Name: Saffia's review of An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Item: An Unwanted Guest
Rating: 4
Author: Saffia

Shari Lapena

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The twisty new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in and try to make the best of it. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead--it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm--and one another.

An Unwanted Guest

Ellie Reed

The twisty new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the House A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting away It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead--it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm.

This was a page turner. It dragged a bit in the middle but I did not know who the murderer was until the end. I respect a book that can keep you guessing. Also creepy af! I don't know why I do this to myself 😅

Saffia

clau☁️

it was fun! i would’ve liked for the author to slowly show the little clues throughout the book, but instead i just felt like she put a couple huge clues that made it too obvious so when the ending came i wasn’t really surprised.

for example, (view spoiler)[ the second time she went to touch the body it was pretty obvious for me that it was her…  (hide spoiler)]

A little slow to start but the pace improved a lot, and the ending was amazing! So unexpected. 

Alyssa deRaad

Melissa Palmer

Book #68 Read in 2018
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

This was a good, suspenseful read a la Agatha Christie. Guests travel through a snow storm to spend the weekend at a desolate inn. The first morning, a woman is found dead at the bottom of the stairs. The power and phone lines are out so police cannot be called. Then a second death happens. Then a third. Is it one of the guests doing it? Is someone that they don't know about at the inn with them? This book will keep readers guessing right up to the end as to who the murderer is. It is creepy good. I read this book on my Kindle.

Charlsy Sekyere

As I had read The Hunting Party prior to reading this book, I thought Lucy Foley had written this book halfway through. Upon checking the date of publication, I found out that this book by Shari Lapena was written before The Hunting Party. Lucy Foley has some explaining to do. 

Lol, just kidding. However, this did blow my mind, since both novels contain similar elements, particularly character types. Sometimes, Dana reminded me of Miranda, and Lauren reminded me of Emma. Henry and Beverly and their dynamic reminded me of the couple in Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney (if you read the book, you'll understand). There were a lot of parallels I made to previous books I have read in the mystery genre, mostly The Hunting Party and Rock, Paper, Scissors (both of which I have read this year).

Taking a look at the book itself, we get introduced to the various characters in the first two chapters. Usually I would find this a bit overwhelming, as I tend to forget names easily. However, I think the book does a great job of establishing the different characters and their distinct roles in the story. In fact, I would be able to remember most of the characters in this book if I were to tell someone/recommend this book. Many books in this genre, featuring multiple characters, don't excel at this, for example, The Hunting Party, which arguably leaves the reader with a bunch of unmemorable characters. 

Most of the characters in this book were unlikeable with compelling backstories (e.g. Riley), which I appreciate particularly in mystery and thriller books, as it enhances the realism of the characters. While most of the characters were okay, some could rot. You can easily figure this out while reading the book.

Although The Hunting Party is also a decent book (I also gave that book 3 stars), I preferred this one a little bit more. As a result of a few odd moments surrounding the killer, I don't think that the killer was that hard to figure out and the ending was just okay. Additionally, the characters I liked or was okay with were the ones who died. *signs and shakes head disapprovingly* A shame.

Rebecca Shaffer

I loved her first 2 books and so I was really excited about this one. However it was sadly unoriginal and felt forced. Still entertaining at times, maybe I just didn’t care enough about any of the characters. Also the audible narrator’s voice is distracting until you get used to it.

Izza

Marcie Allen

3.5⭐️
This book was good and it had a rly good plot. It was easy to get thru and was an easy read. I rly enjoyed this. Someone needs to turn this book into a film cause it would work so well :)

Lauren Tabor

Everything about this was so good! Serious And Then There Were None vibes. It really felt like a classic mystery novel and love the setting and the atmosphere was everything.

#1 National Bestseller International Bestseller A New York Times Bestseller A remote lodge in upstate New York is the perfect winter wonderland getaway . . . until the bodies start piling up. It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity--and all contact with the outside world--the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead. It looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, everyone start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm.

