An Unwanted Guest

[Anne-Marie]

Shades of Agatha Christie: a limited cast of characters, cut off from the world in an isolated, snowbound hotel, as the bodies start mounting up.

The fear and menace are slowly ratcheted up, as the power goes off, the oil lamps run dry, and the batteries of phone torches die. A very spooky atmosphere is created as the backdrop for the action. The book draws you in, with it’s reveal, conceal of twists and turns. Very well crafted by Shari Lapena.

This whodunit was very much character driven, with each one revealing their dark secrets, and hidden pasts. Their interesting back stories were cleverly revealed, and kept me guessing. The characters are all well written, with enough information tantalisingly given for each one to be a suspect, but with just enough secrecy left for the murderer not to be given away until the reveal.

Fast paced and atmospheric, a very enjoyable murder mystery, presented in an almost vintage format.