The Perfect Guest: An utterly compelling, page-turning, dark psychological thriller

by Casey Kelleher

‘I’m home,’ she says, standing at my door with a sky-blue backpack clutched tightly to her chest. I haven’t seen my granddaughter in years. But I know she’s hiding a deadly secret…

It’s been ten years since I last saw Stephanie, but looking into her haunted eyes, she looks just as innocent as she did as a baby. Pulling her into a tight embrace, I promise her that although she’s lost her mother, I will take care of her from now on. No matter what…

But as I usher her inside, I can’t help wondering if Stephanie knows my secrets. The real reason I hadn’t seen her mother in years… or why she wasn’t ever allowed to visit me at my house.

Did my daughter take our family secrets to the grave? Stephanie’s heart breaks when she talks about her mother. But soon details slip out about the night she died, and I begin to realise that my granddaughter is just as good a liar as I am…

Stephanie says my daughter's death was an accident, but I’m not so sure. If I uncover my granddaughter’s secrets, will I be next?

This utterly addictive psychological thriller will have you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, John Marrs and Claire McGowan.

What readers are saying about The Perfect Guest :

‘Wow what a book… did not see that ending coming. I loved this… I finished in a few hours as I couldn’t tear myself away from my kindle.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my gosh! What a story!… I had to stay up and read this book from cover to cover in one sitting because it was absolutely brilliant. Oh, and the conclusion is jaw-dropping!’ Robinlovesreading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh Boy!… a proper page turner, thrilling, twisted, mind-blowing with the story keeping you sinking in, for hours on end… loved every page.’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I LOVED this book so much!… Loved the twists and turns and did not want it to be over!’ NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Grips me from the very first page and doesn’t let go… Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story takes another sharp turn… lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.’ Chapter.capture_, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish.’ Catraphoenix, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2025

About the author

Casey Kelleher was born in Cuckfield, West Sussex. Growing up she became an avid reader, loving in particular gritty crime thrillers and gangland books.

The Books

Standalone Psych Thrillers
The Perfect Guest
The Missing Mother
The Babysitter's Secret
MINE
I'll Never Tell
Only Child
The Babysitter's Secret

Gangland/crime thrillers

standalones
Bad Blood
The Taken
The Promise
Rotten to the Core
Rise and Fall
Heartless

Griffin Estate Trilogy
No Escape (book 1)
No Fear (book 2)
No Going Back (book 3)

The Byrne Trilogy
The Betrayed (Book 1)
The Broken (Book)
The Forgotten (Book 3)

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Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is the victim and who is the villain in this slow-burn thought-provoking story? Kay is grieving, Stephanie is grieving, Rosie is grieving, and Ash is running. All are flawed, complex, and hiding secrets that could alter their future and change their lives forever. The one thing they all share is the desire to escape from their current situation. The plot is intense, emotional and so intriguing I stayed up reading late into the night. I was immediately pulled into their realities through the different perspectives of the layered, well-developed characters. I was instantly invested as the story unfolded and the past came back to haunt the present of each of these compelling characters. This is the second book I have read by this author and definitely will not be the last. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

[Rachel the Page-Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie is in a bind when she contacts her estranged grandmother, Kay. Her mother Amanda has overdosed and 16-year-old Stephanie didn’t know who else to reach out to. Kay invites her to her home without question, but soon she starts seeing things about the girl that remind her too much of her daughter.

One night, Kay is looking out of her window when she sees a light out in the woods. She sees a woman go outside in a terrible storm to use the restroom, and worries that this girl is freezing and in trouble. When she approaches the tent the next day, she soon finds out that the girl isn’t alone - she has a very angry man and a very sick newborn with her. Wanting to make sure the baby is okay, she invites Ash and Rosie to stay with her as well, even though Stephanie is totally against the idea.

Now this ragtag group of teenagers is living in Kay’s home, and we slowly find out what their misdeeds are - even Kay’s. Everyone in this house has a secret (except for the baby!) and that’s basically the book. I feel like the synopsis was slightly misleading, and I didn’t care about any of the characters. I also didn’t care for the ending, but that’s a personal preference. Overall this book was entertaining enough, but not quite the stunning psychological thriller that it seems made out to be. 3.5 stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture, Casey Kelleher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 28, 2025.)

