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An Unwanted Guest
We can't choose the strangers we meet.
As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell's Inn, they're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance.
Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid.
With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in - or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There's a killer among them - and nowhere to run.
Until we find ourselves in a situation we can't escape. Trapped.
As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell's Inn, they're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance.
Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid.
With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in - or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There's a killer among them - and nowhere to run.
Until we find ourselves in a situation we can't escape. Trapped.
290 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2018
8230 people are currently reading
121244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 14,500 reviews
July 27, 2025
There's something about mysteries that take place in secluded locations, I just can't resist.
Guests are checking into a small lodge in the middle of nowhere, looking forward to a romantic and relaxing time. Alas, a winter storm blows through, knocking out power and contact with the outside world. One person dies by what seems to be accidental means, but when a second person dies, it's clear something sinister is afoot. Is it one of the guests, or is there an unknown, mysterious interloper on the loose?
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I found the premise and initial setup thoroughly intriguing. Just like the best Golden Age mysteries, there is a limited set of suspects, and everyone is acting questionable and hiding something. In fact, the cover of the book compares this to Agatha Christie, which is high aspiration indeed.
But unfortunately, after the great start, the mystery didn't really come together the way I was expecting. What's amazing about Agatha Christie is that all the clues are there, and when it's explained in the end, you feel like you could have figured it all out if only you'd been a little bit more clever. But with this story, there were no clues for me to put together and solve, and the reasons became known only when the book chose to reveal it. That takes a lot of the fun out of the mystery, at least for me.
Another letdown is that the characters act all panicked and wacky, which leads to more drama than is necessary. I've noticed that this is a trend of modern mysteries, where instead of offering great clues and red herrings, a lot of them just have characters acting crazy as the element that propels the story along. In fact, there were a few weirdly emotional characters who I was hoping would get murdered to be rid of their annoying presence.
Still, if you don't go in expecting a mystery with actual clues, then this is an adequate one. The setting is atmospheric, the premise is interesting, and the unfolding of the plot is engrossing enough. I'm glad I picked it up, even if the mystery didn't quite live up to its potential.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Someone We Know
Not a Happy Family
Everyone Here Is Lying
The Couple Next Door
The End of Her
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Guests are checking into a small lodge in the middle of nowhere, looking forward to a romantic and relaxing time. Alas, a winter storm blows through, knocking out power and contact with the outside world. One person dies by what seems to be accidental means, but when a second person dies, it's clear something sinister is afoot. Is it one of the guests, or is there an unknown, mysterious interloper on the loose?
This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I found the premise and initial setup thoroughly intriguing. Just like the best Golden Age mysteries, there is a limited set of suspects, and everyone is acting questionable and hiding something. In fact, the cover of the book compares this to Agatha Christie, which is high aspiration indeed.
But unfortunately, after the great start, the mystery didn't really come together the way I was expecting. What's amazing about Agatha Christie is that all the clues are there, and when it's explained in the end, you feel like you could have figured it all out if only you'd been a little bit more clever. But with this story, there were no clues for me to put together and solve, and the reasons became known only when the book chose to reveal it. That takes a lot of the fun out of the mystery, at least for me.
Another letdown is that the characters act all panicked and wacky, which leads to more drama than is necessary. I've noticed that this is a trend of modern mysteries, where instead of offering great clues and red herrings, a lot of them just have characters acting crazy as the element that propels the story along. In fact, there were a few weirdly emotional characters who I was hoping would get murdered to be rid of their annoying presence.
Still, if you don't go in expecting a mystery with actual clues, then this is an adequate one. The setting is atmospheric, the premise is interesting, and the unfolding of the plot is engrossing enough. I'm glad I picked it up, even if the mystery didn't quite live up to its potential.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Someone We Know
Not a Happy Family
Everyone Here Is Lying
The Couple Next Door
The End of Her
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
October 3, 2022
An Unwanted Guest gave me all the Agatha Christie feels! It's been so long since I've read a locked room (err... hotel) mystery, and while I had my doubts going in, I found this book clever and witty. The character development was pretty darn good for a book that rolled in at less than 300 pages; in fact, this is mostly a character driven thriller, using the tension between the cast to ratchet up the suspense for those brief moments of action. I'll definitely need to check out Lapena's backlist of books; if you're new to them as I was, I found this to be a great place to start!
Book #2 for my #25infive read-a-thon. Buddy reading with Dennis @scaredstraightreads!
Book #2 for my #25infive read-a-thon. Buddy reading with Dennis @scaredstraightreads!
July 24, 2018
I loved Shari Lapena's previous books "The Couple Next Door" and "A Stranger In The House" and couldn't wait to start reading this, her latest thriller "An Unwanted Guest". It didn't disappoint and I have to admit that this one is actually my favourite of the three and in my opinion her best yet.
The intriguing plot echoes an Agatha Christie style murder mystery and is set during a freezing cold and violent ice storm that leaves the guests at an isolated hotel stranded without power. As the guests (each with their own story or deep buried secret) start to die in mysterious circumstances, the terrifying suspense is instantly ratcheted up, therefore making the book impossible to put down. I really did find it gripping and since we are currently experiencing an uncomfortable heatwave this book certainly cools you down. The descriptions of the ice and snow and freezing conditions in the hotel made me feel as if I was there with the guests and since the author brings her brilliant characters to life each one felt exceedingly real.
I like plots where you can try to guess the murderer in a realistic scenario and I have to admit I did get the killer wrong. The ending was very well plotted and thought out and from start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed reading this compelling and suspenseful book. I very much look forward to more by Lapena in the future, I like her writing style, plot lines and her ability to engage the reader and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this page turner of a book to thriller readers young and old and especially those that love a good old fashioned whodunnit murder mystery!
5 stars
The intriguing plot echoes an Agatha Christie style murder mystery and is set during a freezing cold and violent ice storm that leaves the guests at an isolated hotel stranded without power. As the guests (each with their own story or deep buried secret) start to die in mysterious circumstances, the terrifying suspense is instantly ratcheted up, therefore making the book impossible to put down. I really did find it gripping and since we are currently experiencing an uncomfortable heatwave this book certainly cools you down. The descriptions of the ice and snow and freezing conditions in the hotel made me feel as if I was there with the guests and since the author brings her brilliant characters to life each one felt exceedingly real.
I like plots where you can try to guess the murderer in a realistic scenario and I have to admit I did get the killer wrong. The ending was very well plotted and thought out and from start to finish I thoroughly enjoyed reading this compelling and suspenseful book. I very much look forward to more by Lapena in the future, I like her writing style, plot lines and her ability to engage the reader and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this page turner of a book to thriller readers young and old and especially those that love a good old fashioned whodunnit murder mystery!
5 stars
June 5, 2018
A quiet weekend in the country, far away from the stress of the outside world sounds like a dream getaway! Mitchell Inn is a warm and inviting Inn which is nestled deep in the forest. Snow is covering the ground adding to the Inn's beauty and charm. It's a place for lovers to enjoy time together, a place where an Author can work on her book, a man can enjoy some alone time, friends can re-connect, and for a couple in an unhappy marriage can take a look at their marriage in a beautiful setting.
But the storm is unrelenting - the snow has not stopped falling and soon the roads are not drive-able. The guests and the owner and his son are trapped at the Inn for the weekend! Everyone remains in good spirits. They will make the most of it! They enjoy some drinks and make small talk in the lobby. Everyone goes to bed with hopes of still enjoying their weekend until the next morning when a body is found! It appears their relaxing weekend will not be so relaxing after all.
This was a really fun book! Not fun in the funny-I-laughed-out-loud-way but it was a fun and devilishly clever whodunit. This book is an example of a whodunit done right! Shari Lapena has created the perfect setting for this book- a beautiful inn in the middle of the woods. Such atmosphere! This book consists of interesting characters with even more interesting back stories. This is a book I want to tell everyone about but at the same time I also want to tell people to go in knowing as little as possible. I loved watching the characters try and figure out what was happening. They are trapped (by the storm), frightened and tensions are rising. There is obviously a killer in their midst, but who????
I thought every single page in this book was wonderful. I have read this Author before and enjoyed her work, but this book knocks it out of the ball park! This is a very clever and well thought out mystery. Women's fiction my foot - this is a mystery book at its best! There is nothing graphic or gory in this book. It won’t scare or titillate but it will keep the reader guessing. Those that follow my reviews, know I like to put on my super sleuth hat and try to figure out whodunit. I did not figure it out, in case you were wondering. If there were clues, I did not see any! I couldn't help but think of Agatha Christie while reading this book. I almost feel as if this book were an homage to Christie - that's my thought- the Author does not say. Nevertheless, I was glued to my seat, turning the pages, and wondering what would happen next.
The sheer genius of this book is that not a lot of action takes place, the characters are trapped in the Inn, no one can get to them and they cannot get out. So, the strength of this book lies not only in the carefully thought out plot but in the characters themselves, in their dialogue, their inner thoughts and interactions with others. Each time I had to put this book down, I was disappointed. If I could have sat and read this book in one sitting, I would have. The pacing in this book was spot on! Nothing in this book is rushed, nor is it slow.
I was captivated from page one and highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
But the storm is unrelenting - the snow has not stopped falling and soon the roads are not drive-able. The guests and the owner and his son are trapped at the Inn for the weekend! Everyone remains in good spirits. They will make the most of it! They enjoy some drinks and make small talk in the lobby. Everyone goes to bed with hopes of still enjoying their weekend until the next morning when a body is found! It appears their relaxing weekend will not be so relaxing after all.
This was a really fun book! Not fun in the funny-I-laughed-out-loud-way but it was a fun and devilishly clever whodunit. This book is an example of a whodunit done right! Shari Lapena has created the perfect setting for this book- a beautiful inn in the middle of the woods. Such atmosphere! This book consists of interesting characters with even more interesting back stories. This is a book I want to tell everyone about but at the same time I also want to tell people to go in knowing as little as possible. I loved watching the characters try and figure out what was happening. They are trapped (by the storm), frightened and tensions are rising. There is obviously a killer in their midst, but who????
