This was a twisted one. A fresh take on the formulaic thriller that has gained popularity. I did think the first half was a bit slow, building up to the second half, but once you do get past that, it picks up and is hard to put down. The Dinner Guest doesn’t hide what it’s trying to do or build up, and in some senses is predictable but in the end the twists keep coming until the very last page. I appreciated that the author almost anticipated what you thought, and disregards it, keeping you engaged. The characters evolve over the course of the events and I really appreciated that.

I do feel that the title is misleading though, I think I was expecting something very different, like there being more emphasis on a dinner that never really happened, but I’m willing to chalk that up to poor marketing. The book and plot and characters were transparent and dark and overall well done.

This domestic thriller grabs you on the very first page and simply does not let go. Told from dual perspectives and from multiple points in time, the reader learns in the prologue that Charlie’s husband, Matthew, was stabbed and Rachel confessed to the murder. From then on, backward and forward in time and told from Charlie and Rachel’s POVs, we were taken on a whirlwind ride through posh British society trying to figure out what lead up to the murder and what happened after the police took Rachel away. It was a wild and wonderful ride and was truly hard to put down.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Another snowstorm, another book finished in one day. The Dinner Guest is a intricately construted jewel of a mystery. A married gay couple and their adopted teenage son sit down for dinner. Soon an unexpected visitor arrives, one husband is dead from a stab wound and the attractive female visitor calls the police and admits that she stabbed the man to death.
What follows is two characters narrating chapters in the past and present. The characters described in this book are British aristocrats living extravagant lives and one woman who will never fit into their lifestyle. The twists and turns continue until the last page.

Solid 4.5 stars.

Within the first few chapters, I thought I knew what was going to happen. Fortunately, I was very wrong.

Told from the perspective of the two main characters, this takes you on a ride.

Who really killed Matthew and why? This one keeps you guessing up until the end.

Worth the read!

The questions build into a noose of tension. You can't undo the pressure until you know. Who? Why?
A fantastic psychological thriller cleverly constructed to give you all the answers. But are you correcf in your deduction?
You'll only know for sure by turning the page.
Highly Recommended

‘The Dinner Guest’ by B.P. Walter is a delightfully dark and twisted tale of the vulnerabilities faced by a family when a new friend proves to be far more dangerous than anyone could ever have imagined.
The story opens on the night of a family dinner, moments after father Matthew is fatally stabbed and Rachel is arrested for his murder. Rachel contacts the police and confessed to killing Matthew. So far, straightforward. However, narrator Charlie quickly drops the bombshell that Rachel might not be as guilty as she suggested.
Moving between events of the past 12 months and the present, Charlie provides the reader with his viewpoints of recent events, while Rachel slowly reveals her motives. Through their eyes, the author weaves a complex tapestry of emotions, slowly revealing the divisions within their group. And slowly building a sense of menace, which adds to the overarching tension. There are plenty of twists, occasionally, leaving the reader unsure of who to trust. The story comes full circle by the end and all elements are nicely tied together.
Plenty of twists and suspense to keep you on your toes.
Thank you to @Netgalley and @OnemoreChapter for the ARC of this book. B.P. Walter is a new author for me and I will be looking out for this author in future.

Thank you Net Galley and One More Chapter for an early copy of The Dinner Guest. WOW WHAT A BOOK!!! I couldn’t get to the next chapters fast enough. Captivating and Gripping! Everyone had a secret story. The ending was the only downfall, maybe it was left for a sequel? Buy this book ASAP, you will be Engrossed.

"The Dinner Guest" has gone straight to the top of my "best read of 2021" list.

I don't quite get the Donna Tartt reference in the publicity, this novel is simply pure classic crime but with some delicious and delightful twists. So tightly plotted - almost every character introduced is relevant to the story or to one of the back stories where we learn little by little what happened and why it happened. I was totally engrossed in the lives of the family and so enjoyed the unravelling of the plot. I've not read Mr Walter before so i will be exploring his 2 earlier books..

