The House Guest is the newest release by Mark Edwards. This is the 5th book I have read by Edwards. It is a mystery/thriller about a couple who arranges to house-sit for their new friends that they met on a cruise. Mysterious characters appear and disappear, and the house guests try to piece the mystery together. I enjoyed the mystery and pacing. It’s a quick read, and it grabs your interest from the beginning. I struggled with the plausibility of some of the story lines. There was not much character development, but there was enough to follow the story. I have liked other books by this author better, but I didn’t dislike this one. Thank you to Mark Edwards, Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

The House Guest centres around an impulsive decision by young couple, Ruth and Adam, to invite an unknown woman to stay with them while they are house-sitting in New York. As a regular reader of Mark’s books, I was instantly suspicious of Eden’s motives, although saying that, knowing how often Mark throws me for a loop, it wasn’t long before I was distrustful of pretty much every character.

I found this to be a slightly slower burning book than others I have read by Mark, with the tension and intrigue gradually building towards a very dramatic climax. This book has reignited an old interest in cults stemming from my college days, and I am sure will lead to me delving back into reading about them. Hopefully I won’t fall quite as far down the rabbit hole as eccentric Wanda, although I did absolutely love her as a character.

This really is a read in one sitting kind of book, so make sure you clear your schedule and stock up on snacks before diving in.

A perfect summer. A perfect stranger. A perfect nightmare.

When British twenty-somethings Ruth and Adam are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York, they can’t say no. Young, in love and on the cusp of professional success, they feel as if luck is finally on their side.

So the moment that Eden turns up on the doorstep, drenched from a summer storm, it seems only right to share a bit of that good fortune. Beautiful and charismatic, Eden claims to be a friend of the homeowners, who told her she could stay whenever she was in New York.

They know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers—let alone invite them into your home—but after all, Eden’s only a stranger until they get to know her.

As suspicions creep in that Eden may not be who she claims to be, they begin to wonder if they’ve made a terrible mistake…

The House Guest is the chilling new psychological thriller from the three million copy bestselling author of Here to Stay and Follow You Home.
This book is well written and keeps you turning the pages. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.
Not all the characters were likeable, but the main protagonist Adam was very likeable and easily relatable.
A really good read, I will be trying more books from this Author.

Mark Edwards is one of my favourite writers, there is no doubt about it. I have been reading his thrillers for quite a few years now and I still can honestly say, I have not read one bad book of his. If you haven’t read anything by him before, let me explain to you that he writes about scary, creepy situations happening to normal people. I think this is why I find them so eerie as it really makes you think about what could happen in circumstances that you yourself may go through but with things obviously taking a turn for the worst. Things such as neighbours, in-laws and jobs from hell but with murder involved!

When I saw I was granted my request to review this on Netgalley I was bouncing off the walls but I was also concerned if this would live up to my high expectations.

The House Guest follows British couple Adam and Ruth who are spending the summer house sitting in New York for two of their wealthy friends Jack and Mona. Ruth is an upcoming actress and is about to be the lead in a Broadway show so finding somewhere to stay in a nice area of New York is perfect for them both.

When it comes to the last week of them both living in the house before their friends return, they hear a knock on the door to find a woman about their age, soaking wet from the rain asking for Jack and Mona. She explains she is a friend of theirs, her name is Eden and she was hoping to stay for a bit as she had been travelling for a long time to get to New York. She appears to be down to earth, charismatic and seems convincing enough that she knows their friends very well. Would you ask her in and let her stay if you were in this situation? Of course in true thriller style, naïve Adam and Ruth do. The question is, will they live to regret their decision?

I read this in two sittings. The first sitting I read over 80% of it one evening and finished the last part first thing when I woke up in the morning as I needed to find out what was going to happen. This is the thing with Mark’s writing, it just flows so easily and you can’t take your eyes off the page. He has a talent for turning a simple situation into something shocking. My heart was racing I was that anxious about what was happening to Adam and Ruth.

I thought I knew how things were going to play out in this book but I was completely wrong and I don’t think many people will be able to guess correctly either so I don’t want to write any spoilers. All I can say is, Mark Edwards has done it again. Another fantastic read and if you haven’t read any of his books yet, make sure you do!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Amazon Publishing UK for letting me read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read a lot of Mark Edwards' books, which is why I jumped on this ARC. However, I was disappointed. This was a decent mystery, but the psychological impact was missing due to a lack of background and characterization. There were also some continuity issues that contributed to the rushed feeling. Sorry, Mark.

