This was a captivating read that I finished in one sitting. The chapters alternate between Beth, a 14 year old orphan living with a foster family at a mansion named Raven Hill in the 1980's, and Sadie, a struggling actress invited to play a part in a murder mystery game at the same mansion in current times. There is also a 3rd POV scattered between the other chapters, initially an unknown character, but eventually telling some of the backstory.

I am a sucker for a creepy mansion story and I got that but also so much more. The author weaved the story together magnificently, with the Beth/Sadie story lines converging in a way that I didn't expect. There were a lot of secrets between a lot of characters but at no point was I confused, nor could I find a part where the author didn't tie up the loose ends.

The story was fast-paced and even the unlikable characters (of which there were many) were believable- I felt like there was some character development even in the most tertiary of characters. Beth foster mother, Leonora's, obsession with Raven Hill was fascinating to me and tied the whole story together. I did think that the part around the set-up of the murder mystery (the intros and drinks into the dinner) was a little drawn-out compared to the pace of the rest of the book but that is a minor nit and the overall pacing was good.

All in all, I thought this was a great book and I am looking forward to what else rous comes up with next. If you like a twisty family mystery in an creepy atmosphere, you will not be disappointed. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am delighted to have received an ARC from Netgalley. I am leaving my honest review.

Emma Rous creates a complex and captivating mystery surrounding a mansion, Raven Hall, located in the fens of England..

The book unfolds through different perspectives and eras but creates a cogent and entertaining whole..

The Perfect Guests is told from the perspective of two different characters in two different time frames. Beth , a 14 year old orphan, shares her story of being a guest at Raven Hall in the 1980’s and becoming best friends with Nina, the 14 year old girl that lives there. Sadie, a hopefully actress is invited to play a role in a murder mystery dinner at Raven Hall in 2019. At first it’s hard to see where the storylines will intertwine but I think this happens in an unsuspected way which opens the door for many more surprises!

I really enjoyed this book. I think the first half was more exciting to read but only because there was a lot of suspense built up! The second half is when questions were starting to be answered. I loved the inclusion of a murder-mystery party and I liked that there were two stories happening simultaneously, each with their own twists and turns! I can usually figure out the ending of a book early on, but this read left me clueless in some areas up until the very end!

Emma Rous' The Perfect Guests is a perfect book! If you love books that feature big old houses, eccentric characters, and a bit of gothic sloppiness you'll love this book. Beware. Nothing is quite what it seems.

This is a strange and mysterious novel that will keep you on your toes from beginning to end. Nothing is as it seems, that’s for sure.

This book is one sit, captivating, twisty reading. You may see some twists beforehand and but some of them were still surprising that you won’t see them coming. Especially when I try to solve the complex relationships between characters I got a little lost. Several times I asked myself who was related with whom.

I have to say especially first half of the book was delightful. We’re going back and forth between the past: Beth’s arrival to Raven Hall as a companion of Averell family’s daughter Nina and the present time: a young, jobless actress Sadie Langton who suffers to make ends meet, getting a job offer she cannot refuse: role playing at a murder mystery party which will take place at the very same Raven Hall.

Beth is ready to do anything to continue living at Raven Hall because she lost her family recently. Her aunt doesn’t want to take care of her. And she starts liking Nina as her sister, also having a crush on Averell’s old friends’ son Jonah.

And in the present time: Sadie feels lucky to this well paid job but when she starts to read her character’s role play card, she realizes things written about the character exactly reflects her own life which gives her suspicions about the way she’s been invited into this murder play.
Eight chosen guests’ suspicious manners who are specifically invited to the special manor and mysterious high tension, gothic world building reminded me of Agatha Christie books. So I actually devoured the first half and witness how Beth finds herself to play a intriguing game with Averell family, replacing Nina to meet with estranged grandfather who wants to take her back to live in the US.

And in the meantime, strange things start to happen at murder mystery play. One of guests is missing and the rest of them feel nauseous, disoriented. Did somebody try to hurt them?

