This wasn’t my favorite by this author, but it certainly wasn’t bad. A good domestic drama/mystery. But I would have kicked this houseguest out loooong before they did! I’m not sure if I’m impatient or just have more sense than the characters!

THIS BOOK. My jaw is on the floor. I cannot believe the ability of B.A. Paris to lead us calmly on one path, a slow burn but still intriguing story....and then crack the door open on what is really going on. And then BUST IT DOWN and the second half was seriously a heart-poundingly race that I could not put down. I was SCREAMING at the ending and my husband had to check on me and I could not even put into words what had gone down. B.A. Paris is my favorite author and this might be my favorite book. The characters are perfectly crafted to be used how the authors needs them to and I was thoroughly reeled in.

I am a huge Paris fan, but I felt this book was just okay. The characters were not as engaging as usual. I also really wanted a twist at the end.

So I like the story as a whole, but it really really bothered me that the epilogue was just what revealed what actually took place. I like when there are better Easter Eggs in a thriller book.

In the riveting world of B. A. Paris's latest masterpiece, "The Guest," forget about Airbnb horror stories; this tale takes the term "unwanted guest" to a whole new level of chilling absurdity! Unhappily married English couple Iris and Gabriel are returning home to the village of Markham after a two-week holiday.
Picture this: ) Unhappily married English couple Iris and Gabriel are returning home to the village of Markham after a two-week holiday only to find their friend Laure has decided to take up permanent residence in their home. And no, this isn't some quirky sitcom plot; it's a full-blown psychological thriller. They’re shocked to discover that their friend, Laure, has moved in. Laure explains that her husband has fathered a child with another woman, and she needs space to clear her head. She vastly overstays her welcome.
Laure, with all the subtlety of a bulldozer, starts redecorating, rearranging, and treating Iris and Gabriel's house like her own personal Airbnb, minus the five-star reviews. Meanwhile, poor Gabriel is dealing with trauma from a tragic event involving a dying student who inexplicably spilled his guts to him (figuratively speaking) before passing away. Gabriel's coping mechanism? Avoiding jogging and getting elbow-deep in gardening. Because nothing says "mental health break" like a good garden project.
But wait, there's more! Enter Esme and Hugh, the enigmatic new neighbors with a significant age gap and a gardener with a past as murky as a swamp. Throw in a missing husband, mysterious trips, and enough secrets to rival a government conspiracy, and you've got a recipe for domestic chaos that even Martha Stewart couldn't handle.
As the tension mounts faster than Gabriel's overdue gardening project, readers are left wondering: who's the murderer? Who's telling the truth? And most importantly, who invited Laure to stay indefinitely?
With twists and turns more convoluted than a pretzel, "The Guest" keeps you guessing until the very end. And if you think you've got it all figured out, think again. B. A. Paris has crafted a psychological rollercoaster so wild, you'll need a seatbelt just to flip the pages.
So, grab your gardening gloves and a good lock for your front door because after reading "The Guest," you'll never look at houseguests—the same way again. Trust no one, especially not your friends with a penchant for interior decorating. And remember, if someone overstays their welcome, it might just be time to call the cops instead of offering them a spare key.
In B. A. Paris's latest psychological thriller, "The Guest," readers are thrust into a whirlwind of suspense, betrayal, and domestic chaos that will leave them questioning the boundaries of hospitality. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly ordinary home, Paris masterfully weaves a tale that transforms the mundane into macabre, offering a chilling exploration of what happens when a houseguest refuses to leave. As if Laure's unwelcome presence isn't enough, mysterious new neighbors and a missing husband add layers of intrigue to the already chaotic narrative.

This was a slow paced drama that was repetitive in several places. The characters were fine but frustrating at times. I was so annoyed with Laure and the how intrusive she was. A guest just showing up and staying for months would be my worst nightmare lol. I didn’t see the ending coming so that twist was a surprise. The epilogue was very long and just was a let me tell you what happened instead of showing you. The ending was the best part but I didn’t like how it was executed. Overall a middle of the road read for me.

Thank you to Net Galley, St Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for the opportunity to read The Guest. This is my second book from this author. My first was Behind Closed Doors, and that was an easy 5 star read for me. The Guest did not score as high for me. While the story was good, I felt like the pacing was off. It’s definitely a slow burn, but maybe a little too slow? I really enjoyed the multiple POVs in this book. I will say that I thought I had the ending all figured out, and I was SO wrong. The twist is definitely shocking! So while this book was not my favorite, it was a good story with a great twist! I look forward to reading more of her books!

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that ensnares the reader from the first page and refuses to let go until the very last twist is revealed. Paris, known for her ability to weave tension and suspense into the fabric of her narratives, delivers yet again with a story that is both chilling and deeply engrossing. The novel explores the dark undercurrents of seemingly ordinary lives, revealing how secrets and lies can unravel even the most meticulously constructed facades.

