A review by minimicropup
The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Set in a quaint Cotswolds village in England. 
POV: We follow the tale through diary entries from the 1980s and a first person perspective from the diary reader in a Manhattan apartment present day. 
 
Mood Reading Match Up: 
-Diary within a novel 
-Not-all-is-as-it-seems twists 
-New adult and college life murder mystery 
-Village Christmas energy 
 
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🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕 
✏️ Writing: I loved the weaving of a diary narrative with character reflections. The diary entries, detailed and authentic, captured the essence of a dedicated journal writer, avoiding clichéd suspense tricks. The narrative switched to a character kind of speaking directly to us in the latter half, revealing deeper layers of the story. 
 
🫥 Characters: The diary writer’s portrayal was spot-on, reflecting their social anxiety and overthinking tendencies. This introspective style gave depth to the character but might be draining for those who find such self-analysis tiresome. 
 
🗺️ Worldbuilding: I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting. The aging country house and village pub were vividly depicted, imbuing the story with a cozy, wintry charm and the Christmas vibes were maintained throughout. 
 
🔥 Fuel: The unfolding events in the diary kept the suspense high, with mysteries woven seamlessly into the narrative. The second half of the book brought surprising revelations, maintaining a gripping “wait, what?!” feeling. 
 
🐇 Pacing: I felt the story moved swiftly, engaging me throughout. It’s the kind of book that was hard to put down, and I was eager to return to its world. 
 
🎧 Audio narration: The audiobook version adds another layer of enjoyment. The narration captures the youthfulness of the journal writer, and the sound effects, like page turning, enrich the diary-reading experience. 
 
🤔  Random Thoughts: I thought the story was a compelling, diary-driven mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Its vivid setting and well-crafted narrative makes it a great read (or listen) for those who love a good twist and a dash of dark Christmas spirit. 
 
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Content Heads-Up: Social anxiety. Loneliness. Murder. Betrayal. Psychopathies. 
Rep: The characters are primarily White British and American 
 
Format: Audible 
 
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