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The Perfect Hosts
'You don't know who to trust or where loyalties lie in The Perfect Hosts. I loved every minute of this fun, twisty wild ride!' - Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing
Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know...
Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the a "pistols and pearls" gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.
As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn't just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it's too late.
Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know...
Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the a "pistols and pearls" gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.
As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn't just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it's too late.
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2025
509 people are currently reading
21455 people want to read
About the author
Heather Gudenkauf
24 books9,539 followersHeather Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including The Overnight Guest and her most recent thriller Everyone is Watching. Her debut novel, The Weight of Silence, was an instant NYT bestseller and remained on the list for 22 weeks. Gudenkauf’s critically acclaimed novels have been published in over 25 countries and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Her books have been featured on many Best Of roundups including lists by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Amazon, Apple Books, GoodReads, and more. Her eleventh novel, The Perfect Hosts will be released on November 4, 2025. Heather lives in Iowa with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 589 reviews
November 29, 2025
Acres of horse ranch stretched under the sun, every inch polished into perfection for the grandest of occasions: the Drakes’ gender reveal party. This wasn’t just any celebration—it was a display of wealth, power, and ambition. The rolling hills and white-fenced paddocks were dressed up like a scene from a glossy lifestyle magazine, every detail carefully curated not just for family joy, but for business. Because for Wes Drake, this day doubled as a networking goldmine. Deals could be made between sips of champagne, new partnerships forged as the powder-pink and baby-blue bunting swayed in the breeze.
Madeleine, radiant but exhausted, shuffled through the grounds with her swollen belly, barely managing her shoes, supported by her best friend and midwife Joanna. She tried to smile, but her eyes darted—spotting uninvited archenemies mingling freely, wondering why her husband seemed so absorbed in conversation with the striking redheaded waitress at the far corner. Was it paranoia, or intuition? And why, moments before the announcement, did Dix and Wes break into a heated argument? Something was off, yet the spectacle demanded optimism. It had to be perfect. After all, even country music royalty Reba had taken a break from judging The Voice to grace their stage with a live performance.
The moment of truth came with cinematic flair. A rifle raised, poised to ignite a rigged truck carrying the explosive device that would reveal the baby’s gender in a glorious shower of colored powder. But instead of one triumphant blast, chaos erupted: two explosions thundered across the ranch. Smoke, screams, flames. What should have been pink or blue joy became carnage. In the haze of fire and fear, one guest lay dead near the barn, several were gravely injured, and Madeleine herself was rushed into an ambulance—her only companion the mysterious young waitress, Mellie, who, shockingly, was pregnant too.
If there were an award for most explosive scene in a book, Heather Gudenkauf would deserve to clutch the golden statue. The set piece was raw, cinematic, and utterly devastating. It reminded me of the relentless intensity of the opening 24 minutes of Saving Private Ryan—a literary moment so visceral I could see it playing out in my filmmaker’s mind.
But was this horrific blast just a tragic accident? Or were the Drakes—one of the town’s most powerful families—deliberately targeted?
Enter Jamie Saldano, an ATF agent with ties to the very soil now charred and bloodied. Jamie isn’t just an outsider investigator; he’s a boy of the town, carrying his own scars. Two decades earlier, his sister vanished, and he himself was beaten nearly to death and left for dead in a ditch. The man who saved him back then? None other than Wes Drake. This connection makes Jamie’s role dangerously complicated. Can he remain objective when the man at the center of this inferno is the same one he owes his life to?
As Jamie begins peeling back layers, it’s clear the Drakes’ empire runs deep—too many people in town are in their pockets, too many secrets lie beneath the glossy surface. Wes himself appears far too comfortable with the women around him, especially Mellie, who quickly bonds with Madeleine through their shared pregnancies. Is Mellie a confidante—or a pawn? Did someone seek revenge on the Drakes, or is there a darker, more tangled conspiracy at play?
The threads multiply: the victim’s grieving husband points his finger directly at the Drakes. Lucy, Mellie’s estranged sister, shows up at the ranch in a stolen truck, her motives dripping with suspicion. Furious over family inheritances that left her penniless while her sister controls the money, she’s a live wire with a grudge. Could Lucy be the hidden hand pulling the strings?
And haunting Jamie at every turn is his own past—his sister’s ghost whispering through the streets, reminding him that some wounds never heal. To solve the case, he’ll need to untangle not just the Drakes’ deceptions, but his own nightmares.
Overall: I came this close to giving the book a full five stars. I guessed the big twist fairly early, and I wasn’t a fan of Mellie’s character—she leaned a bit too heavily into telenovela-style melodrama, almost like a glamorous young villainess written for prime-time. The closing scene also felt a touch unnecessary, and a few of the reveals were too convenient, bordering on haphazard. Still, I devoured every page. The pacing was spot-on, Jamie’s POV was riveting (I need him to appear in future books), and Lucy, surprisingly, was my favorite—an intriguing blend of struggling outcast and dangerous femme fatale.
This is the kind of book that hooks you from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. The kind you put your phone on silent for, cancel plans, and just lose yourself in its grip until you’ve turned the final page. Not my all-time favorite from Gudenkauf, but still a wickedly entertaining, deeply cinematic mystery I highly recommend.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for granting me early access to one of my auto-approved authors’ unputdownable thrillers in exchange for an honest review
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Madeleine, radiant but exhausted, shuffled through the grounds with her swollen belly, barely managing her shoes, supported by her best friend and midwife Joanna. She tried to smile, but her eyes darted—spotting uninvited archenemies mingling freely, wondering why her husband seemed so absorbed in conversation with the striking redheaded waitress at the far corner. Was it paranoia, or intuition? And why, moments before the announcement, did Dix and Wes break into a heated argument? Something was off, yet the spectacle demanded optimism. It had to be perfect. After all, even country music royalty Reba had taken a break from judging The Voice to grace their stage with a live performance.
The moment of truth came with cinematic flair. A rifle raised, poised to ignite a rigged truck carrying the explosive device that would reveal the baby’s gender in a glorious shower of colored powder. But instead of one triumphant blast, chaos erupted: two explosions thundered across the ranch. Smoke, screams, flames. What should have been pink or blue joy became carnage. In the haze of fire and fear, one guest lay dead near the barn, several were gravely injured, and Madeleine herself was rushed into an ambulance—her only companion the mysterious young waitress, Mellie, who, shockingly, was pregnant too.
If there were an award for most explosive scene in a book, Heather Gudenkauf would deserve to clutch the golden statue. The set piece was raw, cinematic, and utterly devastating. It reminded me of the relentless intensity of the opening 24 minutes of Saving Private Ryan—a literary moment so visceral I could see it playing out in my filmmaker’s mind.