I thought every single page in this book was wonderful. I have read this Author before and enjoyed her work, but this book knocks it out of the ball park! This is a very clever and well thought out mystery. Women's fiction my foot - this is a mystery book at its best! There is nothing graphic or gory in this book. It won’t scare or titillate but it will keep the reader guessing. Those that follow my reviews, know I like to put on my super sleuth hat and try to figure out whodunit. I did not figure it out, in case you were wondering. If there were clues, I did not see any! I couldn't help but think of Agatha Christie while reading this book. I almost feel as if this book were an homage to Christie - that's my thought- the Author does not say. Nevertheless, I was glued to my seat, turning the pages, and wondering what would happen next.
The sheer genius of this book is that not a lot of action takes place, the characters are trapped in the Inn, no one can get to them and they cannot get out. So, the strength of this book lies not only in the carefully thought out plot but in the characters themselves, in their dialogue, their inner thoughts and interactions with others. Each time I had to put this book down, I was disappointed. If I could have sat and read this book in one sitting, I would have. The pacing in this book was spot on! Nothing in this book is rushed, nor is it slow.
I was captivated from page one and highly recommend this book!
Thank you to Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
January 29, 2025
**3.5-stars rounded up**
An Unwanted Guest has redeemed Shari Lapena in my eyes. I feel so relieved I don't have to write her off completely!
Sort of joking, but not really. To say Ihated was less than enthusiastic about, The Couple Next Door, would be putting it mildly. ((cough)) Very mildly.
I have some really great Book Buds who love her work, so I said I would give her another shot. You know, in the spirit of friendship.
After reading An Unwanted Guest, I am glad that I did.
I knew going in that this novel would be more in my comfort zone; being a 'locked room' mystery, one of my all-time favorite tropes.
A cast of characters shut in a confined space, cut off from the rest of the world, when the bodies start dropping. Whodunnit?
Y'all know, I am trash for this.
This had the formula of a classic Christie tale. The cast is introduced quickly, with none of them being particularly likable.
They all check-in to a fabulous, secluded old hotel, the interactions begin and before you know it, someone is killed.
The setting for this is a family-run hotel where our guests go to escape from the world, reconnect within their relationships and unwind.
However, when a powerful ice storm hits, the electricity is knocked out and the MURDERS begin. These weekend warriors get much more from their holidays than they bargained for.
As I mentioned previously, none of the characters were particularly likable, in the traditional sense, but they were definitely interesting.
Everyone seemed to be hiding something and I had absolutely no idea who the killer was. After hidden information was finally revealed, all fell into place.
I liked it. I really liked it. There was a special little twist at the end that I felt was really fun and satisfying.
Overall, I am super glad I gave Lapena another shot and I will definitely pick up more books from her in future!
An Unwanted Guest has redeemed Shari Lapena in my eyes. I feel so relieved I don't have to write her off completely!
Sort of joking, but not really. To say I
I have some really great Book Buds who love her work, so I said I would give her another shot. You know, in the spirit of friendship.
After reading An Unwanted Guest, I am glad that I did.
I knew going in that this novel would be more in my comfort zone; being a 'locked room' mystery, one of my all-time favorite tropes.
A cast of characters shut in a confined space, cut off from the rest of the world, when the bodies start dropping. Whodunnit?
Y'all know, I am trash for this.
This had the formula of a classic Christie tale. The cast is introduced quickly, with none of them being particularly likable.
They all check-in to a fabulous, secluded old hotel, the interactions begin and before you know it, someone is killed.
The setting for this is a family-run hotel where our guests go to escape from the world, reconnect within their relationships and unwind.
However, when a powerful ice storm hits, the electricity is knocked out and the MURDERS begin. These weekend warriors get much more from their holidays than they bargained for.
As I mentioned previously, none of the characters were particularly likable, in the traditional sense, but they were definitely interesting.
Everyone seemed to be hiding something and I had absolutely no idea who the killer was. After hidden information was finally revealed, all fell into place.
I liked it. I really liked it. There was a special little twist at the end that I felt was really fun and satisfying.
Overall, I am super glad I gave Lapena another shot and I will definitely pick up more books from her in future!
August 8, 2018
Well that was underwhelming.
An odd ball cast of characters decide to spend the weekend at Mitchell's Inn. This decision they will all soon regret when the guests start dropping like flies. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie but not nearly as impressive we've got a whodunnit where every one becomes a suspect.
Something about Lapena's writing style just didn't work for me here. It's safe to say that it is ME and not the BOOK this time around. This should have been so up my ally but I just felt it lacking. I will say that it's a quick read and I didn't guess who the killer was. Though as I reflect back I do see the clues I missed along the way so kudo's for that. I just wished I cared when the reveal came and I didn't.
I am happy to see that so many others appreciate and love this novel. I'm sure I'll still be all grabby hands for her next one whenever it comes out.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
An odd ball cast of characters decide to spend the weekend at Mitchell's Inn. This decision they will all soon regret when the guests start dropping like flies. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie but not nearly as impressive we've got a whodunnit where every one becomes a suspect.
Something about Lapena's writing style just didn't work for me here. It's safe to say that it is ME and not the BOOK this time around. This should have been so up my ally but I just felt it lacking. I will say that it's a quick read and I didn't guess who the killer was. Though as I reflect back I do see the clues I missed along the way so kudo's for that. I just wished I cared when the reveal came and I didn't.
I am happy to see that so many others appreciate and love this novel. I'm sure I'll still be all grabby hands for her next one whenever it comes out.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 22, 2018
Mitchell's Inn is a quiet resort, tucked away in the Catskill Mountains. Guests are checking in, but will they all check out?
The hotel is three stories with a grand staircase, reminiscent of Gone with the Wind. A forest surrounds the hotel and it has a grand lawn which is all covered in pure white snow. This should be the perfect setting for a quiet, relaxing weekend, but it will not be .
The hotel isn't full. Six rooms will be occupied out of the twelve available. Some folks seem to have cancelled due to the snow storm approaching. We begin to meet some of the guests as they are checking in and learn why they wanted to book the weekend. There are quite a few characters and I had to "get to know" before I was able to keep everyone straight. Once I sorted them out, I had no problem following the story line and I sure had some strong opinions about a few of them. One I would liked to have smacked.
The storm is getting worse, everything is icing over, there is no wi-fi , no electricity and the wind is howling like someone is trying to get in (I was starting to wonder if someone was). After a body is discovered the next morning, people are quick to start pointing fingers. Everyone's secrets start coming out, and suspicions are spreading like fire.
A couple of "gaspy" moments and much guessing made this one a quick read. Some parts became a bit repetitive with the mystery circling around a few times, but the ending put a smile on my face. :).
Recommend to readers who enjoy who-dunnits with atmospheric settings. Thanks to the publisher and EW for my copy to review and give my honest opinion.
The hotel is three stories with a grand staircase, reminiscent of Gone with the Wind. A forest surrounds the hotel and it has a grand lawn which is all covered in pure white snow. This should be the perfect setting for a quiet, relaxing weekend, but it will not be .
The hotel isn't full. Six rooms will be occupied out of the twelve available. Some folks seem to have cancelled due to the snow storm approaching. We begin to meet some of the guests as they are checking in and learn why they wanted to book the weekend. There are quite a few characters and I had to "get to know" before I was able to keep everyone straight. Once I sorted them out, I had no problem following the story line and I sure had some strong opinions about a few of them. One I would liked to have smacked.
The storm is getting worse, everything is icing over, there is no wi-fi , no electricity and the wind is howling like someone is trying to get in (I was starting to wonder if someone was). After a body is discovered the next morning, people are quick to start pointing fingers. Everyone's secrets start coming out, and suspicions are spreading like fire.
A couple of "gaspy" moments and much guessing made this one a quick read. Some parts became a bit repetitive with the mystery circling around a few times, but the ending put a smile on my face. :).
Recommend to readers who enjoy who-dunnits with atmospheric settings. Thanks to the publisher and EW for my copy to review and give my honest opinion.
July 6, 2018
Shari Lapena writes a crime fiction mystery in the style of the classic golden age of crime. In the beautiful snowy Catskill mountains and forests, beside the Hudson River, is the location of Mitchell's Inn. The snow has brought its problems as many of the staff at the Inn have been unable to get to work, leaving owner and chef, James Harwood, with only his son, Bradley, to help look after the guests who have managed to arrive. However, the weather deteriorates even further as the place is gripped by an all encompassing ice storm, leaving the Inn with no power or telephone line. Wi-fi is not available, so guests are offered a secluded relaxing break, away from the frenetic pace of their everyday lives.
Matthew Hutchinson, a wealthy New Yorker, has arrived with his breathtakingly beautiful bride to be, Dana, looking to escape the chaotic planning of their wedding. Ian Beeton and Lauren Day are a couple who have come away for a naughty weekend. Beverly Sullivan hopes to reignite some passion into her marriage with husband, Henry, getting away from their boisterous teenage children. Beverly and Henry's relationship had dwindled to the point that they were purely functioning as parents with no sexual content in their marriage for a considerable length of time. Candice White is a writer who has plans to write her latest book away from the drudge and energy sapping role of being a carer for her mother. David Paley, a criminal defense attorney, is taking a break from his highly stressful and pressurising job. Gwen Delaney has persuaded her best friend, Riley Shuter, that her shattered nerves and anxiety will benefit from staying in a rural and peaceful haven and give them the time for Gwen to help her. Riley is a journalist suffering from PTSD after the horrors she has witnessed and experienced in Afghanistan, she is prone to panic attacks and plagued by flashbacks.
