It started with a lie…
Married couple Karin and Kai are looking for a pleasant escape from their busy lives, and reluctantly accept an offer to stay in a luxurious holiday home in the Norwegian fjords.
Instead of finding a relaxing retreat, however, their trip becomes a reminder of everything lacking in their own lives, and in a less-than-friendly meeting with their new neighbours, Karin tells a little white lie…
Against the backdrop of the glistening water and within the claustrophobic walls of the ultra-modern house, Karin´s insecurities blossom, and her lie grows ever bigger, entangling her and her husband in a nightmare spiral of deceits with absolutely no means of escape…
Simmering with suspense and dark humour, The Guests is a gripping psychological drama about envy and aspiration … and something more menacing, hiding just below that glittering surface…
Many thanks to Orenda Books and Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the blog tour for The Guests, and for my advance copy of the novel.
The Guests is Agnes Ravatn's third novel to be translated into English by Orenda Books. While almost quintessentially Nordic Noir in many ways, it is also darkly humorous and, more unusually, isn't about a crime. That's not to say no wrongdoing takes place though, and The Guests is a mystery of sorts; readers only follow what happens through the words of the main character, Karin – and there's a distinct possibility that she is an unreliable narrator.
I didn't really warm to Karin but as the novel progressed, I did feel some sympathy towards her. It's clear that she is still profoundly affected by her childhood and the actions of her arch-nemesis, Iris. What is less obvious, is whether her feelings are entirely justified; it does seem that Iris behaved appallingly as a teenager but there is no strong evidence to suggest that the eventual fall out led to more than awful rumours. That's not to excuse her behaviour but Karin's response to seeing Iris again in her early adulthood is extreme. When they cross paths the next time, Karin is happily married to Kai and they have two sons but still, she cannot help but compare herself to Iris, now a successful actor.
Iris invites Karin and Kai to stay in her luxury holiday cabin in the Norwegian fjords as a thank you after Karin reluctantly gives her some legal advice. Karin isn't keen but Iris also offers Kai, a joiner, some work constructing a jetty by the cabin. As soon as they arrive, Karin is disappointed to discover the tasteful, understated cabin isn't showy and vulgar as she'd hoped. Nevertheless, she still sullenly finds fault with everything. Throughout the book, her dissatisfaction with her own life and subsequent tendency to negatively compare it with others is constantly in evidence, with her jealousy towards Iris particularly bitter.
For all her faults, Karin is a compelling character and although The Guests isn't a fast-paced thriller, I found her fascinating. She is offended when a man in a neighbouring cabin greets her in a rather terse manner and her consequent lies sets off a chain of events with surprising results. It transpires that their neighbours, Per Sinding and Hilma Ekhult are both writers, although Hilma is the more renowned. Karin is actually a huge admirer of her books and, in private, fantasises about helping her reignite her literary career, which has stalled for several years. In person, however, their exchanges are stranger; bordering on confrontational at times. Karin uses what she knows about Iris's life to concoct different identities for herself and Kai, pretending that they are rich, unscrupulous entrepreneurs who own the cabin. Kai goes along with her deception and is a hard character to read throughout – is he remarkably tolerant or an irresponsible enabler? Meanwhile, Per and Hilma are, at least as seen through Karin's eyes, snobbish and judgmental but the truth isn't quite as clear cut, forcing Karin to re-evaluate some of her assessments of their lifestyle choices later in the book.
Rosie Hedger’s translation is seamless and complements Agnes Ravatn’s sharply observed character portrait throughout. The Guests is an irresistible domestic drama which feels a little like rubber-necking – it’s an uncomfortable read and the embarrassingly awkward exchanges between the couples become increasingly tense as the ridiculous situation spirals out of their control. A deliciously unexpected revelation is followed by what I suspect will be a divisive ending; it is perhaps a little anticlimactic but nevertheless a fitting conclusion to this perceptive, atmospheric read.
The Guests is published by Orenda Books and can be purchased from their website. Further purchasing links can be found here.
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