Lauryn Jackson

OH. MY. GOD. 
Talk about a FREAKING PLOT TWIST. 
-
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena is about of group of people snowed into a beautiful quaint hotel with no reception— and eventually the power goes out. And people keep turning up dead. 
-
I don’t even know where to start with this. Shari Lapena is a freaking mastermind. She gives so many details about things that you constantly wonder just how relevant they are to the ending of the story. Personally, I had THREE of my theories stomped on throughout the book— I doubted character backstories and wondered if they could be the murderer but Lapena kept me guessing the WHOLE. GODDAMN. TIME. 
5 out of 5 starts, for the storytelling, plot twist, reveal, just EVERYTHING. Highly recommend

El nuevo y electrizante thriller de Shari Lapena, autora de La pareja de al lado, es Agatha Christie con un chute de adrenalina. Los huéspedes que van llegando al encantador y remoto hotelito Mitchell's Inn se observan mutuamente con interés, pero desde una prudente distancia. Todos ellos han recalado allí en busca de un relajante (quizá hasta romántico) fin de semana en medio del bosque y lejos de sus vidas. Pero cuando una violenta tormenta azota las montañas, el grupo se ve completamente aislado del resto del mundo. Nadie puede entrar... ni salir. Entonces descubren el primer cadáver, y la horrible verdad sale a la luz. Tienen a un asesino entre ellos. Y no hay escapatoria. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Shari Lapena's new thriller, AN UNWANTED GUEST, is available now! "Smart and suspenseful. . . you'll never see the ending coming." --PureWow In this neighborhood, danger lies close to home. A domestic thriller packed full of secrets, and a twisty story that never stops--from the bestselling author of The Couple Next Door He looks at her, concerned. "How do you feel?" She wants to say, Terrified. Instead, she says, with a faint smile, "Glad to be home." Karen and Tom Krupp are happy--they've got a lovely home in upstate New York, they're practically newlyweds, and they have no kids to interrupt their comfortable life together. But one day, Tom returns home to find Karen has vanished--her car's gone and it seems she left in a rush. She even left her purse--complete with phone and ID--behind. There's a knock on the door--the police are there to take Tom to the hospital where his wife has been admitted. She had a car accident, and lost control as she sped through the worst part of town. The accident has left Karen with a concussion and a few scrapes. Still, she's mostly okay--except that she can't remember what she was doing or where she was when she crashed. The cops think her memory loss is highly convenient, and they suspect she was up to no good. Karen returns home with Tom, determined to heal and move on with her life. Then she realizes something's been moved. Something's not quite right. Someone's been in her house. And the police won't stop asking questions. Because in this house, everyone's a stranger. Everyone has something they'd rather keep hidden. Something they might even kill to keep quiet.

Un invitado inesperado / An Unwanted Guest

allie

4'75/5⭐
⬇️
Me ha gustado mucho esta novela.
En esta historia nos encontramos a un grupo de huéspedes que deciden pasar un fin de semana en un pequeño hotel en el bosque. Todo parece idílico hasta que aparece uno de los huéspedes muerto y a partir de ahí empiezan las acusaciones, los descubrimientos y secretos sobre todos ellos. 

He disfrutado mucho de esta novela. Desde el principio me ha mantenido enganchada y atrapada y quería seguir y seguir leyendo para averiguar absolutamente todo sobre la historia y los protagonistas.
Desde el principio sospechas de todos y yo por lo menos en ningún momento he tenido un claro culpable. Siempre aparecen nuevas pistas, secretos y confesiones que te hacen pensar que podría ser el culpable cualquiera de los protagonistas.
Como punto negativo, y es por eso por lo que no he dado la máxima puntuación, es por el final. Me ha resultado un final algo rápido, precipitado y me ha parecido que se ha resuelto todo muy deprisa y eso me ha gustado menos.

"Un invitado inesperado" es una historia adictiva, entretenida y muy ágil. A pesar de todos los datos y la historia de los personajes que nos va mostrando la autora, todo se entiende súper bien. 
Los personajes me han gustado mucho, cada uno con sus cosas y sus secretos y ha sido bastante interesante y adictivo.
Una novela de misterio fantástica y que he disfrutado mucho.

Morgan Moeller 

Shari Lapena did it again, I was so shocked by the ending. PLOT TWIST OF THE YEAR!!! I am in utter dismay... I didn't see that coming what so ever if you like mysteries novels read this one.

Fellowes Cynthia

I really enjoyed this suspense thriller. It reminded me of the Agatha Christie mystery AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. The characters were fully fleshed out, the plot carried along at a brisk pace and it held my interest throughout the book. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. 

