As a Louisiana native, I know how scary and deadly Category 5 hurricanes can be. With a storm already intent on killing you, you don’t need to add nefarious people to the mix, but that is exactly what happens in Margot Hunt’s new novel, The Guests. This tense and gripping book, perfect for the summer season, combines the terror of riding out a life-threatening hurricane with the horror of inviting strangers into your home who you are not sure that you can trust.

The uber-wealthy Davies family were not supposed to get this hurricane. Hurricane Celeste was not supposed to come to their coastal town of Florida. But a last minute shift in the path has Celeste headed straight for them. As the Davies family prepares their home to take the brunt of this massive storm, a boatload of refugees pulls up to their dock, seeking shelter from the storm. These two men and one woman were not able to make it to safe harbor before Celeste’s bands started moving ashore, and they quickly learned that you cannot outrun a hurricane. The Davies don’t want to leave these boaters stranded in the storm, but is it really safe to let strangers shelter with them during a hurricane? With only minutes to spare, the Davies make a snap decision to let the boaters into their home, but as the storm escalates outside, tensions rise inside. Just who are these three strangers, and what do they want from the Davies?

I love a good survival story, and Margot Hunt’s The Guests takes the cake! When the threat is twofold, from both mother and human nature, it makes the story all the more tantalizing. Although this story is generally predictable, I found it to be highly enjoyable, with an intriguing cast of characters and an ominous and atmospheric plot and setting.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

Being from Florida, I could relate to this book especially reading it now during hurrican season.
A family and some guests are stuck in a hurricane’s path and there is no way out. The family invites guests to their home to avoicd the danger but the danger is not just the hurrican. The family finds out their guests are more dangerous.

It was a good read and and had me on the edge of my seat.

While not my favorite book from Margot Hunt, The Guests is a fast paced, twisty novel of claustrophobic suspense that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief to fully appreciate this storyline, but suffice it to say there is never a dull moment. Highly recommended for those looking for a popcorn thriller for the summer!

The Guests by Margot Hunt is a thriller set in Florida in the midst of hurricane season. A family and some guests are stuck in a hurricane’s path with no option of escape. But the guests they invited into their home pose even more danger to them and secrets are revealed. This is a solid book and readers of this genre should enjoy it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I'm so late to reading and reviewing, and I'm sad I waited so long to start this.

Right off the bat I was hooked. It was almost like a locked room mystery but not-- forced to stay inside due to a hurricane was refreshing and new and a different kind of thriller. And June was such a fantastic character! Marlowe was a bit too naive and "dumb" for me, but it's okay. I still enjoyed learning the build up to the finale.

THE SUSPENSE!!!! Margot Hunt is an auto-read author for me, and this was definitely entertaining. While it went off the rails a bit at the end, I still really enjoyed reading it all. I was sooooo sad for Mick and Zack. I kept hoping one of them--ZACK--would come back and miraculously be alive. So sad.

Altogether a solid read and one that is perfect for a summer thrill.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! Enjoyed this story. Fast paced, likeable characters and a great ending.

3.75 stars

This story was a wild, (melo)dramatic adventure with high stakes and an interesting setting. I’m not sure I’ve read many books that have such vivid hurricanes/storms as their backdrops, and it worked well to help push the story along. Bits and pieces of the ultimate reveal were somewhat predictable, but over all, I enjoyed the journey to get there. It was a fun, fairly quick read that I’m happy to have experienced.

This was a fantastic read. Margot always weaves together a clever story. I will admit I jumped in blind, as always I will read anything Margot writes. This was full of the right amount of suspense and drama to make this book fly by way too fast. I didn't want it to end. Amazing book.

Natural disaster + thriller is SUCH a winning combo. This was my first Margot Hunt read, and it won't be my last! I read it fairly quickly and found the pacing to be tight and propulsive. Between the storm and the tension between characters, there was plenty to nail-bite over! Really enjoyed this one and will recommend it to friends.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you Thomas & Mercer, Margot Hunt & Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

This book was such a GRIPPING read. It was suspenseful and I was hooked on every chapter that made me keep turning the pages until I found out what was going on. This was a brilliant plot of unexpected visitors/ home invaders who are not whom they seem and people in the house who harbour secrets.
It had a great mix of action and twists and I feel this will satisfy all the thriller lovers out there.

What to do what to do??
A hurricane is barreling toward southern Florida and residents are bracing for impact.
However one household is besieged by a different kind of storm.
I thought the plot was creative- a crisis within a crisis.
I had no idea how things would end up.
I think the perps got exactly what they deserved.
Think twice before executing a hurricane heist.

I knew I had to read this book when I found out it was a hurricane thriller! I love survival thriller books and this one did not disappoint! When a Cat 5 hurricane is coming, would you let strangers into the house? Ultimately that's what takes place and it's takes the family on a wild night. It was intense and well written. I didn't know what was going to happen next! The twists kept me wanting more! I highly recommend this book.

The atmosphere is thunderous with a category 5 hurricane approaching fast. Family and strangers sheltered together and it could be deadly and not just because of the hurricane. I absorbed this book so fast!

A terrifying situation with deadly consequences.

As a category-5 hurricane approaches Florida, the Davies family is ready to spend it at their waterfront home. After all, the house was built with hurricane standards. Even if this is the wrong decision, it is too late to leave the premises. Traffic is at a standstill with all the people who are trying to evacuate. If they leave now, they will just be experiencing the hurricane winds on the road. Staying at their home should be safer or so they think until a boat carrying three strangers arrives uninvited at their dock.

Two brothers (Bo and Jason) and Bo's girlfriend Darcy join the Davies and their friends who are already in the house. As the storm rages, the possibility that the brothers showed up as a coincidence becomes doubtful and a more menacing plan seems to be in the works.

The Guests had a good amount of suspense and I felt bad for Marlowe and her kids. I was rooting for them to succeed in surviving the night.

I had some issues with the storyline and how naive some of the characters were. The end was too far-fetched for my taste which took some of the enjoyment away from the novel.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was my second novel by Margot Hunt. I enjoy her books and find them to be quick reads. This book does not disappoint. The story moves at a fast pace and kept me turning the page. While preparing for a Level 5 hurricane, a boat arrives with three strangers who dock. The story unfolds from there. It becomes immediately obvious that these strangers are not here on accident. The backdrop of the storm ratchets up the suspense in the story and keeps the pace moving. If you are a fan of Hunt or of the genre, you will enjoy!

As a Category 5 hurricane approaches, a family preparing to weather the storm opens their doors to three distressed strangers arriving by boat. However, the situation quickly spirals into chaos, igniting panic and escalating tension among the group.

Being drawn to stories set in isolated locales, I eagerly delved into this one. It proved to be a brisk and engaging read, perfect for filling the gaps between heavier books. Despite the suspenseful atmosphere and well-crafted setting, I found it difficult to fully connect with any of the characters. Each seemed prone to making questionable decisions, whether due to youthful naivety or a lack of logical thinking. While the story itself was solid, it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. I'd rate it three and a half stars.

Major thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing this ARC.

At the time, I was interested in mystery/thriller books; however currently I am no longer interested in reading the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Guests is an isolated summery thriller going into what happens when you are forced to host a group of people who are not exactly welcome.

The Davies family are taking shelter at their property after a hurricane hits. They invite their friends to wait the storm out together to make the experience more bearable. However, three strangers show up and although initially the family just rolls with the punches, tensions soon rise as they realise these people planned their visit and they have a lot to worry about than just a hurricane...

I thought this book was fine. It might be just me reading quite a few thrillers of this kind but I could see most of the story points coming. Usually though I can look past it in favour of interesting and fleshed-out characters but on this occasion they really irked me as there was next to no development and the way they acted in the situation failed to gather my sympathy. Overall, not the best impression I could've had from this author.

3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

After just finishing Lovely Girls, I was looking forward to starting my next Margot Hunt novel. Living in an area where we are threatened by hurricanes, the premise sounded like it could be an interesting read. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

I’m somewhat new to listening to audiobooks, so maybe the review could’ve been better had I read it instead. The narrators voices were somewhat annoying. In my little experience, that can make or break book for me.

The Davies live on a beach house in Florida. When a Category 5 hurricane is heading their way, they are preparing for the worst, but wish to stay in their home. When strangers approach by boat they immediately dock in front of the Davies home. The two men and one young woman are nice enough at first, but once the family invites them into their house to ride out the storm, things start to get a little tense. Who invites strangers into their home for a hurricane? Not me!
Anyhoo…

I feel like this could’ve been so much better. A few twists, but they weren’t really that great except maybe one that I didn’t see coming.

I really like Hunt’s novels, so I’ll continue to grab them when I see them!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Margot Hunt for my advanced copy to read and review.

The Guests
⭐️⭐️⭐️.2
Author: Margot Hunt

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: When a Category 5 hurricane is poised to hit their coastal Florida town, the Davies family takes refuge in their waterfront manse. Marlowe, Lee, and their teenage twins invite their close friends to wait out the storm in comfort and style.

Uninvited are the three strangers who dock on the family’s shore right before the storm descends. Brothers Jason and Bo—and Bo’s girlfriend, Darcy—are a charming, helpful trio in need of a safe haven that the Davies are only too happy to provide.

But as the storm outside grows more threatening, so does the tension in the house.

Soon, the lines between family, friends, and strangers blur. Danger mounts with every pointed finger and broken confidence, and long-held secrets are revealed one after another until only one truth not everyone is going to make it out alive.

My Thoughts: A hurricane is coming and the Davies family does not reside in a flood zone so they prepared their home for the storm and will ride it out with their close friends. The Davies then get some unexpected guests, Brothers Jason and Bo, along with Bo’s girlfriend, Darcy, who claim they were trying to beat the storm but had to take cover at the closest dock. Assistance from the outside is not available until the storm passes and the roads are deemed safe. With the tensions rising inside the house, the hurricane is the lest threatening thing occurring. With the lines between family and friends blurring, and secrets being exposed, maybe not everyone makes it out alive? This follows the tropes of locked room mystery.

The first three quarters of the book was exciting, thrilling, twisty, and kept me on the edge of my seat. However, at about that point, I felt like the plot fell apart. I do not want to say too much to not spoil for other readers. The characters were developed well, the strangers arriving was no coincidence and they had a hidden agenda. The characters were mysterious, intriguing, and creatively spun throughout the story. The author’s writing style was suspenseful, twisty, and engaging. I think the characters’ naivety is what needed a little more work. I was connected with Marlowe and rooted for her and her children throughout the story. I was not a fan of the ending.

I have read other books by Hunt and they have all been 4/5 ⭐️ reads. This one fell a little flat for me. I still enjoyed the twists and unpredictability, but I really had to suspend belief to get there. While this is a work of fiction and sometimes you have to suspend belief, I just think this was not Hunt’s best book. Having said that, it was still a chilling, gripping, captivating thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend picking up today. This book is available on KU.