BOOK REVIEWS by LINDA MOORE: THE OVERNIGHT GUESTS by Heather Gudenkauf

THE OVERNIGHT GUEST

“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.

Heather Gudenkauf is the critically acclaimed author of several novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Weight of Silence. She lives in Iowa with her family.

You can connect with Heather here:

THE OVERNIGHT GUEST

Author: Heather Gudenkauf

ISBN: 9780778311935

Publication Date: January 25, 2022

Publisher: Park Row Books

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Instagram: @heathergudenkauf

Twitter: @hgudenkauf

Facebook: @HeatherGudenkaufAuthor

Goodreads

Three

“Maybe we can go outside and play?” the girl said as she peeked around the edge of the heavy curtain that covered the window. The sky was gray and soft drops of rain tapped at the glass.

“Not today,” her mother said. “It’s raining and we’d melt.”

The girl gave a little laugh and then hopped off the chair she had dragged beneath the window. She knew her mother was teasing. They wouldn’t actually melt if they went out in the rain, but still, it made her shiver thinking about it—stepping outside and feeling the plop of water on your skin and watching it melt away like an ice cube.

Instead, the girl and her mother spent the morning at the card table cutting pink, purple, and green egg shapes from construction paper and embellishing them with polka dots and stripes.

On one oval, her mother drew eyes and a pointy little orange beak. Her mother laid the girl’s hands on a piece of yellow paper and traced around them using a pencil. “Watch,” she said as she cut out the handprints and then glued them to the back of one of the ovals.

“It’s a bird,” the girl said with delight.

“An Easter chick,” her mother said. “I made these when I was your age.”

Together, they carefully taped the eggs and chicks and bunny rab-bits they created to the cement walls, giving the dim room a festive, springy look. “There, now we’re ready for the Easter Bunny,” her mother said with triumph.

That night, when the girl climbed into bed, the butterflies in her stomach kept chasing sleep away. “Stay still,” her mother kept re-minding her. “You’ll fall asleep faster.”

The girl didn’t think that was true, but then she opened her eyes, a sliver of bright sunshine was peeking around the shade, and the girl knew that morning had finally arrived.

She leaped from bed to find her mother already at the tiny round table where they ate their meals. “Did he come?” the girl asked, tucking her long brown hair behind her ears.

“Of course he did,” her mother said, holding out a basket woven together from strips of colored paper. It was small, fitting into the palm of the girl’s hand, but sweet. Inside were little bits of green paper that were cut to look like grass. On top of this was a pack of cinnamon gum and two watermelon Jolly Ranchers.

The girl smiled though disappointment surged through her. She’d been hoping for a chocolate bunny or one of those candy eggs that oozed yellow when you broke it open.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Thank the Easter Bunny,” her mother said.

“Thank you, Easter Bunny,” the girl crowed like the child on the candy commercials that she’d seen on television. They both laughed.

They each unwrapped a piece of gum and spent the morning making up stories about the paper chicks and bunnies they made.

When the girl’s gum lost its flavor, and she had slowly licked one of the Jolly Ranchers into a sharp flat disc, the door at the top of the steps opened, and her father came down the stairs toward them. He was carrying a plastic bag and a six-pack of beer. Her mother gave the girl a look. The one that said, go on now, mom and dad need some alone time. Obediently, the girl, taking her Easter basket, went to her spot beneath the window and sat in the narrow beam of warm light that fell across the floor. Facing the wall, she unwrapped another piece of gum and poked it into her mouth and tried to ignore the squeak of the bed and her father’s sighs and grunts.

“You can turn around now,” her mother finally said. The girl sprang up from her spot on the floor.

The girl heard the water running in the bathroom, and her father poked his head out of the door. “Happy Easter,” he said with a grin. “The Easter Bunny wanted me to give you a little something.”

The girl looked at the kitchen table where the plastic bag sat. Then she slid her eyes to her mother, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing her wrist, eyes red and wet. Her mother nodded.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Later, after her father climbed the steps and locked the door behind him, the girl went to the table and looked inside the plastic bag. In-side was a chocolate bunny with staring blue eyes. He was holding a carrot and wore a yellow bowtie.

“Go ahead,” her mother told the girl as she held an ice pack to her wrist. “When I was little, I always started with the ears.”

“I don’t think I’m very hungry,” the girl said, returning the box to the table.

“It’s okay,” her mother said gently. “You can eat it. It’s from the Easter Bunny, not your dad.”

The girl considered this. She took a little nibble from the bunny’s ear and sweet chocolate flooded her mouth. She took another bite and then another. She held out the rabbit to her mother and she bit off the remaining ear in one big bite. They laughed and took turns eating until all that was left was the bunny’s chocolate tail.

“Close your eyes and open your mouth,” her mother said. The girl complied and felt her mother place the remaining bit on her tongue and then kiss her on the nose. “Happy Easter,” her mother whispered.

MY THOUGHTS

Where do I start? This book was the best one yet by this author and that is saying so much. She is such a wonderful and gifted author. Her writing keeps you wanting more. Turning the pages to find out what is coming. This book is the edge of your seat thriller with so much passion and emotion you won't want to put it down. The characters come to life. The story is so real. Like one you would read about in the headline news. You get to know these characters. Feel their love and of course all of their pain and sorrow. The tragedies that befall them. The hurt, sadness and deep loss.

My very favorite line in this book is:

"My name is Josie."

Another favorite quote:

It isn't the dark you have to be afraid of, the girl thought, it's the monsters who step out into the light that you need to fear.

Josie and Becky are best friends. The night their lives changed forever is the plot of this story. The thing that will keep you turning the pages. The horror that will make you not want to put this book down. To find out who did it. Who could possibly do such a heinous thing to a family. Take Josie's life from her. Take Becky's life from her. Take their childhood without a thought. Without any feelings.

This book takes you into the life of a writer. A writer named Wylie. She's here to finish her book. To tell a story. Things take a crazy turn when she discovers a child. A child in the snow who could very easily have frozen to death. Wylie brings the child in and her life will never be the same. In one night her world is turned upside down. So many things are going to happen. Lives will be changed forever.

This night is filled with horrors. With much sadness and lots of fears. Also maybe a bit of hope will shine through if they make it until morning. One thing is for sure. They will never be the same two people. This little child who is saved from the freezing blizzard by this woman who was not looking for anything but the peach and quiet to finish her book.

This story is told from three different time frames. In twenty somewhat years lives were torn apart and no one in these families were ever the same again. A woman and child in a basement. Josie and Becky running for their lives. Wylie and a child in the dark trying to survive a blizzard in a house where people had been slaughtered. Who will survive this night? Who will pay the price for what happened all those years ago? Who will live to tell the story of THE OVERNIGHT GUEST?

This book is excellent. Well written and a true edge of your seat thriller. Filled from start to finish with twists and turns that will have you guessing. Holding your breath. Shedding a lot of tears. A story of love, loss and inhumane grief. Sadness and tragedy. It does have some happy parts too though. Before it all fell apart that is. You have to read this one. It's a must for your list!

Thank you #NetGalley, #HeatherGudenkauf, #Harlequin, #harperCollins, #ParkRow for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts.

5/5 HUGE stars and truly a book you don't want to miss. It grabs you and doesn't let go.