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The Guest
She told him to make himself at home. He did.
Life has been good to Ellie – she owns a successful art gallery, is deeply in love with her husband, Seth, and has two beautiful children, Brandon and Simone.
But not everything is perfect…
Lately, Seth seems to have something on his mind and has become cold and distant. And things don’t improve when he invites the mysterious stranger Ace to stay in their home.
Ace is charming, but Ellie can’t help feeling there’s more to him than meets the eye, that he has some kind of agenda. She’s also aware that she is dangerously attracted to him.
Then a girl at Brandon’s school is murdered, and Ellie is beyond devastated when the police tell her they think her son might be involved.
Ellie knows in her heart that Brandon is innocent and she feels certain that Ace is somehow connected to the disturbing things that are happening. She starts to dig for the truth and uncovers the terrible secret that will change her life in ways she can’t imagine…
The stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of K. L. Slater, Teresa Driscoll, and Andrew Hart.
Life has been good to Ellie – she owns a successful art gallery, is deeply in love with her husband, Seth, and has two beautiful children, Brandon and Simone.
But not everything is perfect…
Lately, Seth seems to have something on his mind and has become cold and distant. And things don’t improve when he invites the mysterious stranger Ace to stay in their home.
Ace is charming, but Ellie can’t help feeling there’s more to him than meets the eye, that he has some kind of agenda. She’s also aware that she is dangerously attracted to him.
Then a girl at Brandon’s school is murdered, and Ellie is beyond devastated when the police tell her they think her son might be involved.
Ellie knows in her heart that Brandon is innocent and she feels certain that Ace is somehow connected to the disturbing things that are happening. She starts to dig for the truth and uncovers the terrible secret that will change her life in ways she can’t imagine…
The stunning psychological thriller, perfect for fans of K. L. Slater, Teresa Driscoll, and Andrew Hart.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2020
3687 people are currently reading
2028 people want to read
About the author
Cathryn Grant
81 books390 followersCathryn is the author of over forty novels. She writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and the ALEXANDRA MALLORY series which features a sociopath you can’t help but love. Readers say they're “absolutely addicted” to the series.
The things that cause torment in real life—obsession and revenge, guilt and envy and longing—are endlessly fascinating in fiction and she never grows tired of writing stories about characters struggling to overcome the worst.
Cathryn also writes ghost stories because who knows what lies beyond our senses—The Haunted Ship Trilogy and the Madison Keith series of novellas.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, walking on the beach, or playing golf, going way out of her way to avoid hitting her ball in the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California Coast with her husband and her cat, Cleopatra.
You can get in touch with her by email, find her social media links, or sign up for her monthly newsletter at cathryngrant.com/contact. As a thank you for signing up, you’ll receive a free short story about Alexandra Mallory.
The things that cause torment in real life—obsession and revenge, guilt and envy and longing—are endlessly fascinating in fiction and she never grows tired of writing stories about characters struggling to overcome the worst.
Cathryn also writes ghost stories because who knows what lies beyond our senses—The Haunted Ship Trilogy and the Madison Keith series of novellas.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, walking on the beach, or playing golf, going way out of her way to avoid hitting her ball in the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California Coast with her husband and her cat, Cleopatra.
You can get in touch with her by email, find her social media links, or sign up for her monthly newsletter at cathryngrant.com/contact. As a thank you for signing up, you’ll receive a free short story about Alexandra Mallory.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews
May 14, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 24 May 2020
I had extremely high hopes for this book. The premise was inviting and I was excited to get to review it. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it at all. The stories seem to drag on for me and though it was tagged as a thriller with twists and turns, it didn’t live up to its potential. I found the characters to be one dimensional and lackluster. The ending didn’t give me the chills I think the author was looking for.. Overall, I was extremely disappointed.
I had extremely high hopes for this book. The premise was inviting and I was excited to get to review it. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it at all. The stories seem to drag on for me and though it was tagged as a thriller with twists and turns, it didn’t live up to its potential. I found the characters to be one dimensional and lackluster. The ending didn’t give me the chills I think the author was looking for.. Overall, I was extremely disappointed.
June 12, 2021
The Guest is the first book I have read by Cathryn Grant, but definitely won't be my last. I appreciated that the story was told from only the perspective of the main character, Ellie. Many thrillers are told from multiple POVs. While I enjoy this, it was a refreshing change to have only one POV to follow. I liked how the thread of suspense was gradually woven throughout the story. This nail-biting tale of the intricate workings of family dynamics kept me feverishly turning pages until the shocking conclusion. Betrayal, guilt and fear are feelings that lead to unthinkable actions in this engrossing thriller! Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my ARC!
