In the crowded field of psychological thrillers, this novel distinguishes itself through its tightly wound narrative structure, slow-burning suspense, and a climactic revelation that delivers a profound narrative jolt. From its opening line to its final twist, the text crafts an atmosphere of psychological unease, inviting readers into a taut and intricately layered tale of deception, vengeance, and psychological warfare.

The premise is deceptively simple: when Vivienne Campbell seeks a house sitter for a brief absence, she selects Amelia—an ostensibly trustworthy woman with glowing recommendations. However, unbeknownst to Vivienne, Amelia harbors a long-standing vendetta, one that grants her intimate access not only to Vivienne’s home but to the architecture of her personal life. This premise becomes the foundation for an incisive exploration of betrayal, identity, and moral ambiguity.

Told through alternating points of view, the narrative structure itself becomes a vehicle for psychological tension. The dual perspective allows the reader to simultaneously inhabit Amelia’s calculated, simmering animosity and Vivienne’s bewildered descent into confusion and fear. The decision to withhold Amelia’s motivations until late in the narrative is a deliberate stylistic choice, effectively cultivating a sense of disorientation that mirrors the protagonist’s own unraveling mental state.

Thematically, the novel probes the idea of retribution and the subjective nature of justice. Amelia’s actions—initially perceived as unprovoked cruelty—are later reframed in a new, morally complex light. This delayed revelation prompts a re-evaluation of character alignments and challenges the reader to consider the ethical contours of revenge. The novel resists binary moral categorization, and its characters operate within morally gray territories that render their decisions both sympathetic and disturbing.

Stylistically, the prose is propulsive and emotionally charged, maintaining a relentless pace that mirrors the escalating psychological conflict. The author demonstrates a deft control of tension, balancing revelations with strategic omissions to maximize suspense. The climactic twist, when it arrives, is both narratively satisfying and structurally significant—it recontextualizes much of the preceding plot while preserving plausibility.

This novel is a compelling addition to the genre, notable for its psychological depth, narrative economy, and thematic resonance. It demands to be consumed in a single sitting, yet its implications linger long after the final page. For readers of domestic noir and psychological suspense, this work offers a masterclass in misdirection, character manipulation, and the enduring effects of past trauma.

Highly recommended for readers who value psychological intricacy, layered storytelling, and narratives that interrogate the blurred boundaries between victim and perpetrator.

The Silent Guest is a slow-burning psychological thriller that sneaks up on you—and then grips tight.

When Vivienne Campbell welcomes a housesitter into her picture-perfect home, she doesn’t realise she’s invited danger in with the key. What begins as small disruptions slowly spirals into something more sinister, as her reality starts to unravel and a long-buried past resurfaces. The narrator's calculated manipulations and chilling patience make this a truly unsettling ride.

Sally Rigby writes with a quiet intensity. The tension simmers beneath the surface, building through eerie moments and emotional unease rather than overt shock. It's a refreshing take on revenge—one rooted in silence, subtlety, and cold resolve.

Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers that favour psychological suspense over high drama. You’ll find yourself questioning who's really in control—and whether revenge ever truly settles the score.

The book was engaging with its cat and mouse game from the start. The story is very simple with 5 characters and the mind games played. The twist was predictable and the end was little rushed, but over all a decent read.

This book had me hooked from the very first chapter! The suspense was palpable, and I found myself on the edge of my seat, utterly clueless about what twists awaited me.

The story revolves around Amelia, who has been waiting for the opportunity to take revenge on Vivienne Campbell. When Vivienne needs a housesitter, Amelia positions herself as the ideal candidate, gaining access to her life. While Vivienne is away, Amelia creates small incidents that lead Vivienne to question her sanity and feel threatened by her behavior. As Vivienne struggles with her mental state, Amelia secretly revels in her unraveling, motivated by a past connection and a desire for revenge. The tension builds as Amelia remains determined to make Vivienne pay for her past actions...

The story unfolds through the perspectives of two characters, Vivienne and Amelia. Naturally, one of them is utterly charming, while the other... well, let’s just say they’re not winning any popularity contests. It’s your classic domestic murder mystery, but the real question is: who’s who? You’ll have to dive into the pages to unravel that mystery! Both characters are richly developed, and just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the main twist sneaks up on you at the end. I must give myself a little pat on the back here—this is a rare feat for me! I managed to piece together the twist before the big reveal, but I was still second-guessing myself right up until the last moment. The author did a fantastic job of keeping me guessing, and even though I cracked the code, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment one bit! Just a heads-up: keep your eyes peeled for the subtle hints sprinkled throughout; they all come together beautifully in the end.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, mysterious read, this book is sure to satisfy. It’s a delightful tale of frenemies turned friends, with a heartwarming reminder that sometimes the best friendships blossom in the most unexpected situations. I absolutely loved the ending—it was both touching and a little quirky! Kudos to the author for crafting such a fantastic story. I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to read this widget!