But was this horrific blast just a tragic accident? Or were the Drakes—one of the town’s most powerful families—deliberately targeted?
Enter Jamie Saldano, an ATF agent with ties to the very soil now charred and bloodied. Jamie isn’t just an outsider investigator; he’s a boy of the town, carrying his own scars. Two decades earlier, his sister vanished, and he himself was beaten nearly to death and left for dead in a ditch. The man who saved him back then? None other than Wes Drake. This connection makes Jamie’s role dangerously complicated. Can he remain objective when the man at the center of this inferno is the same one he owes his life to?
As Jamie begins peeling back layers, it’s clear the Drakes’ empire runs deep—too many people in town are in their pockets, too many secrets lie beneath the glossy surface. Wes himself appears far too comfortable with the women around him, especially Mellie, who quickly bonds with Madeleine through their shared pregnancies. Is Mellie a confidante—or a pawn? Did someone seek revenge on the Drakes, or is there a darker, more tangled conspiracy at play?
The threads multiply: the victim’s grieving husband points his finger directly at the Drakes. Lucy, Mellie’s estranged sister, shows up at the ranch in a stolen truck, her motives dripping with suspicion. Furious over family inheritances that left her penniless while her sister controls the money, she’s a live wire with a grudge. Could Lucy be the hidden hand pulling the strings?
And haunting Jamie at every turn is his own past—his sister’s ghost whispering through the streets, reminding him that some wounds never heal. To solve the case, he’ll need to untangle not just the Drakes’ deceptions, but his own nightmares.
Overall: I came this close to giving the book a full five stars. I guessed the big twist fairly early, and I wasn’t a fan of Mellie’s character—she leaned a bit too heavily into telenovela-style melodrama, almost like a glamorous young villainess written for prime-time. The closing scene also felt a touch unnecessary, and a few of the reveals were too convenient, bordering on haphazard. Still, I devoured every page. The pacing was spot-on, Jamie’s POV was riveting (I need him to appear in future books), and Lucy, surprisingly, was my favorite—an intriguing blend of struggling outcast and dangerous femme fatale.
This is the kind of book that hooks you from the very first chapter and refuses to let go. The kind you put your phone on silent for, cancel plans, and just lose yourself in its grip until you’ve turned the final page. Not my all-time favorite from Gudenkauf, but still a wickedly entertaining, deeply cinematic mystery I highly recommend.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for granting me early access to one of my auto-approved authors’ unputdownable thrillers in exchange for an honest review
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September 24, 2025
Get ready for the biggest and most lavish gender reveal celebration ever!
Madeline and Wes Drake are among the wealthiest in their ranching community. And Wes likes to go a bit overboard. So, when it came time for the gender reveal of his first child, he decides to fill a truck with explosives and colored powder. His well thought out, genius plan is to shoot a rifle into the truck and the explosives to set off a color bomb. What could possibly go wrong?💁🏼♀️
Yet somehow, it looks like it’ll go off without a hitch… until a second explosion behind the cheering crowd leaves everyone running for cover, and one person dead!
Now who would want to sabotage such a joyous celebration? And why?
Let me also introduce you to our ATF Supervisor Jamie Saldano, who has ties to this community. You see, he spent time here growing up with his mother and sister. Until the one night his sister disappeared, and Jamie was left for dead. Now the ghosts of the past relentlessly haunt him…it’s time to return to the scene of the crime. (Both old and new)
Told from multiple POV's, we learn how everyone involved has their own secrets, lies and demons.
There are characters you’ll cheer for, hoping for a happy ending and those so vile you hope they won’t make it to the epilogue! (Or was that just me?)😉
✍️ Heather Gudenkauf
📑 320 pages
🗓️ November 4 2025
📈 4/5🌟
👉 Thriller
Thank you to NetGalley and HTP
Madeline and Wes Drake are among the wealthiest in their ranching community. And Wes likes to go a bit overboard. So, when it came time for the gender reveal of his first child, he decides to fill a truck with explosives and colored powder. His well thought out, genius plan is to shoot a rifle into the truck and the explosives to set off a color bomb. What could possibly go wrong?💁🏼♀️
Yet somehow, it looks like it’ll go off without a hitch… until a second explosion behind the cheering crowd leaves everyone running for cover, and one person dead!
Now who would want to sabotage such a joyous celebration? And why?
Let me also introduce you to our ATF Supervisor Jamie Saldano, who has ties to this community. You see, he spent time here growing up with his mother and sister. Until the one night his sister disappeared, and Jamie was left for dead. Now the ghosts of the past relentlessly haunt him…it’s time to return to the scene of the crime. (Both old and new)
Told from multiple POV's, we learn how everyone involved has their own secrets, lies and demons.
There are characters you’ll cheer for, hoping for a happy ending and those so vile you hope they won’t make it to the epilogue! (Or was that just me?)😉
✍️ Heather Gudenkauf
📑 320 pages
🗓️ November 4 2025
📈 4/5🌟
👉 Thriller
Thank you to NetGalley and HTP
October 6, 2025
Gripping, thrilling, and oozing with tension, secrets, and lies! The Perfect Hosts proved to be a fast paced, thrilling roller coaster of a book which kept me on my toes and turning the pages! Every time I read a book by Heather Gudenkauf, I want to kick myself for not reading more books by Heather Gudenkauf!
Gender reveal parties are all the rage! Two hundred people gathered for Madeline and Wes Drake's gender reveal party! It was going to be a blast! And it was! Things take a horrific and drastic turn which ends in guest going to the hospital and one going to the morgue! Agent Jamie Saldano is called in to investigate. He knows this town, and he knows the people. He grew up there. It is where his sister went missing and he was beaten almost to death! Not everyone is happy to go home again! But he wants answers and is determined to get them!!!!!
I had no idea where this book was going to take me, and I enjoyed the wild ride. There were so many people at the party and one of them had to have seen or heard something. But who? Who was behind what happened at the gender reveal party? I tried my best to figure it out but was not even close! I love it when that happens!
This book is full of likeable and unlikeable characters. I felt for some and enjoyed booing and hissing at others. This book was brimming with drama, past hurts, present hurts, and agendas. This book was juicy, dramatic, and shocking.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced and hard to put down!
Thank you to Park Row and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Gender reveal parties are all the rage! Two hundred people gathered for Madeline and Wes Drake's gender reveal party! It was going to be a blast! And it was! Things take a horrific and drastic turn which ends in guest going to the hospital and one going to the morgue! Agent Jamie Saldano is called in to investigate. He knows this town, and he knows the people. He grew up there. It is where his sister went missing and he was beaten almost to death! Not everyone is happy to go home again! But he wants answers and is determined to get them!!!!!