So it started so well but when I reach the second part just like a play’s second act, the pace went repetitive. Everybody starts making confessions abruptly without any resistance.

Twists were creative but the way of revealing of them were a little haphazard, unplanned and awkward. All those villains of the story acted like they drank truth serums and they start to confess everything without hesitation.
So thriller parts are overshadowed by unnecessary drama. Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians vibes at the gothic mansion lost its charm. There was so much potential about that part of the story. But unfortunately it failed for me.

I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 even though I didn’t like the second half. Some of surprising revelations and promising, hooking start and being a loyal fan of the author made me do that! It’s still easy, fast, soft, gripping reading. But I honestly think there is still some wasted potential.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this unputdownable ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Special Guests is a book written by EMMA ROUS .

This is a book about love, family and the cost of things we hold dear.
No, this is not a summer beach read nor a book to bring out all the emotions we have locked up that just need to be faced and evaluated, nor is it a feel good story.
Now that you know what it isn’t let me tell you what it is.
Special Guests is a book about a house, well really it is more like a castle, named Ravens Hall and the family that lives in it. Marcus, Leona and their 14 year old daughter have been contacted by an orphanage and have agreed to give a summer home to Beth Soames, an orphan the same age as their daughter Nina. Beth fits right in, feels that she is actually one of the family and finally has a place she belongs. All is well and life seems almost perfect for quite awhile but slowly cracks appear and shows that all is not as it seems at Ravens Hall.
I loved this book from the beginning and couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns are great and each one makes you rethink all you know about things you take for granted and the price of obsession.
Now I am off to find and read the authors' other books!

If you read The Au Pair, you will be familiar with the author's writing style. If not, you are in for a treat, as she does twisty plots and characters that seemingly have no connection to each other in a way that pulls you right into the story. The Perfect Guests is told by Beth(1988), Sadie(2019), and an unknown narrator whose place in the timeline is gradually revealed. Since I see myself as an amateur book sleuth, I immediately tried to determine how these characters were connected, which was not an easy task.
Beth lost her parents and brother and is now an orphan, except for her Aunt Caroline, who is too busy to raise her. When the opportunity arises for Beth to live at Raven Hall as a companion, her aunt is quick to agree. Compared to what Beth's life has been, living with Markus and Leonora and their daughter Nina is almost too good to be true. She is asked by Leonora to play a little game, one that seems harmless at first but will have lasting repercussions.
Sadie is a down on her luck actress, always a day away from living on the streets. When she is hired to play a role in a murder mystery, she is thrilled. It soon becomes apparent though that there is more going on behind the scenes. She might be lucky to get out of this job alive.
This was a twisted tale full of lies, secrets, madness, and revenge. The gothic atmosphere was the perfect backdrop and I struggled to connect all the dots before the author reveals(and pretty much failed). All of the characters were intriguing whether their intentions were good or bad(and that is something we will discover). I loved Beth, who had lost so much and did not deserve all that happened to her.
I race read through The Perfect Guest as both Beth and Sadie's tales were compelling, and the identity of the unknown narrator added another layer of mystery to the story. 4.5 stars.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of THE PERFECT GUESTS by Emma Rous in exchange for my honest review.***

4.5 STARS

In the 1980’s, Beth, a teenage orphan goes to live in Avermere, a gothic estate inhabited by Markus, Lenora and their teenage daughter Nina.
In 2019, Sadie, a twenty-eight-year old struggling actress is offered a role as a player in a murder mystery weekend at the that same mansion. Past and present collide is startling ways.

THE PERFECT GUESTS is a near perfect mystery filled with compelling characters, a unique plot, intrigue and lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed Emma Rous’s word building and the fast pace of the story. Beth was a particularly sympathetic character and I enjoyed her first person narration. Sadie was a less developed character. Her narrative was third person and more difficult for me embrace.

Because the reading experience of THE PERFECT GUESTS was so pleasurable, I rounded up to five stars.

