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Tajanstveni gost
Stranac za stolom. Večera koja se završava ubistvom.
Zadivljujući triler sa preokretom koji oduzima dah, atmosferična priča o tajnama i lažima smeštena u raskošni svet bogatih londonskih porodica.
Te noći, četiri osobe ušle su u trpezariju. Jedna nikada nije izašla.
Metju: savršen muž.
Tajtus: savršeni sin.
Čarli: savršena iluzija.
Rejčel: savršeni stranac.
Čarli je nije želeo u čitalačkom klubu. Metju nije hteo da sluša.
I tako se ono što je trebalo da bude samo jedna obična večera pretvara u pravi košmar. Tajtus je nepomičan od šoka, Metju leži na stolu u lokvi krvi, a Čarli ne skida pogled sa Rejčel, koja zove policiju dok joj je krvavi nož još u ruci…
Zadivljujući triler sa preokretom koji oduzima dah, atmosferična priča o tajnama i lažima smeštena u raskošni svet bogatih londonskih porodica.
Te noći, četiri osobe ušle su u trpezariju. Jedna nikada nije izašla.
Metju: savršen muž.
Tajtus: savršeni sin.
Čarli: savršena iluzija.
Rejčel: savršeni stranac.
Čarli je nije želeo u čitalačkom klubu. Metju nije hteo da sluša.
I tako se ono što je trebalo da bude samo jedna obična večera pretvara u pravi košmar. Tajtus je nepomičan od šoka, Metju leži na stolu u lokvi krvi, a Čarli ne skida pogled sa Rejčel, koja zove policiju dok joj je krvavi nož još u ruci…
286 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,392 reviews
April 28, 2022
Honey! Guess who is coming to dinner? Hey, why don’t you answer me! Oh my gosh, honey why the hell you’re bleeding! No pulse! Well, more food for three!
The dinner is planned to be served to table of four ! One is down! Three of them left as murder suspects!
Matthew is good father is stabbed to death!
The charming, instagram phenomenon Charlie, devoted husband , Rachel is the stranger with full secrets, Titus looks like perfect son are three murder suspects! Who could have stabbed Matthew?
Well, our vote for killer is Rachel! And she already confessed! So case is closed! No! Why not! Because dear Charlie blurted out at the first pages that she’s innocent!
So who killed Matthew? The perfect husband or perfect son? Or there’s fifth person at the kitchen? And why the hell Rachel confessed the murder she didn’t commit!
Buckle up for the wildest, mind blowing, high tension, psychological thriller!
We have two narrators: Charlie and Rachel!
When we read Charlie’s POV: we may find at least 10 million reasons to hate him: he’s selfish, narcissistic, spoiled, privileged, pretentious, know it all, jealous, irritating, restless human being who gets on our nerves! Another punchable, very dislikable character we love to see in pain, groveling!
He gets suspicious since the first time she meets Rachel at the bookstore and then she bumps into her at the same day with his husband Matthew! And worst part is not seeing a woman at different places in a few hours. His husband invited him to his book club! A very secluded club with its privileged, a little older members: a famous movie star, his daughter in law and Charlie’s godmother.
Charlie joins the book club gathering at the first time and catching Rachel snooping around their bedroom increases his suspicions about her! And other week, Rachel saves Titus from muggers! What a coincidence! She was in the right place at the exactly very right time!
Charlie’s suspicions grows as Rachel slowly involves into their lives. But everybody seems like pleased with her involvement even though she’s coming from lower class, rejecting to talk about her past, she perfectly adjusts in their social circle and activities!
But I have to admit Charlie is right. Rachel keeps heart wrenching secrets and she acts so weird around Titus, watching out his each move like a hawk. Why she is obsessed with the family?
So many questions, so many secrets, so many lies! Get ready to expect the unexpected! This unputdownable, addictive, mind blowing thriller makes you sweat, sit at the edge, tingle your nerves! It’s truly agitating but you can not stop reading because it’s so exciting, surprising, twisty!
Especially the last third of the book: it turns into wilder ride, things get messier, crazier! I hope your heart can handle this whirlwind adrenaline rush! But I’m telling you my friends it’s truly worth it!
It’s not only one of the best psychological thriller about betrayal, addiction, anger management, revenge, it is also objective criticism of class differences and the prejudiced observations of privileged people about the lower classes!
I’m giving my five suspicious, smart, juicy, engrossing, addictive, heart pounding stars!
Definitely one of the best books of the year I truly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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The dinner is planned to be served to table of four ! One is down! Three of them left as murder suspects!
Matthew is good father is stabbed to death!
The charming, instagram phenomenon Charlie, devoted husband , Rachel is the stranger with full secrets, Titus looks like perfect son are three murder suspects! Who could have stabbed Matthew?
Well, our vote for killer is Rachel! And she already confessed! So case is closed! No! Why not! Because dear Charlie blurted out at the first pages that she’s innocent!
So who killed Matthew? The perfect husband or perfect son? Or there’s fifth person at the kitchen? And why the hell Rachel confessed the murder she didn’t commit!
Buckle up for the wildest, mind blowing, high tension, psychological thriller!
We have two narrators: Charlie and Rachel!
When we read Charlie’s POV: we may find at least 10 million reasons to hate him: he’s selfish, narcissistic, spoiled, privileged, pretentious, know it all, jealous, irritating, restless human being who gets on our nerves! Another punchable, very dislikable character we love to see in pain, groveling!
He gets suspicious since the first time she meets Rachel at the bookstore and then she bumps into her at the same day with his husband Matthew! And worst part is not seeing a woman at different places in a few hours. His husband invited him to his book club! A very secluded club with its privileged, a little older members: a famous movie star, his daughter in law and Charlie’s godmother.
Charlie joins the book club gathering at the first time and catching Rachel snooping around their bedroom increases his suspicions about her! And other week, Rachel saves Titus from muggers! What a coincidence! She was in the right place at the exactly very right time!
Charlie’s suspicions grows as Rachel slowly involves into their lives. But everybody seems like pleased with her involvement even though she’s coming from lower class, rejecting to talk about her past, she perfectly adjusts in their social circle and activities!
But I have to admit Charlie is right. Rachel keeps heart wrenching secrets and she acts so weird around Titus, watching out his each move like a hawk. Why she is obsessed with the family?
So many questions, so many secrets, so many lies! Get ready to expect the unexpected! This unputdownable, addictive, mind blowing thriller makes you sweat, sit at the edge, tingle your nerves! It’s truly agitating but you can not stop reading because it’s so exciting, surprising, twisty!
Especially the last third of the book: it turns into wilder ride, things get messier, crazier! I hope your heart can handle this whirlwind adrenaline rush! But I’m telling you my friends it’s truly worth it!
It’s not only one of the best psychological thriller about betrayal, addiction, anger management, revenge, it is also objective criticism of class differences and the prejudiced observations of privileged people about the lower classes!
I’m giving my five suspicious, smart, juicy, engrossing, addictive, heart pounding stars!
Definitely one of the best books of the year I truly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
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October 18, 2021
DINNER HAS BEEN SERVED-and it was DELICIOUS!
THE APPETIZER:
Four people were at dinner that night.
Charlie and his husband, Matthew
Their son, Titus
And, their new acquaintance and newest book club member, Rachel.
Charlie never wanted her to be invited.
But, Matthew won’t survive and as Charlie stands over the body, while Titus sits in shock at the dinner table, Rachel with the bloody knife in her hand, dials 999.
THE MAIN COURSE:
I don’t share more than the book blurb, and for once this one is vague, allowing you to dive in blind!
WHICH YOU SHOULD DO!!
What I will say, is that this book was VERY SUSPENSEFUL, and I was completely STUMPED well past the 50% point! More Questions than Answers for MOST of the book!
THE DESSERT:
The ending is a bit ambiguous and a little INDULGENT as are most desserts!
It’s also very ENJOYABLE!