I had no idea where this book was going to take me, and I enjoyed the wild ride. There were so many people at the party and one of them had to have seen or heard something. But who? Who was behind what happened at the gender reveal party? I tried my best to figure it out but was not even close! I love it when that happens!
This book is full of likeable and unlikeable characters. I felt for some and enjoyed booing and hissing at others. This book was brimming with drama, past hurts, present hurts, and agendas. This book was juicy, dramatic, and shocking.
Wonderfully written, well thought out, perfectly paced and hard to put down!
Thank you to Park Row and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
November 18, 2025
✨A gender reveal party gone wrong✨
✨Actual rating - 3.5⭐
I finished this in under 24 hours (it was such a page turner), but my review slump hit so hard that I waited a while before diving into the nitty-gritty details.
What to expect -
💙Lavish gender reveal party with a theme
💖Rich people and their drama
💙Unlikeable & flawed characters
💖Multiple povs
💙Short chapters with cliffhangers
💖Police investigation
💙Secrets and betrayal
💖Sibling dynamics
Madeline and Wes Drake have planned the best and most lavish gender reveal party at their huge ranch, the envy of the entire neighborhood, and all their acquaintances and friends have arrived. But when an unexpected explosion destroys the entire barn and causes multiple casualties, including a woman's death, Agent Jamie enters the scene to investigate whether this was an accident or a premeditated attack. If it was planned, were the Drakes the targets or was someone else the intended victim? Could the perpetrator be someone with a grudge, or someone from their own inner circle?!👀
It's been so long since I've been this invested in a mystery thriller, and I say that with certainty because I finished the audiobook in two sittings. And while I wasn't listening during the day, I kept thinking about when I could continue it, and that's always a sign of a good book!!! The twists weren't shocking to me since I saw one of them coming, but it still made for an amazing read cuz I loved all the drama happening, and the investigation surrounding the explosion kept me hooked.
And I always love having multiple povs in a thriller cuz that way, I get to see what everyone is up to at the time of the events and how they each react. Having all those perspectives gives you so much insight into people and their motives, and I liked how the author kept us engaged through all these POVs. Some characters I hated with a passion, while I was rooting hard for others, and I kinda liked how it all ended. There's a bit of a cliffhanger, but we also get enough closure regarding the immediate events, so I'm satisfied with this one, and honestly excited for a sequel if we ever get one in the future.
Overall, if you want a mystery thriller that keeps you turning the pages (or keeps you listening for hours), you have to pick this one up.
✨Pre-read -
wow!! started the audiobook a few hours ago & I cannot stop listening. everyone seems to be hiding something, and there's a lot going on, and I cannot wait for all the reveals.
✨Actual rating - 3.5⭐
I finished this in under 24 hours (it was such a page turner), but my review slump hit so hard that I waited a while before diving into the nitty-gritty details.
What to expect -
💙Lavish gender reveal party with a theme
💖Rich people and their drama
💙Unlikeable & flawed characters
💖Multiple povs
💙Short chapters with cliffhangers
💖Police investigation
💙Secrets and betrayal
💖Sibling dynamics
Madeline and Wes Drake have planned the best and most lavish gender reveal party at their huge ranch, the envy of the entire neighborhood, and all their acquaintances and friends have arrived. But when an unexpected explosion destroys the entire barn and causes multiple casualties, including a woman's death, Agent Jamie enters the scene to investigate whether this was an accident or a premeditated attack. If it was planned, were the Drakes the targets or was someone else the intended victim? Could the perpetrator be someone with a grudge, or someone from their own inner circle?!👀
It's been so long since I've been this invested in a mystery thriller, and I say that with certainty because I finished the audiobook in two sittings. And while I wasn't listening during the day, I kept thinking about when I could continue it, and that's always a sign of a good book!!! The twists weren't shocking to me since I saw one of them coming, but it still made for an amazing read cuz I loved all the drama happening, and the investigation surrounding the explosion kept me hooked.
And I always love having multiple povs in a thriller cuz that way, I get to see what everyone is up to at the time of the events and how they each react. Having all those perspectives gives you so much insight into people and their motives, and I liked how the author kept us engaged through all these POVs. Some characters I hated with a passion, while I was rooting hard for others, and I kinda liked how it all ended. There's a bit of a cliffhanger, but we also get enough closure regarding the immediate events, so I'm satisfied with this one, and honestly excited for a sequel if we ever get one in the future.
Overall, if you want a mystery thriller that keeps you turning the pages (or keeps you listening for hours), you have to pick this one up.
✨Pre-read -
wow!! started the audiobook a few hours ago & I cannot stop listening. everyone seems to be hiding something, and there's a lot going on, and I cannot wait for all the reveals.
November 27, 2025
From the layers upon layers of secrets to the deft Hitchcockian plotting, The Perfect Hosts was yet another example of Ms. Gudenkauf’s undeniable skill. You see, not only was it a quick, easy read, but the twisty, twisty storyline revealed a whole host of suspicious, unlikeable characters, including one I loved to hate more and more with each page. Offering up plenty of believable red herrings, they kept me guessing about who was behind all of the villainous crimes. But it was the onion-like plot, which came complete with a huge dose of underhanded manipulation and cunning deceit, that had me flying through this delicious popcorn thriller at speed. And let me tell you, when everything finally came to light at the end, I had one heck of a smile on my face. After all, the events that transpired in that final cinematic scene were both shocking and satisfying in the best possible way.
All said and done, despite the need to suspend my disbelief here and there, I was blown away by this tale of intrigue and heartbreak. With on-point pacing and a climax you’ll never forget, it was a rollercoaster ride of unbridled suspense. Perfect for fans of Liv Constantine and Lucy Foley, I didn’t know who to trust at any point in this fun, wild ride. You see, the multiple POVs were each just as morally gray as the next one, so I ended up side-eyeing them all. Add that to the many blind turns and jaw-dropping reveals scattered throughout this fast-paced, two-pronged whodunnit, and I just knew that I wasn’t going to figure out the story on my own. So now I’m crossing my fingers and toes that the mildly open-ended conclusion means there’s more in store for these characters. Please say that it’s so, my dear author? I’d be absolutely over the moon if there is. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.
As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.
Thank you to Heath Gudenkauf, Park Row Books, and HTP Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 4, 2025
Content warning: explosion, pregnancy, violence, breaking and entering, infidelity, gun violence, domestic abuse, gaslighting
All said and done, despite the need to suspend my disbelief here and there, I was blown away by this tale of intrigue and heartbreak. With on-point pacing and a climax you’ll never forget, it was a rollercoaster ride of unbridled suspense. Perfect for fans of Liv Constantine and Lucy Foley, I didn’t know who to trust at any point in this fun, wild ride. You see, the multiple POVs were each just as morally gray as the next one, so I ended up side-eyeing them all. Add that to the many blind turns and jaw-dropping reveals scattered throughout this fast-paced, two-pronged whodunnit, and I just knew that I wasn’t going to figure out the story on my own. So now I’m crossing my fingers and toes that the mildly open-ended conclusion means there’s more in store for these characters. Please say that it’s so, my dear author? I’d be absolutely over the moon if there is. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.
