Unwelcome Guests

by Anna Willett, Cat Gould (Narrator)

A weekend getaway in an isolated country house is just what Caitlin needs to fix her relationship with husband Eli....

Her spirits are up as they enter the spacious retreat and cool off in the nearby lake. With Eli's easy-going brother accompanying them - the party was his idea - the barbecue lit and beers cracked open, everything should be set for a perfect evening. But her husband is cold and dismissive, so Caitlin decides to drown her sorrows and heads into the wine cellar. What she finds there will change their lives forever.

No peaceful sojourn from their daily worries, the house will stage an intense battle of wits: violent, claustrophobic, and cruel. The danger the small group are in will put their trust in one another to the ultimate test. The question is, will anyone get out alive?

©2018 Anna Willett (P)2018 Tantor

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks, Crime, Audiobook, Horror

Audiobook

First published December 30, 2017

Reviews

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up)]

This had a very good storyline and I wished that it could have been written differently. The first half of the book was too (wordy). The descriptions were overdone and sometimes very long and unnecessary whereas I would get bored or frustrated getting to the writer's main point. I felt many parts of the story were too unrealistic and the characters feelings were too shallow sometimes and their actions were overdone and not believable. I just felt
disconnected from the characters when I really wanted more depth from them because the story itself was very interesting. This was not a bad book just not a great book, although some people might feel differently than I did about this one. I still enjoyed the story itself and I rated it 3 1/2 🌟🌟🌟⭐.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since Caitlin’s miscarriage, her husband Eli had been cold and distant. She didn’t know how to reach him; didn’t know why he blamed her. So this weekend that Jace, Eli’s brother, had organized would make or break, she thought. The mansion, an hour or so from Mandurah in Western Australia, belonged to a friend of Jace’s and his permission to use it for the weekend was perfect timing. It was hot and humid, so once they’d unloaded the car, Jace, Caitlin and Eli donned their swimmers and headed for the nearby lake.

With the barbeque eaten and Eli storming off, Caitlin decided to go to the wine cellar to find something to drown her sorrows. Jace accompanied her – but what they found down in that cellar began hours of terror, cruelty and horror. What was happening? What would they do? Could they escape?

Unwelcome Guests is another incredible thriller from the pen of Aussie author Anna Willett. Twisted, evil, frightening, gutwrenching – it was a brilliant read which I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be honest with all of you, boils and ghouls. I’m in a very sour mood today. And that’s partially why I opted to read Anna Willett, as it practically guaranteed a good experience. And man, can she write her ass off. Now she tends to do a lot of haunting and ghost-related stories, but this was just a straight up thriller. We have a troubled couple, Cait and Eli, being taken on a bit of a strange excursion by their brother/BIL Jace. Little do they know how their little outing would quickly transition into a cat and mouse game, between a bloodthirsty killer and the vengeful owner of the mansion. And naturally the trio get roped into the situation. The author did a really great job introducing deeper and deeper concepts to each character as the story unfolded, especially Caitlin, which made you rethink your initial feelings on her. I did feel like Eli, being such a brooding and polarizing character, needed some more time in the spotlight. Just a lot there to unpack, which felt a bit too abbreviated. But Felix and Mickey were done just right, as was Jace, too, as they engaged each other and the trio in violent and nail-biting situations. The ending felt like it was going to become a very predictable conclusion, but the author opted to take a different path, which worked very well. But Anna Willett, once again, proves herself to be a great writer, which is why I keep her books handy in my inventory, to help me process crappy days like this.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great suspense thriller and it is my third book by author, Anna Willett. As always with her books the pace is quick and takes you quickly into the storyline.

A little backstory for you readers:

A weekend getaway for Caitlin and Eli her husband is just what they need to rekindle their passion as things have been rocky since Caitlin lost her baby to a miscarriage. Eli's brother, Jace, has the perfect solution as he tells them he has keys to a mansion which is out in the country and the mansion sets near a lake. No neighbors and peaceful tranquility just seems to be just what they need.

But things are not always what they seem. When they arrive at the mansion and they start to explore the home, what they find in the wine cellar sends this story spinning out of control!

Terror and suspenseful horror as Caitlin, Eli, and Jace become involved in a fight for their lives.

What is in the wine cellar? What do they have to fight? Do they make it out of the mansion alive? No spoilers here as you will just have to read the book!

This book took me about three days to read but it was paced just right and kept me in suspense mode through the whole story! Four stars for this one!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel I have read by the auther and another gripping read.

The story starts off at a gentle pace with Caitlin, Eli and his brother Jace all going off for the weekend to a country house that Jace’s friend has let him use. It’s soon obvious that things arn’t great between Caitlin and Eli, of which Caitlin is hoping the weekend might be just what they need to get back on track.

It’s hard to say anymore about what else happens as to do so would definitely be a huge spoiler. This is definitely a case of the less you know the better.

There is only a small cast of characters in this novel which makes it feel quite claustrophobic at times, but in a good way. I mean look at the sort of genre it is. It helps add to the tension. In the blurb it states that this is a non-supernatural horror of which I guess it is, but it also fits easily into the psychological thriller genre also.

Unwelcome Guests is a nail biting, page turner of a read. It takes some unexpected twists and turns and even though gruesome in parts, it was such an easy read as I read it in two sittings as was so engrossed with what I was reading. Always sign of a good writer. Would definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

This looked like another one of those Strangers movie type stories where a normal family gets attacked out of nowhere in the middle of nowhere and for no good reason. Those are usually pretty entertaining, sort of like survival tests, actually Strangers 2 Prey at Night was a really good example of that, a surprisingly entertaining and well done one, particularly for a sequel. But actually this book managed to spin the premise into something new. Same concept, a young married couple set off on a remote getaway to try to jumpstart their marriage, accompanied by the younger brother in law, the one who secured the palatial accommodations they are staying in, the place got all sorts of conveniences…and someone locked up in the basement. In fact the basement scene is so creepy, it’s easily the star of the show here. And then the owner of the place, obviously responsible for his basement guest, gets back and there is no way to know who’s telling the truth about things until it’s too late. It becomes something of a massacre and, of course, the battle for survival. Never heard of the author, she’s Australian (suppose that counts toward international reading, kinda sorta), the story might have been set anywhere, but maybe not in the US, going by how stunned the characters are to discover a gun on premises. Australia, like so many civilized countries, have very strict regulations about owning firearms. But yeah, there’s plenty of action, some suspense, nice pacing, enough thrills to comfortably qualify for a thriller, a variation on the invasion thriller genre. The writing is of above average quality for the genre, particularly for books with those ludicrous descriptions following the title (and oh how I loathe those), title alone should always suffice. For me most guests are unwelcome, it’s all an invasion of privacy one way or another, but fiction definitely takes it to extremes as fiction is wont to do. Quick read and plenty entertaining. For a random kindle freebie it’s well above most reasonable expectations.

[Anouska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwelcome Guests is a gripping and exciting thriller, with brilliantly creepy moments, and characters you love to hate. It's a joy to read a book with such a believable and complex female lead. Caitlin thinks of herself as weak and damaged, and is totally defined by her relationship with her husband. But when she's faced with unthinkable danger, she discovers just how strong she can really be.
I love the way the backstories and relationships are weaved through the action, giving each of the characters a credible complexity that impacts on how they deal with the extreme challenges they are facing. Hugely enjoyable to read and I can't wait for Anna Willett's next book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cait and her husband Eli are taken for the weekend to an isolated house by Eli's brother Jace - Jace is friends with the owner of the massive home and hopes to use the weekend to help Eli and Cait heal their troubled marriage after Cait's miscarriage seems to have caused a rift between the couple. The house and location are idyllic, although Eli's attitude towards Cait is not, for reasons that become clearer as the story unfolds. However, things take a dark turn when the group make a shocking discovery in the cellar of the house which has repercussions on them all...
This is the third of the author's books I have read and I have enjoyed them all but this is the best so far. It was totally gripping and fast-paced throughout and I read it in just over a day. Looking forward to others of hers that I have on TBR - 9/10.

