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The Winter Guest
Not yet published
Expected 8 Oct 26Brought to you by Penguin.
If you love Lucinda Riley and Santa Montefiore, don't forget to check out Karen's brand-new escapist winter romance - preorder now!
In a grand villa on the shores of Lake Geneva, Dulcie’s grandmother nears the end of her glamourous and eventful life. The days pass quietly to the reassuring tick of the Swiss clock – until a visitor comes to their door…
1961
In the streets of Paris, Lise Erlach is in love. Twenty-two years old, the beautiful young Ambassador’s wife enjoys the very best the city has to glittering receptions, a magnificent residence and an address book filled with the numbers of the Parisian elite. She is wanted at every party…and by one man above all. Their affair dazzles them both but in a distant sea, a crisis is brewing that will change their paths forever.
Present day
As snow falls upon the Alps, Dulcie sits by her grandmother’s bed, undisturbed until the visitor arrives. He says he must tell her grandmother something urgently - something that will make Dulcie realise the beloved old woman before her is a complete stranger... With deep family secrets unlocked, can she get the answers she needs before time runs out?
'Swan is sublime!' Veronica Henry, Sunday Times bestseller
© Karen Swan 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
If you love Lucinda Riley and Santa Montefiore, don't forget to check out Karen's brand-new escapist winter romance - preorder now!
In a grand villa on the shores of Lake Geneva, Dulcie’s grandmother nears the end of her glamourous and eventful life. The days pass quietly to the reassuring tick of the Swiss clock – until a visitor comes to their door…
1961
In the streets of Paris, Lise Erlach is in love. Twenty-two years old, the beautiful young Ambassador’s wife enjoys the very best the city has to glittering receptions, a magnificent residence and an address book filled with the numbers of the Parisian elite. She is wanted at every party…and by one man above all. Their affair dazzles them both but in a distant sea, a crisis is brewing that will change their paths forever.
Present day
As snow falls upon the Alps, Dulcie sits by her grandmother’s bed, undisturbed until the visitor arrives. He says he must tell her grandmother something urgently - something that will make Dulcie realise the beloved old woman before her is a complete stranger... With deep family secrets unlocked, can she get the answers she needs before time runs out?
'Swan is sublime!' Veronica Henry, Sunday Times bestseller
© Karen Swan 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
- GenresChristmas
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 8, 2026
About the author
Karen Swan
61 books2,511 followersKaren Swan is the international and Sunday Times best-selling author of thirty books. She publishes two books a year and is known for her immersive locations, strong female leads and commitment to research before writing. The acclaimed Wild Isle series is based on the real life evacuation of the remote Scottish isle St Kilda in the summer of 1930.
Karen's most recent novel Three Summers - set around a love triangle in Puglia in the 1950s -is out in hardback now.
Karen lives in Sussex with her family and three dogs. She is always muddy, cold and hungry.
Follow her on Facebook and on Instagram - @karenswanauthor
Karen's most recent novel Three Summers - set around a love triangle in Puglia in the 1950s -is out in hardback now.
Karen lives in Sussex with her family and three dogs. She is always muddy, cold and hungry.
Follow her on Facebook and on Instagram - @karenswanauthor
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2026
Many thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review!
It feels like it's been some time since one of Karen Swan's classic winter releases. We've been treated to her historical 'Wild Isle' series, as well as more recently the sumptuous 'Three Summers' - all of which I'd highly recommend.
As with many of her other works, The Winter Guest features parallel stories: Dulcie in the present day, and her grandmother Lise in the 1960s. Dulcie is the archetype female lead of Swan's novels- she's rich, beautiful, and most men are drawn to her. You could say the same about her grandmother, except set in a more interesting past as the wife of the Swiss Ambassador in Paris. Both of them have similar tastes in men, though the stakes for Lise are much greater given the time period and her societal role. Dulcie on the other hand seems to be in a state of limbo while she sits in the wake of her grandmother's final days.
We have a familiar formula: the tease of a mystery from the first page, and the gradual unfolding of characters and motives. Of the two storylines, the past was a bit more interesting to me given the thrill of Lise's affair, the glamour of her marriage to the ambassador, and the backdrop of the cold war setting in. The men are your typical male leads: dark and brooding, or bright and flashy - and of course with a healthy dose of jealousy.
