Peter Swanson's The Christmas Guest is a masterclass in suspense, weaving a chilling tale of secrets and betrayals that unravel during a seemingly festive holiday gathering. When a young woman, Ashley, accepts an invitation to spend Christmas with her estranged family at a remote, snowbound estate, she anticipates a quiet, potentially awkward reunion. However, the discovery of a body on the property plunges the family into a nightmare of suspicion and paranoia. As a snowstorm isolates them, Ashley must navigate a labyrinth of hidden resentments and long-held secrets, realizing that everyone is a suspect, and no one is truly safe. This psychological thriller brilliantly explores themes of family dysfunction, past trauma, and the dark truths that lie beneath the surface of polite society, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.