Book Review by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
Haunting, creepy, sleep-depriving (if you think about it too much), riveting—put it this way, I read The Guest Children in two days. It’s the kind of book that draws you in, and like the mysterious people in the book, sucks you in to the end. You simply must find out what happened to the two children who disappeared. And what will happen to the man hired to find them? Will he mysteriously disappear as well? As the subtitle reads: “Not all hauntings are confined to houses.”
This is like a ghost story and a whodunnit all in one.
The Guest Children by Patrick Tarr, Copyright 2025 Patrick Tarr.
Published by Harper Collins.
The book is set in London, England, in 1940, just before the tumultuous time of the inevitable German Blitz, when thousands of British children were evacuated abroad to Canada to stay with relatives or even strangers. Young Michael and Frances Hawksby are sent to the remote Glass Point Lodge in Canada to live with their aunt and uncle. When World War II ends, no one hears from them again. Enter Randall Sturgess, who is hired to find the missing children. During a terrifying journey to find the lodge, Randall’s fears are further heightened when he discovers that Michael and Francis have been missing for several years. Add to this the secretive and eclectic group of permanent guests, none of whom are willing to talk about what happened to the missing children. Something terrible has happened at Glass Point Lodge, and Randall must discover what it is. His nightmares and troubling sightings are interwoven with long-buried memories of his brother and their childhood as he unearths secrets from the lodge as well as dark secrets from his own past.
The Guest Children is a true page turner. Yes, it’s a bit eerie and disturbing, touching on the paranormal, but a fascinating read, as you must know how it ends. 8 out of 10.
About the Author
Patrick Tarr is an award-winning film and television writer whose work has been seen around the world. His work as a head writer and executive producer on the series Cardinal earned Patrick a 2021 Canadian Screen Award for Best Writing in a Dramatic Series. Born in Vancouver, Patrick Tarr and his family now live in Toronto.
The Guest Children by Patrick Tarr, Copyright 2025 Patrick Tarr. Published by Harper Collins.
by Laurie Wallace-Lynch
2019 Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) Certificate of Excellence Third Place Best Food and Drink Feature
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