Thank you @netgalley for the audio version of The House Guest by Alison James. This takes place outside of London, the setting is a manor house, think a smaller Downton Abbey but present day. Hugh and Juliet are married but cannot have children, Hugh has lifetime residency of the house but if he dies, it will go to another relative, not his wife. All of a sudden the unknown relative, Alexis, shows up. And then things start to go wrong. The story is told by multiple characters, Hugh, Juliet, Alexis and a neighbor and friend, Belinda. There are a lot of twists and turns, and a lot of lying and deceit. It is a pretty light read, despite several murders. Okay story but not really for me. #thehouseguest #alisonjames #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #audiobook #bookstagram #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #readallday #readersofinstagram #bookloversofinstagram

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ Thriller and Crime
✨ Easy Read but Twisty
✨ Affair and Family feud



✨ This book removes my reading slump.
This is my first book from this author and never will be the last. I WANT MORE.
Her writing was great, detailed and precise.
The story was keep on twisted all the time.

✨ Reading this may need all allot of attention as there are chapters for specific person.


💯 Thankyou netgalley for the arc copy of this book for a honest review. Really really love it!


❤️Shaye.reads

OMG.... I completely loved everything about this book! It was amazing!! It had me hooked from start to finish & I never expected the twists. I finished it in two days, I could not put it down. If you're looking for a really great thriller.. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley and bookouture audio for the wonderful audiobook in exchange of an honest review.

The starting introduces us to a happily married couple Juliet and Hugh who live in a posh and rich Mullen's end. After a glimpse into the life of Juliet in her own words, she receives a message from a distant cousin of Hugh who might have a legal claim on Mullen's end.

And then starts a tale of betrayals and secrets ,twists and turns and affairs and trachery. Told through multiple POV of Juliet, Hugh, Belinda who is Juliet's best friend and Alexis who has come to claim, the house guest weaves a web of deception so convoluted that one might find it difficult to wrap their head around all of it.

Of course there are loopholes which the characters have mentioned themselves but yet again it drags the reader in this dark web. What I loved about it was there wasn't a dull moment in the book. It is fast paced and keeps reader on the edge.

The narration is spot on and I definitely enjoyed it quite much.

Audiobook rating -4 stars
Book rating - 4 stars

This was my first novel by the author and I was pleasantly surprised at how well written it was . Will definitely pick up something by Alison James in the future

A slower burn, worth the wait! The twists and turns Alison James wrote into this story kept me captivated and ready for more. The perspective shifts kept the story interesting and provided context. Revisiting certain portions from a different character's perspective allowed for a few "I knew it" moments that kept a grasp on my attention wondering if I would be right the entire time....I was not!

I hadn't read Alison James before this book but I will definitely be picking up a few titles now.

I was gifted this copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Told from multiple points of view I was engrossed for from start to finish. Was fast paced and full of twists and turns. A fun thriller with great characters

"The House Guest" by Alison James is a riveting thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats with surprises at every turn. Each chapter peels back layers of intrigue, revealing the twisted fates of the characters involved. James masterfully weaves a tale where greed, lust, and stupidity collide, leaving readers wondering who will emerge victorious in the end. Just when you think you know someone, James throws in shocking revelations, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving. The introduction of a stranger claiming to be an heir adds an extra layer of tension, leaving readers questioning the motives of every character. With its gripping plot and complex characters, "The House Guest" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

Twisty, kept me interested and wanting to find out what turn was coming next. Thanks NetGalley for the audio eArc.

This is a mystery Thriller, Hugh and Juliet Mullen lead a lovely life, however the arrival of a distant relative leads to turmoil.

I had never listened to a thriller audio book and therefore this was a first for me and was incredibly happy i did. I did not see the twists coming and although some of the elements seem unbelievable it is done very well and all adds to the complexity of this thrillers plot.

I loved this and will defo be indulging in a thrillers audio book again

I see myself as a pretty hospitable person, but I would not just invite a stranger into my home because they show up claiming to be family. An improbable story tbh but because it is told well I chose to ignore that mostly and got on with enjoying it

Juliette and Hugh live in a nice home, no children of their own. With no heirs, Hugh can live there for life but cannot truly own it. But a surprise in the form of Alexis, a long-lost cousin who happens to be captivating, arrives with proof that she inherits the home. As she begins to worm her way into their lives, things quickly fall apart.