Set against the backdrop of a lavish party at a grand estate, "The Guest" introduces us to a cast of characters each harboring their own mysteries and motivations. The novel's brilliance lies in Paris's skillful character development and her ability to maintain an atmosphere of unease and anticipation throughout. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper into the complex web of relationships and past traumas that link the guests and hosts in unexpected ways.

Paris's writing is sharp and incisive, masterfully constructing a narrative where every detail is significant, and every dialogue crackles with underlying tension. The pacing of the novel is impeccable, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the mystery, compelling the reader to turn the page. The setting of the grand, isolated estate serves as the perfect backdrop, amplifying the sense of claustrophobia and suspense that permeates the story.

At the heart of "The Guest" is an exploration of the themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Paris delves into the psychology of her characters with a keen eye, exposing the frailties and fears that drive them. This psychological depth adds a rich layer to the novel, elevating it above a mere thriller to a poignant study of human nature.

The twists and turns of "The Guest" are meticulously plotted, with Paris demonstrating her prowess as a storyteller. Just when the reader thinks they have untangled the mystery, Paris introduces another twist that reshapes everything that has come before. The climax of the novel is both shocking and satisfying, leaving the reader to ponder the implications long after the book is closed.

In conclusion, "The Guest" by B.A. Paris is a thrilling psychological drama that confirms Paris's status as a master of the genre. With its intricate plot, complex characters, and relentless tension, it is a novel that hooks you early and keeps you riveted until the very end. For fans of psychological thrillers, "The Guest" is an unforgettable journey into the dark side of human nature, showcasing Paris's talent for creating suspenseful, compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

This book started out slow-paced but eventually picked up. I enjoyed it very much. It was my first book by B.A. Paris and will not be my last.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

I know her book ‘Behind Closed Doors’ is so highly rated, but honestly it triggered me and I didn’t enjoy it once so ever. So going into this book I was a bit hesitant, but this was a great read!

This is definitely a slow burn, but I was constantly trying to piece together and guess where it was going. I did not see the big twist coming.

The beginning was a bit confusing to me, because there are several characters in the prologue you don’t meet right away, so it took me a bit of time before I began to grasp what’s happening. I loved the English countryside setting, and the mystery buildup.

The epilogue was 10/10 🤯

B.A. Paris is a must-read thriller author for me. Her books are known to keep me up at night reading late, often seeing the sunrising. The words fly off the page and come alive as I become invested in the storyline.

The Guest is a book that I had to keep reading to try to figure out where I was heading. Who is Laure, beyond being their friend? Is there more to her story than she is telling? Is Iris and Gabriel going to make it through their guest and the secret that is being kept? I had so many questions. I was trying to put everyone together and figure it all out but failed to do so.

The ending, left me feeling ugh… I wanted more. I felt let down and left with more questions.

The Guest is a great thriller/mystery book. I enjoyed the story until the end. I will be looking forward to more from her and will continue to recommend her to my friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I am a fan of B.A. Paris and was excited to dig into this book. Unfortunately, this is not one of my favorites.

I was bored while reading and found the story to be slow and repetitive. I didn't like or connect with the characters and felt that there was too many of them. I'm glad I stuck with it because the ending was the best part of the book!

Overall it's 3 out of 5 stars for me.

Iris and Gabriel arrive home to fine their good friend Laure in their home. Laure has left her husband after discovering that he conceived a child during their marriage. Iris and Gabriel have recently experienced their own trauma and are trying to get their marriage back on track. Laure mysterious intrusions are an unwelcome surprise and the mystery surrounding Laure's husband only lends to the drama!

The redeeming part of this book is the epilogue, the rest of the book, unfortunately, falls completely flat! The characters are unlikeable and the various plots turn out to be of minimal entertainment!

This book was sooo good! Completely caught me by surprise! Epilogue was longer than I would have thought, but the author did a great job of wrapping the story up nicely.

Important things you need to know about The Guest:

Pace: Medium

POV: Goes between 3rd person (Iris and Gabriel) and 1st person (the killer)

Trigger Warnings: The Guest contains murder, alcoholism, death, infidelity, blood, grief, pregnancy, abandonment, alcohol, suicide, violence, car accident, fire and fire injury, abortion, and adult/minor relationships. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is mild swearing in The Guest. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: The Guest is set in a small Scottish village. A few chapters also occur in Paris (Gabriel is looking for Pierre).

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Iris and Gabriel are living their ideal lives as empty-nesters in a small Scottish village when Gabriel happens upon a horrific accident. Hearing the victim’s last words weighs heavily on Gabriel since he told the police, the mother, and first responders that the victim said something different. Hoping to help Gabriel overcome his guilt, Iris plans a vacation for them. And it seemed to be doing the trick until they arrived home to find that their friend Laure had moved in while they were gone.

