If you’re in the mood for a quick, easy, and spine-chilling read for the holiday season, then we highly recommend The Christmas Guest by New York Times bestselling author Peter Swanson.
Christmas is the season of spreading love and happiness with our family, friends, and loved ones. But not all holiday seasons are bright and shining. There are times when darker stories lurk in the background, adding an element of mystery and spookiness to the festivities.
Set in the 1980s, the story follows American art student Ashley Smith, who is spending Christmas alone in London until she receives a last-minute invitation from her fellow student, Emma Chapman. The invitation brings her to Starvewood Hall in the Cotswolds, the country residence of the Chapman family, where she finds herself surrounded by a cozy, firelit house, a large family, and a charming village.
Adam Chapman, Emma’s aloof and handsome brother, catches Ashley’s attention. However, things start taking a mysterious turn when Adam becomes the subject of a local police investigation over the brutal killing of a girl from the village. To make matters worse, there’s a stranger haunting the woodland path between Starvewood Hall and the local pub. Ashley begins to wonder what kind of story she is actually inhabiting. Is she in a grand romance? A gothic tale? Or has she wandered into something far more sinister and terrifying than she’d ever imagined?
Swanson masterfully weaves the story from the events of that horrific week to modern-day New York, where the events of the past are revisited. The narrative is tied together by a diary from Ashley’s time at Starvewood Hall, which is discovered years later.
The Christmas Guest is a well-crafted story that does not rely on cheap thrills or gore to create tension and fear. Instead, Swanson creates an atmosphere of unease and uncertainty that makes for a truly engaging read. It is a subtle blend of mystery, suspense, and romance that will keep readers engrossed from start to finish.
Peter Swanson’s The Christmas Guest is an excellent short read for the holiday season. It is a perfect novella for those who want a quick, spooky fix in-between longer novels. The story is excellently crafted, with well-drawn characters and a carefully constructed plot that builds up to a haunting and unsettling conclusion.
The Christmas Guest is available at bookstores everywhere. We highly recommend the audiobook narrated by Esther Wane.