This was told in two perspectives, so by the time the 2nd starts, you've got most of it figured out. The descriptions of this being a psychological thriller, it is not. It's juicy at times, and at others, I just wanted to fast forward. I was given the audio and perhaps it had to do with the narrator. It was a fun ride while I was on it, but I forgot all about it a month later. For that reason, I gave it 3.5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads).

The House Guest published back on November 1st, 2023 -- I was able to read an advanced copy in October. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

"The House Guest" by Alison James is a gripping thriller that skillfully navigates suspense and mystery. The well-crafted plot, intriguing characters, and unexpected turns keep readers hooked from start to finish. James masterfully builds tension, creating an atmospheric experience! A solid four stars for delivering a captivating and suspenseful tale that mystery enthusiasts will appreciate.

I really enjoyed this book as it went along. I liked the different perspectives from multiple people. If I were giving this book a rating it would probably be a 3.5 out of 5 stars. I didn’t enjoy the narrator much at all. I also thought the ending fell short. The plot started out promising but then it turned out to be about a house and it was slightly disappointing.

I have not had an opportunity to read anything by this author before, so this was my first. I listened to this as an audiobook and I have to say it was a great experience. The story was interesting and drew me in from the very beginning. Alexis appears on Juliet's doorstep one day claiming to be a distant relative and Juliet invites her into her home. Juliet ends up regretting that mistake, which could ultimately put her family's lives at risk. The story starts out a bit slow, but picks up pace fairly quickly, and once it does it's hard to put down. This gripping story had me on the edge of my seat as the plot unfolded and more of the story was told with twists that I never saw coming. The characters are well-developed, with realistic and relatable qualities that gave them depth and authenticity. I like that the story is narrated in different POVs, so that I can experience the story from different perspectives. I also enjoyed the narration, as the story was really brought to life with the distinctive voices given to each character.
If you are looking for an unforgettable psychological thriller filled with suspense and intrigue, then you definitely want to give this a try. I am glad I did! I'll definitely be looking for more of this author's work in the future.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Bookouture Audio and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for a copy of this audio book. At first, this didn’t catch my attention. I actually stopped listening for a couple of weeks and moved on to other books. But I didn’t want to leave this unfinished. And boy oh boy am I glad I picked it back up.

Juliette and Hugh live in a gorgeous estate. No heirs, Hugh gets to live there for life but won’t inherit. Out of the blood, his cousin arrives….the one who actually will inherit the property. What happens next are numerous twists and turns. Some you could see but still fun to experience.

I thought this book was well-written and the narrator did a wonderful job with the material but I do not find that this book stayed with me after reading it. Engaging while reading though..

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first audiobook from NetGalley. Juliette has a comfortable life married to art dealer and owner of family estate Mullens end. Normality is well and truly disturbed when distant cousin Alexis turns up on the doorstep looking at what her eventual inheritance may be. One through the door, it becomes obvious that Alexis has no intention of leaving…

Told from multiple perspectives there really were so many twists and turns and sub plots! I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I really disliked the narrator. She didn’t fit the age profile of the characters, sounding very much older and making every character sound like they were about to say “jolly hockey sticks” or walk out of an Enid Blyton book.

Thoroughly enjoyable (just read the book not the audio book!). Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

I wish this title stuck with me more than it did. It was okay while listening, but I draw a complete blank after the fact.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic book! I really enjoyed this one. The central plot revolves around a long lost family member- something that I think is very prevalent today with DNA websites and companies reuniting families. This one kept me on the edge of my seat and I really enjoyed the multiple POVs and unreliable narrators. I thought the author did a great job of building the characters. The audiobook is enjoyable with a great narrator. I would recommend this to anyone who loves suspense or thrillers

One warning - beware of who you let into your home (even if they claim to be a long-lost relative).

The main characters in this novel are: married couple Hugh and Juliet who live in a mansion that’s been in Hugh’s family for generations. Belinda, a close family friend, and Alexis, who claims she is Hugh’s third cousin.

Alexis seemingly shows up at Hugh and Juliet's doorstep one day and asks to spend some time with her family while waiting to get settled. However, she over welcomes her stay and begins to cause problems among the married couple.

Murder, betrayal, and deceit. All recipes for disaster and all included in this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for my ARC!