The Christmas Guest: A Novella

Ashley is an American student studying abroad in London who is invited to spend the holidays with her classmate Emma Chapman at her family home in the Cotswolds, England. She excitedly agrees, having no family of her own to spend the holiday with. Once Ashley arrives, she is mesmerized by Emma’s brother, Adam, and a bit nervous around the rest of the icy Chapman family. The week is filled with strange occurrences, though Ashley remains intrigued by the novelty of it all. However, things soon turn deadly, and Emma doesn’t appear to be that friendly after all…

Told in alternating voices, The Christmas Guest is an unputdownable thriller novella. I read through it in one sitting, eager to learn what happened to Ashley in the Cotswolds. The second half uncovered many twists, and each revelation was more clever than the last. I am a big fan of Peter Swanson, and this book was a perfect example of his ability to craft a spellbinding thriller, even in this short form. This would be the perfect read to take in near a cozy fire during the holiday season!