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, though I didn't feel that it matches the synopsis at all. The story centers on 4 primary characters: Kay, whose daughter recently died; Stephanie, who is Kay’s granddaughter but doesn’t have a relationship with her; and Ash and Rosie, who are on the run. All 4 of these characters have secrets to hide and it’s fun to try to figure out what everyone’s intentions really are. .

I love a story with an unreliable narrator and this one doesn’t disappoint. Each character is hiding something and the book is a bit of a slow burn (but in a good way) as we learn more about them. I didn’t really connect with any character but I could emphasize with their circumstances. There is a great twist at the end, just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read that took the whole book to figure out who was telling the truth. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Psychological thriller author Casey Kelleher is back with a brand new book The Perfect Guest.
A story that is easily read in one sitting.
Stephanie comes to live with her grandmother, Kay after her mother Amanda dies from an overdose.
Kay has trouble sleeping and one night while looking out the window she sees a tent with a young girl exiting.
The next morning she investigates and stumbles on Rosie, Ash and baby George, they have no food and the weather is freezing.
Being the nice person she is and worried for them, Kay invites them inside her home for a meal, shower and a rest.
Stephanie believes they are taking advantage of her kindness and is totally against the idea of them staying.
Soon things don’t add up, mishaps are frequent and everyone is hiding a secret….
The blurb is evasive, the plot is easy to foretell, I did work out the twist and the end was just the little bit anticlimactic.
It’s fast paced, a quick read and was ok.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sixteen-year-old Stephanie has just moved in with her grandmother Kay after her mother Amanda’s passing. Kay and Amanda had been estranged, so Stephanie and Kay are strangers. Meanwhile, Kay has decided to take in a small family who had been living rough. From the very beginning, Stephanie doesn’t trust the young couple Rosie and Ash, finding her grandmother’s blind faith aggravating. She suspects that they are hiding something. They aren’t the only ones. Kay, Stephanie, Rosie and Ash are all flawed.

It’s her grandmother’s home, but Stephanie is the untrusting one. She is the one who wants them gone. Stephanie’s concerns are just the tip of the iceberg, as secrets and lies abound.

Oh my gosh! What a story! I had only planned to read for a little while before bed, but I had to stay up and read this book from cover to cover in one sitting because it was absolutely brilliant. Oh, and the conclusion is jaw-dropping!

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very slow at the beginning, I wasn’t quite sure where it was headed but the ending was a real twist! I enjoyed it a lot!

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark psychological claustrophobic thriller.
I welcomed her home.
It was my biggest mistake.
After her daughter Amanda's death Kay takes her sixteen years old granddaughter Stephanie to live in the house just off Highgate Woods in London, it's been ten years she has been a bad mother but has to make it up to Stephanie.
Out walking her Yorkshire terrier Max she stumbled across a tent it's empty finding out a young couple Rosie and Ash and their baby George, it's far to cold to be camping out the baby is sick so let's them stay in her house for just a couple of nights. The perfect Guests? Both Kay and Stephanie are quizzing what are they running from, what unforgivable bad secrets are they hiding, all Kay wants is a family all on her own, and loads of secrets start to come crawling out of the woodworks from all these people as we read lots of twisted chapters.
Oh Boy! Is this book daunting to read? Oh yes it really is, from the start it's a proper page turner, thrilling, twisted, mind-blowing with the story keeping you sinking in, for hours on end.
I enjoyed the thrill, I enjoyed every chapter, I enjoyed and loved every page. Definitely going to be a best seller for this author, I love her work.

[Ashley Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Perfect Guest by Casey Kelleher is a slow burn psychological thriller that is easily read in one sitting. Stephanie goes to live with her grandmother Kay after her mother's death from an overdose. Kay hasn't seen Stephanie in years and worries that Stephanie knows why it's been so long. One night Kay sees a young family in a tent outside. Being a kind person she offers them to stay with Stephanie and her. Stephanie thinks they are taking advantage and soon things start to go wrong. Is everyone hiding secrets? And how far will they go to keep them hidden?
This story was not what I expected but I still really enjoyed it. Multiple unreliable narrators, suspense and secrets kept me engaged throughout this book. I did find the first bit a little slow and somewhat repetitive but overall I really enjoyed it! I found it well written and while I didn't particularly like some characters I found them well developed. I will definitely be reading more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley, Casey Kelleher and Bookouture for this ARC. Expected release date is January 28th 2025.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie just moved in with her grandmother Kay after her mother dies. Kay and Amanda (Stephanie’s mother) were estranged so Stephanie and Kay are strangers. Kay has a penchant for being liked and one day invites a young homeless family into her home for warmth and comfort, especially since they have a sick baby. Stephanie doesn't trust the young couple Rosie and Ash, and is frustrated with her grandmothers kindness.