As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.
Thank you to Heath Gudenkauf, Park Row Books, and HTP Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: November 4, 2025
Content warning: explosion, pregnancy, violence, breaking and entering, infidelity, gun violence, domestic abuse, gaslighting
November 16, 2025
Juicy drama, simmering secrets, and small town tension!
From the very first pages of The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf, I knew I was in for a good one. I was already excited before I even started reading because I love this author and may have let out a little squeal when I spotted the new release on EW+. It’s a twisty and emotional small town thriller that pulled me in right away and kept me curious from start to finish. Her writing style hooked me again with the tone, the messy dynamics, and that explosive party premise.
🐎 Key Thoughts
📖 I enjoyed the structure and pacing. Even when life pulled me away from reading, I always wanted to come back to it.
👀 I liked the mix of likeable and unlikeable characters. Some I connected to and others definitely kept my eyebrows raised.
💭 The emotional layers around past hurts, small town grudges, and hidden agendas added great tension.
🏡 I really enjoyed the horse ranch setting. Living on a ranch myself, those little equestrian touches felt familiar and added something extra for me.
🧩 I had no idea where this story was headed and loved that I didn’t figure it out. It kept me guessing right to the end.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the DRC.
From the very first pages of The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf, I knew I was in for a good one. I was already excited before I even started reading because I love this author and may have let out a little squeal when I spotted the new release on EW+. It’s a twisty and emotional small town thriller that pulled me in right away and kept me curious from start to finish. Her writing style hooked me again with the tone, the messy dynamics, and that explosive party premise.
🐎 Key Thoughts
📖 I enjoyed the structure and pacing. Even when life pulled me away from reading, I always wanted to come back to it.
👀 I liked the mix of likeable and unlikeable characters. Some I connected to and others definitely kept my eyebrows raised.
💭 The emotional layers around past hurts, small town grudges, and hidden agendas added great tension.
🏡 I really enjoyed the horse ranch setting. Living on a ranch myself, those little equestrian touches felt familiar and added something extra for me.
🧩 I had no idea where this story was headed and loved that I didn’t figure it out. It kept me guessing right to the end.
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for the DRC.
October 20, 2025
A gender reveal party, with a twist? Count me in! This book is full of mystery and thriller vibes. It is dark, tense and unpredictable. This is a novel where the flaws of the characters are the main focus. It is full of suspense and came with great pacing. It comes with multiple points of views, a wealthy ranch family and a small cast of characters. It kept me guessing throughout most of the book and it left on a cliffhanger. Hopefully we will have a second novel coming out! What stuck out to me in the book the most was the atmosphere, the suspense, the characters and the mystery! I do prefer less point of views while reading a mystery, but the author did an overall great job at putting everything together. It left me feeling satisfied! Be sure to read the trigger warnings! Overall, I give this book a 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Heather Gudenkauf and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This novel is expected to be released on November 4, 2025!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Heather Gudenkauf and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This novel is expected to be released on November 4, 2025!
November 7, 2025
Well hello gorgeous!! 😍 I love this cover!! Thank you so much @htp_hive #htphive #partner for the free book!! I love @heathergudenkauf ‘s books and I was so excited when I opened it!! 🥰
This was supposed to be such a happy time for Madeline and Drake… a grand gender reveal party 🎉.. A picture perfect setting. What could go wrong?? Well if you have read this author.. you know to expect… a wild, intense, twisty thriller!
Packed to the rim full of drama.. these rich people 💰are behaving VERY badly… and someone will pay…and not with money.😂🤫😳
How does one end up dead at a gender reveal?? 🤷♀️ Well you are about to find out!! This kept me flipping the pages as I had to know! EVERYONE is a suspect!! I was guessing wrong all the way until the end.😂
This was supposed to be such a happy time for Madeline and Drake… a grand gender reveal party 🎉.. A picture perfect setting. What could go wrong?? Well if you have read this author.. you know to expect… a wild, intense, twisty thriller!
Packed to the rim full of drama.. these rich people 💰are behaving VERY badly… and someone will pay…and not with money.😂🤫😳
How does one end up dead at a gender reveal?? 🤷♀️ Well you are about to find out!! This kept me flipping the pages as I had to know! EVERYONE is a suspect!! I was guessing wrong all the way until the end.😂
October 1, 2025
Old grudges and hidden agendas collide in Heather Gudenkauf’s latest, The Perfect Hosts. Set on a sprawling horse ranch where a lavish “pistols and pearls” gender-reveal party goes spectacularly off the rails after an explosion leaves one guest dead, the story quickly spirals into a tense, locked-room-style mystery. It’s the kind of premise only Heather could dream up— sharp, original, and loaded with tension from the very first page (and if you’ve not seen the promo videos on her socials, you’re seriously missing out!).
What I love most is how she corrals this cast of characters into an isolated ranch setting, then peels back their secrets layer by layer until you don’t know who to trust. The simmering rivalries, the claustrophobic atmosphere, the way loyalties shift with every chapter…it’s Heather doing what she does best. The Perfect Hosts had me side-eyeing everyone at that ranch and flipping pages way past bedtime, utterly immersed in the Drake family and the explosive price of keeping up appearances no matter the cost.
What I love most is how she corrals this cast of characters into an isolated ranch setting, then peels back their secrets layer by layer until you don’t know who to trust. The simmering rivalries, the claustrophobic atmosphere, the way loyalties shift with every chapter…it’s Heather doing what she does best. The Perfect Hosts had me side-eyeing everyone at that ranch and flipping pages way past bedtime, utterly immersed in the Drake family and the explosive price of keeping up appearances no matter the cost.
November 6, 2025
"A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest.
Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know…"
Set on an opulent Wyoming horse ranch, Wes and Madeline Drake have the biggest gender reveal party ever! But for Wes Drake it is more than a party, it's a business opportunity. When an explosion causes massive damage among a crowd of 200 guests, ATF agent Jamie Saldano arrives on the scene who has ties to the area from his past. These ties further complicate the investigation. As unexpected guests arrive in the aftermath of tragedy, the layers are peeled back and we see who every character truly is. These unexpected twists and turns culminate in a shocking and unexpected ending.
Heather Gudenkauf is a masterful thriller author. The story is propulsive with fleshed out characters and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The remote setting adds to the suspense and immerses the reader in a locked room mystery. This book covers themes that are important and thought-provoking including wealth, power, greed, and ambition. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR!
Many thanks to NetGalley, HTP Books - Park Row Books, and Heather Gudenkauf for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know…"
Set on an opulent Wyoming horse ranch, Wes and Madeline Drake have the biggest gender reveal party ever! But for Wes Drake it is more than a party, it's a business opportunity. When an explosion causes massive damage among a crowd of 200 guests, ATF agent Jamie Saldano arrives on the scene who has ties to the area from his past. These ties further complicate the investigation. As unexpected guests arrive in the aftermath of tragedy, the layers are peeled back and we see who every character truly is. These unexpected twists and turns culminate in a shocking and unexpected ending.
Heather Gudenkauf is a masterful thriller author. The story is propulsive with fleshed out characters and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The remote setting adds to the suspense and immerses the reader in a locked room mystery. This book covers themes that are important and thought-provoking including wealth, power, greed, and ambition. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR!
Many thanks to NetGalley, HTP Books - Park Row Books, and Heather Gudenkauf for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 4, 2025
Brittany Pressley, once again, does a fantastic job with the narration of each character. She is always so good at changing her voice for them too. I found the other narrator to be just average .
Wes and Madeline Drake are hosting a huge gender reveal party for their baby. As the reveal kicks off, a terrible accident happens, only it looks like it was purposely set.
This is another case of rich people behaving badly. Everyone is a suspect.. I think fans of this author will definitely enjoy this one.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wes and Madeline Drake are hosting a huge gender reveal party for their baby. As the reveal kicks off, a terrible accident happens, only it looks like it was purposely set.
This is another case of rich people behaving badly. Everyone is a suspect.. I think fans of this author will definitely enjoy this one.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 18, 2025
Are we all sick of seeing these extravagant gender reveals on social media??? If so this is the perfect book for you where everything goes horribly wrong but you get to sit back and enjoy watching the crash and burn from a safe distance given that these set of characters definitely deserve it 😂😂😂 who would imagine a gender reveal to result in ass casualties and multiple deceased 😆
I looooove Heather Gudenkauf books! I was so excited to read this and it was such a satisfying read! Also the book cover illustration is just perfect!
The pacing was fast and excellent at keeping your attention throughout, the characters were very well fleshed out and interesting and there was a lot of twists you won’t see coming!
Thank you to HTP books for the netgalley gifted copy!
Publish date : November 4th .. take note and set a reminder, you won’t want to miss this one!
I looooove Heather Gudenkauf books! I was so excited to read this and it was such a satisfying read! Also the book cover illustration is just perfect!
The pacing was fast and excellent at keeping your attention throughout, the characters were very well fleshed out and interesting and there was a lot of twists you won’t see coming!
Thank you to HTP books for the netgalley gifted copy!
Publish date : November 4th .. take note and set a reminder, you won’t want to miss this one!
November 8, 2025
2 stars
The narrator definitely downgraded my experience of this book. She was talking as if she was in her last minutes, whispering with her dying breath the last words....the entire time.....
The book itself is very average and forgettable. None of the characters stand out, nothing of importance really happens. There's a lot of time spent on what could have happened in the past or might happened in the present.....
The ending felt like a let down as well, lots of lose ends.
The narrator definitely downgraded my experience of this book. She was talking as if she was in her last minutes, whispering with her dying breath the last words....the entire time.....
The book itself is very average and forgettable. None of the characters stand out, nothing of importance really happens. There's a lot of time spent on what could have happened in the past or might happened in the present.....
The ending felt like a let down as well, lots of lose ends.
August 17, 2025
This is now the fifth book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf. I have loved all of them but sadly this was probably my least favorite of them all. Still, definitely not a bad read. I just predicted a lot of the twists. I loved the setup and the beginning. A gender reveal goes chaotic, and there's a death but was it an accident? The start really pulled me in as Heather's books usually do. I think It was just missing the shock and surprise that I was expecting. I do think this will still be good for people who love a popcorn thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 23, 2025
Now this was fun!! I read most of this book in one night, and then woke up early to finish it. It was so addictive, with so much drama happening I just had to finish it.
A gender reveal party turns deadly.. how can you not want to find out more about that? This is what happens when people have too much money. Not going to spoil anything , you just need to read it. It begins with a bang and doesn’t let up at all. So many characters to hate and not many to like. I did like the story of the ATF agent who is called in to investigate the explosion. There is much more there from him so I hope we get another book with Jamie.
Full of secrets, lies, deception, money and greed, this is an easy binge read. So entertaining.
Thank you so much to HTP, Park Row for my early copy to read. Published on November 4th.
A gender reveal party turns deadly.. how can you not want to find out more about that? This is what happens when people have too much money. Not going to spoil anything , you just need to read it. It begins with a bang and doesn’t let up at all. So many characters to hate and not many to like. I did like the story of the ATF agent who is called in to investigate the explosion. There is much more there from him so I hope we get another book with Jamie.
Full of secrets, lies, deception, money and greed, this is an easy binge read. So entertaining.
Thank you so much to HTP, Park Row for my early copy to read. Published on November 4th.
Read
November 15, 2025Not rating because I honestly didn’t pay close attention at all after maybe 22%. So wouldn’t be fair to rate. The bits and pieces I did catch on to it seemed like a lot of chaos and the type of drama that stresses me out. Lots of crummy people!!
A lot of mixed reviews on this one, had I paid attention it would have been a lower rating or possibly a DNF for me.
Hope all who read or listen to it enjoy though! 😊
Comments posted: 11/15/25
A lot of mixed reviews on this one, had I paid attention it would have been a lower rating or possibly a DNF for me.
Hope all who read or listen to it enjoy though! 😊
Comments posted: 11/15/25
November 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I had to request this because what a gender reveal thriller is definitely a read I had yet to experience. And I’m so glad I did!
While the characters were not likable and the whodunnit was predictable, this was still a very entertaining read. You will definitely get your fill of drama, lies, secrets, and tension. Heather Gudenkauf does not disappoint!
I had to request this because what a gender reveal thriller is definitely a read I had yet to experience. And I’m so glad I did!
While the characters were not likable and the whodunnit was predictable, this was still a very entertaining read. You will definitely get your fill of drama, lies, secrets, and tension. Heather Gudenkauf does not disappoint!
October 27, 2025
I loved it.
This is the first book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf. I will be going back and reading her others.
I picked up the audio book on NetGalley (the narrator is FABULOUS) because of the premise and the cover. Of course I've heard of the author, so that was a plus too.