A group of people are staying at a hotel in the dead of winter and one by one are being murdered.

Compelling and captivating.

"A weekend retreat at a cosy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway. But when the storm hits, no one is getting away. It's winter in the Catskills and Mitchell's Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing maybe even romantic weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery. So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity and all contact with the outside world the guests settle in for the long haul. Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic. Within the snowed-in paradise, something or someone is picking off the guests one by one. And there's nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm"--

Abigail Auvray

Tori Nelson

The perfect murder mystery! If you love Agatha Christie, this is the one for you! I’ve read Lapena’s other work previously and enjoyed them, but this was great! Quite a few characters, but very easy to follow and discern. It has all the elements of a good whodunnit: same setting, sketchy characters, and murders – PLURAL! 

This one reminds me why I love the genre so much, definitely recommend!

mel :)

This was exquisite. I couldn’t put it down! Such a quick read and it keeps you on your toes. Then the multiple twists were amazing. I almost wish I had more at the end but I guess the point is to keep you thinking. Highly recommend 

Amanda Autumn Berrey

First off, I didn’t expect the killer to be who the killer was. Also, the way every single character was dynamic really piqued my interest. It switches viewpoints at every chapter which I’m really grateful for because it gives you a full look into everyone’s psyche. The only complaint I have was there were some points that seemed to drag longer than they needed to. Filled with plenty of backstories within the stories though, so it’s far from boring.

Caitlin Snyder

(+) Major Agatha Christie vibes which I loved !

Kaitlyn Wendler

Unmemorable. A who done it that is gripping at points but overall struggled to get through

AS FEATURED ON BBC RADIO 2: 'Properly gripping' Romesh Ranganathan THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the number one bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR. 'Crafted like a vintage Christie and just as tense, this will be a smash hit.' Heat 'Tense. Unpredictable. Unputdownable. Shari Lapena's novels are domestic noir at its finest.' Simon Kernick ____________________ We can't choose the strangers we meet. As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell's Inn, they're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance. Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid. With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in - or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There's a killer among them - and nowhere to run. Until we find ourselves in a situation we can't escape. Trapped. ____________________ READERS LOVE SHARI LAPENA: ***** 'Best book I've read in ages' ***** 'On the edge of my seat to the end' ***** 'Had me hooked from start to finish' ***** 'Incredibly readable and unputdownable' ***** 'I haven't picked up a book in 9 years and I'm so glad that I picked this up! I loved it.' OUT NOW the new Sunday Times bestseller from Shari Lapena: THE END OF HER

The chilling and gripping Richard and Judy Book Club bestseller

Carrie Kish

I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on audio at work so I didn’t really get to focus on it but it was a fun read 

Patti Reinheimer

Quick, engaging read. I didn’t want to put it down. Thought I had the mystery figured out, but I didn’t. Loved the final twist!

My first book by this author, but definitely not my last.

Moon of Pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such a fun murder mystery! It feels like an Agatha Christie book with a modern touch and more suspense. 

Shari Lapena did an amazing job at creating the scene, the atmosphere and the suspense was definitely there. It felt claustrophobic and I was at the edge of my seat the entire time. I had so much fun reading this. 

Even though I guessed who did it, I still enjoyed every single second of it and I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for a murder mystery to read on a snowy day!

Ruth Parker 

I’ve read all of Shari Lapena’s books and LOVED them, usually with no idea what is going to happen in the end! 

This one had one of my favourite settings - a secluded hotel, snowed in so no guests could leave. I love thrillers that have people trapped and have such a mix of characters. I thought it was well written and had clear Agatha Christie vibes which I loved!

On the flip side, the characters blended into each other at the start. I found it difficult to keep up with the switching perspectives every few lies, especially Helen and Lauren, I felt at first theirs two characters, and their partners Henry and Ian were interchangeable. Of course as the book went on it got easier, but it was really hard at first.

Also, although I had no idea why, I guessed whodunnit fairly early on and was proved right. 

The little twist at the end was a bit of fun though!

Ruby Huber

This book had my heart racing the whole time I was making charts lists graphs maps trying to figure it out and tbh I was only even a little bit close one time. Like damn. I did not like the ending but 90% of it was simply so good I can honestly forget about that and just enjoy the much needed adrenaline from this thing.

Ellie Reed &
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

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