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This one was slow going for me. We knew that Joanna and Leah's lives would collide somehow, but it took a while to get there. I am so happy there was Amy's POV, so we had a better understanding of what happened to her. All in all a decent read. I raced through this in a weekend. A taut, clever whodunnit, masterfully structured, beautifully written, with an intriguing cast and some heart-wrenching moral dilemmas. Brilliant.' Gilly Macmillan This was my first book by Helen Cooper and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The dual points of view and how they intertwined together was excellent. The story has plenty of twists to keep you hooked and entertained. I could not predict the ending, but I really enjoyed it. Helen Cooper is clearly a skilled writer and I would be happy to read her future books. Powerfully displays how we often think secrets are the best way to protect those we love, but they often cause more damage than good.”– San Francisco Book Review
A luxury Italian resort with a dark side. A cast of suspicious, secretive characters. The Other Guest is an eerie and atmospheric mystery that kept me guessing from start to finish.”– Allie Reynolds, author of ShiverI am not the biggest fan of whodunit's (mostly because the ones I read are not done well) however I did really get into this. Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset. Laila, who has gone through multiple rounds of IVF with no result is using this trip to heal her relationship with her husband James who in turn is hiding a deep trauma. This holiday that is supposed to be a fresh start for them turns out to be the worst decision they made as a murder takes place and questions everything Laila has ever know.
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. As the narrative unfolds, readers are completely drawn to the parallel stories. Laced with secrets and lies, THE OTHER GUEST is a potpourri of tension, red herrings and clues to please anyone’s appetite for the suspense of a well-plotted mystery novel. The connection between Joanna and Leah comes late in the story, but it’s a welcome surprise. The prose is finely honed, and the characters are fully formed. Each one is given a healthy inner life, as a well as interesting and gripping outer experiences. Readers will find themselves immersed in the plot and will be eager to find the answers to the mysteries that arise. In a very over saturated thriller market, this book stands out as being a bit more unique and interesting than many I've read recently. Reading Helen Cooper's book The Other Guest is like solving a puzzle. Pieces slowly come together for an outstanding conclusion. The story is about three women, Leah, Joanna, and Amy told in alternating timelines. For Leah and Joanna to move forward with their lives, these women must distinguish the truth from a web of lies. With its keep-you-guessing story line and holiday setting, fans of domestic thrillers will devour' Heat magazine
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Emilia is on holiday with her husband and 12-year-old twin boys. She has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her family so intently since they arrived. Emilia is enjoying her holiday far too much to worry about anyone else. The main star of the show, though, was Il Mandrino itself. The luxury resort, the employees, the family running it-It all had a creepy Stepford Wives vibe to it that I really enjoyed. I wish that aspect had been fleshed out more and made to be even more ominous. It’s a book that speaks to us about why judgement of others can often be incredibly wrong. Who can you trust? What if you get a person all wrong? The characters are all really interesting and there was a great amount of reveals and twists right to the end. I did not guess the final reveal but I was close if that counts! Many thanks to Net Galley, Hodder & Stoughton, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily. The Other Guest had several characters each of them having a fair amount of growing up to do and I loved how Il Mandrino, the resort becomes an integral element of the story. The setting of the resort was good, and it provided a claustrophobic experience. The grief and trauma of losing a loved one were conveyed in excellent fashion, each one of them suffering in private unable to share the pain that haunts all of them in equal measures.
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