This is a bit of a slow burn, as things deliberately unfold and just as one timeline/storyline gets exciting, then we switch over to another. Overall, I liked the book and the plot. There are some instances that are very far fetched, but others are intriguing and interesting and kept me invested to find out what was going on. I liked Joanna, but I didn't really like Leah or any of the other characters.

A luxury Italian resort with a dark side. A cast of suspicious, secretive characters. The Other Guest is an eerie and atmospheric mystery that kept me guessing from start to finish.”– Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver

Aside from being absorbed by the dynamics of a family of 4 (mum, dad and two teenage boys) and a couple of newly-weds who don’t seem to act very much in love, Leila also has her own relationship struggles, a relationship that feels strained from the start. It didn’t help of course that James decided to spend their money on this getaway while they need money for another round of IVF. Leila's desire to get pregnant is something that weighs on them and defines this couple in the story. I had a bit of trouble connecting to any of the characters. I felt that much of what happened could have been solved by the characters talking to each other rather than jumping to conclusions. That being said, they (for the most part) grew on me a bit as the book continued. I couldn’t figure out what Joanna’s storyline had to do with anything else but once it was revealed I was surprised that I hadn’t made the connection earlier. Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear.

As soon as I read the premise of this book, I knew I had to read it. Set in Northern Italy at an opulent resort, it had the makings of an unforgettable and intense domestic suspense. Unfortunately, it fell quite a bit short of that. Meanwhile, in Derby, university counsellor Joanna is recovering from a surprising break-up when she is swept off her feet by a handsome bartender. But after she invites him into her home, Joanna is forced to accept that she doesn't know him as well as she thought. I loved the premise of two women who don't seem to be connected, but ultimately get entangled in some dangerous situations that reveal their connection.This is a book that requires constant attention as the plot wavers, hides and changes in a neat and fascinating way. There is a touch of Agatha Christie in the way the characters and the plot swerves, steadies and takes another route, which is fascinating to read and is extremely addictive once begun. This is one of those books that you start to read and right from the outset it becomes completely addictive.' With its keep-you-guessing story line and holiday setting, fans of domestic thrillers will devour' Heat magazine Wow! I love Heidi Perks novels and IMO this her best one to date! The story focuses on 2 women who have come to White Sands Resort on the island of Ixos in Greece; Laila who has come on holiday for a break with her husband James after their 5th failed attempt at IVF, and EM who has come on holiday with her husband Rob and her two teenage sons. On day 3 of the holiday there is a murder (no spoiler) and you, along with the guests) are left trying to work out whodunnit.

One year ago, Leah's twenty-one-year-old niece, Amy, mysteriously drowned near her family-owned luxury resort on the shores of Lake Garda. I ended up liking this book, though I had trouble getting into it for the first quarter or so. The story is told from 3 POVs: Amy (in past tense), who we know has died in a suspicious drowning accident; Leah, Amy’s aunt who is grieving and looking for answers; and Joanna, a young woman who initially is seemingly unrelated to the other storylines and is reeling from a surprise breakup with her long term boyfriend. The storylines eventually converge in a satisfying way. What follows is a propulsive game of cat-and mouse as both women begin to realise that appearances can be deceptive: and that the darkest secrets often lie closest to home. Powerfully displays how we often think secrets are the best way to protect those we love, but they often cause more damage than good.”– San Francisco Book Review The writing by the author is captivating though I would have loved to feel more of a ‘gripping and thrilling’ effect in the untangling of the mystery. Surely, I am looking forward to reading other works by the author.This was a great, slow burn of a mystery. I liked the way that the author alternated between each day of the holiday to the day that the body was found, so that we could slowly begin to make our minds up on what had happened. I flitted from theory to theory but I did not suspect the ending at all! I found it so hard to know who we could trust, which is a credit to the author’s writing for making it so gripping and twisty! Loved the setting of Greece - reading it in the sunshine made me feel like I was actually there! Although I’m glad I wasn’t! I can’t even begin to imagine how it would feel to be caught up in something like that! I am not the biggest fan of whodunit's (mostly because the ones I read are not done well) however I did really get into this. Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset. Laila, who has gone through multiple rounds of IVF with no result is using this trip to heal her relationship with her husband James who in turn is hiding a deep trauma. This holiday that is supposed to be a fresh start for them turns out to be the worst decision they made as a murder takes place and questions everything Laila has ever know.