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The Other Guest
She thinks she knows the truth. But what if she's wrong?
Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset.
As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort.
Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently.
Five days later their worlds will be blown apart by a horrifying event.
Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear.
And what if she's got it wrong?
Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset.
As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort.
Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently.
Five days later their worlds will be blown apart by a horrifying event.
Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear.
And what if she's got it wrong?
Paperback
First published January 19, 2023
136 people are currently reading
2152 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Perks
16 books1,432 followersHeidi Perks lives on the south coast, spending her time writing by the sea. She gets all her inspiration for her books from the beautiful towns on the coast, imagining dark things happening in the most prettiest of places. Apart from one all her books are set along the south of England.
Heidi's seventh books, SOMEONE IS LYING is out March 2025. Her other six books include three Sunday Times bestsellers, Now You See Her, Come Back For Me and The Whispers, and two Richard and Judy picks including The Last Resort.
She is currently writing book eight which will be out in 2026.
Heidi's seventh books, SOMEONE IS LYING is out March 2025. Her other six books include three Sunday Times bestsellers, Now You See Her, Come Back For Me and The Whispers, and two Richard and Judy picks including The Last Resort.
She is currently writing book eight which will be out in 2026.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 401 reviews
September 5, 2023
This "gripping thriller" failed to "grip" me.
The book's premise was compelling:
A teen boy's dead body was discovered in the swimming pool of a posh resort in The Maldives.
Was the death an accident?
If not, who killed the teen and why?
Although I was instantly intrigued by the book's premise, IMHO, the book was too slow-paced and suffered from waaay too much repetitive text.
The book's ending was strong.....it just took much longer than it should have taken to get there.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook read by Imogen Church, Kristin Atherton, Louis Hill, and Roy McMillan.
Imogen Church's voice was grating and since the book was a "Single Track" audiobook it was impossible to fast forward the chapters that she was reading. (UGH!)
All of the other narrators did a superb job with the narration.
2.5 stars.
The book's premise was compelling:
A teen boy's dead body was discovered in the swimming pool of a posh resort in The Maldives.
Was the death an accident?
If not, who killed the teen and why?
Although I was instantly intrigued by the book's premise, IMHO, the book was too slow-paced and suffered from waaay too much repetitive text.
The book's ending was strong.....it just took much longer than it should have taken to get there.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook read by Imogen Church, Kristin Atherton, Louis Hill, and Roy McMillan.
Imogen Church's voice was grating and since the book was a "Single Track" audiobook it was impossible to fast forward the chapters that she was reading. (UGH!)
All of the other narrators did a superb job with the narration.
2.5 stars.
July 16, 2022
I think I might be missing something!
The title and the cover were both which caught me and the thriller categorisation too, of course. Unfortunately, I was let down by all of them.
The cover does not fit, as the main women characters don’t ever enter the water to swim, to my knowledge; title seems odd, maybe be -s is missing but maybe it’s just an ill fitting title which makes little to no sense in connection to this book. And lastly, a thriller this was not.
I found the plot never really moved anywhere, the characters were unlikeable and overall, a lot of loose ends, plus a fall-flat ending.
Meh, very meh.
I did read and finish this book quite quickly, so there must be something good about it, but it truly mostly felt like a letdown.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
The title and the cover were both which caught me and the thriller categorisation too, of course. Unfortunately, I was let down by all of them.
The cover does not fit, as the main women characters don’t ever enter the water to swim, to my knowledge; title seems odd, maybe be -s is missing but maybe it’s just an ill fitting title which makes little to no sense in connection to this book. And lastly, a thriller this was not.
I found the plot never really moved anywhere, the characters were unlikeable and overall, a lot of loose ends, plus a fall-flat ending.
Meh, very meh.
I did read and finish this book quite quickly, so there must be something good about it, but it truly mostly felt like a letdown.
Thank you NetGalley for the arc!
October 16, 2022
After several failed IVF attempts Laila and her husband James decided to take a break to a luxury island resort in Ixos in Greece. They use the money saved from their treatment to get away and recharge and rekindle their relationship, as the couple’s relationship is currently strained.
When they arrive at the 5* hotel they meet a couple who has two teenage sons. Laila likes people watching and spends most of her time watching the couple and their two sons. Her husband thinks she is jealous as they have two kids, and she has none. But instead of them both rekindling their relationship and what else as she got to do when her husband James goes off on trips on his own leaving his wife behind.
When days later one of the boys ends up dead. Laila thinks she knows who did it and explains it to the Police detective that comes to investigate.
Thank you, Random House Cornerstone, for a copy of Heidi Perks latest novel. I have been a fan of her novels since her first one. This is an intriguing novel, and I liked the premise of the story and the setting in the beautiful islands of Greece. But nothing much happened in the story and the last third of the book was disappointing. So it 3.5 stars from me.
When they arrive at the 5* hotel they meet a couple who has two teenage sons. Laila likes people watching and spends most of her time watching the couple and their two sons. Her husband thinks she is jealous as they have two kids, and she has none. But instead of them both rekindling their relationship and what else as she got to do when her husband James goes off on trips on his own leaving his wife behind.
When days later one of the boys ends up dead. Laila thinks she knows who did it and explains it to the Police detective that comes to investigate.
Thank you, Random House Cornerstone, for a copy of Heidi Perks latest novel. I have been a fan of her novels since her first one. This is an intriguing novel, and I liked the premise of the story and the setting in the beautiful islands of Greece. But nothing much happened in the story and the last third of the book was disappointing. So it 3.5 stars from me.
September 5, 2023
This is a great holiday whodunnit read. I thoroughly enjoyed this and read it over a few hours. The plot is heavily centred on a number of holiday makers who’ve forked out a fortune to stay at a very expensive exclusive resort on a small island in Greece. During the book Heidi cleverly gives you more and more background on the key players, it’s fascinating as you will no doubt form early opinions only to have that change over the course of the story.
It’s a book that speaks to us about why judgement of others can often be incredibly wrong. Who can you trust? What if you get a person all wrong? The characters are all really interesting and there was a great amount of reveals and twists right to the end. I did not guess the final reveal but I was close if that counts!
The storyline weaves around events and each character and how they connect and relate to each other. As a disaster at the resort creates chaos and fear with the guests it ups the ante and the pace of the plot. I loved the way secrets just kept pouring from every main character. Skeletons in closets are actively falling out of sad cupboards. It tackles deep trust issues and the moments when you realise nothing is what you thought it was.
It was a great read and left me pondering what would I do in each pair of shoes. You’ll be stunned at times when you think you’ve got the picture and outcome sussed. The only reason is a sold 4 stars not 5 was that the police investigation could of been more realistic. There are things around that which would not happen and things missed that were obvious. Aside from that tiny thing it’s a great book to read on holiday (or maybe not a good idea) or anywhere really but be VERY careful who you get to know on your holiday!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
It’s a book that speaks to us about why judgement of others can often be incredibly wrong. Who can you trust? What if you get a person all wrong? The characters are all really interesting and there was a great amount of reveals and twists right to the end. I did not guess the final reveal but I was close if that counts!
The storyline weaves around events and each character and how they connect and relate to each other. As a disaster at the resort creates chaos and fear with the guests it ups the ante and the pace of the plot. I loved the way secrets just kept pouring from every main character. Skeletons in closets are actively falling out of sad cupboards. It tackles deep trust issues and the moments when you realise nothing is what you thought it was.
It was a great read and left me pondering what would I do in each pair of shoes. You’ll be stunned at times when you think you’ve got the picture and outcome sussed. The only reason is a sold 4 stars not 5 was that the police investigation could of been more realistic. There are things around that which would not happen and things missed that were obvious. Aside from that tiny thing it’s a great book to read on holiday (or maybe not a good idea) or anywhere really but be VERY careful who you get to know on your holiday!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book. All opinions are my own
Thanks so much for reading my review of this book. Join me as a friend or follower and feel free to browse my shelves for your next great book! I love to connect with other readers.
July 7, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
The Other Guest is a great holiday who-done-it read with a great build-up throughout the book. The book is set on Ixos in Greece and follows a married couple on a last ditch holiday to save their marriage. After numerous failed IVF treatments, Lailas husband James blew a £5k promotion on a luxury holiday to a high class resort for the pair to work on their marriage. Laila wanted to be a therapist and loves people watching and takes a great interest in two of the couples on their holiday. James keeps going off on trips on his own, knowing Laila has no interest in the excursions he books. Laila has nothing much else to do and settles into watching said couples. Leila witnesses an exchange she shouldn't have, and then a body turns up dead in the pool. She thinks she knows who the killer is, and the story is built upon the suspense on what she saw and who the killer is.
I binged this book desperately, wanting to know firstly who was killed and then who the killer was. The ending wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but the fact it kept me hooked was good enough for me as I enjoyed the build-up.
The Other Guest is a great holiday who-done-it read with a great build-up throughout the book. The book is set on Ixos in Greece and follows a married couple on a last ditch holiday to save their marriage. After numerous failed IVF treatments, Lailas husband James blew a £5k promotion on a luxury holiday to a high class resort for the pair to work on their marriage. Laila wanted to be a therapist and loves people watching and takes a great interest in two of the couples on their holiday. James keeps going off on trips on his own, knowing Laila has no interest in the excursions he books. Laila has nothing much else to do and settles into watching said couples. Leila witnesses an exchange she shouldn't have, and then a body turns up dead in the pool. She thinks she knows who the killer is, and the story is built upon the suspense on what she saw and who the killer is.
I binged this book desperately, wanting to know firstly who was killed and then who the killer was. The ending wasn't as good as I'd hoped, but the fact it kept me hooked was good enough for me as I enjoyed the build-up.
July 20, 2022
I really enjoyed the latest thriller from author Heidi Perks. Some really good characters and an intriguing plot make this a very exciting read.
Laila and James are on holiday in Greece, their relationship is in need of some attention but unfortunately Laila seems to be more interested in watching other guests. Sitting by the pool her eyes are constantly watching the interactions of a family, so much in fact that when one of the family ends up dead she has information that would help the police investigation.
There are quite a few twists in this one and I found it to be a very enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Laila and James are on holiday in Greece, their relationship is in need of some attention but unfortunately Laila seems to be more interested in watching other guests. Sitting by the pool her eyes are constantly watching the interactions of a family, so much in fact that when one of the family ends up dead she has information that would help the police investigation.
There are quite a few twists in this one and I found it to be a very enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2023
Dullllllllllllll. Dull. Dull. A dull protagonist. A dull mystery. And a dull denouement. And oh my god the whining. Read to the end though, mostly because I kept thinking something has to happen. It didn't.
January 5, 2023
Unfortunately, I felt a little bit let down by this book. The cover and the title really caught my eye, but I didn't really get how they tie in with the book itself.
To say it's categorised as a thriller, I didn't find it very thrilling - excuse the pun. It's a bit mysterious maybe but honestly, all that build up for, in my opinion, not a fantastic ending. I was really waiting for some big plot twist or a seriously dramatic turn of events. Sadly, it never came.
I also didn't feel the characters had much depth to them. Therefore, I was unable to connect with them.
Negatives aside, I did read the whole story and felt it was readable and an okay story. I just felt a but misguided from the beginning when I expected so much more. felt a little bit let down by this book. The cover and the title really caught my eye, but I didn't really get how they tied in with the book itself.
To say it's categorised as a thriller, I didn't find it very thrilling - excuse the pun. It's a bit mysterious, maybe, but honestly, all that build up for, in my opinion, is not a fantastic ending. I was really waiting for some big plot twist or a seriously dramatic turn of events. Sadly, it never came.
I also didn't feel the characters had much depth to them. Therefore, I was unable to connect with them.
Negatives aside, I did read the whole story and felt it was readable and an okay story. I just felt a but misguided from the beginning when I expected so much more.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
To say it's categorised as a thriller, I didn't find it very thrilling - excuse the pun. It's a bit mysterious maybe but honestly, all that build up for, in my opinion, not a fantastic ending. I was really waiting for some big plot twist or a seriously dramatic turn of events. Sadly, it never came.
I also didn't feel the characters had much depth to them. Therefore, I was unable to connect with them.
Negatives aside, I did read the whole story and felt it was readable and an okay story. I just felt a but misguided from the beginning when I expected so much more. felt a little bit let down by this book. The cover and the title really caught my eye, but I didn't really get how they tied in with the book itself.
To say it's categorised as a thriller, I didn't find it very thrilling - excuse the pun. It's a bit mysterious, maybe, but honestly, all that build up for, in my opinion, is not a fantastic ending. I was really waiting for some big plot twist or a seriously dramatic turn of events. Sadly, it never came.
I also didn't feel the characters had much depth to them. Therefore, I was unable to connect with them.
Negatives aside, I did read the whole story and felt it was readable and an okay story. I just felt a but misguided from the beginning when I expected so much more.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.
September 3, 2022
I was very excited (maybe a bit too excited) to read The Other Guest so it’s a bit surprising that I found this an okay read, nothing wrong with it really, but there just wasn’t enough in it to get me really excited about it. I did enjoy the holiday setting in a lush 5* resort on a Greek island and Leila’s people watching. It felt oddly relatable although I don’t think – I hope not – I’m that much into it as Leila.
Aside from being absorbed by the dynamics of a family of 4 (mum, dad and two teenage boys) and a couple of newly-weds who don’t seem to act very much in love, Leila also has her own relationship struggles, a relationship that feels strained from the start. It didn’t help of course that James decided to spend their money on this getaway while they need money for another round of IVF. Leila's desire to get pregnant is something that weighs on them and defines this couple in the story.
One morning she finds out there’s been a tragic accident. When the police start to question everyone she asks herself if she should come forward with some information she gathered. But then they’d probably ask her how she knows this and that could be a problem… Bottomline is that everyone who needs to speak up is keeping their lips sealed. It was quite frustrating at times. On top of that Leila’s husband is acting a bit weird too, he seems to want to check out and get away as fast as possible. I felt there were a few dodgy persons in this limited cast of characters but there was nothing that I could effectively use to make any progress in eliminating them. The author clearly tried to steer me in one direction and I did have a lot of questions but even so if it's too obvious I'm having none of it so I kind of rejected the suggestion on that basis.
All in all the story stayed a bit too long on the same level for me to be fully gripped and challenged. The last part of the novel was therefore also the most enjoyable part. I actually loved the reveal of another twist more than finding out the whodunit. A big part of the novel is building up to the reveal of course and it just fell a little flat when I found out the truth.
Overall nothing bad can be said about this one, it had all the ingredients that I love but it just didn’t come into its own. I hope I wasn’t too severe, I didn’t mean to be, but I believe her other novels are stronger. This author is capable of writing very twisty and unexpected scenes so I hope to discover all of that and more in her next novel.
Aside from being absorbed by the dynamics of a family of 4 (mum, dad and two teenage boys) and a couple of newly-weds who don’t seem to act very much in love, Leila also has her own relationship struggles, a relationship that feels strained from the start. It didn’t help of course that James decided to spend their money on this getaway while they need money for another round of IVF. Leila's desire to get pregnant is something that weighs on them and defines this couple in the story.
One morning she finds out there’s been a tragic accident. When the police start to question everyone she asks herself if she should come forward with some information she gathered. But then they’d probably ask her how she knows this and that could be a problem… Bottomline is that everyone who needs to speak up is keeping their lips sealed. It was quite frustrating at times. On top of that Leila’s husband is acting a bit weird too, he seems to want to check out and get away as fast as possible. I felt there were a few dodgy persons in this limited cast of characters but there was nothing that I could effectively use to make any progress in eliminating them. The author clearly tried to steer me in one direction and I did have a lot of questions but even so if it's too obvious I'm having none of it so I kind of rejected the suggestion on that basis.
All in all the story stayed a bit too long on the same level for me to be fully gripped and challenged. The last part of the novel was therefore also the most enjoyable part. I actually loved the reveal of another twist more than finding out the whodunit. A big part of the novel is building up to the reveal of course and it just fell a little flat when I found out the truth.
Overall nothing bad can be said about this one, it had all the ingredients that I love but it just didn’t come into its own. I hope I wasn’t too severe, I didn’t mean to be, but I believe her other novels are stronger. This author is capable of writing very twisty and unexpected scenes so I hope to discover all of that and more in her next novel.
June 10, 2023
Thoughts to follow
August 18, 2022
3.5 stars
A very enjoyable read that hit me with an emotional sucker punch. The blurb didn't mention it, but from the very first chapter we realise that Lalia and her husband are on holidays to put failed IVFs behind them, and rekindle what's left of their fraught relationship.
It made the aspect of Lalia obsessively people watching everyone else at the resort very believable as it was a distraction from her own troubles. But her peeping Tom ways lay her directly across the path of a murder. It made for a tense and intriguing read, and I loved the remote Greek Island setting.
Perfect for a holiday read.
A very enjoyable read that hit me with an emotional sucker punch. The blurb didn't mention it, but from the very first chapter we realise that Lalia and her husband are on holidays to put failed IVFs behind them, and rekindle what's left of their fraught relationship.
It made the aspect of Lalia obsessively people watching everyone else at the resort very believable as it was a distraction from her own troubles. But her peeping Tom ways lay her directly across the path of a murder. It made for a tense and intriguing read, and I loved the remote Greek Island setting.
Perfect for a holiday read.
August 5, 2023
Laila and her husband are on holiday at a luxury island resort in Greece. After several failed IVF attempts they both need a break.
Laila enjoys people watching and finds herself obsessively observing a family who have 2 sons.
When a body is found in a swimming pool Laila thinks she knows what happened and is keen to get involved in the investigation.
This was a great read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an ho eat review.
Laila enjoys people watching and finds herself obsessively observing a family who have 2 sons.
When a body is found in a swimming pool Laila thinks she knows what happened and is keen to get involved in the investigation.
This was a great read with plenty of twists to keep you guessing until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an ho eat review.
February 19, 2023
The blurb and name seemed interesting but it’s a little misleading as it doesn’t quite fit in with the storyline. It’s described as thriller but it really didn’t live up to that. There are no real twists or turns. No build up or suspense. I found it dull and it never really got going. The characters for me werent likeable in any way with Laila being a little irritating. Story was a real slow burn and dragged out with an ending that was just meh. Not a favourite I’m afraid.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read #TheOtherGuest
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read #TheOtherGuest
January 19, 2023
It was a special read. Very dark in my eyes. Coming to an island and soon know someone is dead. Someone lies. Someone hide. Someone has secrets. Someone pretends to be someone else. Is anyone there that is telling what he thinks for real. Well the book goes around a lot and slowly revel the layers and gives us a conculsion. Some present and some previous time lines. But in reality is just a perspective.
Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for this great oportunity
Thank you Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century for this great oportunity
dnf-not-counting-towards-goal
December 24, 2022For some reason I hated everyone in this book from the beginning, they rubbed me the wrong way. This is more of a family drama than a mystery thriller. Laila was most annoying and most of the decisions... ew.
June 10, 2023
Trigger Warnings - IVF, infertility, murder.
Thank you to the publisher and Heidi Perks for allowing me to read this book as part of a blog tour!
Laila and her husband James have arrived in Greece at a luxury resort for a make or break holiday. After several years of failed IVF treatment, James has said that he can no longer go through the painful process, leaving Laila’s dreams of motherhood in tatters. Both of them know that they have spent the last five years drifting apart, so this break from reality is desperately needed.
Laila spends her time by the pool people watching, and develops a borderline obsession with Em and her family - husband, and two teenage boys. James isn’t happy with the fascination that Laila has with this family, and it drives an even bigger wedge between them.
But when one of the teenage boys is found dead in the pool, their lives are completely blown apart. Was Laila involved? Was James involved? Were the family involved? Or was it someone else entirely? No one can be trusted and secrets begin to unravel.
This was a great, slow burn of a mystery. I liked the way that the author alternated between each day of the holiday to the day that the body was found, so that we could slowly begin to make our minds up on what had happened. I flitted from theory to theory but I did not suspect the ending at all! I found it so hard to know who we could trust, which is a credit to the author’s writing for making it so gripping and twisty! Loved the setting of Greece - reading it in the sunshine made me feel like I was actually there! Although I’m glad I wasn’t! I can’t even begin to imagine how it would feel to be caught up in something like that!
Looking forward to reading more by Heidi Perks! 😊
Thank you to the publisher and Heidi Perks for allowing me to read this book as part of a blog tour!
Laila and her husband James have arrived in Greece at a luxury resort for a make or break holiday. After several years of failed IVF treatment, James has said that he can no longer go through the painful process, leaving Laila’s dreams of motherhood in tatters. Both of them know that they have spent the last five years drifting apart, so this break from reality is desperately needed.
Laila spends her time by the pool people watching, and develops a borderline obsession with Em and her family - husband, and two teenage boys. James isn’t happy with the fascination that Laila has with this family, and it drives an even bigger wedge between them.
But when one of the teenage boys is found dead in the pool, their lives are completely blown apart. Was Laila involved? Was James involved? Were the family involved? Or was it someone else entirely? No one can be trusted and secrets begin to unravel.
This was a great, slow burn of a mystery. I liked the way that the author alternated between each day of the holiday to the day that the body was found, so that we could slowly begin to make our minds up on what had happened. I flitted from theory to theory but I did not suspect the ending at all! I found it so hard to know who we could trust, which is a credit to the author’s writing for making it so gripping and twisty! Loved the setting of Greece - reading it in the sunshine made me feel like I was actually there! Although I’m glad I wasn’t! I can’t even begin to imagine how it would feel to be caught up in something like that!
Looking forward to reading more by Heidi Perks! 😊
January 5, 2023
3.5 stars
This is a good read but it wasn’t quite as good as I thought it would be.
The book centres around a 5 star resort in Greece where a teenager is found dead in the swimming pool.
Laila and James are there trying to make their marriage work following several failed IVF attempts.
Em is there with her family and is devastated when she finds out her son was murdered.
The Police know that someone at the resort knows what happened but it’s hard for them to get to the truth.
This is a good read but had something missing for me.
Thanks to Random House Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a good read but it wasn’t quite as good as I thought it would be.
The book centres around a 5 star resort in Greece where a teenager is found dead in the swimming pool.
Laila and James are there trying to make their marriage work following several failed IVF attempts.
Em is there with her family and is devastated when she finds out her son was murdered.
The Police know that someone at the resort knows what happened but it’s hard for them to get to the truth.
This is a good read but had something missing for me.
Thanks to Random House Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 15, 2024
Bringing this down to a 2.75⭐️ which doesn't make much difference but it does to me. It's just the more I think about it, it doesn't quite get to the 3 stars.
It was off to a great start I was obsessed! Towards the middle it started dragging quite a bit (se tirassem 50-100 páginas do meio ninguém se chateava) and towards the end it was just meh.
Not bad but not great, I wanted a big plotwist that would leave me shocked and it just didn't happen 🤷♀️
It was off to a great start I was obsessed! Towards the middle it started dragging quite a bit (se tirassem 50-100 páginas do meio ninguém se chateava) and towards the end it was just meh.
Not bad but not great, I wanted a big plotwist that would leave me shocked and it just didn't happen 🤷♀️
October 6, 2024
There were times when I was totally enjoying this book and it was headed for 4 stars BUT it became to repetitive and the ending rushed with an ending that left me unsatisfied
August 16, 2024
Unfortunately I DNF’d this book. It was incredibly slow, nothing much seemed to be happening and I had didn’t really enjoy the writing style.
November 24, 2022
Rating: 2.1/5
This is my second experience of Heidi Perks' work, having previously read and enjoyed "The Whispers". Unfortunately, "The Other Guest" was not as much to my liking. Although this appears to be positioned as a mystery thriller, I would say that it is actually far more akin to a family drama for the most part.