Stephanie knows something is up. But here’s the thing, what if every single one of them has a secret? What if every single one of them has something to hide?

I could not put this book down. It was so good! I absolutely loved the build up so that when you get to the end you’re left thinking, what the actual hell that’s so messed up!!! That’s how I felt anyways. What a fantastic thriller, gave me the heebie jeebies!

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great psychological thriller.
Stephanie goes to stay with Kay when her Mum dies and appreciates her helping her. However, she can’t quite bring herself to calling her her grandmother as she barely knows her.
It’s a bit of an awkward relationship but Kay wants it to work due to her failed relationship with her daughter.
Kay then discovers a young couple and a newborn baby staying in a tent near her home. With cold weather and a storm lashing their tent, she asks them to stay in her house for the sake of the baby.
This is where things get interesting as Stephanie doesn’t trust them one bit.
I won’t say anymore. but there’s some great twists and turns in the story.
Thanks to Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

✅ Talk about hiding secrets! There are so many family secrets going on within this story, it was hard to keep everything straight in my mind.
The Perfect Guest certainly takes you on a wild, suspenseful ride!
Who exactly is the victim in the story???? The twisty ending will reveal all!
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will hit you like a freight train right from the get-go and never let up the entire time. We are thrown right into the middle of the chaos and left to get the beginning of the story and learn about its previous facts and information as we progress. I really liked the way that this was written because it really pulled you in as a reader and I felt that this was a perfect way to submerse the reader but also give them necessary information. The characters were absolutely fantastic and I loved the complete tension and animosity that was felt between both grandmother and granddaughter. The book starts out with granddaughter Stephanie unwillingly having to reach out to her grandmother Kay after the death of her mother. There's a lot of tension between the two characters right from the start and the animosity that radiates off Stephanie is intense. When Kay notices a tent in her back yard one day she is very curious. She goes to investigate much to her granddaughter's dismay and finds a young couple, Rosie and Ash, with a new baby. With thoughts of her own daughter on her mind she decides to take the couple and their new baby in and give them a warm place to stay. Stephanie however, is very leery of their presence and takes an instant dislike to rosie. However all four of these characters are hiding deep secrets, so who's to say who really is the villain and who's the good guy? There was so much information that each character was hiding that I couldn't wait to get to the bottom of things. And I loved how there weren't to many many characters at all. My favorite part was seeing all of the characters reactions to the couple staying, the good and the bad. It was very realistic to the situation and what I believe would actually happen in real life. As the tension begins to rise we start to see true colors come to the surface however it's not always as it seems. This book full of suspense and it had me holding my breath a good portion of the novel. If you are a thriller fan than this is for sure a book you won't want to miss. I'm so glad I got the change to check it out because I loved the plot and the characters but it was the tension and suspense that really left me biting my nails. This is a book that I can't wait for everyone to read, you won't be disappointed. This was a thriller that was made for the big screen and I couldn't get enough. Great read however if you have any plans for the day then don't start just yet because nothing will get accomplished once you pick up this book because the plot will have you in such a chokehold. This book had a dark vibe from the very beginning and seeing the tension and wondering what was going to happen with rosie was great. While every part of this book was good it was the ending that left me speechless. This is unlike any book I've ever read before nor will I ever read again and I'm so glad that I got the chance to check this one out.

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Perfect Guest" by Casey Kelleher is a straightforward, emotional, and high-tension psychological thriller that genuinely evoked feelings in me, even if that feeling was frustration! This was precisely the "palate cleanser" I needed. After struggling with so many overly complicated books recently, it was a relief to dive into something that felt incredibly claustrophobic yet straightforward.

I managed to read the entire story in just one sitting because I was genuinely invested in what was happening. One of the best aspects of this book was its simple structure. With only three points of view and no jumping around in time, it was incredibly easy to follow the storyline.

The tension builds in a way that really makes your blood boil; I found myself feeling so frustrated with the characters that I wanted to reach into the book and shake them! I actually appreciate that reaction because it means I was experiencing real emotions rather than just reading "background noise."

