I unfortunately did not connect with this story so after about 25% i decided to put it down. There was a slight disconnect between the writing, the characters and the plot and for that it just did not work for me.

Wow, what a ride! This book is the definition of a popcorn thriller—gripping, fast-paced, and impossible to put down.

The story follows Wylie Lark, a true crime writer who retreats to an isolated farmhouse to work on her latest book. As a deadly snowstorm traps her inside, she discovers a small child outside, leading her to uncover dark secrets buried in the house's past. The suspense builds with every chapter, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

Gudenkauf's writing is sharp and atmospheric, making the farmhouse setting feel both cozy and claustrophobic. The alternating timelines and perspectives add depth to the narrative, revealing layers of mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins for the complimentary digital ARC of The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf, in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this book sounded RIGHT up my alley - creepy atmosphere, found child, different timelines, true crime author snowed in - yes please! This was my first book read by Heather Gudenkauf, and definitely will not be my last.

While it did not hook me completely in like I was hoping, it definitely had me coming back - and had me thinking twice about spending any time in an abandoned farmhouse. If you are looking for a quick, suspenseful thriller, I defiantly say pick this one up!

This was an amazing read. I absolutely devoured this book in a day and was completely engrossed in the plot. This was creepy, atmospheric, addictive and everything I’d want in a thriller. I also love a good snowy setting, so this was a perfect winter read. 100% recommend!

This novel is a prime vehicle for Gudenkauf's talent for writing well-crafted suspense. The drama and shear bone-chilling (in more ways than one) stark FEAR that this novel produces in you for the main character will have you recalling this book long after you have finished it. Personally I read hundreds of books a year and few (if any) have haunted me as this one did. Definitely will read anything this author produces! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Overnight Guest is a chilly, suspenseful novel. It was a very quick read but felt a little rushed at the end. It definitely kept you guessing, although it felt a little unbelievable at times.

Wylie is a true crime author writing about a horrific murder in a small town in Iowa. Her teenage son opted to move in with his father so Wylie decided to leave Oregon and stay in that Iowa town to finish her research and write her book. Then an epic snow storm shuts the town down. During the storm, Wylie finds a little boy passed out in the snow so she brings the boy inside to take care of him. The boy will not give her any information. She can't call the police because the lines are down and there is no electricity. Why is this little boy alone and why won't he talk to her?

Thanks to #NetGalley, Heather Gudenkauf, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC of #TheOvernight Guest in exchange for an honest review.

Wylie Lark is a true crime writer, she’s staying in a secluded farmhouse in a small town to write her latest novel. The twist years earlier, a vicious killings took place at this same exact farmhouse she’s staying at and a girl disappeared without a trace. As a terrible snow storm rages outside, Wylie should have lots of time to settle in and finish her book…that is until she finds a young child outside in the snow a little boy who is wounded, scared, acting like caged animal. How did he get hurt? How did he arrive in the middle of the blizzard? Why is he not talking and why is he so scared? She brings him inside so he doesn’t freeze to death.
Soon it becomes very clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them. Oh my gosh this book will give you nightmares!!

Fast paced and entertaining. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

I actually DNF’d this one. It just wasn’t for me but I could see why others would enjoy it. I found it a tad predictable (which I usually don’t mind!) but in this case it lessened my enjoyment of the story.

An amazing 5-star read. I never guessed the plot twist and then suddenly, it was there and made sense. I highly enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This one was good until the last 75%. The end part just seemed so *insert eye toll here*... The story was going along so well and then all of a sudden it felt like lazy writing to end it.

As far as "locked room" thrillers go, this one is a gem! A snowy retreat, decades old murders and disappearances? What isn't to like?

I read Heather's earlier work, One Breath Away and Little Lies and loved them. The Overnight Guest takes her writing in a whole other direction. When a true crime writer tries to isolate in an old farmhouse to write her next book, a snowstorm, a power outage and a child she finds barely alive in the snow will take her quiet time in a different and deadly direction. You will not be able to put this book down.

As a true crime writer, Wylie Lark is used to the morbid and macabre. So it would seem that an old farmhouse in the middle of nowhere would be the perfect place to focus on her new book. Even if that farmhouse was the site of a gruesome crime years ago. She’s not too worried when a snowstorm isolates her even further. Things change, however, when she finds a child on the verge of freezing to death. Along with the child comes a danger she never expected. Told in alternate storylines, this story pulled me in from the very beginning. At times I wasn’t sure where it was headed but it all came together at the end.

Wylie is in for the night of her life isolating herself in the farmhouse. When a small child appears, she doesn't know who to trust and how to keep them both safe. This book is thrilling and a great read!

Creepy, suspenseful, thriller that will keep you up all night reading. I found it super creepy, despite the fact that there was some unbelievability at the end, but otherwise a good book and definitely different than other plot lines.

Wylie Lark is a true crime writer working on finishing her newest book. She finds herself snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she is staying - the same farmhouse where two people were brutally murdered 20 years ago and from which a girl went missing without a trace. As the storm worsens, Wylie discovers a small child in the snow and begins to search for answers.

Twenty years ago, Josie Doyle and her friend Becky were witnesses to the brutal murder of Josie's parents. Josie was able to hide in the corn field, but when she emerged in the morning she discovered her best friend had disappeared and she was all alone.

This book was my first by Heather Gudenkauf and it surely won't be my last. After writing this review I'm going to my library app and requesting all the books. I really got pulled in to the story. This story was told three points-of-view in two different time periods. The back and forth did not bother me. I do enjoy this type of storytelling. I LOVED Josie's story and was excited when I figured out a twist about half way through. The ending of the story was satisfying to me and I felt like everything was tied up.

I also enjoyed the fact that, although there were a few hard topics and gory descriptions, there was no bad language (that I remember), no overly graphic descriptions, and it was just a great read.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

I read this story all day yesterday as the snow was coming down and it was a great backdrop seeing as the weather in this book is a blizzard. Once started, I couldn’t put it down, the story is very addictive and easily one of the best mysteries I have read so far this year. There are 3 storylines going on here and they are all immensely suspenseful and of course all comes together with an explosive ending.

I forgot to send this. I apologize. I wasn't able to open this book. I tried everything so I didn't get a xhsnce to read it. That said. I've read several of the author's books and they're all great, so I would expect the same for this book.

The Overnight Guest is an excellent thriller. It sucked me in from page one and never let up. It isn’t one of those mile-a-minute stories. Better than that, it was well-plotted with enough character development to make the reader care and keep turning the pages. The narration of the murder of a young girl’s family and the disappearance of her best friend alternates between the happenings at the time the crimes were committed, a present day perspective and a third storyline. The story is well-told and highly recommended..