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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.25
Finished reading: February 1st 2024
“Homes were supposed to be safe havens, meant to protect. It was supposed to be a shelter from the elements, a fortress to keep out evil, and her home had betrayed Josie in the worst possible way.”
WARNING: another unpopular opinion review!
My first two experiences with this author were excellent, so I fully expected to have a great time reading The Overnight Guest as well. The premise has everything I love in a thriller: a bookish angle, a remote setting, a bout of bad weather to further isolate the main character... But in the end there was something about the execution of the plot that didn't hit the mark for me. Is it just a case of wrong expectations and not being in the mood for the story that was presented instead? Maybe. But the fact is that somehow this story just didn't work as well for me personally. This has a lot to do with the structure of the plot. The Overnight Guest is divided into three storylines, and only the present POV is the one as described in the blurb. Then there is a flashback POV to 2000 where we see the events surrounding the crime that took place in the house featured in the present POV... And last but not least, a POV that has serious Room vibes following a young girl and her mother locked up and being abused. Especially the third POV kind of came out of nowhere for me, and it wasn't a POV I particularly liked even though it was well written. Reading about active (child)abuse just wasn't what I had signed up for when I started this story...
The pace in general was also a lot slower than expected, but I think this has a lot to do with the constant POV switches. These switches were way too frequent in my opinion, and the story would have benefitted considerably from staying with one storyline more than a couple of pages. And while part of me can appreciate how everything was woven together in the end, it also ment having to accept way too many coincidences and it just wasn't credible anymore. I did love the ominous atmosphere of the present POV, and the storm is very well done. I think my reaction to The Overnight Guest is the result of overcomplicating the plot, and as a result it all felt a bit disjointed during most of the story. And while I can understand the third POV featuring the girl being included, I would have enjoyed this story SO much better without it. In short: interesting start, WAY too many POV switches, undesirable POV and over the top conclusion with way too many coincidences. Not the story for me, but most people do seem to enjoy it better so it might just have been my fickle reading mood acting up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
carmluvs2read's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wanted something that would grab and keep my attention. Mission accomplished. I thought the viewpoints from different time periods were done well. The pacing was good. Liked the way the weather (scorching hit summer, freezing cold winter) was a part of the story and added so much to the atmosphere. Very good suspense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Confinement
marytreybig's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
The first few chapters of the book had so many typos that it almost made me give up in frustration, but I pushed through. The overall plot and story was really good and there were some interesting twists that kept me guessing. I liked it, but I’ve read so many other books that I would recommend before this one. The end of the book felt cheesy and rushed to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual assault, and Kidnapping
kaitcope's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Emotional abuse
gknott's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
katyannreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. The story was deeply upsetting, I was really rooting for the characters, and it was super scary. I had a bit of an idea about some of the events before they unfolded, but I didn't mind. A very fun read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Eating disorder, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty, Torture, Vomit, Abortion, and Alcohol
ladyinverse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
wowee wow wow wow. I expected some of the twists in this but the biggest one of the book I did not expect at all. a very well done suspense thriller with believable characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Blood, Car accident, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Child abuse
ecn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Extremely predictable from the start, you know exactly what you’re going to get and what happens as soon as enough if set up. The story is extremely simple but it does scratch a certain itch in the fall/winter. Overall not bad! A good in between read for when you don’t really wanna dive into too much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
flattrash's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.5
August 12, 2000
9:30-10:30 PM- Abby is on her regular late night stroll to clear her mind. She and Pepper encounter a pickup truck with a man sitting inside.
12:05 AM- Sheriff John Butler is feeling a bit uneasy not having any crimes committed in a week. Janice- wife of 32 yrs. pulls him back to bed.
1:09 AM- Deb Cutter is woken up by the sound of popping balloons. Husband Randy is gone, so is 17 y/o son Brock. Randy drives a pickup. He’s in the middle of refurbishing his parents farm and a homestead.
1:10 AM- Josie Doyle & Becky Allen (12 y/o’s) run to their house where the loud bangs are coming from. Mom, Father, and Ethan are there. Run into the cornfield and both are shot.
Present Day
Wylie Lark is inside a packed convenience store prepping for the snow and sleet ahead. Runs out after making eye contact with another patron. 14 y/o Seth moves in with his father/ ex- husband. Wylie is a true crime author. She is alone in a isolated farmhouse. When Tas (dog) is let out to do his business, he alerts to a little boy frozen on the ground.
Little girl and her mother are making Easter crafts. Her father comes downstairs with beer and a plastic bag. She sits and stares at the wall while they have "sex."
August 2000
Josie Doyle is doing chores around the farm and discovers Roscoe (dog) is gone. She spots a pickup watching her on the gravel road. Ethan is moody and getting into trouble. Becky is being dropped off for a sleepover. The girls go with Ethan to drop off a pie to their grandparents and shoot targets. Becky has a crush on Ethan. Cutter is also there. They show Becky how to shoot. Get caught by their dad William. He makes Ethan walk home alone and he shoots at the truck as they drive off. Later that night, William and Lynne Doyle killed, Ethan and Becky missing.