The characters were very well developed. Grandma Kay was a fascinating portrayal of someone who needs to be noticed and needed, while her granddaughter, Stephanie, provided a great reality check and didn't come across as naive. The young couple, Rosie and Ash, were the primary source of my frustration. Still, when the main twist finally landed, everything clicked into place perfectly, and I understood why everyone was acting so annoyingly.

While I can't say I "loved" the ending in a traditional sense, it fit the characters and the story perfectly. Anything else would have felt wrong. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast, intense, and emotional read that didn’t waste my time with unnecessary fluff.

If you're looking for a thriller that will make you want to shout at the pages, this is the one!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three women, three women in emotional turmoil. Three women thrown together because one just cares.

Kay is a lonely older woman. She’s lost her estranged daughter and is lonely in life but I get the impression she doesn’t know how to show she cares without emotional suffocation.

Stephanie has lost the only person in her life, her mum. Not an amazing mum but it was her mum. Stephanie is learning to cope living with her grandmother as well as dealing with her grief as a teenager.

Rosie is in a muddle. New baby, overbearing partner, no fixed abode taken in by a Good Samaritan. Someone who her partner wants to take advantage of.

This trio of women are in a pickle with a dark cloud of getting the authorities involved – which none of them want for different reasons. It gives for an uncomfortable read as all I wanted to do was call the police to help baby George.

I really liked the way Kelleher switches narrator at the beg of chapters but there was no noticeable pattern to the change. Sometimes I’d get a couple of chapters with a character before doing a circuit for each of my leading ladies and then without warning I’d get another double header with one of them.

I was unsure who the “perfect guest’ was to start with as no one was ideal. The more I read the more confused I was as to who the book title referred to. That said Kelleher took me on a merry dance of mistrust and secrets in her compact cast. I didn’t know who was the most reliable and in the end gave up trying. That is a good sign for me – a psych-thriller needs the unnerviness and mistrust of characters and Kelleher delivered!! She messed with my thought process brilliantly 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[Navi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC

The story revolves around Kay, her granddaughter Stephanie, and a young couple, Rosie and Ash, who are on the run with their newborn, George. After losing her mother, Amanda, to an overdose, Stephanie moves in with her grandmother. As they try to navigate their new reality, Kay finds Rosie and Ash living in a tent with nowhere to go during a storm. Out of kindness, she brings them home to stay for a few days.

Kay, Stephanie, and Rosie are all dealing with the loss of their loved ones, while Ash remains fiercely protective of his family. However, Stephanie suspects that Rosie and Ash are hiding something important and worries they might be taking advantage of Kay's hospitality. Ash and Rosie seem willing to do anything to extend their stay at Kay's house. Each of them hides secrets they wish to keep buried, fearing the worst if the truth comes out. None of them wants the police involved—but what exactly are they hiding?

The book is an easy, fast-paced read that quickly draws you into the plot. However, I found the tension and suspense lacking for a thriller. Though the last chapters were a pleasant surprise, unfolding in an unexpected way. The narration remains completely unreliable until the very end. I've never read a thriller that involves old-age people. Loved Kay's character overall. I highly recommend this one if anyone's looking for an easy, fast-paced book with an interesting plot.

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This psychological thriller starts with chaos. Stephanie, Kay’s estranged granddaughter, out of desperation, is forced to reach out to her grandmother after the suspicious death of her mother. There's a lot of tension between these two right from the start particularly Stephanie’s intense animosity toward her grandmother. One day they notice a tent has been pitched in the back yard. What they find is a young couple, Rosie and Ash, with a tiny baby. After great deliberation, her mothering instincts take over and she invites the couple and their new baby in and gives them a warm place to stay. Stephanie however, is very leery of their presence and takes an instant dislike to Rosie. However all four of these characters are hiding deep secrets, so it’s truly hard to know who to side with. My heart wanted to support Rosie and her baby. There was so much information that each character was hiding that I couldn't wait to for it it all to sort out.
I enjoyed there being only only four man characters to keep up with. My favorite part was the way Casey wrote in such a way, I couldn’t read fast enough. The tension was electric. It was very realistic scenario that could actually happen in real life.
As the tension begins to heats up, characters’ true colors rise to the surface however things are not always as they seem.

The ending will leave you speechless.
This one needs to be on the big screen.