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Brilliant physiological thriller by the talented Sally Rigby.
Vivienne meets Amelia when looking a house sitter to look after the family dog, but she gats more than she bargained for when things start to unravel but are the two women being played by someone else.
This was definitely a book you can’t stop reading.

This was a fun one! It centers on Amelia and Vivienne, with the former being hired as a dog sitter for the latter. The book alternates between the 2 POVs. We know that Amelia is out to get unsuspecting Vivienne but we don’t know why initially. As the story continues the pieces fall into place.

The stuff that Amelia does to make Vivienne think she is going crazy is really clever and well-written. I hope no real life baddies get ideas from this book because ir would be enough to drive someone mad! I thought that the things Vivienne did when she started to suspect also made a lot of sense and that she (mostly) acted the way I expect someone would. While neither character was all that likable, the suspense in the story made up for that. I had an idea around the big twist but I didn’t have it entirely figured out until it happened. I was a little surprised about why the characters made some of the decisions they made at that stage in the book but I suppose it all made sense, looking back on it. The end of the book tied up everything very neatly, though I couldn’t help but think that Amelia’s entire personality changed and I wasn’t sure who she really was.

Overall, thought this was a really engaging read that I finished quickly. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

At 17%, I was completely hooked. This is exactly the kind of thriller I enjoy: dark, twisty and character-driven. Amelia is unhinged in the best way, and I loved reading from her perspective. Vivienne didn’t land well for me early on, but I suspect that’s intentional. She’s written to rub you up the wrong way. I’ve already got a few theories brewing about the rest of the cast.

By 65%, it was still an easy, addictive read, though I’ll admit some parts were a bit far-fetched.

At 80%, I’d committed. I was finishing it in one sitting no matter how late it got. I even started to warm up to Vivienne, which I didn’t expect.

By the end, though, it fizzled slightly. The pacing kept me turning pages, but the big twist and conclusion didn’t quite hit the mark. Still, a solid, fast-paced read with plenty to enjoy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

The book had me intrigued and interested from the start. Although, by chapter four, I was getting a bit annoyed at Amelia saying how she is going to "own" Vivienne's life and destroy it. It felt a bit OTT as the story had barely begun. Where's the build-up and the suspense?
However, as the plot develops, it is not as clear-cut. It's less formulaic and more clever than I originally thought it would be.

I wasn't a fan of Amelia or Vivienne for the majority of the book, and i can't quite put my finger on why. Maybe they were both putting on some sort of act, or weren't their genuine selves? By the end, my opinion had changed. They were both stronger than I gave them credit for.

A gripping read.

The was so good what did I just read here the twos in the book was really twisting omggg such a page turner when others read it they will see what the reviews are saying thank you so much for the page turner

A psychological thriller that keeps you up all night reading until the last page. Sally Rigby is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Told in dual POV's this utterly bingeable thriller by Sally Rigby had me walking around my house bumping into everything because I wouldn't set my phone down for a day and a half!

I just had to know what Vivienne could possible have done to deserve the wrath of Amelia. I couldn't stop reading until....BAM!

Just...don't skip this one my friends. Trust me.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

A clever psychological thriller with unveiled twists that will leave you breathless in surprise.

The Silent Guest is a masterclass in controlled storytelling. It doesn’t scream—it whispers, unveiling it's secrets and in doing so, it demands the reader’s full attention. Rigby proves that thrillers don’t need to be loud to be powerful. With its emotionally resonant themes, psychologically rich characters, and a plot that unfolds like an origami puzzle, this novel is ideal for readers who crave substance beneath suspense.

As a lover of psychological thrillers, I had a feeling this one would be right up my alley, and the description had me hooked from the start.

WOW. This book grabbed me and did not let go. Told through dual POVs, it immediately had me questioning everything. Why was Amelia acting so incredibly petty? What could Vivienne have possibly done to deserve being manipulated into thinking she’s losing her mind? We, the readers, are kept in the dark about Amelia’s motives for tormenting Vivienne until the very end. where everything comes to a sudden halt at one of the biggest twists in the book. It had me gasping, reeling, and flipping pages as fast as I could.

I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller packed with twists and turns that’ll keep you glued to the book and on the edge of your seat.

Huge thanks to Storm Publishing, Sally Rigby, and NetGalley for the chance to read this brilliant thriller!

NOTE - I will add my review to Amazon when possible to do so.

I wanted to love this but it fell flat for me.

I thought the plot twist was pretty obvious from the start.

We get a lot of Vivienne’s internal monologue throughout with a slight hint to childhood trauma explaining her anxious behaviour yet she missed every single red flag in her relationship.

Amelia was a better character but we didn’t get to experience enough of her personality other than her being driven to revenge for a man. She’s not a violent person but she was so easy to manipulate into ruining a family despite her one goal in life being to have a child.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC of this title. This is my honest opinion.