Present Day
Wylie brings the frozen boy inside. He looks to be 5 y/o and very thin. Gash on head. Terrified. Runs when she turns her back.
The little girl's mother is pregnant. This is her fourth time.
August 2000
Josie and Becky go look for Roscoe. Search neighbor's property, June and Jackson Henley. Ethan comes back home. Parents suspect him of following an ex-gf, Kara.
Present Day
Wylie finds the little boy hidden behind sofa. She goes outside and spots tire tracks. She follows it to a upside down truck and a woman in the snow.
August 2000
Josie and Becky sneak out to play on the trampoline. Hear gunshots coming from the house. The girls run into the cornfields. Becky is left behind and Josie is shot in the arm. The shooter has his back turned to her.
The man force feeds the woman a thick shake and the little girl drinks the leftovers. They both feel unwell.
Present Day
Wylie treks back home for wire cutters and a buggy. The woman is gone.
August 2000
Sheriff Deputy Levi Robbins pulls over Brock Cutter after he almost crashes into him. He's not as innocent as he appears.
Present Day
The boy finds Wylie's gun and crime scene photos.
August 2000
Josie stands in the cornfields until dawn. She discovers her parents' bodies. Matthew Ellis finds her in the middle of the road. Calls police.
The mother is having another miscarriage.
Present Day
Wylie tries to get more info out of the boy but he doesn't react.
August 2000
The police do sweep the scene, Josie is taken to the hospital, Margo Allen (Becky's mom) is getting worried.
Present Day
Someone has set the abandoned truck on fire. Power's gone out. Neighbor, Randy Cutter, checks on Wylie. Goes to barn for firewood. Sees a shadow heading to boy inside house. It's the woman, with a hatchet. 😨
The little girl cleans up the miscarriage from the bathroom floor.
August 2000
Sheriff Butler interviews Josie in the back of the ambulance.
Present Day
Wylie finds the woman on the couch with the boy. Both are distrustful of each other.
August 2000
Agent Camila Santos and John Randolph arrive on scene.
Present Day
The woman implied she will kill Wylie if she calls the police and separates her from the kid.
August 2000
Deputy Levi Robbins does catches Brock Cutter at the gas station. Lies about when he last saw Ethan Doyle. Ethan's truck is spotted in Leroy, Nebraska.
The woman and child have meager food supplies. When the man doesn't come back for a full day, the woman is able to break the basement lock. The little girl gets her first taste of 'Out There.' They quickly run back inside.
Present Day
The 'little boy' is a girl. Wylie is not giving up on convincing the woman to go to the police.
August 2000
Sheriff Butler goes to the Henley residence. Jackson runs. June lets him inside.
State trooper Phillip Loeb finds the Ethan's truck in a parking lot. Passenger Christina.
The man comes back after 3 days. When the woman confronts him about it, she's punched and isn't allowed to eat.
Randy Cutter was angry with Josie's parents over a land dispute. "Ethan" is calling Margo Allen and stating he has Becky. Coroner confirms Josie's parents were shot with 9 mm and shotgun in the same place. Josie finds Ethan in the goat barn. Search and rescue dog Jupiter finds a blood soak rag (Becky's).
The little girl and woman are duct taped and bound while the man has guests over for Christmas dinner.
Present Day
Wylie and the woman have matching horseshoe-shaped scars on their hands. Wylie changed her name from Josie Doyle. The killer is Jackson Henley. He took Becky.
August 2000
Search warrant for Henley property. Detective Levi Robbins smashes into the back of Brock Cutter's car. He was calling Margo Allen pretending to be Ethan. Jackson Henley is standing next to a pile of burning tires brandishing a gun.
The woman and little girl escape from the basement window. Take the man's truck. Topple over because of the tree in the middle of the road.
Present Day
Wylie locks Jackson into the toolshed and runs back inside. There is a new voice outside, Randy Cutter. Becky confirms it was him who killed Wylie's family and took her. Becky has Randy at gunpoint but shots the ceiling instead.
Randy knocks Wylie out and throws her out into the snow. He heads to the barn in search of the little girl. Wylie hits him with her car. The little girl finishes him off.
15 Months Later
Wylie reading excerpts from her book to the crowd. Becky and her daughter, Josie, are reunited with their family and are doing better.
9:30-10:30 PM- Abby is on her regular late night stroll to clear her mind. She and Pepper encounter a pickup truck with a man sitting inside.
12:05 AM- Sheriff John Butler is feeling a bit uneasy not having any crimes committed in a week. Janice- wife of 32 yrs. pulls him back to bed.
1:09 AM- Deb Cutter is woken up by the sound of popping balloons. Husband Randy is gone, so is 17 y/o son Brock. Randy drives a pickup. He’s in the middle of refurbishing his parents farm and a homestead.
1:10 AM- Josie Doyle & Becky Allen (12 y/o’s) run to their house where the loud bangs are coming from. Mom, Father, and Ethan are there. Run into the cornfield and both are shot.
Present Day
Wylie Lark is inside a packed convenience store prepping for the snow and sleet ahead. Runs out after making eye contact with another patron. 14 y/o Seth moves in with his father/ ex- husband. Wylie is a true crime author. She is alone in a isolated farmhouse. When Tas (dog) is let out to do his business, he alerts to a little boy frozen on the ground.
