The Christmas Guest: A chilling Christmas psychological thriller novella

by Aaron Quinn

Snowed in. Strangers at the door. No way out.

When Hannah’s car skids off an icy Dorset lane, she has no choice but to accept the kindness of strangers. An elderly couple welcome her into their cottage, where the fire burns, the food is hot, and the Christmas decorations are hung with care.

But as the storm closes in, Hannah begins to sense that not everything is as it seems. The questions grow sharper. The atmosphere shifts. And soon she realises that some houses aren’t meant to offer sanctuary… they’re meant to keep you in.

This Christmas, Hannah isn’t their guest. She’s their prisoner.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, C.L. Taylor, and B.A. Paris, The Christmas Guest is a tense, binge-worthy, and short psychological thriller you won’t forget.

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories

96 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 8, 2025

Reviews

[Lynn Dubinsky]

Hated the ending

[Rosie Lee]

Super read and super creepy #KindleUnlimited

[Eleanor Walker]

Very creepy and fast paced. A little confused at the ending and would have liked a bit more clarity, but still very enjoyable.

[Richard Kettlewood]

RA

Not sure what to make of this. Some of the description and atmosphere were quite vivid and engaging, but much of the writing was disjointed: candles in rooms after lights were turned on! Rushed or careless? Bones of a good story there, let down by a narrative that lacked logic: how often can lone women with dark hair get stuck in snow near a remote cottage, even in decades? Come on! It was just good enough to read; sinister and claustrophobic were done well. But the ending: a supernatural cop out? Who knows. Does the author know?

[Aiden | bookrot.bby]

A decent short read!

[Angela]

Interesting. The first few chapters were pretty repetitive so that was a little annoying. I think the twists were predictable. The ending didn’t give much a shock either.

[Kaitlyn Johnson]

This started out so good but the ending was terrible

[Zoe Costley]

A chilling festive read! The Christmas Guest is a gripping psychological thriller novella that perfectly blends holiday cheer with an undercurrent of suspense. The atmosphere is tense, the characters intriguing, and the twist keeps you hooked until the end. A quick, dark seasonal read that’s ideal if you want something unsettling for the holidays!

[Lauren]

that was creepy but good

[April Marie Wardle]

2.5 ⭐️ - great for a quick, fast-paced thriller novella. Kept me hooked + wanting to know what was going to happen next. Read in one sitting, just disappointed that the ‘son’ matter was never resolved? Felt like it was going to end up being the guy who rescued Hannah at the end!

[ViVi]

2/5⭐

What the hell did I just read? And what was that ending?

The beginning intrigued me but then I got more and more annoyed by the character's decisions. Like what do you mean you strongly suspect you were drugged and then keep drinking and eating what they give you?? No survival instincts at all. Then she finds out they slashed her tyres, but comes back anyways, because she could not possibly survive in the snow. All this just for he to confront them not even 5 minutes later and then running out in the middle of the night in barely any clothes. Make that make sense.

I feel like we had a hell lot of questions and not a lot of answers. At least not satisfying enough. Like what was the whole thing with another child/son? They never explained that at the end, just the Mary situation.

The ending just didn't make sense in my eyes. It seemed like it was trying to deliver a shocking twist, but it just opened more plot holes.

Normally I love a good snowy thriller, they're my literal favorites, but this just made me frustrated and unsatisfied.

[Kendi]

This was a page turner. Really creepy. Hannah gets stick in a snow storm and sees a little house in the woods. When she arrives the older couple of the house take her in. Hannah has a bad feeling about the house and the couple but can’t put her finger on it. Always go with your gut instinct. Hannah unfolds some ugly truths. I would have rated it a 4 star but I didn’t like the ending. I needed more.

[Lee Husemann]

Hannah is running from someone or something in a terrible snowstorm when she ends up stuck in a ditch. She exits her car and heads to lights in the distance. When she knocks on the cottage door, Martha and Gerald welcome her inside. This is a quick, easy, creepy and chilling read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I wish it would have been a full length novel.

[Zoe Kindle Queen]

2.5 rounded up. Short thriller, festive novella. When Hannah becomes stranded in the snow she is forced to seek refuge as the closest cottage. The strange owners of the cottage soon have Hannah creeped out.

The best part of this book was the end for me. There is room here to build on the ending and I think I would have enjoyed it much more if that had been a bigger part of the story.

[sharon moore]

I loved this book. Telling the story of Hannah who breaks down in a snow storm and is taken in by Gerald and Martha a strange couple who live in a cottage nearby. The couple tried everything to keep Hannah with them but she was determined to leave. This novella has an unexpected and every ending. Brilliant and easy reading

[Barbara Williams]

Bizarre

Not a bad short story just leaves the reader with unanswered questions. Was anything real? Were the tale of deaths real? Or was it nothing but a vivid hysterical woman's imagination.

[Paula Harris]

what a very chilling story of a young lady been strained in the snow, only to find a cottage as her salvation, but un be known the cottage has a dark side. couldn't put this book down, had to finish it. Absolutely brilliant from start to finish.

[Richard Angrave]

Dark

A psychological thriller that has a winter setting and an interesting twist in the tail. Easily read in one sitting. Recommended.

[Bex]

This book was only 90 pages long but it could have easily been made into a full book! 5* as it was everything I’d expect from a wintery thriller, creepy and chilling!!

[Jolovesbooks]

I really didn’t like this one. Quite a grim subject matter and the ending made no sense.

[Hannah Ciacelli]

Zoomed through this one!!! Can’t say I was “thrilled” but I was entertained and unnerved, so a wins a win

[Lauren Speringo]

2 stars because there were some creepy parts but otherwise this is a short story without a real plot. Was repetitive also. Left a lot of loose ends.

[Heather Shepherd]

spooky Christmas

What a spooky read for the holidays! Kept me engaged and pushing to finish the story with a twist I didn’t see coming.

[casabooks]

3.5

[Lisa]

What in the heck?!

[GG]

A creepy festive quick read. A lot was obvious and the ending ruined it for me, but overall I did enjoy it.

[leah]

Really enjoyed this fast paced, easy Christmas read until the ending. A little disappointing.

[Hannah Dasinger]

Started out good but I hated the ending

[Courtney Brady]

The ending was weird

[Court 📚]

Great ending, a bit boring of a story to get to the ending sadly