Member Reviews
Another great book from Mark Edwards.
Lots of twists in book and a great ending I wasnt expecting.Kept me gripped through out!!
Throughly enjoyed after reading all his other books.
If you’re after a good thriller...Mark Edwards is your guy!
Highly recommended!
The House Guest by Mark Edwards is an intriguing psychological drama with a storyline that keeps you hooked!
It’s fast paced with little thrills happening all the time, so this keeps you turning the pages. The characters are reasonably well developed, even the minor ones, so you get a great overall impression of all the events taking place without having to go into too back backstory for an explanation.
I enjoyed the “twist” in the middle of the book, which took the story in a different direction and then that last paragraph: just the perfect ending!
I’ve never read this author before, but he is now definitely on my authors-to-automatically-read list.
#netgalley #thehouseguest #markedwards #amazonpublishing
Action packed and such a fun read. I was completely enthralled with the story. Everyone be reading this will be captivated.
The inner monologue from the main character was canned to the point of being comical. But, I mean, it read pretty fast, so that's not all bad.
Another fab book from the genius that is Mark Edwards. Full of enough excitement & twists to keep you wanting more, leading to an ending that you don't even get an inkling of. Thankyou to Netgalley for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Protect one, protect all.
Looking back through the many Mark Edwards books I've read over the years, most of which I've rated 4 stars (with the occasional 3 sprinkled in), I'd definitely say The House Guest falls near the bottom of the group.
Although this story is written in Edwards' speedy, fun, action-packed style...which I love...the plot simply didn't hold my interest. At the beginning, I was ALL in. I mean, how creepy to invite a stranger into your home, thinking they're a friend of friends...only to find out that isn't the case at all?
I actually can't say much more than that, in fear of giving away spoilers, but the direction the story took was very meh for me. So many times, while reading, I found myself whispering, "Why would he DO that?" or "What was she thinking?" The actions of the characters seemed forced, which is something I'm so unfamiliar with in Edwards' book, is was discombobulating.
I did, however, appreciate all the research he did about NYC and living in the United States...the hard work paid off.
While this wasn't my favorite, it's still a mostly fun read, and one I'd recommend, especially if you've never read Mark Edwards novels before. You can purchase your very own copy on June 3, 2020.
**My sincere thanks the publisher for my review copy.
Ruth and Adam, a British couple, are thrilled to be able to house sit for new friends in New York City for the summer. One rainy day, a stranger appears on their doorstep, drenched from the heavy downpour outside. The woman, Eden, is surprised not to see the homeowners, Mona and Jack, who she intended to visit. Because she is friends with the homeowners, Ruth and Jack they should invite her in and allow her to stay, after all, she is a friend of friends. However, things take a turn one Friday night. Who is Eden really?
I always enjoy Mark Edwards’ books. The pace is always good, it keeps you interested and wanting to know more, and had a satisfying conclusion. If you like thrillers or other titles of Edwards, give this one a try!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Woooahhh! I loved loved this book so much. There was so much high intensity, paranoia, murder, characters to hate and characters to side with, darkness, and a house sitting plot all wrapped up in one twisted package!
There were so many twists and turns and nothing predicatable!
Mark Edwards, you did it again! AND HOLY CANNOLI that ending!
Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
*If you have this in your TBR, read it now! Dont wait! I promise you its going to rock your world!
'House Guest' is the new novel by one of the best psychological thriller writers about, Mark Edwards.
Ruth and Adam are summer house sitting in New York, for Jack and Mona a couple they met on a cruise. Young and in love they are having a wonderful time stopping at the house but things start to change when Eden turns up on the doorstep. Eden claims to be a friend of Jack and Mona and tells Ruth and Adam that she was invited to stay in the house whenever she was in New York. With a storm in progress Eden is asked to stay to shelter the weather.
Everything is working out well and Eden is getting on well with the young couple but suspicions are raised that she may not be who she claims to be and that they have made a terrible mistake.
This is an excellent psychological thriller with great characters, good paced plot and lots and lots of suspense.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I have read five or six Mark Edwards books in the last few months and this one is probably somewhere in the bottom middle.
I found the premise intriguing...a couple is housesitting for friends and a young woman shows up, claiming to be friends with the owners. She knows enough to be convincing and commences with havoc wreaking.
What's not to like, right?
Except...it felt a little inconsistent and a little lightweight.
I enjoyed it enough and read it in a day, it was easy to zing through and the beginning completely grabbed me but it felt a little rushed. I'm sorry to say this because I am a HUGE fan.
I am, however, incredibly grateful to Mark Edwards, Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.
Review:
Mark Edwards has a gift for writing brilliant psychological thrillers that most people would dream to have! His newest book due out on June 3rd is no exception.
This one takes us to the states while Adam and Ruth are house sitting for friends. Edwards details are perfection and as he weaves his fabulous tale and the story starts to come together you realize that this thriller is spectacular! His perfectly placed plot twists makes this a page turning thriller I highly recommend and if you haven’t read any of Edwards previous novels you should!
This was a very captivating thriller! It had me hooked from the beginning. The storyline of the stranger showing up at the door and claiming to be a friend of the owners and being allowed to stay whenever, seemed a bit unrealistic to me. I am excited though to see where the story went and what twists and turns were to come. The book kept me in suspense. I wish the twist of Eden was a bit different but overall I enjoyed the book. Thank you so much for the chance to read this book, netgalley!
A chilling psychological thriller that starts off with a slow burn and keeps building.
Adam and Ruth are house sitting in NY for a couple that they met on a cruise. It is an opportunity for Ruth because she is wanting to work on Broadway as an actress. Adam is a writer trying to find his big break in NY as well. They are an ordinary, realistic couple with a flawed relationship due to their struggles of wanting to be successful.
