Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - The Christmas Guest

Having no place to go for Christmas Ashley is invited to her friend Emma’s family home for the holidays. Ashley hopes for a magical trip to the English country and maybe even find some romance. She instantly has eyes for Emma’s brother, Adam, and comes to think he might be attracted to her as well. As for the rest of Emma’s family, she’s put off and intimidated by them.

Choosing to make the best of things, she keeps her focus on Emma and Adam, but things grow tense when people around town start talking about how much she looks like a girl who had been murdered earlier that year. Making matters worse, she finds out that Adam is the prime suspect despite his alibi.

While the plot was intriguing, I couldn’t start Ashley, making the section of the book with her journal entries excruciating after a whole. If not for the mystery and short length of the book I might not have continued, but I’m glad I kept reading. The second part of the book picks up immensely and answers a lot of questions. A good mystery to read/listen to in one sitting.

Content Warnings

fragrant_stars's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious relaxing sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Quick read, cozy, with an open ending that made me kinda want more.

Content Warnings

coco78337's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

faithfullymoonstruck's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

what_heather_loves's review

Go to review page

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

"Christmastime is here again. And I am waiting, as I always do, for one or more guests...All I did was throw a pebble into a still pond. The ripples did the rest. I suspect she will know all about it. As she likes to tell me, she knows everything.

What other guests might arrive? I picture a knock on the door, a flashed badge...If it happens, it happens. I suppose I am prepared."

An American student is thrilled to be invited to a fellow student's Cotswolds home for Christmas, but should have been more wary. The antithesis of cosy, festive crime, this is a chilling novella about a victim, a predator and an accomplice. Split into two parts, the first is told through historic diary entries found during a tidy and the second provides a huge twist and context - I can't say more or spoil the plot. Atmospheric engrossing and tense, I read this in two sittings, although it could be read in one, at 124 pages.

Content Warnings

meowlo's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Content Warnings

aileron's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

More...