The story is set in a high-end holiday resort on a Greek island, though I can't honestly say that I ever felt the essence of that location was captured in the writing. The pace of the novel is decidedly pedestrian and although there is an unexplained death early in the piece, it does little to inject any great energy into the narrative. The story is told predominantly from two perspectives: Firstly, that of Laila, who is holidaying with her husband, James, and secondly from the viewpoint of Em, the mother of the teenager whose dead body has been discovered. Neither of these two characters are particularly endearing, nor engaging. Em's behaviour frequently struck me as unconvincing, as someone who has just lost a young son in sudden and dramatic circumstances. Laila did little to make me warm to her and struck me as something of a narcissist, who felt that everybody around her should accommodate her needs and wants.
Overall, "The Other Guest" certainly isn't awful, but nor is it likely to live long in the memory.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
This is my second experience of Heidi Perks' work, having previously read and enjoyed "The Whispers". Unfortunately, "The Other Guest" was not as much to my liking. Although this appears to be positioned as a mystery thriller, I would say that it is actually far more akin to a family drama for the most part.
The story is set in a high-end holiday resort on a Greek island, though I can't honestly say that I ever felt the essence of that location was captured in the writing. The pace of the novel is decidedly pedestrian and although there is an unexplained death early in the piece, it does little to inject any great energy into the narrative. The story is told predominantly from two perspectives: Firstly, that of Laila, who is holidaying with her husband, James, and secondly from the viewpoint of Em, the mother of the teenager whose dead body has been discovered. Neither of these two characters are particularly endearing, nor engaging. Em's behaviour frequently struck me as unconvincing, as someone who has just lost a young son in sudden and dramatic circumstances. Laila did little to make me warm to her and struck me as something of a narcissist, who felt that everybody around her should accommodate her needs and wants.
Overall, "The Other Guest" certainly isn't awful, but nor is it likely to live long in the memory.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
July 24, 2022
I'm a very big fan of Heidi Perks. So many thanks for allowing me to read this arc.
As normal for Heidi full of twists and turns. Keeps you guessing until the end
We all go on holiday a people watch don't We? This is that and much more. . Seriously couldn't put this one down. ..
A must read by this superb author
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As normal for Heidi full of twists and turns. Keeps you guessing until the end
We all go on holiday a people watch don't We? This is that and much more. . Seriously couldn't put this one down. ..
A must read by this superb author
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 17, 2023
I picked up.thos book by chance and am so glad that I did!! Such a cleverly written and thoroughly absorbing story. I could wait to see what happened next. Very very enjoyable. Thoroughly recommend.
January 30, 2023
An okay read
Initially gripped, I had high hopes for this book, unfortunately, after the main event (which happened very early in the story), not a lot happened and sadly I found the ending quite disappointing.
Laila has been taken away on a luxurious holiday by her husband James. After many failed attempts at IVF, James has told Laila he no longer wants to try for a baby and hopes this holiday will be exactly what they both need.
Lying by the pool Laila likes to people-watch (don’t we all! 😂). However, she becomes a tad obsessed with another lady and her family, much to the annoyance of James who is starting to act strange and seems to be harbouring some secrets of his own! With a couple of other suspicious characters, there are certainly plenty of suspects when tragedy strikes at the resort just a few days into the holiday!
This was an enjoyable read and at no point did I not want to finish it, it just sadly didn’t tick the right boxes for me. I feel the cover, blurb and grab line are a little misleading. ‘She knows what she saw, but is it the truth’. I’m not sure that’s quite right as to what happens in the story.
After the tragedy near the start, the rest of the book is a bit lacklustre. The twists are there, but they didn’t blow me away. I really wanted to be shocked by the ending as that would’ve made this book great, but sadly it was a bit of an anti-climax and predictable in parts.
My thoughts could merely be down to the fact that I read so many thrillers that it takes a lot to shock and surprise me now. I really do appreciate the time and effort an author puts into writing a book and I’m a big fan of Heidi Perks’s books, I guess sadly we can’t love everything we read. Heidi is a great writer and I love how she set the scene in this book, making me dream of sunny holidays.
I’m possibly in the minority by not being overly struck on this one, so please do judge for yourself.
Thank you to Heidi Perks, Century and NetGalley for my copy of this book.
Initially gripped, I had high hopes for this book, unfortunately, after the main event (which happened very early in the story), not a lot happened and sadly I found the ending quite disappointing.
Laila has been taken away on a luxurious holiday by her husband James. After many failed attempts at IVF, James has told Laila he no longer wants to try for a baby and hopes this holiday will be exactly what they both need.
Lying by the pool Laila likes to people-watch (don’t we all! 😂). However, she becomes a tad obsessed with another lady and her family, much to the annoyance of James who is starting to act strange and seems to be harbouring some secrets of his own! With a couple of other suspicious characters, there are certainly plenty of suspects when tragedy strikes at the resort just a few days into the holiday!