The House Guest is bestselling master of suspense Mark Edwards’s sixteenth psychological thriller and, as always, the plot is taut and exciting from the get-go; I soon found myself absolutely riveted to the spot and hanging on the authors every word. It feels so exhilarating to know that you can steadfastly rely on Edwards to produce a dark, gritty, twisty tale full of intrigue, mystery, suspense and surprises every time he publishes. The book is about a British couple, Adam and Ruth, who are house-sitting in Brooklyn, New York, for a couple they met on a cruise when a young woman appears at the door looking very dishevelled. She claims to the house owners. The couple invite her in and… well, you’ll quickly realise everything is not as it seems. Who is this strange woman, and what exactly does she want from them?

For many a long year, we have taught our children about ”stranger danger” yet here we as adults believe we are safe to open the door to a complete stranger in the pitch black. Mark Edwards is at the top of the domestic-based thriller game and somehow he manages to make this plot seem fresh and completely original. The plot keeps the cogs whirring upstairs with its many, many layers and action aplenty which eventually begin to peel back to reveal plenty of home truths as the novel progresses. So turn your phone onto silent, cancel the day's chores and ensure that everyone knows that you will be incommunicado for the evening and prepare for a wild ride that all thrill-seekers will adore. Unreservedly recommended. A must-read page-turner that certainly doesn't disappoint. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC.

First and foremost, a large thank you to Mark Edwards and netgalley for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Adam and Ruth are house-sitting in New York while Ruth stars in a play.  Her career is really taking off, whereas Adam's seems to be at a standstill.

When a woman shows up at their door, drenched from a sudden downpour, they invite her in.  After all, Eden knows the owners of the house, and was just going to surprise them with a visit.  Unfortunately, she didn't know they had gone to Mexico for a retreat.  They invite her to stay.

After a drunken evening together, Adam wakes up with an awful hangover.  Both Ruth and Eden are missing.  It soon becomes evident that they actually knew very little about Eden.  The police aren't interested in finding Ruth, so Adam is determined to find her on his own.  He ends up with some unexpected help, and it turns out he needs it.

Mark Edwards writes in such a way that I am always looking for exciting twists, yet am usually still surprised by some of the directions in which the plot develops. He has a knack for taking a simple situation and turning it on its head with strong characters and the odd spine tingling chills.

This is a must read book which I thoroughly Enjoyed And Would Highly Recommend!!

Another Fantastic Book!! Mark Edwards

Ruth is an up and coming actress and her boyfriend Adam is an aspiring writer. When they were on a cruise, they met and agreed to house sit for one and Jack. One stormy night a young woman knocks on the door looking for Mona and Jack. She tells Adam that she is a friend of the couple. Adam and Ruth invite her to stay. The three of them get along until the night they all get drunk. When Adam wakes up the next day, he discovers that Ruth and Eden have disappeared without trace.

I love when I see a Mark Edwards book up for request on NetGalley. The book is action packed, full of surprises, twist and turns and at times a little far fetched. The pace is steady. I don't want to say to much a out the plot as it would give too much away. This story is told from Adam's point of view. This is a most enjoyable read.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yeah Uh huh. Never take the word of someone just because they said so. Dark and twisty this story will have you glued to your favorite chair because you just won't want to put it down. A must read.. Happy reading!

Adam and Ruth are living the dream! Mona and Jack, a couple they met on a cruise, have offered them their New York apartment for the summer. Ruth has just started rehearsals for a Broadway show and Adam is working on a novel. Then, one rainy afternoon, Eden arrives at the apartment and tells them that the owners, her friends, have told her to drop in anytime. What does Adam do?

Of course he invites her in. And all goes well for several days until after a wild night spent with a bottle of Tequila, Adam wakes up to find both Ruth and Eden missing. A day later, when Mona and Jack return home, Adam realizes something is really wrong when Jack asks “Who is Eden?”

Adam is plunged into a dark world of evil while he tries to find Ruth and learn more about the mysterious Eden. No spoilers here. This is an excellent, incredibly fast paced psychological thriller. 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Mark Edwards for this ARC.

I just loved this book, the first by this author that I have read and it won't be the last.

I settled down to read and was straightaway transported to New York and what seemed like a dream house sitting job for Ruth and Adam. That is until Eden turned up on the doorstep and got herself invited to stay. Because the title of the book is The House Guest I read the pages waiting for something awful to happen, every move I thought - this is going to be it. But it wasn't and I got lulled into the story line of the three of them in the house just going about their business.

A few little things happened to indicate all maybe wasn't as it should be, but nothing to prepare me for what was to follow. I don't do spoilers so all I can say is that from the moment everything changed I could not put the book down. I read it non stop until I found out what was going on. Even when I did find out there were so many twists that had me exclaiming out loud. Then just as I was congratulating myself on having worked part of it out (or so I thought!) there were more twists and turns.

The author took me on a real adventure - it all happened so fast from the carefree New York house sitting to ...............well I can't say but I feel like I've been in a whirlwind - in a good way. This book made me think I knew it all at one point, but it's so well crafted you actually only think what the author wants you to think. Such clever writing.