Little girl and her mother are making Easter crafts. Her father comes downstairs with beer and a plastic bag. She sits and stares at the wall while they have "sex."
August 2000
Josie Doyle is doing chores around the farm and discovers Roscoe (dog) is gone. She spots a pickup watching her on the gravel road. Ethan is moody and getting into trouble. Becky is being dropped off for a sleepover. The girls go with Ethan to drop off a pie to their grandparents and shoot targets. Becky has a crush on Ethan. Cutter is also there. They show Becky how to shoot. Get caught by their dad William. He makes Ethan walk home alone and he shoots at the truck as they drive off. Later that night, William and Lynne Doyle killed, Ethan and Becky missing.
Present Day
Wylie brings the frozen boy inside. He looks to be 5 y/o and very thin. Gash on head. Terrified. Runs when she turns her back.
The little girl's mother is pregnant. This is her fourth time.
August 2000
Josie and Becky go look for Roscoe. Search neighbor's property, June and Jackson Henley. Ethan comes back home. Parents suspect him of following an ex-gf, Kara.
Present Day
Wylie finds the little boy hidden behind sofa. She goes outside and spots tire tracks. She follows it to a upside down truck and a woman in the snow.
August 2000
Josie and Becky sneak out to play on the trampoline. Hear gunshots coming from the house. The girls run into the cornfields. Becky is left behind and Josie is shot in the arm. The shooter has his back turned to her.
The man force feeds the woman a thick shake and the little girl drinks the leftovers. They both feel unwell.
Present Day
Wylie treks back home for wire cutters and a buggy. The woman is gone.
August 2000
Sheriff Deputy Levi Robbins pulls over Brock Cutter after he almost crashes into him. He's not as innocent as he appears.
Present Day
The boy finds Wylie's gun and crime scene photos.
August 2000
Josie stands in the cornfields until dawn. She discovers her parents' bodies. Matthew Ellis finds her in the middle of the road. Calls police.
The mother is having another miscarriage.
Present Day
Wylie tries to get more info out of the boy but he doesn't react.
August 2000
The police do sweep the scene, Josie is taken to the hospital, Margo Allen (Becky's mom) is getting worried.
Present Day
Someone has set the abandoned truck on fire. Power's gone out. Neighbor, Randy Cutter, checks on Wylie. Goes to barn for firewood. Sees a shadow heading to boy inside house. It's the woman, with a hatchet. 😨
The little girl cleans up the miscarriage from the bathroom floor.
August 2000
Sheriff Butler interviews Josie in the back of the ambulance.
Present Day
Wylie finds the woman on the couch with the boy. Both are distrustful of each other.
August 2000
Agent Camila Santos and John Randolph arrive on scene.
Present Day
The woman implied she will kill Wylie if she calls the police and separates her from the kid.
August 2000
Deputy Levi Robbins does catches Brock Cutter at the gas station. Lies about when he last saw Ethan Doyle. Ethan's truck is spotted in Leroy, Nebraska.
The woman and child have meager food supplies. When the man doesn't come back for a full day, the woman is able to break the basement lock. The little girl gets her first taste of 'Out There.' They quickly run back inside.
Present Day
The 'little boy' is a girl. Wylie is not giving up on convincing the woman to go to the police.
August 2000
Sheriff Butler goes to the Henley residence. Jackson runs. June lets him inside.
State trooper Phillip Loeb finds the Ethan's truck in a parking lot. Passenger Christina.
The man comes back after 3 days. When the woman confronts him about it, she's punched and isn't allowed to eat.
Randy Cutter was angry with Josie's parents over a land dispute. "Ethan" is calling Margo Allen and stating he has Becky. Coroner confirms Josie's parents were shot with 9 mm and shotgun in the same place. Josie finds Ethan in the goat barn. Search and rescue dog Jupiter finds a blood soak rag (Becky's).
The little girl and woman are duct taped and bound while the man has guests over for Christmas dinner.
Present Day
Wylie and the woman have matching horseshoe-shaped scars on their hands. Wylie changed her name from Josie Doyle. The killer is Jackson Henley. He took Becky.
August 2000
Search warrant for Henley property. Detective Levi Robbins smashes into the back of Brock Cutter's car. He was calling Margo Allen pretending to be Ethan. Jackson Henley is standing next to a pile of burning tires brandishing a gun.
The woman and little girl escape from the basement window. Take the man's truck. Topple over because of the tree in the middle of the road.
Present Day
Wylie locks Jackson into the toolshed and runs back inside. There is a new voice outside, Randy Cutter. Becky confirms it was him who killed Wylie's family and took her. Becky has Randy at gunpoint but shots the ceiling instead.
Randy knocks Wylie out and throws her out into the snow. He heads to the barn in search of the little girl. Wylie hits him with her car. The little girl finishes him off.
15 Months Later
Wylie reading excerpts from her book to the crowd. Becky and her daughter, Josie, are reunited with their family and are doing better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Car accident, and Alcohol