At first, the strangers mix well on arrival, but fear and menace creep in when one of the guests is discovered dead at the bottom of the staircase, and evidence suggests that it might not be an accident. As unease increases, there is no doubt that a killer is amongst them when another guest is strangled. More murder follows, and no help is at hand, with the police completely uncontactable. Tempers fray, as no-one is above suspicion and the guests harbour thoughts as to who is the murderer. Secrets emerge and feeling desperately unsafe, unable to sleep or trust anyone, will they survive until the police arrive? Lapena writes a great story that made me nervous and unsettled as I tried to work out the real killer. If you like Agatha Christie and writers of that ilk, I think you will like this too. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
Matthew Hutchinson, a wealthy New Yorker, has arrived with his breathtakingly beautiful bride to be, Dana, looking to escape the chaotic planning of their wedding. Ian Beeton and Lauren Day are a couple who have come away for a naughty weekend. Beverly Sullivan hopes to reignite some passion into her marriage with husband, Henry, getting away from their boisterous teenage children. Beverly and Henry's relationship had dwindled to the point that they were purely functioning as parents with no sexual content in their marriage for a considerable length of time. Candice White is a writer who has plans to write her latest book away from the drudge and energy sapping role of being a carer for her mother. David Paley, a criminal defense attorney, is taking a break from his highly stressful and pressurising job. Gwen Delaney has persuaded her best friend, Riley Shuter, that her shattered nerves and anxiety will benefit from staying in a rural and peaceful haven and give them the time for Gwen to help her. Riley is a journalist suffering from PTSD after the horrors she has witnessed and experienced in Afghanistan, she is prone to panic attacks and plagued by flashbacks.
At first, the strangers mix well on arrival, but fear and menace creep in when one of the guests is discovered dead at the bottom of the staircase, and evidence suggests that it might not be an accident. As unease increases, there is no doubt that a killer is amongst them when another guest is strangled. More murder follows, and no help is at hand, with the police completely uncontactable. Tempers fray, as no-one is above suspicion and the guests harbour thoughts as to who is the murderer. Secrets emerge and feeling desperately unsafe, unable to sleep or trust anyone, will they survive until the police arrive? Lapena writes a great story that made me nervous and unsettled as I tried to work out the real killer. If you like Agatha Christie and writers of that ilk, I think you will like this too. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
January 14, 2025
4.5 Stars! A weekend getaway at a cozy mountain lodge I would say is my ideal getaway but if I’m snowed in with no power and a murderer amongst the midst with no way out…...I’d be totally scared right out of my wits!
AN UNWANTED GUEST by SHARI LAPENA is a fast-paced, tension-filled, compelling, suspenseful, and a chilling read that immediately grabbed my attention and kept me pretty much guessing right to the very end. Although, there are a few clues that I did pick up on, it did not spoil the actual reveal for me at all. Oh, and that final twist in the end…..total shocker and I absolutely loved it!
SHARI LAPENA delivers an atmospheric, appealing and cleverly written read here that has an old-fashioned whodunit storyline, a huge cast of characters and an extremely eerie and haunting setting. Even though this book has several characters in it I was never confused in who was who or had any trouble in keeping them all straight.
The setting, characters, and vintage feel to this story is what I found the most entertaining and enjoyable. Would highly recommend!
* Traveling Sisters Group Read
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
AN UNWANTED GUEST by SHARI LAPENA is a fast-paced, tension-filled, compelling, suspenseful, and a chilling read that immediately grabbed my attention and kept me pretty much guessing right to the very end. Although, there are a few clues that I did pick up on, it did not spoil the actual reveal for me at all. Oh, and that final twist in the end…..total shocker and I absolutely loved it!
SHARI LAPENA delivers an atmospheric, appealing and cleverly written read here that has an old-fashioned whodunit storyline, a huge cast of characters and an extremely eerie and haunting setting. Even though this book has several characters in it I was never confused in who was who or had any trouble in keeping them all straight.
The setting, characters, and vintage feel to this story is what I found the most entertaining and enjoyable. Would highly recommend!
* Traveling Sisters Group Read
Thank you so much to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
October 11, 2018
Welcome to your weekend getaway...
A group of unsuspecting guests arrive to a snowy, mountain inn for a weekend away from everyone and everything. Each has their own personal reasons for being there. Re-kindle a faltering romance, repair a once close friendship. Maybe even a working weekend. Whatever the reason, it was going to be a pleasant getaway.
But by early the next morning, things take a drastic turn. A body has been found at the bottom of the staircase at the Inn. And that's only the beginning...
Everyone is in danger... everyone is a suspect!
Told from the POV of every guest there! I was concerned I might struggle keeping the large cast of characters and their POV’s straight. Happy to report, that was never an issue!
“I love a good murder mystery, don’t you?”
This was a light, thrilling joy-ride of a read! Kind of a refreshing palate-cleanser between the darker thrillers I usually read! Kept me in the dark and guessing right to the end! And no... I didn’t guess correctly! Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did!
If you’re looking for something on the lighter side then this is the perfect read for you! Enjoy!
A buddy read with Susanne!🌸
Thank you to Edelweiss Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for an ARC to read and review.
A group of unsuspecting guests arrive to a snowy, mountain inn for a weekend away from everyone and everything. Each has their own personal reasons for being there. Re-kindle a faltering romance, repair a once close friendship. Maybe even a working weekend. Whatever the reason, it was going to be a pleasant getaway.
But by early the next morning, things take a drastic turn. A body has been found at the bottom of the staircase at the Inn. And that's only the beginning...
Everyone is in danger... everyone is a suspect!
Told from the POV of every guest there! I was concerned I might struggle keeping the large cast of characters and their POV’s straight. Happy to report, that was never an issue!
“I love a good murder mystery, don’t you?”
This was a light, thrilling joy-ride of a read! Kind of a refreshing palate-cleanser between the darker thrillers I usually read! Kept me in the dark and guessing right to the end! And no... I didn’t guess correctly! Maybe you’ll have better luck than I did!
If you’re looking for something on the lighter side then this is the perfect read for you! Enjoy!
A buddy read with Susanne!🌸
Thank you to Edelweiss Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for an ARC to read and review.
January 5, 2019
My first read of the year. And it was not good.
Shari Lapena is not for me. After I read, The Couple Next Door, which I immensely disliked, I didn't think I would ever read another book from this author. I was wrong. I gave An Unwanted Guest, another chance because the premise sounded promising, and believable....
too good to be true....
boooooyyyyyy....
The writing was what threw me off. It was.....really bland. And made the whole experience really slow and plodding...uninteresting. The characters were another poor aspect. None of them were likable or relatable and almost everyone made really, really stupid decisions regarding how to stay alive.
And for a book that only had 290 pages....there was only so much happening. For a book about nine plus people.....only two characters were killed within 200 pages. That took waaay too long for anything to happen. And the ending literally wrapped everything up in like five pages. what.
It was exasperating to say in the least.
January 2019 was off to a great start.
But not with this.
2 meager stars
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Shari Lapena is not for me. After I read, The Couple Next Door, which I immensely disliked, I didn't think I would ever read another book from this author. I was wrong. I gave An Unwanted Guest, another chance because the premise sounded promising, and believable....
too good to be true....
boooooyyyyyy....
The writing was what threw me off. It was.....really bland. And made the whole experience really slow and plodding...uninteresting. The characters were another poor aspect. None of them were likable or relatable and almost everyone made really, really stupid decisions regarding how to stay alive.
And for a book that only had 290 pages....there was only so much happening. For a book about nine plus people.....only two characters were killed within 200 pages. That took waaay too long for anything to happen. And the ending literally wrapped everything up in like five pages. what.
It was exasperating to say in the least.
January 2019 was off to a great start.
But not with this.
2 meager stars
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
April 27, 2020
For a murder mystery, An Unwanted Guest gets the setting perfectly right: A cozy lodge nestled deep in the wood, during peak weather and in the midst of a snowstorm, with many interesting characters. When the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, the weekend getaway turns deadly, as some unknown killer starts killing the guests one by one.
The plot may remind you of And There were None and this is the closest anyone has come to writing an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. Though their writing styles are unique, this is a perfect example of a murder mystery done right. From the setting to the creepy atmosphere to the interesting characters (with even more interesting backstories), everything falls in place nicely to create an amazing reading experience.
Apart from the plot, the characters are very well crafted. Each character looks like a suspect and you are no closer to solving the mystery, till the very end. The pacing in this book was perfect. I felt the ending was well explained though it offers very little clues beforehand. Lapena does a great job of building suspense and leaving enough unanswered questions about each character.
The book does feel bit short on the action at times and given the atmosphere, I was expecting a lot more scares and false alarms. Also, there were no clues for the reader to put together and solve till the very end. Yet, it manages to throw a lot of suspects throughout the course of the story. The author did an excellent job with the atmosphere building which makes you feel like a part of the story.
Overall, An Unwanted Guest is a fast-paced and entertaining read. This novel has some clever twists and turns which will keep you hooked till the end. Recommended for Mystery and Thriller Fans.
Many thanks to the publishers Pamela Dorman Books, Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for the ARC.
The plot may remind you of And There were None and this is the closest anyone has come to writing an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. Though their writing styles are unique, this is a perfect example of a murder mystery done right. From the setting to the creepy atmosphere to the interesting characters (with even more interesting backstories), everything falls in place nicely to create an amazing reading experience.
Apart from the plot, the characters are very well crafted. Each character looks like a suspect and you are no closer to solving the mystery, till the very end. The pacing in this book was perfect. I felt the ending was well explained though it offers very little clues beforehand. Lapena does a great job of building suspense and leaving enough unanswered questions about each character.
The book does feel bit short on the action at times and given the atmosphere, I was expecting a lot more scares and false alarms. Also, there were no clues for the reader to put together and solve till the very end. Yet, it manages to throw a lot of suspects throughout the course of the story. The author did an excellent job with the atmosphere building which makes you feel like a part of the story.
Overall, An Unwanted Guest is a fast-paced and entertaining read. This novel has some clever twists and turns which will keep you hooked till the end. Recommended for Mystery and Thriller Fans.
Many thanks to the publishers Pamela Dorman Books, Penguin Publishing Group and Edelweiss for the ARC.
August 2, 2018
4 stars!
Eerie. Suspenseful. Haunting. Mysterious. Captivating.
This was a gripping, addictive and highly atmospheric thriller that had me flying through the pages! The setting is a remote, old fashioned luxury hotel where guests arrive to spend a relaxing weekend in vintage lavishness. They arrive just as a brutal winter storm hits, cutting off electricity to the hotel along with any possible contact with the outside world. The plot unfolds as a whodunit murder mystery – is the killer among the guests or is there someone lurking in the shadows of the hotel?
The characters were great! Though there are several characters and relationships to keep track of, Shari Lapena does such a wonderful job developing them that I could follow the storyline effortlessly. I loved what each character brought to the mystery. My mind was spinning trying to piece together this intricate and twisty tale.
This was a Traveling Sister read. As always, it was pleasure discussing and theorizing the possible motivations and conclusions. To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A big thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
An Unwanted Guest is available now!!
Eerie. Suspenseful. Haunting. Mysterious. Captivating.
This was a gripping, addictive and highly atmospheric thriller that had me flying through the pages! The setting is a remote, old fashioned luxury hotel where guests arrive to spend a relaxing weekend in vintage lavishness. They arrive just as a brutal winter storm hits, cutting off electricity to the hotel along with any possible contact with the outside world. The plot unfolds as a whodunit murder mystery – is the killer among the guests or is there someone lurking in the shadows of the hotel?
The characters were great! Though there are several characters and relationships to keep track of, Shari Lapena does such a wonderful job developing them that I could follow the storyline effortlessly. I loved what each character brought to the mystery. My mind was spinning trying to piece together this intricate and twisty tale.
This was a Traveling Sister read. As always, it was pleasure discussing and theorizing the possible motivations and conclusions. To find this review, along with the other Traveling Sister reviews, please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog at:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A big thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
An Unwanted Guest is available now!!
July 27, 2018
A very entertaining whodunnit!
This murder mystery gave me all the CLUE vibes and I loved it so much! A large cast of characters trapped in a remote hotel during a snowstorm with no electricity or cell service? Yeah, sign me up.
This one has a large cast of characters - it definitely also reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel, some reviewers have compared it to And Then There Were None which I can totally se as well. I generally get lost when a bunch of characters are introduced all at once, but the characters were so distinct that I was able to easily keep track.
Super proud to say that I’ve gotten my detective shoes back - I actually figured this one out after a drought. Look for the hidden clues and you might figure it out too!🕵🏻♀️
After reading two books by this author, I can say the writing style isn’t really my jam, just a personal preference. But overall a very enjoyable story!
3.5 stars
Thank you to the other Traveling Sisters for an interesting group read! Advance copy provided by Penguin/Pamela Dorman Books - thank you!
This murder mystery gave me all the CLUE vibes and I loved it so much! A large cast of characters trapped in a remote hotel during a snowstorm with no electricity or cell service? Yeah, sign me up.
This one has a large cast of characters - it definitely also reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel, some reviewers have compared it to And Then There Were None which I can totally se as well. I generally get lost when a bunch of characters are introduced all at once, but the characters were so distinct that I was able to easily keep track.
Super proud to say that I’ve gotten my detective shoes back - I actually figured this one out after a drought. Look for the hidden clues and you might figure it out too!🕵🏻♀️
After reading two books by this author, I can say the writing style isn’t really my jam, just a personal preference. But overall a very enjoyable story!
3.5 stars
Thank you to the other Traveling Sisters for an interesting group read! Advance copy provided by Penguin/Pamela Dorman Books - thank you!
September 30, 2018
4 Stars.
A good old fashioned “Whodunit” Set in the Catskill Mountains, during a bitter cold, stormy weekend when the guests at an Inn get snowed in during a power outage. This is one mystery / suspense that is not to be missed!
Ten guests arrive for the weekend, and one by one, they drop like flies. Are the guests’ deaths an accident or are they being been murdered? The roads are closed because of the snow and since the Inn has no power, no one can call the police. Everyone is frightened and suspicions are high. All of the guests start investigating and boy do things start to get interesting! Who can you trust? The single criminal attorney there to get away from it all? The journalist who has secrets to keep and is a ball of nerves? The writer who keeps to herself and disappears constantly? One can never tell!
This is an extremely clever and well played “Whodunit.” I was fascinated by all of the characters and the crazy twists and turns. While I guessed the ending, I was still quite impressed with how it all played out. A job well done for Shari Lapena! This is my first book by the author - it will not be my last.
This was another buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 9.30.18.
A good old fashioned “Whodunit” Set in the Catskill Mountains, during a bitter cold, stormy weekend when the guests at an Inn get snowed in during a power outage. This is one mystery / suspense that is not to be missed!
Ten guests arrive for the weekend, and one by one, they drop like flies. Are the guests’ deaths an accident or are they being been murdered? The roads are closed because of the snow and since the Inn has no power, no one can call the police. Everyone is frightened and suspicions are high. All of the guests start investigating and boy do things start to get interesting! Who can you trust? The single criminal attorney there to get away from it all? The journalist who has secrets to keep and is a ball of nerves? The writer who keeps to herself and disappears constantly? One can never tell!
This is an extremely clever and well played “Whodunit.” I was fascinated by all of the characters and the crazy twists and turns. While I guessed the ending, I was still quite impressed with how it all played out. A job well done for Shari Lapena! This is my first book by the author - it will not be my last.
This was another buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group and Shari Lapena for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on Edelweiss and Goodreads on 9.30.18.
July 31, 2018
Norma and I were lost in a Coulee reading An Unwanted Guest with seven of our Traveling Sisters and overall we all had very similar thoughts on this one. A few twists here with this story and one especially that left us with something to talk about and left us completely satisfied in the end.
Right from the start, Shari Lapena pulled us into this story with a very chilling setting here with a hotel snowed in. We all loved the feeling we got from the storm and the spooky feeling of being trapped with people you don’t know, with nowhere to go and no one can come to help. The suspense and tension rises when bodies start to drop like flies and we started questioning just who was the unwanted guest.
An Unwanted Guest is an easy, fast-paced, fun and entertaining read and safe from any disturbing darkness. Not much complexity here but it is not needed. The story is cleverly plotted for a fun and entertaining read. As one sister said (Debra) in our discussion the strength is in the characters and their inner thoughts and their interactions with other characters. I highly recommend and can see this story appealing to a wide audience.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin/ Pamela Dorman Books and Shari Lapena for my copy to read and review.
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley. Coulee references are symbolic to our reading experience
Right from the start, Shari Lapena pulled us into this story with a very chilling setting here with a hotel snowed in. We all loved the feeling we got from the storm and the spooky feeling of being trapped with people you don’t know, with nowhere to go and no one can come to help. The suspense and tension rises when bodies start to drop like flies and we started questioning just who was the unwanted guest.
An Unwanted Guest is an easy, fast-paced, fun and entertaining read and safe from any disturbing darkness. Not much complexity here but it is not needed. The story is cleverly plotted for a fun and entertaining read. As one sister said (Debra) in our discussion the strength is in the characters and their inner thoughts and their interactions with other characters. I highly recommend and can see this story appealing to a wide audience.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin/ Pamela Dorman Books and Shari Lapena for my copy to read and review.
This is Traveling Sisters GR Reading Group Review and it can be found posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley. Coulee references are symbolic to our reading experience
August 10, 2018
An instant classic! Lapena has completely stolen my focus—I loved this book!! There is something magical about this book that is hard to describe without having read it. An Unwanted Guest has a vintage feel, like watching a film noir mystery late on a cozy evening in. The kind of film where you’re so engrossed, you lose track of everything happening around you, only to jump at the clanging of the gate outdoors in a gust of wind.
I absolutely loved this book, and most of my Traveling Sisters agreed! A spell was cast over the Traveling Sisters, and every time I checked our discussion, another sister was glowing with the pleasure of this story! Everything from the quaint, cozy lodge, to the vintage-chic murders, to the characters was perfection. I can’t wait for readers to share this experience with us!
About the Book
In a cozy, old-fashioned, opulent lodge filled with antique furniture, crackling fireplaces, and a vintage bar cart, a group of strangers arrive for a weekend away. The snow is billowing outside, and the lodge is far from town, but the fires are warm, the bar is stocked, and the owner is gracious and welcoming. It’s the perfect getaway, right?
Each of the guests has a need for this weekend retreat. A romantic getaway for young lovers, a pre-wedding relaxation retreat, a last-ditch effort to save a marriage, a friendship struggling to survive the demons in their past, a writer looking for solitude to create, and someone looking to escape a secret.
And then the electricity goes out. Cut off from the outside world, the guests are thankful to have such cozy accommodations. But then one of the guests turns up dead. With access to the lodge unpassable, the guests must face the fact that there are only two options: one of them is a murderer, or there is an unknown, extra guest at the lodge…
Reflection
This book feels like old classic mysteries. Like Murder on the Orient Express, where the characters all have a mysterious past to hide, and one of them may be a murderer. Where, cut off from the outside world, they’ll have nothing but their powers of deduction to find the culprit before they are picked off one by one.
This book is entirely different—but no less engrossing—than the work I’ve read previously by Lapena. I can see her breadth as a writer showing. This almost feels like a different genre than she usually writes, but she executed it flawlessly. It feels like a book that was always meant to be written. It feels like a book I must have read before, but also like nothing I’ve ever read. I felt an instant familiarity and comfort when I started this book. By the second page, it already felt perfectly suited to me. It was as though I was reading an old favorite for the 100th time.
But I don’t want that to sound like this story has been told before. Every twist and turn was a delight! I could acutely envision the settings and characters. Though there are many characters and no primary narrator, I was able to tell each apart because they had such distinct personalities and back stories. The way the back stories of each unfolded was captivating. I wanted to know more. I thought any of them and none of them could be the murderer.
And without spoiling, I have to say the very last chapter left me with a grin of pleasure on my face. It was perfect! The last little twist left me giddy with excitement. I can’t wait for readers to discover this book!
See my blog post here: https://phdiva.blog/2018/08/03/book-r...
