‘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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This is a twisty mystery that involves three different time periods, all of which converge for a spectacular finish. As a huge fan of the board game Clue, the present timeline immediately drew me.
Sadie is a bit actress looking for a break when she’s offered the chance to play “Miss Lamb” at an old mansion known as Raven Hall. Other guests also assume roles—Professor Owl, Colonel Otter, Miss Mouse, Lady Nightingale, and Mrs. Shrew. Each guest has been given individual cards about their characters actions and clothes in a single themed color. As Miss Lamb, Sadie dresses in white. Mrs. Shrew dresses in blue, etc. Sound familiar? I was in “Clue” heaven! The guests have been gathered to solve the murder of Lord Nightingale as a test-run for a new business that hosts murder mystery parties.
In the past, Beth, an orphan, is taken by her aunt to live at Raven Hall as a companion for Nina, the daughter of the owners. Both girls are fourteen. After some initial wariness, they form a close bond, going from friendship to the attachment of sisters.
The scenes in the past are every bit intriguing—if not more so—then those in the present. Beth is a likeable character, who just wants to feel part of a family. She constantly worries if she doesn’t do everything perfectly, she’ll be sent back to the orphanage.
But aside from Markus and Leonora (Nina’s parents) insisting Nina can never leave the property or go into town, Beth’s time at Raven Hall is filled with fun and the closeness she longs for—until she is talked into participating in a strange game. One that will ultimately have far reaching consequences.
There is also a third timeline, not as in depth as the others. Told from the POV of young woman, it isn’t until the middle of the book that the reader discovers who is narrating those sections.
It may sound like there is a lot going on in this novel (and there is) but it isn’t difficult to follow. The chapters are fairly short, and the pacing is excellent. Mysteries build steadily in both the past and the present. I was impressed by the number of subtle clues the author plants that turn into timebombs at the end. The final chapters deliver staggering revelations, not one but several. Then when I thought there were no surprises left, and I could finally catch my breath, the author dropped a final twisty shock in the closing pages.
If you love a good mystery, this is one you don’t want to miss. A spectacular read and another candidate for my Favorites List this year!
Amazing story!!
The book was an easy read, it switched between two narrators and that’s what kept things different. The story was intriguing, I enjoyed the mystery, and the way the end all came together….must read
The Au Pair, author Emma Rous’s debut novel, was a great success and has now been published in eleven countries. She has now followed up The Au Pair with The Perfect Guests, an atmospheric mystery full of surprising plot twists and mysterious characters. It’s the densely atmospheric story of a sprawling old estate, an orphan who finds herself caught up in a web of others’ lies, and a woman who orchestrates a deadly game.
Rous employs alternating first-person narratives to relate the story of Beth, who is invited to Raven Hall in 1988 when she is fourteen years old. She is to be the guest of Leonora and Markus, and their daughter, Nina, who is just a few months younger. Leonora and Markus decided to invite Beth after hearing her play the violin in a concert, and Beth’s Aunt Caroline promises her that she can be a companion for Nina “until I’m ready for you to move in with me.” It’s a promise Aunt Caroline makes yet again as she transports Beth from the children’s home for a visit in the stately manor home, but Beth knows she will never keep it. Beth’s parents were killed in an automobile accident, as they rushed her brother, who had cystic fibrosis, to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. Even though Leonora assures her, “We want you to feel like you’re part of our family here,” Beth cringes when Leonora suggests that she is there to play with Nina. After all, at fourteen, they’re a little old for that, aren’t they?
Sadie, in January 2019, describes losing her mother, and being tasked with cleaning out her apartment and disposing of her belongings. Just as she is wondering how she will pay next month’s living expenses, her agent calls with a fabulous job offer. she will work for a new murder mystery company seeking actors for a trial run of the game. The job includes glamorous costumes, an elegant dinner party in an old mansion “full of dark history . . .” and excellent pay. Sadie jumps at the chance to accept the embossed invitation “to play a Game at Raven Hall.” Her research reveals that the house has been empty for thirty years, following some sort of tragedy in the late 1980s.
And a third-person narrative begins, “She shouldn’t be here. But, oh, how she’s missed her beloved Raven Hall. . . . And what would they do if they knew who she was?”
Beth bonds with Nina, who shows her all around the property, including Avermere Lake. The two girls bond, and Beth is surprised to learn that Nina does not attend school in the village with the other local children. Nina explains that her mother is overprotective, and worries about her becoming ill. As Beth’s stay stretches on, she learns more about the family that seems odd. Nina has an odd and somewhat frightening collection of stuffed animals that she says her brings her when he returns from his business travels. When Nina’s grandfather arrives from the United States for a visit, Beth is extremely uncomfortable playing along with a “game” at Leonora’s insistence. Beth plays her violin for him, and he tries to convince her to live with him America where she could attend a music school.
When Sadie arrives for the murder mystery dinner, she is greeted by Nazleen, who will be portraying Lady Nightingale, the hostess. Each character is named for an animal: Miss Lamb, elderly Professor Owl (with his son, Zach, who explains that he is merely accompanying his father), Miss Mouse, Colonel Otter. As the evening progresses, strange events occur, and Sadie realizes that the chauffeur-driven limousine in which the guests arrived has departed, she cannot get a signal on her cellular telephone, and there is no landline telephone. One by one the guests begin to grow ill and they are trapped in Raven Hall.
As the three narratives progress, it becomes clear that The Perfect Guests is a cleverly-plotted mystery in which the characters, past and present-day, are connected, their histories and fates intertwined. Rous’s story is an intriguing blend of unrequited love, obsession, greed, power, and class distinctions. Gradually, long-buried secrets start coming to light as Sadie and the other guests begin to realize that they have not been summoned to an ordinary murder mystery dinner. Instead, something sinister is afoot, but Sadiee, in particular, could never understand why or guess who is behind it.
Rous’s characters are fully formed and compelling. Leonora is mysterious, insistent, and determined, while Markus is trapped and torn between competing forces. As their history is revealed, their behavior makes increasing sense because Rous reveals what is at stake for them. Beth, the orphan who has found a home and family that she does not want to lose, grows increasingly suspicious and frightened by the strange events she witnesses. She and Nina are never permitted to leave Raven Hall, and Jonas, the local boy who comes to the lake to swim with Beth and Nina, returns Beth’s affection and urges her to come to the village with him. Sadie, the young woman who has been floundering, but believes the murder mystery dinner could be the break she needs, is utterly perplexed and frightened by the events that unfold, in large part because her mother never told her anything about her own childhood and she has no prior knowledge of Raven Hall or its secrets.
Rous ramps up the dramatic tension incrementally as she reveals clues about what is really transpiring. The murder mystery is indeed a game, but it becomes gradually more deadly and the story’s pace quickens as it barrels toward a propulsive climax during which all is revealed and the intricacies of Rous’s inventive plot are on full display.
Fans of gothic mysteries featuring family secrets will love The Perfect Guests. It’s an entertaining, absorbing mystery that will keep readers guessing right up to the jaw-dropping conclusion.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader’s Copy of the book.
The story was a bit slow moving and jumped around so it was confusing. The ending had a twist which ties the story all together.
4.5 stars
When Beth arrives at Raven Hall in 1988, she’s not sure if she wants to stay… or run. She’s in a bit of a tenuous place, having lost her family in an accident and with an aunt who travels, Raven Hall and her new family is better than living in the group home. So she gives it a chance. Markus and Leonora’s daughter Nina is nice most of the time, but there are some odd goings on at Raven Hall that concern her.
Fast forward to 2019. Actress Sadie Langton is invited to play a part at a weekend murder mystery party set at… Raven Hall. Turns out it has just been renovated from a mysterious incident. The money is good and Sadie is all-in until things start getting weird starting with thinking she may be poisoned and the faint smell of smoke and the strange participants in the weekend game.
Told in alternating story lines, Nina and Beth’s story is gradually revealed. At first, it doesn’t seem too complicated and I was wondering what I was missing. Most of the good stuff happens in the final chapters of the book, and the rest is a meandering visit through time. My head is still reeling from the reveals in this book, and I may need to make a chart to figure it all out!
I liked this story and the strange characters and like good mystery and suspense tale, I want to go back and re-read so I can find all the clues that I missed along the way. I did think the pace of the first half was a bit slow for me and all the great reveals came at the end as the group unravels the story for themselves. That part I did like — I felt I was right along side the characters figuring out what was going on.
If you like a good family-oriented mystery/thriller with lots of secrets set in a spooky old gothic location, you might just like this story. I did!
Beth comes to Raven Hall as a companion for The Averell’s daughter Nina in 1988. She is greeted with open arms and made part of the family. After a little while there, Beth starts to notice that things aren’t what they seem. The grand house holds so many secrets and when the truth comes out everything could come crashing down.
Sadie is a struggling actress and she is invited to Raven Hall for a mystery theatre performance. When she gets there and meets the other characters, she realizes things are off. She was hoping to make some friends and be greeted openly and warmly, and what she got was a cast of characters that have many secrets.
The story toggles between three POV, Beth, Sadie and Leonora, but at the beginning of the book you don’t realize how these people are interconnected. As the story starts to unfold, the reader starts to understand that everything is related.
I really enjoyed this thriller because I had no idea what was going to happen. I went in thinking I would read a little bit and ended up finishing the book because I really wanted to know all the answers to the questions reeling through my mind. Thank you to Berkley,Netgalley and the author for an early copy of this book.
Give me an old house with a mystery and I am hooked. Raven Hall is the perfect setting for this story. It is a large manor with a past and secrets.
Sadie is an out of work, struggling actress. She receives a good job to work at this unique house. She is to play a dinner guest. Sadie is excited, to say the least. But, it does not go the way she plans.
This story is told in two different time periods. In 1988, Beth is an orphan taken in by the Averells. Beth and Nina Averell become quick friends but there is something wrong. Beth is asked to do something weird. She is asked to impersonate Nina on several occasions.
Then the story rotates to Sadie in 2019. When Sadie arrives at the manor she is excited about this new job. But, she quickly realizes everyone is not who they are supposed to be and something is very wrong.
This is a twisted tale and it just keeps the reader guessing all the way through. The setting and the characters are perfectly created to go along with this puzzling story. Do not blink or you will miss something!
Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Emma Rous is a memorable and gifted writer. I say this because her stories are uniquely written, and she doesn’t take tired topes and recycle them over and over again. Sometimes its nice to read the same types of books with different characters and locations, but its even nicer when an author gives her readers something FRESH like she has here (and with her debut). Another reason she’s memorable is because her storytelling ability is exquisite. Emma weaves her stories nicely from past to present and slowly builds up her plots and characters to the tune of the story. There’s no “filler” in her books and even the small details mean something to the story. It’s truly exceptional and I look forward to reading many more of her novels in the future. Now on to the story…
The Perfect Guests is a puzzle of a story. Readers can easily be reading it for hours and not know where the author is taking us but still enjoy the journey because of the evocative scenes she brings to life. I’ll admit, I was wondering WHAT the big secret was, but in due time it was slowly revealed. There are breadcrumbs scattered here and there towards the big mystery, but you need a fine eye to catch them! This story feels gothic as much of it takes place in a big manor house that has been in a family for decades and it holds many secrets, but also modern because of the present tense in some of pov’s. When I think of a gothic novel, I think of something set in the early 1900’s but Emma proves that isn’t necessary for the trope. This one DOES span decades, but those decades begin in the 80’s and end in the present (2019). It’s all pretty clever if you ask me!
Anyway, this is a story about Beth. Nina, Sadie, and a slew of secondary characters who play a role in the mystery that surrounds Raven Hall. Readers will question what’s wrong with this beautiful home and why some characters need to stay hidden. Shocking twists filled with deceit and tragedy slowly bring readers to a climax that stuns its readers! You think you know these people but in reality… that’s not the case.
The Perfect Guests is a mystery, a family drama, and a suspense novel wrapped together. It’s a slow moving, engaging, and intriguing read that will keep you entertained for hours. It’s a story that is likely to get many readers excited because of how sharp it is and one I know I won’t soon forget. I recommend this book whole-heartedly!
This is an atmospheric novel that engages readers from the beginning.
The characters are all well placed and even though we don’t know what role they play in the story until the big reveal in the end, they all DO matter to the plot.
There isn’t any unnecessary filler in the story. Every single action MEANS something.
I love how the author weaved the story through the past and present as it gave is a glimpse into the reasoning behind the mystery. The author COULD have written it without the present tense, but it wouldn’t have been half as good as it is like this.
The big twist and the final reveal had me jumping because I loved it so much! It’s insanely unique!
I think the only thing that held me back from giving this one a perfect 5-star rating is how slow it was in terms of getting to the point of the story. Looking back, I understand WHY everything was revealed so slowly, but there were a few times I was wondering what the heck I was reading! This is a very character driven novel and getting to the mystery part and watching it unveil was SLOW.
The Perfect Guests is one of those books that you won’t know you NEED until you read it. Emma Rous is a superb writer and getting lost in the worlds she builds is easy. I love a mystery that shocks me and this one did just that! I highly recommend it.
:
All of the guests have been invited to Raven Hall for a mystery weekend except for Sadie. She’s an out-of-work actress who needs the job she’s been hired to perform at the house. But, the secrets that come out are going to link them all in a manner that none of them can foresee. I really liked this book for the way the author weaves the stories together.
You are invited to play a game at Raven Hall…
I read this book in one day. I couldn’t put it down until I figured out what the heck was happening and how everyone was connected!
The story is told through three different POVs and timelines – Beth’s in 1988, Sadie’s in 2019 and an unnamed narrator’s at an unclear time – but they all have one thing in common: Raven Hall, a mysterious old English manor.
Beth is a recently orphaned teen whose aunt drops her to live with Markus, Leonora and their daughter Nina at Raven Hall in 1988. Why the family wants to take Beth in isn’t clear and she worries about making a good impression but before long, she and Nina are like sisters and Beth’s place at the grand estate seems secure. But when Leonora asks her to do an odd favor and pretend it’s “a game,” things start to take a very weird turn.
Meanwhile in 2019, Sadie, a struggling actress who can’t pay her rent, lands a well-paying gig playing a guest at a murder mystery party at a formerly abandoned manor called Raven Hall. She happily accepts and the night starts off innocently enough but soon things start getting creepy and Sadie realizes it might be more than just a game – someone’s life might really be at risk.
There are lots of twists (some I guessed and others I didn’t) and you eventually find out how Beth and Sadie’s stories overlap. The pacing is fast, the characters are entertaining (especially in Sadie’s chapters) and I loved how Rous interconnected them all. I found one of the main motivations propelling the story far-fetched and the last twist to be one too many but overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re looking for a well-written, quick-read mystery laced with family drama, this book is for you.
3.5 stars
What a Bumpy ride of a read!!
This book was a fast paced thrill a minute.
Even If I paid closer attention, I don’t think I would have figured out this tangled web, which was a good thing!
While the meat and potatoes throughout the book were tasty, It was the dessert at the end that really satisfies you.
My first read from this Author and I will definitely be checking out her other works.
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing and the Author for an the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
would help, so you go. The weekend party is not all that it cracks up to be. It is a who-dun-it and the only clues you get are sealed envelopes and stories the hostess tells.
I loved that there were two timelines. The present timeline of Sadie arriving to attend the party, meet the guests, and enjoy her time at Raven Hall was interesting. The murder/mystery parties have been happening for a while around here and I have always thought they sounded fun. This party starts out fun but quickly Sadie realizes that something is off, something is not right, and something bad is going to happen. The 1988 timeline of Beth being invited to come stay at Raven Hall as the best friend for Nina had me wondering what else was going on. Why was Beth truly invited? I also wondered how the two timelines would come together when only the location of Raven Hall seems to be the same.
Emma Rous did a wonderful job of pulling the entire story together. She kept the timelines easy to follow, easy to tell which time you were reading about, and when the story came together it was seamless. There are no gaps in the story, no wondering what happen, and (for me) no wishes that it would have gone differently. The Perfect Guests is the perfect mystery, thriller, who-dun-it story.
Favorite Quote:
Her thoughts are like darting fish, sparking across her mind and slipping out of reach.
