THE CHRISTMAS GUEST
BY PETER SWANSON
124 pages
’Tis the Season to be wary’ - 'The Christmas Guest’ is a festive novella with a twist, blending Christmas cheer with a delicious dash of murder mystery. Peter Swanson, who is a Sunday Times bestselling author and best known for his psychological suspense thrillers, explains ‘while I like Christmas stories, what I really love is Christmas mysteries’. ‘The Christmas Guest’ is a scrumptious treat for book clubbers and perfect for your festive meet up.
The holidays are coming in New York City and the protagonist discovers a diary in her apartment closet which takes the reader back in time. It’s December 1989 and Ashley Smith, a history of art student is studying in London and unexpectedly invited by her classmate Emma Chapman to spend Christmas with her and her family in the Cotswolds. Whilst Ashley is not close friends with Emma, and having recently been orphaned with no particular desire to return to her home in California, Ashley is over the moon by the invitation.
Arriving at a small country railway station, Ashley is surprised to be met by Emma’s attractive and eligible brother, Adam. The diary entries share the excitement and heightened anticipation of a mystery destination for Christmas and Starvewood Hall, whilst cold and run down, is a seemingly attractive and quintessentially English country manor. However, there is something strange about the stately home and its guests and Ashley’s diary reveals some unexpected horrors. The diary flashes back to Ashley's introduction to Adam and his detour to a local pub, with all its trimmings - a log fire, a cast of characters and plenty of local gossip to set the scene. It is not long before we discover a local girl has been murdered and Adam is a prime suspect.
The Den were impressed with the diary entries - it tapped into a young girl’s emotions so you can expect exclamations, emotional outbursts and "CAPS". Suddenly we are in a '"GOTHIC THRILLER" and readers will enjoy this aspect, as well as the fast moving plot which presents surprising twists.
If you enjoy ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ and love a mischievous read at Christmas time this novella can be consumed in one sitting and easily shared amongst friends and family!