Gjestene

Gjestene The Guests

The married couple Karin and Kai reluctantly agree on borrowing a luxurious vacation house by the Oslofjord. Against the backdrop of the glistening water and within the claustrophobic walls of the hyper modern house, Karin’s insecurities seem all too apparent as she reflects upon her shortcomings in life. Compared to her, the owner of the house seems to have it all, but what if the polished surface is nothing but a surface?

In a not so friendly chance meeting with the cabin neighbors, a well-known writer couple, Karin and Kai tangle themselves up in one white lie after the other, pretending to be the real owners of the flashy house. They soon find themselves caught up in a spiral of lies they’ll have a hard time getting out of.

“A delightfully insightful and wicked little read … Like the cabin, it’s so minimalist and stark and at the same time so compelling.”
Elizabeth Haynes, a New York Times bestselling author

Awards

Bokhandlerprisen 2022 (Shortlisted for Book of the year) Norway 2022
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Reviews

  • “Honestly, I think this book is genius. Really funny, and really great. A small book with a dense plot. ”

    Elle, Norway

  • “There’s prime Nordic noir from Agnes Ravatn, whose The Guests boasts a satisfying vein of psychological intensity. The beleaguered Karin is a strongly drawn character, and this is an economically written study of burgeoning paranoia.”

    Financial Times, UK

  • The Guests is a tight psychological drama, where one lie follows the other. Ravatn takes us right into the drama. The language is fast paced and elegant, the tone witty and poignant. The plot has just enough invention and nerve that you don’t want to put it down. ”

    ★★★★★

    Aftenposten, Norway

  • “It’s a well-crafted examination of the pressure to succeed and what success actually entails. /…/ Ravatn cleverly capitalises on our innate self-doubt that our accomplishments are less than they appear. /…/ The Guests is a thought-provoking read, and it’s possible that, like Karin’s life story, this is a story about the journey to something bigger, if not the finished product.”

    Nordic Watchlist, UK

  • “Ravatn takes situation comedy to a whole other level. /…/ And even if I believe that the truth will prevail, the lie is much more fun. The Guests made me laugh out loud. Everything is tightly executed. Nothing stands without a ground. /…/ Ravatn is simply an excellent writer. ”

    ★★★★★

    Bok 365, Norway

  • “It’s safe to say Ravatn writes dark comedy entertainment and has become a master at her genre. ”

    ★★★★★

    Verdens Gang, Norway

  • “/…/ extremely witty and clever, both thought out and executed. The story, the characters, the time lapses, everything fits perfectly. ”

    ★★★★★

    Adresseavisen, Norway

  • “Hilarious and spine-tingeling about human frailty. ”

    ★★★★★

    Dagbladet, Norway

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Author
Photo: Agnete Brun Agnes Ravatn
Published
2022
Genre
  • Suspense
Pages
171
Reading material

English translation

Norwegian edition

Rights sold

France, Actes Sud

Norway, Samlaget

Poland, Pauza

UK, Orenda Books (World English)

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