I was a little bit nervous. I don't like books where there is no likable character, and at the beginning, I feared this would be that kind of book. I am so glad I was wrong. And while I had a few things figured out early on, I didn't have everything figured out, and I love, love, love being surprised in a book.
No spoilers, but I'll share what I particularly liked:
* Setting. Well done without being over-done.
* Characters. All of the characters were richly developed, all complex and interesting, in particular Jamie and Lucy. I liked Madelyn, the main character, but Jamie and Lucy were brilliantly written, their actions and reactions believable.
* Mystery. The mystery elements were well done. I did figure a few things out early on, but overall great job.
This was the book that I wanted to get back to. I listened to it every morning on my walk, but because I was super busy, I had no other time in the day to listen. Absolutely fabulous.
UPDATED: My 22-year-old daughter read the book and then called me and we discussed it -- what we loved, what we thought worked particularly well, where we were right about the characters, what surprised us. She said she didn't think she would like it, but she kept thinking about the book when she put it down, and it stuck with her. It was really run to read a book that both of us enjoyed!
NOTE: Received the audio book from the publisher.
This is the first book I've read by Heather Gudenkauf. I will be going back and reading her others.
I picked up the audio book on NetGalley (the narrator is FABULOUS) because of the premise and the cover. Of course I've heard of the author, so that was a plus too.
I was a little bit nervous. I don't like books where there is no likable character, and at the beginning, I feared this would be that kind of book. I am so glad I was wrong. And while I had a few things figured out early on, I didn't have everything figured out, and I love, love, love being surprised in a book.
No spoilers, but I'll share what I particularly liked:
* Setting. Well done without being over-done.
* Characters. All of the characters were richly developed, all complex and interesting, in particular Jamie and Lucy. I liked Madelyn, the main character, but Jamie and Lucy were brilliantly written, their actions and reactions believable.
* Mystery. The mystery elements were well done. I did figure a few things out early on, but overall great job.
This was the book that I wanted to get back to. I listened to it every morning on my walk, but because I was super busy, I had no other time in the day to listen. Absolutely fabulous.
UPDATED: My 22-year-old daughter read the book and then called me and we discussed it -- what we loved, what we thought worked particularly well, where we were right about the characters, what surprised us. She said she didn't think she would like it, but she kept thinking about the book when she put it down, and it stuck with her. It was really run to read a book that both of us enjoyed!
NOTE: Received the audio book from the publisher.
November 9, 2025
Fast paced.
Fun read.
Great story.
What could go wrong at a gender reveal party,
especially when it’s on a ranch?
All the guests need to wear their pearls (girl baby) and guns (boy baby).
So many issues run through my mind. 🤣
I figured out who did it.
Still, I needed to make sure I was correct.
I enjoyed this thriller.
I recommend it!!!
Fun read.
Great story.
What could go wrong at a gender reveal party,
especially when it’s on a ranch?
All the guests need to wear their pearls (girl baby) and guns (boy baby).
So many issues run through my mind. 🤣
I figured out who did it.
Still, I needed to make sure I was correct.
I enjoyed this thriller.
I recommend it!!!
September 19, 2025
Another winning suspense thriller from Heather Gudenkauf! Madeline and Wes are the second richest family in town, this is a huge acreage and horse farm worth many millions. Madeline is about to have her first child and they have invited the town's elite, 200 people are at their ranch for an obnoxious rich people gender reveal party. Like many people, I find gender reveal parties to be a bit self-indulgent and old fashioned. The guests are wearing "western cocktail attire" whatever that is. (I googled it. Results inconclusive.)
But when they release the gun that will show the pink or blue powder, there is a second explosion in their barn that kills someone instantly, injuring many others. All the ambulances in the area arrive, and Madeline, who is 7 months pregnant, is thrown high above the ground in the attach. There is an ATF officer assigned, Jamie, who happened to grow up in town. His sister Juneau was killed and Jamie was attacked when in high school, a cold case that has never been solved.
Yellowstone and Succession Vibes
There are four POV in this book;
Madeline, it was her gender reveal party
Mellie, a 21 year old waitress who worked the party
Lucy, Madeline's estranged step-sister
Jamie, the ATF agent investigating the case
I really love this author, and I really enjoyed the Wyoming setting. It is much more nuanced than "rich people behaving badly" as well as multiple mysteries going on that I was so engrossed in. The ending tied up most of the loose ends, and I was surprised and energized by the ending, although the ending itself seemed a bit rushed.
You will really enjoy the POV characters, trying to interpret their actions to determine what secrets they are hiding. I love it when we figure it out just a few paragraphs before the on page characters do.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade for the ARC. Book to be published November 4, 2025.
But when they release the gun that will show the pink or blue powder, there is a second explosion in their barn that kills someone instantly, injuring many others. All the ambulances in the area arrive, and Madeline, who is 7 months pregnant, is thrown high above the ground in the attach. There is an ATF officer assigned, Jamie, who happened to grow up in town. His sister Juneau was killed and Jamie was attacked when in high school, a cold case that has never been solved.
Yellowstone and Succession Vibes
There are four POV in this book;
Madeline, it was her gender reveal party
Mellie, a 21 year old waitress who worked the party
Lucy, Madeline's estranged step-sister
Jamie, the ATF agent investigating the case
I really love this author, and I really enjoyed the Wyoming setting. It is much more nuanced than "rich people behaving badly" as well as multiple mysteries going on that I was so engrossed in. The ending tied up most of the loose ends, and I was surprised and energized by the ending, although the ending itself seemed a bit rushed.
You will really enjoy the POV characters, trying to interpret their actions to determine what secrets they are hiding. I love it when we figure it out just a few paragraphs before the on page characters do.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade for the ARC. Book to be published November 4, 2025.
November 3, 2025
Many thanks to The Hive, Park Row, and Harper Collins for the gifted copy of The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf. All opinions are my own.
This was my first Heather Gudenkauf book and now I need to read her entire backlist! I really loved this one. It kept me at the edge of my seat and pleasantly surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. It was well written and uniquely done. This is a thriller that definitely stands separate from many others in the genre with how the plot and characters held their own identity in the thriller genre.
An affluent couple's gender reveal party takes a deadly turn and everyone in their lives becomes a suspect. With multiple points of views from the wife, her sister, a waitress at the party, and the lead agent on the case a twisted and intense web begins to weave. Grudges and lies begin to reveal themselves one by one all in the presence of a luxurious but mysterious ranch where this book takes place. The isolated ranch definitely adds to the suspense of the novel and it was done so well I felt like I was right there with the characters.
I recommend going into this one blind like I did - it made it more twisty and kept me on my toes!
Definitely add this one to your tbr this winter season - it will have you re thinking every party invitation you receive!
