AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER The twisty new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door and A Stranger in the HouseA weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway . . . but when the storm hits, no one is getting awayIt’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a … nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing–maybe even romantic–weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.
So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off the electricity–and all contact with the outside world–the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.
Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead–it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, they start to panic.
Within the snowed-in paradise, something–or someone–is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm–and one another.
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This book is a page turner! I could not put it down! A great read for a rainy day, lots of twists and turns.
Great author
This will keep you up all night figuring out who did it and who is next. Perfection!
A brilliant mystery that had the makings of a modern-day Clue – I tore through it. The absolute definition of a page-turner!
I could not put this book down. The ending was unpredictable. I did not see it coming at all!
The first part of the book introduces about a dozen characters on a snowy weekend at remote Mitchell’s Inn in the Catskills. I lost track but eventually caught up. Among them, the innkeepers, an attorney, an author, three couples and two friends on a girl’s’ weekend. As the winter storm worsens, shutting down power and phones, and closing them off from roads, a death occurs, then another… But it appears like murder! Fear and suspicion grow as they question the possibility of an intruder and character flaws and secrets begin to unveil. This was an atmospheric treat for me, right up to the last sentence.
When I heard Shari Lapena set out to write an Agatha Christie-ish mystery, I was intrigued. I enjoy both authors’ writing, and An Unwanted Guest did not disappoint. The setting, plot, and characterizations were all Christie all the time. The book flies by–I think I read it in just two sittings. Lapena knows how to hold the reader in suspense with page-turners galore. I enjoyed all of Lapena’s books, but this one is perfect for curling up on a cold winter night and letting your imagination run with the pages.
I couldn’t put down this tale of murder among a group of snowbound strangers.
I think Shari Lapena must have gotten a new editor, because her writing has vastly improved. Her previous 2 novels were written in very basic English, but this one has much better style and grammar. The premise is that there are several people who have booked a secluded winter getaway in a quaint hotel in the Catskills. There is an winter storm, and the hotel has lost all its electricity, plus they never had WiFi capabilities, so they are cut off from the rest of the world.
Everything seems quite cozy, with the guests mingling a bit, until it all changes overnight. One of the guests is found at the bottom of the stairs, and it looks like murder vs. an accident. This sets all the guests on edge, fearing that there is a murderer in their midst. It also seems that several of the guests are hiding something.
This book is not very long, just under 300 pages, which is the right length. The ending wraps up rather quickly, and not 100% satisfying, but still a decent read.
#AnUnwantedGuest #ShariLapena
A mystery which reminded me of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Eight people travel to Mitchell Inn a secluded hotel to enjoy a weekend. An engaged couple, a couple in a troubled marriage, two old college friends with one hoping it will bring them closer, a criminal attorney, and a former journalist who is writing a book. It is not long before they are told the storm makes it difficult for other help to arrive so it is just the owner/father and his son. You will learn a little about each character this first evening and then they all go to bed. That’s when a scream has them running to find a body at the bottom of the stairs. A good mystery, that will have you guessing.
Loved this book. Reminded me of Agatha Christi
Awesome
AGreat Third Book by this author. Brings back those Agatha Christie books
If you love a good Agatha Christie story, this book is for you! I could not put this down. It was excellent from start to finish. Characters were well developed. I couldn’t predict what was coming next and I loved that about this story. Clear your schedule, you will want time to finish this one because it will pull you in right away!
This book is much like an old Agatha Christie mystery. Guests begin to turn up dead in an inn full of people who cannot leave because of a blizzard. Very much the page turner and it is Lapena’s best yet!
I finished this in one day, so it would seem that it should have 5 stars. But the characters are really just stock characters for the “group locked away” murder mystery. I wasn’t expecting that. I think if I had expected that going into it, I would have liked it better.
Outside of the stock characters, I loved the setting and plot. I hadn’t figured the answer out until late in the book. And the why was a mystery until I was told. There were hints, but I missed the early hints.
Good murder mystery in the vein of And Then There Were None or Murder on the Orient Express. But be prepared for stock characters.
If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, then this book will remind you of “Ten Little Indians”.
Thank you Good Reads Giveaways and Shari Lapena for a copy of this print book An Unwanted Guest.
I’m on the fence about if I liked this book or not, that’s why the 3 stars.
first of all, a lot of characters to get straight
second of all, what business wouldn’t reschedule these people if a nasty blizzard was on it’s way after all most of the staff didn’t show up? do these people check the weather?
third of all, how is it that 2 people conveniently know each other. It’s a small world after all.
so the jest of the story is a few people want to get away from life and decide to go to Mitchell’s Inn in the Catskills of New York. In comes a blizzard and then murder number one, then two.
I had a hard time figuring out who the killer was because there were not many clues and the only reason I kept reading. Yes I was intrigued by that one detail: who is it. I wanted so bad to like this book though and pushed through. This is my first book by Shari Lapena and it would not deter me from trying another by her. The only character I liked was the lawyer. So in conclusion it did have a good ending.
thanks again
Loved this book! It would make a great movie!
Received ARC of this book thru Goodreads win and Viking Books.
Great book to read. Characters were realistic and each had there own story told, for the most part. Reminded me of the movie Clue. Was a page Turner and kept me up late into the night reading it.
Thought I had it figured out midway through, but damn I was wrong lol. Suspenseful without a doubt. Loved it. Never saw the ending coming…. highly recommend it to other’s .