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this brilliant ARC.

This is one of those great thrillers that keeps your head spinning continuously! Matthew and Charlie have a son Titus who is fifteen. And they have a new "friend" Rachel who seems to insinuate herself into their lives quickly which makes Charlie is suspicious. But during a dinner party, when Rachel confesses to murdering Matthew...well, things get dicey as this happens on the first page! And so begins the tale of secrets, lies, deceptions, adultery, teenage rebellion, and blackmail. What's not to love? This book may keep you up all night but it's totally worth every minute as the ending sucker punches you in the gut! Loved it!

This psychological thriller starts off with a bang right out the gate! It continues to allow you to stay interested enough to peel back the many layers with two alternating POVs throughout and makes the reader wonder, "Just what the heck is actually going on here??". You know everything isn't always how it seems and you want to get to the end, so you can discover the true story of what really happened. If you are a fan of domestic thrillers, I'd suggest this read. Some parts seemed unbelievable, but for the most part it was a good read!


***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!

Loved the murder mystery at a dinner table! Loved all the characters. Really enjoyed reading this one with all the suspense, definitely on the book list for this year.

A book I could not bout down.A thriller that kept me turning the pages late into the night.So well written characters that come alive a well written story line.A bookI I will be recommending,#netgalley#The Dinner Guest

When two strangers meet in a bookshop, all manner of events are set in trail - ending in murder. 'The Dinner Guest' opens with a murder and then sets the scene of the crime, flitting back and forth between times and viewpoints.

Its an insight into such a wealthy world, castles and stately homes dotted around the place (I was already in awe at someone buying a hardback book on a whim!) - and the characters have been protected from life somewhat. They are not particularly likeable, all fairly selfcentred and greedy for more.
The backstory was well told - maybe a little too long? - but I galloped through it, worth a read if you like crime fiction.

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. We know from the beginning that Matthew has been murdered and that Rachel has the knife in her hand when she calls the police. We don’t know why Matthew was killed and we aren’t absolutely sure that it was Rachel who did it. This story goes back and forth between before Matthew was murdered and after. This book is very well written and quite addictive.

This is one dinner you will not want to miss.

Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.

The four people are Charlie, his husband Matthew, their son Titus, and Rachel.

Rachel is not a part of the family. Charlie and Matthew met her less than a year ago, and she was invited to Matthew’s book club. What leads up to Rachel calling the police with the bloody knife still in her hand, while Matthew’s dead body sits at the dining room table?

The less said, the better.

Buckle up, because this is one enjoyable ride! I thought I had everything figured out early on, and was preparing myself for disappointment. However, although I guessed a few minor things, there are revelations that completely caught me off guard. I love when a book engrosses me and keeps me on my toes, and that is exactly what this one did.

If you like well-plotted tales with tantalizing secrets and a wickedly satisfying ending, check this one out.

4.5 stars. This book will be published: 5/27/21.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Honey! Guess who is coming to dinner? Hey, why don’t you answer me! Oh my gosh, honey why the hell you’re bleeding! No pulse! Well, more food for three!
The dinner is planned to be served to table of four ! One is down! Three of them left as murder suspects!
Matthew is good father is stabbed to death!
The charming, instagram phenomenon Charlie, devoted husband , Rachel is the stranger with full secrets, Titus looks like perfect son are three murder suspects! Who could have stabbed Matthew?
Well, our vote for killer is Rachel! And she already confessed! So case is closed! No! Why not! Because dear Charlie blurted out at the first pages that she’s innocent!

So who killed Matthew? The perfect husband or perfect son? Or there’s fifth person at the kitchen? And why the hell Rachel confessed the murder she didn’t commit!

Buckle up for the wildest, mind blowing, high tension, psychological thriller!

We have two narrators: Charlie and Rachel!
When we read Charlie’s POV: we may find at least 10 million reasons to hate him: he’s selfish, narcissistic, spoiled, privileged, pretentious, know it all, jealous, irritating, restless human being who gets on our nerves! Another punchable, very dislikable character we love to see in pain, groveling!

