In recent years we've seen a lot of fantastic crime fiction, so I'm always delighted to come across a new gem.
B P Walter's third novel The Dinner Guest published by One More Chapter, is one such gem for me. Phenomenal. I literally could not put this book down!
Set in an opulent West London world, The Dinner Guest is a thrilling, suspense-filled story which starts right in the middle of the action when Charlie and his son Titus are faced with the murder of their Husband / Father - Matthew in their home, a 999 call and the confession of Rachel - a mysterious stranger who has recently appeared in their lives.
Who is Rachel? Why has she done this and what on earth is going on?
After bringing us in right at the scene of the crime, we see the clock turned back twelve months before the murder, and the story unfolds from there as we are drawn further into the web of secrets and lies. Told from the perspectives of Charlie and Rachel, and shifting between months prior to the murder, day of and days after, this complex story is domestic noir at its absolute best.
B P Walter has intricately woven the details of this plot, in such a manner that immediately hooks you in, and brings shocking twist after twist. The tension is beautifully balanced, quickly painting a picture of idyllic domesticity and promptly proceeding to turn that on its head with cliff hanger moments! I particularly enjoyed the use of dialogue and the detailed portrayal of this marriage and family, their lifestyle, their habits, and how thoroughly we get to know each of the characters. It is a story that takes its time and therefore is thorough in exploration of each of the threads in the plot.
With themes of vengeance, secrets, lies and trust to name but a few, it gets to a point where you're questioning each and every character and wonder what what will happen next... prepare to have your theories blown out of the water time and time again as you sit frantically turning the pages to find out what really happened.
I highly recommend!
Many thanks to OneMoreChapter and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Join me and the OneMoreChapter bloggers for the next #OMCReadalong 5 - 9 April for more discussion about The Dinner Guest!
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