Thank you to Penguin and Pamela Dorman Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this book, and most of my Traveling Sisters agreed! A spell was cast over the Traveling Sisters, and every time I checked our discussion, another sister was glowing with the pleasure of this story! Everything from the quaint, cozy lodge, to the vintage-chic murders, to the characters was perfection. I can’t wait for readers to share this experience with us!
About the Book
In a cozy, old-fashioned, opulent lodge filled with antique furniture, crackling fireplaces, and a vintage bar cart, a group of strangers arrive for a weekend away. The snow is billowing outside, and the lodge is far from town, but the fires are warm, the bar is stocked, and the owner is gracious and welcoming. It’s the perfect getaway, right?
Each of the guests has a need for this weekend retreat. A romantic getaway for young lovers, a pre-wedding relaxation retreat, a last-ditch effort to save a marriage, a friendship struggling to survive the demons in their past, a writer looking for solitude to create, and someone looking to escape a secret.
And then the electricity goes out. Cut off from the outside world, the guests are thankful to have such cozy accommodations. But then one of the guests turns up dead. With access to the lodge unpassable, the guests must face the fact that there are only two options: one of them is a murderer, or there is an unknown, extra guest at the lodge…
Reflection
This book feels like old classic mysteries. Like Murder on the Orient Express, where the characters all have a mysterious past to hide, and one of them may be a murderer. Where, cut off from the outside world, they’ll have nothing but their powers of deduction to find the culprit before they are picked off one by one.
This book is entirely different—but no less engrossing—than the work I’ve read previously by Lapena. I can see her breadth as a writer showing. This almost feels like a different genre than she usually writes, but she executed it flawlessly. It feels like a book that was always meant to be written. It feels like a book I must have read before, but also like nothing I’ve ever read. I felt an instant familiarity and comfort when I started this book. By the second page, it already felt perfectly suited to me. It was as though I was reading an old favorite for the 100th time.
But I don’t want that to sound like this story has been told before. Every twist and turn was a delight! I could acutely envision the settings and characters. Though there are many characters and no primary narrator, I was able to tell each apart because they had such distinct personalities and back stories. The way the back stories of each unfolded was captivating. I wanted to know more. I thought any of them and none of them could be the murderer.
And without spoiling, I have to say the very last chapter left me with a grin of pleasure on my face. It was perfect! The last little twist left me giddy with excitement. I can’t wait for readers to discover this book!
See my blog post here: https://phdiva.blog/2018/08/03/book-r...
Thank you to Penguin and Pamela Dorman Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
![Profile Image for len ❀ [ia bc of school].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1753226014i%2F51318038._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 20, 2024
One may smile, and smile, and be a villain — Shakespeare
A close person in my life taught me something they learned to do in prison: keep your fucking mouth shut when necessary. You might be saying, But what if talking can help save someone? and you would be right. Which is why you keep it shut…when necessary. Because let me tell you, a lot of us humans speak when we really shouldn’t. We open our mouths when we shouldn’t, and that’s a given fact. An Unwanted Guest proves this.
This also showed me a lot of other things, like how I probably have more reasonings to not want to get married. Or how I, again, should keep my mouth shut and not make myself stand out and give reasonings for why I should be murdered. It also reassured me that I don’t think I’ll ever go to a hotel in the middle of nowhere, for a “weekend getaway” when it’s snowing so much you can’t even see outside. Maybe this is just me being from where I am and knowing the risks of snow and snowstorms and driving during it, but sometimes I’m thankful and grateful that I am not one for big socializations like…going to a hotel for a weekend getaway and to get away from the real world and not have access to my phone. Because maybe this is my Gen-Z speaking, but sometimes I’m incredibly grateful for technology and what they provide for us. Y’all won’t ever see me going out and staying away at a hotel where reception and service isn’t available. Nope.
This is all irrelevant, but I just wanna say that this story actually taught me a few things I’ll be keeping in mind for the future.
Ones enjoyment for thrillers and mysteries will most likely depend on a couple things: how realistic it is versus how unrealistic; whether you can tell who the killer was/is a mile away or not; how good the author is at keeping you at the edge of your seat versus boring drama. I, luckily, consider myself someone easy to enjoy them quite easily. While I had to accept a sense of suspension of disbelief for this and accept the fact that some things came off a little too unrealistic, the suspension itself was a damn enjoyable. I love this genre; the rise of suspension, the act of reading and flipping pages to find out what’s happening next, to finally find out who the killer is or the plot twist. I love the drama; the accusations, the untrustworthiness of everyone, the fingers pointed. I love following every character unravel the truths, be wrong, unsure, confused, and overwhelmed.
I admit, I don’t really any type of the mystery-thriller-suspense genre, yet I’m becoming a fan slowly but surely. It’s easy for me to follow on along the ride, not take it seriously and be there for the twists and turns and murders and all that galore. The feeling of thrill these stories give me are fun, as they are enjoyable and the suspense is a fun ride. There is something so enjoyable about reading about characters coming together (or against) to discover who did what, what happened, and what is going on. A lot of the time, this genre can come off as OTT, but I don’t really mind it. Even if it can be so unrealistic and take away that realism I love, I don’t mind it that much with these stories mostly because they keep me on my toes regardless of what’s happening and how unlikely it may be to happen.
And that’s what An Unwanted Guest was like to me.
The 10+ different characters—Gwen, Riley, James, Bradley, Lauren, Ian, Henry, Beverly, Candice, Dana, Matthew, David—took a while to get used to. I only recently read The Younger Wife and I commented on how I’m not the biggest fan of POV changes, so I was a little bewildered at first when I discovered that this featured more than 10 characters and they all had their own perspective at some point, in between, throughout the whole story. But after getting used to that, I was able to even appreciate it. I found the authors writing riveting. Again, I was hooked from the start, curious to find out how all these characters would come together and to see how they were all connected to the future they didn’t expect. Not every character is likable, but I think that made this quite a little more realistic. They’re judgmental, toxic, accusatory, and jump to conclusions without knowing the whole reality. And I had a blast with them. What started off as uncertainty against them for their negative attitudes and personalities, I then found myself having fun with them. Every character felt different; none of them felt the same. They all had distinct personalities and voices, broadcasting a sense of true self for who each one was. No matter their profession or past, I thought the author handled their characterizations really well. There was never really a time I was reading one perspective and found myself confused.
In addition, the author was great at handling the manipulation tactics necessary to make the reader curious and confused. Maybe it’s because I don’t really read this genre often (at all, really), but I never suspected of anyone, and I’m quite glad of that. I don’t like reading this genre and knowing what is happening and who is what; I like being surprised, constantly, throughout the entire novel, asking myself what is real and what isn’t. I like the confusion of the reality, not knowing who did what and asking myself who may have done what. Lapena did exactly that—kept me on my toes, at the edge of my seat, confused and wondering who the fuck the killed was. And then, when it all comes together and the truth is slowly unfolding, we find out who it was and why. I liked this route and didn’t mind if one bit. I had fun learning about each character differently, with the different murders taking place and each character having some sort of trait connected to the murders. When it all came together, I was shocked, and I found myself applauding the author for never making me suspect the real killer. The author instead manipulated the readers through her characters, making us believe one thing and then another, skillfully arranging different pieces in between to shock us in the end. Or at least, I thought so. Many may disagree but, again, it’s easy for me to enjoy this genre and not think too hard about it.
One of my only issues was something I couldn’t wrap my mind around, and that’s the lack of modern technology usage. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that these characters couldn’t call 911 only because there wasn’t service. They all had a character mobile phone from the beginning, so even if there was no service and the power was out, calling emergency contacts or the police is still possible as long as the phone has battery. And works. We don’t really know what year this takes place in, but just considering that they had iPhones, it was hard to believe, accept, and move on from the fact that no one thought about calling 911 through their phone. They all thought they could only do that through the direct line phone of the hotel, which was quite stupid and absurd in my opinion. I’ve called my parents when my phone has no service and the call has gone through. There’s a reason there are only few options to call when you don’t have service on your phone. I don’t know, maybe not every phone works the same? It was just hard to believe this. I can appreciate the reason for the author waiting until the end to finally bring in the police/detectives—maybe she wanted to save it for all the investigation and questioning for the characters to bring in the end together and show and tell us, the readers, why the killer is who they are—yet I still couldn’t bring myself to just accept the lack of modern technology usage. It’s definitely something you’ll need to suspend disbelief for and move on from because fixating on it too much will make for a frustrating time.
All in all though, once again, I find myself having a successful introduction to a new author. I can confidently say I was a fan. I had been wanting to read this author for a long time now, and my copy of this was just sitting on my shelf, collecting dust just like most of my owned books are. Just like my previous read, I started this on a whim after realizing I wanted to read this genre again. I sat down, read 20 pages, and was instantly curious to read more. What I thought would be an unsatisfactory read of mindless multiple POV’s and unlikable characters turned out to be a successful, gripping thriller. I’m excited to read more soon!
A close person in my life taught me something they learned to do in prison: keep your fucking mouth shut when necessary. You might be saying, But what if talking can help save someone? and you would be right. Which is why you keep it shut…when necessary. Because let me tell you, a lot of us humans speak when we really shouldn’t. We open our mouths when we shouldn’t, and that’s a given fact. An Unwanted Guest proves this.
This also showed me a lot of other things, like how I probably have more reasonings to not want to get married. Or how I, again, should keep my mouth shut and not make myself stand out and give reasonings for why I should be murdered. It also reassured me that I don’t think I’ll ever go to a hotel in the middle of nowhere, for a “weekend getaway” when it’s snowing so much you can’t even see outside. Maybe this is just me being from where I am and knowing the risks of snow and snowstorms and driving during it, but sometimes I’m thankful and grateful that I am not one for big socializations like…going to a hotel for a weekend getaway and to get away from the real world and not have access to my phone. Because maybe this is my Gen-Z speaking, but sometimes I’m incredibly grateful for technology and what they provide for us. Y’all won’t ever see me going out and staying away at a hotel where reception and service isn’t available. Nope.
This is all irrelevant, but I just wanna say that this story actually taught me a few things I’ll be keeping in mind for the future.