[Amber Gilnack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little slow-paced until the last 20-30% or so, but only because you get to spend a lot of time getting to know the characters and their inner monologue and struggles. The characters are so strongly written, and there are multiple POVs which is always enticing, so you really feel like you know them inside and out. However, there’s a lack of trust amongst the characters so even though you get their point of view, it’s still a mystery of who you can trust and for how long. You find out bits and pieces of their pasts as the story progresses, and there are quite a few parallels in some of the characters’ journeys. The ending is so unexpected and dark and twisted… Did not see it coming! It feels a bit like a locked room thriller, both physically and psychologically and MAN it’s intense towards the end!

Premise: Kay has her granddaughter Stephanie move in with her shortly after her mother dies. There’s a lot to unpack - guilt and grief and trying to get to know each other, but that gets even more complicated when Kay’s hospitality attracts additional unexpected guests, with their own guilt and grief to unpack too. Tight quarters and a lack of trust creates quite the seesaw of relationships between all of the characters and before you know it, things (and characters) are slowly unraveling.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephanie's mother has died from an overdose, so she goes to live with her estranged grandma, Kay. Things aren't easy between them. But things get worse when Kay comes across a teenage couple and a baby living in a tent not far from her home. Despite Stephanie saying it's a bad idea, Kay allows them to stay with them for a few days. Soon, things go from bad to worse. But why does Stephanie feel like she's the one in the wrong?

Aaaaaaghh. Honestly, that's it. That's my review. Or at least, that's all it should be. Ooooh, this book made me so damn mad. If I had a magic power, I'd use it to climb into this book and give each person a swift kick in the arse. The stupidity of some of the characters had me wanting to smack their heads against a wall. The stress I felt when reading this made me want to throw it across the room. I don't know if I hated it or loved it, but it definitely made me feel some kinda way.
Don't get me wrong, this was a great read. It was a little slow to start with, but picked up fairly quickly and had me feeling awful for Stephanie. There were a couple of little twists thrown in that makes you rethink everything you thought whilst reading. I certainly didn't see any of that ending coming. But that's why it pissed me off so much.
Go and read this one asap because I need to rant about it with someone who has read it.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. This is a new to me author. I really liked this one. Lots of suspense and twists. This is a dark psychological thriller. Kay is estranged from her daughter, Amanda. Kay gets a phone call from her granddaughter, Stephanie who btw she also is estranged from, that Amanda has died, please come quickly. Kay brings Stephanie, who is 16, home with her and just couldn't be nicer to Stephanie. While Stephanie is grieving, Kay sees a tent set up in the park and goes to investigate. She finds Rosie, Ash, and newborn baby George, living rough. She invites them to stay at her home too. Well Stephanie isn't happy about this but she has good reason. She doesn't trust them. Kay is thrilled to have a house full of people she can tend to and cook for. But who is Kay really? Stephanie grew up with her mother, Amanda, telling her that Kay was an awful controlling, mean person. However, Kay doesn't seem that way to Stephanie. This plot runs deeper and deeper. Lies, suspense, secrets. This book has it all.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. I greatly appreciate it. All the sleep I lost because I couldn't stop reading is my own fault. I highly recommend this book.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kay offers her granddaughter Stephanie the chance to live with her after she has lost her mother, despite having not seen her in years. Kay has secrets about why she hasn’t seen her for so long and wonders if Stephanie knows. When a new young family comes to stay with them, Stephanie immediately does not trust them. Are they hiding secrets as well?

This is my first book by this author and I wanted to read as I found the synopsis intriguing and I was drawn to the cover. This story was not what I was expecting from the synopsis, however it was still an enjoyable thriller. The story is told in the voices of multiple unreliable narrators, which helped build the suspense and atmosphere. I enjoyed the profound, intense writing style as this helped create a dark, disturbing vibe to the overall story.

