This is definitely my least favorite from this author. I'm not sure if it was the dual timelines or the "locked door" type storyline in the present, but I just was not as impressed. The characters did not go deep enough to peak my interest and it just seemed like she was trying to do too much in this story. I will try again with the next one!

Unpopular review: You know that disclaimer at the beginning of all fiction novels that state such and such book is a work of fiction and purely coincidental ??? Well, that little disclaimer doesn’t apply here. The Overnight Guest is a very suspenseful and atmospheric book. I hadn’t felt the creeps like this since The Whisper Man!! I mean it would have been so amazing with its remote farm setting in the dead of winter during a blizzard and a possible killer on the loose. Unfortunately, I have a bone to pick. To know me is to know that this crime junky lover knows her true crime cases and there are some cases you just dont forget. This story basically pulled “inspiration” from 3 very disturbing criminal cases, mixed them up, slightly changed some events and names and called it fiction. Like what the hell? I think it’s a bit distasteful and super disrespectful to the survivors and family members of the ones who have passed on. The three cases you can google to compare are the Ariel Castro kidnappings, Jaycee Dugard, and Jaime Closs. Even the character’s name was Josie (too similar to Jayce and Jaime if you ask me) These are real people who had some terrible shit happen to them. I read fiction as for escapism not this right here. This one’s a hard pass for me and I hope the author does better next time ❤️

2.5⭐️

I know I’m in the minority here but I just didn’t really enjoy this story. I mean it is a quick and captivating thriller, but it just wasn’t for me.

It’s hard to enjoy many thrillers nowadays as I read more and more.

The setting was eerie and chilly, which I do enjoy in stories. There definitely is a great plot line for some but for me personally it was just okay.

I didn’t really care for any of the characters nor about what was going on. The ending was great but it did take me awhile to somewhat care about this book.

I 100% can appreciate this author and story. Like I said, I’m in the minority so please take this review with a grain of salt.

My first book by this author and definitely will not be my last, she did a fantastic job making me care deeply about all 3 of the alternating timeline/POVs which kept me listening at a super fast pace, and all of them tied together flawlessly in the end.

The story is told from the perspective of a mother and daughter locked in a basement (CREEPY), an author writing in a secluded cabin when she finds unexpected guests out in the snowstorm, and a little girl who narrowly escaped after her parents were murdered in their home and her brother is now missing. The settings throughout the book were so atmospheric and this is the perfect thrilling and suspenseful read for a winter day!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with a copy!

This is a gripping tale of dread and danger that I read at warp speed so as not to linger on the threatening details. Initially I thought I would have to abandon this book because of my anxiety level, but I was soon caught up in the drama and by reading quickly I managed to avoid nightmares. The story alternates among several time periods and locations, including the shooting murder of a family and the disappearance of a young girl in the summer of 2000, the psychological issues of a writer of true crime stories caught in a blizzard in an isolated cabin in the present and the horror of a woman and her child imprisoned in a basement by a psychopath. The imprisonment story is reminiscent of the Emma Donoghue novel, Room, with the same claustrophobic atmosphere.
Each story is riveting in its own way but it is not til the final third of the book that the three storylines come together for a powerful, edge-of-your-seat connection and conclusion.
The writing was clear and served the escalating tension of the story well. If you like gripping family drama, this may be the story for you.

I enjoyed stories set in the winter in the midst of a snowstorm. But I struggled with the switching timelines and the focus on childhood abuse, so this book was not for me. It's me, not the book, so I will not be leaving a review on social media or retail sites.

This was my first novel (even though I have her last one on my shelf, patiently waiting) by Heather Gudenkauf, and, I have to say, THE OVERNIGHT GUEST didn’t disappoint. I loved the way she set up the story, weaving together three different narratives, flashing back to the past and in the present.
The journey through the narratives kept me engaged. There were twists I didn’t see coming, and I was kept guessing until the explosive climax. There was so much I enjoyed, and I can’t wait to read more of Gudenkauf’s novels.
Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#TheOvernightGuest #HeatherGudenkauf #ParkRow

Holy smokes! This is my favorite book of the year so far! I loved everything about it. I was trying to figure out how all the stories had to do with each other and that was fun. Highly recommend

I enjoyed this book for the most part. I had figured out quite a few of the twists near the beginning and it almost ruined the book for me. Some were just too obvious and not surprising. I felt like I had to suspend my beliefs at some points in the book for me to read past the glaring plot holes. The writing is great as always for the author but the holes made it hard for me to follow and made it less believable.

Trigger Warnings Abound!

I rarely write reviews that aren't at least a little complimentary. Mostly because I've been a reader for over 35 years and have really honed in on what I know I will enjoy. However, the initial description of "The Overnight Guest" threw me for a loop, I guess.

First of all, I almost DNF'd this book after reading the first 1/4 of it. The murders were described in more gory detail than I usually can stomach. They weren't lengthy about the descriptions - I didn't have to read about it for long, however, Heather Gundenkauf wrote with such specificity that I could not get the images out of my head. (So, well done there!) However, what almost pushed me over the edge were the parts that spoke of child abuse. Again, excellent descriptions since they tore me up emotionally, however, I wished I'd known just how much would be discussed.

At this point, I'm about halfway through and I decide that I've probably gotten past the worst bits and can finish - mostly because I feel like I'll sleep better if I know what happened. Plus, I figured since Gudenkauf had done such a great job of making me feel WAY too many emotions that she would show me a fantastic and redemptive ending.

Oh, how wrong I was...

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!
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Seriously, if you don't want to know who the murderer is, do NOT keep reading!
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As I said before, I was impressed (if not ill) by what the author had written thus far, but then suddenly the story went off the rails and my star rating started going down faster and faster. It started falling for me when suddenly the "odd" neighbor "with a past" who lived with his mother into adulthood shows up at the cabin and suddenly our protagonist, Wylie, KNOWS for certain that HE was the killer and now needs to lock him in the barn.

