So... for obvious reasons I am struggling to concentrate on reading at the moment. But, who better to rely on in times like this, but one of my all time favourite authors who has never written a book that has failed to hold me captive throughout my time reading it. Although, that said, I was a tad wary going in...
So, Brits Ruth and Adam are house sitting in New York. The house belongs to a couple they met on a cruise who are away for the summer. Ruth is working in a play and they were needing somewhere to stay there during that time so this coincidence is very fortuitous.
One night, just a few days before the owners are due to return, there's a knock on the door. They open it to find Eden who claims to be a friend of the owners. It's raining and she's soaked through so they invite her in to dry off whilst deciding what to do with her. She's very convincing and knows a lot about the owners so Ruth and Adam bite the bullet and invite her to stay. It's not long until the owners return so surely they are safe to do so... what could happen in only a few days...? Famous last words...
I said I was wary of starting this book at this troubled time. Well... I started it and, before I knew it, I had finished part one already. Yay go me! Yay go the author actually too! Anyway, I paused there, mostly to go for my one allowed walk of the day and to forage for food. I also wanted to think about what I had just read, I had a few things I wanted to hold on to. I spotted a few, what I thought could be, clues along the way and I wanted to mull them over a tad.
On my return from the big bad outside world. after making a coffee, I settled back to continue and... wowsers... I really didn't think we would end up there... Oh my days, Mr Edwards take a bow...
I then proceeded to whizz through the rest of the book in only one sitting, pretty much inhaling the words off each page as I furiously turned them to get to the end. And what an ending! Phew... that left me completely knackered. But also a tad excited as, although the story ended, I was left with the underlying feeling that maybe, just maybe, hopefully even, we might see more to come...
All the rest of what I usually mention in a review was high quality. The plotting was extremely well done with all the interconnected threads coming together perfectly. Characterisation was top quality - main and bit part alike were so well crafted and came across as completely real within their places in the story. Pacing was perfect and followed what was going on in the narrative very well. And the story itself - well that just blew me away...
All in all a cracking book that only goes to reinforce this author's position on my watch list. Until next time, I'll be waiting... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This story started out great. I was very intrigued and thought it would develop into something more than it did. Not a bad read, and if you like thrillers this will keep you going. Just seemed a bit far fetched and hard to believe.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

When actress Ruth and her partner Adam are house sitting for friends in New York, a young, beautiful woman, Eden shows up hoping to surprise the homeowners.

Ruth and Adam find themselves inviting her to stay, and within a week, both Eden and Ruth have disappeared, and the homeowners have returned home with a lot of suspicion. Giving away more of the plot would offer spoilers, so just know there are some twist coming.

Mark Edwards is a good writer and keeps the plot moving for an entertaining, suspenseful, surprising read.

3.5 stars for me but will round up to 4.

The House Guest will make you want not to answer the door and if you do for heaven's sake don't invite them in and don't let them stay.. what's wrong with you if you do?

Adam and Ruth let Eden in who says she is friends or the owners, Eden is not who she says she it.

Ruth disappears and the twists and turns begin.

I don't want to give too much away except to say its quirky read with unlikeable characters (I love that) and I wanted to see how it would all end .

This ( I am ashamed to say) is my first Mark Edwards book but it wont be my last.

Thanks to Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for an intriguing read.

An incredibly disturbing premise- house sitting for acquaintances only to be befriended by their "friend" who moves in and takes over your lives.
Eden is easy to like and equally easy to mistrust from the moment she rocks up on the doorstep and the twists and turns as she infiltrates the very existence of Ruth and Adam's lives are shocking and terrifying in equal measure.
The pace gallops and it is hard to imagine a satisfactory resolution even as the truth unfolds and things seem to be straightening out in both your and the characters minds.

I have to begin this review by acknowledging that I am a Mark Edwards fan. That being said, this is one of my favorites in his library of twisted and surprising stories. This is a must read for anyone that loves mysterious characters and plot twists. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book. I actually delayed moving post-divorce because I could not put this story down. If you are looking to disappear into a world of deceptive yet charming strangers with dark backgrounds, this is the story for you.

When Eden shows up on a stormy night, wet and cold, Ruth and Adam can't say no to inviting her in. It may not be their home, but who are they to turn her away? She has come seeking the home's owners who Ruth and Adam barely know. Eden brings fun, charm and excitement which Adam can certainly use. As Ruth's star is beginning to shine brightly as a beautiful and talented actress, Adam feel ordinary with his writing career not where he was hoping it would be. As the threesome bond, there seems to be more questions about Eden than answers but who can be cruel to this one broken lovely women? She's been through so much.

Everything is exciting until after a night of fun and drinking, Ruth doesn't come home. Now everything is exciting for Adam as a foreigner in the Big Apple, he has nobody to help him, or even believe him. Not only is Ruth missing, but it seems like Eden was never there to begin with...