This was an enjoyable read and at no point did I not want to finish it, it just sadly didn’t tick the right boxes for me. I feel the cover, blurb and grab line are a little misleading. ‘She knows what she saw, but is it the truth’. I’m not sure that’s quite right as to what happens in the story.
After the tragedy near the start, the rest of the book is a bit lacklustre. The twists are there, but they didn’t blow me away. I really wanted to be shocked by the ending as that would’ve made this book great, but sadly it was a bit of an anti-climax and predictable in parts.
My thoughts could merely be down to the fact that I read so many thrillers that it takes a lot to shock and surprise me now. I really do appreciate the time and effort an author puts into writing a book and I’m a big fan of Heidi Perks’s books, I guess sadly we can’t love everything we read. Heidi is a great writer and I love how she set the scene in this book, making me dream of sunny holidays.
I’m possibly in the minority by not being overly struck on this one, so please do judge for yourself.
Thank you to Heidi Perks, Century and NetGalley for my copy of this book.
June 29, 2023
The Other Guest by Heidi Perks was a great holiday read however, I found it very hard to get into, its about infertility issues between
Laila and her husband James. James books a holiday, on an exclusive Greek island resort. James is hoping that this holiday will help them both relax, as they have just gone through an unsuccessful IVF and felt they both needed a break. Laila is so obsessed with having a baby but James thinks they have both gone through enough especially as it's put a great strain on their marriage. But, he loves Laila and wants them to work.
Laila loves watching people and soon becomes obsessed with one of the families at the resort. She is so jealous of Em and her husband and their two boys Theo and Issac.
A dead body is discovered in the pool at the resort, Laila thinks she knows the truth about what has happened. she realises that everyone is under suspicion. However, it becomes clear to Laila and James that they are not the only ones who have secrets. But, secrets have a way of coming out......and they will come out in the end.
I highly recommend this books and all of Heidi's books.
Big thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Heidi Perks for my ARC of The Other Guest in exchange for an honest review.
Laila and her husband James. James books a holiday, on an exclusive Greek island resort. James is hoping that this holiday will help them both relax, as they have just gone through an unsuccessful IVF and felt they both needed a break. Laila is so obsessed with having a baby but James thinks they have both gone through enough especially as it's put a great strain on their marriage. But, he loves Laila and wants them to work.
Laila loves watching people and soon becomes obsessed with one of the families at the resort. She is so jealous of Em and her husband and their two boys Theo and Issac.
A dead body is discovered in the pool at the resort, Laila thinks she knows the truth about what has happened. she realises that everyone is under suspicion. However, it becomes clear to Laila and James that they are not the only ones who have secrets. But, secrets have a way of coming out......and they will come out in the end.
I highly recommend this books and all of Heidi's books.
Big thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and the author Heidi Perks for my ARC of The Other Guest in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2023
I am not the biggest fan of whodunit's (mostly because the ones I read are not done well) however I did really get into this. Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset. Laila, who has gone through multiple rounds of IVF with no result is using this trip to heal her relationship with her husband James who in turn is hiding a deep trauma. This holiday that is supposed to be a fresh start for them turns out to be the worst decision they made as a murder takes place and questions everything Laila has ever know.
It is very readable and it made me what to read to the end to find out who was the murderer however it was just a flat book. If I worked in publishing I would be having a word with the cover designer because it has no reference to Laila (who never gets in the pool) and really it should say guest(s). Asides from that I did enjoy it, the people watching (which I can totally relate) how when we get Em and Rosie's p.o.v it reinforces how we shouldn't judge because you don't fully know the situation. Also how well do you ever know a person. What extent would you go to or would you choose when your given all ultimatum. 3.75 stars from me.
Quotes/
'Weren't dreams only worth having when there was the slightest chance of them becoming reality?'
It is very readable and it made me what to read to the end to find out who was the murderer however it was just a flat book. If I worked in publishing I would be having a word with the cover designer because it has no reference to Laila (who never gets in the pool) and really it should say guest(s). Asides from that I did enjoy it, the people watching (which I can totally relate) how when we get Em and Rosie's p.o.v it reinforces how we shouldn't judge because you don't fully know the situation. Also how well do you ever know a person. What extent would you go to or would you choose when your given all ultimatum. 3.75 stars from me.
Quotes/
'Weren't dreams only worth having when there was the slightest chance of them becoming reality?'
February 21, 2023
Wow! I love Heidi Perks novels and IMO this her best one to date! The story focuses on 2 women who have come to White Sands Resort on the island of Ixos in Greece; Laila who has come on holiday for a break with her husband James after their 5th failed attempt at IVF, and EM who has come on holiday with her husband Rob and her two teenage sons. On day 3 of the holiday there is a murder (no spoiler) and you, along with the guests) are left trying to work out whodunnit.
The way Heidi has written and described the venue really makes you feel like you are on holiday with the characters, especially as Laila (like me) is a people watcher!
