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A review by karleevoelp
The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
This book was faced paced, I loved the 3 storylines, and I believe they came together fairly well (until maybe the end, I think it could have remained in the present day POV). Kept me on my toes for sure!
As someone who truly has not read many thrillers at this point, I have not come across all the stereotypical tropes and predictable endings that I know come with most thrillers. That being said, unlike many of the reviews I've read, I did not really predict the ending as early on as it seems some people did. I actually really believed that Ethan was the culprit and that this was a very poorly written mystery (looking back now, silly), until that was obviously not a plausible case anymore. I think there was just the right amount of interjection of Randy throughout the past POV that I kind of forgot about him when I was predicting who I thought must have done it, but once it was revealed, had a bit of an aha moment. And honestly felt stupid after remembering Randy was literally in the barn on the same day Josie found Ethan's body lol.
NOW, where I have issues is the last 15-20% of the book. A) I think the presentation of the big who-dunnit mystery was a bit...lackluster...I excepted a little more. Don't ask me what that entails because I don't know but it felt not super emotional?? idk. B) I was almost laughing at how many times Wylie FAILED to make any sort of effectful impact on the man she was fighting against FOR HER LIFE. I think there had to be at least 6+ opportunities for her to hit him aside the head with the array of different tools she acquired along the way, and she failed every time lol. I saw a review say it was Michael Myers-esque where they simply just would..not...die. While the rest of the book felt fast paced and kept me entertained, toward the end I kept finding myself asking... how is this not over yet??
All in all, a good book and I would recommend reading!!
As someone who truly has not read many thrillers at this point, I have not come across all the stereotypical tropes and predictable endings that I know come with most thrillers. That being said, unlike many of the reviews I've read, I did not really predict the ending as early on as it seems some people did. I actually really believed that Ethan was the culprit and that this was a very poorly written mystery (looking back now, silly), until that was obviously not a plausible case anymore. I think there was just the right amount of interjection of Randy throughout the past POV that I kind of forgot about him when I was predicting who I thought must have done it, but once it was revealed, had a bit of an aha moment. And honestly felt stupid after remembering Randy was literally in the barn on the same day Josie found Ethan's body lol.
NOW, where I have issues is the last 15-20% of the book. A) I think the presentation of the big who-dunnit mystery was a bit...lackluster...I excepted a little more. Don't ask me what that entails because I don't know but it felt not super emotional?? idk. B) I was almost laughing at how many times Wylie FAILED to make any sort of effectful impact on the man she was fighting against FOR HER LIFE. I think there had to be at least 6+ opportunities for her to hit him aside the head with the array of different tools she acquired along the way, and she failed every time lol. I saw a review say it was Michael Myers-esque where they simply just would..not...die. While the rest of the book felt fast paced and kept me entertained, toward the end I kept finding myself asking... how is this not over yet??
All in all, a good book and I would recommend reading!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Blood, and Kidnapping
Minor: Sexual assault