"The Last Guest House" by Caroline Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Last Guest House" by Caroline Mitchell is an atmospheric psychological thriller told in the first person from the perspectives of three main characters: Nicola, Matt, and Elita. We get to know them and what makes them tick, and find ourselves rooting for some of them.

Nicola, a police officer, is going with her boyfriend, Matt, and her son, Georgie, to the Isle of Skye to see the northern lights. However, not everything goes according to plan. Due to Matt booking the wrong dates and the hotel being fully booked, they cannot stay there. They are forced to spend the night in the Loch House, which surprisingly has some vacant rooms.

The Loch House gives off odd vibes and enforces peculiar rules: "No smoking in the rooms. No loud music. No phones. No leaving your room after 9 pm." With no other options, Nicola and Matt decide to spend the night there. Other guests are present, none of whom are pleased with the rules. Nerves fray, and tension escalates once the guests discover the gruesome history of the hotel. The eccentric behavior of their hosts only adds to the already intense atmosphere. As night falls and the snow intensifies, it becomes clear that danger is afoot.

The book exceeded my expectations. It was much better and more original than I anticipated. Overall, I found the plot successful in propelling the story forward despite the slow start. The author excels in setting the scene from the very first page. The writing is taut and suspenseful, with the author expertly building tension and atmosphere throughout the book. Segments of a true crime podcast are smoothly interspersed throughout the narrative, heightening suspense and filling in details. Although I'm not a fan of podcasts, I appreciated how the author used them to drop clues to the reader about the events.

The main characters are well-drawn, each with their own distinct personality and backstory. I  liked the eclectic mix of characters. I particularly liked Nicola and Elita, finding them relatable and engaging. However, I disliked Matt due to his overly controlling and overbearing nature. The story is tightly plotted, albeit a bit slow-paced. The ending was fitting, and there were some format issues—such as the author's name being inserted every couple of pages—so another round of editing wouldn't hurt. With themes of cults, abuse, religious fanatics, birth defects, and fallible human nature, the author has woven a tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend the book to lovers of the genre seeking a refreshing tale. This is not a story you've read before.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own. 

* For more info about the book: "The Last Guest House" by Caroline Mitchell