Isn’t that why we partake in good meals and good books?
4.5 ⭐️ (Only one unanswered question had me deduct .5)
Thank you to the publisher, ONE MORE CHAPTER, for providing a gifted copy through NetGalley.
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
NOW AVAILABLE! 💕
THE APPETIZER:
Four people were at dinner that night.
Charlie and his husband, Matthew
Their son, Titus
And, their new acquaintance and newest book club member, Rachel.
Charlie never wanted her to be invited.
But, Matthew won’t survive and as Charlie stands over the body, while Titus sits in shock at the dinner table, Rachel with the bloody knife in her hand, dials 999.
THE MAIN COURSE:
I don’t share more than the book blurb, and for once this one is vague, allowing you to dive in blind!
WHICH YOU SHOULD DO!!
What I will say, is that this book was VERY SUSPENSEFUL, and I was completely STUMPED well past the 50% point! More Questions than Answers for MOST of the book!
THE DESSERT:
The ending is a bit ambiguous and a little INDULGENT as are most desserts!
It’s also very ENJOYABLE!
Isn’t that why we partake in good meals and good books?
4.5 ⭐️ (Only one unanswered question had me deduct .5)
Thank you to the publisher, ONE MORE CHAPTER, for providing a gifted copy through NetGalley.
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
NOW AVAILABLE! 💕
April 1, 2021
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!!
This is one dinner you will not want to miss.
Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.
The four people are Charlie, his husband Matthew, their son Titus, and Rachel.
Rachel is not a part of the family. Charlie and Matthew met her less than a year ago, and she was invited to Matthew’s book club. What leads up to Rachel calling the police with the bloody knife still in her hand, while Matthew’s dead body sits at the dining room table?
The less said, the better.
Buckle up, because this is one enjoyable ride! I thought I had everything figured out early on, and was preparing myself for disappointment. However, although I guessed a few minor things, there are revelations that completely caught me off guard. I love when a book engrosses me and keeps me on my toes, and that is exactly what this one did.
If you like well-plotted tales with tantalizing secrets and a wickedly satisfying ending, check this one out.
4.5 stars. This book will be published: 5/27/21.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
This is one dinner you will not want to miss.
Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.
The four people are Charlie, his husband Matthew, their son Titus, and Rachel.
Rachel is not a part of the family. Charlie and Matthew met her less than a year ago, and she was invited to Matthew’s book club. What leads up to Rachel calling the police with the bloody knife still in her hand, while Matthew’s dead body sits at the dining room table?
The less said, the better.
Buckle up, because this is one enjoyable ride! I thought I had everything figured out early on, and was preparing myself for disappointment. However, although I guessed a few minor things, there are revelations that completely caught me off guard. I love when a book engrosses me and keeps me on my toes, and that is exactly what this one did.
If you like well-plotted tales with tantalizing secrets and a wickedly satisfying ending, check this one out.
4.5 stars. This book will be published: 5/27/21.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
February 4, 2024
I have no idea why this book has such a low rating, as I looooved it! It was brilliant, engaging and the characters were witty and unlike anyone else I’ve encountered lately. There was a need to know what would happen next every chapter, with tantalizing questions egging me on. The plot was smart and it was very well executed. I could find no fault, the best psychological thriller I’ve read so far this year.
April 28, 2021
Sometimes it's difficult to pinpoint why we disliked a book... I struggled so much to read this one! Sure, I was wondering how everything would be tied up, but I didn't feel the tension (nor anything, actually) and was bored from the beginning to the (mediocre/far-fetched) ending.
I'm really happy it was a winner for plenty of my GR friends! Please, read their reviews before deciding to add this book to your TBR or not.
Many thanks to HarperCollins/One More Chapter and Netgalley for the gifted copy.📚
I'm really happy it was a winner for plenty of my GR friends! Please, read their reviews before deciding to add this book to your TBR or not.
Many thanks to HarperCollins/One More Chapter and Netgalley for the gifted copy.📚
March 24, 2021
I read this book because I was curious about two things.
1. Is it similar to Herman Koch's The Dinner? Since the cover and title are so alike.
Answer: Ehhhh...kinda.
The structure of the plot is very different but there are a lot of overlapping themes, including bratty, privileged kids. I have two 14 year old sons and if they ever spoke to me with the same vulgarity that the 14 year old character Titus uses with his parents I would lose. my. mind!
2. Is it as good as other reviewers are saying?
Answer: Yup.
A brief section through the middle was a little slow so I started to get hangry for a juicy, meaty twist or two to regain my interest but the ending made the wait totally worthwhile.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.
𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 1𝘴𝘵.
1. Is it similar to Herman Koch's The Dinner? Since the cover and title are so alike.
Answer: Ehhhh...kinda.
The structure of the plot is very different but there are a lot of overlapping themes, including bratty, privileged kids. I have two 14 year old sons and if they ever spoke to me with the same vulgarity that the 14 year old character Titus uses with his parents I would lose. my. mind!
2. Is it as good as other reviewers are saying?
Answer: Yup.
A brief section through the middle was a little slow so I started to get hangry for a juicy, meaty twist or two to regain my interest but the ending made the wait totally worthwhile.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺.
𝘋𝘶𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘭 1𝘴𝘵.
March 6, 2021
4.5
Did you get your dinner invitation? Ok, good. Bring a bottle of wine and then pour yourself a large glass, take a mighty big gulp because you’re going to need it for what ensues. Four people are in the dining room, one won’t leave alive. There’s Matthew the much loved husband of Charlie, their son Titus and the cuckoo in their perfect, wealthy, cashmere lined nest is Rachel. Charlie has doubts about her ever since their meeting nearly a year ago, he senses an cold wind blowing in from Siberia .... One thing is for absolute sure, no one’s life will ever be the same again.
On the menu tonight is a huge vat of dishonesty, secrets and lies, seasoned liberally with revenge and ‘justice’, with added heat from red hot anger and hate, sprinkle in a large spoonful of betrayal, a few grams of hypocrisy, leave to bubble and watch as all comes to the surface and and then serve with a side order of cold shoulder. The most appropriate drink to serve comes from the perfect storm brewery which blends to perfection with the main course.
This is a really good psychological thriller, it’s very well written and has a twisty plot which flows extremely well and with surprises you don’t see coming. The plotting feels like a coiled spring, it’s taut and tense with ripples of unease, a sense of impending danger and you wonder when all the turbulence and altered dynamics will unfurl. One of the characters drops little bombs so casually into conversations which is so effective as you watch the tsunami effect it causes. The novel is character driven, they aren’t necessarily likeable but they are well portrayed. You can feel their growing stress, anxiety and you can to a degree understand the growing anger of betrayal. There’s sex, drugs and rock n’roll in the equation and some of this links to the past. There’s class privilege, elitism, presumption, assumption, supposition, suspicion and it’s oh, so clever. The end is excellent and a perfect way to round off a really good reading experience.
Overall, I want to read more by this author and I recommend this high quality psychological thriller.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins p, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Did you get your dinner invitation? Ok, good. Bring a bottle of wine and then pour yourself a large glass, take a mighty big gulp because you’re going to need it for what ensues. Four people are in the dining room, one won’t leave alive. There’s Matthew the much loved husband of Charlie, their son Titus and the cuckoo in their perfect, wealthy, cashmere lined nest is Rachel. Charlie has doubts about her ever since their meeting nearly a year ago, he senses an cold wind blowing in from Siberia .... One thing is for absolute sure, no one’s life will ever be the same again.
On the menu tonight is a huge vat of dishonesty, secrets and lies, seasoned liberally with revenge and ‘justice’, with added heat from red hot anger and hate, sprinkle in a large spoonful of betrayal, a few grams of hypocrisy, leave to bubble and watch as all comes to the surface and and then serve with a side order of cold shoulder. The most appropriate drink to serve comes from the perfect storm brewery which blends to perfection with the main course.