[Miglė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sutuoktinių pora su vyro broliu atvyksta į sodybą papramogauti ir ten atranda daugiau negu tikėjosi. Setting'as – kaip paslapčių / namudinio trilerio, betgi čia buvo daugiau veiksmo / pavojaus trileris: personažai svarsto, kaip pabėgti / užsibarikaduoti / išsisukti. Pagrindinis niekšas greitai paaiškėja ir daugiausia tiesiog bandoma išgyventi. Nieko super ypatingo, bet visai neblogas vieno požanrio perkėlimas į kito settingą.

[Sharah McConville · Rating 5 out of 5]

A creepy, fast-paced thriller set in a remote holiday home. This was a fun read. 4.5 stars.

[Lisa Baillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I don't know where to start. I just loved this book. Was one of those book's that got you gripped right from the off. Caitlin and her husband and brother in law go away for a weekend. All is not as it seems , and they end up finding a man badly beaten in the cellar, and discover they shouldn't even be in this house, her brother in law had stolen the key. The book is filled with mystery and suspense. Not knowing which way thing's are going to go. I was on edge just reading this book. It was so real.

[Stefani Sharma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely terrible. There were about two and a half pages where I was excited to see what would happen, and the rest was a complete letdown. The "twist" I've seen people mention is an absolute joke and it wasn't scary in the least. SUCH a disappointment. I won't be reading another book from this author as I also felt like her writing style was very fanfiction-y and the protagonist, Catelyn, is a total Mary-Sue. I didn't care about any of the characters. Wish I could get this time I wasted back!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Anna Willett book and certainly won’t be my last, I love discovering new authors and I’m loving Goodreads and being able to see what other people are reading!!!
This book had me gripped from the start that I nearly read this in one siting, it was very creepy and I didn’t know what to expect or how this book would end!!!

[Erik Empson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Australian author Anna Willett has written a book thick with fear and excitement, creating a credible scenario where tensions between a woman and her husband reach fever pitch when they inadvertantly get involved in a terrible crime.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

And now for catch up time again.

This book was a good, but not great story, fast paced, the characters were a bit cliched but it was nevertheless a very readable thriller.

[Wiseask · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having recently read and reviewed Anna Willett’s Retribution Ridge, I decided to read her Unwelcome Guests which she self-promotes as an “atmospheric, suspenseful thriller.” Aside from both stand-alone novels being about the same length, set in Australia, and offered to me for free, I was eager to discover whether the author was able to repeat the modest success of Retribution Ridge with Unwelcome Guests which she wrote two years later. The answer is, not quite.

Unwelcome Guests is about a wife, her husband and his brother spending a weekend at a large isolated house in rural Australia which we are told belonged to an acquaintance of the brother. The husband and wife were having problems with their marriage. The brother was having feelings for the wife which went beyond the platonic. For her part, the wife was haunted by a horrible incident which had happened 15 years before when she was age 14.

For reasons that defy credulity, a psychopathic sexual predator who had been hidden in the basement spends the better part of the book terrorizing them and chasing the poor wife around the house. Plenty of blood is spilled, and I mean plenty. The characters sweat a lot: I counted no less than 30 references. During the 24 hours the action takes place, the wife alternatively clenches her fists, teeth and stomach so many times I lost count. Between all the sweating and clenching my nerves were grating, my teeth were grinding and my head was spinning.