My Review:
My first Emma Rous read and it was quite a complicated and twisty tale with lots of moving parts, secrets, and hidden agendas. The storylines were slowly constructed and cleverly nuanced over two timelines with a large cast of characters. The story threads were taut with tension and wound around themselves to weave what seemed like tangled knots, which ultimately became a complex tapestry while ensnaring my attention and endlessly provoking my curiosity with ever-evolving theories. Many of the main characters were elusive and an odd mix of peculiar and erratic in both timelines. This was a hard one to put down and my poor optical orbits feel like they have burned through to the back of my skull as I may have been reluctant to blink as I didn’t want to miss anything. All told, it was rather ingenious.
This is my first time reading this author and I was lucky to read an early copy of this story, it did not disappoint. I love when an author takes me on a twisty ride. With this dual timeline and multiple POV’s it is definitely an interesting read. I am definitely going to be checking out more from this author. Definitely a must read!
The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous was a captivating read full of surprises, twists and turns. We read about a young, orphaned girl in the 80s and a grown woman who is a struggling actress asked to fit a role for a party. Lies, secrets and so much more are intertwined between the past and present. What is it about this estate? This story was mesmerizing and kept me turning the pages until the very end!
Happy reading!
3.5 stars …
This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I enjoyed it! The way in which this story was told was very interesting and I wasn’t sure how things would turn. I was sucked into Beth’s and Sadie’s journeys and while they were happening at different times, they were in the same place and I wondered how things would intersect. I liked how the journeys were told and how they flipped back and forth. Always left on the edge, waiting to see what was to come. When things came to a head, I wasn’t expecting this story to take the turn it did. It was unexpected and I couldn’t put it down. If you like a good thriller, then this is an interesting one to pick up!
Since reading THE AU PAIR, a twisty thriller, I knew I needed to read another Emma Rous book!
THE PERFECT GUESST is a great triple timeline narrative that had all the thrill and twists you will want in a suspenseful and atmospheric read. I just adore a true one sitting type of a read where there is truly no putting the book down except for some really urgent bathroom breaks. I love the complex relationships and how these characters were written were superb. You really get to know the characters and become invested in the story where the timelines were beautifully crafted into such an incredibly amazing read I really enjoyed.
I enjoy a wonderfully gothic mystery and Raven Hall was the prefect setting for this fantastic read I loved.
I highly recommend this cleverly plotted and twisty thriller.
Everyone seemed to like games. One game was for a murder mystery party and another was to trick Nina’s grandfather into thinking Beth actually was Nina.
We meet Beth and Nina in 1988 and Sadie in 2019.
Beth is a foster child that came to live with Nina and her odd family in Raven Hall.
Sadie is an actress who is invited to play a part in a murder mystery game.
We also meet an unnamed character who has come back to Raven Hall and is angry about the new owners.
As we move from one time to the next, we get detailed information about what is going on, but then there is always something missing and always a new character to meet.
The murder mystery game got out of hand with guests becoming sick, one disappearing, and the game seeming to turn into an actual attempted murder mystery with secrets that get revealed.
THE PERFECT GUESTS has more than one story line going on, and I enjoyed all of them. You will think you have it figured out, and then something else happens.
The ending is a surprise as things are wrapped up and you find out who’s who in these games.
If you enjoy mysteries, an old house that the story was built on, and characters that are an odd sort, you will like THE PERFECT GUESTS. 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There is something creepy going on at Raven Hall. The story is told in two timelines that eventually intersect. In 1988, 14 year old Beth is brought to Raven Hall to be a companion for Nina. Life is wonderful for Beth and Nina as long as they never leave the grounds of Nina’s ancestral home; however, Beth soon discovers that the family is playing a bizarre game and she doesn’t understand the rules. In 2019, Sadie is brought to Raven Hall under the guise of acting in a mystery weekend. She quickly realizes that not all is as it seems and her fellow players are not who they initially seem to be. Along with Beth and Sadie, a strange woman lurks around the grounds of Raven Hall giving the reader clues to the history of the house. I enjoyed the different timelines and how they intersected in the twisty last third of the book.
Overall, The Perfect Guests is an engrossing read that keeps you guessing. Fans of both mysteries and family dramas would enjoy this novel. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advanced copy of the novel for review.