Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 16, 2024
A guest house with a haunted past plus a locked-in mystery PLUS a cult component? Caroline Mitchell, you know the way into this girl’s heart.
Nicola’s partner, Matt, and her son, George, are going to Scotland for the weekend to see the aurora borealis. Matt hopes that the break will give Nicola the rest she needs, as well as a brief respite from her job on the police force. Until the hotel they originally reserved is double booked and they end up at The Loch House, the creepy, dilapidated guest house with strict rules, eccentric hosts and a dark past. But it isn’t long until Nicola finds herself putting her police skills to work- with an incoming snow storm, all of the guests are stranded with no phones and no access to the outside world. But if no one can get out, how did an unexpected visitor named Larry show up? And what secrets is he hiding?
“The Last Guest House” by author Caroline Mitchell had absolutely everything I look for in a psychological suspense novel; twists and turns, a completely un-guessable ending and pulse-pounding excitement and tension.
The novel is narrated by various players, primarily Nicola and her partner, Matt. There are segments of a murder mystery podcast at the end of each chapter that provides the background detail that the story itself does not. This was a unique and clever format, and I really enjoyed how Mitchell revealed details of the guest house’s past while still staying on task. The novel flowed well and I was hooked from the start.
I expected great things, as I have grown to love Caroline Mitchell, but “The Last Guest House” provided more than I anticipated. Anyone who loves psychological suspense and locked-in mysteries, but is looking for a break from the often predictable and overused plot lines that are the norm in this genre, check into Caroline Mitchell’s “The Guest House”! You won’t be disappointed.

Creepy, chilling, and a great use of different characters and medium..
The Last Guest House was a brilliant read, I romped through it in two days as I wanted to know how the stories connected and who was to blame for the awful massacre at the guest house ten years previously.
I loved the way the creepy house and the owners made me feel chilled.
Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book. The first chapter creeped me out, so I knew I was off to a great start. Some of the characters are a bit odd, and those that aren't leave you looking at them differently as the chapters roll on. Someone would say or think something, and you think, "Oh really?." There is one character who will grab your heart. Ok, maybe two. The plot itself is perfect.

If you have read a Caroline Mitchell book before, you know you're in for a good ride. If you haven't read her before, can you really call yourself a lover of mysteries?