June 20, 2020
Seth and Ellie have two children Brandon and Simone. She runs a successful gallery and they seem to have a good life together, however Seth invites Ace a friend of his cousin to stay, Ellie is displeased. Seems like that’s not the only thing Seth is keeping from her.
When a girl from Brandon’s school goes missing the police start to question him, it soon becomes a murder investigation and Brandon who was bullied by the victim is the number one suspect.
Things take a turn for the worst when her gallery is broken into and a valuable painting is destroyed. She suspects Ace and starts to look into his past.
This is such a great psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my sofa. Loved the twist at the end which I never saw coming!!
A must read book but be warned you will not be able to put it down - so clear you’re diary for a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
When a girl from Brandon’s school goes missing the police start to question him, it soon becomes a murder investigation and Brandon who was bullied by the victim is the number one suspect.
Things take a turn for the worst when her gallery is broken into and a valuable painting is destroyed. She suspects Ace and starts to look into his past.
This is such a great psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my sofa. Loved the twist at the end which I never saw coming!!
A must read book but be warned you will not be able to put it down - so clear you’re diary for a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
May 30, 2020
4☆ A Twisty Thriller Mystery.
The Guest is a Twisty and at times dark Thriller Mystery.
I don't want to go too much into detail as the blurb gives enough away to capture your intrigue.
What would you do if your husband invited a complete stranger into your home and into your family?
What if this stranger was intriguing, sexy, almost too good to be true, yet somehow dangerous?
Then things start to unravel....a murder, a break in, your son a suspect.... is this stranger at the heart of it all or is it someone closer to home?
There is plenty of what ifs, lies, secrets and suspense, and a few lil twists that keep you enthralled.
This book is a slower paced start and towards the end the tension built nicely.
Overall a good thriller mystery that has a few threads that weave together to keep you guessing.
Thank you to Dampebbles Tours and Inkubator Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
The Guest is a Twisty and at times dark Thriller Mystery.
I don't want to go too much into detail as the blurb gives enough away to capture your intrigue.
What would you do if your husband invited a complete stranger into your home and into your family?
What if this stranger was intriguing, sexy, almost too good to be true, yet somehow dangerous?
Then things start to unravel....a murder, a break in, your son a suspect.... is this stranger at the heart of it all or is it someone closer to home?
There is plenty of what ifs, lies, secrets and suspense, and a few lil twists that keep you enthralled.
This book is a slower paced start and towards the end the tension built nicely.
Overall a good thriller mystery that has a few threads that weave together to keep you guessing.
Thank you to Dampebbles Tours and Inkubator Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
May 7, 2020
Ellie’s husband Seth has invited a friend of his cousin to move into their home. She is unhappy about this man Ace moving in and the fact that her husband has lost his job and didn’t tell her.
Her teenage son is having problems and school and the police have questioned him about the disappearance of a school friend because he had a crush on the missing girl.
A thriller with lots of twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 3
Her teenage son is having problems and school and the police have questioned him about the disappearance of a school friend because he had a crush on the missing girl.
A thriller with lots of twists and turns.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. 3
May 20, 2020
Ellie is married with 2 children, loves her husband, owns a gallery that she loves. Looking in from the outside reveals a perfect life ... but that's deceiving.
Seth, her husband has become distant. If she didn't know better, he could be having an affair. And then he invites a stranger, Ace, to stay in there house ... for a week or so. Supposedly Ace is a friend of Seth's cousin .. who Ellie has never heard of.
She finds herself attracted to the newcomer, but she also has a feeling of something not quite right.
A school acquaintance of her son is found murdered and she's devastated to learn that the police suspect him. The murdered girl has been known to bully Brandon .. but she knows that he is innocent.
And then her gallery is broken into and a valuable painting is destroyed. She already suspects Ace of having a problem ... but then she learns something so disturbing she contacts the police.
This is a stunning psychological thriller filled with angst and tension from the very first page. The characters are deftly drawn ... warts and all. The ending was quite unexpected with truths revealed that left me almost breathless.
Many thanks to the author / Inkubator Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Seth, her husband has become distant. If she didn't know better, he could be having an affair. And then he invites a stranger, Ace, to stay in there house ... for a week or so. Supposedly Ace is a friend of Seth's cousin .. who Ellie has never heard of.
She finds herself attracted to the newcomer, but she also has a feeling of something not quite right.
A school acquaintance of her son is found murdered and she's devastated to learn that the police suspect him. The murdered girl has been known to bully Brandon .. but she knows that he is innocent.
And then her gallery is broken into and a valuable painting is destroyed. She already suspects Ace of having a problem ... but then she learns something so disturbing she contacts the police.
This is a stunning psychological thriller filled with angst and tension from the very first page. The characters are deftly drawn ... warts and all. The ending was quite unexpected with truths revealed that left me almost breathless.
