The Perfect Guest by Emma Rous
Pub Date 01/07/21

Dual timelines~ Beth in 1988 and Sadie in 2019. A story about a grand estate with many secrets called Raven Hall where they'll do anything to stay.
And orphan caught in a web of lies, and a young woman playing a sinister game.
The story starts when Sadie lands a job as an actress playing a part in a murder mystery dinner at the estate Raven Hall. From here the story unravels. And some of the twist are quite shocking. If you think you have it figured out think again.
If your looking for an excellent suspense, gothic style read then mark your calendar for this one.
From the writer of Au Pair comes this next great read in 2021.

Thank you to the publishers and to #netgalley for the advanced copy of The Perfect Guest
⭐⭐⭐⭐

You'll undoubtedly see mentions of Agatha Christie when people are reviewing this book and the comparisons are apt. While the half of this book that takes places in the 80s is more of an mystery, the half that takes place in modern times feels like classic Christie (in a good way.)

A group of mysterious strangers thrown together in a rambling old mansion to "play a game" is always a great set up. Like a Christie book, the story isn't scary (and not even that much of a thriller) but more of a straight up mystery.

For the most part, this book delivers on both past and present timelines. The part that takes place in the 80s is a tad stronger, in my opinion. Unlike the modern character Sadie, we really get to know 1989 Beth and the uncomfortable position she's put in being saved by ostensibly very nice people who sometimes ask her to do very odd favors. The modern half felt like it was under the weight of too much mystery set-up and solving to do much character development.

The pacing of the book is strong, although a bit uneven (the first half was a bit slow and the last third, very fast with continuous big reveals) and the mystery was well-played out. There were some twists I figured out before they were revealed, but plenty of others I didn't see coming.

I think I liked least (which can also be a beef with some of Christie's books) is that EVERYTHING was tidily connected to the mystery. In the vein of stories that end with far too many revelations like, "And, she's his second cousin! And, he was carrying the hidden watch all along! And, he's actually s0-and-so in disguise!" If you're looking for a book with zero loose ends, you'll be thrilled.

Overall, an enjoyable read. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thrilling, fun, loved the characters. I don't normally read YA fiction, but I did enjoy this book and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Very unique plot line. I enjoyed this story. It was interesting. I really loved the characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Told in a dual narrative by Beth in 1989 and Sadie in 2019, both stories star Raven Hall as the main character. Beth is 14 in 1989 when she goes to live with Markus, Leonora, and their 14-year old daughter Nina at Raven Hall. Recently orphaned, Beth is anxious to make a great impression on the family, in the hopes that she can stay. Despite some odd rules and looks, everything is going well until Leonora and Markus ask her to take part in a game. After that, nothing is the same.

Sadie is a perpetually out-of-work 28-year old. Still chasing an acting dream, she jumps at the chance to take part in a Murder Mystery weekend taking place at Raven Hall. Despite a warm and mysterious welcome, the mystery murder dinner quickly devolves.

This was an easy and quick read. The twists weren't particularly twisty, and there were times when I could have benefitted from a family tree, but it's worth a read.

I picked this up and it wouldn't let me put it down very long so I wound up finishing this in about a day. I very much enjoyed this and I want to talk about ALL THE THINGS but that wouldn't be cool because spoilers.

I love "group invited to a sequestered at a location under the guise of good time only to have sinister deeds start to go down" stories. Blame Agatha Christie. I am a complete sucker for the set up so between that and really having enjoyed Rous' debut The Au Pair , I was thrilled when I won a giveaway for The Perfect Guests. Beyond the setup, Rous gives us a storied house and a character so obsessed with it, things can't end well. The last time I came across so house obsessed a character was The Beloveds by Maureen Lindley and I have to say, Rous has sold me on the type. The way the obsession wove and wound through the story was fantastic. There are three POVs told in the past and present. Identities and connections were fun to puzzle out and I was even happier when I hadn't suspected correctly. It's always a joy when something big happens and you realize you've only reached the 75% mark in the book. The final 25% had me up late and it was worth it. Between my "Ha! There it is!" and "Wait. Oh... ok then." this story took the revelations all the way to the last word. Late-night reading is why coffee, I say. I was thrilled.

Well done all the way around by Rous. I am always excited for an author's followup after a debut and this one actually met and exceeded my hopes! That's no small thing. So, if you enjoyed The Au Pair definitely get this one, you're in for a treat. I will be waiting for Rous's next book.

I won an Advance Reader's Copy in a giveaway. Many thanks to the publisher.

I received a digital copy from NetGalley and the publisher. Thanks for the free digital copy.

The basic premise of "The Perfect Guest" is that it revolves around Raven Hall and the mysteries of the family who owns it. It's set in two time periods, 1988 and 2019 and revolves around the family in the 1980s and Sadie, an out of work actress, who was invited to Raven Hall in 2019.

