The House Guest: A Novel

by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Overview

The House Guest is another diabolical cat-and-mouse thriller from USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan—but which character is the cat, and which character is the mouse?

After every divorce, one spouse gets all the friends. What does the other one get? If they’re smart, they get the benefits. Alyssa Macallan is terrified when she’s dumped by her wealthy and powerful husband. With a devastating divorce looming, she begins to suspect her toxic and manipulative soon-to-be-ex is scheming to ruin her—leaving her alone and penniless. And when the FBI shows up at her door, Alyssa knows she really needs a friend.

And then she gets one. A seductive new friend, one who’s running from a dangerous relationship of her own. Alyssa offers Bree Lorrance the safety of her guest house, and the two become confidantes. Then Bree makes a heart-stoppingly tempting offer. Maybe Alyssa and Bree can solve each others’ problems.

But no one is what they seem. And the fates and fortunes of these two women twist and turn until the shocking truth emerges: You can’t always get what you want. But sometimes you get what you deserve.

Other books by Hank Phillippi Ryan:
Her Perfect Life
The First to Lie
The Murder List
On the House
Trust Me

THE JANE RYLAND SERIES:
The Other Woman / The Wrong Girl / Truth Be Told / What You See / Say No More

THE CHARLOTTE MCNALLY SERIES:
Prime Time / Face Time / Air Time / Drive Time

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250849564
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/07/2023
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	309,723
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN has won five Agatha Awards in addition to Anthony, Macavity, Daphne du Maurier, and Mary Higgins Clark Awards. As on-air investigative reporter for Boston's WHDH-TV, she's won 37 Emmys and many more journalism honors. A past president of National Sisters in Crime and a founder of MWA University, Ryan lives in Boston with her husband.

Editorial Reviews

12/12/2022

This engrossing psychological thriller from Mary Higgins Clark Award winner Ryan (Her Perfect Life) thrusts Alyssa Macallen into a world where nothing is as it seems. Bill, Alyssa’s husband of eight years and “a big-deal charity fundraiser,” has left her for no apparent reason. She’s stonewalled by his lawyers and shunned by the members of the Weston, Mass., country club set who have always considered her to be a mere appendage to the famous and extremely wealthy Bill. Despondent and alone, Alyssa walks into a bar where she’s sure no one will recognize her. There she meets Bree Lorrance, a young woman with problems of her own. In need of a friend, Alyssa impulsively invites Bree to stay in her guest house. Then FBI agent Hattie Parker comes knocking at her door. It seems that most of Bill’s fundraising for charity went to line his own pockets, and the FBI thinks Alyssa was a party to the fraud. From that point on, Alyssa’s life spins out of control. Surprise after surprise follows, each of which sends the plot skittering off in a new direction. Ryan is a master of suspense. Agent: Lisa Gallagher, DeFiore & Co. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Hank Phillippi Ryan is one of my favorite authors, and THE HOUSE GUEST proves why. This riveting novel twists and turns through the pageturning story...events turn shocking, with revelation after revelation in a thriller that never forgets to touch the heart.” —Lisa Scottoline

"THE HOUSE GUEST is great! Ryan creates memorable characters—then pulls off the nearly-impossible: she orchestrates half a dozen twists, turns, and backflips—and then sticks the landing. What a pleasure to read this!" —James Patterson

"An edge-of-your seat thriller! Ryan breathes new life into the classic Hitchcock tale with this dramatic cat-and-mouse set up, where you must race breathlessly to the end to discover who is the cat and who is the mouse. Will you see the end coming? I didn't." —Lisa Gardner

"Another stellar read from the brilliant Hank Phillippi Ryan. Suspense, intrigue and glamour galore - plus a twist you won’t see coming! What more could you want?" —B.A .Paris internationally best-selling author of Behind Closed Doors

“Ryan is at the top of her game in this fiendishly clever, rocket-paced thrill ride. But as in all great thrillers, the propulsive story and hairpin turns are just the beginning. THE HOUSE GUEST is also a deep dive into friendship, loyalty, and wresting back your power from a dangerous man — even when he’s your husband. Another stellar outing for powerhouse Ryan.” —Lisa Unger

"Ryan's latest is full of beautiful scenery, privileged characters, and twists and turns...This cat-and-mouse story will have readers wondering who is the cat and who is the mouse." —Library Journal, starred review

“Hank Phillippi Ryan weaves a twisted tale of love, revenge and betrayal. THE HOUSE GUEST kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.” —Tamron Hall, author of As The Wicked Watch and Emmy Award-winning host of The Tamron Hall Show