At the point where the men trying to stop the psychopath managed to place the wife in even greater danger, you can add to the list that my eyes were rolling.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eli and Caitlin have reached a slight bump in their relationship. I thought it could better be described as a deep ditch. Eli's brother, Jace, comes to the rescue. Jace has a friend who has let him borrow his home for the weekend. Caitlin and Jace persuade Eli that it would be a good idea for them all to go. Eli isn't too enthused about going but gives in to his brother. These three people seem to have more problems than a week-end way is going to solve.... Dr. Phil would even be at a loss. Jace, Eli's brother, has feelings for Caitlin, Eli's wife, which went beyond those of a brother-in-law for a sister-in-law. For her part, Caitlin is haunted by a horrible incident which happened 15 years ago when she was 14. The things that occurred at the house seem to be unbelievable. A psychopathic sexual predator who has been hiding in the basement spends the better part of the book terrorizing the three people and chasing Caitlin around the house. Lots of blood is spilled, and I mean LOTS. Eventually Jace and Eli try to stop the psychopath only managing to place Caitlin in even more danger. Then we find out that Caitlin had a "BIG" secret that she never shared with Eli, but he eventually finds out when she was at the hospital. Then when she is confronted with a decision about who she would like to see live, she chooses a total stranger rather than a family member. Really? Who does that? Just way too many unrealistic characters doing way too many unrealistic things.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A weekend getaway for Caitlyn and husband Eli to help make them closer seems an ideal situation. With Eli’s brother along, things start out fine. Eli is cold and not really warming up to the fun. Caitlyn goes to the wine cellar to get more wine and a terrible surprise awaits. First book for me by this author, utterly outstanding.

[chadd hennig · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 flashback mary much

was gonna give 4 stars but - 0.5 bc there was one decision the protagonist made that was so unbelievable i was hung up on it the rest of the book and it’s such an easy rewrite i don’t know how that was the finalized scene. also cannot stand an omniscient narrator IM SORRY

but overall i rly enjoyed as one of my first thriller reads!!

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book, but the apparent lack of proper editing - I counted five grammatical and punctuation errors - in that short of a novel knocked it down to three stars.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this free on amazon prime. I will be revealing details to plot - though only to highlight why this is a 2 star instead of a 3. (If I could I would make it a 2.5). I imagine this can be a light read if you don’t think on certain aspects but to me I was eyesquinting and asking “What?” too many times for me to gain much enjoyment.

Characters acting stupid for plot sake or unbelievable is a surefire way to stop me caring about what I’m reading. These examples are small and (no doubt) petty but it bugged me.

So, I’ll set the scene: there is a potential murderer (at least known kidnapper) outside. Somewhere. The characters don’t know where they are so one of them plans to sneak outside and head for the car.

In flipflops. Of course, he is caught. He’s wearing flip flops the third noisiest shoe wear only next to clown shoes and flippers. Did he think to change into the shoes he came in? No, apparently not. Dumb move related to the plot (so he’s caught by said kidnapper). And none of the other characters pull this one aside and tell him, are you seriously considering trying to sneak out with flip flops?

The second and this is the most egregious part for me is shockingly so out of character for any human being that’s been in a living nightmare.

Three characters are inside, one is terribly injured and the other two have guns. They suspect the Big Baddie to have fled and think to give chase. So the two characters, with the guns, leave the injured character behind... without checking the house...

and don’t close the door behind them.

No, not lock it. It’s left ajar and the injured character goes to sleep, on the couch, in the middle of the living room. While the Big Baddie is still at large.

Injured character says nothing about potential venom bites or asked to be corralled into a safe place until the others return. (As if the Big Baddie can’t backtrack?)

Alright then, moving on.

The ending “romance” is so tacked on and I don’t know if it was to try and reconcile the dead hubby or the Nice Guy brother. Heaven knows, I found by the end of this book I didn’t like any character. The antagonist was just a caricature of mental illness. It went from trying to make it sound like he wasn’t just that but veered back to the stereotypical sadist that had no redeeming factors even from his POV.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-pounding thriller. Willett has a way of grabbing on to you and not letting go.

