Cover Image: The House Guest

The House Guest

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Member Reviews

I did enjoy this one however it’s not my favourite book by this author. I found the concept of the story interesting in parts but the whole cult theme was a little bit too far fetched for my liking. The book was well written as are all books by the author I just think for me personally a book based around cults aren’t my cup of tea.

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Elliot is a scientist who lives in a beautiful, lovingly restored home that is his pride a joy. At an open house garden tour that he organized, he encounters the lovely Gemma. At this time, he suffers a medical emergency and though Gemma is a stranger, she stays with him through the crisis and they fall in love and are married. Newlywed life is blissful until Gemma’s estranged parents and strange sister arrive for a visit. The few days they plan to stay stretches to weeks and then months. Elliot is unable to get them to leave and even worse than that, he begins to fear that they are behind the crimes and now taking place in his neighborhood. Things escalate and he begins to fear for his life.

You won’t be bored with this book, that’s for sure! Lots of nefarious characters and lots of creepy interactions. Elliot is a very naive character and it’s hard to read the book without wondering why he keeps making the same choices. If you’re able to suspend reality, it’s quite a ride.

**I posted several times about this book (including review) on my Facebook page, Reader Report Cards. Thank you for the opportunity!

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A gripping and exciting thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Pick this one up if you want a book filled with suspense.

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Mark Edwards is a brilliant suspense writer, I have enjoyed every one of his books and this latest book was no exception.
This is a story where once you pick it up, you won’t want to put it down. When you have a book this good on the go, you resent any intrusion. I was racing through the pages determined to find out what would happen next.

The House Guest is a story with dark and chilling moments, and it will have you gripped to the pages. A real wow book.

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Great thriller.
Ruth and Adam are going to spend the summer in New York, where they meet Eden. She is charismatic, maybe too friendly, and all this fun summer is becoming a nightmare.
Thank you, NetGalley for this adventure.

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Another brilliant read from this author. The books get better and better. This was a good read and highly recommended. Thank you.

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Don’t Open The Door....
From the inviting in of a stranger to the horrors that action brings. For one couple, nicely settled (they think), opening the door to a stranger and inviting them into their lives was most definitely a mistake. Nicely paced suspense but, for me, doesn’t match up to previous offerings from this talented author.

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Amazing fast paced read that keeps you hooked from the beginning and doesn’t let up. Really amazing story telling with realistic characters and great plot.

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Stayed up WAY too late reading this one, which is the best praise you can give a thriller! Awesome story and twisted ending. Will definitely recommend!

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Mark Edwards has absolutely smashed it once again with The House Guest. I feel like whenever you pick up one of his books you know you'll be in safe hands as you turn page after page. This is an eerie, creepy read that will keep you on edge throughout - like all the best thrillers do. Loved it!

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I really enjoyed this latest book from Mark Edwards. Plenty of twists and turns in a what I thought was a tight and well crafted book. Set in New York Ruth and Adam are given the opportunity we can all only dream of - house sitting for an affluent couple in Manhattan. However when a girl called Eden turns up things take a different turn... I loved it.

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Mark Edwards is one of the most successful and popular contemporary English crime writers and his books have kept me company during long winter night or hot summer days. "The House Guest" is a crime/mystery novel that bears the trademark characteristics of the author's distinctive writing style that enthralls the reader and keeps him on the edge of his seat, turning the pages in order to find out what happens next. His plots are usually complex and ingenious, though in this one the main plotline is not as elaborate as it is in some of his previous books such as "The Retreat" or "The Magpies". The story begins when a young woman appears on the doorstep of a wealthy couple who is away for vacation. The house is occupied by a couple of house-sitters, Ruth and Adam. Adam is also the main protagonist and first-person narrator of the story. The young intruder's name is Eden and she claims that she is a friend of the couple of owners and she asks for a little help as she is from Caliofornia and had no ties to New York city. Adam and Ruth decide to accomodate Eden and they ask her to come and live with them in the house for a few days, until the owners are back from their journey in New Mexico. Eden will prove to be kind of a dark horse and her behavior begins to puzzle Adam until one night she disappears from the house along with Ruth. Adam is desperate to find out what happened and where is Ruth. Has she been abducted or had she left of her own free will? Our protagonist will embark in a journey to find the truth and he will have to face realities that will make him feel dizzy. Overall, "The House Guest" is a pretty entertaining crime novel that can be read easi;y in just one -or two- sitting(s). The thing is that it is not a book that will remain in your memory long after you have finished it as it lacks that particular spark that make most of Mark Edward's books stand out. Nevertheless it is perfect for a cool summer night and it is certain that you will not be disappointed.