This was my first Heather Gudenkauf book and now I need to read her entire backlist! I really loved this one. It kept me at the edge of my seat and pleasantly surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. It was well written and uniquely done. This is a thriller that definitely stands separate from many others in the genre with how the plot and characters held their own identity in the thriller genre.
An affluent couple's gender reveal party takes a deadly turn and everyone in their lives becomes a suspect. With multiple points of views from the wife, her sister, a waitress at the party, and the lead agent on the case a twisted and intense web begins to weave. Grudges and lies begin to reveal themselves one by one all in the presence of a luxurious but mysterious ranch where this book takes place. The isolated ranch definitely adds to the suspense of the novel and it was done so well I felt like I was right there with the characters.
I recommend going into this one blind like I did - it made it more twisty and kept me on my toes!
Definitely add this one to your tbr this winter season - it will have you re thinking every party invitation you receive!
November 28, 2025
"The Perfect Hosts" is a gripping, slow-burning thriller that builds tension with every chapter. From the moment the story begins, Heather Gudenkauf creates a sense of creeping unease: an isolated setting, an invitation that feels just a bit too polished, and characters who seem friendly on the surface but carry unsettling secrets underneath.
The strength of this novel lies in its atmosphere. The author transforms an elegant home into a pressure cooker, filling it with suspicion, hidden agendas, and the subtle dread that something terrible is lurking just out of sight. The characters are well-drawn and deliberately ambiguous, keeping you constantly unsure of who can be trusted.
The twists come steadily and effectively, and while a couple feel slightly expected, the journey remains consistently engaging. The writing is clean, vivid, and emotionally sharp, pulling you deeper into the psychological games unfolding between the characters.
Overall, "The Perfect Hosts" is a tense, chilling, and tightly written thriller.
The strength of this novel lies in its atmosphere. The author transforms an elegant home into a pressure cooker, filling it with suspicion, hidden agendas, and the subtle dread that something terrible is lurking just out of sight. The characters are well-drawn and deliberately ambiguous, keeping you constantly unsure of who can be trusted.
The twists come steadily and effectively, and while a couple feel slightly expected, the journey remains consistently engaging. The writing is clean, vivid, and emotionally sharp, pulling you deeper into the psychological games unfolding between the characters.
Overall, "The Perfect Hosts" is a tense, chilling, and tightly written thriller.
November 4, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for providing an ARC of The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf in exchange for honest feedback.
This was an absolute banger! It delivered tension, atmosphere, and psychological twists in all the right places. I was pulled in from the very first page with its eerie setup and was kept guessing until the very end. I loved the character development and found most of them pretty relatable, yet unsettling at the same time.
The pacing was perfect, the setting and atmosphere were chillingly vivid, and every chapter made me feel a little bit uneasy…in the best way. It’s one of those thrillers that you can’t seem to put down and keep saying “just one more chapter” just to uncover the next secret.
10/10 highly recommend. This is a must read.
This was an absolute banger! It delivered tension, atmosphere, and psychological twists in all the right places. I was pulled in from the very first page with its eerie setup and was kept guessing until the very end. I loved the character development and found most of them pretty relatable, yet unsettling at the same time.
The pacing was perfect, the setting and atmosphere were chillingly vivid, and every chapter made me feel a little bit uneasy…in the best way. It’s one of those thrillers that you can’t seem to put down and keep saying “just one more chapter” just to uncover the next secret.
10/10 highly recommend. This is a must read.
October 28, 2025
The Perfect Hosts by Heather Gudenkauf is a tense, fast paced thriller that opens with a gender reveal party gone horribly wrong and it only gets more shocking from there. Set among the elite horse ranchers of Nightjar, Gudenkauf peels back the layers of small town wealth and privilege to reveal the festering secrets beneath. Told through multiple points of view—including Madeleine, the glamorous expectant mother; Mellie, a pregnant waitress caught up in the chaos; Lucy, Madeleine’s resentful sister; and Jamie, an ATF agent with his own ties to the town, the story unfolds in brisk, addictive chapters that make it nearly impossible to put down.
Every character in this book is deeply flawed, self interested, or hiding something, which only heightens the tension as their paths collide. Gudenkauf excels at crafting morally gray characters you can’t look away from, no matter how messy their choices get. The twists come fast, and just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s headed, the story takes another dark turn.
With its mix of family drama, high stakes secrets, and explosive revelations, The Perfect Hosts is the definition of a bingeable thriller. It’s sharp, dramatic, and dripping with deceit, perfect for readers who love domestic suspense with a bite and aren’t afraid to dive into a world where everyone has something to lose.
Every character in this book is deeply flawed, self interested, or hiding something, which only heightens the tension as their paths collide. Gudenkauf excels at crafting morally gray characters you can’t look away from, no matter how messy their choices get. The twists come fast, and just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s headed, the story takes another dark turn.
With its mix of family drama, high stakes secrets, and explosive revelations, The Perfect Hosts is the definition of a bingeable thriller. It’s sharp, dramatic, and dripping with deceit, perfect for readers who love domestic suspense with a bite and aren’t afraid to dive into a world where everyone has something to lose.
November 4, 2025
3.75 stars
When an over-the-top gender reveal party at a Wyoming horse ranch goes wrong and a guest ends up dead, lies, secrets, and an old murder come to light as Agent Jamie Saldano investigates what happened.
Told in several POVs, the story was a quick, easy read with reveals and twists. One of the twists was, for me, an overused trope. In addition, with the exception of Jamie, I thought the characters could have been better developed.
While not my favourite by this author, overall, this was an entertaining popcorn domestic suspense read.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
When an over-the-top gender reveal party at a Wyoming horse ranch goes wrong and a guest ends up dead, lies, secrets, and an old murder come to light as Agent Jamie Saldano investigates what happened.
Told in several POVs, the story was a quick, easy read with reveals and twists. One of the twists was, for me, an overused trope. In addition, with the exception of Jamie, I thought the characters could have been better developed.
While not my favourite by this author, overall, this was an entertaining popcorn domestic suspense read.
Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
November 16, 2025
4 stars.
November 15, 2025
Heather Gudenkauf is on my list of favourite authors and she didn't disappoint with The Perfect Hosts.
A couple's gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect.
Crimes from the past and present with explosive plot twists, intriguing characters and a chilling setting had me hooked.
I enjoyed the unique premise of this novel that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
A couple's gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect.
Crimes from the past and present with explosive plot twists, intriguing characters and a chilling setting had me hooked.
I enjoyed the unique premise of this novel that grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
November 6, 2025
What a gender reveal party - the party revealed more than what gender the baby will be.
As the huge, over-the-top party continued, an intended explosion to show the gender went off and a second one that definitely wasn’t to happen exploded and caught the barn on fire and killed one person and injured many.
