Book Review: The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian

Release Date: October 25, 2016 (reprint)
Publisher: Vintage
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336 pages
Genre: Fiction
Buy: Kindle | Paperback

Synopsis:

When Kristin Chapman agrees to let her husband, Richard, host his brother's bachelor party, she expects a certain amount of debauchery. She takes their young daughter to Manhattan for the evening, leaving her Westchester home to the men and their hired entertainment. What she does not expect is that the entertainment—two scared young women brought there by force—will kill their captors and drive off into the night.

With their house now a crime scene, Kristin's and Richard’s life spirals into nightmare. Kristin is unable to forgive her husband for his lapses in judgement, or for the moment he shared with a dark-haired girl in the guest room. But for the dark-haired girl, Alexandra, the danger is just beginning.

Review: 

Talk about a bachelor party gone wrong...this is The Hangover times 10.  Alternating chapters between Richard whose life is forever altered by this fateful night and Alexandra the Armenian orphan who was taken into slavery at the age of 14. Its a well written story with a lot of depth and characters you really start to care for.  You see different points of view on what happened, how the media portrays what happened and how each persons lives are effected.

It was fascinating to see how different people interpret what happened and how it changes their view of Richard. This incident truly brings out the worst in some people and the good in others.  Its an interesting read.

This book is very graphic and has solid information on the sex trafficking industry.  How they break the girls, keep them and string them along.  Its a sad horrible life with not a lot of hope.  You learn about Alexandra's hopes and dreams and how she has coped with what she has become.

I love Chris Bohjalian's books, they are well researched and really speak to you.  The characters seem very real and very flawed like us all.  Well done, quick, interesting read.