‘The ultimate house party mystery . . . old secrets and new dangers collide in this deliciously thrilling tale’ Lisa Gardner, No.1 New York Times bestselling author
‘Anyone yearning for a page-turning gothic story with a big house – and a shocking family secret – at its heart should gatecrash The Perfect Guests immediately!’ Eve Chase, Sunday Times bestselling author
Eight strangers
One deadly invitation
Welcome to Raven Hall . . .
After years of abandonment, Raven Hall has been restored to its former glory. For one night only, it is playing host to an evening of murder mystery.
The guests have gathered. The roles have been cast.
But someone is playing a sinister game, one with devastating consequences.
And as the guests are about to discover, the truth is much darker than fiction.
Raven Hall is waiting for you . . .
Praise for Emma Rous:
‘A richly atmospheric time-slip mystery with the pulse of a thriller, The Perfect Guests is deliciously evocative and absolutely spellbinding’ Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author
*’*A fabulously atmospheric setting, a cast of intriguing characters, and layer upon layer of mystery – this is a brilliant read’ C. J. Cooper, bestselling author of The Book Club
‘Stunningly written, simmering with secrets and tension, I cannot recommend The Perfect Guests highly enough’ Jenny Ashcroft, bestselling author
‘A large, old house with a tragic past; a murder mystery weekend turning sinister; strange games of pretend being played within a family . . . What’s not to love? Gripping from start to finish’ Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbour
‘A page-turning tale full of suspense, secrets and shocking revelations . . . The Perfect Guests is a deliciously compulsive read’ Saskia Sarginson, bestselling author of The Twins
‘Twisty and utterly engrossing, I raced through it in one sitting and didn’t stop until I reached the jaw-dropping ending’ Lindsay Cameron, author of Just One Look
‘This will keep you turning those pages. The characters are still playing on my mind’ Jane Corry, bestselling author of My Husband’s Wife
‘Family secrets come to light in this compelling debut with a gothic touch and a shocking denouement. Enthralling and addictive’ Lisa Ballantyne, bestselling author of The Guilty One
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4.5/5
I absolutely loved The Au Pair by Emma Rous, so I was extremely excited to see she had The Perfect Guests coming out. It is everything I hoped it would be PLUS more, and I loved this one too! It reminded me a lot of a game of Clue, and switches between timelines and viewpoints which were all aspects I loved. It hooked me immediately from the very first page and I didn’t want to put it down, so I read it in just two sittings. I started being especially intrigued by the 2019 timeline, but I quickly became equally as invested in the 1988 timeline with Beth as well. I loved the slower burn and the way Rous slowly unravels all of the secrets, and I can tell you I was NOT expecting that ending.
The Perfect Guests is getting a high rating from me for a few different reasons and let me tell you why. The biggest reason is that I loved the overall feel of the book and how it grabbed me right away and kept my attention the entire time. Another reason is that the end took me by complete surprise and the whole book kept me guessing. There was some suspense here, but overall, it is just a great, twisty tale. I couldn’t believe how well Rous weaved this story and made all of the things tie together in a way that makes your mouth drop open. And last but not least, I loved the isolated setting and how Raven Hall was basically a character in itself.
I would have loved to be IN this book despite what happens, and it really made me itch to play a game of Clue. It has both some young adult and gothic vibes and makes for a great crossover novel. I thought everything was very distinctive so there is no getting confused, and there aren’t any ambiguous endings which is something I am a fan of. If you want a fun book that will hold your attention this year, I recommend checking out The Perfect Guests and Rous’ previous novel if you haven’t already!
Thank you to the publisher for my advance review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
A richly atmospheric time-slip mystery with the pulse of a thriller, The Perfect Guests is deliciously evocative and absolutely spellbinding. Set up like a game of Clue, the story alternates between two narratives, one in the past, the other in the present, each chapter winding the tension higher as you discover the pieces you need to solve the puzzle. With vividly drawn characters, gorgeous prose, and an electric sense of place and time, I was sucked in from the very first page. The Perfect Guests is a fun and immensely satisfying treat!
