What do you think?
THE WRONG GUEST a gripping psychological thriller
A letter in the wrong hands. A guest who sees an opportunity. A killer who must cover their tracks.
Cameron Wilson’s skiing trip in the French Alps was supposed to help him forget his wife’s tragic death.
But a blackmail letter, delivered to the wrong guest at his hotel, changes everything . . .
“Your wife didn’t die in a skiing accident. You pushed her into a ravine in Austria. I have photos. I’ll be in touch.”
Enter Charles Winston, an unassuming fellow guest, who offers to help. Desperate and trapped, Cameron accepts, unaware that Charles has his own twisted agenda
In this deadly game of manipulation and lies, only one of them can survive.
A pulse-pounding psychological thriller perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Peter Swanson and The Talented Mr Ripley.
Cameron Wilson’s skiing trip in the French Alps was supposed to help him forget his wife’s tragic death.
But a blackmail letter, delivered to the wrong guest at his hotel, changes everything . . .
“Your wife didn’t die in a skiing accident. You pushed her into a ravine in Austria. I have photos. I’ll be in touch.”
Enter Charles Winston, an unassuming fellow guest, who offers to help. Desperate and trapped, Cameron accepts, unaware that Charles has his own twisted agenda
In this deadly game of manipulation and lies, only one of them can survive.
A pulse-pounding psychological thriller perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Peter Swanson and The Talented Mr Ripley.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 29, 2026
The story centres on two men, Charles and Cameron, who meet while on a holiday. What was supposed to be a relaxing trip quickly turns into something much darker when Charles was mistakenly given a letter meant for Cameron. And it’s not just any letter. It’s a blackmail note accusing Cameron of killing his wife, Trixie.
The story isn’t overly intense, but it held my attention throughout. I was curious to see how both men would react and deal with each other as the situation unfolded. There’s a huge part of it that felt like a battle of wits and strategy, and it really pulled me along.
I didn’t know who to root for, or if I should trust either of them at all.
The pace picks up in the last few chapters, especially with the cat-and-mouse tension building up. And most importantly, I liked how the story wrapped up in the end.
The story isn’t overly intense, but it held my attention throughout. I was curious to see how both men would react and deal with each other as the situation unfolded. There’s a huge part of it that felt like a battle of wits and strategy, and it really pulled me along.
I didn’t know who to root for, or if I should trust either of them at all.
The pace picks up in the last few chapters, especially with the cat-and-mouse tension building up. And most importantly, I liked how the story wrapped up in the end.
September 7, 2026
Ich fand The Wrong Guest von Christine McHaines wirklich genial. Obwohl ich normalerweise keine große Leseratte bin, hat mich dieser psychologische Thriller von Anfang an gepackt.
Im Mittelpunkt steht Cameron Wilson, der nach dem tragischen Tod seiner Frau einen Skiurlaub in den französischen Alpen verbringt. Dort landet ausgerechnet ein Erpresserbrief in den falschen Händen. Ein anderer Hotelgast, Charles Winston, erfährt dadurch von Camerons Vergangenheit und bietet ihm seine Hilfe an. Was zunächst wie eine zufällige Begegnung wirkt, entwickelt sich immer mehr zu einem gefährlichen Spiel aus Misstrauen, Manipulation und Geheimnissen.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, wie Christine McHaines die Vergangenheit nach und nach aufdeckt. Durch die Rückblicke versteht man immer besser, was geschehen ist und was die Figuren antreibt. Dadurch verändert sich auch ständig die eigene Sicht auf die beiden Männer. Man glaubt irgendwann, sie zu verstehen, und beginnt trotz ihrer Fehler und Geheimnisse mit ihnen mitzufühlen. Gerade dieses Spiel mit Sympathie, Schuld und moralischen Grauzonen fand ich sehr gelungen.
Die Beziehung zwischen Cameron und Charles war für mich überhaupt einer der faszinierendsten Aspekte des Buches. Diese ungewöhnliche Verbindung zwischen zwei Männern, die sich gleichzeitig brauchen und doch nie wirklich vertrauen können, hat mich stellenweise an klassische Geschichten über Obsession, Einfluss und eine etwas unheilvolle Männerfreundschaft erinnert. Ich musste dabei sogar an Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray denken. Interessanterweise wird das Buch vom Verlag auch Leserinnen und Lesern von The Talented Mr Ripley empfohlen – ein Vergleich, den ich wegen der psychologischen Manipulation und der ambivalenten Figuren durchaus nachvollziehen kann.