This is a really good psychological thriller, it’s very well written and has a twisty plot which flows extremely well and with surprises you don’t see coming. The plotting feels like a coiled spring, it’s taut and tense with ripples of unease, a sense of impending danger and you wonder when all the turbulence and altered dynamics will unfurl. One of the characters drops little bombs so casually into conversations which is so effective as you watch the tsunami effect it causes. The novel is character driven, they aren’t necessarily likeable but they are well portrayed. You can feel their growing stress, anxiety and you can to a degree understand the growing anger of betrayal. There’s sex, drugs and rock n’roll in the equation and some of this links to the past. There’s class privilege, elitism, presumption, assumption, supposition, suspicion and it’s oh, so clever. The end is excellent and a perfect way to round off a really good reading experience.
Overall, I want to read more by this author and I recommend this high quality psychological thriller.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins p, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
March 8, 2021
"Matthew seemed so polished. So perfectly presented...Matthew came pre-loaded, so-to-speak, with little Titus, not quite nine...And so I became Daddy...Titus had two perfect daddies...". We loved each other and had been married for five years. "But love changes over time, and in those final moments, when I knew he was dying,...I must confess...the love I felt for him wasn't quite as profound as I would have expected".
Matthew had been stabbed at the dinner table. Rachel, sitting calmly with the knife in her hand, called the police and confessed to killing him. Why would Rachel confess to a murder she didn't commit? Charlie, Matthew's husband and their son, fifteen year old Titus were witnesses to the murder. Who committed the crime?
Rachel had been employed in a non descript job at a garden center. Looking on Instagram, she saw #Weekend Baking "...there he suddenly was. The man from my dreams. My nightmares. My waking thoughts...In the photo, he was standing with another man and a teenage boy...in front of them...four different cakes...They looked so...perfect". Twisting and turning through two timelines in tandem, before the murder and after, the points of view of Rachel and Charlie are revealed.
A chance meeting in a bookstore. Charlie and Rachel reaching for the same book. Strange, Rachel bumped into Charlie and Matthew, in the market, later the same day.. Matthew was the real reader in the family. He invited Rachel to the next meeting of his book club which would take place in the family abode shared by Matthew, Charlie and Titus. A complete stranger would enter their midst. Charlie had a "feeling of foreboding". At the club meeting, claiming to be looking for the bathroom, Rachel peered into the master bedroom looking at photos on the dresser. Charlie felt that Rachel's motive might be sinister. "It was like she'd been helicoptered into the personal side of our lives. She was being woven into the fabric of our family". Matthew excused her behavior indicating that everyone's curious about other people's houses. Rachel's presence, although unwelcomed by Charlie, was embraced by Titus. Family discord contributed to Titus's angry, oppositional behavior.
"The Dinner Guest" by B.P. Walter is a domestic thriller that will keep you guessing. Did Rachel, Charlie, or Titus kill Matthew? Was there a home invasion with a stranger causing Matthew's demise? Even the most experienced puzzle solver will find the mystery to be riveting. The characters, although not likeable, are very well detailed. This was an unputdownable read!
Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Matthew had been stabbed at the dinner table. Rachel, sitting calmly with the knife in her hand, called the police and confessed to killing him. Why would Rachel confess to a murder she didn't commit? Charlie, Matthew's husband and their son, fifteen year old Titus were witnesses to the murder. Who committed the crime?
Rachel had been employed in a non descript job at a garden center. Looking on Instagram, she saw #Weekend Baking "...there he suddenly was. The man from my dreams. My nightmares. My waking thoughts...In the photo, he was standing with another man and a teenage boy...in front of them...four different cakes...They looked so...perfect". Twisting and turning through two timelines in tandem, before the murder and after, the points of view of Rachel and Charlie are revealed.
A chance meeting in a bookstore. Charlie and Rachel reaching for the same book. Strange, Rachel bumped into Charlie and Matthew, in the market, later the same day.. Matthew was the real reader in the family. He invited Rachel to the next meeting of his book club which would take place in the family abode shared by Matthew, Charlie and Titus. A complete stranger would enter their midst. Charlie had a "feeling of foreboding". At the club meeting, claiming to be looking for the bathroom, Rachel peered into the master bedroom looking at photos on the dresser. Charlie felt that Rachel's motive might be sinister. "It was like she'd been helicoptered into the personal side of our lives. She was being woven into the fabric of our family". Matthew excused her behavior indicating that everyone's curious about other people's houses. Rachel's presence, although unwelcomed by Charlie, was embraced by Titus. Family discord contributed to Titus's angry, oppositional behavior.
"The Dinner Guest" by B.P. Walter is a domestic thriller that will keep you guessing. Did Rachel, Charlie, or Titus kill Matthew? Was there a home invasion with a stranger causing Matthew's demise? Even the most experienced puzzle solver will find the mystery to be riveting. The characters, although not likeable, are very well detailed. This was an unputdownable read!
Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2021
3.75*
An engaging thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.
One happy family. Charlie and Matthew happily married raising their teenage son Titus. All is well until Rachel inserts herself into their lives. Instantly Charlie is on edge knowing there is more to Rachel than meets the eye.
Told from multiple perspectives and timelines the pages flew by as the mystery built up and ultimately unfolded.
You may think you have this one figured out… but not so fast my friend! B.P. Walter has added some fabulous twists.
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC to read and review.
An engaging thriller that will keep you guessing till the end.
One happy family. Charlie and Matthew happily married raising their teenage son Titus. All is well until Rachel inserts herself into their lives. Instantly Charlie is on edge knowing there is more to Rachel than meets the eye.
Told from multiple perspectives and timelines the pages flew by as the mystery built up and ultimately unfolded.
You may think you have this one figured out… but not so fast my friend! B.P. Walter has added some fabulous twists.
Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC to read and review.
April 1, 2021
**Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter, and B.P. Walter for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 4.1.21!**
Whatever you do, even if you think your plate is already overflowing, save room for this absolutely juicy thriller which would put even the most sizzling piece of steak to shame!
Charlie and Matt are married, co-parenting teenaged son Titus who they are raising as their own, when Matthew decides to bring in book club newbie Rachel to share a meal. She has slowly been creeping further and further into their little world...but why? And when Matt is viciously murdered at dinner, WHY is she so quick to make the 999 call to confess to cold-blooded murder?
Trust me, this is all the setup you'll need to dive headfirst into this shocking and suspenseful tale, replete with everything from underhanded characters, dual timelines which slowly divulge details at the perfect pace to keep the reader guessing, devastating secrets aplenty, and an absolute knockout ending! I'll be honest, I thought I had this story figured out at about 25%...and I was COMPLETELY wrong. Luckily, I think this says less for my shoddy detective skills and more for the absolute talent of BP Walter to baffle and confuse his reader! When it comes to thrillers, I almost enjoy being wrong more than being right, and the hits don't stop coming until the very last chapter. I also love a thriller that leaves the story a little bit open-ended, because whether the author pens a sequel or not, it's always fun to speculate the next steps for our characters....the ones still ALIVE, of course!
This is one thriller that will leave you ravenous for more...and I'm already waiting for B.P. Walter's next book! (and maybe a fabulous piece of devil's food cake to go along with it!) 🎂
4 ⭐
Whatever you do, even if you think your plate is already overflowing, save room for this absolutely juicy thriller which would put even the most sizzling piece of steak to shame!
Charlie and Matt are married, co-parenting teenaged son Titus who they are raising as their own, when Matthew decides to bring in book club newbie Rachel to share a meal. She has slowly been creeping further and further into their little world...but why? And when Matt is viciously murdered at dinner, WHY is she so quick to make the 999 call to confess to cold-blooded murder?