Although this was well written, I did find it very slow at times and quite repetitive. The characters were well developed, although not that likeable. I enjoyed how there were also moments of raw emotion and serious themes. This ended up being a very compelling mystery and is definitely not the last book I will be reading by this author. 3.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[sharon moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say anything from Casey kelleher I have read. This one doesn’t disappoint. This tells the tragic story of Kay who has one daughter, a granddaughter and a dog called max. Kay lives alone estranged from her daughter Amanda, Amanda was an addict and didn’t conform to her mother’s regime, so left at the age of 16. Amanda had nothing to do with her mother over the years. Kay however lived in her own house and was a hoarder. She walked max and one evening she noticed a broken down tent, and decided she wanted to help whoever was inside as the weather was so bad and the tent nearly blew away. Ash and Rosie with their baby George were in the tent as Kay went to them and asked them to spend a few nights in her house as the baby was unwell. Kay had lost her daughter to an overdose and her granddaughter Stephanie had moved in, she didn’t take to Ash and Rosie but had to give up her bedroom as Kay demanded, so Stephanie had to sleep on a rundown settee. Stephanie never took to ash and unrest unfolds as the two are sarcastic to one another. Meanwhile Rosie and Kay become very close. I really feel a follow up should be on the cards. As the story unfolds there are so many twists and turns and I never guessed the ending, a brilliant read, loved it.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another triumph from Casey Kelleher. I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. It was easy to read and I didn’t know what the outcome was going to be until right at the very end.

Kay lives on her own in her cluttered house and doesn’t realise she’s a hoarder. She is estranged from her daughter Amanda as Amanda is addicted to drugs and Kay hasn’t seen her granddaughter Stephanie for ten years.

Kay receives a troubled call from Stephanie and Stephanie comes to live with her. Kay is ashamed when she sees Stephanie’s reaction to the state of her house.

Kay discovers that there are people living in a tent in the woods behind her house and she has to go and see for herself. She finds a young girl, her boyfriend and a newborn baby, they are living in squalor and then baby is ill.

Kay invites them to come and stay at her house for a few nights- it’s clear that they are running from something bad. Stephanie doesn’t like them being there and is worried they will ask questions as she has secrets too.

A great read and one I would definitely recommend. It was clear that everyone had secrets but I didn’t guess the outcome and I loved all the twists.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this book.

[Scented Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!!! A compelling read, able to be completed in one or two sittings. I know I did. That old lady Kay was absolutely TRIPPIN. She went outside one day to walk her dog, only to see a vagabond family out in the woods hiding away in a raggedy tent with their BABY.
HOW is that not an , GIANT, ALARMING, RED flag?? WHY TF would a family be living in a tent, in the rain, with their BABY if not because of DIRE, serious or dangerous circumstances?!?! No matter what their reasons for it are, CLEARLY this "scene" is entirely too heavy for old ass, grieving Kay to deal with, but she's nuttier than some squirrel-ish and doesnt see the DANGER at all.
The family is Rosie , baby daddy and baby George .
So when Kay brings home these strangers like she was bringing home something as innocuous as a stray kitten, Stephanie loses her mind. Understandably so, but then you think her grandmother would be on her side and be more protective of her because they are BOTH grieving the death of Amanda. That is Kay's daughter and Stephanie's mother ...but au contraire, she is NOT protective AT ALL. INSTEAD she insists on being absolutely crazy and naïve with these people she knows nothing about and continues to throw her grand daughter "under the bus" at every chance she gets. Growing and feeding this relationship she has with Rosie and baby George. Stephanie is having NONE OF IT! She wants these people out of the house post haste so she can get on with grieving and healing. Well they also have a set of plans of their own and plan on doing NOTHING of the sort and things get SO MUCH worse for poor Stephanie. LMAOOO!
This was another JUICY British read that was just sooo extra GOOD. I think I may want to take a year out and read nothing but entirely British thrillers. I have YET to be disappointed by one.

[Basmala · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I was intrigued by the premise of the book. I thought it was simply about a relationship between a woman and her granddaughter, but it turned out to be much more. The story explores a web of secrets, manipulation, and blackmail.

It started a bit slow, but it picked up afterward. All characters were unlikable. None of them are reliable narrators. Everyone has their own darkest secret. However, I truly felt sorry for the granddaughter and everything she had to endure.

I really enjoyed the story. The writing style was straightforward. The short chapters made it easy to keep reading. The last couple of chapters kept me on the edge of my seat.
I didn’t expect the direction the plot would take. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the ending, but it left me speechless nonetheless.

I recommend this book if you love "Never Lie" by Freida Mcfadden. Both books give off the same vibe, in my opinion.

Thank you to Bookouture, Netgalley & the author for an advanced copy of this book. This book will come out on January 28th.

[Sarah Rife · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for the ARC of this book.