I feel like this book is a slow burner. The first third of the book started off slow and was a little hard to keep track of who was who. But as soon as the secrets and mysteries start to come out, the book picks up the pace and I couldn't put it down. The characters were likeable and I was interested in their stories.

Overall, I would read another book by Emma Rous as this book was an enjoyable read.

Nice little mystery with plenty of twists and the perfect setting – an old mansion in the country. Nothing to make you jump or scream, but a nice quick read for a rainy day. It is set in two different times, the present and 1988, and goes back and forth, helping you to figure out what the heck is going on! I liked the first half much more than the second half and felt like the ending was a bit of a rush to finish the story and wrap up all the loose ends. Still, a fun read.

The Perfect Guest, a time-jumper novel‘s, best attributes include well-written descriptions of Raven Hall and surrounds. The characters are well fleshed-out. The editing could have used one more pass. There are a few too many “so’s”. I would recommend for adult, mystery, and women’s book clubs.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: January 12, 2021
Author of “The Au Pair” Emma Rous is back with her new novel, “The Perfect Guests”.
<i> In the 1980s, Beth feels lucky to be taken in at Raven Hall, a mansion in the isolated countryside. After losing her entire family tragically, Beth knows that she should be grateful to be taken in by the Averells, and to become fast friends with their daughter, Nina. As she starts to feel more and more like a part of the family, one day she is asked to take part in a “little game” that changes her life forever. After all the Averells have done for her, how could she possibly say no?
In 2019, Sadie Langton is out of work and out of money. As a struggling actress, she eagerly accepts the opportunity to play a role in a murder-mystery game, at the ramshackle and run down Raven Hall. However, when she starts to immerse herself in the game she begins to notice connections between the other players, and she is left to question if the intention of the game is really as innocent as it initially appeared. </i>
“Guests” is told in alternating narrations and time periods, from 1980s Beth to 2019s Sadie, both with a connection to Raven Hall. There is also a third narrator who also has a connection to Raven Hall, but it is not until the end of the novel when the identity is revealed. The chapters are clearly labeled, making it easy to identify who is speaking and in which time period we are in. I always enjoy not having to take the extra step to figure that type of thing out, and I’m grateful to Rous for making it easy for me.
There were many twists in this novel and although some of them were easy to figure out, others were less so. There were many characters in this novel, beyond our leading narrators, and as the novel progressed, I found it more difficult to keep track of the secret connections between them. However, all of them were likable and relatable and I definitely took a vested interest in the outcome.
Although I had intended on reading “The Au Pair”, I never got around to it, so this is my first experience with Rous as a writer. I liked her writing style, and her ability to keep a reader invested and engaged. Her characters were spunky and dysfunctional <i> (as are all humans, no??) </i> and the ending had just the right amount of twists and turns <i> (some predictable, some not) </i>.
“The Perfect Guests” is the perfect murder-mystery novel, where the game is the pretense to a deadlier plot.

I love a spooky house story, I love Clue, and I love a dual timeline. Unfortunately I did not love this book. The first 2/3 was relatively interesting, though I found it was weighted far too heavily on the past storyline rather than the present (which was the one I was most intrigued by), and the final third seemed to be a sort of classic Shakespeare fifth-act wrap up, with very few actual surprises. I'll reach Rous again, as I liked her first book, but this one just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am pretty sure I chose this book because of the cover originally...then when I read the synopsis, it sounded like it would be an interesting read. And it really was...The story is told by two narrators(although there is briefly a third)...Beth back in 1988 and Sadie in 2019 and what happens in 1988 is directly connected to what is currently happening in 2019. When we meet Beth, she is a 14 year old girl who had lost her parents and her brother recently and her Aunt is not able to currently take her in so she has been spending time in a kids' home. A family has decided to take her into their home so she can be a companion to their daughter on a temporary basis and Beth is not only happy to be out of the home but to be around a family again...and the house is amazing. But strange things start happening that makes Beth wonder what is really going on around the house.

As for Sadie, she is an out of work actress who gets invited to be a part of a murder mystery type scenario and she gladly jumps at the chance. Only strange things start happening during her time there. Maybe because it happens to be the same house? This book was so full of twists and turns that I never got bored and I always wanted to just keep reading to find out what happens next. I am pretty sure I was surprised all the way through. :)

Thanks to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In 1989, 14 year old Beth's parents have died and her aunt travels too much to care for her, so she moves to an estate called Raven Hill and lives with Marcus, Leonora, and their 14 year old daughter Nina. Beth and Nina hit it off and everything is going well until Marcus and Leonora ask Beth to play a part in a strange game. In the current day, Sadie, a struggling actress, gets a job at a mystery dinner that is occurring at Raven Hill. It seems that it will be a fun role, but soon things start to get strange and she wonders why she was selected for this role.

