The Dinner Guest by B.P. Walter — Review

4/5 stars

The Dinner Guest tells the story of Matthew and Charlie who seem like the perfect couple raising their son Titus. They bump into a stranger called Rachel in a bookshop one day and Matthew immediately hits it off with her, inviting her to join his book club. From that day, Rachel becomes a part of their life but Charlie feels something is off.

At the beginning, we’re also told that Matthew has been murdered by Rachel. In interviews with the police, Charlie says that she walked into their house and stabbed Matthew with a knife.

From there we follow two threads of their lives in tandem: the months leading up to the murder and those following it. It’s clear that all is not as it seems but what exactly is going on here?

This was an incredibly compelling read. I had to force myself to put it down and was straight into finishing it the next morning. It’s a trope that’s come up a bit in recent years — this idea where we know who has committed the murder, and then get flashes to both before and after. But here, it somehow feels fresh and keeps you guessing. I know I was on the edge of my seat throughout.

None of the characters are likeable but that feels like the point. You don’t root for them but it’s hard to entirely condemn them either. At the very least, it does a good job at creating possibilities and explaining people’s actions.

You can never let your guard down completely reading this, and that what I want from a good mystery. Just when I thought I had it sussed, it took a turn that got me again. A great thriller to keep you company for an evening or two. But maybe don’t read it right before bed if you ever want to get some sleep because it’s near impossible to put down!

Thanks to HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the ARC through Netgalley. It’s available from 21st May 2021 so make sure to get a copy.