An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lapena's debut The Couple Next Door was an instant hit and received rave reviews and I thought it was a solid effort. Admittedly, I was a tiny bit underwhelmed by her second book, A Stranger in the House, but feel that An Unwanted Guest is on par with The Couple Next Door (and that was a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars). It takes place at a secluded hotel and what unfolds is a thriller that is reminiscent of a classic mystery—think Agatha Christie.  

Mitchell's Inn, nestled in the Catskills, boasts a cozy atmosphere, but this is anything but a cozy mystery. The stately rooms feature woodburning fireplaces and have just the right amount of nostalgia to be quaint, including no Wi-Fi or cell service.  

When a winter storm knocks out the power, all contact with the outside world is cut off. The guests try to make the best of the situation until one of them turns up dead. At first it appears to be an accident, but then a second guest dies and panic sets in.    

With everyone being a suspect, the guests have no choice but to weather the storm and each other.  

I liked how Lapena juxtaposed the violence of the storm against the violent acts of murder and thought the premise was clever. The atmosphere and description were the stand out parts of the book—I did tire of the repetitious thoughts about who the killer could be. The reader does not need to be reminded that each character needs to figure out which one of them is the killer—isn't that the whole point of the book?  

What I ultimately struggled with, and what continues to baffle me, is how removed Lapena can be. Given that this book is told from multiple points of view, this should be a character-driven novel, but there wasn't enough character development. There wasn't enough distinction between their voices so for the most part, it felt like there was only one narrator. 

I haven't given up on Lapena yet, her stories are incredibly engaging and imaginative.    

SHARI LAPENA worked as a lawyer and as an English teacher before turning to writing fiction. A Stranger in the House, as well as Lapena's suspense debut, The Couple Next Door, were both New York Times and international bestsellers.