logo

63 pages 2 hours read

The Overnight Guest

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapters 1-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 1 Summary: “August 2000”

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, child endangerment, miscarriage, and gun use.

Abby Morris jogs down rural Iowa roads between 9:30 and 10:30 pm. She overhears a feminine voice calling for a lost dog and notices a pickup truck parked on the side of the road. She grows uneasy and runs home after noticing a man in a baseball cap sitting in the truck. At 12:05 am, Sheriff John Butler surveys his street and reflects on the lack of “action” (11) occurring in the last week until his wife calls him back inside. At 1:09 am, Deb Cutter wakes up to the sound of what she assumes is kids lighting off firecrackers. She notices her husband, Randy, and son, Brock, are both absent; she grapples with her son’s recent misbehavior and her husband’s increasing obsession with acquiring land. Recently, Randy has been enthralled with fixing up a farm property he has purchased. At 1:10 am, Josie Doyle and Becky Allen flee a figure who is chasing them across Josie’s farm. Becky falls, and though Josie is shot in the arm, she manages to flee into the cornfield.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 63 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools