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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This was a fun, quick listen. But also...not incredibly interesting.
First, if I'm not supposed to know that the diary does not belong to our narrator, don't have the audiobook feature two accents. Emma is reading Ashley's diary, let it still be in a British accent. Otherwise it's clearly a different person and the plot twist is ruined.
I also don't fully understand WHY Emma killed Ashley? I was assuming that we were heading towards a gothic-style incest plot with Emma and Adam. But nope (thank god). But we did have her killing Ashley to help protect him from jail. But she didn't even seem to like him all that much. He clearly scared her and after it was done she just left him behind and stayed out of touch for decades. Why kill a girl for him?
Also why, if Ashley was visiting every Christmas, was THIS the one where Emma finally tells the truth?
It all just felt paced weird - repetitive in the diary ("I could sleep with this guy but I have a crush on Adam...does he have a crush on me?") and then rushed in the latter part ("I killed her."). It just felt underwhelming and didn't pack any of the punches I'd expect from Swanson.
But it was quick and entertaining enough so 2.5.
First, if I'm not supposed to know that the diary does not belong to our narrator, don't have the audiobook feature two accents. Emma is reading Ashley's diary, let it still be in a British accent. Otherwise it's clearly a different person and the plot twist is ruined.
I also don't fully understand WHY Emma killed Ashley? I was assuming that we were heading towards a gothic-style incest plot with Emma and Adam. But nope (thank god). But we did have her killing Ashley to help protect him from jail. But she didn't even seem to like him all that much. He clearly scared her and after it was done she just left him behind and stayed out of touch for decades. Why kill a girl for him?
Also why, if Ashley was visiting every Christmas, was THIS the one where Emma finally tells the truth?
It all just felt paced weird - repetitive in the diary ("I could sleep with this guy but I have a crush on Adam...does he have a crush on me?") and then rushed in the latter part ("I killed her."). It just felt underwhelming and didn't pack any of the punches I'd expect from Swanson.
But it was quick and entertaining enough so 2.5.
Wow. Quite twisty at very unexpected times! I actually really enjoyed this novella! UK country house vibes, cozy Xmas and murder!
I love Christmas stories and I love mystery/thrillers, so I was excited to read The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson. I usually enjoy Swanson's novels, but this was a little disappointing.
While it was a quick read (only 112 pages) with a spooky gothic vibe, unreliable narrator, and a twist at the mid-way point that turns the entire story in another direction, the first half of the story is told completely in diary form, which I didn't love. I found the ending to be disturbing (but not in a good way) as well.
I seem to be an outlier here but I had a lot of hopes for The Christmas Guest and for once, Swanson didn't deliver what I was looking for.
While it was a quick read (only 112 pages) with a spooky gothic vibe, unreliable narrator, and a twist at the mid-way point that turns the entire story in another direction, the first half of the story is told completely in diary form, which I didn't love. I found the ending to be disturbing (but not in a good way) as well.
I seem to be an outlier here but I had a lot of hopes for The Christmas Guest and for once, Swanson didn't deliver what I was looking for.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you like Salt Burn mixed with mystery and a plot twist, this is for you!
dark
mysterious
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really fun spooky Christmas mystery. I loved that it was a short and quick read. I wasn’t expecting the twist at part 2, very nice
Short but did the job! 93 pages and a little Christmassy escapism for those who like dark mysteries. I agree with the author’s notes at the end, there should be more Christmas ghost stories you can finish in an evening or two by the fire.