The winter guest didn’t thrill me. I think it could be an excellent read for people who are already aware of the circumstances and events of 1920s Ireland. But I had no previous knowledge of that time and was pretty confused for the majority of the book. There were elements I really enjoyed, like the romance and general personal connections. But the mystery wasn’t intriguing enough to make up for my lack of background knowledge and historical explanation. I do think they did a good job of representing what PTSD was like for the people who came back from World War I.

This book just isn’t for me. I’ve tried to listen to the audiobook several times and find my wandering. I’ve restarted it several times and just can’t stay focused and get into it. I’m not sure if it’s the story itself or the narrator but it is so boring that I can’t focus. Maybe I’ll try reading the book when it comes rather than listening. I’m not sure if it will help. I expected an eerie ghost story along with a murder investigation and it just wasn’t like that at all.

Although I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review, all opinions remain my own.

Honestly, not what I was expecting. This was a lot like the classic who-dunnits. It is set in the time of Ireland's civil war. Harkin is trying to figure out why his friend Maud was killed. One thing I really enjoyed was seeing some of the historical aspects of the civil war in Ireland. I've read other books that take place in this time period, but not so closely with the war itself. Mostly I enjoyed the characters. They felt real. Seeing Harkin try to grapple with his war injuries and also the mental wounds that are also still healing. It is something very relatable.

The Winter Guest
W.C. Ryan
The setting is early in 1921,Southern Ireland.
Ireland was in the midst of a civil war. Maud Prendeville supported the IRA as they struggle for independence.
A car is ambushed by the IRA. The passengers are shot but Maude Prendeville was left unconscious. Someone returned and shot her in the head. Captain Tom Harkin is an IRA intelligence officer sent by the brass to investigate the murder. He was injured both physically and mentally during WWI. He has what would now be considered PTSD. His mind returns to the muck, explosions, and loss of life. He still sees the wounded, the disfigured, and the deceased. He feels their presence as their ghosts walk with him. Harkin loved Maude, they were engaged to be married and now he was being sent to Kilcolgan House where the Prendevilles reside to investigate her death. The Prendevilles have their secrets. Harkin is working undercover looking for clues, searching for the truth. He is posing as an insurance investigator. The small town is seething with tensions between the rebels and ‘Auxies”.
I loved the voice of Liam Hourican. His Irish accent was enchanting; it was not so strong that I had trouble understanding it but it added ambience to the tale. Tom was a fascinating character; his war experiences were horrendous, and he was still suffering from the after affects. He was a good man. This is a sad tale; for it was a time of brutality and atrocities.

This was an enjoyable, atmospheric mystery with tones of the golden age. Great for fans of Agatha Christie or Tana French, Ryan transports us to an Irish mansion in a chilly winter setting, and all the twists and turns that come with it.

Is it just me or are there a lot of modern day Agatha Christi authors? Unfortunately, this felt like another one to me and it just didn’t hold my interest like I had hoped. There were parts I liked but some pieces that felt like I’d heard it all before. Overall, it was ok. Not bad but not great either.

🌀Synopsis
There is a civil war going on in Ireland and a woman named Maud is killed in an ambush. There is controversy as to why she was killed though and Harkin is sent to investigate.

The other kicker- Harkin is Maud’s ex-fiancé so he also has a personal stake in the matter. As he starts digging in stories start to vary. He also finds some hidden secrets that somehow fit into the motive.

Harkin needs to figure this out before his past gets the best of him but it won’t be without putting his life at risk too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was difficult to get into at points, but was overall intriguing. It left me guessing throughout the book and I loved the history that was included in the story.

I started listening to this book and I feel like this isn't going to be for me unfortunately. It seems to be for someone who is a history buff and I am not one of those people. The narrartor is great though and is really setting the scene. I do see how some could find this book atmospheric and hauntingly interesting.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and WC Ryan for providing me with a complimentary digital audiobook ARC for The Winter Guest. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It’s January 1921. The Great War ended, but a new civil war is beginning in Ireland. Kilcolgan House was once a grand home, but now it’s crumbling in sea mist. The Prendeville family lives in half of the house with real and imaginary ghosts. The eldest daughter, Maud Prendeville is killed in an IRA raid. The family wants answers. Captain Tom Harkin, an IRA intelligence officer and Maud's former fiancé, is sent to find out what happened. He becomes an unwelcome guest in the grieving household. Harkin must unlock the house’s secrets, but he is also haunted by the battles of the Great War. Can he find out what happened to Maud or will he be swallowed up by the house? 