I found this novel really difficult to put down and several times woke up in the morning with my kindle on my chest! I highly recommend this book, especially if (like me) you’d like to escape these gloomy February days for a couple of weeks but can’t afford a 5* holiday atm… have a 5⭐️ read instead!
A MASSIVE thank you to Century & Penguin Random House Publishing and NetGalley UK for ARC
The way Heidi has written and described the venue really makes you feel like you are on holiday with the characters, especially as Laila (like me) is a people watcher!
I found this novel really difficult to put down and several times woke up in the morning with my kindle on my chest! I highly recommend this book, especially if (like me) you’d like to escape these gloomy February days for a couple of weeks but can’t afford a 5* holiday atm… have a 5⭐️ read instead!
A MASSIVE thank you to Century & Penguin Random House Publishing and NetGalley UK for ARC
August 3, 2023
I have to say I was pretty excited for this book and was reading it in pretty much the perfect setting but it just missed something for me hence why I’ve gone for the 4 rather than 5 stars. A great storyline and characters that intrigue you but I think I was expecting a bit more of a busier book if that makes sense. It’s set in an ultra luxury hotel but it was as if the characters mentioned and the staff were the only people staying at the resort whereas my nosy nature wanted to know more about more people and maybe have more potential suspects…
Despite this I still found myself reaching for the book and looking forward to getting stuck in, there are lots of twists and turns so I couldn’t see where the book was going or guess any of the reveals which I really liked. Perks keeps you hooked and wondering what’s going to happen next and when the truth will be revealed.
I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Heidi in the future though so if anyone can recommend any please let me know!
Despite this I still found myself reaching for the book and looking forward to getting stuck in, there are lots of twists and turns so I couldn’t see where the book was going or guess any of the reveals which I really liked. Perks keeps you hooked and wondering what’s going to happen next and when the truth will be revealed.
I’ll definitely be picking up more books by Heidi in the future though so if anyone can recommend any please let me know!
August 27, 2025
“What if my silence means they get away with it?”
I liked the idea of this story and found myself drawn in, but I have to agree with other readers; it never quite gave me that big kick of energy I was waiting for. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as I did keep turning the pages, but it lacked the tension, pace, and edge-of-your-seat action I usually expect from a thriller.
There was a lot of back and forth and quite a bit of repetition, which built up to something that never fully delivered. But then again, I kind of enjoyed the slow burn and fluidity of the story. That said, I really liked the two different POVs from Em and Laila; it was a clever way to build the story and kept me invested in both timelines. The mini cliffhangers kept me curious, but the payoff didn’t always match the build-up.
On the positive side, Heidi Perks has a strong writing style, and the structure of the story kept me intrigued enough to keep going. I enjoyed the premise and the setting, and I think readers who prefer slower-burn suspense over high-octane twists will probably enjoy this one more than I did.
The ending was my favourite part; that’s where most of the guessing and energy finally came in, and it was the strongest section for me.
For me, it was a good read; solid idea, but missing the spark to make it truly gripping. While this one didn’t completely blow me away, I’d definitely pick up more of her books in the future.
I liked the idea of this story and found myself drawn in, but I have to agree with other readers; it never quite gave me that big kick of energy I was waiting for. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as I did keep turning the pages, but it lacked the tension, pace, and edge-of-your-seat action I usually expect from a thriller.
There was a lot of back and forth and quite a bit of repetition, which built up to something that never fully delivered. But then again, I kind of enjoyed the slow burn and fluidity of the story. That said, I really liked the two different POVs from Em and Laila; it was a clever way to build the story and kept me invested in both timelines. The mini cliffhangers kept me curious, but the payoff didn’t always match the build-up.
On the positive side, Heidi Perks has a strong writing style, and the structure of the story kept me intrigued enough to keep going. I enjoyed the premise and the setting, and I think readers who prefer slower-burn suspense over high-octane twists will probably enjoy this one more than I did.
The ending was my favourite part; that’s where most of the guessing and energy finally came in, and it was the strongest section for me.
For me, it was a good read; solid idea, but missing the spark to make it truly gripping. While this one didn’t completely blow me away, I’d definitely pick up more of her books in the future.
July 18, 2022
Many folk people watch on holiday to some extent - observing behaviour, designing a back story but Laila takes it further than most. She and James were the perfect couple whose lives were being ripped apart by many failed IVF attempts. The secrets and lies they have kept from each other belie this premise. Just as a secret is about to be exposed the story is abruptly moved to another scene.
Alongside James and Laila's story and their childless marriage is the dilemma of a mother (Em) as to the loyalty she shows to her sons, how far she will go to protect them.
It certainly kept me guessing. Three and a half stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Heidi Perks/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
Alongside James and Laila's story and their childless marriage is the dilemma of a mother (Em) as to the loyalty she shows to her sons, how far she will go to protect them.
It certainly kept me guessing. Three and a half stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Heidi Perks/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
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