The Guest Room: An utterly unputdownable psychological thriller (Totally gripping thrillers by Rona Halsall)

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I cut off a corner of the egg white and pop it in my mouth, the greasy texture burning my tongue. The sear of heat feels good. A sharp stimulant against the numbness that blunts my body every morning. I can’t remember the last time I had a dream. For the past few months my sleep has been stagnant, hollow, and sometimes when I open my eyes it feels like my mind’s been wiped blank.

She slides a cigarette between her lips. “You sound like my mother. Pretending to my parents is enough of a bore.” People have weird habits and attachments. Seeds aren’t that fishy, I suppose, compared to what some of us hold on to. I’m not sure how she was paying the bank loan, now left for me to deal with—parents in Spain, my dad a shell, my mum broken, saying she couldn’t talk to me. I reach a cluster of trees and stop beneath an oak. It’s old and knobby. Moss fuzzes round the base, a low branch curls out of the trunk beside me. The word CLIMB is carved into the bark above my head. I know this even though it’s too dark to see.Steph has lived an ordinary life with her two children and husband for thirty years, until jealousy tears her marriage apart and she's left with a life she doesn't know what to do with. Her children are grown; her son having left his family behind without a word, and her daughter who is enjoying a life of her own. Steph's only things to take care of anymore are herself and the people she works with. There’s a feeling in my stomach—a faint froth of fear. I unwind it, pulling the wire taut between my hands. Still unsure what this object is, and why he’d have it with him.

The bank pushed me to sell, but that was impossible. This was Rosie’s home. Her life existed in these walls. And there could still be something here relevant to the police investigation. I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis. I am also a huge fan of Rona's previous books and if this is half as good as her previous books it is sure to be great. It also stated in the synopsis that this book is 'The most twisty and unputdownable thriller of the year – perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and Gone Girl'. I am a huge fan of 'Gone Girl', Lisa Jewell and Mark Edwards so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book). He goes over to the window and feels the curtain. Then he glides it across, as far as the cloth will go. The room dims, losing its amber evening light. I take another bit of egg from the pan, accidentally puncturing the yolk. Amber liquid dribbles out and fries solid.Steph and Andy are the parents to Max and Bea. Bea is is happily married to a wealthy man and is living a good life. She does not like her mother staying in the house by herself as the neighborhood has deteriorated over the years. But Steph refuses to move. Now, she has to find the money to buy Andy out. Max was always a difficult child and simply left ten years ago saying he was joining the Army. But, he has not been heard from since and this breaks Steph’s heart. I can’t help but smile. She must have seen my expression as I stared at my G&T. The best thing about Nalika is she knows how to be normal. To not shuffle her feet around me or clear her throat in search of something to say. The G Tess’s sister, Rosie, was found murdered on the street, and her killer still hasn’t been found. Tess finds herself living alone, so she starts renting out her dead sister’s room to B&B guests. She gets a request from a man to stay for a month, and while she doesn’t like such long-term tenants, she agrees to let him in. Bea is constantly begging her mom to come live in her palatial mansion, but Steph wants to stay close to her job. She works for an organization that helps the homeless, and one day, she meets a young man named Noah, who reminds her of her son. He too has left his family, and he’s around the same age as Steph’s son was when he left, so she’s immediately drawn to him. Recently, odd things have been happening to her, and she’s scared of being alone in her large house. When her organization can’t get him housing right away, Steph invites Noah to live with her, much to the anger of her daughter and husband.