Another great read from Mark Edwards. This is a fast paced domestic thriller that has a few twists in store.
Adam and Ruth are house sitting for a couple they met on a cruise and one night they have a visitor.
Eden is dripping wet on the doorstep and says she’s there to visit the owners. When Ruth and Adam tells her they’ve gone away, Eden is very disappointed and it seems has nowhere to stay.
Ruth invites her to stay as after all she says she knows Mona so what harm could it do?
Part of me wondered what on earth they were doing letting her stay but then as house sitters themselves, they wouldn’t want to turn their friend’s visitor away.
After a night of drinking far too much Adam wakes the following morning to discover Ruth and Eden have gone and as the days go on, he starts to panic.
I can’t say anymore as it would spoil it, but it’s a great story and one that had me hooked.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Brilliant from start to finish. Mark Edwards really knows how to create atmosphere and suspense. The twists were totally unexpected and I still have shivers down my spine. I would definitely recommend this book and any book by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A hard to talk about book, because it's so straightforward that saying anything about the plot is going to reveal pretty much everything. An intriguing start (for a moment there I thought we'll have some fantastical elements - that would have been interesting, but nah...) but by the 40% mark I was pretty sure where the plot was going. I hoped for a twist to make the experience original, but no luck there! Despite all that, the writing style is rather gripping and if you're after a "beach read" filled with a bit of tension then this is the book for you.

Mark Edward's writing is effortless. 5/5 for his writing. Amazing job on making this story a page turner.
Storyline was unique, or at least to me. I connected with the characters, but could not connect with the plot for some reason. Although very real in society, it's just a subject I cannot connect with.
I would definitely recommend for a quick, I-need-to-know-what-happens read!

Nothing like I thought!
I started this book safe in the knowledge it was a Mark Edwards book and from previous books had read I knew I would enjoy it
It was just as I wanted, Ruth and Adam are house-sitting for friends in New York when Eden appears, saying she is a friend of their friends and was ‘calling to see them and stay’......of course Ruth and Adam invite her in, out of the rain and yep let her stay, perfect for what I wanted to read, next up ( I thought ) Eden will seduce Adam, Ruth will become suss and ‘twill all end, after a few twists, nicely
Wrong
Very wrong
The book takes a sharp and unexpected turn and goes off on a surprising tangent that readers will either love or not love, I found it ‘interesting’ and ‘thought provoking’ and,once I got over my grumpiness
at how the book wasnt going to follow my route, different enough to be intriguing
I dont want to give anything away really but the characters are in equal measure annoying and likeable, the writing easy to be involved with quickly and it was good to be foxed by a plot and storyline that was very different

8/10
4.5 Stars

It's quite difficult to review this book without giving any spoilers so forgive me for treading very carefully! This is a relatively fast-paced book which I appreciated as I just don't have the appetite for a slow-burner right now. Admittedly, I was pretty sceptical that anyone would let a stranger into the home they are house sitting as Ruth and Adam do but I brushed this aside the a premise was very intriguing. Sure, the story felt pretty far fetched but the author has a way of turning ordinary circumstances into a thrilling escapade. <spoiler> I really enjoyed the inclusion of cults although as it seems many readers of this book have agreed, I would have liked more detail and more pages spent on how the 'network' actually 'helped' the people in it. </spoiler> One criticism I do think it is worth pointing out is that the majority of Edward's male protagonists are all interchangeable. They all blur into one which is frustrating when the author has so much depth and frankly, a little dull.

Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Mark Edwards fans will be delighted to know that all the hallmarks of his other bestselling books are packed into his latest, The House Guest. It’s easy to read (in the best possible way), bursting with surprises and peopled with characters you get to know well very quickly. I raced through it, loving and hating the characters by turns, gasping as more and more was revealed. Edwards managed to lead me totally astray as to the agendas of some characters. Wow! Fun, misleading, gripping, mysterious, frustrating and scary. Great read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for this ARC!

I've been a fan of Mark Edwards since I read Magpies and couldn't put it down so to be picked to read this I was excited to read it!
It started off fab and I got sucked into the story of The House Guest who turned up at the house they are staying in in New York.
However, as much as I was gripped by the story, it was the cult aspect that I didnt really enjoy or get into. It seemed too far fetched and made me think what?? whenever I read anything about it. I loved the idea of this book and it did make me want to keep reading but the plot wasnt something I enjoyed.
I also thought the ending just didnt sound like the characters and I felt a bit sorry for Adam as his whole life had been changed and not for the better.
Had such high hopes for this book but wasnt what I was expecting.

It started off a little slow and I thought about not finishing but I'm not a quitter ! lol. And I am glad that I stuck with it. Once it gets going it is a very good story. Keeps you guessing. Quite a few twists. Especially at the end ! I didn't love it but I did like it a lot !