This one had all the ingredients of a compelling psychological revenge tale—an elegant home, a chilling past, and secrets simmering just beneath the surface. I was hooked by the premise: a seemingly perfect housesitter with not-so-perfect motives.

The pacing was on the slower side, and at times the narrative felt a bit repetitive. There were twists—some that I sensed coming, others that caught me off guard—but I kept waiting for the moment, that big explosive turn… and it never quite got there.

Still, it was a solid read layered with quiet tension. If you like slow, psychological suspense, this is worth checking out.

What a gripping, addictive read—this book pulled me in from the very first sentence and didn’t let go until the final, jaw-dropping twist.

When Vivienne Campbell needs someone to house-sit for the weekend, she hires Amelia—a warm, trustworthy, and highly recommended woman who seems like the ideal choice. But what Vivienne doesn’t realize is that Amelia isn’t a stranger. She’s been waiting for this opportunity for years. With a personal vendetta to settle, Amelia suddenly has full access to Vivienne’s seemingly perfect life.

But revenge doesn’t always go as planned.

Told from two alternating perspectives—Vivienne and Amelia—the story is cleverly structured into three sections: before, during, and after. Each part uncovers new layers of deceit and tension. Vivienne, a working mother juggling life with a frequently absent pilot husband, is barely keeping things together. As odd things begin happening—misplaced objects, forgotten conversations—she starts questioning her memory and even her sanity.

Meanwhile, Amelia believes she’s setting the perfect trap. But when cryptic threats begin to surface, hinting that someone else knows who she really is and what she’s planning, everything starts to unravel in unexpected ways.

This psychological thriller hits all the marks—it’s disturbing, suspenseful, and emotionally layered. The slow-build tension is relentless, and the final twist is truly haunting. Sally Rigby expertly weaves a tale where no one is entirely innocent, and everyone harbors secrets.

With morally complex characters, hidden truths bubbling just beneath the surface, and a mind-bending plot, The Silent Guest is an unputdownable story about trust, identity, and the consequences of revenge.

Perfect for fans of intense, dark domestic thrillers.

Thank you to Sally Rigby, NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

The Silent Guest by Sally Rigby is a dark, engaging thriller that kept me on edge. The atmosphere was perfectly eerie, the pacing kept the tension tight, and the mystery unraveled in a way that had me second-guessing everyone.

The story follows DCI Whitney Walker and forensic psychologist Dr. Georgina Cavendish as they team up to solve a disturbing murder — a woman found dead in her home, with no sign of forced entry and no apparent enemies. But as the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that someone is watching, and the killer might be closer than anyone realizes.

The dynamic between Whitney and Georgina is a highlight of the book. Their approaches and personalities complement each other well, and I enjoyed the layers to both women’s characters — strong, intelligent, and deeply human. The character work throughout the book was strong, especially with Georgina, whose quiet insight and emotional depth added a lot to the story.

The plot was full of solid twists, and while I did figure out part of the mystery before the reveal, it didn’t take away from the suspense or the emotional punch. The ending was satisfying without feeling overly tied up, and left just enough room to keep me interested in what’s next for this series.

I’m giving this a solid four stars — the writing was sharp, the characters were well-developed, and the suspense was truly chilling in places—an excellent read for fans of British crime fiction with strong female leads and psychological depth.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book was fun - twists and turns all the way!
Thank you to NetGalley!
I was hooked right from the start - and while a few things were predictable, I did not see the big twist coming!
A quick and fun thriller - first time with the author, bu won’t be my last!

This one had me hooked from the start—probably because I’ve used house and dog sitters (yep, even labradoodles!) for 15+ years, and The Silent Guest really leans into that nightmare scenario of letting the wrong person into your home.

Amelia is next-level unhinged, and at first it’s like… why is she doing all this? But as things unfold, you get bits and pieces of the past, and her plan starts to make sense—well, thriller sense anyway. Vivienne, on the other hand, comes across a bit scatterbrained but she’s sharper than people give her credit for. I loved watching her slowly start to realise something was way off.

The tension builds nicely—lots of creepy little moments and that unsettling feeling of not knowing who to trust. Also, the minute the well was mentioned I was like, “Yep, someone’s going down there.” And if it was Willow the labradoodle, I was going to lose it. (No spoilers, but justice for Willow.)

There are some properly dodgy blokes in this too. I had my suspicions, and while it wrapped up a bit too fast for me, I was still yelling “I KNEW IT!” at the end. Bonus points for the counter-counter-attack twist.

If you like fast-paced psychological thrillers with revenge, manipulation and a big ol’ dose of paranoia—this one’s for you. Just maybe don’t read it while leaving your dog with a new sitter…

A fast-paced psychological thriller with a familiar setup. The tension builds well, and the writing is solid, but I found most of the twists pretty predictable. If you’ve read a lot of domestic suspense, this one might feel a bit formulaic.

Still, it’s a quick, engaging read with just enough unease to keep the pages turning. Good for fans of thrillers who don’t mind knowing where it’s headed.