Laure left her husband, Pierre, after he told her he had a child with another woman. But the visit stretches into weeks, with Laure showing no sign of leaving, and she starts behaving erratically. Feeling like strangers in their own home, Iris and Gabriel’s marriage starts to crack. But relief does come when Iris befriends a new couple expecting their first child in the village. But they come with baggage—a family friend turned gardener with a checkered past.

Why isn’t Laure leaving, and where is Pierre? How is the gardener connected to everything that is going on? And will Iris and Gabriel’s marriage buckle under the pressure?

My review:

When I got the widget for The Guest, I was happy about it. I have read and enjoyed books by B.A. Paris before, and I figured that I would like this book. I am slightly ambivalent about it now that I have read the book. I didn’t love it, and I didn’t hate it. If I had to describe my feelings, it would be “meh.”

The main storyline of The Guest centers on Iris, Gabriel, their unwanted houseguest, the death of the boy in the quarry, their new neighbors, and the new neighbor’s gardener. There were parts of this storyline that went on for too long (the whole Laure situation) and other parts that the author seemed to rush through. All of this and the fact that I couldn’t get into the storyline contributed to the ‘meh” factor. And that was disappointing since I enjoy reading books by the author.

The characters were interesting, but I did feel that they weren’t as fleshed out as they could be. All of them felt a little flat. The only character I had a halfway good connection with was Iris, and even then, it was more of a “What the hell. Grow a backbone and throw her out.” connection.

As much as I was “meh” about this book, I will say it had a good mystery/thriller angle. The author did a great job of misdirecting and throwing out red herrings. Why? Because I didn’t see who the killer was until the last chapter. It was such a huge twist and took me entirely by surprise. And when the motive behind everything was revealed, I was shocked. Again, something that I didn’t expect. So, kudos to the author for such an explosive twist.

As I mentioned above, the book’s last chapter had a surprising twist, which I loved. But this is a book that I won’t be rereading. I couldn’t connect with the characters or get involved in the storylines.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and B.A. Paris for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Guest. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

This book starts as a slow burn but quickly turns into a major fire as the character study ramps up and secrets are hinted at but not revealed until near the end. I really enjoyed the twists and unexpected surprises as well as all of the red herrings. Iris and Gabriel are living a good life, as good as it can be with Gabriel having lost his father, his dog and a good friend all in a short time span. As a result, Gabriel has taken compassionate leave time from his job as a doctor. His wife Iris is an interior designer without a contract so she is at loose ends, too. The two of them end up having Laure come stay with them when her husband Pierre announces that he is the father of another woman’s child. The plot continues to thicken as more characters are introduced and more secrets are surfacing. I liked the way each character was hiding something, especially the mysterious gardener Joseph. I did not particularly like any of the characters but I did find Iris relatable and Gabriel a character who evoked sympathy. The thing that made the book an absolute must read for me were all of the revelations made at the end about each of characters and their relationships to each other. The slow start became a runaway roller coaster ride on a dangerous track! What a wild ride this book ended up being and I am delighted that I read it. It would be a great book for a discussion group because of all of the layers and hidden clues.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Another amazing novel by B.A. Paris! This was a slow burn, but well worth the wait. I will most definitely recommend this one to my bookish friends.

Iris and Gabriel seem to have the perfect life, but when their friend Laure shows up unexpectedly, their life together starts to fall apart.

I’ve enjoyed Paris’ previous books that I’ve read, and although I liked this one, it wasn’t my favorite. While listening to the audiobook, I found it hard to keep track of all of the characters and kept having to go back to remember who people were. I decided to read along with my DRC which did help with this a bit.

For the majority of the book, I felt like nothing was happening even though a lot was going on. I don’t know if that was due to it being a slow build up, but I wanted it to be more thrilling than it was. It read more like a domestic drama rather than a thriller, and if I had read some reviews prior to reading this, I would have been better prepared going into it.

Don’t skip the epilogue in this one! Paris packed all the punches into the ending, and gave me the shocks and surprises I was looking for throughout the book. Although this wasn’t my favorite by the author, I still enjoyed it and will continue to read her books because she always surprises me.

Thank you St. Martins Press for a DRC in exchange for my honest review.

This one was just ok for me. I didn't hate it and I didn't love it either. The plot definitely had me invested wanting to see what happens in the end. But honestly the characters weren't likeable at all, especially Laure. Gracious talk about a house guest.
They all had something going on - being lonely, finding out about a secret child, disconnected marriages - but even so I couldn't find myself sympathizing or connecting with them. It got to a point where it seemed like the book was gonna wrap up after being slow and then I was surprised how it changed. I wish the book as a whole was more like the ending, because man what an ending it was! It definitely did a great job shedding light on everything.

I had the ebook and audio of this one and tandem read it. The narrator did a great job at honing in on the personalities in the story.

Thank you St. Martins Press, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for allowing me to read and listen to this advanced copy.

B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors. I truly love everything they write and this book was no exception. I was riveted and hooked from the first page. I won't give anything away because I feel like this book is best read with zero context.