"THE HOUSE GUEST is a thriller-lover’s treat! Propulsive, smart, twisty and impossible to predict. Ryan brilliantly ramps up the tension, and skillfully draws the reader deep into the lives of the wealthy, the vulnerable and the betrayed, keeping you guessing right up to the end." —Gilly Macmillan, Internationally bestselling author of The Long Weekend

“In THE HOUSE GUEST, Hank Phillippi Ryan expertly leads you down one path only to spin you on your head and send you down ten others. With red-herrings and twists and turns galore, you’ll be switching allegiances from one moment to the next, and you still won’t guess the ending. Compulsive and absorbing, this is a fast-faced, highly intriguing and binge-worthy read.” —Hannah Mary McKinnon, internationally bestselling author of Never Coming Home

"Ryan does it again with this clever cat-and-mouse chase of a mystery that will keep you flipping the pages until the deliciously twisty end. The House Guest is a riveting read-straight-through novel of suspense!" —Wanda M. Morris, award-winning author of All Her Little Secrets

"Be careful when you open your heart—and your home. Hank Phillippi Ryan is a master storyteller, and THE HOUSE GUEST is an unputdownable spellbinder: with love lost, deceit, and revenge. THE HOUSE GUEST will have you looking over your shoulder and locking your doors. Absolutely first rate." —Heather Gudenkauf, NYT bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and The Overnight Guest

"An expert in twists and a master of tantalizing suspense, Hank Phillippi Ryan kept me guessing from beginning to end in The House Guest. Gorgeous descriptions, sparkling with Ryan's hallmarks of glamour, wealth, and power, and characters you aren't sure you can trust, this stellar cat-and-mouse read takes you on a thrill ride. An incredibly clever, captivating story that enthralls and surprises on every page." —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Watch Out For Her

“The House Guest is a tantalizing, beguiling thriller. This book has everything...suspicious strangers, a cat and mouse game between a husband and wife, and so many surprising twists. Hank Phillippi Ryan has done it again!” —Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

"Ryan is a master of suspense." —Publishers Weekly

Praise for Hank Phillippi Ryan

"Hank Ryan is one of my favorite authors of suspense." —Sarah Pekkanen

“There’s a reason Hank Philippi Ryan keeps winning so many awards—she is a master at crafting suspense around fully formed characters with real emotion and depth.” —Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of Dear Wife and Stranger in the Lake

“Ryan is a true master of twisty turns and deep deception—nobody keeps us guessing like Hank does.”
—Hannah Mary McKinnon, bestselling author of Sister Dear and You Will Remember Me

“When you read a Hank Phillippi Ryan thriller you are in the hands of a master!” —Robyn Harding, bestselling author of The Swap

"The absolute master of the genre.” —Erica Ferencik

From the Publisher

01/01/2023

Ryan's (Her Perfect Life) latest is full of beautiful scenery, privileged characters, and twists and turns. One day, Alyssa Macallan is a devoted wife to her wealthy, difficult-to-please husband, Bill; the next day, she's cast aside. Alyssa is frightened that her devious soon-to-be-ex is trying to financially ruin and gaslight her. What she really needs is a loyal friend, and she finds one in Bree Lorrance. Alyssa offers her new friend a room in her guest house, and they quickly become close. Just in time for when the FBI shows up at Alyssa's door. When they start questioning Alyssa about her husband, Bree makes her an offer she can't refuse, one where they can potentially solve each of their problems. Can Alyssa and Bree trust each other, though? This cat-and-mouse story will have readers wondering who is the cat and who is the mouse. VERDICT The second half of Ryan's binge-worthy novel takes readers on a ride with a satisfying end. Seasoned suspense readers may find it predictable, but fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy.—Anna Kallemeyn

Library Journal

Stephanie Willing is first-rate in her narration of this audiobook about marital strife and deceit. Her expressive work holds the listener's interest as she brings emotion without devolving into melodrama. Alyssa is still reeling from her husband's sudden need for a separation when she meets Bree and naïvely invites her to stay in her guesthouse. Then the FBI shows up with questions about Alyssa's ex. And is Bree who she appears to be? Willing's performance helps shore up some weaker points in the story. Her excellent pacing helps to define mood. While characters' dialogue does not reflect their individual personalities, listeners won't be confused about who is speaking. G.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile

Stephanie Willing is first-rate in her narration of this audiobook about marital strife and deceit. Her expressive work holds the listener's interest as she brings emotion without devolving into melodrama. Alyssa is still reeling from her husband's sudden need for a separation when she meets Bree and naïvely invites her to stay in her guesthouse. Then the FBI shows up with questions about Alyssa's ex. And is Bree who she appears to be? Willing's performance helps shore up some weaker points in the story. Her excellent pacing helps to define mood. While characters' dialogue does not reflect their individual personalities, listeners won't be confused about who is speaking. G.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

FEBRUARY 2023 - AudioFile