Ones enjoyment for thrillers and mysteries will most likely depend on a couple things: how realistic it is versus how unrealistic; whether you can tell who the killer was/is a mile away or not; how good the author is at keeping you at the edge of your seat versus boring drama. I, luckily, consider myself someone easy to enjoy them quite easily. While I had to accept a sense of suspension of disbelief for this and accept the fact that some things came off a little too unrealistic, the suspension itself was a damn enjoyable. I love this genre; the rise of suspension, the act of reading and flipping pages to find out what’s happening next, to finally find out who the killer is or the plot twist. I love the drama; the accusations, the untrustworthiness of everyone, the fingers pointed. I love following every character unravel the truths, be wrong, unsure, confused, and overwhelmed.
I admit, I don’t really any type of the mystery-thriller-suspense genre, yet I’m becoming a fan slowly but surely. It’s easy for me to follow on along the ride, not take it seriously and be there for the twists and turns and murders and all that galore. The feeling of thrill these stories give me are fun, as they are enjoyable and the suspense is a fun ride. There is something so enjoyable about reading about characters coming together (or against) to discover who did what, what happened, and what is going on. A lot of the time, this genre can come off as OTT, but I don’t really mind it. Even if it can be so unrealistic and take away that realism I love, I don’t mind it that much with these stories mostly because they keep me on my toes regardless of what’s happening and how unlikely it may be to happen.
And that’s what An Unwanted Guest was like to me.
The 10+ different characters—Gwen, Riley, James, Bradley, Lauren, Ian, Henry, Beverly, Candice, Dana, Matthew, David—took a while to get used to. I only recently read The Younger Wife and I commented on how I’m not the biggest fan of POV changes, so I was a little bewildered at first when I discovered that this featured more than 10 characters and they all had their own perspective at some point, in between, throughout the whole story. But after getting used to that, I was able to even appreciate it. I found the authors writing riveting. Again, I was hooked from the start, curious to find out how all these characters would come together and to see how they were all connected to the future they didn’t expect. Not every character is likable, but I think that made this quite a little more realistic. They’re judgmental, toxic, accusatory, and jump to conclusions without knowing the whole reality. And I had a blast with them. What started off as uncertainty against them for their negative attitudes and personalities, I then found myself having fun with them. Every character felt different; none of them felt the same. They all had distinct personalities and voices, broadcasting a sense of true self for who each one was. No matter their profession or past, I thought the author handled their characterizations really well. There was never really a time I was reading one perspective and found myself confused.
In addition, the author was great at handling the manipulation tactics necessary to make the reader curious and confused. Maybe it’s because I don’t really read this genre often (at all, really), but I never suspected of anyone, and I’m quite glad of that. I don’t like reading this genre and knowing what is happening and who is what; I like being surprised, constantly, throughout the entire novel, asking myself what is real and what isn’t. I like the confusion of the reality, not knowing who did what and asking myself who may have done what. Lapena did exactly that—kept me on my toes, at the edge of my seat, confused and wondering who the fuck the killed was. And then, when it all comes together and the truth is slowly unfolding, we find out who it was and why. I liked this route and didn’t mind if one bit. I had fun learning about each character differently, with the different murders taking place and each character having some sort of trait connected to the murders. When it all came together, I was shocked, and I found myself applauding the author for never making me suspect the real killer. The author instead manipulated the readers through her characters, making us believe one thing and then another, skillfully arranging different pieces in between to shock us in the end. Or at least, I thought so. Many may disagree but, again, it’s easy for me to enjoy this genre and not think too hard about it.
One of my only issues was something I couldn’t wrap my mind around, and that’s the lack of modern technology usage. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that these characters couldn’t call 911 only because there wasn’t service. They all had a character mobile phone from the beginning, so even if there was no service and the power was out, calling emergency contacts or the police is still possible as long as the phone has battery. And works. We don’t really know what year this takes place in, but just considering that they had iPhones, it was hard to believe, accept, and move on from the fact that no one thought about calling 911 through their phone. They all thought they could only do that through the direct line phone of the hotel, which was quite stupid and absurd in my opinion. I’ve called my parents when my phone has no service and the call has gone through. There’s a reason there are only few options to call when you don’t have service on your phone. I don’t know, maybe not every phone works the same? It was just hard to believe this. I can appreciate the reason for the author waiting until the end to finally bring in the police/detectives—maybe she wanted to save it for all the investigation and questioning for the characters to bring in the end together and show and tell us, the readers, why the killer is who they are—yet I still couldn’t bring myself to just accept the lack of modern technology usage. It’s definitely something you’ll need to suspend disbelief for and move on from because fixating on it too much will make for a frustrating time.
All in all though, once again, I find myself having a successful introduction to a new author. I can confidently say I was a fan. I had been wanting to read this author for a long time now, and my copy of this was just sitting on my shelf, collecting dust just like most of my owned books are. Just like my previous read, I started this on a whim after realizing I wanted to read this genre again. I sat down, read 20 pages, and was instantly curious to read more. What I thought would be an unsatisfactory read of mindless multiple POV’s and unlikable characters turned out to be a successful, gripping thriller. I’m excited to read more soon!
January 22, 2023
A wintery locked room thriller.🥶❄️
I love Lapena's thrillers but this one didn't quite do it for me. There are many suspects who are weekend guests at Mitchelle's Inn, a luxury boutique hotel in Catskill Mountains. The blizzard begins and everyone is snowed in. The power is out because of the storm. Since this is a nature retreat, there's no internet or cell service to begin with. The setup is goood.
The fun is gone when I had no idea where to begin with the whodunit. I had nothing to go by for motive or how a possible killer is related to any victims until the big reveal in the last two chapters. It all comes together neatly when the author explains everything, blah. It's a quick listen, but not her best.
Great audiobook read by Hillary Huber.
I love Lapena's thrillers but this one didn't quite do it for me. There are many suspects who are weekend guests at Mitchelle's Inn, a luxury boutique hotel in Catskill Mountains. The blizzard begins and everyone is snowed in. The power is out because of the storm. Since this is a nature retreat, there's no internet or cell service to begin with. The setup is goood.
The fun is gone when I had no idea where to begin with the whodunit. I had nothing to go by for motive or how a possible killer is related to any victims until the big reveal in the last two chapters. It all comes together neatly when the author explains everything, blah. It's a quick listen, but not her best.
Great audiobook read by Hillary Huber.
August 4, 2021
3.5 stars
With heat indexes soaring into the triple digits for the past week, the thought of being snowed in at a remote cabin sounded romantic, delightful and cozy. That is, until the dead bodies started piling up.
Reminiscent of the locked door mysteries of Agatha Christie, where there is a limited number of suspects, this was an entertaining dive into the lives and the psyches of the guests at the lodge. I loved the atmosphere of the inn, and the eccentric characters.
Unlike Christie, the clues weren’t there along the way so there is no moment for the reader at the end when everything clicks into place. Still, this was entertaining and engaging with a surprise ending that I appreciated. Recommended for fans of Agatha Christie type mysteries with a modern twist.
I tried to fill in my reading with the audio version on a long drive and I don’t recommend listening to this one. The narrator has an odd robotic cadence and I agree with the reviewer who said it was like being read to by Siri.
• I received a copy of this book via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
July 25, 2025
43% dnf. )): angry rant / harsh review inc.
this was just the epitome of "tell not show". it was so matter of fact, i felt no tension or suspense. i honestly felt like i was reading a transcript of a game of cluedo - "and then she did this. that made her feel bad. and then she did this. it snowed. that made it cold". for such a high stakes premise, it had the most nonchalant vibe. they were alllll fine with someone being dead. completely fine. completely fine with the isolated setting. just - what? if that were me I would be losing my absolute marbles.
i didn't care about the characters at all. all of them were shallow, merely names on a page. they were also.... dumb? like ditsy? they felt like sims 3 characters (and they talked like them too.)
i probably won't be reading anything from shari lapena again ): so disappointed
₊˚⊹♡ reading log
♡ 10/07 12:19pm
why do i feel so bad about dnf'ing books? i try and live my life via the sunken cost fallacy but yet i'm struggling to put this aside - even though I genuinely don't care where it goes
♡ 09/07 5:44pm
this honestly might be a dnf - the story and characters are so shallow 37% in - for a murder mystery there is 0 effective tension building
am i just broken or am i having a bad streak in picking books?
♡ 09/07 10:57am
i feel like im reading subtitles for a game of cluedo
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
guys i really tried to read fantasy but i just
i just
i couldn't i am weak i have snuck home to read my usual comfort zone genre i'm just a creature of habit and i need something to actually provide a sense of escapism :))
this was just the epitome of "tell not show". it was so matter of fact, i felt no tension or suspense. i honestly felt like i was reading a transcript of a game of cluedo - "and then she did this. that made her feel bad. and then she did this. it snowed. that made it cold". for such a high stakes premise, it had the most nonchalant vibe. they were alllll fine with someone being dead. completely fine. completely fine with the isolated setting. just - what? if that were me I would be losing my absolute marbles.
i didn't care about the characters at all. all of them were shallow, merely names on a page. they were also.... dumb? like ditsy? they felt like sims 3 characters (and they talked like them too.)
i probably won't be reading anything from shari lapena again ): so disappointed
₊˚⊹♡ reading log
♡ 10/07 12:19pm
why do i feel so bad about dnf'ing books? i try and live my life via the sunken cost fallacy but yet i'm struggling to put this aside - even though I genuinely don't care where it goes
♡ 09/07 5:44pm
this honestly might be a dnf - the story and characters are so shallow 37% in - for a murder mystery there is 0 effective tension building
am i just broken or am i having a bad streak in picking books?
♡ 09/07 10:57am
i feel like im reading subtitles for a game of cluedo
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
guys i really tried to read fantasy but i just
i just
i couldn't i am weak i have snuck home to read my usual comfort zone genre i'm just a creature of habit and i need something to actually provide a sense of escapism :))
July 29, 2018
3.5 Atmospheric and entertaining. A diverse group of people arrive at a small in, just in time to find themselves snowed in, and with no electricity to boot. In short order, they find themselves in danger as the bodies begin to mount. But which one of them is the killer? Or is it someone hiding in one of the empty rooms.
