Vivienne has it all, lovely husband who's away more than at home, lovely daughter, spoilt and tantrumy, lovely home, too clean and manicured. She needs a dog sitter for her designer dog while she and daughter have a few days with her family. Enter Amelia, partner Tom who doesn't want children, small pokey flat. Certainly clear from the first that Viv is a neurotic woman and Amelia is a psychopath. What is needed is to work out why the latter and why pick Viv. I'm sorry to say that this was a trial to complete, two unpleasant, well annoying, main characters and pretty clear as to some of the things that were going on. End was rushed and didn't stack up, at least the behaviour after the deed didn't. I usually thoroughly enjoy this author's books but this is not a way I'd like to follow. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

“She came to watch my house.
She stayed to destroy my life”

Revenge Plot ✅
Dual POV✅
Twists ✅

This one had me hooked from start to finish. My first of Sally Rigby’s and what a good one to start on. The story starts very vague, Vivienne is looking for a house sitter while she’s away for the weekend but we soon find out the new house sitter, Amelia, isn’t as sweet as she seems.

Amelia’s motives aren’t revealed until later in the book and I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation. The dual POV was an amazing addition to the story as it gave an insight into both Vivienne’s and Amelia’s thoughts and perspective over everything that was going on.

As said above, for most of the book, the reader isn’t given much information as to why Amelia is doing what she’s doing but when the twist came let me tell you I was SAT. This page turner is the best kind of thriller, full of suspense and twists. I had so many questions throughout, who is Amelia? Why is she doing this? What has Vivienne done to deserve this? I wasn’t sure what it would be at the start but I was quickly drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down.

The Silent Guest is published on August 15th 2025 and if you love thrillers packed with suspense, twists and turns then this is the one for you!

An unforgettable psychological thriller - suspense, twists, turns and tension - what more could you ask for?
The story is written from two different perspectives - Amelia and Vivienne. These two main characters have secrets to keep - from each other and from us, the readers - and nothing will be revealed until right near the very end. The twists which end each section of the novel are incredible and the final twist really came as a huge surprise - not only to Amelia and Vivienne but to me as well!!
Well worth reading and I shall definitely be on the lookout for more by Sally Rigby.

First, thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!

Secondly, I feel having a house sitter is another thing on the long list of things I am never going to try. Unless it is a family member or close, friend, maybe. But reading thrillers has sort of tought me to better not trust strangers.

Also, while we know from the start that the house sitter, Amelia, is up to no good - the book is both in the POV of Amelia and Vivienne, the woman who'd hired her - the story was still suspenseful and kept me guessing a lot while turning the pages. Very well done!

As always Sally Rigby’s books are real “attention holders” for me. This book definitely was excellent.

Vivienne needs a house/dog sitter while she and her daughter, Lola, go away for the weekend. Enter Amelia, someone Vivienne’s husband’s coworker recommended. But things aren’t as they appear…

Or this book is exactly as it appears. There was really nothing mysterious about this book. Because the book alternates between Viviennes perspective and Amelia’s, we know right away that Amelia is playing tricks on Vivienne. There’s so suspense to it at all. The only reason I kept reading was hoping that something was being kept hidden but even the twist at the end I knew almost from the jump. The chapters felt repetitive and the ending was rushed and way too unrealistic and tied with a bow.

A page turning psychological thriller that includes manipulation.
Even though I’d guessed one of the plot twists half way through I was intrigued to see how it would evolve and play out.
An excellent read.

Although this story was keeping me guessing from the start I expected a little more of a twist, it was good and kept me intrigued from the start but the ending fell just a little flat

I’m glad it was a quick work read though I did enjoy it just not 5 stars but pretty close

I was totally blinded and did not see the twist coming at all! I wish it could have been a little more intense of twist rather than the guy just hoping the girlfriend would decide to torment his wife. I also would have liked to have seen the women do some worse things to each other rather than changing sheets, making beds, emptied out the dishwasher, and sending gifts. Some aspects seemed a little unrealistic. For instance, I don’t think I would go comfort my dog if I was about to die and a man was murdered in my kitchen. I don’t think I’d cover him with a towel and then tell the murder to come out to the garden with me so we can talk. I would have liked this scene to be more chaotic and stressful. I loved the ending and how the women became friends. Thanks again for the advanced copy! I attached my TikTok review!

This addictive psychological thriller proved to be an incredibly swift and engaging read. My first dive into Sally Rigby's work was thoroughly enjoyable, offering a compelling blend of tension and mind games.