Trust me, this is all the setup you'll need to dive headfirst into this shocking and suspenseful tale, replete with everything from underhanded characters, dual timelines which slowly divulge details at the perfect pace to keep the reader guessing, devastating secrets aplenty, and an absolute knockout ending! I'll be honest, I thought I had this story figured out at about 25%...and I was COMPLETELY wrong. Luckily, I think this says less for my shoddy detective skills and more for the absolute talent of BP Walter to baffle and confuse his reader! When it comes to thrillers, I almost enjoy being wrong more than being right, and the hits don't stop coming until the very last chapter. I also love a thriller that leaves the story a little bit open-ended, because whether the author pens a sequel or not, it's always fun to speculate the next steps for our characters....the ones still ALIVE, of course!
This is one thriller that will leave you ravenous for more...and I'm already waiting for B.P. Walter's next book! (and maybe a fabulous piece of devil's food cake to go along with it!) 🎂
4 ⭐
March 5, 2021
Dinner may be served but death comes before dessert.
Matthew, Charlie, and fifteen year old son Titus appear to be the perfect family. That is until they meet Rachel at a local bookstore. Matthew who hosts a book club decides to ask Rachel to join since she is new to the area. Charlie doesn't approve of the quick friendship between Matthew and Rachel but there is little he can do about it.
It seems Rachel has infiltrated their lives. She's managed to score a job and living quarters with Charlies godmother. She strikes up a friendship with Titus even coming to his aid during a mugging and Matthew seems to think Charlie is a snob for not accepting her. How can this stranger from only a few weeks ago become such a big part of their lives in so little time?
Then dinner comes. Matthew lays dead and Rachel is holding the bloody knife. Where did it all go wrong? You'll have to read this to find out.
This was my first book by B.P. Walter but I assure you it will not be my last. I was glued to the pages of this one. The writing is sharp and it flowed beautifully. I liked the tension and menace Walter was able to convey on page. Revelations are given to you in bits and pieces only making you (me!) salivate for more. I had to know what was going on and I was not at all disappointed. I honestly don't have any complaints with this one. It's a winner and I highly recommend it! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter for providing me with a digital ARC.
Matthew, Charlie, and fifteen year old son Titus appear to be the perfect family. That is until they meet Rachel at a local bookstore. Matthew who hosts a book club decides to ask Rachel to join since she is new to the area. Charlie doesn't approve of the quick friendship between Matthew and Rachel but there is little he can do about it.
It seems Rachel has infiltrated their lives. She's managed to score a job and living quarters with Charlies godmother. She strikes up a friendship with Titus even coming to his aid during a mugging and Matthew seems to think Charlie is a snob for not accepting her. How can this stranger from only a few weeks ago become such a big part of their lives in so little time?
Then dinner comes. Matthew lays dead and Rachel is holding the bloody knife. Where did it all go wrong? You'll have to read this to find out.
This was my first book by B.P. Walter but I assure you it will not be my last. I was glued to the pages of this one. The writing is sharp and it flowed beautifully. I liked the tension and menace Walter was able to convey on page. Revelations are given to you in bits and pieces only making you (me!) salivate for more. I had to know what was going on and I was not at all disappointed. I honestly don't have any complaints with this one. It's a winner and I highly recommend it! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK / One More Chapter for providing me with a digital ARC.
January 28, 2022
Quickly, The Dinner Guest was dull, cliché, and was quite lame. I personally thought it was written badly and felt very lazy. In short, I did not like it. I will have to put the rest of this in spoiler tags, because I really just want to rant. So don't read if you don't want to be completely spoiled.
Before I start, what on earth is up with all the 3-5 star reviews of this book on Goodreads? They almost look like they were paid to be written? All have a spin on dinner or food and posted before the publication date. Feels very disingenuous. I can only assume there might have been some sort of blog tour/arc release/PR package where the brief told everyone to link their review to hosting a dinner or to food, so it tied in with the title and synopsis of the book.
The whole thing was frustrating. I hated it.
Before I start, what on earth is up with all the 3-5 star reviews of this book on Goodreads? They almost look like they were paid to be written? All have a spin on dinner or food and posted before the publication date. Feels very disingenuous. I can only assume there might have been some sort of blog tour/arc release/PR package where the brief told everyone to link their review to hosting a dinner or to food, so it tied in with the title and synopsis of the book.
The whole thing was frustrating. I hated it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2021
4.5 rounded up
Welcome to dinner. This is one meal you don’t want to miss, or maybe you do once you see the menu.
Two fathers, a son and a friend (of sorts) arrive at the dinner table. One of them expires before dessert is served, cold of course.
This is an excellent and delicious mystery with so many secrets. And we all know that secrets are truths just waiting to bubble up to the surface so that they are fully visible. They never stay hidden.
I really thought I had things figured out, more than once, but I didn’t. And even once some truths come out there are more.
I’m not going to spoil your appetite by telling you anything more. You’ll need to sample it on your own like I did. I was completely immersed from the beginning chapters. The author has done a wonderful job in moving all the pieces into a perfect and precise puzzle.
Welcome to dinner. This is one meal you don’t want to miss, or maybe you do once you see the menu.
Two fathers, a son and a friend (of sorts) arrive at the dinner table. One of them expires before dessert is served, cold of course.
This is an excellent and delicious mystery with so many secrets. And we all know that secrets are truths just waiting to bubble up to the surface so that they are fully visible. They never stay hidden.
I really thought I had things figured out, more than once, but I didn’t. And even once some truths come out there are more.
I’m not going to spoil your appetite by telling you anything more. You’ll need to sample it on your own like I did. I was completely immersed from the beginning chapters. The author has done a wonderful job in moving all the pieces into a perfect and precise puzzle.
May 1, 2021
3.5 stars
Reading the blurb, I thought "well, they just gave away the farm." Literally, we know there is a dinner, we know who was there, we know one would not survive. But there is also a lot we do not know as there is more to these people than meets the eye.
It all started with an invite to book club and ended over dinner.... but there is more...so much more.
This is one where one really cannot say too much without fear of giving something away. So, what I will say, is that I enjoyed this clever tale and its twists and turns along the way. Told thought the POV of two characters, this book proved to be a fast and enjoyable read. This one had me guessing and flipping the pages until the very end.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Reading the blurb, I thought "well, they just gave away the farm." Literally, we know there is a dinner, we know who was there, we know one would not survive. But there is also a lot we do not know as there is more to these people than meets the eye.
It all started with an invite to book club and ended over dinner.... but there is more...so much more.
This is one where one really cannot say too much without fear of giving something away. So, what I will say, is that I enjoyed this clever tale and its twists and turns along the way. Told thought the POV of two characters, this book proved to be a fast and enjoyable read. This one had me guessing and flipping the pages until the very end.
Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
February 21, 2021
This was a character-driven domestic thriller with a gripping plot and edge-of-your-seat suspense.
I found it fast-paced and well-plotted. I did not find the well-drawn, memorable characters remotely likeable, but they held my interest. Many twists in the fast-paced plot contain devious, deceptive people, lies, illicit sex and adultery, drugs, blackmail, snobbery, and teenaged rebellion.
The story begins with a family dinner. Charlie and his husband Matthew sit down with their 15-year-old son, Titus. An uninvited guest, Rachel, joins them. Soon, Matthew is stabbed to death in his seat at the dinner table. Rachel, holding the bloody knife, promptly calls the police and confesses to the murder. What could her motive be?
They appeared to friends to be a happy family. Both Charlie and Matthew were devoted to Matthew's adopted teenaged son, Titus. A chance encounter with a stranger, Rachel, in a bookstore leads to turmoil and trouble. Matthew invites Rachel to his book club, attended by wealthy people from old school money. Charlie feels very uneasy about this, although he has never attended the meetings, and makes it clear to Matthew that the invitation is a mistake.