Thematically similar to Christie's, And then there were none, it was interesting to try to figure out who was the killer. I had in mind one of three, and it turned out to be one of the ones I thought. Had no reason though, just something seemed a little off, and well mostly it was a lucky guess. At times this was repetitive, and some of the scenarios, motives, were a stretch, but the entertainment factor won out.
Would be a brilliant read in Winter, after a snowstorm. A sisters read, and though we all found it entertaining, our ratings varied.
ARC from Netgalley.
Thematically similar to Christie's, And then there were none, it was interesting to try to figure out who was the killer. I had in mind one of three, and it turned out to be one of the ones I thought. Had no reason though, just something seemed a little off, and well mostly it was a lucky guess. At times this was repetitive, and some of the scenarios, motives, were a stretch, but the entertainment factor won out.
Would be a brilliant read in Winter, after a snowstorm. A sisters read, and though we all found it entertaining, our ratings varied.
ARC from Netgalley.
November 19, 2018
I started reading An Unwanted Guest on 11/3/18 and finished it on 11/17/18 at 3:36am. This book is an excellent read! I love how the story slowly reveals each person having a secret they want to keep hidden but at the same time very much wanting to unravel their peers' secrets. I enjoy reading each character's personal thoughts a lot. Lauren likes to size up other guests and right away decide who she likes and dislikes. Candace pays close attention to people's demeanor and Beverly notices body language when others don't realize. Many characters seems to be very observant, like David saying he can tell when someone lies.
This book is told in the third person point of view following Gwen Delaney as she maneuvers the country road to the hotel for an uninterrupted getaway with her friend. Another view is Riley Shuter, a friend of Gwen where they went to journalism school together who just came back from Afghanistan. The third view is David Paley, top criminal defense attorney who arrives at the hotel to try to relax for the weekend, a rare downtime. The fourth view is Lauren Day driving with Ian Beeton when they spot a car on the side of the road and stopping to help. They see there are two women inside the car. The fifth view is Beverly Sullivan who is here with her husband to work on their marriage. The sixth view is Henry Sullivan who recognizes that he no longer loves his wife and doesn't know what to do about it. The seventh view is Dana Hart, beautiful, who is recently engaged and is on this trip with him. The eighth view is Mathew Hutchinson, Dana's fiancé and heir to a large fortune. The ninth view is Candace White and she's writing a book. The tenth view is James, hotel owner and the eleventh view is Bradley, hotel owner's son. They all are staying at Mitchell's Inn, family owned hotel, in the middle of a winter storm for a weekend getaway to forget about work and unhappiness in their lives. The twelfth view is Sergeant Sorensen, investigating the crimes. The multiple point of views are switching off within the chapter. This book is organized by a time line for the weekend starting Friday night.
An Unwanted Guest is very well written and a fast paced read! The story started out similar to Agatha Christi's And Then There Were None with many characters to keep up. Not very original in my opinion, but I still enjoyed the read nonetheless. Each character has the potential to be the killer and I like that I couldn't guess who it was. I love that twist at the end. This is my first read from the author but it won't be the last. I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: fast paced, page turner, hotel, observant characters
Con: not an original start to the story
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Shari Lapena, publisher Penguin, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
This book is told in the third person point of view following Gwen Delaney as she maneuvers the country road to the hotel for an uninterrupted getaway with her friend. Another view is Riley Shuter, a friend of Gwen where they went to journalism school together who just came back from Afghanistan. The third view is David Paley, top criminal defense attorney who arrives at the hotel to try to relax for the weekend, a rare downtime. The fourth view is Lauren Day driving with Ian Beeton when they spot a car on the side of the road and stopping to help. They see there are two women inside the car. The fifth view is Beverly Sullivan who is here with her husband to work on their marriage. The sixth view is Henry Sullivan who recognizes that he no longer loves his wife and doesn't know what to do about it. The seventh view is Dana Hart, beautiful, who is recently engaged and is on this trip with him. The eighth view is Mathew Hutchinson, Dana's fiancé and heir to a large fortune. The ninth view is Candace White and she's writing a book. The tenth view is James, hotel owner and the eleventh view is Bradley, hotel owner's son. They all are staying at Mitchell's Inn, family owned hotel, in the middle of a winter storm for a weekend getaway to forget about work and unhappiness in their lives. The twelfth view is Sergeant Sorensen, investigating the crimes. The multiple point of views are switching off within the chapter. This book is organized by a time line for the weekend starting Friday night.
An Unwanted Guest is very well written and a fast paced read! The story started out similar to Agatha Christi's And Then There Were None with many characters to keep up. Not very original in my opinion, but I still enjoyed the read nonetheless. Each character has the potential to be the killer and I like that I couldn't guess who it was. I love that twist at the end. This is my first read from the author but it won't be the last. I highly recommend everyone to read this book!
Pro: fast paced, page turner, hotel, observant characters
Con: not an original start to the story
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Shari Lapena, publisher Penguin, and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
November 19, 2018
4.0 stars — I admit I was fairly critical of Shari Lapena’s first two books, but the writing ability and fast paced writing style of the author caused me to read her latest book “An Unwanted Guest” in just 6 days. This book was by far my favorite of the three and was just a rushed ending away from a 5 star rating. Once again the writing ability of Lapena is superb as she quickly draws you into a story involving numerous major characters who are all trapped in an isolated hotel during a major ice storm. When character after character begins mysteriously dying — each of the other guests become suspects to the crime and this causes the guests to turn on one another. Much like Agatha Christie —Lapena does a great job of building suspense and making each character’s past cloudy enough that I had a hard time figuring out who was the guilty party. I did feel the police were able to solve the case way too easily. If the author would have allowed the reader to be more of a part of the investigation and gave the police more than one clue leading them to the solution of the case, it would have been a much more satisfying ending.But, all in all Lapena showed much improvement in her plot development and suspense building and I now consider myself a full fledged fan of her books.
July 26, 2018
This was an excellent thriller, one of those where I enjoyed every minute of it.
The story takes place at Mitchell’s Inn in upstate New York. It’s the weekend and guests start arriving at the lodge for a short getaway. They are looking forward to spending a wonderful time in this charming and cozy inn.
What the guests don’t expect is a blizzard that leaves them with no power or outside communication, no way to leave the hotel, and with a murderer among them.
This novel was great, it had a classic feel to it. The author did an excellent job with the imagery and the descriptions, I felt I was staying in with the guests during the devastating snow storm. The characters where interesting and compelling and the story maintained a suspenseful grip.
Overall, I loved this chilling murder-mystery. So far it’s my favorite book from this author and I recommend it to everyone.
Received ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss
*I read this book with the Traveling Sisters. Our discussions made my experience more enriching and interesting*
The story takes place at Mitchell’s Inn in upstate New York. It’s the weekend and guests start arriving at the lodge for a short getaway. They are looking forward to spending a wonderful time in this charming and cozy inn.
What the guests don’t expect is a blizzard that leaves them with no power or outside communication, no way to leave the hotel, and with a murderer among them.
This novel was great, it had a classic feel to it. The author did an excellent job with the imagery and the descriptions, I felt I was staying in with the guests during the devastating snow storm. The characters where interesting and compelling and the story maintained a suspenseful grip.
Overall, I loved this chilling murder-mystery. So far it’s my favorite book from this author and I recommend it to everyone.
Received ARC from the publisher via Edelweiss
*I read this book with the Traveling Sisters. Our discussions made my experience more enriching and interesting*
August 11, 2018
More than disappointed with this book.
I purchased this from the hundreds of books in a sweet little shop in Vienna as the blurb really gripped me - the premise is intriguing, set out to be a cleverly shaped murder mystery. However, that’s all I can say with regards to praise. I’ve seen many a good review, so it might just not have sat right with me personally. But it really just didn’t tick many boxes.
I think one of the main things that sparked my distaste was the style of writing - it felt detached, and lines such as ‘(person A) is glad that (person B) is gone. She thinks he’s reckless, and is glad he’s gone’ seemed unskilled, sloppy and rushed. I do not doubt that Lapena is a talented woman, but for me the greatness of a book rests largely on the skill of the writing and the writing of the book was definitely not what carried it. The third person narrative of multiple characters gave the whole book a transparent feel, with no secrets being kept as we gained insight into all their thoughts. But yet the insight was brief, with each character simply wondering ‘whodunnit’ over and over again. I found myself not caring in the slightest about their backstories or small plot lines, if anything they came across annoying and distracted from the main events. I simply did not care about any of the characters, or what happened to them. This may have been because there’s so many chucked at you all at once, with the juggling of remembering names becoming a distraction and hindrance in the pacing.
Secondly, in my opinion I think that when you read a crime/thriller, once finishing the book and understanding what happened you should be able to think to yourself ‘how did I miss that?’, realising that there were many subtle clues entwined into the narrative. There was none of that. I felt unbothered by the reveal, finding it unsatisfying and not much of a shock due to it coming completely from the blue. There was nothing to ever suggest what happened would happen, making what should have been a huge shock no more than a ‘oh, really? Ok then’. A reveal needs to pull from things already hinted, ripping up what we think we know and turning it on it’s head. The plot wasn’t complex enough for this. As a reader I felt as clueless as the characters, as no hints were given. There was no point even trying to work out who the killer was as we were given nothing to play with.
Overall, I wouldn’t say don’t read this book, but just don’t get your hopes up. I did read it very quickly which suggests it is a pleasant read, but it didn’t keep me up at night. I was hoping it would be so much more!:(
I purchased this from the hundreds of books in a sweet little shop in Vienna as the blurb really gripped me - the premise is intriguing, set out to be a cleverly shaped murder mystery. However, that’s all I can say with regards to praise. I’ve seen many a good review, so it might just not have sat right with me personally. But it really just didn’t tick many boxes.