I enjoyed how immersive 1960s Paris was - the fashion, cafés and drama; it reminded me of 'The Lost Lover' (book 3 of Wild Isles), which had a similar setting. If you're looking for more of a festive holiday read, I would say that festivity seems to be a bit more of an afterthought than something more organically woven into the story. We do get a sense of coziness (and winter) just from the general setting (Switzerland and a ski scene) however.
While this wasn't my favourite winter release by Karen Swan, it's still highly entertaining and one I couldn't put down. Let's be honest - she could publish her grocery lists and I'd still find them thrilling to read. 😂
Rating this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 🌟🌟🌟⭐
It feels like it's been some time since one of Karen Swan's classic winter releases. We've been treated to her historical 'Wild Isle' series, as well as more recently the sumptuous 'Three Summers' - all of which I'd highly recommend.
As with many of her other works, The Winter Guest features parallel stories: Dulcie in the present day, and her grandmother Lise in the 1960s. Dulcie is the archetype female lead of Swan's novels- she's rich, beautiful, and most men are drawn to her. You could say the same about her grandmother, except set in a more interesting past as the wife of the Swiss Ambassador in Paris. Both of them have similar tastes in men, though the stakes for Lise are much greater given the time period and her societal role. Dulcie on the other hand seems to be in a state of limbo while she sits in the wake of her grandmother's final days.
We have a familiar formula: the tease of a mystery from the first page, and the gradual unfolding of characters and motives. Of the two storylines, the past was a bit more interesting to me given the thrill of Lise's affair, the glamour of her marriage to the ambassador, and the backdrop of the cold war setting in. The men are your typical male leads: dark and brooding, or bright and flashy - and of course with a healthy dose of jealousy.
I enjoyed how immersive 1960s Paris was - the fashion, cafés and drama; it reminded me of 'The Lost Lover' (book 3 of Wild Isles), which had a similar setting. If you're looking for more of a festive holiday read, I would say that festivity seems to be a bit more of an afterthought than something more organically woven into the story. We do get a sense of coziness (and winter) just from the general setting (Switzerland and a ski scene) however.
While this wasn't my favourite winter release by Karen Swan, it's still highly entertaining and one I couldn't put down. Let's be honest - she could publish her grocery lists and I'd still find them thrilling to read. 😂
Rating this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 🌟🌟🌟⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I think I came into this book with the wrong expectations. I don't know why, because the synopsis doesn't say so, but I thought it was an historical Christmas book, which it isn't. That's not a negative on the book because it's not like it's promised something but not delivered on it, but it did mean I started on the back foot.
I am a big fan of multiple timelines and POVs, especially if the same characters appear in both because we get to see how they evolve. I liked bother in this but I preferred the scenes set in the 60s, there was just more glamarous and excitement.
There's no denying Karen's ability to give a sense of place, space, time, and atmosphere. Just the opening paragraph is loud enough to hook you.
It'll definitely appeal to people who like dual timelines, a bit of glamour, espionage, history, and secrets. It didn't hold my complete attention and it took me longer to read than normal because my focus kept drifting. I do think it could have been a bit shorter and that might have held my focus more.
I do prefer her winter books more than her summer ones but I think that's because I personally prefer winter. I think this is my fifth of her books, and whilst it's not as good as some of the others, in my opinion, it's still a strong novel with an interesting story, good world building, well handled timelines, and engaging characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I think I came into this book with the wrong expectations. I don't know why, because the synopsis doesn't say so, but I thought it was an historical Christmas book, which it isn't. That's not a negative on the book because it's not like it's promised something but not delivered on it, but it did mean I started on the back foot.
I am a big fan of multiple timelines and POVs, especially if the same characters appear in both because we get to see how they evolve. I liked bother in this but I preferred the scenes set in the 60s, there was just more glamarous and excitement.
There's no denying Karen's ability to give a sense of place, space, time, and atmosphere. Just the opening paragraph is loud enough to hook you.
It'll definitely appeal to people who like dual timelines, a bit of glamour, espionage, history, and secrets. It didn't hold my complete attention and it took me longer to read than normal because my focus kept drifting. I do think it could have been a bit shorter and that might have held my focus more.
I do prefer her winter books more than her summer ones but I think that's because I personally prefer winter. I think this is my fifth of her books, and whilst it's not as good as some of the others, in my opinion, it's still a strong novel with an interesting story, good world building, well handled timelines, and engaging characters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Winter Guest by Karen Swan is a dual timeline novel exploring Lise's life as the young wife of a diplomat in Paris in 1961, alongside the present-day story of Dulcie, who is caring for her dying grandmother (Lise) near Lake Geneva. When a mysterious visitor from Lise's past arrives, long buried secrets begin to emerge.
