The Lodger

by Gabriel Bergmoser, Chloe Bayliss (Narrator), Emily Weir (Narrator)

6 hours and 59 minutes

Ryan and Sophie are a golden couple in Melbourne, the charming, salt-of-the-earth country boy and the charismatic, gorgeous social butterfly. When Ryan’s father dies, leaving them the family farm, it seems like a chance for Ryan to get back to his roots and for Sophie to embrace the bucolic country life she always dreamed of. But reality proves very different, and years spent struggling against an implacable drought have pushed their marriage – and finances – to the absolute limit.

Things change when a jovial middle-aged man hires out their guest house. George’s curiosity, optimism and eccentric ideas prove to be a strange kind of balm for the couple. But as his suggestions for fixing their marriage take on a dangerous, sinister edge, both Ryan and Sophie are forced to confront how far they are willing to go to avoid hard truths – and whether George is in fact who he says he is.

Meanwhile, across the country, a young fugitive named Maggie is hunting for a man with whom she shares a twisted mutual obsession. A man who has a lot in common with George. And one who might be doing everything in his power to draw her into a final, decisive showdown.

Patricia Highsmith meets Jane Harper in this psychological thriller from the author of The Hitchhiker.

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense

Audible Audio

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Gabriel Bergmoser is a Melbourne based author and playwright. After starting out in the youth theatre scene with his early plays Windmills, Life Without Me and Hometown, Gabriel completed his Masters of Screenwriting at the Victorian College of the Arts. He co-founded the independent production company Bitten By Productions, entering the Melbourne theatre scene with the one-act comedy Reunion and the futuristic Babylon Trilogy of noir thrillers. Gabriel's 2015 Beatles comedy We Can Work It Out opened to sell out shows and rave reviews – it has also been performed in Queensland and returned to Melbourne stages for the 2018 Fringe Festival.

In 2015 he won the prestigious Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award for his pilot screenplay based on Windmills and was flown to the International Emmys in New York to accept. The same pilot was later nominated for the Monte Miller Award. In 2016 his first young adult novel, Boone Shepard, was published by Bell Frog Books; it was later shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize the day after the sequel, Boone Shepard's American Adventure was released. The third book, Boone Shepard: The Silhouette and the Sacrifice, was released in 2018 and a television adaptation is currently in development with Pirate Size Productions.

His 2016 plays The Lucas Conundrum, Regression and The Critic opened to excellent reviews while his early 2017 play Springsteen sold out its entire season. His play Heroes was nominated for the 2017 Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing and went on to win several awards, including five for Best Production and three for best script, on the 2017 VDL One Act Play Festival circuit. His first musical, Moonlite (featuring original songs by Dan Nixon) was performed as part of the 2018 Midsumma Festival; it received rave reviews, sold out its entire season, and was later selected for the highly sought after Home Grown Grassroots development initiative. His 2019 play, The Trial of Dorian Gray, sold out its entire season, was extended, then sold out again. Several of his plays have been published by Australian Plays.

In 2019 Gabriel signed a two book deal with Harper Collins, with the first, The Hunted, scheduled for publication in July 2020. The Hunted will be published in the UK by Faber with translation rights having sold to Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, Italy and France. The film adaptation is currently being developed in a joint production between Stampede Ventures and Vertigo entertainment in Los Angeles, with Gabriel writing the screenplay. He has since signed a second two book deal with Harper for his YA coming of age novel The True Colour of Little White Lies and a follow up.

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The crossover novel I didn't know I needed (and didn't actually realise I was getting at the start), bringing together the stories of Maggie and Charlotte. Notable for its jam politics as well as Bergmoser's trademark violence.

I enjoyed it while I was listening, but probably because I'm not yet a Maggie completist, there may be elements of the story that went over my head. Perhaps once I've caught up I might return to this one (it's short enough) as a grand finale for one particular character.

This is a new release, currently only available on Audible (but it's free for now).

[Felicia Baxter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got pretty into the book in the beginning, then I couldn’t even focus on it any longer and couldn’t wait for it to end.