He gets suspicious since the first time she meets Rachel at the bookstore and then she bumps into her at the same day with his husband Matthew! And worst part is not seeing a woman at different places in a few hours. His husband invited him to his book club! A very secluded club with its privileged, a little older members: a famous movie star, his daughter in law and Charlie’s godmother.

Charlie joins the book club gathering at the first time and catching Rachel snooping around their bedroom increases his suspicions about her! And other week, Rachel saves Titus from muggers! What a coincidence! She was in the right place at the exactly very right time!

Charlie’s suspicions grows as Rachel slowly involves into their lives. But everybody seems like pleased with her involvement even though she’s coming from lower class, rejecting to talk about her past, she perfectly adjusts in their social circle and activities!

But I have to admit Charlie is right. Rachel keeps heart wrenching secrets and she acts so weird around Titus, watching out his each move like a hawk. Why she is obsessed with the family?

So many questions, so many secrets, so many lies! Get ready to expect the unexpected! This unputdownable, addictive, mind blowing thriller makes you sweat, sit at the edge, tingle your nerves! It’s truly agitating but you can not stop reading because it’s so exciting, surprising, twisty!

Especially the last third of the book: it turns into wilder ride, things get messier, crazier! I hope your heart can handle this whirlwind adrenaline rush! But I’m telling you my friends it’s truly worth it!

It’s not only one of the best psychological thriller about betrayal, addiction, anger management, revenge, it is also objective criticism of class differences and the prejudiced observations of privileged people about the lower classes!

I’m giving my five suspicious, smart, juicy, engrossing, addictive, heart pounding stars!
Definitely one of the best books of the year I truly recommend!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Wow!! This book is one of the reasons I love thrillers so much. I think the plot is going one way, and then you take a sharp turn knocking you off your feet! Thank you so much for this copy to review I am not disappointed!

Right off the bat, the blurb grabbed me and I was instantly hooked. I wanted to know why, how, what - and I honestly couldn’t wait until I got this ARC.

THE PLOT:
I really thought the plot was interesting. The suspense was there and it built up well. I think my biggest issue with this book and why I didn’t rate it higher was I found the killers reasoning to be unjust and a bit dramatic. I guess it’s only expected with this genre but I honestly found myself rolling my eyes.
THE CHARACTERS:
They were all interesting enough but I kind of wish we got the POV from Titus as well as the others or his instead of Charlie’s as I felt his perspective interested me more. I liked the flashback scenes and that really helped build the picture. I enjoyed the narration and I liked these characters voices.
THRILLER/MYSTERY ASPECT:
For the most part, this was done well and I felt hooked enough to carry on reading. I think the flashbacks and alternative POV’s helped with this. I do think more could have been done to add a sense of foreboding or eeriness to the book as it was kind of like reading something from a dysfunctional family rather than a murder.

Overall, a decent book with well written characters and fleshed out enough plot.
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the sound of the plot, completely original to the psychological thrillers I am use to but it keeps it fresh and exciting reading something different. Four people that walk into a dining room and one never leaves, you start asking yourself all these questions even before you pick up the book. Like why? what did they do? so many questions but then you want to start reading and through out the book everything becomes apparent. We learn about each character throughout the book, Matthew is Charlie's husband and Titus is Matthew's son, Rachel is a stranger but does she know more about their life than they do? I did find it a little slow towards the middle but the ending made up for it. You won't in a million years guess what the twist is. A very fresh and interesting read.

Not for me. First, the characters were all flat and single-minded. Second, there were inconsistencies that agitated me.
Let me stick to two (at 13% on the same page, mind you) that Titus was calling Charlie 'Daddy Charlie' since the age of five. He was an item with his father for six years when Titus is fourteen in the book. And he mentions moving in Charlie's Marble Arch flat, but this was Matthew's house.