Many thanks to the author / Inkubator Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 5, 2020
Mixed feelings on this suspenseful domestic thriller by Cathryn Grant. I liked the beginning of the book a whole lot. The writer is adept at building suspense. And the premise is great - what if your husband brings a random guest to stay with you in the house without asking? And the guest is rather scary, but also kind of hot - and you really don't know why he's staying in your house. Two thumbs up on the premise and the initial thrills it brought with it - this was very original for a domestic thriller, and for the first half of the book I read it all in one sitting with great interest.
Unfortunately towards the last third of the book, the story began to fall apart a bit for me. The book took a turn away from its initial focus, so that by the end I felt like too many separate threads and questions from the beginning were not fully resolved. To me, the biggest question was, why did Ellie's husband bring this guy home to stay? I didn't feel like the answer to that (which was the whole premise of most of the book) lived up to my expectations. Also....without spoiling the plot,I will say that I come to a domestic thriller for the either the villain or the hero. I need to either enjoy the deliciousness of a villain enough to want them to get away with it, or despise them enough to want them to get caught. I also usually need to identify with/like the hero(ine) enough to root for them. I did not feel like I was able to connect that way here - I think because certain aspects of the characters and their relationships that came into play the last third of the book were not developed enough in the first part of the book.
Despite that, the book was well-written and I would give this author another try - the first half was very readable and shows she understands how to build suspense and deliver the thrills you want in this kind of book. I would give this book a 3.5. It had potential, but ultimately didn't thrill me like I hoped.
Thanks to NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and Inkubator Books for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Unfortunately towards the last third of the book, the story began to fall apart a bit for me. The book took a turn away from its initial focus, so that by the end I felt like too many separate threads and questions from the beginning were not fully resolved. To me, the biggest question was, why did Ellie's husband bring this guy home to stay? I didn't feel like the answer to that (which was the whole premise of most of the book) lived up to my expectations. Also....without spoiling the plot,I will say that I come to a domestic thriller for the either the villain or the hero. I need to either enjoy the deliciousness of a villain enough to want them to get away with it, or despise them enough to want them to get caught. I also usually need to identify with/like the hero(ine) enough to root for them. I did not feel like I was able to connect that way here - I think because certain aspects of the characters and their relationships that came into play the last third of the book were not developed enough in the first part of the book.
Despite that, the book was well-written and I would give this author another try - the first half was very readable and shows she understands how to build suspense and deliver the thrills you want in this kind of book. I would give this book a 3.5. It had potential, but ultimately didn't thrill me like I hoped.
Thanks to NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and Inkubator Books for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 29, 2020
Rating 2.75-3 Stars
I received this copy via NetGalley in return for my honest review.
As I stated above this copy was given to me by NetGalley it’s also my very first book I reviewed for them so I was extremely excited to read The Guest. Excited the point of doing cartwheels in my backyard..lol not really but pretty excited still! Unfortunately this book was not for me. The book seems to be about one matter but goes in a completely different direction. Which is all good, it’s what a twist is about but it’s the way it’s delivered I didn’t like.
The whole story moved pretty slow, it had a lot of mundane things thrown in that really could have been cut but then it would be a Novella I’m guessing.
And none of the characters had depth, their personalities were very lacking.
I do have to say I didn’t see the ending coming until the book was almost done, and it was pretty shocking especially with some of the characters moral compasses being what they are.
I think part of me was expecting an A+ book my for my first NetGalley experience but this definitely may appeal to other readers who enjoy mystery/suspense genres who like a slow build and a big pow at the end.
I received this copy via NetGalley in return for my honest review.
As I stated above this copy was given to me by NetGalley it’s also my very first book I reviewed for them so I was extremely excited to read The Guest. Excited the point of doing cartwheels in my backyard..lol not really but pretty excited still! Unfortunately this book was not for me. The book seems to be about one matter but goes in a completely different direction. Which is all good, it’s what a twist is about but it’s the way it’s delivered I didn’t like.
The whole story moved pretty slow, it had a lot of mundane things thrown in that really could have been cut but then it would be a Novella I’m guessing.
And none of the characters had depth, their personalities were very lacking.
I do have to say I didn’t see the ending coming until the book was almost done, and it was pretty shocking especially with some of the characters moral compasses being what they are.
I think part of me was expecting an A+ book my for my first NetGalley experience but this definitely may appeal to other readers who enjoy mystery/suspense genres who like a slow build and a big pow at the end.
