When a book starts with a character undergoing inspection at a jail, accused of murder, you know you’re going to be in for quite a read.
What’s even better is that you don’t know which character is featured in the prologue. Sometimes it becomes apparent right away, but not this time. It’s not a spoiler to say that you don’t find out until very late in the story.
And a lot happens in between the two points.
I thought the set up was effective. Hannah has transformed a derelict barn into a guest cottage. She needs something to keep her occupied because her husband, Daniel, is a big mucky much surgeon and is away at work at various hospitals quite often.
Or is he?
Hannah has only gotten her fledgling guest house running when her second customers (Mike, Nadia, and their daughter Kayleigh) appear, the titular visitors.
And that’s where everything goes south.
The author did a great job of establishing things without hitting the reader over the head, hinting just enough to make the reader think.
I knew something was off about Daniel.
I knew something was off about Mike and Nadia.
But I didn’t know what, and I didn’t know how (or even if) it all tied together. In fact, this was one instance where I truly had no idea where it was all going until the very end. I did have a suspicion, and I was partially right, but not entirely.
I though Hannah was an interesting character and was fairly relatable. Her desire to do something productive (in light of her husband’s constant absences) felt familiar. I think any woman who mostly a homemaker, taking care of the kids, wishes to do something for herself.
I couldn’t get a bead on Nadia, which I kind of enjoyed. She was the one character that I never quite knew if she was good or bad, going along to get along or controlling it all. The uncertainty kept me actively engaged.
I did think that the revelations towards the end felt a bit contrived, and there is a subplot about blackmail that kind of comes out of nowhere – but it is pivotal to the overall story arc. I would have liked for that to have a little more groundwork to be thoroughly believable.
But it was still a really good read. I read it in just two sittings and would certainly recommend checking it out.
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About MirandaRijks:
Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.
She is the author of The Arrangement, Roses are Red, and You Are Mine. The Visitors will be her ninth book with Inkubator Books.