Wait...WHAT? While he was always looked at as a possible suspect, it was NEVER revealed that he was The MAIN suspect! And out of nowhere he just happens to show up at her door after it's revealed that this lost woman was actually her friend Becky that had never been found after the shootings? (I mean, I enjoyed THAT particular twist, though I'd figured it out early on...)

So, yeah. He's not the killer...I mean, it would have been way too obvious. And, low and behold, look who shows up a few minutes later...The Actual Killer and Kidnapper! Except it's Cutter - and not young Cutter, the teen who was also a suspect and whose storyline of speeding off in the middle of the night near the scene of the crime is never actually explained. No, instead, it's Mr. Cutter. The Father. But, like...why?

We see little of him throughout the book with only a mention of some land dispute and once in the family's barn for no apparent reason. When he was named as the killer, it almost felt like one of those storylines where the writer reveals, "Welp. It wasn't anyone we know, but instead a random stranger passing through town and killing people for fun with no rhyme or reason behind it." Again I say - But, like...why?

But even all of that I could get over and probably would have given the book 3 stars. However, when Mr. Cutter is trying to kill Wylie in the present day timeline, he's screaming about that it was supposed to be her that he stole and kept in the basement. It was "all because of her." And, again - But, like...why?

There is literally nothing from the previous storylines that makes this make sense. NOTHING.

How did the editors not notice these enormous plot holes before going to print?

I am shocked that this book has so many 4 & 5 star reviews. To be honest, I'm only giving this 2 stars (instead of 1) because of Gudenkauf's writing skills.

And one final note, because this irked the Mom and Teacher in me to no end... Instead of reading my Kindle copy, I needed to listen to the audiobook because #NoTimeToReadPhysicalBooks. I was APPALLED by the way our main character spoke to this child that she had found frozen to the middle of the road in the midst of a full blown snowstorm. She gets him/her inside and while trying to get them warm, gets irritated that the child is scared and won't cooperate with her. At first, I thought maybe it was just the way that the voice actor was portraying it, however, the wording in the story itself proved it to be that she was actually irritated.

And, one final time - But, like...why???

I was really trying to give this book a chance, even though it is definitely not my cup of tea. I will happily give books that I don't like high ratings if it was written and thought out well. But, unfortunately, Gudenkauf's "The Overnight Guest" just couldn't hold up under scrutiny.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin/Park Row Books for giving me this advanced reader's copy to read and review.

At first there appeared to be 3 different stories and it was hard to find the connection. After a short while two of the stories linked together, but it was harder to find out where the third story tied in. Lots of suspense, and interesting characters, even a dog. The ending, though exciting, was improbable. Most of the story took place overnight during a snow storm, but no one seemed to get tired.

Nicely done, Heath Gudenkauf! You created an excellent read for a thriller lover like myself. I loved the storyline and the pace. I loved how she tied all the different storylines together at the end. Loved it!

This is going to be the Last House on Needless Street or Verity of 2022 (popular and a not terrible read, but entirely too overhyped), I can feel it.

Oh my god!!! This book is amazing!!! I picked it io and could not put it down. I loved the alternating timelines and although I was slightly confused at first by them - when they came together it was perfection. I loved the twists and turns. I loved that it started out with a whodunnit. I loved that when I thought I had thinga figured out I was wrong. I loved that it surprised me and kept me guessing. Basically - I loved everything about it. I wouldn't change a thing about this book. I felt the pace was on point and I would easily recommend this to any thriller lover. Will be looking for more from this author!!

The Overnight Guest is a thriller about a true-crime author who "vacations" to a remote house to write her new book, but instead finds a child on the brink of death in a snowstorm. The story goes back and forth between current time and 20 years ago, unraveling the mystery of a missing teenage girl and some gruesome murders that took place. A great read! One that you won't want to put down and want to finish right to the end!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an adcanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Heather Gudenkauf does it again! The Overnight Guest is a book filled with twists and turns! At first, I was sure how a story unfolding over one night would last an entire book and hold my attention but wow did it!
It actually unfolds in three timelines. The current night when Wylie, a true crime writer discovers a small child outside her house during a winter storm. The second timeline is 22, years prior when a family was murdered in the house Wylie is staying at. The last timeline is a girl and her mother and the abusive relationship with the father. The way all three come together is so good. I don't want to spoil anything so just know this is, in my opinion, her best book yet.

This was a good thriller! There were a few unanswered questions at the end but the story was so quick it didn’t matter. It did wrap up retry well and the narration was good!

Any time I am seriously creeped out while reading a book, I consider it a good book. I was fully engrossed in this one and that's the type of suspense that I love and don't hesitate to recommend. I've read a couple of Heather Gundenkauf's books and loved them both so I'm anxious to read more in the future.

This was such a wild ride! I always crave for a book to hook me from the very beginning and that is exactly what this one did! Different POVs, Mystery and the scenery! Very descriptive that I imagine exactly the cabin, then fireplace, the cold blizzard. At the very end everything merged nicely and it was excellent to be honest.

The Overnight Guest
Heather Gudenkauf, author

Powerful and mesmerizing storyline....

I admit, I was taken back by all the scenarios at first, however, was drawn in by each one. The author did a wonderful job of bringing them all together to an explosive ending. I must say, I didn't see the ending coming until the pieces were revealed. And, the identity of the murderer of Josie's family 👪 wowzers!

Interesting plot with characters that seemed life-like and believable. I also listened to an audio version of the book.

I highly recommend this novel. Ms. Gudenkauf is an excellent author and I always look forward to her next book.

I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley, the publisher and the author.