Auch das Erzähltempo fand ich sehr gelungen. Die Geschichte bleibt spannend, ist abwechslungsreich und gibt immer gerade genug preis, um weiterdenken und miträtseln zu wollen. Für mich war es eines dieser Bücher, bei denen man unbedingt wissen möchte, was hinter allem steckt.
Nur mit dem Ende war ich nicht ganz glücklich. Nach der ganzen Spannung und nachdem mir die Figuren im Laufe der Geschichte immer nähergekommen waren, hätte ich mir persönlich einen etwas schöneren oder befriedigenderen Abschluss gewünscht.
Trotzdem hat mich The Wrong Guest sehr beeindruckt. Gerade weil ich normalerweise nicht besonders viel lese, sagt es für mich einiges aus, wenn mich ein Buch so fesseln kann. Ein spannender psychologischer Thriller mit interessanten Figuren, moralischen Grauzonen und einer ungewöhnlichen Dynamik zwischen zwei Männern.
Im Mittelpunkt steht Cameron Wilson, der nach dem tragischen Tod seiner Frau einen Skiurlaub in den französischen Alpen verbringt. Dort landet ausgerechnet ein Erpresserbrief in den falschen Händen. Ein anderer Hotelgast, Charles Winston, erfährt dadurch von Camerons Vergangenheit und bietet ihm seine Hilfe an. Was zunächst wie eine zufällige Begegnung wirkt, entwickelt sich immer mehr zu einem gefährlichen Spiel aus Misstrauen, Manipulation und Geheimnissen.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir, wie Christine McHaines die Vergangenheit nach und nach aufdeckt. Durch die Rückblicke versteht man immer besser, was geschehen ist und was die Figuren antreibt. Dadurch verändert sich auch ständig die eigene Sicht auf die beiden Männer. Man glaubt irgendwann, sie zu verstehen, und beginnt trotz ihrer Fehler und Geheimnisse mit ihnen mitzufühlen. Gerade dieses Spiel mit Sympathie, Schuld und moralischen Grauzonen fand ich sehr gelungen.
Die Beziehung zwischen Cameron und Charles war für mich überhaupt einer der faszinierendsten Aspekte des Buches. Diese ungewöhnliche Verbindung zwischen zwei Männern, die sich gleichzeitig brauchen und doch nie wirklich vertrauen können, hat mich stellenweise an klassische Geschichten über Obsession, Einfluss und eine etwas unheilvolle Männerfreundschaft erinnert. Ich musste dabei sogar an Das Bildnis des Dorian Gray denken. Interessanterweise wird das Buch vom Verlag auch Leserinnen und Lesern von The Talented Mr Ripley empfohlen – ein Vergleich, den ich wegen der psychologischen Manipulation und der ambivalenten Figuren durchaus nachvollziehen kann.
Auch das Erzähltempo fand ich sehr gelungen. Die Geschichte bleibt spannend, ist abwechslungsreich und gibt immer gerade genug preis, um weiterdenken und miträtseln zu wollen. Für mich war es eines dieser Bücher, bei denen man unbedingt wissen möchte, was hinter allem steckt.
Nur mit dem Ende war ich nicht ganz glücklich. Nach der ganzen Spannung und nachdem mir die Figuren im Laufe der Geschichte immer nähergekommen waren, hätte ich mir persönlich einen etwas schöneren oder befriedigenderen Abschluss gewünscht.
Trotzdem hat mich The Wrong Guest sehr beeindruckt. Gerade weil ich normalerweise nicht besonders viel lese, sagt es für mich einiges aus, wenn mich ein Buch so fesseln kann. Ein spannender psychologischer Thriller mit interessanten Figuren, moralischen Grauzonen und einer ungewöhnlichen Dynamik zwischen zwei Männern.
March 16, 2026
The Wrong Guest is one of those psychological thrillers that slips in quietly and then tightens its grip with every chapter. It begins with a simple, chilling mistake: a blackmail letter delivered to the wrong hotel room. From that moment, the French Alps—usually a place of escape and clean, cold clarity—become a stage for manipulation, guilt, and the kind of opportunism that thrives in the shadows.
Cameron, still raw from his wife’s death, is a man trying to outrun grief when the letter arrives. The accusation is brutal, the timing cruel, and the isolation of the mountains only sharpens the sense of claustrophobia. Enter Charles Winston, a seemingly harmless fellow guest who offers help with just a little too much enthusiasm. Watching their dynamic unfold is like watching ice crack underfoot: slow, delicate, and inevitable.
What I loved most is the novel’s quiet menace. There’s no need for theatrics—just two men circling each other, each with something to hide, each convinced they can outplay the other. The atmosphere is crisp and wintry, the tension simmering beneath polite conversation and shared drinks. It has the elegant unease of The Talented Mr Ripley, the slippery trust games of Ruth Ware, and the sharp psychological edges of Peter Swanson.
