The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous – a Review
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Description:
1988. Beth Soames is fourteen years old when her aunt takes her to stay at Raven Hall, a rambling manor in the isolated East Anglian fens. The Averells, the family who lives there, are warm and welcoming, and Beth becomes fast friends with their daughter, Nina. At times, Beth even feels like she’s truly part of the family…until they ask her to help them with a harmless game–and nothing is ever the same.
2019. Sadie Langton is an actress struggling to make ends meet when she lands a well-paying gig to pretend to be a guest at a weekend party. She is sent a suitcase of clothing, a dossier outlining the role she is to play, and instructions. It’s strange, but she needs the money, and when she sees the stunning manor she’ll be staying at, she figures she’s got nothing to lose.
In person, Raven Hall is even grander than she’d imagined–even with damage from a fire decades before–but the walls seem to have eyes. As day turns to night, Sadie starts to feel that there’s something off about the glamorous guests who arrive, and as the party begins, it becomes chillingly apparent their unseen host is playing games with everyone…including her.
Review:
The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous is a mystery suspense thriller. The story line revolves around two POV’s (there is a third but only few without identification); and switches back and forth between two years; 1988 and 2019.
In 1988, Beth Soames, who is 14 years old, arrives at Raven Hall as a companion to the Averell family’s daughter Nina, as her aunt makes an agreement for her to stay there. Beth will become close friends with Nina, and the family (Lenora & Markus) treats her like one of their own. Beth also meets the local boy, Jonas, and with Nina the three of them spend a lot of time together. After a bit, Beth is surprised when the family asks her to pretend to be Nina (who is under the weather), when the grandfather comes to visit. Beth does not understand when the same thing happens a few times when there are more visits over time. Beth wonders why is Nina getting sick when company comes? Is someone poisoning her?
In 2019, we meet Sadie Langton, a struggling actress, who out of the blue is offered to be a guest at a weekend party, with everyone playing different parts in a murder mystery. Though it is a strange request, Sadie does need money, and accepts the invitation; for which she receives instructions and fancy clothes to play the part, as well as a chauffeured car to the mansion. She arrives at Raven Hall, which has been restored to its old glory, from a fire, decades ago, and slowly meet the other 7 guests who have been invited to Raven Hall and playing the expected part.
After the first evening, Sadie begins to suspect that something is off, and when one person disappears, the story becomes more chilling, as someone is playing games with them. All the other guests start sensing something wrong, with the suspense escalating, especially with many of them beginning to feel ill.
The third POV was somewhat confusing, as it was a woman’s thoughts in present time, and until we get closer to the end, we begin to realize how the two main POV’s tied together. To tell too much more would be spoilers, and ruin the mystery.
What follows is an intense, exciting mystery that has a guessing as we reach the wild conclusion. The Perfect Guests was filled with twists throughout, tying all three POV’s together, as well as the guests, with many secrets, lies and revenge. I will say I was a bit confused at times nearer to the end, but this was a very intriguing story. The Perfect Guests was very well written by Emma Rous.
Reviewed by Barb
Copy provided by Publisher