The Perfect Guests is a twisty read stacked in history. I took me a bit to settle into the story and meet all the players but once I did, I was intrigued. The pace is on the slower side, but in this case that works well, allowing the story to build in the many layers. This read like a challenging puzzle. You know you have all the pieces, but you haven’t yet uncovered how they all fit together. I found the storyline unique and well fleshed out. I especially liked how everything came together in the end. I will be looking for more to read by Emma Rous.
Emma Rous’ The Perfect Guests satisfied my need for a good, twisted mystery. It had all the fixings: Gothic old house, mysterious circumstances, unforthcoming family, and an unwanted, orphaned girl.
The story is told in two time periods and by multiple narrators. I enjoyed both, but I was stymied by one unnamed narrator. The addition of the unnamed narrator threw me off completely so that I was completely surprised at a big reveal and twist. I was anticipating a twist or big event, but I didn’t see this one coming. What do Beth Soames and Sadie Langton have in common besides Raven Hall? You’ll have to read the book to find out {insert sinister laugh here}.
The plot is well thought out and the pace is not fast, but good; I found Sadie’s present day plot a bit slower than Beth’s 1988 plot, however, that changes dramatically as the story’s zenith approaches. There is moderate tension within the story. The number of secrets and lies is so astounding that I began to question the reliability of each narrator.
I loved to hate one particular character whose obsession is the basis for all the wrong doings. I loved the idea of the murder mystery weekend in an old gothic house; it’s a great setting for real mystery. The mystery is wrapped up a bit conveniently, but cleverly, and the best is the very creepy end! Ms. Rous out did herself with that Hitchcock-esque touch.
I was hooked from the start and so completely engrossed in the book that I finished it in one sitting.
4.5 stars
This is an intriguing book in that there is an “in house” mystery played out by people that were asked to be a part of it. The twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end. Well written with good characterization. Rack up another winner from Emma Rous.
I received an ebook ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sadie an aspiring actress is invited to spend the weekend at Raven Hall for a Murder Mystery that the company who owns the home is starting up. Beth, a teenage orphan is taken in my Leonora and Markus.
Told from 2 main POV, Beth 1988 – 1989 and Sadie 2019, and then a story of a previous resident of Raven Hall mixed in. These two stories and timeframes collide. This was a fast paced, easy to read novel. I wanted to keep reading to A) figure out why Beth was taken in by this family, why was she part “of their game” and B) what is going on present day, who is in charge. The author does a great job of tying up all questions. I flew through this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Emma Rous.
Raven Hall is a grand house with a past. When Sophia gets offered an acting job there at a mystery dinner event, she knows nothing about the house. Told in a dual timeline, the story tells of Beth’s time in the house and the tragedy that occurred there and Sophia’s time at the house where a strange dinner party ensues. The story is a twisty and suspenseful read!
Emma Rous writes books that I cannot put down. I read The Au Pair in a day, and I read The Perfect Guests in a day too. The only problem with this is…..they’re over in a day!! Both books are in the Gothic Fiction genre which is one of my favorites.
The Perfect Guests has that twisty plot and dark, mysterious feeling that I love. The story goes back and forth between 1988 and 2019. Though we know the characters are connected, it’s not clear how until much later in the story.
I absolutely love the descriptive setting and the depth of the characters. I’m looking forward to seeing what Emma Rous has in store for us next!
If you love mysterious stories and are drawn to the Gothic genre, you’ll love Emma Rous and The Perfect Guests.
The Perfect Guests is an intricately woven and compelling novel. I found it very hard to put down!
The story unfolds in two alternating time frames, the late 1980’s and current day, and is told from the points of view of Beth and Sadie.
In 1988, Beth Soames, 14, is taken by her aunt Caroline to be a companion to Nina, daughter of Markus & Leonora Averell at Raven Hall, a large manor. Beth, who has been living in a children’s home since the death of her parents and older brother (aunt Caroline travels all the time for her job and can’t care for her), is amazed at her good fortune and tries her best not to rock the boat, lest she be sent back to the home. Fortunately, she and Nina hit it off and become best friends. Though the family is very welcoming, it doesn’t take long for Beth to become uneasy about some of the strange things going on.
In 2019, Sadie Langton, 28, an out-of-work actress, is offered the chance to play one of six guests at a fancy vintage murder-mystery weekend at Raven Hall. The manor is gorgeous, but as the game begins and night descends, it becomes apparent that there is more to this than meets the eye. So much more!!!
Rous connects the two stories layer by layer until all is finally revealed. So many twists! The characters are well painted, none more so than Raven Hall itself. (A recommendation to other readers, I found it helpful to jot down the names of characters with a brief description of who they are so that as the story unfolds I could easily make the connections.)
This is a very entertaining read and I recommend it without reservation.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me to read an advance review copy of this novel which is scheduled to be published 1/12/2021. All opinions expressed here are my own.
“I wish I hadn’t asked…Everything I ever thought…I wish I didn’t know..”
The Perfect Guest is a chilling, twisted thriller where a family seems to live in an isolated bubble at in their family home of Raven Hall. There are complex relationships, family secrets, and intriguing mind games are played for years. Mostly two storylines but does have a bit of a third. This was a fast paced, delightful book but I wish the ending was a bit more …thrilling? The mystery was presented and unravelled pretty fast and was not in tone of the rest of the book. Still gave me some aha moments at the end so I’m still content to have read it and did find it entertaining. Would make a great book club pick!
The Perfect Guests is a story within a story. Told in the past and the present, it is filled with twists, turns and surprises. Fourteen year old Beth Soames wants two things; to fit in and and to have a secure home. She is taken in by Markus and Leonora to live at Raven Hall along with their daughter Sadie.
Sadie and Beth became constant companions. But life has a way of happening. Situations and circumstances make things difficult and drama filled. As their story progresses between the past and the present, the truth unravels, wrapped in mystery and intrigue. Emma Rous paints a beautiful picture of Raven Hall. The story comes full circle and the end will have you saying ‘wow’!
Emma Rous is a new-to-me author. I enjoyed The Perfect Guest and look forward to reading more by this author!
The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous would make the perfect movie. Rous writes in such a way that you can see the action happening in your mind. And I’m not always a fan of shifting timelines, but Rous was able to pull it off very well.
Her characterization was excellent. You could feel the longing that Beth had for a family and the intense feelings that come with teenage love. Rous was able to write Nina very believably as a child who was just starting to come into adulthood but was so sheltered that she was having a hard time. Even the unknown narrator had a deep personality, even though it was manic and twisted. And Sadie, although she was my least favorite, she was still written well as a person who was raised… well, no spoilers.
What really drew me to this book to begin with was the murder mystery game that seemed so much like Clue. And although it was a part of the story, it was just a bit part and didn’t really come into play until more towards the end of the story. But when the secrets and suspects started flowing, they did not stop. It was one twist and turn after another. Were they all believable, not necessarily, but were they all fun and each more disturbing than the next, yes, yes they were! It also had a vibe like The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin, which is a young adult book I absolutely love.
You will need to suspend your belief, but that’s what makes this gothic mystery such an entertaining reado
Okay, so what genre to assign to this book? Mystery plus domestic drama, maybe? Whatever genre it is, it was entertaining, particularly because of how different the style is. The story is told by two narrators and two time periods, Beth in 1988 and Sadie in 2019. The story twists all around until at last the two come together, in what I thought was very contrived, but it did work. I thought that the plot was well-developed with a lot of revelations in the middle and then it was kind of downhill all the way to the end. The conclusion was a surprise that I was not able to guess, but I also thought that it defied belief. The book reminded me a lot of the game “Clue” and the book by Agatha Christie with a similar plot of house guests being picked off one by one. The connections are the real meat of this story and the author did a fantastic job of laying false trails of clues, interspersed with the real ones, so that kept me interested. Fans of mystery will enjoy this book, but I was looking for more suspense that was never really there.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”