By the final chapters, the story becomes a full‑blown cat‑and‑mouse chase, but still rooted in character rather than spectacle. It’s about guilt, opportunity, and the dangerous people we become when we think no one is watching.
A taut, clever, and quietly sinister read—perfect for a cold evening when you want a thriller that whispers rather than shouts.
With thanks to Christine McHaines, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Cameron, still raw from his wife’s death, is a man trying to outrun grief when the letter arrives. The accusation is brutal, the timing cruel, and the isolation of the mountains only sharpens the sense of claustrophobia. Enter Charles Winston, a seemingly harmless fellow guest who offers help with just a little too much enthusiasm. Watching their dynamic unfold is like watching ice crack underfoot: slow, delicate, and inevitable.
What I loved most is the novel’s quiet menace. There’s no need for theatrics—just two men circling each other, each with something to hide, each convinced they can outplay the other. The atmosphere is crisp and wintry, the tension simmering beneath polite conversation and shared drinks. It has the elegant unease of The Talented Mr Ripley, the slippery trust games of Ruth Ware, and the sharp psychological edges of Peter Swanson.
By the final chapters, the story becomes a full‑blown cat‑and‑mouse chase, but still rooted in character rather than spectacle. It’s about guilt, opportunity, and the dangerous people we become when we think no one is watching.
A taut, clever, and quietly sinister read—perfect for a cold evening when you want a thriller that whispers rather than shouts.
With thanks to Christine McHaines, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
March 24, 2026
A story that builds and builds beautifully.
I feel I have to say that this isn’t the sort of book I’m normally drawn to. No, I tend to love the classics and dark folk horror most of all.
Variety though, is important to me and this book really delivered with something a bit more light hearted than I’m used to. It’s got a surprisingly haunting quality underlying which I absolutely loved.
I have to say also that it took me a little while to click with the characters and for a while I wasn’t sure I’d even like them. This, in the end for me was all part of the appeal in a way I didn’t expect.
By the time I’d reached the final third of the book (usually the point where I find myself wishing there was more left if it’s a decent book) I realised this is a book I’d enjoy reading again, which when I consider my list of amazing books to read is really saying something.
What this poorly written review is really trying to say (I’m at work and only have a couple minutes) is that this is a bit of a gem. I thoroughly enjoyed it and you should give it a read. You could certainly do a hell of a lot worse.
I feel I have to say that this isn’t the sort of book I’m normally drawn to. No, I tend to love the classics and dark folk horror most of all.
Variety though, is important to me and this book really delivered with something a bit more light hearted than I’m used to. It’s got a surprisingly haunting quality underlying which I absolutely loved.
I have to say also that it took me a little while to click with the characters and for a while I wasn’t sure I’d even like them. This, in the end for me was all part of the appeal in a way I didn’t expect.
By the time I’d reached the final third of the book (usually the point where I find myself wishing there was more left if it’s a decent book) I realised this is a book I’d enjoy reading again, which when I consider my list of amazing books to read is really saying something.
What this poorly written review is really trying to say (I’m at work and only have a couple minutes) is that this is a bit of a gem. I thoroughly enjoyed it and you should give it a read. You could certainly do a hell of a lot worse.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars. This is my first book by the author and I enjoyed reading it! Starts out with one character(Charles) opening a letter that he thinks belongs to him. He then realizes the letter belongs to someone else, but the letter makes claims that there was a murder witnessed and photos taken. Charles then meets with Cameron who the letter was really for. Charles plots to help Cameron find out who the blackmailer is and from there it continues to be a wild ride to the end. It has suspense, deception, blackmail, obsession, and other deaths. Very unique plot and ended not quite the way it seemed to be going. Thank you Netgally and Joffe Books for the complimentary copy of the story.
March 27, 2026
I tried to like the book, as how i would love any other thriller. But the way this book was written, didn’t suit my tastes. While the beginning had a lot of flashbacks to establish the characters’ back stories, the second half of the book brought me in circles; i kept wondering why Charles was such a busybody and hoped that there was a reason or twist at the end. There wasn’t. The second half was a drag over a few months, and it was a drag to complete too. Did not like this.
April 21, 2026
What a weird twisty read this was. Weird characters in my opinion in this book. Never know how it’s gonna end.
May 7, 2026
Both of these men were just so entirely hateable I had to skip to the end
June 1, 2026
Could have been better
No big twist but you might like it, it’s not bad, just not my style
No big twist but you might like it, it’s not bad, just not my style
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews