I really enjoyed this fast paced and engaging thriller. The writing style meant that I was quickly engaged in the plot and I raced through it.
I’ve read lots from this author and would definitely say this is one of her best books. It’s the perfect beach read.

Luxury hotel resort and people watching.... sound like me for 2 weeks of the year. Fortunately I'm not quite as obsessed with the people watching as the main character here. Does make me wonder though, are people watchers envious? unhappy in their own situation or simply just nosey? Anyway.....

I found the story quite interesting although in some parts it felt too dragged out and then I wish we could've known a bit more about some of the sideline stories (maybe that's my nosiness 😉).

I wouldn't rush out to tell all my friends to take this on their beach hol but it also isn't one to avoid, just an average good read. 3.5 stars rounded to 4!

A quick and easy read that I found myself picking up after a long day to unwind. The characters are beautifully written and I came to love them within the first few pages and was rooting for them all the way to the end. At times I wanted to stop reading because I just wanted the experience to go on for longer.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a gripping read that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat right until the end. I couldn't put it down.

This is THE perfect holiday read if you’re into crime fiction! White Sands is a luxury resort on an undeveloped Greek island, and Laila and her husband go on holiday there to try to rediscover their relationship after years of trying to get pregnant. People-watching is a part of any beach holiday and Laila indulges in it, innocently, until the body of one of the other resort guests is found in the pool…

I was gripped from the outset by the narrative voices that are confiding and engaging. The plot is brilliantly timed and keeps you guessing until the very end. Would definitely recommend!

I enjoyed this but I didn't think it was anything out of the ordinary, despite a murder within the first few pages.

It's more of a character study, but I felt a lot of characters could have been explored in more depth and there were a few unanswered questions which I won't spell out because they could spoil the plot. Suffice to say I wish we knew more about another situation which was referenced in the book.

Overall, it was okay but not great. I wasn't wowed, although I did want to know what happened.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC without obligation.

Laila and James are on a luxury holiday to try and rekindle their relationship after the stress of many failed IVF attempts. Laila loves people watching and starts obsessing about a family she observes around the pool and another newly married couple. All their holidays are turned upside down when one of the families sons is found dead in the swimming pool.
This is a story of piecing together exactly what happened and who was responsible for the death. It's a lovely easy summer beach read and it did keep me engaged until the end. Not the most dynamic book I have ever read and no great twist at the end but I can say that I did enjoy it. The characters were interesting and it does keep you guessing.

Started with great promise and premise- a luxury holiday to reconnect after the disappointment of multiple failed rounds of IVF but with a body thrown in...however after a really good start the book moved quite slowly and it felt like although there were attempts at red herrings it was actually fairly obvious what had happened.

Overall a decent enough read but I have read far better from this author.

James and Laila have had their share of troubles. Unable to conceive, failed IVF attempts, slowly growing apart, action was needed to resurrect their marriage. As a surprise for Laila, James books them into a 5* resort on a Greek island, with their every whim catered for. Unfortunately Laila gets herself embroiled in an event that has a massive impact on her relationship with James and those around her.

This book started well, but sadly didn’t move forward quickly enough, very much on an even keel right through until the end. There was no great suspense and it was difficult to keep interested. Despite Laila feeling so hard done by, she was a nightmare, a real snooper, with no redeeming features. She was definitely the one to avoid when on holiday, there’s always one!

I loved The Whispers and looked forward to this latest offering from HP. Sadly, is was nowhere near as good a read, and on the whole it was a disappointment.

2.5* upped to 3*

Thank you NetGalley.

The Other Guest is a sublime mystery set on a sun-soaked luxury Greek island resort. Is it the perfect read to take on holiday? Warning: You might be looking over your shoulder at your fellow guests!

Although it follows the well-worn formula of revealing clues and twists as you progress through the novel, the ending is smart and satisfying. The action centres around two families Laila and her husband, and Em’s family (two boys and a second husband). There is tension in both families for different reasons. Other characters are introduced with issues too. It is a wonder that World War III does not break out as the atmosphere is toxic. The victim, Em’s eldest son, is found floating in the pool one morning. Suicide is ruled out quickly and the murder investigation is led by a Greek detective who needs help. He obviously needs to watch some crime tv series or films.

The spotlight moves from one character to another as the investigation unfolds. Character back-stories are introduced which point the finger at various members of the cast (yes, surely a film soon).

Perks keeps you guessing throughout the book, and the ending is satisfying and different. My only frustration is the relationship between Em and her son Theo. His crucial account is drawn-out over chapters and becomes quite annoying as Em seems afraid to press him for a full account. Otherwise, the characters are well drawn and believable.

If you like holiday mystery thrillers – The Other Guest should be on your reading list!

