The Overnight Guest
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3.8 • 255 Ratings
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- $19.99
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Fully realized, wholly absorbing and almost painfully suspenseful...The journey is mesmerizing.” —New York Times
A woman receives an unexpected visitor during a deadly snowstorm in this chilling thriller from New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf.
True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn’t mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she’s retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace.
As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls—haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. After bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn’t as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them.
And don't miss these other great stories by Heather!
The Weight of Silence
These Things Hidden
Little Mercies
MIssing Pieces
Not a Sound
Before She Was Found
This is How I Lied
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The Overnight Guest is just about the most structurally innovative mystery since The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. In the present day, true-crime writer Wylie Lark is holed up in a cabin in rural Iowa during a brutal snowstorm. While searching for her dog in the snow, Wylie comes across a traumatized young boy and his injured mother, who mysteriously disappears. That puzzle opens up additional timelines…and trust us, you don’t want us to spoil them for you! Let’s just say that Heather Gudenkauf makes us work for every piece of this fascinating puzzle—and we love her for it. Narrator Brittany Pressley’s precise phrasing and expertly modulated emotion amplify the tension at every moment. By the time we started to grasp what was really going on, we were almost as scared as the characters themselves. This is a leave-the-lights-on kind of thriller.
Customer Reviews
The Overnight Guest
I love suspense thrillers and crime novels but this one just was not up to par. I think the narrator of the audiobook may have swayed my judgment, her voice was very sing-songy like a preschool teacher and her tone and inflections were just not right for this book. However, I made it to the end! Too many cheesy aspects that I just couldn’t take seriously and get into it. I do not recommend. 🫤
Good story, but thumbs down on the narration.
The narrator has a pleasant voice, so after listening to the preview, I pulled the trigger on purchasing the book.But the more I listen, the more annoyed I am by the style of narration. The tone is just off. The story is suspenseful and mysterious, but her tone sounds cheerful and almost amused. And she makes weird choices in the way she emphasizes words. It’s just bugging me so much, I’m going to check out the book at the library and read it instead of listening to it. Too bad that the narration detracts from my enjoyment of the story.
Satisfying Ending
Narrator was easy to listen to, pace was appropriate, but I found myself spending the whole first three quarters of the book waiting for “lift off”. Then finally, the last quarter of the book quickly holds your interest through to the end. Knowing the end makes the whole experience worth it in retrospect, so three stars it is.