The Overnight Guest: A Novel

Heather Gudenkauf

Jan 2022 · Sold by Harlequin

About this ebook

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.

Don’t miss Heather’s upcoming twisty locked-room thriller, EVERYONE IS WATCHING!


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

Ratings and reviews

The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf Well written, convoluted, torturous tale of three interconnected storylines that eventually converge to tell a horrific tale. Such stories have made headlines in the past and no doubt will continue to occur in the future but it is never easy to read them – whether true or fiction. Three storylines * Past: 2000 moving toward present tells of Becky and Josie spending a night together with horrific results. One girl loses her entire family and one girl disappears entirely. Thee police look, the families deal with the situation, and the mystery is believed to be unearthed but…it wasn’t really…not then * Present: a true crime author is on a deadline, is dealing with other issues including a teenage son and ex-husband, and also has the weight of her backstory from childhood hanging over her and weighing heavier every day. She has moved back to her childhood stomping grounds and that is not helping things. * The view of a child as she sees life from the basement with her mother…their story is grim and difficult with little hope for the future…but progress it does and eventually overlaps with the Present My Notes: * Well-written * Difficult to follow and keep track of at first * Ended up skimming to get it all figured out * Some will love it and others will probably not * Not sure that I enjoyed the three storylines way of telling the story * Was amazed by the strength of some of the characters * The truth coming out eventually was great but so much suffering was caused by one person – just doesn’t seem fair but then life is not always fair is it? * Noticed I skimmed the only other book I have read by this author so wonder if I will read another by her or not. * Grim atmosphere throughout with weather playing a part * Can see it as a movie, maybe, though not sure I would want to watch it. * Mixed feelings… Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing-Park Row for the ARC – This is my honest review. 3-4 Stars

I picked this book when I was getting it frequently in my instafeed Such a good book, so well scripted. Now I am having a book hangover. A good book always makes you feel like that...

Good book and keeps your attention

About the author

Heather Gudenkauf is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and Not a Sound. Heather lives in Iowa with her family.