The narrative centers on Vivienne, a wife and mother, who entrusts her home to Amelia, a seemingly ideal housesitter. However, Amelia harbors a hidden agenda, and upon Vivienne's return, a sinister series of small, unsettling events begins, designed to make Vivienne doubt her own stability and safety. The story unfolds through shifting perspectives, creating a tense psychological match between the two women that kept me utterly captivated.
I found myself whizzing through the pages, largely due to the book's excellent pacing and the use of concise chapters, which truly propel the plot forward. While some of the major revelations felt somewhat predictable to me early on, this didn't diminish my overall enjoyment of the thrilling journey. For others, the core twist landed with a genuine "OMG" moment. Regardless, the clever reveals and the escalating suspense consistently held my attention.
This is a smart and immersive suspense novel that I heartily recommend if you're looking for a quick, intense read that's not overly heavy. It's a testament to the author's skill that even with certain elements becoming clear to me, I still had immense fun reading it.

Thank you to Sally Rigby, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Viv is married and has a little daughter. She needs someone to look after their house while they’re away, so Amelia, someone she doesn’t know, volunteers for the job. At first, it seems fine. But Amelia is the kind of person who does whatever she wants with no one there to stop her.
When Viv and her daughter return home, she starts to feel uneasy. Small but strange things start happening, and soon Viv begins to worry that she’s a danger to her family…
This was my first book by Sally Rigby, and I found it enjoyable. It’s a fast-paced read with short chapters that keep things moving. I did guess the main twist early on, but it didn’t ruin the fun. It’s a quick, easy thriller if you’re looking for something tense but not too heavy. All in all, I had fun reading it and hope you like it as well!
Thanks to Sally Rigby, Netgalley, and Storm Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. (Expected publication: Aug 14, 2025)

I whizzed through this in 48 hours... completely addictive. Told from dual POVs, it plays out like a tense psychological chess match between two characters, each trying to outwit the other and you, the reader, has the front seat. Think Friends “They don’t know that we know that they know…” but with a dark, twisty edge. 😅

Good pacing, clever reveals, and a twist I did not see coming. Highly recommend if you love mind games and smart suspense!

4.5 rounded up!

I really enjoyed this book! The twist actually made me say OMG. Super engaging, easy read with short chapter and different POV’s! Highly recommend!

Wow is all I can say. Did I really just read this. This book should be made into a movie. Looking forward to the next one.

Vivienne’s need for a dog/house sitter work perfectly for Amelia who needs the access to Vivienne’s life.

From almost the first page I had guessed one of the twists and I’m sure most had. The short chapters in dual POV were more repetitive than an actual story narrative.

I found the big ‘reveals’ to be very obvious and the ending felt very rushed, and it made no sense whatsoever to be so wrapped up in a happy little bow.

This would be a great choice for those that want a very quick read.

I received this eARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review, which this is. Thank you for the opportunity.

Lots of suspense in this one. Vivienne hires Amelia as a house sitter while she goes away for the weekend. Amelia uses it as an opportunity to find out lots about her and once she returns, Amelia wages a campaign to make Vivienne think she is going mad then becomes her confidante. We learn more about why as the book goes on and we see what Vivienne does once she realises what is happening. We also find out why Amelia is doing it. There is a big twist at the end, which isn't unpredictable, but somehow still shocks due to how it is written. I wish I could say more without spoiling it for others, but jealousy is a big theme throughout, with hints at childhood traumas. It's not a 5 star for me because I found the main characters hard to empathise with and quite unlikeable!

A psychological thriller, The Silent Guest (2025) by Sally Rigby is a tale of revenge and what can go wrong. Vivienne Campbell hires a house and pet sister, Amelia to look after her dog Willow one weekend. Weeks later, Vivienne starts to doubt herself as strange things happen, like a lost lunchbox, missing photos and different coloured bed linen. She reaches out to Amelia for friendship and support. The narrative alternates from Vivenne and Amelia’s perspectives as their lives become entangled, as tension builds into a surprising reveal. An enjoyable enough domestic noir, if a somewhat unlikely ending makes for a three star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Storm Publishing and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.

A Gripping, Twisty Thriller You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

This suspenseful and cleverly written thriller delivers a tense, fast-paced ride across dual timelines, masterfully weaving a tale of revenge, secrets, and manipulation.

From the very first page, I was hooked. The pacing is relentless, the plot tight and addictive, and the dual timelines add a gripping depth to the unfolding mystery. As the tension escalates, the twists keep coming—right up to the chilling, jaw-dropping finale that left me stunned.

If you love thrillers packed with atmosphere, complex characters, and unexpected turns, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR.

Highly recommended.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and Sally Rigby for the opportunity to read this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I didn't know what to expect when I started this book, but I'm so thankful to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read it.
Expertly crafted and utterly gripping, it had my thoughts leaping around like demented frogs. Why is Amelia so set on turning Vivienne's world upside down? Why doesn't Vivienne suspect that — OK, now she does — but what will she do with her newfound knowledge? Are the threads that join them quite what they seem?
I actually noted 'what a twist!' at one point. But I won't say any more. Grab a copy. You won't regret it.