This book will take you on a twisty journey. It is well paced and the suspense builds during the chapters.
It’s well written with well developed characters. It is a chilling entertaining read.

A brilliant thriller. After meeting the author in real life too and chatting about the book, I have even more appreciation for it. This was a brilliant read that kept me hooked from start to finish.

Rounded up from 2.5

So I've been putting this review off as I've been trying to sort whether or not I liked The Guest House. I've come to the conclusion I'm still not sure!

The writing style was enjoyable. It flowed really well, not overly descriptive with a fast pace. The author packed so much emotion into the story and created believable characters.

I also liked that the author included Jamie, a character with cerebral palsy, but didn't make it a plot device, which I feel happens sometimes in books.

All that being said, I had to put the book down on several occasions because I found it stressful to read, especially as a mother.

Then there was the actual story, which started off really strong with a good premise, but I just couldn't suspend my disbelief as we neared the end.

I will definitely read something from this author again, even though I didn't have the best experience with this novel.

It will be the first child for Jamie and Victoria.With only a few weeks left, they depart for one last weekend getaway in a secluded area in the North Pennines. The cosy, serene guesthouse is the perfect place for couples to unwind before becoming parents. The elderly couple in charge of the guesthouse, Barry and Fiona, welcome them as they arrive. Before retiring to bed themselves, they prepare their food and show them to their rooms. The house is deserted when Jamie and Victoria awaken the following morning. Barry and Fiona are nowhere to be seen. All the doors are closed and secured. Their car keys and mobile phones have vanished as well. Victoria is aware that the contractions are beginning, despite the fact that it is a few weeks early, the baby is coming, and there's no way out.

This book is brimming with suspense and mysteries that will leave you wondering. The small number of characters makes it effortless to keep track of them, and the transition between past and present is seamless. The cliff-hangers are amazing and make me want to know what happens next. Furthermore, the plot twists were surprising. I would definitely recommend it!!

Absolutely loved this book!

Robin you are amazing!

I was hooked throughout and couldn't put this book down.

Thank you for accepting my ARC request.

I really enjoyed this book, especially when it came to the twists (more than one) at the end. Would recommend

Jamie and Victoria are expecting a baby and decide to spend a baby moon at a guesthouse. Victoria goes into early labor but they can't leave the guesthouse. This sets the scene for a very scary but thrilling read, because you keep on turning the pages! What happens during the birth and how the couple get out makes for compelling reading. Will read more of this talented author in future.

I loved this book. The isolated setting and the flip flop chapters kept me completely invested and reading on late into the night. The author handled this format expertly and the story unfolded in a very satisfying way.
Both Atmospheric and creepy this story had a very unique plot line and the speed and pacing set the tone to perfection. This plot driven thriller has many a unique twist and as a huge fan of locked room
Mysteries I was thoroughly entertained. The ending left me a little confused however.

My first book by this author, and what a twisted tale this one was! Told from the perspectives of three of the characters, and with a dual timeline this is definitely one which had me hooked from the beginning. Jamie and Victoria have planned a final weekend away before their much-awaited baby is due. Booking into an isolated guesthouse in the Pennines, when Victoria wakes in the night in labour, they find themselves locked in, missing their phones, keys and their car and the guest house owners, Fiona and Barry nowhere to be seen! It certainly gets you wondering what on earth is going on, but as the story twists itself through the past and present, all is revealed!

The plot is gripping, if not a little far-fetched, and it held my attention throughout! With dual timelines, I often find myself preferring one timeline to another, but I enjoyed both equally in this book, with the past explaining what happened all those months before, and the present slowly answering all the questions I had! I liked Jamie and Victoria’s character but empathised more with Jamie both in past and present. Fiona and Barry are certainly a strange couple, but their involvement in the story becomes clear as the book moves on with a most unexpected twist in the plot!

This is a suspense filled book, with lots of mysteries as to what is going on. There are very few characters so it’s easy to focus on who is who, and the switching between past and present is done effortlessly. There are some great cliff-hangers leaving me wanting more, and I certainly didn’t see the plot twists coming my way. Would recommend!

This is a twisty novel that definitely took me in unexpected directions. Suspension of disbelief is required but I didn't mind that as I got swept up in the story.

This is a creepy and intriguing book unlike any I’ve read previously.
This is atmospheric, haunting and completely grips the reader. This is unpredictable and worthy of all the praise.

I enjoyed reading this and it dragged me in from the start. It was well written although a little far fetched. Had a nice unexpected twist towards the end and the epilogue was very good. Would read another by this author

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and held my attention. I will be reading more from this author :)

Oh my word - what a story! So much deception, s0 many secrets and so many lies in one book!

This was very addictive to read, for one, trying to fathom out why a couple would to go an isolated cottage in the middle of nowhere 3 weeks before the wife is going to have their baby....but all is revealed eventually.

Very clever writing. I will certainly be looking out for this author again.

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I read the author’s debut novel, The Wreckage, which I loved and so was excited to read this. I’m happy to say that for me at least this was another astounding suspense read. What I absolutely love about Bentley’s books is the way he depicts relatable and average male characters who are vulnerable and flawed, and not your cookie-cutter tall handsome and strong. In this book we have Jamie, who has his own startup company and was born with cerebral palsy, who is married to Victoria, a violinist.
The story opens with a bang. Victoria wakes up due to pain in her stomach. She’s pregnant and in her last trimester. She goes to the bathroom. She tries to open the window but it’s locked. She wakes up Jamie. Together they discover that all the doors and windows are locked. They can’t get out and their hosts of the B&B they’re staying at are gone. They’re up in the Pennies. Alone. And a baby is on the way.
The novel has a then and now narrative. In the now, which takes place a few weeks after “then” the couple are living separately and dealing of the loss of their baby, but we know the two are hiding secrets...
This was a fast paced and immersive read. I was gripped and couldn’t stop reading. I know some reviewers found some of the events far fetched but I was convinced and was along for the ride. I did expect reveal at the end, however that didn’t deter from my enjoyment of it. I did have a question about Barry’s character and felt the motivation for what happens to him could’ve been fleshed out more. That part seemed to come out of nowhere. Barry was probably the only character who felt a bit of a caricature but he was a scary antagonist. Again I felt his motivation as well could’ve been fleshed out more as there was a contradiction to an event later on. Nonetheless this was an enjoyable read. A mind-bending suspense read.

The Guest House was such an addictive read - the style of writing kept you guessing, it was unpredictable and entertaining.

I enjoyed the three POVs and two timelines - I felt like this helped move the plot along, and the cliffhanger/reveals kept me wanting more.

I finished this book in less than 48 hours. I couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

It should be a happy time as Victoria and Jamie prepare to become parents. Wanting to celebrate, they opt for a babymoon, a final weekend break in a remote part of the North Pennines with just a few weeks to go before their new arrival. The guesthouse is perfect; private and peaceful, the ideal location to unwind together before two become three. Upon arrival, they are greeted by Barry and Fiona, the couple who run the guesthouse who cook dinner and show them to their room before retreating to bed. So far, so welcoming. Until the couple wake up the following morning to an empty guesthouse. An empty, locked guesthouse. Where Victoria has just started having contractions… But what really happened there? And what happens afterwards is very important as the couple try to put their relationship and lives back on track. This weaves so much through the plot, that’s incredibly well thought out.

The Guest House has an interesting central premise and a classic twisty sense to it and as a narrative is very addictive.

The characters were unique to be sure and I loved the unpredictable nature of it. However there was the odd down side. For example some of the actions undertaken by the characters made little to no sense within the wider story which left me shaking my head a bit.

Overall though as it all came together it was an entertaining read and very enjoyable.

4.5 stars

Man, this is a journey and a half.

You have to start by thinking what couple goes to a remote cottage with 3 weeks to go before their baby is due? But all is revealed in what proves to be a fascinating and exciting read.

Told via three POVs and two timelines –  there are twists and turns aplenty and some absolutely banging end of chapter cliffhangers and ultimate reveals. And a last page that is just superb.

Highly recommended.

A new author for me which is always exciting..
The blurb as usual won me over so I was eager to see where this author would take his story.
Imagine you are coming towards the end of your pregnancy. You are exhausted and excited all at the same time. You cannot wait to meet your new little one. Leaving aside the heartache and struggles of IVF and fertility issues you both had to endure to get to this moment.
A night away might be just what is needed before the baby arrives.
We meet Jamie & Victoria in this story.
A break away to a remote part of the countryside seems rather appealing as they head off to a small and beautiful guesthouse.
Older couple Barry & Fiona are the hosts and they greet their guests with much delight.
Fast forward to the next morning when Jamie & Victoria arrive downstairs to discover all doors and windows of the guest house are locked and their hosts have disappeared.
Strange when they notice that gone too are their phones and car keys.
I will admit I was frightened for them at this stage. Most especially when Victoria starts having contractions and knows the baby is on the way. The sheer panic that sets in as they try to understand what is happening to them.
A strange storyline to try get to grips with I thought..
I enjoyed how the author told his story between the alternative view points..
Hugely atmospheric, I could almost feel the remoteness of the guest house all around me.
A chilling and quite intense read, slightly crazy too..
His characters seemed so irrational at times that I began to wonder what I had immersed myself into...
It has all what you want in a good thriller though, suspense, drama, unease..you get it all..
Well worth your time.