By: Miranda Rijks
ISBN: 9781666610024
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
8 Hours, 34 Minutes
Publication Date: 08/02/2022
Narrator: Penelope Rawlins
Format: Audiobook & e-book
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (ARC)
Hannah’s life is almost perfect. She’s a full-time mother to two young children and married to successful cardiologist Daniel.
The only thing missing is a project of her own. So she poured heart and soul into converting their stone barn into a beautiful holiday rental.
Things take a dark turn when visitors Mike and Nadia come to stay. They are noisy, dirty, and disrespectful. Hannah is incensed by their behavior, worried they may wreck her lovingly restored barn.
But she gradually realizes that property damage is the least of her worries. Nadia and Mike aren’t here just for a holiday—they have a deeper, darker purpose, one that threatens to destroy Hannah’s entire life.
Spiraling into a nightmare that grows worse with each passing day, Hannah has to find the courage to fight back. But Mike and Nadia are clever and ruthless and they know something that Hannah doesn’t—a shocking secret from the past...
My Review
THE VISITORS is a page-turning cracker!
A dazzling hall-of-mirrors psychological suspense thriller: intelligent, furiously paced, with Miranda Rijks signature jaw-dropping plot twists.
If you LOVE the fast-paced, pulse-pounding, thrill ride of a novel with heart and relatable, flawed characters, look no further!
As the novel opens via the PROLOGUE, someone is being charged with MURDER. The question is, whom? You must wait until the end to discover.
Two weeks earlier, we begin and end 18 months later.
Hannah is married to Daniel, a cardiologist (consultant cardiothoracic surgeon), and works away more often. Hannah's parents moved closer to them and helps out with the kids, Rosa and Joel. He has been married previously.
Life is grand. Hannah has been undergoing her newest project, renovating their barn for a luxury vacation HOLIDAY rental. This way, she has company when Daniel is out of town for work in London or Manchester at least two nights a week. He was not keen on having people on their property but finally agreed.
This is HER holiday cottage project and little business. She is proud of all the work and can call it her own. She has spent seven years with the building out and fitting it. She has put so much love into it, down to the best linens, furnishings, and flowers, to make it an inviting home away from home. The property is there adjacent to her house.
Her first guests just left, and all went well. Now she is preparing for the next. She is hoping guests will leave an excellent review on Trip Advisor.
However, the next GUESTS will be a NIGHTMARE from HELL!
Mike, Nadia, and Kayleigh (daughter) Jones from Sussex. They are THE VISITORS. They are weird, loud, dirty, rude, obnoxious, complain about everything, and want the opposite of luxury. From the time they arrive, it is one problem after another. She finds herself jumping through so many hoops but keeping her cool, so they do not write a bad review.
This will be the LEAST OF HER PROBLEMS.
However, things escalate, and Mike takes a fall and then threatens to sue them. They will not leave when the time to CHECK OUT since this is a one-level cottage and their home is multi-level.
She has another booking checking in, and now she cannot get rid of them. Now she is forced to pay for a costly last-minute hotel accommodation for the next guests since she cannot get rid of THE VISITORS. She is going to so much expense due to these people.
Who are these crazy people?
If that is not enough, the woman tries to befriend her and her daughter and throws themselves into their lives with no boundaries for privacy. They are nosy and crude. They also get a dog. They do not allow pets. These people follow no rules. They even change the locks! One thing after another. Mike also keeps talking about how much money Daniel probably makes and is brass and crude.
What do these people want, and is something more sinister?
Hannah finds Daniel is not supportive and wants her to get rid of the holiday cottage. Nothing is worth this. Hannah is not ready to give up. Something is not correct. She is determined to get to the bottom of this with a little sleuthing. These nightmarish guests are wreaking havoc on their lives.
The problems escalate to a showdown, and someone winds up dead.
WOW!! Leave it to Miranda Rijks to pull out her signature jaw-dropping plot twists. (more than one).
There is a complex backstory and connection. These people have a plan and history and want blackmail. Another hidden agenda changes the course of Hannah and Daniel's perfect facade of a marriage. Do you know your spouse and your relationship's past and present?
From the first page to the explosive emotional conclusion, the author grabs you with vivid settings, riveting tension, and suspense. You feel the fear and pain. You can be ruined in a world of social media in the hospitality business.
Those looking for a modern-day "Hitchcock-esque" thriller will find a winner!
Penelope Rawlins, narrator delivered an outstanding performance!
Thank you to #DreamscapeMedia and #Netgalley for an ALC audiobook to listen to, enjoy, and review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Audio Pub Date: Aug 2, 2022
Miranda writes about strong women that face insurmountable challenges to overcome better on the other side. Again, as I have mentioned most recently, I have just discovered this UK author (living in the US), and this is my fourth book recently read, and highly impressed with each. I am making my way thru her back list. If you have not read this author, get on board!
My MR Reviews thus far:
THE INSOMNIAC (NEW)
On a side note:
What I adore about the author's books —is her special notes (letters from the author). I wish more authors would include this. It makes for a nice personal touch to connect you with the book. (why I created the #AuthorElevatorSeries)—To learn the inspiration behind the book and what sparked the story. Some audiobooks do this, or there is a separate PDF to download.
In this case, I listened to the audiobook (no letter). While I loved the audiobook narrated by Penelope Rawlins for an outstanding performance for all voices, the audio mostly never gives you a letter or inspiration from the author. I wish more would do this. I was curious since I enjoy this so much—so I downloaded the e-book, and there it was!
What a powerful letter about her experience renovating a holiday barn (not the same outcome), but I was saddened by the author's emotional account of having to move after her holiday project and her diagnosis with Ewing's Sarcoma cancer. Thank you for sharing your personal moving story and all you do to inspire others through your beautiful writing and storytelling!
About the Author
I write psychological thrillers - many of which have been Kindle bestsellers. If you'd like to receive free short stories, info on my writing and be the first to know about upcoming releases, you can sign up to my newsletter at https://mirandarijks.substack.com.
Before becoming a fiction writer, I helped newbie entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses. In 2015, I was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer, and everything changed.
I live in Sussex, England with my husband, musician daughter and black Labradors. When I'm not writing, I'm dreaming about living in a chalet on a Swiss mountain, obsessively knitting and painting on my iPad. My books include: The Visitors, The Arrangement, The New Neighbour, The Second Wife, The Only Child, What She Knew, The Influencer, Roses Are Red, You Are Mine, Deserve To Die, I Want You Gone, Fatal Fortune, Fatal Flowers and Fatal Finale.
Thank you for reading my books. WEBSITE