When you read this story of mystery, suspense and doubt, your will enter Adam's world. Your frustration will grow. Your fears will mount. And as Adam refuses to give up on finding Ruth, you will refuse to put this book down.

Another good read by Mark Edwards. Unfortunately I didn't think it was as gripping as his earlier books.

Not my favorite mark Edward- in fact it was disappointing compared to his other work that I’ve read and enjoyed. It just wasn’t very interesting to me. I did really like the last page! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

3.5/5

The House Guest, another great book from Mark Edwards. I was hooked after the first few pages. As the book continues, you really get to know the characters Ruth, Adam and Eden.
Ruth and Adam house sitting for friends, so far so good, then Eden arrives claiming to know the owners of the house. Is she a friend or foe?
This book is full of suspense, twists and turns, it keeps you gripped right to the very end.
I would highly recommend any books by Mark Edwards

Mark Edwards is on top form!
This book will have you engaged from the beginning and of course not wanting to put it down!
With twists and turns along the way, you think you know what is going to happen, and then no! Something unexpected happens!
You feel like you get to know the characters, but how well do you really know them?!
Another great read from a great author!

“There is usually a simple explanation for everything.” (except in Mark Edwards’ books there isn’t ;)

I have long since come to appreciate Mark Edwards’ books as good entertainment – he comes up with the best premises where (in his own words) “scary things happen to ordinary people”. Last time, the houseguests refused to leave. This time, the houseguest poses a different threat altogether!

THE HOUSE GUEST delivered on its promise of being a fast, entertaining read that had me frantically turn the pages wanting to find out how this latest disaster would end. It is fortuitous that we are in quarantine at the moment, because after reading Edwards’ last two books, I would be too scared to have any houseguests anyway!

Here, our two hapless main protagonists are Brits Ruth and Adam, who are house-sitting in Manhattan for a couple they met on a cruise. One night, a young woman turns up on the doorstep, claiming to be a friend of the owners. Being trusty and openhearted people, they let her in. Do you hear the alarm bells ringing yet?

Yes, from here on in the two Brits are marching towards their own doom. The how and when you will have to find out yourself. In typical Mark Edwards’ style, the premise is all the more terrifying because the couple are so relatable, so ordinary, so much like you and I. Could this happen to us? Perhaps some parts of the book were just a bit farfetched, but then again, maybe not. Living in my rural Australian bubble, I don’t profess to know how things are done in NYC. In any case, THE HOUSE GUEST made for another fun read. It’s the type of book you want to pick up when you don’t feel like anything too deep but want a type of bookish Netflix binge that will sweep you away in a tidal wave of entertainment (and terror). I’m not giving anything else away!

In summary, I recommend you pick up THE HOUSE GUEST when in the mood for a fast, entertaining read with ordinary, everyday characters who stumble headlong into misadventure in the fashion Mark Edwards is famous for. There are plenty of elements to this thriller that will satisfy lovers of the genre who are looking for a bit of intrigue, a few bad guys, some fast paced action and a rising body count. I really enjoyed it and it provided a welcome distraction.

3.5.

Mark Edwards never fails to take an ordinary domestic situation and turn it into your worst nightmare.

A British couple, Adam and Ruth, are house-sitting in New York City.

One evening a young woman knocks on the door, claiming to be a friend of the owners.

They invite her in, and then to stay.

A decision Adam and Ruth will soon live to regret!

When I first read the summary for The House Guest, I was equal parts thrilled to bits and someone hesitant that hot on the heels of his previous release (Here to Stay) the two plots sounded very similar. My concern was unfounded though as it quickly became clear that this was heading in a completely different, excited beyond words, direction. And what a ride it was!

A quick fire, action-packed, twisty read that I would normally have read in a day or two, but given everything that’s going on at the moment, took me a lot longer. Definitely no reflection on the book. I was on the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting where things were heading, however Part Three felt a little rushed, and the ending was pretty out there, have o say. As I continue to mull it over, it becomes clearer what led up to it, and why the author chose to end it the way he did, but I'm still undecided whether or not it was one step too far?

Chapter’s were medium length, narrated mainly by Adam, but there were also chapters in Ruth’s POV. If not for the last 20% this would have been one of my top favourite’s of his books. It was still great though, and like all his books, definitely worth reading.

I’d like to thank Netgalley, Amazon UK Publishing, and Mark Edwards for the e-ARC.

Publication Date: 3rd June, 2020.

*Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

I’ve recently saved a bunch of different titles by Mark Edwards on my kindle shelf as they all looked like solid thrillers; however, haven’t gotten around to reading any of them yet due to life getting in the way. When this copy fell into my lap, I thought it was a great opportunity to dive right in and I definitely didn’t regret it!