[Terri R · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lodger ✍️ Written By, Gabriel Bergmoser
🎙️ Audiobook Narrated By, Chloe Bayliss, Emily Weir, Jamie Oxenbould, Stephen Peacocke
A young couple, Ryan & Sophie, move back to the country when Ryan inherits the families failing Wheatley farm from his now dead, abusive, father. Sophie, a city girl and social butterfly, hopes to integrate with the small town folk by making and selling her own jam. Bill is a long-term employee of the farm and was good friends with Ryan's father. After Ryan inherited the farm, Bill just continued working as things had always been.
The farm is struggling financially and unbeknownst to Ryan and against his wishes, Bill and Sophie decided to fix up the small shed to rent as a guest house. Soon after, Sophie rents it out to her first boarder, George, for five nights! Sophie is thrilled to have George, who seems like such a jovial fellow, to sit a visit and sip wine with. Ryan is not so trusting, he gets a creepy vibe about George and tells her to steer clear but she doesn't listen.
Meanwhile, in another state... there is Maggie. She has grown up in foster care and has anger issues. She is on the hunt for a man who seems to fit the description of George, she calls him, "The Driver".
Things are about to get crazy!
Terri R 🤓📚❣️

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

So many questions, no answers and oh my god Ryan! You’re an idiot! If you want to just skip to the last 4 chapters to understand what I’m referring to, please, get frustrated as I am! Could he be any dumber?

[Janice Branning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an interesting story, but very hard to follow. Understood that children can get lost in foster care system, but this shows the worst side of it. I don’t think they answered all the questions with the flow of the story.

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the Ryan/Sophie story line but I didn't get into Maggie's till the end. I see that it's a recurring character, but I've never heard of this author. I also absolutely loathed Maggie so... I was rooting for her murder. OK.

[Elise Gooding-Lord · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 I picked this one after I finished “Backstory” because I loved that one so much. This had similar vibes but without any of the cohesive elements that tied “Backstory” together. It was super confusing and disjointed and I couldn’t figure out the overall theme. I wasn’t as excited by this one.

[Veronica M C · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok and I finished the free book. This is probably one I'll soon forget about since none of the characters were very likeable. And Maggie reminded me of Dexter in that she only liked people that she judged as bad people.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think Gabriel will ever bring out a book that isn't worthy of 5 stars!! Love him, love his whole back catalogue and love the mention of suburbs so close to my hometown ❤️

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strange story and no likable characters. A lot going on in the story. Hard to keep up with it at times.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at chapter two. Not for me

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride! The Driver was pretty terrifying. Nothing like a smiling serial killer to make your nightmares.

I need more of Maggie in my life.

[cheri · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF At Chapter 3.
Not my cup of tea

[Alice LeFae · Rating 2 out of 5]

predictable, surface level plot with unlikable characters all around.

[Roni Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

No surprise there - nice reading. Liked the ending a bit on the positive note.

[Kaya Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lodger isn’t the easiest to follow but it’s got some moments of suspense and an interesting storyline. It’s free on audible too.

[Alison Giese · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I did enjoy this book, but the characters were a bit one-dimensional. It was fast-paced, and a fun read.

[Becky Beals · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many plot/character holes.

[Andrew Borg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think the story is as terrible as other reviewers said. It was entertaining but I've read better hence the 3 stars

[Daphne Hoefler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read/listen. Hard to follow at times but an overall interesting and somewhat suspenseful book.

[Taylor G · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not stay focused on this book so I was just lost the whole time. I couldn't get into it.

[Darcey 👍 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[_biancasbookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a confession—this was my very first audiobook, and wow, what a one to start with! The Lodger tells the story of Ryan and Sophie on the farm Ryan inherited from his late father. In an effort to bring in some extra income, Sophie lists the property online and rents out the cottage to a man named George. But George isn’t what he seems…

One of the absolute highlights for me was the return of my favourite Gabriel Bergmoser character ever—Maggie. If I ever found myself in a knife fight, she’s the one I’d want by my side.

In true Gabe fashion, this audiobook is fast-paced, shocking, and utterly addictive. I couldn’t stop listening until the very end. 5/5.

[Anna Esteves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the synopsis of this book better than the actual book.