Reading the little summary you get on NetGalley, I really thought I was getting a whole different book, thought this was going to be all about Kay and her possibly difficult Granddaughter and their screwed-up path back to each other... What I got was ... something else. Holy Cow I'm not even sure how to digest this book and everything that happened at the end tbh. It was all so much I haven't quite figured out if I even liked it or not yet.. There is so much going on with all the characters, all the bickering back and forth, the "accidents" that you end up just focusing on Stephanie & Ash most of the story, seems "poor" Kay, Rosie, and little George just kind of fall to the back burner, you almost end up feeling sorry for them.. Almost..

I'll tell you one thing I know for sure of this story. Max deserved way more words in this book than he got. He probably would have ended up being my favorite character, had I read more about him!

[Fiza Rizwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Perfect Guest is a masterfully written dark psychological thriller that grips me from the very first page and doesn’t let go until the shocking conclusion. The story weaves a complex web of secrets, lies, and manipulation, creating an atmosphere of intense suspense.

The plot is intricately crafted, with twists that are both unpredictable and satisfying. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story takes another sharp turn, keeping you on edge throughout.

What truly sets this book apart is its characters. They are deeply flawed yet strikingly real, their motivations layered and believable. Their development adds emotional depth to the suspense, making the stakes feel personal and urgent. My favorite character was Kay.

Overall, The Perfect Guest is a compelling, dark, and twist-filled thriller that fans of psychological suspense will thoroughly enjoy. It’s a gripping, thought-provoking read that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kay’s estranged daughter, Amanda, has died. Amanda’s daughter, moves in with her nan, but they don’t really know each other.

Ash and Rosie are living in a tent near Kay’s house, with their baby son, George. One very stormy night, Kay invites them all to come and stay at hers for a couple of days.

It soon becomes apparent that everyone in the house has secrets that they are keeping.

The characters all had their own fears and were running from their individual problems.

The tale is told from Kay, Stephanie and Rosie’s points of view, and made for a captivating read.

The layers of the characters are slowly peeled to reveal just what it is going on.

What an astounding read this was! My heart felt like it was going to burst, it was pounding so hard at times.

It is a dark psychological thriller, that took my breath away.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Northern Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that I think that a story would come across better as a film/tv show than a book but this is one of those rare instances. The story's focus is upon Kay, her grand-daughter Stephanie and a homeless family - 16 year old Rosie, 18/19 year old Ash and weeks old George. The tension between Ash and Stephanie in particular is well-described and I think visually could be quite menacing. It is made obvious throughout that Rosie, Kay and Stephanie have something to hide (Ash's own perspective is not made clear - he is described by others only). At the end there is a bit of a twist, - although Kay's actual secret was fairly easily guessed the way that things play out at the end was the twist. I can't say that initially I particularly liked it or the characters but I got into it as I read and from about 65% was keen to keep reading to find out what happened. So for me a solid 4. With thanks to Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this ARC.

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

This is exactly the kind of thriller I like. The twists were very clear for early on, but I like to be proven right, so I don't mind.

Some thing(s) I liked:
✅Well written
✅Good storyline
✅Believable characters
✅Baddies I loved hating on
✅"Goodies" I loved hating on too

Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕I feel like Rosie is actually braindead. Ash is a manipulative bonehead of course. She thinks she's a good mother when she's clearly barely mentally over 8 years old in her head. It was really hard to read how she continually put her son in danger, ignored warnings and stood up for a violent sociopath.
⭕Kay takes in her grand daughter, then happy to ignore her, make her feel unwelcomed, take her room off her and give to homeless strangers, then start chatting crap about how she has secrets and wouldn't want the police sniffing round to said strangers. Uh, nah. Kay is a POS well before it comes out she is also a sociopath.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stephanie, after recently losing her mother, has moved in with her estranged grandmother Kay. Before she even has a chance to get settled, Kay invites two strangers - Ash and Rosie - into their home.

Ash and Rosie have a newborn baby and are homeless and on the run. As her good deed for the day, Kay invites them to stay in her home before a major storm hits.

Stephanie doesn’t trust the couple. They are taking advantage of Kay’s kindness and trying to prolong their stay at any cost. She warns Kay, but her concerns fall on deaf ears.

As the characters clash and tensions grow, it is unclear who you can trust - and what lengths they will go to to protect themselves, their families, and their secrets.

I thought the story was okay. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but picks up in the last 20% or so. I was able to predict the ending, though there were some details that still surprised me. Three stars overall.