I thought this was a great book to read, it had everything in it..... The ending was pure genius.. I loved it and i never thought it would be like that and what an ending...
Laila was constantly questioning trust and she got on my nerves a bit, and the fact she was a snoop did not really do it for me.... hiding in somebodys holiday room and in the wardrobe. she certainitly had guts to do that,,,

But that niggle aside and my personal opinion... it didnt really detract from the storyline and i found this to be a first class book....
What it did highlight and lots of people would agree is the impact a separation of a family has on the children...
It doesnt go away and it can emerge in different ways
"What you see is not always what you think it is" should be the title of this brilliant read....
I give it five stars, my niggle is personal opinion but the book is a great read.... touching upon family and how things can get out of hand without realising it

A fast paced and gripping read this os one book that will keep the guessing until the very last page!

A good read with some twists as to who is what on this holiday. Gripping you in and making the characters relatable

I found this to be an intriguing, fast paced read. The chat frees weren't especially likeable but I was kept interested by the plot and it’s twists and turns.

I was very excited (maybe a bit too excited) to read The Other Guest so it’s a bit surprising that I found this an okay read, nothing wrong with it really, but there just wasn’t enough in it to get me really excited about. I did enjoy the holiday setting in a lush 5* resort on a Greek island and Leila’s people watching. It felt oddly relatable although I don’t think – I hope not – I’m that much into it as Leila.

Aside from being absorbed by the dynamics of a family of 4 (mum, dad and two teenage boys) and a couple of newly-weds who don’t seem to act very much in love, Leila also has her own relationship struggles, a relationship that feels strained from the start. It didn’t help of course that James decided to spend their money on this getaway while they need money for another round of IVF. Leila's desire to get pregnant is something that weighs on them and defines this couple in the story.

One morning she finds out there’s been a tragic accident. When the police start to question everyone she asks herself if she should come forward with some information she gathered. But then they’d probably ask her how she knows this and that could be a problem… Bottomline is that everyone who needs to speak up is keeping their lips sealed. It was quite frustrating at times. On top of that Leila’s husband is acting a bit weird too, he seems to want to check out and get away as fast as possible. I felt there were a few dodgy persons in this limited cast of characters but there was nothing that I could effectively use to make any progress in eliminating them. The author clearly tried to steer me in one direction and I did have a lot of questions but even so if it's too obvious I'm having none of it so I kind of rejected the suggestion on that basis.

All in all the story stayed a bit too long on the same level for me to be fully gripped and challenged. The last part of the novel was therefore also the most enjoyable part. I actually loved the reveal of another twist more than finding out the whodunit. A big part of the novel is building up to the reveal of course and it just fell a little flat when I found out the truth.

Overall nothing bad can be said about this one, it had all the ingredients that I love but it just didn’t come into its own. I hope I wasn’t too severe, I didn’t mean to be, but I believe her other novels are stronger. This author is capable of writing very twisty and unexpected scenes so I hope to discover all of that and more in her next novel.

Heidi Perks writes brilliant thrillers that keep you guessing throughout - The Other Guest is no exception.
The intriguing plot is well paced and the twists are unexpected - a great read.
4 stars.

Another fantastic novel from Heidi Perk, my absolute favourite of hers to date!

A body is found in a luxury holiday resort. Laila is on holiday in the resort with husband James, in an attempt to save their marriage following its deterioration as a result of failed fertility treatment. Laila enjoys people watching on holiday and finds herself intrigued by one particular family. This causes her to have some information relating to the suspicious death that puts her in a very difficult position! A great read with suspicion in every corner.

With the luxury location, fantastic plot and great characters this is a novel ripe to be made into a movie or TV drama!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance copy.

THE OTHER GUEST

Thanks Thanks #NetGalley and #randonhouseuk for my e-arc copy of #TheOtherGuest in exchange for my honest review .

The Other Guest was categorised as Mystery and Thriller. It was the fact that it was a thriller that drew me to requesting this book on NetGalley.

However for me this book didn’t seem to fall into either of these categories. General adult fiction yes but not mystery and certainly not thriller.

I was also drawn to this novel by the title, as it seemed mysterious. However throughly I felt that this mysterious guest wasn’t clearly identified, if at all.

I started out enjoying this book but unfortunately this didn’t last for me as I found myself becoming bored. I can’t help but wonder if this may have had something to do with the exceptionally long chapters.

However I did feel as it redeemed itself slightly towards the end. However I did find the ending slightly predictable.

For these reasons I am only able to give this book two of the five stars.

This novel will not put me off reading anything else by Ms Perks.

Engaging holiday read, especially lounging by the pool in Greece or similar 'climes.'
Great resort setting with unlikeable characters but intriguing enough to turn the page and race to find their back stories ... A tragic death at the resort unfolds and is being investigated as the onion is peeled on the past and histories revelaed in a suspenseful way ... Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC ...

Really enjoyed this book by Heidi Perks.
A fab summer thriller set in a Greek hotel with a great plot and realistic characters. It kept me guessing right until the end and had me up reading into the small hours. Can’t wait to read more by this author. 5* recommended!