Caitlin and her husband Eli were going through a rough patch since losing their baby. Eli’s brother, Jace had the perfect idea to help them patch things up. A weekend at the lake in a billionaire’s mansion would do the trick. They couldn’t believe how sprawling it was. Still, Cat couldn’t get over the mask of sorrow in Eli’s eyes. She was also sad they’d lost the baby, but it seemed like something more. Maybe Jace will help her get him out of this slump. As Jace and Cat headed into the cellar to get themselves a bottle of wine, they heard a distinct thump. A scrape and thump coming from a door behind the stairwell. The door was padlocked. But, why?

[LORRIE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This was an excellent thriller. The mystery was so great and it took awhile to figure out. I am now a fan

[Shirley Mytnowych · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointed, as I love Australian authors and thrillers. I found this book just got stuck in the ditch. It all takes place in one location with minimal characters and I just didn't relate or even care about any of them. A lot of words but not much story. I found the suspense was lacking.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to Willett's Backwoods Ripper earlier this year, so I was looking forward to reading more from her.

Caitlin and her husband, Eli, are invited by Eli's brother, Jace, to his friend's vacation home. The couple has been having a tough time lately, with Caitlin's recent miscarriage, and Eli has basically shut down since then. Jace thought that some time away would help.

The vacationers find something in the house and then the owner returns, and they don't know who or what to believe. I really can't say anything more without spoiling the book.

I did enjoy the story, and I loved the isolated setting. Willett does create a creepy atmosphere, and I enjoyed the way everything unfolded.

Willett's Backwoods Ripper is also narrated by Cat Gould, so I already knew what to expect from her going into this one. She does a great job at conveying the emotions of the characters, and I enjoyed listening to her.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook for voluntary review consideration.

This review was posted on my book blog:
https://darlenesbooknook.blogspot.com...

[Cindylou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwelcome Guests

What a wild ride. I couldn’t put it down. This was creepy on so many levels. There was definitely rough punishment for the bad decisions made by these diverse characters. Very well written characters and storyline.

[Gary Moreau · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rating is literal. This book is okay. It’s not that the author doesn’t check most of the marks of a great thriller. She does. There are no obvious omissions, although the book could use a little more editing for spelling, etc. It’s more that the plot is not particularly original, the characters are a bit cliché, one thread to the storyline was never finished, and, well, I didn’t close the book with a “Wow”.

The book is a decent read and if you read it as part of Kindle Unlimited, as I did, you’re not paying for a bestseller. The writer, I think, does show promise. The prose is certainly competent and easy to get through. The characters are reasonably developed and, while not overly original, passably realistic, and, with the exception of the villain, likeable. The protagonist suffered trauma as a teenager and the emotional side of that might have been explored a little more but that’s the distinction between a good read and a literary novel and I’m not sure the author was aiming for that.

All told, I will certainly consider newer books from this author.

[Katy Askeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

If you are looking for a quick, short, easy to read thriller, Unwelcome Guests is a decent choice. The author does a pretty good job of introducing you to each of the five main characters and leading the reader towards empathy for each one. Most of the loose ends are wrapped up nicely at the end, with the exception of one, which I will not describe for fear of spoiling the story. My only real criticism, albeit a big one, is this book was not quite ready for publication. There are a number of mistakes made that could be easily fixed with good editing. The story is good though, and still worth a read.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely fast-paced and interesting. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Very believable plot. I highly recommend this book.


Very interesting characters in storyline. I highly recommend this book. The characters were very real and believable. The landscape in the story was also very interesting.

[Joss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively Chilling!!

A great tale full of anguish and woe. The plot twists will keep you guessing, give you whiplash trying to keep up. Then like a slow moving train, times screeched to a halt. You'll feel nothing but angst and fear so palpable, it seems to have it's own heartbeat! Who to trust keeps you on your toes. A very fine read indeed!