April 7, 2021
*GIANT EYE ROLL!!!*
I don’t usually leave bad reviews but my god did I dislike this book! It was so terrible I was desperate for it to finish. I would have stopped reading but I’m one of these annoying people who HAS to finish because my curiosity gets the better of me. The ending as expected was awful & ridiculous! It was incredibly predictable and I hated the main character. She couldn’t seem to have a meal without a glass (or bottle) of wine it was actually a surprise when she drank water or tea! She was a complete hypocrite and the majority of the book was just the ramblings of this woman’s head asking herself a million questions, and being a manipulative, pretentious control freak (whilst drinking glasses upon glasses of wine). I feel terrible writing this but it’s my honest review.
I don’t usually leave bad reviews but my god did I dislike this book! It was so terrible I was desperate for it to finish. I would have stopped reading but I’m one of these annoying people who HAS to finish because my curiosity gets the better of me. The ending as expected was awful & ridiculous! It was incredibly predictable and I hated the main character. She couldn’t seem to have a meal without a glass (or bottle) of wine it was actually a surprise when she drank water or tea! She was a complete hypocrite and the majority of the book was just the ramblings of this woman’s head asking herself a million questions, and being a manipulative, pretentious control freak (whilst drinking glasses upon glasses of wine). I feel terrible writing this but it’s my honest review.
August 20, 2020
This book was rather a family drama, but then near the end, it becomes a fast pacing thriller. Wow, I did not expect this ending, good good.
Thank you, NetGalley for this book.
Ellie's life was perfect, but still, not entirely true.
Thank you, NetGalley for this book.
Ellie's life was perfect, but still, not entirely true.
May 31, 2020
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This is one twisty turney read!!
I wasn't too pulled in in the first 1/3 of the book but then something seemed to grip me and pull me in so I'm glad I didn't give up on it.
Ellie has it all - a faithful husband, 2 wonderful children, her own successful business and a beautiful home. Then a handsome stranger comes to stay - invited by her husband, and a knock on the door from the police wanting to speak to her son about a girl who's gone missing.... Ellies life starts to rip apart by the seams but not everything is as it seems....
The ending to this book twisted in a way I didn't see coming and I could not put this book down in the last third of the book.
This is one twisty turney read!!
I wasn't too pulled in in the first 1/3 of the book but then something seemed to grip me and pull me in so I'm glad I didn't give up on it.
Ellie has it all - a faithful husband, 2 wonderful children, her own successful business and a beautiful home. Then a handsome stranger comes to stay - invited by her husband, and a knock on the door from the police wanting to speak to her son about a girl who's gone missing.... Ellies life starts to rip apart by the seams but not everything is as it seems....
The ending to this book twisted in a way I didn't see coming and I could not put this book down in the last third of the book.
May 24, 2020
Gave up....
May 6, 2020
The Guest by Cathryn Grant is a suspenseful whodunit that had me gripped from the outset. I appreciate a thriller that will keep me guessing until the very end, with bonus points for shock value. This one certainly delivers.
Ellie and her husband Seth have two children, Brandon and Simone. Life appears to be good, and the family ticks along quite comfortably. One day, seemingly out of the blue, Seth introduces the family to the mysterious Ace, who soon takes up temporary residence. His motives are unclear, but Ellie senses immediately that their new guest will irrevocably alter her family's course forever.
This is a fast-paced read that had me unsettled and on edge from the very start. I love a good mystery that features a stranger at the centre of it all, and I was pleasantly surprised by the many twists and jaw dropping moments of revelation. Very well played Ms Grant.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
Ellie and her husband Seth have two children, Brandon and Simone. Life appears to be good, and the family ticks along quite comfortably. One day, seemingly out of the blue, Seth introduces the family to the mysterious Ace, who soon takes up temporary residence. His motives are unclear, but Ellie senses immediately that their new guest will irrevocably alter her family's course forever.
This is a fast-paced read that had me unsettled and on edge from the very start. I love a good mystery that features a stranger at the centre of it all, and I was pleasantly surprised by the many twists and jaw dropping moments of revelation. Very well played Ms Grant.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
July 4, 2020
I just loved this book. I just wanted to read and keep going. So many twists
Ellie has the perfect life. A husband she loved, she owns a art gallery that is successful and 2 children.
What Seth invites his so-called cousins friend for dinner called ace. Axe ends up moving in and tensions was high. What Ellie thought was a perfect marriage, it wasn’t. She found herself attracted to ace.
Ellie is a wealthy woman with a prenup. Ellie is ends up doing research and finds out secrets and lies. What else will she find?
Full of twists which I never expected. Brilliant ending
Ellie has the perfect life. A husband she loved, she owns a art gallery that is successful and 2 children.
What Seth invites his so-called cousins friend for dinner called ace. Axe ends up moving in and tensions was high. What Ellie thought was a perfect marriage, it wasn’t. She found herself attracted to ace.