I really enjoyed this author's previous novel, so I was excited to read this one. Overall I liked this novel, and read it pretty quickly. I found many of the characters to be quite odd and quirky but even after understanding the connections and relationships, I wasn't sure about some of the characters' motivations to act they way they did which is probably why this was a 4 star, not a 5 star read for me.

This was a nice plot-driven novel with a bunch of twists and a lovely setting: an old manor house in the British countryside.
I liked the alternating chapters set in different times(1988 and present day) and trying to unpuzzle the mystery.
The end result was tired up a little too nicely and predictably for my liking, but it wasn't a bad binge read.

If you're looking for a pleasant twisty mystery without horror or gore or anything too unseemly this is a great option.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Beth enter Raven Hall hoping this family will finally be the love she is looking for. Looks can be deceiving and she quickly begins to question the motives of the parents. Fast toward to Sadie and her time at Raven Hall. The back and forth is ok but for me personally I just got bogged down in it. I'm sure this book will have an audience,but not a good one for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC.
This was a very gripping and absorbing story, told from the perspective of 3 characters and timelines: Beth 1988/9, Sadie 2019 and and an anonymous character who is gradually revealed. It's a quick read, because you won't be able to put it down... There is a 4th character, Raven Hall, the manor where most of the action takes place.
My favorite was Beth, I felt sorry for her, she didn't have much control over her life and was desperate to please everyone. I did at times have to concentrate to keep the characters apart, but that wasn't a big thing.
The ending was good, it explained everything and was satisfying. I definitely recommend this read.

I loved loved the au pair, and dove head first into the perfect guests with high hopes. With the way the world is currently, we all need a good way to shut everything out and escape, and this book was mine this week. A fast paced thriller with characters you can connect with makes this for a super quick and fun read.
Happy to say the perfect guest did not disappoint!

Set in the Fens, this was another suspenseful read from the author. Emma Rous has a talent for making the reader feel truly immersed in the setting, usually one that is quite unique in some way. The lake near Raven Hall, which is the remote familial estate where the story takes place, makes for an ever-present danger which seems to always be lurking just off stage.
The pacing of the first part of the story was perfect, but the ending felt a bit unpolished and rushed in contrast. For readers who love an unexpected twist (or two) at the end, the payoff should surprise. That said, I felt that some of the characterizations were over-similar, making it hard to differentiate at times. I did appreciate the realistic nature of the mother-daughter relationships that the author explored.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an early read of this atmospheric and suspenseful read - this was a fantastic vacation-worthy selection!

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous has been fun to read! I knew I would enjoy it since I loved The Au Pair by this author so much. It made me very happy to have been granted an Emma Rous ARC via NetGalley.
The plot alternates between 1988 and 2019 and different characters which are revealed to us just bit by bit. It's very hard to write a review without spoiling the secrets. ;) It's so good!!! Some of the secrets will really surprise you!
You really must read this book! I started out slow because I was trying to finish up a trilogy, but once I got into this book I really could not put it down. ****4.5 stars****

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous grabbed my attention and just wouldn’t let me go until I read the final pages. It starts with Sadie- a mostly unemployed actress scrambling to make ends meet. She’s closing up her mom’s apartment and gets a call for a special role: play a role at a special mystery dinner party for a new place that is opening,

She heads to Raven Hall- a newly remodeled grand house with a mysterious past. There isn’t much online that she can find out about the house or the previous owners, but it definitely intrigued her.

She gets fancy clothes and a chauffeured car ride to this mysterious house and meets some odd characters.... but Sadie is eyeing the financial payout at the end of the dinner: enough for a couple’s months rent so she goes along.

One of the things that I really like about The Perfect Guests is that it flips back and forth from present (2019) to past (1988). In the late 1980’s we meet Beth - an orphan staying at the children’s home as she’s on her way to stay with Leonora, Markus, and their daughter, Nina. Beth and Nina quickly connect and become best friends- spending all of their time together. Seems like a perfect set up, only Nina’s parents ask Beth to pretend to be Nina when meeting Nina’s grandfather and that makes Beth feel really weird.

The stories are easy to keep straight because of the author’s heading... but also Sadie and Beth have distinctly different voices that are clear. I love these twisted stories and the mystery at the dinner party is suspenseful, terrific writing! I liked how all the questions were answered by the end - and can definitely recommend this novel and author!

Will definitely be adding Emma Rous to my list of authors to know!

Thank you to NetGalley, Emma Rous , and Berkeley Publishing Group fo this temporary, digital review copy for me to read and enjoy. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.