When Eden, a young woman, shows up at the front door dripping wet on the last week of house sitting and says she is friends with the homeowners and that they have given her an open invitation to stay whenever she is in the area, the couple are unsure what to do. Ruth and Adam can't contact the owners to get approval because they are away on a retreat so they decide the girl is honest looking and agree to let her stay. This is the start to a series of events that are soon to do damage to their relationship, their work, their life and more. A clever and gripping thriller with interesting characters. Somewhat predictable but Mark Edwards always manages to pull a punch or two that is entertaining and satisfying.
Can't get enough of Mark Edwards books! They just get better and better. Chilling book with unpredictable turn half way through. Not in my wildest dreams I would imagine what was about to happen when the unexpected guest turned up on their doorstep. What a ride.. Brilliant.
Yet another fabulous book by Mark Edwards. I just couldn't put it down, as much as I told myself that I had to, I just kept reading it. In many ways this is a typical Mark Edwards book (if you are new to his books, then I recommend that you look at this page https://www.markedwardsauthor.com/new-readers-guide/), but there are some twists. The main twist is that the book isn't set in the UK. It's really good to see Mark setting a book somewhere else and I hope we will see many more set in different locations around this world as I can enjoy (as much as I hope Mark does) the challenge of his style of books being set outside the usual comfort zone.
Unlike with some books I have read recently, Mark always does such a good job of getting you to identify with the characters. Even if they are from a completely different walk of life, he creates characters and situations which you can relate to. This allows you to sink further into the story and, even if there are aspect of the story which are more unbelievable (it is fiction after all), you are in so deep by then, that all you want to know is what happens to the characters... what could happen to you.
I love Mark Edwards’ books so much! Of course I went blind without reading the blurb or any other reviews, additional comments and I invented a new happy dance between Macarena, line dancing, Criss Cross’ “Jump! Jump!” moves to celebrate my ARC!
And of course I had a great time with this unputdownable page turner. It’s one of my easiest reads with action-packed, fast paced, high tension, riveting chapters. It gives you the vibes of Netflix’s Osho documentary “Wild Wild Country” meets Sinner’s second season meets “Eyes Wide Shut”! Yes you got the picture! Welcome to the secret society.
Adam and Ruth, a couple, an actress and an astonishing writer in Williamsburg for home-sitting the friends’ house they’ve met on the cruise. They reminded me of the couple of “Divorce” hmm sorry “Marriage Story’s Charlie and Nicole” but this time, Adam is struggling writer who couldn’t accomplish his dreams (not yet) as Ruth slowly climbs the career ladders after her indie movie’s unexpected success.
As they home-sit the couple’s house (Jack and Mona), a young woman named Eden appears at their door step, soaking wet, insisting that she is friend of the couple, adding she is always staying at their place when she is in NY. So without second guessing, our puffy hearted, naïve British couple believe in her story and welcome her.
What could go so bad? She seems friendly, talkative, respecting their boundaries. And Adam is so stressful after he gets rejected several times for his writing gigs, befriending her, going to the swimming, hanging out at the pubs, taking selfies.
But the very same night, house’s real owners’ arrival, they had tequila shot party goes wild and emotional ends with dancing in the rain, meaningless giggles, hugging ceremony. And the next day, Adam realizes Eden disappeared into thin air and Ruth is also nowhere to be seen. And the worst part is as soon as Jack and Mona come back, they insist that they don’t know anyone named Eden! And they start to think, Adam lies about Eden and he is involved of disappearance of his own girlfriend.
So where did Ruth go? Did Eden kidnap her? Is Adam drugged at that night? Who is the bearded, old man spying on them at the night time?
There are too many twists, surprising realizations and tension building moments made you sit on the edge and biting your ipad, kindle or hardcopy to destroy your gums.
Ending was also, quirky and weird. Only minor thing that bothered me was there were so many unlikeable and irritating characters on the book. ( including Ruth) As a writer I could only empathize with Adam. At least he acted decent and faithful from the beginning.
Overall: Exciting, dazzling, heart throbbing, thought-provoking, mind numbing reading. I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 ( I cut it for small plot holes and weird characterization)
I love this author’s work and I keep going blind to happily read whatever he creates.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK for sharing this nail biter ARC in exchange my honest review.
I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The only other book I have read by this author is his book called The Retreat and I couldn’t put that one down, it was a great read but this one I had a hard time with. The first half of the book kept my interest but then the plot went into a different direction and I had a hard time finishing, still overall a decent read and I look forward to reading more of his books.
Thanks for the ARC. What can I say? I didn't want to put this book down once I started reading it. I did but could not wait to get back to reading it. I loved it.
The story begins with Adam and Ruth, a British couple, house-sitting in New York for a couple they befriended on a cruise, when Eden, a young woman claiming to be a friend of the homeowners shows up to stay with them.
The story has a very interesting premise and was a very captivating read for me but unfortunately midway I felt it lost it’s charm and was all over the place.
Adam is the primary narrator with a few chapters interspersed by Ruth too, Adam as the protagonist was very slow and I felt like I couldn’t really care about him.
Also halfway through a very unexpected twist and sort of an explanation came up that was quite a disappointment to me and I lost a lot of interest in the plot.
The plot is a slow burning, psychological thriller but I did not enjoy it.
Mark Edwards is one of my favorite authors and this new book of his is one of my favorites he has written. It’s so unlike any of his other novels, which is pretty cool. All his work is great, but I found this novel to be just so in its own category. I hesitate to say too much about the plot, because I don’t want to give anything away. If you love creepy, suspenseful and exciting books, you’ll love this. I read it in one afternoon- Couldn’t put it down!