I struggled to become fully invested in the characters at the beginning of the novel, although I found myself far more drawn to the 1961 Paris storyline and was always keen to return to it. The glamorous events, embassy life, and diplomatic circles provided an engaging backdrop for a story of secrets, lies, and shifting loyalties. In contrast, I found the present day storyline less compelling and felt that it dragged at times. The characters in the Paris timeline felt much more vibrant and interesting than those in the present.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but it didn't quite capture my attention as much as I had hoped. I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy dual timeline historical fiction, family secrets, glamorous European settings, and stories featuring diplomacy, romance, and intrigue. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
I struggled to become fully invested in the characters at the beginning of the novel, although I found myself far more drawn to the 1961 Paris storyline and was always keen to return to it. The glamorous events, embassy life, and diplomatic circles provided an engaging backdrop for a story of secrets, lies, and shifting loyalties. In contrast, I found the present day storyline less compelling and felt that it dragged at times. The characters in the Paris timeline felt much more vibrant and interesting than those in the present.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but it didn't quite capture my attention as much as I had hoped. I think this book will appeal to readers who enjoy dual timeline historical fiction, family secrets, glamorous European settings, and stories featuring diplomacy, romance, and intrigue. I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve written so many book reviews by now that I feel like I'm constantly repeating myself, but "The Winter Guest" is another hit from Karen Swan with its incredible originality.
The dual timeline structure is brilliant. Usually, with two storylines, I end up favoring one over the other, but both eras here were incredibly interesting and kept me completely hooked. Karen Swan’s writing is just fantastic—she creates such a thick, tense atmosphere, and the contrasts between the settings are stunning. You get the glamorous high society of 1960s Paris beautifully balanced against the quiet, chilly tension of a snow-covered villa by Lake Geneva.
As always, the characters are wonderfully deep and easy to connect with. Between the slow-burning tension and the central mystery, I just couldn't put it down - literally, I've stayed deep into the night to finish the book. It’s an amazing, gripping read that stands completely on its own!
In short: A brilliantly written, highly original mystery with great characters, spanning from glamorous 1960s Paris to snowy Lake Geneva. An absolute must-read!
The dual timeline structure is brilliant. Usually, with two storylines, I end up favoring one over the other, but both eras here were incredibly interesting and kept me completely hooked. Karen Swan’s writing is just fantastic—she creates such a thick, tense atmosphere, and the contrasts between the settings are stunning. You get the glamorous high society of 1960s Paris beautifully balanced against the quiet, chilly tension of a snow-covered villa by Lake Geneva.
As always, the characters are wonderfully deep and easy to connect with. Between the slow-burning tension and the central mystery, I just couldn't put it down - literally, I've stayed deep into the night to finish the book. It’s an amazing, gripping read that stands completely on its own!
In short: A brilliantly written, highly original mystery with great characters, spanning from glamorous 1960s Paris to snowy Lake Geneva. An absolute must-read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
August 26, 2026I am a huge fan of Karen Swan's books, and I always look forward to her Christmas stories. This one is a page-turner, full of suspense and intrigue.
Set in two eras, the 1960s and today, the story tells of a young woman, Lise, who in 1961 is recently wed to the Swiss Ambassador in France. Life isn't what she expected, though, and she quickly becomes wrapped up in affairs, espionage and guilt. In the present day, her granddaughter, Dulcie, sits vigil as her grandmother's life is waning. She starts to uncover secrets and intrigue she wasn't expecting.
I really enjoyed this story; I loved the characters and the buildup to the conclusion, and I found it hard to put down. It is probably not one of best stories but i still thoroughly enjoyed it.
Set in two eras, the 1960s and today, the story tells of a young woman, Lise, who in 1961 is recently wed to the Swiss Ambassador in France. Life isn't what she expected, though, and she quickly becomes wrapped up in affairs, espionage and guilt. In the present day, her granddaughter, Dulcie, sits vigil as her grandmother's life is waning. She starts to uncover secrets and intrigue she wasn't expecting.
I really enjoyed this story; I loved the characters and the buildup to the conclusion, and I found it hard to put down. It is probably not one of best stories but i still thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Another fantastic book from Karen Swan. I do love a dual timeline and I really liked that the older timeline was from the early sixties as it’s not an era I particularly read about. This is a story of romance and intrigue with a mystery intertwined that makes you say to yourself that you’ll read just one more chapter. I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews