I found this an easy and engaging book that I read in an evening. I liked the dual perspective but found Amelia a more interesting character than Vivienne although some of Vivienne’s story raised many red flags which did mean the twist wasn’t the greatest shock to me. The story was split into four sections each of which altered the direction of the story and although the action was based over a relatively short time frame it was more a slow burn than fast paced thriller. This is also more of a character than action novel too with some psychological elements. This wasn’t my favourite of Sally Rigby’s novels but made for an intriguing standalone with two fascinating female characters. 7/10

Wow I've just finished The Silent Guest by Sally Rigby and I’m genuinely moved by how powerful this thriller is. It's not just in suspense, but in emotional depth. Rigby’s writing dives into the complexities of identity, trust, and the long shadows cast by past choices. It’s a reminder that healing often begins with facing uncomfortable truths and that strength can emerge from vulnerability. This book doesn’t just entertain. It challenges you to think, to feel, and to reflect. It’s a testament to how fiction can illuminate the human experience in the most unexpected ways. Highly recommend if you love thrillers that stir the soul as much as the mind.

basically we should advertise for nothing ever. and never let anyone in ever. oh and not upset anyone ever so they don't seek revenge by ruining our lives.all good?
this book had me hooked and gripped and here for this ride. it was fun in the sense a thriller so delicious can be. you are sat and staying seated to keep turning the pages of books like this.
for this book we follow Vivienne and Amelia. Vivienne needs a house sitter. in steps Amelia. brilliant. sorted. yeh, not quite because Amelia has her motives and they aren't to make sure you plants stay alive thats for sure. shes going to bring this woman down. she is here for revenge.
when Vivienne arrives home she sees things, little things, changes or completely vanishing of certain things. little inconsistency that makes her start to doubt her own self. to the point she wonders if she is actually ok, and certainly ok to be around her family.
it Amelia of course. and she thinks she is right on course to being a smug victor in her plan. buuuut she needs to be not so cocky eh...
i love the dual pov gives us true sides of the stories for both our characters. there stories come out and spill open and everything start to be unravelled and revealed in their own words.
i thought what Amelia did to drive Vivienne made was so sinister but so clever, which made it all the more uneasy.
a completely absorbing book and im so glad i got to get stuck in to this one.
the clever bonus parts to this book was just fantastic. i cannot tell you how i bounced with "ha brilliant! " when certain things come about.
i was taken in from the very first chapter and didn't want to leave even after the end.
i cant wait for more from Sally this was ace.

I have read many of Sally,s books and enjoyed every one so was looking forward to reading this thriller. It’s very different from her usual detective books but I thoroughly enjoyed it. A darker, almost chilling psychological thriller told from 2 different perspectives which gripped me and I couldn’t read it quick enough. I wasn’t expecting the ending either. A great read, I highly recommend.

Sally Rigby never fails to deliver and this brilliant book takes gaslighting to a whole other dimension! When Vivienne needs to attend a weekend family gathering, she can't beat to put her precious dog Willow in kennels so , on the recommendation of her husband Miles, she hires Amelia to dog/house sit. Amelia has only one recommendation on the dog sitting site but as it was a colleague of Miles who recommended her, she must be ok, right? Wrong!! Vivienne has barely driven off before Amelia puts her plans into action, first of all having a second set of house keys made. Now she can torment Vivienne at her leisure. Little things at first, moving things around , hiding a favourite lunchbox then putting it back, changing bedsheets, just subtly substituting them for the same pattern in a slightly deeper colour. Gradually convincing Vivienne she has dementia and persuading her she should walk away from her perfect life for the good of her husband and child. Vivienne is already an anxious, perfectionist and lonely woman with Miles working away most of the time on secret flying missions, which makes her a perfect target. But why? What has she done that makes Amelia/Millie hate her so much? The plot gradually unfolds and nothing is as it seems. I don't want to spoil the suspense so all I can say she is hanging on to your sanity and enjoy the ride!

The Silent Guest is a chilling, slow-burning psychological thriller that had me hooked from the first chapter. Sally Rigby expertly builds tension, letting dread creep in one unsettling moment at a time.

Vivienne seems to have the perfect life, successful husband, bright daughter, and a beautiful home. But when she hires Amelia to housesit for the weekend, things take a sinister turn. Amelia isn’t who she pretends to be, and what starts as a favor quickly spirals into something darker. As Vivienne returns to find strange changes and a growing sense of unease, the lines between truth, memory, and manipulation blur.

I really enjoyed the dual perspectives. Amelia’s hidden motives versus Vivienne’s unraveling reality. The characters are layered, and while you may see some twists coming, there are enough surprises to keep you guessing.

This is perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, BA Paris, or Lisa Jewell, if you love psychological thrillers with a strong emotional undercurrent and a simmering sense of revenge, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from Sally Rigby!

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Silent Guest’ written by Sally Rigby in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Vivienne Campbell and her five-year-old daughter Lola are attending a family gathering and need someone to housesit and care for their dog Willow. Amelia from ‘Pet & Home Watch’ is recommended and after an initial meeting Vivienne drives away hoping their home will be in safe hands. But Amelia has her own reasons for wanting to get inside their house and within weeks has started her plan of revenge for something she believes Vivienne did in the past.

‘The Silent Guest’ is a dark and chilling psychological thriller told by Vivienne and Amelia as both women have their own agenda with Amelia’s plans causing Vivienne to doubt her sanity and Vivienne formulating a plan to get her own back on someone she considered to be a friend. This novel has had me gripped from page one, reading non-stop and unable to put it down, while wondering when Vivienne was going to realise what was planned for her. It’s very different to the first of the Cornwall mysteries I read previously and to my mind much more exciting with lots of twists and turns, suspense and intrigue, and a conclusion that totally blew my mind. Some of the timing was confusing, especially the delivery of the flowers, but nevertheless I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to Sally Rigby’s next novel.

I am a huge fan of Sally Rigby and her detective series. This book was very different. Much darker with a deeply threatening vibe. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this arc

When Vivienne needs a housesitter, her husband recommends a woman who seems perfect for the job. The thing is, Amelia has a plan, she hates Vivienne for some reason and uses this as an opportunity to drive her mad.

The best thing about this book is that we don’t learn what Vivienne did in the past until pretty much the last third of the book, I like it because since you don’t know what she’s accused of, you don’t know who to root for. Vivienne is also smart, she senses that something is wrong pretty fast ; her and Amelia are a great match if you think about it.

I really didn’t see the main twist coming (I did see some red flags but I was thinking about something different) and I love that the story didn’t go to “Vivienne is an evil woman who lied”, it would have been too easy (and too many authors do it). The ending was very satisfying

This book had a promising setup, but the execution didn’t work for me. The writing style felt a bit clunky and overexplained in places, which made it difficult to fully engage with the narrative. The motivations were especially hard to pin down, even after the twist was revealed. Characters seemed to start off emotionally intense without much buildup, which left me wondering why everyone felt so on edge from the start.

One element that didn’t quite work for me was the twist. It was somewhat predictable in hindsight, but the impact fell flat, partly because I never felt like the relationships with the women and their husbands were fully developed. The husband’s presence (or lack thereof) made the final reveal feel disconnected rather than shocking.

I also found the mix of overly specific, sometimes irrelevant details and a general lack of atmospheric or emotional depth made the pacing drag. I pushed through to the end not out of curiosity, but more to finish the book; which is never the feeling I hope for when picking up a thriller.

On a practical level, some plot points felt implausible given the contemporary setting. For example, a character like Vivienne, portrayed as anxious and hyper-aware, living alone without basic home security, stretched credibility for me.

Overall, this was a surface-level read in terms of character, emotion, and plot. Readers who enjoy straightforward thrillers with minimal subtext might enjoy it more than I did, but this one wasn’t quite the right fit for me.

I could NOT put this book down and read it in a day! An absolutely thrilling book that I couldn't get enough of! I just put a couple more books on my TBR by Sally Rigby as this book has me hooked!

I usually enjoy Sally Rigbys novels ive read the Cavendish and Walker and Sebastion Clifford series but this one the Silent Guest just didn't grab me, a couple of chapters in I decided to jump to the end and I was quite lucky as it was at the point of the big reveal, unfortunately it came across as quite implausible and it still didn't grab me.

Vivienne needs a house sitter. When she meets with Amelia (the potential house sitter), my spidey senses were immediately tingling. Once Amelia was introduced and left alone in the house, I knew the games were about to begin. However, I never saw the next part coming.

Each chapter is told from the point of view of either Vivienne or Amelia, which allows you to get to know each character more intimately and see their inner thoughts. The mind games were really quite clever. I could not figure out why Amelia was seeking revenge, which made the twisting reveal that much more exciting. As the story progressed, I had a little inkling about the ending, but I could not possibly have imagined just how shocking it would be.

This suspense filled thriller kept me up late. Kudos to the author for this imaginative, chilling thriller.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A relatively fast paced, quick and easy, psychological thriller read. I was concerned at the start how the story would stretch but it was a great journey from dual points of view. I was drawn in by the pettiness and made to have mixed feelings about all the characters. With a punchy twist and well delivered ending, I’m left fulfilled as a reader.
Great for fans of THE HOUSEMAID by FREIDA MCFADDEN.

Thank you to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the ARC.

What. a. book!!!!

I couldn't put this down at all! The twist I was not expect at ALL!
Loooved the Authors writing style, and will definitely read more of their books.

I would 1000% recommend this book!!!

This book had me hooked and I raced through it

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc

Thank you to netgalley and the author for this ARC! The twist at the end of this book was insane! I couldn’t believe it! I knew something was off about miles but didn’t think he was gonna be leading two separate lives! Although the first 40% of this book was so slow and i felt it could have all been compiled into just a few chapters, it did finally pick up around 45% and got super good! Vivienne and Milly coming together at the end was a nice touch to end the book though especially after all they went through and how they were both played against each other unknowingly! Definitely a good read!

Silent Guest is a masterfully written and cleverly constructed psychological thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The story revolves around a compelling cast—Miles, Tom, Vivienne, Lola, Amelia, and even the dog, Willow—all intricately woven into a plot filled with secrets, tension, and unexpected turns.
What stands out most is the way the author layers the suspense. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, a twist hits—subtle, chilling, and completely unexpected. I pride myself on seeing twists coming, but this one truly blindsided me in the best way possible.
Each character is complex and well-drawn, with emotional depth that adds to the psychological weight of the story. The dynamic between them keeps the tension simmering, and the relationships evolve in ways that feel both natural and shocking. Silent Guest is one of those rare thrillers that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s not just about the twists; it’s about the atmosphere, the creeping sense of unease, and the haunting realisation that sometimes the biggest threats are the ones we invite into our lives.
Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense who love a good mind-bender with emotional depth.

: The Silent Guest
Author: Sally Rigby
Publisher: Storm Publishers
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Pub Date: August 14, 2025
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages: 279

Story is told from the POV of Vivienne and Amelia.
Vivienne Campbell is married to Miles Clarke they have a five year old daughter Lola and a labradoodle named Willow. Vivienne has a family anniversary party she and Lola want to attend. Miles is piolet and will be out of town. The plans ate over a weekend but they need a sitter for Willow. Willow hates kennels; as she was bitten at one and Vivienne promised her (yes she made a promise to her dog!) that she would never leave her in a kennel again.
Miles suggested contacting ‘Pet & Home’. They recommended Amelia who is a good dog sitter. They interview Amelia by phone and she sounds like a good match. She is going to stop by to finalize details.

Amelia, has been waiting years for this opportunity and makes sure she is the perfect candidate.
It appears there is history between these two and Amelia has a plan for revenge,
She believes she doesn't deserve the wonderful life she is experiencing.

Amelia starts off with small incidents that make her question her own sanity. Amelia is a pretend friend so comforts her;

As this story moved along I thought this was not going to be a typical Sally Rigby wow whodunit as we know from the blurb that Amelia is not to be trusted.

I was wrong as this indeed was a typical WOW Sally Rigby psychological thriller!
Now you have to read it and find out what changed!!!!!

Want to thank to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for another great Sally Rigby thriller.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 14, 2025.

The silent guest is absolutely fantastic from Sally Rigby!
House sitting is big business these days but how much do you really know about the people you trust with your home and pets! I was hooked from start to finish!!!