I loved listening to this book! First of all, I love the Irish narrator. It definitely helped make the story more interesting. I don’t think there are enough books about Ireland for me. The 1920s in Ireland is such a fascinating time and I really love learning about it. I also love stories about what soldiers went through returning home from the Great War. I loved that it was set in a dark, old house. There were ghosts and spooky themes.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical murder mysteries!

I didn't get very far into this title -- it was just not appealing to continue reading.

_________________________________

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I liked how real this felt. The historical aspect was nicely done, and the twists were interesting. The narrator did a good job as well.

January 1921

The Great War is over, but Ireland is in a civil war. When an IRA ambush goes horribly wrong, Maud Prendeville, the oldest daughter of Lord Kilcolgan is killed. The IRA column insist she was left alive and someone else must have killed her. Captain Tom Harkin, an IRA intelligence officer, and Maud's former fiancé is investigating her death. He goes to Kilcolgan House to investigate. The home has ghosts as does Harkin's past.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator. The book has a dreary feel to it. There is the mystery of who killed Maud. There are secrets, mistrust, and political upheaval. The book looks at the effects of war and how it affects not only soldiers but non soldiers as well. It shows the trauma and PTSD that Harkin was left with. How he is haunted by his experiences during the war.

This is a solid book with great narration. It has a Gothic feel, and the crumbling home sets the stage. Harkin is a likeable character and I enjoyed how he set out solving what happened to Maud.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of the author's work.

This was just okay. While the premise was
incredibly promising, I found it really difficult to actually pay attention to the plot.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to listen to the audio version and the narrator was great. Such a soothing voice and I absolutely loved it. No complaints there.

I honestly can’t even really tell you what this about. I was mostly checking to see how much time was left.

Would I recommend it? Sure. I believe there’s a lid for every pot. Someone out there (in all honesty I bet lots of someones) will absolutely love this. Just not me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an audiobook for me and loved the narrator Liam Hourican. He brought a special touch to this that I wouldn’t of gotten by reading. The Winter Guest was written by W. C. Ryan and I found the writing memorable and meaningful. The story is a mystery of sorts that will lead you down an interesting path and a broken community rattled with war.
It’s a high 4⭐️ for me and I want to read more. Highly recommend.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.

I read a physical galley of this and wanted to see how the narrator gave off that thriller vibe. This was so, so good. The story and the way the narrator tells it is unmatched! A truly great thriller mystery for Agatha Christie fans.

Nicely written who done it. Keeps you guessing until the end. Set in Ireland soon after WWI, Tom Harkin must investigate the death of his former fiance. Not knowing who to trust Tom fumbles his way to the truth.

I know I am not the only one to pick a book for the cover! THE WINTER GUEST by W.C.Ryan definitely fit the bill.

This Gothic house just invites all the eerie feelings and the talk of a ghost who appears right before a death in the family cements it. This all fed my expectations of a slightly more sinister story.

I was a bit wrong in those expectations; however, I was not disappointed in the mystery that unfolded. A girl is killed in an IRA ambush, but it isn't as cut and dry as it appears. Detective Harkin comes to investigate for "insurance purposes" and brings more secrets with him.

This was a historical mystery with a whodunit aspect. The historical aspect took over a larger role than I had anticipated, but it was done well. Ireland between the wars was a volatile place about which I had not known much. This story also addresses the impact of Shell Shock, or PTSD as we know it, through our detective Harkin, and he brings his own ghosts into the story in a heartbreaking way.

The narration by Liam Hourican made this story come alive. It is impossible for me to do Irish accents in my head, so hearing them is a delight! It was also easy to understand at my 'slow' pace of 1.5x speed.

I would definitely recommend this audio to fans of historical fiction and historical mysteries, as well as those looking for a good mystery. Thank you @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for the ALC. This audiobook is now available!

My thanks to Dreamscape and Net Galley for this arc audio to review. Unfortunately I could not finish and could not connect to the narrator. It didn't engage me. Felt like I wanted to sleep while listening in the car.

Very hard to follow. I was looking for a good Halloween scare. This had a good narrator but I just couldn’t get into it. Thank you for allowing me to preview this new book.

I’m struggling to review this book. The book is well written, the narrator was easy to listen to, but i think it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.