An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena Review


I have read both of Shari Lapena’s previous novels, and they were real page turners ! I couldn’t put them down, but this one wasn’t quite a page turner for me. I was having a hard time getting into it. It might be because it’s considered a classic mystery novel or I just wasn’t in the right mind set. The premise is that there are multiple people stuck in a hotel together, and as the weekend goes on, bodies are showing up. It reminded me a bit of Agatha Christie’s And Then They Were None actually.

I did have a hard time remembering all the different characters in the beginning, since they are all introduced right away. However, you get to know them pretty quick with all there different back stories that are introduced in the beginning. The POV changes between all the different characters during the book, I enjoyed that a lot ! I really like different POV’s in books, I find you get more “inside” information and description in a story. This novel also felt extremely atmospheric, especially compared to the other novels by Shari Lapena. I absolutely loved that aspect, and it made me feel cozy reading it. It takes place in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of an ice storm so there was a lot of talks about fireplaces, blankets and coffee! Since this was kind of a classic mystery, the ending wasn’t really shocking, which I didn’t mind. I feel like it was tied up pretty good and we got an explanation. You could say there was a tiny twist in the end, which I did enjoy, even though I had previously suspected. Overall, great book, absolutely love Shari Lapena’s writing and highly recommend! Just don’t go into this book thinking it will be a high paced, high action thriller.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing me with an ARC of this book. As usual, my reviews are my honest and unbiased opinions

A remote lodge in upstate New York is the perfect getaway… until the bodies start piling up. It's winter in the Catskills and the weather outside is frightful. But Mitchell's Inn is so delightful! The cozy lodge nestled deep in the woods is perfect for a relaxing--maybe even romantic--weekend away. The Inn boasts spacious old rooms with huge wood-burning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a book and someone you love. 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 for the long haul. The power's down but they've got candles, blankets, and wood--a genuine rustic experience! Soon, though, a body turns up--surely an accident. When a second body appears, they start to panic. Then they find a third body. Within the snowed-in paradise, something--or someone--is picking off the guests one by one. They can't leave, and with no cell service, there's no prospect of getting the police in until the weather loosens its icy grip. The weekend getaway has turned deadly. For some couples, it's their first time away. For others, it will be their last. And there's nothing they can do about it but huddle down and hope they can survive the storm.

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