Ellie is a wealthy woman with a prenup. Ellie is ends up doing research and finds out secrets and lies. What else will she find?
Full of twists which I never expected. Brilliant ending
May 16, 2020
Seth, Ellie’s husband has brought home a guest for dinner- a man called Ace who appears nice but to Ellie has something else going on possibly with Seth. During dinner it transpires that Seth lost his job seven weeks ago and has been hiding it from the family. Brandon who is Ellie's son but Seth’s stepson used to get on so well with Seth but now things are different as he has grown and is now 15.. When the police knock and ask him about potentially stalking a now missing girl from his school, Brandon denies all knowledge of anything. Ellie takes his phone and finds more than she bargained for. Seth continues to act very strangely and Brandon is forming a close relationship with Ace who has now moved in as a lodger albeit temporarily invited by Seth without Ellie’s knowledge. When Seth is apparently going to a convention but doesn't seem to want to give any information about it and Ellie is getting followed she wonders what on earth is going on.
I liked Ellie and felt for her predicament but did feel that she was being rather blase about the whole Ace thing- but this is fiction! For me this was more of a domestic noir than psychological thriller- it kept me within the pages and happily turning. There was a tension of who and why why without the urgency of some reads which made it more relaxing. An enjoyable read
I liked Ellie and felt for her predicament but did feel that she was being rather blase about the whole Ace thing- but this is fiction! For me this was more of a domestic noir than psychological thriller- it kept me within the pages and happily turning. There was a tension of who and why why without the urgency of some reads which made it more relaxing. An enjoyable read
May 21, 2021
In this twisted, dark psychological thriller, we follow Ellie, a devoted mother and prominent gallery owner. Her husband invites a stranger into their home to stay for a while, and although she is wary of him, she can’t help but be attracted to him as well. But she is supposed to be in a happy marriage; her feelings for this man are misplaced. However, as her husband begins to lie and distance himself from her, Ellie realizes that he is planning something sinister, and she needs to do something about it so her children don’t get hurt.
This book was one wild ride. I am convinced those last few chapters are going to be stuck in my head for a long time because they were crazy. The Guest is definitely a slow burn thriller; it was slow going at first but picked up the pace the farther I got. I didn’t trust any of the adult characters; they were all so unlikeable and off-putting, which I usually don’t mind in thrillers (I even expect it), but the characters here were so over the top that it was bothering me. The closer I got to the end of the book, the more thrown off I was by how quickly everything happened—so much was packed into that last 10% or so—but I have to admit, I did not see the ending coming at all, and I can’t help but give this book five stars because of it. I was shocked, but in the best way possible. I absolutely loved it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC of The Guest by Cathryn Grant!
This book was one wild ride. I am convinced those last few chapters are going to be stuck in my head for a long time because they were crazy. The Guest is definitely a slow burn thriller; it was slow going at first but picked up the pace the farther I got. I didn’t trust any of the adult characters; they were all so unlikeable and off-putting, which I usually don’t mind in thrillers (I even expect it), but the characters here were so over the top that it was bothering me. The closer I got to the end of the book, the more thrown off I was by how quickly everything happened—so much was packed into that last 10% or so—but I have to admit, I did not see the ending coming at all, and I can’t help but give this book five stars because of it. I was shocked, but in the best way possible. I absolutely loved it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC of The Guest by Cathryn Grant!
November 26, 2023
I enjoyed this story about a family hiding many secrets. I thought the writer did a good job making the characters come to life, and I enjoyed the twists and turns in this story. I figured out (sort of) what was going on early on in the story, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I also loved the epilogue and final little twist to the plot. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.
June 22, 2020
If you were to ask Ellie what her life was like she would tell you that it was perfect. She is the owner of a successful art gallery and is deeply in love with her husband Seth and they have two perfect children Brandon and Simone.
But the reality didnt live up to how Ellie portrays it
Lately Seth has been cold and distant and she is certain he is keeping secrets from her. Then out of the blue he moves a handsome stranger into their home. Ellie instantly finds herself feeling attracted to the mysterious Ace and he is quickly accepted into the household by her kids.
But then Ellie's perfect world is blown apart when the police arrive on their doorstep and want to interview her beloved son about the disappearance of a teenage girl who lives on their street.
Her mother's instincts tell her that Brandon is innocent and she strongly suspects that Ace knows what happened to the girl and is also behind some other scary incidents that have plagued her recently. But when she starts digging for the truth, she begins to uncover shocking secrets that will change her life forever.
The story is voiced entirely from Ellie's perspective, she was a complex character who obviously adored her children. Despite this redeeming quality, I personally couldn't stand her, I thought she was a very irritating individual for many different reasons. She was a hypocrite, constantly changed her mind when it suited her and was a major control freak. She also had a wine obsession, she didn't seem to be able to get through the day without consuming a bottle or two. I really don't understand characters who think.that they will find the answer to all their problems at the bottom of a bottle. Their problems might go away for a while but they are guaranteed to return the next day along with the obligatory hangover. I can't say that I thought much of wonderful Seth either and as for the nosey cow who lived next door, I was so disappointed when she didn't get her comeuppance. I felt so much sympathy for poor Brandon and Simone, I think they were destined to cause Ellie a lot of problems in the future. I really liked Ace but was I correct in liking him or was there more to him than met the eye?
The Guest is a well written domestic noir with a added dash of intrigue and suspense. It's not fast paced but there was something about the story,a chilling sense of foreboding that kept you captivated by the events that were unfolding before your eyes. The characters were relatable and could have lived on any street in any town or city. I really enjoyed this book and would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
But the reality didnt live up to how Ellie portrays it
Lately Seth has been cold and distant and she is certain he is keeping secrets from her. Then out of the blue he moves a handsome stranger into their home. Ellie instantly finds herself feeling attracted to the mysterious Ace and he is quickly accepted into the household by her kids.
But then Ellie's perfect world is blown apart when the police arrive on their doorstep and want to interview her beloved son about the disappearance of a teenage girl who lives on their street.
Her mother's instincts tell her that Brandon is innocent and she strongly suspects that Ace knows what happened to the girl and is also behind some other scary incidents that have plagued her recently. But when she starts digging for the truth, she begins to uncover shocking secrets that will change her life forever.
The story is voiced entirely from Ellie's perspective, she was a complex character who obviously adored her children. Despite this redeeming quality, I personally couldn't stand her, I thought she was a very irritating individual for many different reasons. She was a hypocrite, constantly changed her mind when it suited her and was a major control freak. She also had a wine obsession, she didn't seem to be able to get through the day without consuming a bottle or two. I really don't understand characters who think.that they will find the answer to all their problems at the bottom of a bottle. Their problems might go away for a while but they are guaranteed to return the next day along with the obligatory hangover. I can't say that I thought much of wonderful Seth either and as for the nosey cow who lived next door, I was so disappointed when she didn't get her comeuppance. I felt so much sympathy for poor Brandon and Simone, I think they were destined to cause Ellie a lot of problems in the future. I really liked Ace but was I correct in liking him or was there more to him than met the eye?
The Guest is a well written domestic noir with a added dash of intrigue and suspense. It's not fast paced but there was something about the story,a chilling sense of foreboding that kept you captivated by the events that were unfolding before your eyes. The characters were relatable and could have lived on any street in any town or city. I really enjoyed this book and would happily read more of this author's books in the future.
May 26, 2020
I did not expect greatness and I wasn’t disappointed. That’s really the trick for life in general and here it worked out perfectly on a microscale. The goal was to find a quick and easy thriller read, something mindless to pass the afternoon of not wanting to make choices or invest too much time. This book was on Read Now of Netgalley and checked all the boxes, there are so many books like this out there right now, so many authors are taking advantages of this obscenely popular avalanche of female driven suspense thrillers. This author, especially, seems to produce these books like pancakes, all very similar sounding, similarly titled and probably fairly uniform in quality…which is to say just ok. This book was very much just ok. It fact, mostly it read below that ok line, like some flat Lifetime movie of the week…a woman, wife, mother, business owner, accomplished in every respect, has to put up with her sad sack of a spouse who in fact did get sacked and has been lying to her about it. And on top of it he brings a guest to stay, a good looking, good with kids, good in the kitchen kind of guest who seems to have no intentions of leaving. And for some reason our protagonist, this woman who now pays the bills, works and comes home to cook every night and tries to be a cheerleader for her waste of space man just totally goes along with all this. Presumably because the guest is so dreamy. And so then there’s this vicious triangle dynamic to play around with, which the author does her best with. Oh yeah, there’s also a murder sublot just to muddy the waters some. It’s one of those books where you just plow through the thorough mediocrity hoping the genre prerequisite plot twists in the end will save the entire production. Which is exactly the case here. Only toward the end does it get remotely interesting and mildly original. And we all learn that there’s no greater driver, no more potent motivator than mother’s love. Cue in a sappy pop country song and roll the credits. But seriously, this wasn’t by any means terrible if you go in with sufficiently low expectations, it had the decency to be brief in length and it read as quickly as this sort of thing ought to, easy one sitting read, with afternoon still left to spare. So efficient of a read this was, I'm going to be uncharacteristically generous with it. Though nothing to really recommend, unless Lifetime movie of the week is perfectly your speed. Thanks Netgalley.
