. In the middle of the night they hear a scream and when they investigate, one of the guests is found dead at the bottom of the stairs and then they realise that it’s murder. Soon the bodies start piling up. But there is no way they can contact the police as there is no power and no Wi-Fi to tell anyone what is going on and they all suspect each other of murders.
I liked this book from Shari Lapena and I will be looking out for her other books. I thought it was very creepy and there was good characterization in the story. But, this story wasn’t that original and I thought that the story was a bit rushed. There could have been more depth in it. I thought the author concentrated more on the characters and not the actually story itself.
Thank you Netgalley and Random house for a copy of this book. 3.5 Stars from me.

Shari Lapena never lets you down with anything that she writes!

This book was again no exception! The story flowed naturally and the characters were well written and interesting. I could not put this book down!

What a great thriller! People dropping like flies when they're all snowed into a secluded hotel - wow. So many twists & turns & it was hard to pick who did it. I had an inkling towards the end that turned out correct but still an awesome read.

Oooh I liked this. A story with a group of strangers trapped together, isolated from the outside world and a killer on the loose is always my idea of a great read and Lapena does a brilliant job with it. It's packed full of tension, has some genuinely creepy moments (which I probably shouldn't have read while on my own on a dark and stormy night) and there are enough twists and reveals to keep you guessing till the very end,

It's a classic who dunnit that reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None but brought right up to date. I do love a good who dunnit and I had so much fun trying to figure out which of the guests (or staff) was the murderer and what their motive could be (or if in fact there was someone else behind it all). There are lots of hints and clues along the way but with lots of red herrings thrown in and a mix of characters who all seem to have some kind of secret it's almost impossible to figure out. I did have an inkling but considering I guessed pretty much everyone at some point or another I don't think I can really say I had it sussed.

The story is told from the pov of almost every one of the characters which I have to admit I'm not sure was a wise decision in this story. I do like how it showed the reader the events from various different perspectives and helped you to get to know each of them better but I think the author made her job of keeping it a mystery harder than it needed to be.

With the necessarily fast paced nature of the story there's not a lot of depth given to the characters and I can't say I really connected with any of them but it didn't really spoil any of my enjoyment of the story which had me completely gripped until the very end. There are quite a good mix of different personalities and while some are a little stereotyped and some are not very nice I did love watching them under pressure and trying to guess who would do something stupid, who would get themselves killed and who would be the killer.

I'm obviously not going to say how it does end or who the killer is but I will say that I felt a little bit disappointed in the big reveal. It's not that it wasn't good or that I disagreed just that with the build up I was expecting something more. It was over a little too quickly for me.

The writing throughout however is wonderful and the author does create a very tense and atmospheric setting. I loved the sense of isolation, the bleakness and threatening nature of the environment and the very primal fear it creates in both the characters and the reader. I read a lot of it late at night and can honestly say it was giving me the creeps. I wanted to put it down and hide under the covers but my need to find out what happened next overrode this.

There were a couple of sections, mostly giving characters backstories which were a little clunky but otherwise it's pitched just right.

This was an edge of the seat (or hide under the covers) read that I found incredibly difficult to put down. Would definitely recommend to anyone who loves a good who dunnit in a creepy setting.

A big thank you to Thomas Hill and the publishers for issuing me with my review copy of the book.

Wow - this is an excellent page turner and another fantastic book by Shari Lapena. I was certainly kept gripped throughout the pages with the red herrings and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The tension is absolutely second to none and you can feel it coming off the pages from the characters, unsure of who to believe as things starts to build up.

The story introduces us to variety of characters, all completely different, some with things to hide and some not, all intent on trying to have a relaxing weekend away at a luxurious but remote inn.

The atmosphere is as chilling as the weather that means they quickly become even more isolated as they battle the elements and trying to stay alive.

Shari Lapena really ramps up the tension and you can feel the characters starting to suspect each other as they desperately try to figure out who the killer is and who will be the next victim.... We read along as they slowly start to turn on each other whilst the weather seemingly gets worse and starts to mirror their mood.

I had no idea about 'whodunnit', which is the test of a great story for me and was still eagerly devouring until the last page - what a fantastic and tense ending.

I thoroughly loved this book and found that once I started, I couldn't stop. Shari Lapena entices you with snappy chapters as we try to pick up hints from the small breadcrumbs that she leaves for you.

Highly recommended from me - I can't wait to read her next, as I have genuinely enjoyed all three of her books so far.

This book was a little bit different to the other books written by the author, it all happens over the course of a weekend. It has a feel of an Agatha Christie about it and oddly enough the famous author has been mentioned in the book. It has an air of mystery and foreboding about it from the start, you just know something bad is going to happen. I didn't really get into it until the second half but then I couldn't put it down and I was kept guessing until the very last page.
#AnUnwantedGuest #NetGalley

The scene is set really well and although the concept is a bit far fetched, I did believe that all of the characters could end up in that hotel at that time in that way. But I found the ending too sudden, it hadn't been flagged enough - for a Golden Age type crime novel, the reader has to be able to work the clues out along the way

5* Who Done It Stars

This story is about the guests who have checked into the remote Mitchell’s Inn, in the Catskill Mountains to spend a quiet weekend away. Unfortunately the weather quickly turns for the worse and they are all snowed in with no power and one of the guests found dead!

The story is told from all the guests’ points of view and this made it a fast paced thrilling read. It also gave you insight into who the characters were and what they were thinking.

I loved this murder mystery from the first page read until the last page was turned. The author’s writing was brilliant and she keeps you hooked and guessing throughout her story telling. The ending was unexpected but very satisfying.

Many thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for an Advanced Copy of this e-book.

I loved the way this novel was written, it was very Agatha Christie and a real who dun it.
Several couples, whom don’t know each other, have booked into a cozy mountain retreat for the weekend. After a fierce snow storm the power goes out and the guests are left stranded. James and Bradley, the father and son whom own the retreat, endeavour to feed their guests and keep them warm with open fires. But during the first night a guest is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. It is soon obvious she was killed. When a second guest is killed the guests start to panic, no one can reach them and they can’t get out. Soon everyone starts to suspect each other and it seems they have all secrets to hide.
A great page turner, and a nice little twist at the end.