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Heather Gudenkauf, author portrait

Heather Gudenkauf

Heather Gudenkauf is a New York Times bestselling novelist born in Wagner, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. Her books have been published in more than 25 countries, with over 2.5 million copies sold worldwide, and have appeared on Best of the Year lists from outlets including The New York Times and NPR.
On LuvemBooks, we've reviewed The Overnight Guest.
1
Books Reviewed
Cover of The Overnight Guest
The Overnight Guest

4.3/5

reader rating · 22,224 ratings

True crime writer Wylie Lark retreats to an isolated Iowa farmhouse during a deadly snowstorm, only to find a traumatized child and his injured mother at her door. Heather Gudenkauf weaves three timelines into a claustrophobic psychological thriller that rewards patient readers with a devastating payoff.

Reviewed Nov 9, 2026

Ask LuvemBooks about Heather Gudenkauf

Heather Gudenkauf is a New York Times bestselling novelist whose books have sold over 2.5 million copies in more than 25 countries. On LuvemBooks we've reviewed 1 of their thrillers: The Overnight Guest, which builds tension by braiding three timelines around a true crime writer snowed into an isolated Iowa farmhouse, holds a 4.3/5 reader rating from over 22,000 Amazon ratings. It's a slow-burn structure that rewards patient readers with a devastating payoff rather than cheap shocks.
Where should I start?
Start with The Overnight Guest — it's the one Heather Gudenkauf book we've reviewed, and it holds a 4.3/5 reader rating from over 22,000 Amazon ratings. The premise is immediately gripping: a true crime writer alone in an isolated farmhouse during a snowstorm opens her door to a traumatized child and his injured mother.
What's their writing style?
In The Overnight Guest, Gudenkauf favors structure over spectacle: three timelines interlock to build a claustrophobic psychological thriller rather than relying on constant action. The prose serves atmosphere — a snowbound farmhouse, strangers at the door, secrets closing in — and the pacing is deliberate, saving its biggest impact for the end.
Books we've reviewed
We've reviewed 1 Heather Gudenkauf book so far. The Overnight Guest follows true crime writer Wylie Lark, whose retreat to an isolated Iowa farmhouse during a deadly snowstorm is interrupted by a traumatized child and his injured mother; it holds a 4.3/5 reader rating from 22,224 Amazon ratings.
What genre do they write?
Gudenkauf writes thrillers. The Overnight Guest, the book we've reviewed, is a psychological thriller with a claustrophobic, snowbound setting — a true crime writer trapped in an Iowa farmhouse as a storm seals her in with strangers whose stories don't add up.
What should I read after The Overnight Guest?
The Overnight Guest is the only Gudenkauf title we've reviewed so far, so we can't yet point you to a follow-up within our coverage. If you want more from the author beyond our reviews, The Weight of Silence is listed among their most notable works.
Who is Heather Gudenkauf?

Who is Heather Gudenkauf?

Heather Gudenkauf is a New York Times bestselling novelist born in Wagner, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. Their books have been published in more than 25 countries, sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide, and appeared on Best of the Year lists from outlets including The New York Times and NPR. The Weight of Silence is among their most notable works.

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