Thank you to netgalley and the author for this ARC! The twist at the end of this book was insane! I couldn’t believe it! I knew something was off about miles but didn’t think he was gonna be leading two separate lives! Although the first 40% of this book was so slow and i felt it could have all been compiled into just a few chapters, it did finally pick up around 45% and got super good! Vivienne and Milly coming together at the end was a nice touch to end the book though especially after all they went through and how they were both played against each other unknowingly! Definitely a good read!

Silent Guest is a masterfully written and cleverly constructed psychological thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. The story revolves around a compelling cast—Miles, Tom, Vivienne, Lola, Amelia, and even the dog, Willow—all intricately woven into a plot filled with secrets, tension, and unexpected turns.
What stands out most is the way the author layers the suspense. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, a twist hits—subtle, chilling, and completely unexpected. I pride myself on seeing twists coming, but this one truly blindsided me in the best way possible.
Each character is complex and well-drawn, with emotional depth that adds to the psychological weight of the story. The dynamic between them keeps the tension simmering, and the relationships evolve in ways that feel both natural and shocking. Silent Guest is one of those rare thrillers that stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s not just about the twists; it’s about the atmosphere, the creeping sense of unease, and the haunting realisation that sometimes the biggest threats are the ones we invite into our lives.
Highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense who love a good mind-bender with emotional depth.

: The Silent Guest
Author: Sally Rigby
Publisher: Storm Publishers
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Pub Date: August 14, 2025
My Rating: 3.6 rounded up
Pages: 279

Story is told from the POV of Vivienne and Amelia.
Vivienne Campbell is married to Miles Clarke they have a five year old daughter Lola and a labradoodle named Willow. Vivienne has a family anniversary party she and Lola want to attend. Miles is piolet and will be out of town. The plans ate over a weekend but they need a sitter for Willow. Willow hates kennels; as she was bitten at one and Vivienne promised her (yes she made a promise to her dog!) that she would never leave her in a kennel again.
Miles suggested contacting ‘Pet & Home’. They recommended Amelia who is a good dog sitter. They interview Amelia by phone and she sounds like a good match. She is going to stop by to finalize details.

Amelia, has been waiting years for this opportunity and makes sure she is the perfect candidate.
It appears there is history between these two and Amelia has a plan for revenge,
She believes she doesn't deserve the wonderful life she is experiencing.

Amelia starts off with small incidents that make her question her own sanity. Amelia is a pretend friend so comforts her;

As this story moved along I thought this was not going to be a typical Sally Rigby wow whodunit as we know from the blurb that Amelia is not to be trusted.

I was wrong as this indeed was a typical WOW Sally Rigby psychological thriller!
Now you have to read it and find out what changed!!!!!

Want to thank to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for another great Sally Rigby thriller.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 14, 2025.

The silent guest is absolutely fantastic from Sally Rigby!
House sitting is big business these days but how much do you really know about the people you trust with your home and pets! I was hooked from start to finish!!!

Vivienne has it all, lovely husband who's away more than at home, lovely daughter, spoilt and tantrumy, lovely home, too clean and manicured. She needs a dog sitter for her designer dog while she and daughter have a few days with her family. Enter Amelia, partner Tom who doesn't want children, small pokey flat. Certainly clear from the first that Viv is a neurotic woman and Amelia is a psychopath. What is needed is to work out why the latter and why pick Viv. I'm sorry to say that this was a trial to complete, two unpleasant, well annoying, main characters and pretty clear as to some of the things that were going on. End was rushed and didn't stack up, at least the behaviour after the deed didn't. I usually thoroughly enjoy this author's books but this is not a way I'd like to follow. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

“She came to watch my house.
She stayed to destroy my life”

Revenge Plot ✅
Dual POV✅
Twists ✅

This one had me hooked from start to finish. My first of Sally Rigby’s and what a good one to start on. The story starts very vague, Vivienne is looking for a house sitter while she’s away for the weekend but we soon find out the new house sitter, Amelia, isn’t as sweet as she seems.

Amelia’s motives aren’t revealed until later in the book and I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation. The dual POV was an amazing addition to the story as it gave an insight into both Vivienne’s and Amelia’s thoughts and perspective over everything that was going on.

As said above, for most of the book, the reader isn’t given much information as to why Amelia is doing what she’s doing but when the twist came let me tell you I was SAT. This page turner is the best kind of thriller, full of suspense and twists. I had so many questions throughout, who is Amelia? Why is she doing this? What has Vivienne done to deserve this? I wasn’t sure what it would be at the start but I was quickly drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down.

The Silent Guest is published on August 15th 2025 and if you love thrillers packed with suspense, twists and turns then this is the one for you!

An unforgettable psychological thriller - suspense, twists, turns and tension - what more could you ask for?
The story is written from two different perspectives - Amelia and Vivienne. These two main characters have secrets to keep - from each other and from us, the readers - and nothing will be revealed until right near the very end. The twists which end each section of the novel are incredible and the final twist really came as a huge surprise - not only to Amelia and Vivienne but to me as well!!
Well worth reading and I shall definitely be on the lookout for more by Sally Rigby.

First, thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!

Secondly, I feel having a house sitter is another thing on the long list of things I am never going to try. Unless it is a family member or close, friend, maybe. But reading thrillers has sort of tought me to better not trust strangers.

Also, while we know from the start that the house sitter, Amelia, is up to no good - the book is both in the POV of Amelia and Vivienne, the woman who'd hired her - the story was still suspenseful and kept me guessing a lot while turning the pages. Very well done!

As always Sally Rigby’s books are real “attention holders” for me. This book definitely was excellent.

Vivienne needs a house/dog sitter while she and her daughter, Lola, go away for the weekend. Enter Amelia, someone Vivienne’s husband’s coworker recommended. But things aren’t as they appear…

Or this book is exactly as it appears. There was really nothing mysterious about this book. Because the book alternates between Viviennes perspective and Amelia’s, we know right away that Amelia is playing tricks on Vivienne. There’s so suspense to it at all. The only reason I kept reading was hoping that something was being kept hidden but even the twist at the end I knew almost from the jump. The chapters felt repetitive and the ending was rushed and way too unrealistic and tied with a bow.

A page turning psychological thriller that includes manipulation.
Even though I’d guessed one of the plot twists half way through I was intrigued to see how it would evolve and play out.
An excellent read.

Although this story was keeping me guessing from the start I expected a little more of a twist, it was good and kept me intrigued from the start but the ending fell just a little flat

I’m glad it was a quick work read though I did enjoy it just not 5 stars but pretty close

I was totally blinded and did not see the twist coming at all! I wish it could have been a little more intense of twist rather than the guy just hoping the girlfriend would decide to torment his wife. I also would have liked to have seen the women do some worse things to each other rather than changing sheets, making beds, emptied out the dishwasher, and sending gifts. Some aspects seemed a little unrealistic. For instance, I don’t think I would go comfort my dog if I was about to die and a man was murdered in my kitchen. I don’t think I’d cover him with a towel and then tell the murder to come out to the garden with me so we can talk. I would have liked this scene to be more chaotic and stressful. I loved the ending and how the women became friends. Thanks again for the advanced copy! I attached my TikTok review!

This addictive psychological thriller proved to be an incredibly swift and engaging read. My first dive into Sally Rigby's work was thoroughly enjoyable, offering a compelling blend of tension and mind games.

The narrative centers on Vivienne, a wife and mother, who entrusts her home to Amelia, a seemingly ideal housesitter. However, Amelia harbors a hidden agenda, and upon Vivienne's return, a sinister series of small, unsettling events begins, designed to make Vivienne doubt her own stability and safety. The story unfolds through shifting perspectives, creating a tense psychological match between the two women that kept me utterly captivated.
I found myself whizzing through the pages, largely due to the book's excellent pacing and the use of concise chapters, which truly propel the plot forward. While some of the major revelations felt somewhat predictable to me early on, this didn't diminish my overall enjoyment of the thrilling journey. For others, the core twist landed with a genuine "OMG" moment. Regardless, the clever reveals and the escalating suspense consistently held my attention.
This is a smart and immersive suspense novel that I heartily recommend if you're looking for a quick, intense read that's not overly heavy. It's a testament to the author's skill that even with certain elements becoming clear to me, I still had immense fun reading it.

Thank you to Sally Rigby, NetGalley, and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Viv is married and has a little daughter. She needs someone to look after their house while they’re away, so Amelia, someone she doesn’t know, volunteers for the job. At first, it seems fine. But Amelia is the kind of person who does whatever she wants with no one there to stop her.
When Viv and her daughter return home, she starts to feel uneasy. Small but strange things start happening, and soon Viv begins to worry that she’s a danger to her family…
This was my first book by Sally Rigby, and I found it enjoyable. It’s a fast-paced read with short chapters that keep things moving. I did guess the main twist early on, but it didn’t ruin the fun. It’s a quick, easy thriller if you’re looking for something tense but not too heavy. All in all, I had fun reading it and hope you like it as well!
Thanks to Sally Rigby, Netgalley, and Storm Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. (Expected publication: Aug 14, 2025)

I whizzed through this in 48 hours... completely addictive. Told from dual POVs, it plays out like a tense psychological chess match between two characters, each trying to outwit the other and you, the reader, has the front seat. Think Friends “They don’t know that we know that they know…” but with a dark, twisty edge. 😅

Good pacing, clever reveals, and a twist I did not see coming. Highly recommend if you love mind games and smart suspense!

4.5 rounded up!

I really enjoyed this book! The twist actually made me say OMG. Super engaging, easy read with short chapter and different POV’s! Highly recommend!

Wow is all I can say. Did I really just read this. This book should be made into a movie. Looking forward to the next one.

Vivienne’s need for a dog/house sitter work perfectly for Amelia who needs the access to Vivienne’s life.

From almost the first page I had guessed one of the twists and I’m sure most had. The short chapters in dual POV were more repetitive than an actual story narrative.

I found the big ‘reveals’ to be very obvious and the ending felt very rushed, and it made no sense whatsoever to be so wrapped up in a happy little bow.

This would be a great choice for those that want a very quick read.

I received this eARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review, which this is. Thank you for the opportunity.