I absolutely loved this book... Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. I really loved Rous previous book, The Au Pair, and was so excited to receive this book. The Perfect Guests did not disappoint! Although it's told in two storylines, it's not like the typical style... The two storylines are only about 3o years apart. Both storylines are great in their own right... Though they are certainly intertwined. The concept of the murder mystery weekend was an absolute delight... Sort of like the movie Clue or th r really fun episode of Golden Girls with the museum benefit weekend (sorry.. Obscure reference). I devoured this book in just over a day while on vacation and can't wait to recommend it to all my book friends

Two story lines, both set at Raven Hall, one in 1988 and the other 2019. In 1988 a 14 year old orphan Beth is taken to Raven Hall to live with the Averills she becomes fast frinds with the daugther Nina but quickly things get strange for Beth. In 2019 we are reading about a muder mystery party, set in Raven Hall. I enjoyed trying to figure out who the mystery guests were and how they fit into the story and connected to the Averlills. Great first half of the book but once the fire took place and the guests were milling around putting the pieces together I was disapponted. Felt like the chapters didn't flow toward the end of the book..

I was lucky enough to win an e-ARC of THE PERFECT GUESTS through a Shelf Awareness giveaway. Thanks for hosting the contest, and stay safe!

I enjoyed the story. I would describe it as a game of Clue but without and actual murder. There are two stories told in two different times that come together in the end to solve the mystery.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A three generational love story centered around a house. There are lots of unexpected twists in this novel.

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous is the story of an orphan, Beth, who gets whisked off to the grand Raven Hall to live with her new family, The Averells. Leonora, Markus, and Nina seem to be the perfect family until odd incidents start to surface.

There are lies and manipulation gluing the family together. Beth learns how the mother, father, and brother she knew before Raven Hall were fake. The Averells are more fitting, but deceitful. Who is Beth’s real family and how are they all connected to Raven Hall?

I enjoyed the first half of the book. The second half I lost a bit of interest. The end itself was okay. It’s just the story kind of got sluggish.

This book is a little all over the place and hard to keep straight. It centers around Raven Hall, a mansion located in the isolated East Anglian fens. It jumps from different time periods, with Beth in 1988 being taken in by the family that lives at the estate, and Sadie in the present. Sadie has been invited to take part in a murder mystery dinner party at the estate, but has no idea she has a connection to it. A little confusing, but I did enjoy the plot twists and the pull of the house.

To me, the first half of this novel was a five star read. Everything current was here, a gothic mansion, a murder mystery party invitation send to ‘random’ guests, the dual timelines, the different POV we now expect. Our main protagonist is Sadie, a struggling actor who was hired by a production company to act as one of the characters in the mystery murder weekend. By the middle of the second half, I was disappointed as there was so much fluff and disjointed chapters that it was a three star read and the ending feel flat and contrived. For series readers of psychological thrillers this is lacking, but for occasional readers of the genre it will probably be a hit.

This story is split into two years, 1988 and 2019, and one house (Raven Hall). In 1988, Beth goes to live at Raven Hall after her parents die. In 2019, Sadie is an actress who goes to Raven Hall for a weekend to act out a who-done-it party. Something tragic happens in 1988, which puts Sadie in danger in 2019.

I really enjoyed this story and it's characters. Beth and Sadie have no clue what's going on when they first arrive at Raven Hall. I enjoyed every minute of reading. There were no slow parts. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.

I'm not sure what the author had in mind with this book. It has the back-and-forth in time that many historical fiction has; it has gothic elements; it has a "And then there was None" vibe. However, I never really cared about the characters and there were way, way too many coincidences that were revealed at the end. I kept putting the book down and reading other books which is always a sign that it isn't grabbing me. I did finish because by the middle there were so many mysteries I needed to find out what was really going on.

I liked the back and forth timelines here. Sometimes that doesn’t work for me but it was nicely done. Creepy setting, kept my interest, finished in one sitting!