What wasn’t to be revealed was a secret Wes the husband was keeping and many other secrets.
We meet many guests and also meet Lucy, the step-sister of Madeline, Wes’s wife, and Agent Jamie Saldano, the AFT officer who used to live in Nightjar and who Wes saved when he was a teenager.
So many things going on behind the smiling faces, and why did Lucy come back to see her sister after they hadn't talked for a year.
What is her plan?
Money, power, and secrets abound in Heather's newest that keeps you engaged
It’s a good one folks. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
As the huge, over-the-top party continued, an intended explosion to show the gender went off and a second one that definitely wasn’t to happen exploded and caught the barn on fire and killed one person and injured many.
What wasn’t to be revealed was a secret Wes the husband was keeping and many other secrets.
We meet many guests and also meet Lucy, the step-sister of Madeline, Wes’s wife, and Agent Jamie Saldano, the AFT officer who used to live in Nightjar and who Wes saved when he was a teenager.
So many things going on behind the smiling faces, and why did Lucy come back to see her sister after they hadn't talked for a year.
What is her plan?
Money, power, and secrets abound in Heather's newest that keeps you engaged
It’s a good one folks. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
November 3, 2025
I would like to retract an earlier statement i made, Heather Gudenkauf can in fact miss and boy did this miss.....
I'm left wondering what the point of this book was. I pick up Heather because I always felt she was doing something a little bit different, grittier, and more unique in the thriller drama. She wasn't always getting 5s from me, but i love the concepts and felt like she had a knack for bringing something different to the table in a genre where once you're familiar with the tropes its hard to find something new and exciting.
Where this books fails for me is that it isnt the type of story i expect when i pick up a Gudenkauf novel. It is way more Family Drama and Police Procederual than a thriller. The stakes are incredibly low except for 2 scenes, and even then based on their placement in the story I didnt feel much of the stakes. I also found it very confusing that the only perspective that is given a First Person POV is the person who had the least amount of page time.... and given that sequel tease at the end i am dreading what may come next.
This book follows Madeline, the pregnant wife of a very influential business man in a small town, Jamie an explosives expert with the police department, Lucy, Madelines sister, and Mellie who's entire portion of the story could have been cut and nothing would have changed at all.
despite being in all these peoples heads no one is ever thinking straight forward in order to keep the audience in the dark, but even still the reveals are mostly obvious and thus when its revealed are not satisfying.
I'm also someone who loathes over the gender reveals. No one but you cares what genitals your baby has, we dont need to start forest fires over it. So for that to be the catalyst for the story already had me disinterested in Madeline as a protagonist and at the end of the day I just want Justice for poor Tess.
I will continue to read from Gudenkauf because i have seen what she can do but this is a definite miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, sorry this one was a miss :/
I'm left wondering what the point of this book was. I pick up Heather because I always felt she was doing something a little bit different, grittier, and more unique in the thriller drama. She wasn't always getting 5s from me, but i love the concepts and felt like she had a knack for bringing something different to the table in a genre where once you're familiar with the tropes its hard to find something new and exciting.
Where this books fails for me is that it isnt the type of story i expect when i pick up a Gudenkauf novel. It is way more Family Drama and Police Procederual than a thriller. The stakes are incredibly low except for 2 scenes, and even then based on their placement in the story I didnt feel much of the stakes. I also found it very confusing that the only perspective that is given a First Person POV is the person who had the least amount of page time.... and given that sequel tease at the end i am dreading what may come next.
This book follows Madeline, the pregnant wife of a very influential business man in a small town, Jamie an explosives expert with the police department, Lucy, Madelines sister, and Mellie who's entire portion of the story could have been cut and nothing would have changed at all.
despite being in all these peoples heads no one is ever thinking straight forward in order to keep the audience in the dark, but even still the reveals are mostly obvious and thus when its revealed are not satisfying.
I'm also someone who loathes over the gender reveals. No one but you cares what genitals your baby has, we dont need to start forest fires over it. So for that to be the catalyst for the story already had me disinterested in Madeline as a protagonist and at the end of the day I just want Justice for poor Tess.
I will continue to read from Gudenkauf because i have seen what she can do but this is a definite miss.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, sorry this one was a miss :/
October 22, 2025
I was so impressed by this book! I love her stories but when I started this I was a little afraid because, despite being Southern myself, I don't care for Southern books. It gives me *le cringe* but I actually think that was on purpose here. "Pistols or pearls!" They yelled insanely.
A gender reveal goes dangerously awry in this new mystery by Heather Gudenkauf. It might be my new favorite from her, but I can't say for sure. I like all her stuff. I was actually surprised to see this was something she was trying. She has range, I tell you!
So after the cringe and deadly gender reveal, we get to the meat of the story. Madeline is married to Wes Drake, a local legend in the area and from one of the wealthiest families. They own acres of land and possibly acres of law enforcement..
Another main character is an ATF agent named Jamie. I was gritting my teeth because ya girl isn't a huge Fed fan but I liked this guy. He had a heartbreaking backstory and ties to the community he briefly called home as a kid.
This became actually unputdownable. I have two cataracts right now and I'm behind on all my reading this year but I was up until 4am finishing this and then tried to leave my review and *gasp* the Amazon servers were down! I had no one to share this with! Devastating.
But I'm here now to tell you to check this book and author out because you will be amazed and no, even though it has some touchy issues, it's not "real life" political which was a breath of fresh air because I like an escape from all that.
Wonderful story. She's going to be an auto pre-order now. Especially since I saw two of my favorite narrators narrate the audiobook!
A gender reveal goes dangerously awry in this new mystery by Heather Gudenkauf. It might be my new favorite from her, but I can't say for sure. I like all her stuff. I was actually surprised to see this was something she was trying. She has range, I tell you!
So after the cringe and deadly gender reveal, we get to the meat of the story. Madeline is married to Wes Drake, a local legend in the area and from one of the wealthiest families. They own acres of land and possibly acres of law enforcement..
Another main character is an ATF agent named Jamie. I was gritting my teeth because ya girl isn't a huge Fed fan but I liked this guy. He had a heartbreaking backstory and ties to the community he briefly called home as a kid.
This became actually unputdownable. I have two cataracts right now and I'm behind on all my reading this year but I was up until 4am finishing this and then tried to leave my review and *gasp* the Amazon servers were down! I had no one to share this with! Devastating.
But I'm here now to tell you to check this book and author out because you will be amazed and no, even though it has some touchy issues, it's not "real life" political which was a breath of fresh air because I like an escape from all that.
Wonderful story. She's going to be an auto pre-order now. Especially since I saw two of my favorite narrators narrate the audiobook!
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