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A tense, well-crafted story that kept me turning the pages until the end. Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC,

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Be careful who you trust. A couple's lives get turned upside down from trusting the wrong people. Truly masterful how the story unfolded to get characters out of an impossible situation. Another good story from Mark Edwards. Ends with a surprise!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

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Adam and Ruth are on the verge of their big break in NYC....or so they thought. As an budding actress and screenplay writer, plus a great home to house sit, they are on the cusp of success. Until they meet Eden...

Although I guessed several of the twists before they happened, the character development kept me very engaged to see how it played out. There ended up being twists that I didn't see coming, as well! A good read overall!

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3.5/5 stars. fast, engaging read, good for a distraction. Not a great deal of depth on the characters or plot, but suited its purpose well.

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4 Stars from me

I devoured this book on a lazy Sunday and totally did not see where the story was heading!

For the first few pages I was fairly convinced that I would be spending the next decade of my life housesitting in New York - ahhhhh bliss!

But then Eden entered stage left and I bristled. Hmmmm. Hats off to Ruth for being a kinder, more trusting person than I will EVER be, but then again hey, my suspicious mind will have meant that I didn't end up in a pair of snazzy white PJs... (almost a spoiler but not quite so shhhhh.)

A fast and easy read from Mark Edwards which I flew through and thoroughly enjoyed.

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3.5 stars
A young couple from the UK Adam, a future writer and Ruth an actress who is about to become famous are house sitting in New York for a wealthy couple, Mona and Jack. One day a young woman, Eden, knocks on the door, claiming that Mona and Jack invited her to stay at their house anytime. Everything is fine ,until one evening when the three of them are getting seriously drunk. Adam wakes up unable to remember anything. The only thing that is sure is that Ruth and Eden are vanished. More to this, Mona and Jack do not know anyone called Eden.
A wild chasing starts off for Adam who desperately tries to find his girlfriend, despite all the problems they seem to face.
The charakters are all on a wild roller-coaster; for my taste, a bit too much; but nethertheless a satisfying read.
Thank you #netgalley #thehouseguest #markedwards for this reading copy

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Thank you to Netgalley, Mark Edwards and Amazon Publishing for my arc of The House Guest in exchange for an honest review. 

Synopsis: When Ruth & Adam are offered the chance to house sit in upmarket Williamsburg, New York after meeting the house's owners on a cruise they jump at the chance. Adam is a wannabe playwright and Ruth has a part in a broadway play so it's the perfect opportunity. When the homeowners friends Eden turns up looking for a place to stay, they can't help but invite her in. Eden is charismatic, beautiful and smart and the three of them get on like a house on fire. But Eden is a stranger after all... have they made a terrible mistake?

Review: I usually love Mark Edwards' books but something just wasn't right for me with this one. I didn't find it as engaging and interesting and the few twists there were didn't feel shocking. I still read it in a couple of hours and it was ok but not the page turning thrilling experience I'm used to with Mark's books.

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Mark Edwards is an author who seems to be rather hit or miss with me and unfortunately, The House Guest turned out to be a miss.

Adam and his girlfriend Ruth are housesitting for a couple in New York. One evening, a young lady called Eden rings the doorbell. She claims to be a family friend and when Adam and Ruth realise Eden has nowhere else to go, they ask her to stick around until the owners return from their cruise. But after an evening of too much fun with tequila, Adam wakes up to find himself alone in the house. Ruth and Eden have disappeared.

And that’s where the story started to lose me as events became increasingly far-fetched and somewhat over the top. Suddenly a story that had bags of potential went completely off the rails. The characters all felt like cardboard cut-outs, bewilderingly uninteresting and boring cliches that I couldn’t connect to at all. I didn’t care what happened to any of them, I’m sad to say.

The House Guest is really a run-of-the-mill, rather forgettable psychological suspense story that sorely lacks the suspense, tension and thriller element I look for in this genre. Ultimately, this is a quick and easy read but it’s awfully superficial. This is nowhere near the author’s best work.

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