Matthew, Charlie and their friends lead privileged upper-class lives in London society. This is a world unfamiliar to Rachel. She works at low-paid menial jobs and lives in a shabby apartment. She quickly inserts herself into the lives of the family. At her first book club meeting, Charlie's suspicions about Rachel seem to be confirmed. He finds her snooping in their bedroom. She seems to be taking too much interest in Titus. She breaks up a mob menacing Titus in a different part of the city. Charlie believes she was following their son, but Matthew passes it off as a mere coincidence. Rachel leaves her job to work as an assistant to a wealthy book club woman and is soon leading a lavish lifestyle.
This menacing, well-constructed plot moves back and forth in time, before and after the murder. The timelines are never confusing. The chapters are narrated from the perspective of Charlie and Rachel but are their words reliable? As it delves deeper into the characters' backgrounds, the twists and revelations kept me riveted to the pages. Charlie hints that Rachel, now in prison, might not be guilty.
If so, why did she confess and what really happened?
This was my first book by B P Walter and left me wanting to read more of the author's novels. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this intriguing book. Recommended to readers who like a tantalizing domestic thriller.
I found it fast-paced and well-plotted. I did not find the well-drawn, memorable characters remotely likeable, but they held my interest. Many twists in the fast-paced plot contain devious, deceptive people, lies, illicit sex and adultery, drugs, blackmail, snobbery, and teenaged rebellion.
The story begins with a family dinner. Charlie and his husband Matthew sit down with their 15-year-old son, Titus. An uninvited guest, Rachel, joins them. Soon, Matthew is stabbed to death in his seat at the dinner table. Rachel, holding the bloody knife, promptly calls the police and confesses to the murder. What could her motive be?
They appeared to friends to be a happy family. Both Charlie and Matthew were devoted to Matthew's adopted teenaged son, Titus. A chance encounter with a stranger, Rachel, in a bookstore leads to turmoil and trouble. Matthew invites Rachel to his book club, attended by wealthy people from old school money. Charlie feels very uneasy about this, although he has never attended the meetings, and makes it clear to Matthew that the invitation is a mistake.
Matthew, Charlie and their friends lead privileged upper-class lives in London society. This is a world unfamiliar to Rachel. She works at low-paid menial jobs and lives in a shabby apartment. She quickly inserts herself into the lives of the family. At her first book club meeting, Charlie's suspicions about Rachel seem to be confirmed. He finds her snooping in their bedroom. She seems to be taking too much interest in Titus. She breaks up a mob menacing Titus in a different part of the city. Charlie believes she was following their son, but Matthew passes it off as a mere coincidence. Rachel leaves her job to work as an assistant to a wealthy book club woman and is soon leading a lavish lifestyle.
This menacing, well-constructed plot moves back and forth in time, before and after the murder. The timelines are never confusing. The chapters are narrated from the perspective of Charlie and Rachel but are their words reliable? As it delves deeper into the characters' backgrounds, the twists and revelations kept me riveted to the pages. Charlie hints that Rachel, now in prison, might not be guilty.
If so, why did she confess and what really happened?
This was my first book by B P Walter and left me wanting to read more of the author's novels. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this intriguing book. Recommended to readers who like a tantalizing domestic thriller.
January 4, 2022
The Dinner Guest Ingredients, followed by the method/plot complete with a tasting
The Ingredients
4 people (Matthew, Titus, Charlie, Rachel) plus a lot of extras, none of which are very likeable
1 sharp knife capable of inflicting injury or much worse
2 very long confessions at the end from Matthew and Rachel
1 heavy dose of martyrdom and exaggerated suffering
Cup of humble brew (a hard to find ingredient)
Pinch of absurdity
Method / Plot
The temperature is turned up from the opening pages with Rachel’s admission to killing Matthew, and then with the reader’s hunger for more, Walter begins by introducing all the characters and events that led up to Matthew being stabbed at dinner. This will take a few hours as we move back and forward through different timelines and with different narrators, mainly Charlie.
At first, Rachel appears to have stumbled into the idyllic life of Matthew and Charlie and their son Titus, but there is a feeling of unease when the closeness to Titus becomes apparent and Rachel manages to work her way into their lives, turning up when least expected, joining the coveted book club and then moving into an apartment belonging to Charlie’s mother.
The method is simple, make all the characters unlikable including the obnoxious 15-year-old Titus. Mix all the ingredients together for a whodunnit and why? and then sit back and enjoy in the comfort of your own home because you would not want to be a guest at this dinner.
How did it taste?
It was an ok read; however, I disliked the constant switches in the timeline and with the characters. The author then tried to maintain the level of suspense through the book by leaving unnecessary cliff-hangers at the end of short paragraphs, which had the opposite effect, I found it frustrating. The book started well but finished badly with an ending that just wasn’t credible. Ask yourself, would you do that for someone? Of course, you wouldn’t.
When the book meandered through the last 100 pages, I found myself saying ‘oh please finish already’ it was getting tedious reading my way to the end of a book when the plot was so predictable from the opening pages. There are better recipes out there if you are looking to get your teeth into a good thriller, because this was a little bland and needed a lot more spice to make it enjoyable.
The Ingredients
4 people (Matthew, Titus, Charlie, Rachel) plus a lot of extras, none of which are very likeable
1 sharp knife capable of inflicting injury or much worse
2 very long confessions at the end from Matthew and Rachel
1 heavy dose of martyrdom and exaggerated suffering
Cup of humble brew (a hard to find ingredient)
Pinch of absurdity
Method / Plot
The temperature is turned up from the opening pages with Rachel’s admission to killing Matthew, and then with the reader’s hunger for more, Walter begins by introducing all the characters and events that led up to Matthew being stabbed at dinner. This will take a few hours as we move back and forward through different timelines and with different narrators, mainly Charlie.
At first, Rachel appears to have stumbled into the idyllic life of Matthew and Charlie and their son Titus, but there is a feeling of unease when the closeness to Titus becomes apparent and Rachel manages to work her way into their lives, turning up when least expected, joining the coveted book club and then moving into an apartment belonging to Charlie’s mother.
The method is simple, make all the characters unlikable including the obnoxious 15-year-old Titus. Mix all the ingredients together for a whodunnit and why? and then sit back and enjoy in the comfort of your own home because you would not want to be a guest at this dinner.
How did it taste?
It was an ok read; however, I disliked the constant switches in the timeline and with the characters. The author then tried to maintain the level of suspense through the book by leaving unnecessary cliff-hangers at the end of short paragraphs, which had the opposite effect, I found it frustrating. The book started well but finished badly with an ending that just wasn’t credible. Ask yourself, would you do that for someone? Of course, you wouldn’t.
When the book meandered through the last 100 pages, I found myself saying ‘oh please finish already’ it was getting tedious reading my way to the end of a book when the plot was so predictable from the opening pages. There are better recipes out there if you are looking to get your teeth into a good thriller, because this was a little bland and needed a lot more spice to make it enjoyable.
March 6, 2021
Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better. Sooo...I'm just going to say this: The Dinner Guest was a pleasant surprise. It was very well plotted, the writing was crisp and clean, and it was extraordinarily engrossing. I read it in two, 2-hour sessions.
Major kudos to B.P. Walter.
This story gets my seal of approval. Recommended!
Available April 1, 2021
My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for my review copy.
This is one of those books where the less you know going in, the better. Sooo...I'm just going to say this: The Dinner Guest was a pleasant surprise. It was very well plotted, the writing was crisp and clean, and it was extraordinarily engrossing. I read it in two, 2-hour sessions.
Major kudos to B.P. Walter.
This story gets my seal of approval. Recommended!
Available April 1, 2021
My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for my review copy.
April 8, 2021
Intriguing story. I agree with the other reviewers, this one is best going in blind and not knowing too much about the plot. You know from the beginning that someone is killed and someone takes the blame. What you don't know is--who actually committed the murder (was it a murder?) and why?
There are secrets galore, people lying to each other, and very unclear motives for many different things. At certain points I thought I knew what was going on, but I was wrong for most of it! I liked how well the twists unfolded and how deliberately the reader is provided with clues at just the right time. Most of the book is told alternating between Charlie's and Rachel's points of view and we get alternate sides of the same situation in many cases.