May 31, 2020
All is well in Ellie Mitchell's busy life. She and her husband, Seth have two beautiful children, Brandon and Simone and Ellie has her own successful art gallery. But then Seth becomes cold and distant, and begins to act strangely, choosing to invite mysterious stranger, Ace to stay in their guest room. Ellie finds Ace charming, but not completely trustworthy and there is another problem... she is attracted to him. When a pupil attending the same school as her son is murdered and the police believe Brandon is involved, matters take an even worse turn for Ellie...
Cathryn Grant has written a tense, engaging thriller that flowed effortlessly, making it easy for me to become quickly embroiled in Ellie’s troubled life. Unable to put the book down, and when I thought the worst had already happened, something new unfolded, thereby keeping me on tenterhooks throughout. With a strong plot and totally believable, vivid characters, The Guest has an eye-popping bombshell of an ending. It was completely unexpected, exposing truths that left me dumbfounded.
Readers searching for a book that will keep them continuously guessing need to look no further than The Guest.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Inkubator Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Cathryn Grant has written a tense, engaging thriller that flowed effortlessly, making it easy for me to become quickly embroiled in Ellie’s troubled life. Unable to put the book down, and when I thought the worst had already happened, something new unfolded, thereby keeping me on tenterhooks throughout. With a strong plot and totally believable, vivid characters, The Guest has an eye-popping bombshell of an ending. It was completely unexpected, exposing truths that left me dumbfounded.
Readers searching for a book that will keep them continuously guessing need to look no further than The Guest.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Inkubator Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
June 18, 2020
This book has just what I love in a thriller: a loving mother, a sketchy husband, a new houseguest the wife is attracted to, and a murder of a local teen who had been bullying her son. You just know nothing will go as planned! The mother, Ellie is very relatable as she has a great career, loves both her son and her daughter, and balks at the fact her husband, Seth brings home a "friend" for dinner one night and invites him to stay for a few weeks. We just know it's downhill from here on in. And when the police show up to question her 14-year-old son in the murder of his classmate, she is fiercely protective but wants to shield her son from innuendo. What could go wrong? EVERYTHING! This one keeps you guessing until the final page!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
May 7, 2020
A real good psychological thriller with a twist ending !!
Ellie has a perfect life- a successful gallery of her own, loving husband and two beautiful children. Then all of a sudden, one day her husband brings in a guest, Ace, to their house to stay. Ace is both charming and mysterious and Ellie cant seem to decide whether to trust him or not.. Her life turns upside down. Her husband starts acting weird ,a girl gets murdered and her son is a suspect, her gallery gets attacked. She begins questioning everyone. Who is this Ace? Why has her husband brought him? What's going on with her son?
You will keep guessing till the end and it wont be disappointing!!
Ellie has a perfect life- a successful gallery of her own, loving husband and two beautiful children. Then all of a sudden, one day her husband brings in a guest, Ace, to their house to stay. Ace is both charming and mysterious and Ellie cant seem to decide whether to trust him or not.. Her life turns upside down. Her husband starts acting weird ,a girl gets murdered and her son is a suspect, her gallery gets attacked. She begins questioning everyone. Who is this Ace? Why has her husband brought him? What's going on with her son?
You will keep guessing till the end and it wont be disappointing!!
May 8, 2020
Never a dull moment! This, when Seth's "cousin's friend" comes into the lives of Seth and Ellie. And also, into the lives of their children; Brandon (14) and Simone (6).
This suspenseful thriller is difficult to put down. Swept into the lives of each of the characters, the reader is consistently absorbed!
The murder of a teenage girl. Who really is Ace? Are Ellie and Seth both holding secrets? And - the nightmare that unravels for Brandon...
HIGHLY Recommend! A suspenseful read for all.
Many Thanks to Inkubator and NetGalley for the chance to read and review!
This suspenseful thriller is difficult to put down. Swept into the lives of each of the characters, the reader is consistently absorbed!
The murder of a teenage girl. Who really is Ace? Are Ellie and Seth both holding secrets? And - the nightmare that unravels for Brandon...
HIGHLY Recommend! A suspenseful read for all.
Many Thanks to Inkubator and NetGalley for the chance to read and review!
May 26, 2020
I was given this title to read by Inkubator Books, in exchange for my personal review and for the first time in a long time I did not finish the book. I had a really hard time connecting with the characters and I got almost halfway through before I called it quits.
(chapter 16)
For a psychological thriller, I was bored, and didn't think I would end up loving it if I kept going. The first chapter started out great, but then the title lost me as Ellie and Seth has marital problems, mixed with an unrealistic to me houseguest, and trouble with their teenage son - just didn't mesh for me.
