The Perfect Hosts
- Judith D Collins
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Narrators: Brittany Pressley, Xe Sands
Harlequin Audio
ISBN: 978-0778305668
Publisher: Park Row
Publication Date: 11/04/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars + (ARC)
A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest
Is it a boy or a girl?
They would die to know…
Cordelia and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.
As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.
About the Author
Photo Credit: Kate Cousins Photography
Heather Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of nine novels. Her debut novel, THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE, was an instant NYT bestseller and remained on the list for 22 weeks. Gudenkauf’s critically acclaimed novels have been published in over 20 countries and have been included in many Best Of lists including Seven Thrillers to Read This Summer by the New York Times, The 10 Best Thrillers and Mysteries of 2017 by The Washington Post, Amazon Best Book of 2022, GoodReads Most Anticipated Mysteries of 2022. Her tenth novel, EVERYONE IS WATCHING will be released on March 26, 2024.
Heather was born in Wagner, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. At one month of age, her family returned to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota where her father was employed as a guidance counselor and her mother as a school nurse. At the age of three, her family moved to Iowa, where she grew up. Having been born with a profound unilateral hearing loss (there were many evenings when Heather and her father made a trip to the bus barn to look around the school bus for her hearing aids that she often conveniently would forget on the seat beside her). Heather tended to use books as a retreat, would climb into the toy box that her father’s students from Rosebud made for the family with a pillow, blanket, and flashlight, close the lid, and escape the world around her. Heather became a voracious reader and the seed of becoming a writer was planted.
Heather lives in Iowa with her family and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Lolo. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, swimming, and hiking. She is currently working on her next novel. WEBSITE
My Review
"Highly Entertaining! Undoubtedly screenworthy... It felt as if I were immersed in an episode of either Yellowstone with the Duttons or Dallas with the Ewings. Wes Drake is a character who could easily rival J.R. Ewing or John Dutton in terms of charisma and cunning. Simply outstanding!
With a blend of ruthlessness and scandalous manipulation, these characters embody the essence of iconic television villains.
The New York Times bestselling author, Heather Gudenkauf, a long-time favorite of mine, returns with a fresh and contemporary twist in her latest explosive thriller, THE PERFECT HOSTS, centered around a deadly gender reveal party.
About the book...
Setting:
Nestled in the breathtaking landscape of Nightjar, Wyoming, the Lone Tree Ranch stands as an opulent residence and expansive equestrian estate owned by Madeline and Wes Drake, boasting a prime view of the majestic Tetons.
The Event:
Madeline and Wes Drake are orchestrating a lavish "pistols and pearls" gender reveal party to celebrate the impending arrival of their child. With an impressive guest list of 200, the ranch transforms into a spectacle of grandeur featuring explosive displays, a rodeo, equestrian events, and even a performance by country music icon Reba McEntire.
Agenda:
This gathering transcends the simple act of revealing their baby’s gender; it serves as a strategic occasion for Wes to network, showcase their prized horses, and flaunt their stunning property.
The Explosion:
Tragedy strikes when a celebratory explosive misfires, resulting in the death of one woman and injuring several others.
The Immediate Aftermath:
This catastrophic event shatters the seemingly flawless veneer of the Drakes’ lives and sends ripples of shock through the community.
The Investigation:
AFT Agent Jamie Saldano is summoned to probe the circumstances surrounding the fatal explosion, unraveling a complex tapestry of deceit. The Drakes' history with the town reveals an undercurrent of tension.
The Suspects:
With the investigation suggesting that the explosion was intentional, every attendee becomes a potential suspect, heightening the tension.
Deepening Mystery:
The unexpected arrival of uninvited guests and relatives further complicates the investigation, adding layers of intrigue to the unfolding drama.
The Unraveling of Secrets:
The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, enhancing the suspense and underscoring the notion that "everyone has secrets."
Hidden Motives:
As the investigation progresses, it becomes evident that the Drakes’ seemingly idyllic life is rife with secrets, lies, jealousy, and betrayal, hinting that someone may have been targeted.
Whodunit? Whydunit?