The only quibble I have about this book is the very end. I thought it went a step too far and I would have liked it to turn out differently. It reminded me of The Couple Next Door when I thought the author should have just left well enough alone at the end.
Ending
All in all this is a great twisty suspense novel, recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
There are secrets galore, people lying to each other, and very unclear motives for many different things. At certain points I thought I knew what was going on, but I was wrong for most of it! I liked how well the twists unfolded and how deliberately the reader is provided with clues at just the right time. Most of the book is told alternating between Charlie's and Rachel's points of view and we get alternate sides of the same situation in many cases.
The only quibble I have about this book is the very end. I thought it went a step too far and I would have liked it to turn out differently. It reminded me of The Couple Next Door when I thought the author should have just left well enough alone at the end.
Ending
All in all this is a great twisty suspense novel, recommended.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 27, 2021
This book is unique, both in tone and in its setup, and is a welcome addition to the thriller genre.
The book begins just how I like all my thrillers to begin...with a murder. Only this murder has an interesting twist...our narrator tells us that the person who confessed to the crime did not actually do it. Why then would they confess? The rest of the book then goes on to answer that question as we focus on golden couple Matthew and Charlie, a wealthy and somewhat aristocratic English couple raising a child named Titus. Let me pause here to say I don’t think we have enough gay protagonists and gay couples in our domestic thrillers, so I liked this right away. Both Charlie and Matthew are immediately intriguing, as is their son, Titus.
The book is alternately narrated by two of the people present at the murderous dinner party, Charlie and Rachel. Charlie and his husband have an Instagram-perfect life, but of course like most things on Instagram, there are darker things happening under the surface. Rachel is a friend who insinuates herself into their lives and whom Charlie immediately mistrusts.
I really liked the way the characters and relationships unfolded in the book. The beginning and the end were great and the middle was engrossing, if at times a bit slow, but that was in large part because it was heavy on the interesting character development.
I will say that I did not find the revelation of the killer at all surprising, partly because the author does such a great job painting them as an obvious creeper from the start. But also, there’s more than one obvious creeper in this story...or maybe they all are?...so I don’t think I’ve given anything away here.
I thought this book was a standout. I enjoyed the gossip and everyday life details of the upper-crust folks and their secrets and thought the writing was superb. I’d love to read more by this author. Solid 4+ stars!
Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader’s copy!
The book begins just how I like all my thrillers to begin...with a murder. Only this murder has an interesting twist...our narrator tells us that the person who confessed to the crime did not actually do it. Why then would they confess? The rest of the book then goes on to answer that question as we focus on golden couple Matthew and Charlie, a wealthy and somewhat aristocratic English couple raising a child named Titus. Let me pause here to say I don’t think we have enough gay protagonists and gay couples in our domestic thrillers, so I liked this right away. Both Charlie and Matthew are immediately intriguing, as is their son, Titus.
The book is alternately narrated by two of the people present at the murderous dinner party, Charlie and Rachel. Charlie and his husband have an Instagram-perfect life, but of course like most things on Instagram, there are darker things happening under the surface. Rachel is a friend who insinuates herself into their lives and whom Charlie immediately mistrusts.
I really liked the way the characters and relationships unfolded in the book. The beginning and the end were great and the middle was engrossing, if at times a bit slow, but that was in large part because it was heavy on the interesting character development.
I will say that I did not find the revelation of the killer at all surprising, partly because the author does such a great job painting them as an obvious creeper from the start. But also, there’s more than one obvious creeper in this story...or maybe they all are?...so I don’t think I’ve given anything away here.
I thought this book was a standout. I enjoyed the gossip and everyday life details of the upper-crust folks and their secrets and thought the writing was superb. I’d love to read more by this author. Solid 4+ stars!
Thank you to Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader’s copy!
April 2, 2021
Charlie and Matthew Allerton-Jones are a gay married couple raising their son Titus, who's fifteen-years-old.
Until recently, things seemed fine in the Allerton-Jones household, which has the advantage of close ties with Charlie's parents and his godmother Meryl.
Then Matthew is stabbed to death at the Allerton-Jones' dinner table, and a young woman named Rachel calls the police and admits to the murder. However, we're immediately told that she didn't do it.
To unveil what happened and why, the book skips back and forth between twelve months ago, when Charlie and Matthew met Rachel, to the present.
A year ago, Rachel was working in a Yorkshire gardening center and barely making ends meet when she happened to come across Charlie Allerton-Jones' Instagram account. The account - which featured myriad photos of Charlie, Matthew, and Titus - galvanized Rachel, who pulled up stakes, moved to London, and managed to 'accidently' meet Charlie and Matthew.
Matthew, who was a friendly sort, invited Rachel to join his book club, which met once a month in the posh home of one of the members.
Rachel grew up in difficult circumstances, could only afford an apartment in a rough area of Pimlico, and was unaccustomed to mingling with London's 'elite', but she eagerly accepted the book club invitation. Rachel then proceeded to inveigle herself into the lives of the Allerton-Jones' and their friends. Before long, Rachel was even offered a job by Charlie's godmother Meryl, who seemed to want to give the girl a boost up.
Though most people in the book club liked Rachel, something about her made Charlie uncomfortable. Thus Charlie constantly griped to Matthew about the young woman being around. However, Matthew said Charlie was just being a snob, and pooh-poohed his concerns.
As the story unfolds we learn why Rachel was drawn to the Allerton-Jones', her clandestine back story, and the secrets other people are keeping.
Towards the latter part of the book, we discover why Matthew was stabbed, the identity of the killer, and what happens after the homicide. Meanwhile, Charlie's father - who's a 'fixer' for the rich and powerful - tries to make sure his son and grandson are absolved of any blame.
The book is character driven, and the protagonists all have personality flaws. Matthew is sneaky and evasive;
Charlie is naïve and willfully blind;
Titus is irresponsible and rebellious;
and Rachel has all sorts of troubles.
The big reveal and its aftermath aren't quite credible to me. I also have trouble believing how lightning fast Rachel ascended in society under the auspices of Charlie's godmother. I simply don't think this would happen in real life.
Thus, the book is only so-so for me.
Thanks to Netgalley, B.P. Walter, and HarperCollins Publishers for a copy of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
May 15, 2021
The Dinner Guest by B. P. Walter is an LGBTQ+ mystery, thriller novel which has 4 people having dinner one evening and one would never leave the place. Matthew: the perfect husband. Titus: the perfect son. Charlie: the perfect illusion. Rachel: the perfect stranger.
The starting of the book is very slow and flat. Rachel is the newest member of the Book Club and Charlie never liked her to join it. But as we get into the book is story is very suspenseful as well as full of secrets, which rip off like an orange peeling slowly and steadily, one at a time.
I prefer going completely blind when it comes to Thriller / Mystery novels, and this one did not disappoint as well. It was a very cozy thriller which you would love with a hot cuppa. The book is from Charlie and Rachel's POV. Charlie's POV was much better than Rachel. But Rachel confessed the murder she didn’t commit, why?
Although, the book has some minor flatlines here and there. the twists and turns definitely made me want to read and never stop until the end. The story is gripping and also a lot about domestic lifestyle and house of two men and an adopted teenager, who isn't 10 anymore. Definitely pick this up!
The starting of the book is very slow and flat. Rachel is the newest member of the Book Club and Charlie never liked her to join it. But as we get into the book is story is very suspenseful as well as full of secrets, which rip off like an orange peeling slowly and steadily, one at a time.
I prefer going completely blind when it comes to Thriller / Mystery novels, and this one did not disappoint as well. It was a very cozy thriller which you would love with a hot cuppa. The book is from Charlie and Rachel's POV. Charlie's POV was much better than Rachel. But Rachel confessed the murder she didn’t commit, why?