(chapter 16)
For a psychological thriller, I was bored, and didn't think I would end up loving it if I kept going. The first chapter started out great, but then the title lost me as Ellie and Seth has marital problems, mixed with an unrealistic to me houseguest, and trouble with their teenage son - just didn't mesh for me.
June 15, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley, Inkubator Books and the Author, Cathryn Grant for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a wild ride of a read!
This book started out as a family story of taking in a semi stranger to becoming a whodunit thriller.
A very good, easy page turner read.
I hope to read more from this Author.
What a wild ride of a read!
This book started out as a family story of taking in a semi stranger to becoming a whodunit thriller.
A very good, easy page turner read.
I hope to read more from this Author.
June 8, 2020
Recieved- via Netgalley/Publishers.
Absolutely superb book. It was paced just perfectly! The twists weren't predictable at all and I didn't see the end coming whatsoever. Very well written with almost an addictive quality to the writing.
Will definitely be reading more by this author. Brilliant!
Absolutely superb book. It was paced just perfectly! The twists weren't predictable at all and I didn't see the end coming whatsoever. Very well written with almost an addictive quality to the writing.
Will definitely be reading more by this author. Brilliant!
May 21, 2021
In this twisted, dark psychological thriller, we follow Ellie, a devoted mother and prominent gallery owner. Her husband invites a stranger into their home to stay for a while, and although she is wary of him, she can’t help but be attracted to him as well. But she is supposed to be in a happy marriage; her feelings for this man are misplaced. However, as her husband begins to lie and distance himself from her, Ellie realizes that he is planning something sinister, and she needs to do something about it so her children don’t get hurt.
This book was one wild ride. I am convinced those last few chapters are going to be stuck in my head for a long time because they were crazy. The Guest is definitely a slow burn thriller; it was slow going at first but picked up the pace the farther I got. I didn’t trust any of the adult characters; they were all so unlikeable and off-putting, which I usually don’t mind in thrillers (I even expect it), but the characters here were so over the top that it was bothering me. The closer I got to the end of the book, the more thrown off I was by how quickly everything happened—so much was packed into that last 10% or so—but I have to admit, I did not see the ending coming at all, and I can’t help but give this book five stars because of it. I was shocked, but in the best way possible. I absolutely loved it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC of The Guest by Cathryn Grant!
This book was one wild ride. I am convinced those last few chapters are going to be stuck in my head for a long time because they were crazy. The Guest is definitely a slow burn thriller; it was slow going at first but picked up the pace the farther I got. I didn’t trust any of the adult characters; they were all so unlikeable and off-putting, which I usually don’t mind in thrillers (I even expect it), but the characters here were so over the top that it was bothering me. The closer I got to the end of the book, the more thrown off I was by how quickly everything happened—so much was packed into that last 10% or so—but I have to admit, I did not see the ending coming at all, and I can’t help but give this book five stars because of it. I was shocked, but in the best way possible. I absolutely loved it.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC of The Guest by Cathryn Grant!
December 5, 2021
I'm afraid if I say anything about this, I'll give the game away, and I hadn't seen it coming so no way do I want to leave the slightest clue! What I can say is that Grant has again assembled a cast of largely materialistic, affluent, and somewhat shallow characters with whom it should be impossible to empathise, especially if you are viewing them as a Brit with no experience of anyone like them. But again, the internal obsessions, the detailed sub vocal narrative, the expression of woes and hurts, joys and loves, make them easily real enough to find some human commonality.
This is a story about relationships; adults, children, protective instincts, and reactive impulses that set each of them off on their own paths towards a solution. These paths overlap, twist, tie knots in each other, overlay, and frequently obliterate alternatives.
The narration (Audible) is perfect; exactly the right measure of suppressed hysteria and contained fear, and switches up and down for the differing emotional modes of the characters.
I'm very pleased not to be living anywhere near any of these people, but I think I know how they got to where they eventually ended up!
This is a story about relationships; adults, children, protective instincts, and reactive impulses that set each of them off on their own paths towards a solution. These paths overlap, twist, tie knots in each other, overlay, and frequently obliterate alternatives.
The narration (Audible) is perfect; exactly the right measure of suppressed hysteria and contained fear, and switches up and down for the differing emotional modes of the characters.
I'm very pleased not to be living anywhere near any of these people, but I think I know how they got to where they eventually ended up!
February 28, 2021
A really good read that grabs you and doesn’t let go!
Who killed Jessica? What does Ace want and who is he? What’s wrong with the marriage? An affair? The lies?
Just after you start to get pissed off at Ellie the heroine, things start to get clear..a wild ride with a great ending.
Who killed Jessica? What does Ace want and who is he? What’s wrong with the marriage? An affair? The lies?
Just after you start to get pissed off at Ellie the heroine, things start to get clear..a wild ride with a great ending.
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