The quest for truth intensifies as the layers of deception are peeled back, leaving everyone questioning not just the who, but the why behind this tragic event.
My Perspective on Heather's Latest Masterpiece...
EXPLOSIVE! Heather Gudenkauf knows how to host an unforgettable party experience with The Perfect Hosts!
Prepare for a wickedly delicious experience that is action-packed and filled with scandal. This narrative showcases a cast of ruthless characters who will keep you on the edge of your seat, all while delivering an abundance of witty and snarky dark humor.
From the very first page to the satisfying conclusion, you will find yourself utterly engrossed. The relentless pace and twisty plot explore the intricate relationships and concealed truths within the Drake family and their community, revealing a plethora of dark secrets and hidden agendas.
Narrated from multiple viewpoints—Madeline, Lucy, Mellie, and Jamie —the story gradually unearths buried family secrets, rivalries, and deceptions. No one is as they appear, resulting in an extensive list of suspects.
Adding another compelling layer of intrigue is Agent Jamie Saldano, who grapples with his own personal demons tied to the town, including the unresolved dark mystery of his sister's disappearance thirty years ago. Is there a connection to the Drake family?
The enigma surrounding her vanishing has never been solved, leaving Saldano with unresolved trauma and a personal stake in the narrative.
As the story unfolds, the complexity deepens with the introduction of additional characters: Dix (Wes' brother), Lucy (Madeline's stepsister), Johanna (the midwife and Madeline's friend, along with her hot-headed husband, Dalton), and Mellie, the waitress at the catered party with her own hidden agenda, not to mention Wes' rivals, the Prestons.
In the relentless pursuit of truth, numerous motives, affairs, greed, money, power, and potential suspects emerge, heightening the tension as the identity of the killer remains shrouded in mystery.
The central question shifts from how the explosion occurred to who the intended target was and why.
While the gender reveal party's central mystery propels the plot, Saldano’s personal quest for answers regarding his sister adds a poignant layer of emotional complexity to his character and the overall narrative.
The suspense is both riveting and fast-paced, as the investigation reveals a multitude of dark secrets cloaked beneath the seemingly perfect facade of the Drake family and their associates, each harboring hidden motives.
With jaw-dropping twists and turns that will keep you guessing, the epic conclusion delivers all the answers to the murder and more, culminating in a final, shocking twist.
As a long-time fan of Heather Gudenkauf, I have read all her works and highly recommend this one, as well as her entire backlist.
THE PERFECT HOSTS is a dynamic blend of twisted family domestic suspense drama, mystery, crime thriller, and psychological thriller, featuring complex pasts that propel the plot from start to finish. This is truly a page-turner!
Mark my words—this will be one of the Top books of 2025!
The audiobook...
I eagerly anticipate the audiobook, narrated by two of my favorites, Brittany Pressley and XeSands.
Recs...
A must-read for devoted fans of Gudenkauf, as her novels often delve into unsolved crimes, secrets, and lies, featuring complex characters grappling with trauma and rich backstories, all while navigating the challenges of rural small-town settings. It’s also perfect for fans of Kaira Rouda, Kimberly Belle, Mary Kubica, and Alice Feeney—some of my favorites.
A heartfelt thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for providing an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest insights. #CoverCrush
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Pub Date: Nov 04, 2025
Praise
“The Perfect Hosts is like Yellowstone meets The Guest List! A compelling, unputdownable story with big twists. I loved it.”
–Samantha Downing, internationally bestselling author of Too Old for This
"You don't know who to trust or where loyalties lie in The Perfect Hosts. I loved every minute of this fun, twisty wild ride!"
–Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing
“Deliciously tense and wickedly clever, The Perfect Hosts is sharp, suspenseful, and bursting with secrets. I was hooked from the first page to the final, jaw-dropping reveal.”
–Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Soulmate
"Riveting crimes from the past and present collide in this pickup-driving, shotgun-slinging, explosive-detonating ride. Fans of Yellowstone will love this propulsive thriller, a book you can’t put down."
–Ashley Winstead, USA Today-bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me
"Gudenkauf excels at establishing character and atmosphere, and a sense of dread permeates every scene."
–Kirkus Reviews