Although, the book has some minor flatlines here and there. the twists and turns definitely made me want to read and never stop until the end. The story is gripping and also a lot about domestic lifestyle and house of two men and an adopted teenager, who isn't 10 anymore. Definitely pick this up!
September 8, 2021
Are you craving a flavorful read with plenty of spice and sizzle?
If so, this "DINNER" book is for you.
THE DINNER GUEST opens with a murder. Four people walk into a dining room and one of them is brutally murdered.
The dinner guests are Charlie and his husband Matthew, Titus (Charlie and Matthew's adopted son), and Rachel, "a perfect stranger", new to the couple's book club.
When Rachel calls 999 to report the murder, she has a bloody knife in her hand.
Is Rachel a murderer? If so, WHY?
The narrative is presented from the two POVs of Charlie and Rachel, across a variety of points of time, before and after the night of the murder.
Clues are revealed chapter by chapter, along with many red herrings.
Is it possible for a book to have too many twists and turns? (Yes, it is!)
I felt that this author tried too hard to include as many twists and turns as possible -- especially at the end of the book.
In my opinion, "KISS"(Keeping It Simple) would have been a better strategy.
The book was set in a "privileged" section of London and I also had problems with the author's repeated use of the word "privileged".
The author's view of the "privileged" is respected but these views did not belong in a fiction book.
Overall, the book was fast-paced and well-written.
I listened to the audiobook, and the two narrators did a superb job with the narration.
If so, this "DINNER" book is for you.
THE DINNER GUEST opens with a murder. Four people walk into a dining room and one of them is brutally murdered.
The dinner guests are Charlie and his husband Matthew, Titus (Charlie and Matthew's adopted son), and Rachel, "a perfect stranger", new to the couple's book club.
When Rachel calls 999 to report the murder, she has a bloody knife in her hand.
Is Rachel a murderer? If so, WHY?
The narrative is presented from the two POVs of Charlie and Rachel, across a variety of points of time, before and after the night of the murder.
Clues are revealed chapter by chapter, along with many red herrings.
Is it possible for a book to have too many twists and turns? (Yes, it is!)
I felt that this author tried too hard to include as many twists and turns as possible -- especially at the end of the book.
In my opinion, "KISS"(Keeping It Simple) would have been a better strategy.
The book was set in a "privileged" section of London and I also had problems with the author's repeated use of the word "privileged".
The author's view of the "privileged" is respected but these views did not belong in a fiction book.
Overall, the book was fast-paced and well-written.
I listened to the audiobook, and the two narrators did a superb job with the narration.
November 19, 2022
The Dinner Guest is everything the reviewers are raving about and I didn't want to end. It grabbed a hold of me on page one and didn't let go until I read the last mind-blowing page. Just when I thought all the answers had been laid out another revelation comes to light changing the whole trajectory of the plot. Author B.P. Walter masterfully weaves the storyline together, seamlessly carrying the reader along with this fascinating, vengeful and self-absorbed group of elitist characters. Rarely have I encountered a novel which left me in a constant state of heightened anticipation for the entirety of a book. Cannot recommend highly enough.
July 23, 2021
On the menu for the main course is revenge served cold with a side of betrayal and it will be delicious! If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the end, look no more. A murder, a confession and hidden secrets are the perfect ingredients in this twisty tale of deception. I enjoyed every savory, satisfying morsel of this suspenseful smorgasbord. This thriller definitely quenched my appetite! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for my copy.
Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for my copy.
May 9, 2021
Your typical whodunnit novel — some twists and plenty of unlikeable characters. By the time this picked up the pace I’d stopped caring tbh and as a result it all fell a bit flat on me.
March 11, 2021
It’s dinner time!
Grab your place setting and take a seat at the table for this twisty domestic thriller! Matthew, Charlie, Titus and Rachel are all in attendance. When Matthew is stabbed and murdered, Rachel says she did it. Or did she?
The Dinner Guest is a slow burn domestic thriller that will have you guessing until the end! Told by alternating narrators and through multiple timelines, the story goes back and forth detailing the lead up to the murder. Be prepared that the first half of the story moves very slowly, with an abundance of references to the names of the houses and neighborhoods where the characters live. Being American, unfortunately these references were lost on me, but I get it, they are posh and snobby! Needless to say, I had a difficult time getting through it until the 50% mark. While it does pick up pace quite a bit and I was surprised at the complete change in all of the characters, I was unfortunately let down by the final reveal. It is not the kind of WHY that the reader will figure out, as it is seemingly out of left field and not entirely believable. Kudos to Walter for pulling one over on me! However, I was disappointed that all of the characters turned out to be completely detestable.
Overall, this is a very intriguing mystery with a clever premise, but just fell short for me in the end.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Dinner Guest by BP Walter in exchange for an honest review.
Grab your place setting and take a seat at the table for this twisty domestic thriller! Matthew, Charlie, Titus and Rachel are all in attendance. When Matthew is stabbed and murdered, Rachel says she did it. Or did she?
The Dinner Guest is a slow burn domestic thriller that will have you guessing until the end! Told by alternating narrators and through multiple timelines, the story goes back and forth detailing the lead up to the murder. Be prepared that the first half of the story moves very slowly, with an abundance of references to the names of the houses and neighborhoods where the characters live. Being American, unfortunately these references were lost on me, but I get it, they are posh and snobby! Needless to say, I had a difficult time getting through it until the 50% mark. While it does pick up pace quite a bit and I was surprised at the complete change in all of the characters, I was unfortunately let down by the final reveal. It is not the kind of WHY that the reader will figure out, as it is seemingly out of left field and not entirely believable. Kudos to Walter for pulling one over on me! However, I was disappointed that all of the characters turned out to be completely detestable.
Overall, this is a very intriguing mystery with a clever premise, but just fell short for me in the end.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Dinner Guest by BP Walter in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2022
THE DINNER GUEST is a mystery thriller by British author. B.P. Walter. This is the first novel that I have read of this author and it won ‘t be the last. This novel will keep you guessing right until the end!
Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.
The four people are Charlie, his husband Matthew, their son Titus, and Rachel, the stranger.
Matthew, an avid reader and Charlie met Rachel at a bookstore, and Matthew ended up inviting Rachel, a total stranger to Matthew’s book club. Charlie didn’t want her at the book club, but Matthew wouldn’t listen.
But Rachel manages to worm her way into all of their lives.
The novel opens with a murder where Matthew had been stabbed at the dinner table. Rachel is holding the knife in her hand and calls the police and confesses to the killing. Charlie, Matthew's husband and their son, fifteen-year-old Titus were witnesses to the murder.
The novel is told from multiple POV’s (Charlie and Rachel) and timelines, and the tension and mystery builds up with details released on a need-to-know basis.
This mystery thriller novel has everything in it to appeal to a wide audience, as it deals with love, betrayal, addiction and revenge.
So, who killed Matthew and Why?
Many thanks to the author, Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter and NetGalley for granting- my-wish with a digital copy.
Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.
The four people are Charlie, his husband Matthew, their son Titus, and Rachel, the stranger.
Matthew, an avid reader and Charlie met Rachel at a bookstore, and Matthew ended up inviting Rachel, a total stranger to Matthew’s book club. Charlie didn’t want her at the book club, but Matthew wouldn’t listen.
But Rachel manages to worm her way into all of their lives.
The novel opens with a murder where Matthew had been stabbed at the dinner table. Rachel is holding the knife in her hand and calls the police and confesses to the killing. Charlie, Matthew's husband and their son, fifteen-year-old Titus were witnesses to the murder.
The novel is told from multiple POV’s (Charlie and Rachel) and timelines, and the tension and mystery builds up with details released on a need-to-know basis.
This mystery thriller novel has everything in it to appeal to a wide audience, as it deals with love, betrayal, addiction and revenge.
So, who killed Matthew and Why?
Many thanks to the author, Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter and NetGalley for granting- my-wish with a digital copy.
