An Unwanted Guest: A Novel

Shari Lapena's "The Unwanted Guest" is a masterclass in suspense. I devoured this book in one sitting – utterly unable to tear myself away from the chilling events unfolding at the Mitchell's Inn. Lapena masterfully crafts a locked-room mystery that's both atmospheric and addictive.The story centers around a group of guests stranded at a secluded mountain lodge during a ferocious snowstorm. As tensions rise and secrets begin to surface, a murder shatters the illusion of a relaxing getaway. Lapena excels at building a sense of claustrophobia and unease, making you question everyone's motives and intentions.The characters, while not overly complex, are masterfully drawn. Each guest has their own baggage and hidden agendas, creating a captivating whodunit puzzle. The narrative cleverly shifts perspectives, keeping you guessing until the very last page."The Unwanted Guest" is a fast-paced, tightly plotted novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its chilling setting, layered characters, and unpredictable twists, this is a must-read for any fan of suspenseful thrillers. Lapena proves once again that a simple premise, executed with brilliance, can result in an unforgettable reading experience. Do yourself a favor – grab a cozy blanket, a steaming cup of tea, and prepare to be hooked!

I enjoyed it. It went pretty quickly and I didn’t know who did it until the end. There was decent tension and some twists. Overall, it was a good read.

This Shari Lapena novel was a disappointment after reading one of her previous books, Everyone here is lying. This book while mildly entertaining, just never grabbed your attention and made you want to keep reading.

I liked this book and didn't know who the killer was until the end. It was a good, easy read. Love this author.

Guests begin to arrive at a small luxury hotel in upstate New York. Its getting darker. Snow is coming down making it very difficult to drive and navigate the icy roads. As they settle into the hotel, guest introductions are made. Power goes out. They realize that no one is going anywhere. (To begin…the descriptions of the snowy night and the blizzard conditions were so authentically written that I could truly imagine the treacherous conditions.) Soon one of the guests is found dead—it looks like an accident, but when a second dies...panic and suspicions begin. Finally, by the time power is restored and police is called, three guests and the owner’s son are dead, a suspicious fifth death, and another is missing. One murderer or more? This is my 7th psychological thriller by this author. I did enjoy this one, but as with other books with a theme of ‘murder in the house but which one is guilty’, this one required consistent character recall. The ending did seem complete but rushed. I will continue to enjoy Lapena’s book and look forward to her new release, ‘What Have You Done’, due out in July.

This book was so good!! I love her writing style, and this book does not disappoint

I happened upon a novel by Shari Lapena and thoroughly enjoyed it! Her books are so well written. I can’t finish one quickly enough so I can start another! If you like good suspense, this is the author for you!

There are guests arriving at the Mitchell's Inn, a small luxury hotel in the Catskills Mountains. Snow is coming down making driving difficult. The roads are definitely becoming more slippery. The snow has turned to sleet coating everything in brittle ice. It's hazardous out there. Nobody's going anywhere.Gwen Delaney & Riley Shuter are good friends who met when they were both at NYU. Riley is a war correspondent with the New York Times. She was stationed in Afghanistan, mostly in Kabul, for almost 3 years. She saw terrible things; many civilians killed, limbs torn off by bombs. She was taken hostage & held prisoner for 6 days. She has PTSD & takes medication for it. And, she drinks like a sailor.Lauren Day & Ian Beeton are there for a lovey-dovey, huggy-kissy weekend of togetherness.Beverly & Henry Sullivan are there to reconnect. After 20 years of marriage, their relationship is in tatters.Dana Hart & Matthew Hutchinson are there on a weekend tryst before their upcoming wedding.David Paley is a top criminal attorney from NYC who needs to unwind. Spending the better part of his career successfully defending murderers has taken its toll. Also, he was arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife. But, he was released & the charges have been dropped. There was no physical evidence tying him to the crime & no witnesses. The case is still unsolved.Candice White, is an author who is writing a book and wants peace & quiet.There's no mobile reception or WiFi. That's intentional. Many of the guests come to the charming family-owned hotel to get away from it all. There are 12 guest rooms but only 6 are occupied this weekend because of the snow. James Harwood, the owner/chef & his son Bradley live on-site.☆☆☆☆☆☆ SPOILERS AHEAD ☆☆☆☆☆☆The power goes out & the phone, too. And, Dana lies sprawled at the bottom of the stairs, dead. They can't contact the police. It doesn't look like an accident at all. It looks like murder. They are stuck in an isolated hotel in the thrall of a deadly ice storm without power, sharing the lobby with the corpse of a woman. Then, Candice is found lying on the floor, her scarf pulled tightly around her neck. She has been strangled with her own scarf. There's definitely a killer in the hotel. Someone has already killed 2 people.In the morning, when it's light, they'll try to make it out to the main road. Until then, they'll stick together. There are 9 of them sitting around the fireplace, afraid to go to their rooms. They're trapped in a remote Inn with a bunch of strangers & people are being murdered. Any one of them could be the killer & they're all getting a little paranoid. They must survive until the police arrive. Emotions are running dangerously high.Finally, the power is restored. By the time they're able call the police, 3 guests & the owner's son are dead, a 5th has died under suspicious circumstances & another guest is missing. The survivors are clearly traumatized.I know, I've written a lengthy, detailed review. But, there's SO much more I haven't divulged. Kudos to Shari Lapena for writing SUCH a clever novel. It reminds me of Agatha Christie's book - "And Then There Were None". It's every bit as good.

What a fun book this one was! I was reasonably certain of a couple of people being innocent, but had no idea who the murderer actually was. Lots of great drama, well written characters and very entertaining book.

Aún no lo he acabado pero estoy enganchado

Well written. A lot of suspense and thrills along the way. Twists and turns. I’m writing this about 4 weeks after reading it and for the life of me I can’t remember whodunnit! Not sure if that’s bad?

Love everything by Shari Lapena.Simple language, you actually feel like you are there. The characters are built up nicely and even if you think you know, you won't.It's like fine dining. You wish there was more of something...but if it was there, it would have spoiled the dish.Simple language, twists, it is page turning. Recommend all books.

If you're a die hard Agatha Christie fan like me, you'll LOVE this one. It's a page turner like no other; one of the best mysteries I've read in recent years. Buy it for sure, you will not regret it. This is my first book by this author and after this one, I'm going to read all her books!