The Overnight Guest

Picture it -- A remote century-old farmhouse where a horrific crime took place decades before. A raging snowstorm. No access to the outside world. An unexpected guest. 

Get ready for a dark and chilling read. 

The Overnight Guest is an atmospheric story that is told in two timelines by multiple POVs and is filled with secrets and murder. It follows True Crime writer, Wylie Lark who is staying in a remote old farmhouse with only the basic necessities so she can finish her latest book. But her plans derail when a massive snowstorm hits, she loses contact with the outside world and finds a child outside in the storm.

This dark and sinister story has an eerie locked room feel, an interesting cast and vivid descriptions of both the wintery setting and decades old murders. These combine to form a chilling, taut and atmospheric story that kept me madly flipping the pages. The story has two timelines and three POVs. The first POV is set in current day with Wylie trying to finish her book during a raging snowstorm. The second goes back to the summer of 2000 when tween BFFs Josie and Becky experience an event during a sleepover that changes their lives forever. There is a third POV and setting that I won't divulge but it reminded me of a popular book and added a malevolent feel. 

The story has great pacing and even though I saw some twists coming, there were one or two that surprised me. The multiple timelines/POVs worked well and while the transitions between them occasionally got a bit muddled, I enjoyed how Gudenkauf brought the pieces of past and present together for a tense (if perhaps a bit drawn out) finish.

This is a delightfully ominous and unputdownable story to read this winter as the snow flies, the chill sets in and you're looking to hunker down with a hot bevvie and a book. Bundle up, my friends, and be prepared for this eerie story to keep you reading until the wee hours. Look for it in January 2022 or preorder now!

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Park Row books for my advanced digital copy provided in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Heather Gudenkauf

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Park Row (Harlequin)

First Published: January 25, 2022

Opening Lines: On August 12, 2000, Abby Morris, out of 

breath with sweat trickling down her temple, was hurrying 

down the gray ribbon of gravel road for her nightly walk.

Book Description from GoodReads: A woman receives an unexpected visitor during a deadly snowstorm in this chilling thriller from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf

She thought she was alone…

True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace.

As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls—haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.