March 22, 2021
Love B P Walter’s previous book read and loved the excitement surrounding this book and it’s imminent release and was keen to read it
It’s a story surrounded in privilege, a bit like Downton/Brideshead and Bridgerton all rolled into one and updated but joking aside it is full to the brim of wealth, excess and SW1 addresses
The characters are all vile, in a word, I cant think of a single redeeming feature from any one of them, however the book wouldn’t be as it is intended if there was even a chink of decency in one of them, ‘Titus’ as well as having an objectionable name has to be one of the most obnoxious 15 year old’s ever to grace a book
The story itself starts spirited and more than intriguing and the author does really well to keep that going for so long, just as it looked like I was going to get answers it proved I wasn’t and off we went again, so much so that maybe ( for me ) it was always set up for a bit of a ‘ooooo ok I see’ when ‘all was revealed’, an amount of repetition then followed until the bitty and underwhelming yet ferociously quick ending, I felt I had invested a lot for it to end so sharply and hoped there would be more
Saying all that the writing is good, the build up and tenseness superb and the urge to sneer at all of them overpowering from time to time and think every one of them got what they ultimately deserved
6/10
3 Stars ( parts of it would be a 1 others 5 so 3 covers it )
It’s a story surrounded in privilege, a bit like Downton/Brideshead and Bridgerton all rolled into one and updated but joking aside it is full to the brim of wealth, excess and SW1 addresses
The characters are all vile, in a word, I cant think of a single redeeming feature from any one of them, however the book wouldn’t be as it is intended if there was even a chink of decency in one of them, ‘Titus’ as well as having an objectionable name has to be one of the most obnoxious 15 year old’s ever to grace a book
The story itself starts spirited and more than intriguing and the author does really well to keep that going for so long, just as it looked like I was going to get answers it proved I wasn’t and off we went again, so much so that maybe ( for me ) it was always set up for a bit of a ‘ooooo ok I see’ when ‘all was revealed’, an amount of repetition then followed until the bitty and underwhelming yet ferociously quick ending, I felt I had invested a lot for it to end so sharply and hoped there would be more
Saying all that the writing is good, the build up and tenseness superb and the urge to sneer at all of them overpowering from time to time and think every one of them got what they ultimately deserved
6/10
3 Stars ( parts of it would be a 1 others 5 so 3 covers it )
April 28, 2021
It opens with a conundrum. Four people sit down for a meal and one of them is stabbed to death, with the one holding the knife confessing to the murder. But did the confessor do it, or was it one of the other two – or is it possible there’s another answer?
The tale is told through Charlie’s eyes, he’s the husband of the Matthew, the victim. The other guests at the meal being Titus, Matthew’s fifteen-year-old adopted son, and Rachel, a girl they’d met just recently. The only female in the room is the one holding the knife. But early on it’s clear that all is not quite as it seems. When questioned by police, Charlie is evasive and his reaction to the murder is just a little strange. Also, it quickly becomes clear that Titus is a bit of an oddball, and cocksure and impudent to boot. Rachel is a something of an enigma, someone who had simply bumped into the two men at a bookshop and as a result had been invited to a reading group organised by Matthew. Seemingly, she’d subsequently inveigled her way into the family group.
As we learn more about the four main protagonists another layer to this mystery opens up: that of class divide. Charlie and Mathew had both grown up with wealth and social status, with their home being situated in a borough of London containing some of the most expensive properties anywhere in the world. Money is not a problem to them – they live high on the hog and take it all for granted. The story of how Titus came to be adopted by Mathew is eked out slowly, as is Rachel’s working class backstory. All this is entertaining in its own right, with some elements being shocking and hilarious in equal measure. But does it get us any closer to understanding what went on that fateful night?
The final section contains revelations and twists aplenty and the eventual big reveal is a surprise. Well, sort of. The clues had been spread liberally through the text and I’m sure that some eagle-eyed amateur sleuths will have worked most of it out well before the end (though not me, I have to admit). It’s a well written and skilfully constructed mystery, somewhat in the mode of an Agatha Christie novel, but with a modern makeover. I enjoyed it and would happily seek out more offerings from this author.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The tale is told through Charlie’s eyes, he’s the husband of the Matthew, the victim. The other guests at the meal being Titus, Matthew’s fifteen-year-old adopted son, and Rachel, a girl they’d met just recently. The only female in the room is the one holding the knife. But early on it’s clear that all is not quite as it seems. When questioned by police, Charlie is evasive and his reaction to the murder is just a little strange. Also, it quickly becomes clear that Titus is a bit of an oddball, and cocksure and impudent to boot. Rachel is a something of an enigma, someone who had simply bumped into the two men at a bookshop and as a result had been invited to a reading group organised by Matthew. Seemingly, she’d subsequently inveigled her way into the family group.
As we learn more about the four main protagonists another layer to this mystery opens up: that of class divide. Charlie and Mathew had both grown up with wealth and social status, with their home being situated in a borough of London containing some of the most expensive properties anywhere in the world. Money is not a problem to them – they live high on the hog and take it all for granted. The story of how Titus came to be adopted by Mathew is eked out slowly, as is Rachel’s working class backstory. All this is entertaining in its own right, with some elements being shocking and hilarious in equal measure. But does it get us any closer to understanding what went on that fateful night?
The final section contains revelations and twists aplenty and the eventual big reveal is a surprise. Well, sort of. The clues had been spread liberally through the text and I’m sure that some eagle-eyed amateur sleuths will have worked most of it out well before the end (though not me, I have to admit). It’s a well written and skilfully constructed mystery, somewhat in the mode of an Agatha Christie novel, but with a modern makeover. I enjoyed it and would happily seek out more offerings from this author.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2021
It’s dinner time!
Grab your place setting and take a seat at the table for this twisty domestic thriller! Matthew, Charlie, Titus and Rachel are all in attendance. When Matthew is stabbed and murdered, Rachel says she did it. Or did she?
The Dinner Guest is a slow burn domestic thriller that will have you guessing until the end! Told by alternating narrators and through multiple timelines, the story goes back and forth detailing the lead up to the murder. Be prepared that the first half of the story moves very slowly, with an abundance of references to the names of the houses and neighborhoods where the characters live. Being American, unfortunately these references were lost on me, but I get it, they are posh and snobby! Needless to say, I had a difficult time getting through it until the 50% mark. While it does pick up pace quite a bit and I was surprised at the complete change in all of the characters, I was unfortunately let down by the final reveal. It is not the kind of WHY that the reader will figure out, as it is seemingly out of left field and not entirely believable. Kudos to Walter for pulling one over on me! However, I was disappointed that all of the characters turned out to be completely detestable.
Overall, this is a very intriguing mystery with a clever premise, but just fell short for me in the end.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Dinner Guest by BP Walter in exchange for an honest review.
Grab your place setting and take a seat at the table for this twisty domestic thriller! Matthew, Charlie, Titus and Rachel are all in attendance. When Matthew is stabbed and murdered, Rachel says she did it. Or did she?
The Dinner Guest is a slow burn domestic thriller that will have you guessing until the end! Told by alternating narrators and through multiple timelines, the story goes back and forth detailing the lead up to the murder. Be prepared that the first half of the story moves very slowly, with an abundance of references to the names of the houses and neighborhoods where the characters live. Being American, unfortunately these references were lost on me, but I get it, they are posh and snobby! Needless to say, I had a difficult time getting through it until the 50% mark. While it does pick up pace quite a bit and I was surprised at the complete change in all of the characters, I was unfortunately let down by the final reveal. It is not the kind of WHY that the reader will figure out, as it is seemingly out of left field and not entirely believable. Kudos to Walter for pulling one over on me! However, I was disappointed that all of the characters turned out to be completely detestable.
Overall, this is a very intriguing mystery with a clever premise, but just fell short for me in the end.
3.5/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC of The Dinner Guest by BP Walter in exchange for an honest review.
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