THE PLOT: The reader is introduced to Adam (a playwright) and Ruth (an actress), two Brits abroad in New York as Ruth prepares for her broadway debut. Adam and Ruth are housesitting for Jack and Mona, whom they had met earlier while on a cruise. Adam is struggling to come to terms with Ruth’s rise to fame and his own failure as a playwright, and what they plan on doing going forward once Jack & Mona return from their trip. In the final days of their stay, a young woman named Eden knocks at their door claiming that she is friends of the homeowners. Eden explains that she fled California after a bad breakup, and Jack & Mona normally let her stay with them whenever she is in New York. Due to both Eden’s sparkling/energetic personality and Adam & Ruth’s kind nature, they let Eden stay with them since she has no where else to go. On the day the homeowners are scheduled to return, Adam wakes up to an empty house with a killer hangover and a blank memory. All Adam can remember is the three of them getting trashed on tequila and nothing else. Adam is left lost and confused....Who is Eden? What secrets is she hiding? Did Ruth leave on her own accord or is something nefarious going on? Who can Adam really trust?

This book took some risky and thrilling twists that I definitely wasn’t expecting. The ending kind of drove me crazy, but I think that was the author’s intention. Definitely worth the read, and can’t wait to read more from this author!

Another great book by a great author!
This book was fast paced and full of twists and turns.
Although I predicted one or two moments I found myself gripped by this novel.
It's a dark tale of kindness coming back to bite you and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Well done on another sure hit!

This is the first book that I’ve read by Mark Edwards and certainly won’t be the last. It was absolutely brilliant and had me hooked from start to finish. The twists and turns were timed perfectly to keep the pace of the book moving and the characters were developed really well. Although it was a slow and somewhat far-fetched start (I mean, would you just let someone into the home you’re looking after because they say they know the owners…?) but that’s just a minor detail and after that initial horror the book quickly picked up pace and I read it in a day!

This may not be my favorite Edwards’ - that is definitely The Magpies. However, this is a fabulously read. The characters are developed enough that you have a vested interest in the plot. There is not a character that I was rooting for, as usual, no one is really that great of a person. They are all flawed in very human ways. I like the book taking place in NY- it is a different environment for Edwards. I had to put the book down each night so I didn’t finish it too fast - lol! I am beyond thankful to be a member of the advanced readers club!!

I’m Mrs Cautious and we’ve all heard of ‘stranger danger’ perhaps the couple in The House Guest would have done well to heed this advice! When the beautiful and charismatic Eden turns up on the doorstep of the house Ruth and Adam are house sitting, they not only invite her in but encourage to her stay! Immediately all my senses went on high alert, after all having read most of Mark Edwards books which involve scary things happen to ordinary people,  I knew Eden couldn’t possibly be your ‘average house Guest’.

I must admit when I first read the book description for The Guest House I thought the plot didn’t sound very original. I have read so many psychological thrillers that centre around the uninvited House Guest who just happens  to turn out to be a psychopath! So what makes this book different? You may well be asking. In typical Mark Edwards style he adds the all important twist and turns that make his books such an unpredictable and entertaining read.

The House Guest is broken up into three parts, the first part sets the scene and introduces numerous characters to the plot, the second part moves at a much faster pace with surprising revelations and tension building moments along the way. The third part of the book brings all the threads together with some shocks along the way. I enjoy a book more if I can relate to the characters but unfortunately I didn’t feel any connection to the characters in this story, so I wasn’t invested as much in their story as I would have liked. I would consider this book to be more focused on the ‘thriller’ elements, as like many thrillers I found some parts a tad far fetched, never the less it made for an enjoyable and quick read.

Having read a few books by the author before, I went in with high expectations. Were they fulfilled? Yes and no. The story got off to a great start, and I devoured the early chapters with enthusiasm. It was clear from the outset that drenched visitor Eden, turning up announced on a New York doorstep, would be a key player in the unfolding events. What I didn't expect was the way other characters would come to the fore of the action, so in that respect I was kept on my toes.
It's difficult to say too much without spoiling the plot. My main reservation was that certain elements seemed too far-fetched, and it all felt a little rushed towards the end. With time to reflect, I questioned the credibility of actions and consequences and this dampened my overall enjoyment.
However, I will give it four stars, because – ultimately – it does what it says on the tin. The House Guest entertains, provides a much-needed slice of escapism and is very well-written. The author's style is pared-down and punchy, and I look forward to reading his next book.

I had read a lot of books from Mark Edwards and I'm very thankful for a lucky chance to read The House Guest.
Mark Edwards knows how to keep the tension, and his stories never fail to keep me hooked and as always I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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A British couple Ruth and Adam are offered the chance to spend the summer housesitting in New York, but when a stranger Eden turns up on the doorstep one wet night claiming to be friends with the owners, who told her she could stay whenever she was in New York.
The couple invites stranger in, but later on, Adam realises he made a terrible mistake!
Who can you trust? And what is going on?...
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The storyline is full of twists and turns and while you follow the path of the main character you can feel that mystery lurking around every corner. I thoroughly enjoyed this addictive psychological thriller and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Another fantastic book by Mark Edwards. I have not been disappointed by anything I have read by him. He has a knack of hooking you from the off and keeping you on the edge of your seat.
A must read for psychological thriller fans.