I think one of the main things that sparked my distaste was the style of writing - it felt detached, and lines such as ‘(person A) is glad that (person B) is gone. She thinks he’s reckless, and is glad he’s gone’ seemed unskilled, sloppy and rushed. I do not doubt that Lapena is a talented woman, but for me the greatness of a book rests largely on the skill of the writing and the writing of the book was definitely not what carried it. The third person narrative of multiple characters gave the whole book a transparent feel, with no secrets being kept as we gained insight into all their thoughts. But yet the insight was brief, with each character simply wondering ‘whodunnit’ over and over again. I found myself not caring in the slightest about their backstories or small plot lines, if anything they came across annoying and distracted from the main events. I simply did not care about any of the characters, or what happened to them. This may have been because there’s so many chucked at you all at once, with the juggling of remembering names becoming a distraction and hindrance in the pacing.
Secondly, in my opinion I think that when you read a crime/thriller, once finishing the book and understanding what happened you should be able to think to yourself ‘how did I miss that?’, realising that there were many subtle clues entwined into the narrative. There was none of that. I felt unbothered by the reveal, finding it unsatisfying and not much of a shock due to it coming completely from the blue. There was nothing to ever suggest what happened would happen, making what should have been a huge shock no more than a ‘oh, really? Ok then’. A reveal needs to pull from things already hinted, ripping up what we think we know and turning it on it’s head. The plot wasn’t complex enough for this. As a reader I felt as clueless as the characters, as no hints were given. There was no point even trying to work out who the killer was as we were given nothing to play with.
Overall, I wouldn’t say don’t read this book, but just don’t get your hopes up. I did read it very quickly which suggests it is a pleasant read, but it didn’t keep me up at night. I was hoping it would be so much more!:(
July 1, 2019
An enjoyable Audiobook ....read by Hillary Huber
I felt like I was playing an oral game of the classic board game, CLUE. It was one of my favorite games growing up.
This was my second time reading Shari Lapena. “The Couple Next Door” was totally fun for me.... especially the ending....where I found myself dying of laughter.
Like with “The Couple Next Door”... it’s not that I found either book utterly riveting...but simply interesting & enjoyable. I like the ‘easy-going-style’ of Shari’s suspense writing. FUN is the best way for me to describe it.....
Like with the game of CLUE... once one rolls the dice, we begin to deduce details...
what time did the murder take place? In the Ballroom. ( haha...wrong!), who could have done it. Mr. Green. ( ha...wrong)....
I enjoyed the critical thinking involved - using inference skills - predictions-= drawing conclusions.... BEING INVOLVED! Good old fashion mystery thriller.
Great puzzle read.... *WHODUNNIT*....
Characters and the dialogues between them were recognizable! Some we like - some we don’t- and none of it matters.
Hotel spooky- sleuthing fun! 😏
3.5-3.7 rounding up....for the easy enjoyment pleasure.
I felt like I was playing an oral game of the classic board game, CLUE. It was one of my favorite games growing up.
This was my second time reading Shari Lapena. “The Couple Next Door” was totally fun for me.... especially the ending....where I found myself dying of laughter.
Like with “The Couple Next Door”... it’s not that I found either book utterly riveting...but simply interesting & enjoyable. I like the ‘easy-going-style’ of Shari’s suspense writing. FUN is the best way for me to describe it.....
Like with the game of CLUE... once one rolls the dice, we begin to deduce details...
what time did the murder take place? In the Ballroom. ( haha...wrong!), who could have done it. Mr. Green. ( ha...wrong)....
I enjoyed the critical thinking involved - using inference skills - predictions-= drawing conclusions.... BEING INVOLVED! Good old fashion mystery thriller.
Great puzzle read.... *WHODUNNIT*....
Characters and the dialogues between them were recognizable! Some we like - some we don’t- and none of it matters.
Hotel spooky- sleuthing fun! 😏
3.5-3.7 rounding up....for the easy enjoyment pleasure.
February 17, 2019
A tidy little mystery with a satisfying conclusion, An Unwanted Guest takes place in a remote hotel cut off from civilization by an ice storm. When the electricity goes out, the murderer seized the opportunity to tidy up some loose ends by getting rid of unnecessary friends.
I enjoyed this and read it in one night, but tend to like psychological style mysteries which speak of the human condition. Even Agatha Christie is deeper than this author. Her writing style is simplistic, without being smart like say Elmore Leonard. In summary a great setting and good story, but the execution lacked style.
I enjoyed this and read it in one night, but tend to like psychological style mysteries which speak of the human condition. Even Agatha Christie is deeper than this author. Her writing style is simplistic, without being smart like say Elmore Leonard. In summary a great setting and good story, but the execution lacked style.
December 27, 2018
An Unwanted Guest is a murder mystery story that takes place at an upstate NY inn, during a cold winter weekend. An ice storm hits, causing the inn to lose power and forcing the guests to stay on property. Then, danger ensues.
I don’t read lots of thrillers or mysteries as I find myself particularly selective with this genre (though I’ve read more this year than ever before), but the premise of this story appealed to me. I had no problem visualizing the setting and felt Lapena’s descriptions were sufficient - not overly descriptive but also not too sparse. This was my first Lapena book and while her others haven’t appealed to me so far, I would likely read more from her in the future.
At just under 300 pages, An Unwanted Guest was a fairly fast-paced read that kept me engaged, eager to see how the story would progress, and continually changing my mind about who the suspect was. I thought the ending was good and not blatantly predictable. There was even a small, extra twist thrown in at the very end that provided an “aha!” moment. Recommended for mystery readers and those looking for a quick and engaging winter-themed read.
I don’t read lots of thrillers or mysteries as I find myself particularly selective with this genre (though I’ve read more this year than ever before), but the premise of this story appealed to me. I had no problem visualizing the setting and felt Lapena’s descriptions were sufficient - not overly descriptive but also not too sparse. This was my first Lapena book and while her others haven’t appealed to me so far, I would likely read more from her in the future.
At just under 300 pages, An Unwanted Guest was a fairly fast-paced read that kept me engaged, eager to see how the story would progress, and continually changing my mind about who the suspect was. I thought the ending was good and not blatantly predictable. There was even a small, extra twist thrown in at the very end that provided an “aha!” moment. Recommended for mystery readers and those looking for a quick and engaging winter-themed read.
January 26, 2019
Winter is coming.......
Shari Lapena wraps An Unwanted Guest in icy, treacherous roads, power outages, howling winds, snapped off tree branches, and oh by the way.....MURDER.
The stage is set for couples seeking the perfect getaway weekend from the trials of daily life in upstate New York surrounded by the Catskills and Mother Nature on sporatic hormones. It's the getting there that should have alerted our characters that this is going to be the most challenging weekend of their lives. Traveling on roads with zero visibility may be the death of them. Perhaps.
Lapena describes Mitchell's Inn as a quaint upscale lodge with all the finery of lush carpets, luxurious tufted pillows on every bed, quality stone fireplaces, and the ultimate cuisine. It's run by a father/son duo who have been short staffed because of the inclement weather. But the show must go on and go on it will.
An Unwanted Guest is like being in a mystery-filled time warp brought to you by Agatha Christie. Each of our well-heeled guests are wheeling in baggage from their past lives. Lapena slowly peels back their hidden stories. Some stories are more shocking than others, but each of them wear false faces.....faces that will eventually reflect in the mirror of truth.
Nighttime brings its usual creaks and groans from within an aged dwelling, but this incident happens without so much as a hush. The body of one of the guests is found at the foot of the stairs in the morning. A misstep on the lush carpeted steps? But David, the attorney, thinks otherwise. Lapena slams the door on any outside assistance with no power, no internet, and no snowmobiles. A violent snow blizzard has taken residence at the Inn as well and isn't checking out any time soon.
What works here, as always, is the feeling that one is at the mercy of the elements. Add to this the eerie feeling that there's a murderer in the mix that gets the reader's attention every time. A lodge full of strangers or a stranger from the outside world within the walls of the lodge?
An Unwanted Guest is a snappy little mystery with short, fast-read chapters that will keep you entertained. Just be aware that guests have a tendency to check in with the morbid promise of checking out permanently. Hmmmm.....
Shari Lapena wraps An Unwanted Guest in icy, treacherous roads, power outages, howling winds, snapped off tree branches, and oh by the way.....MURDER.
The stage is set for couples seeking the perfect getaway weekend from the trials of daily life in upstate New York surrounded by the Catskills and Mother Nature on sporatic hormones. It's the getting there that should have alerted our characters that this is going to be the most challenging weekend of their lives. Traveling on roads with zero visibility may be the death of them. Perhaps.
Lapena describes Mitchell's Inn as a quaint upscale lodge with all the finery of lush carpets, luxurious tufted pillows on every bed, quality stone fireplaces, and the ultimate cuisine. It's run by a father/son duo who have been short staffed because of the inclement weather. But the show must go on and go on it will.
An Unwanted Guest is like being in a mystery-filled time warp brought to you by Agatha Christie. Each of our well-heeled guests are wheeling in baggage from their past lives. Lapena slowly peels back their hidden stories. Some stories are more shocking than others, but each of them wear false faces.....faces that will eventually reflect in the mirror of truth.
Nighttime brings its usual creaks and groans from within an aged dwelling, but this incident happens without so much as a hush. The body of one of the guests is found at the foot of the stairs in the morning. A misstep on the lush carpeted steps? But David, the attorney, thinks otherwise. Lapena slams the door on any outside assistance with no power, no internet, and no snowmobiles. A violent snow blizzard has taken residence at the Inn as well and isn't checking out any time soon.
What works here, as always, is the feeling that one is at the mercy of the elements. Add to this the eerie feeling that there's a murderer in the mix that gets the reader's attention every time. A lodge full of strangers or a stranger from the outside world within the walls of the lodge?
An Unwanted Guest is a snappy little mystery with short, fast-read chapters that will keep you entertained. Just be aware that guests have a tendency to check in with the morbid promise of checking out permanently. Hmmmm.....
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