Helpful Score: 2
This book is set in dual time lines, 1982 and 2017, in a small town in New York. Carly's Aunt Viv left home in 1982 and ended up in Fell, New York, then disappeared. After Carly's mom died from cancer in 2017, Carly found an article about her Aunt Viv. Carly needed time away from life to deal with the loss of her mother and decided to go to Fell, NY to search out details of her aunt.
Both Viv and then Carly work as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel, both trying to solve a mystery. There is a haunted story involving the Sun Down - doors open, there is the smell of fresh cigarette smoke, and then there is the ghost of a woman and one of a little boy. As Carly learns more about her aunt, where she could have gone, what could have happened to her, she learns more about herself as well.
This is a historical fiction ghost story set in more recent years. I stayed up late a few nights just to see what would happen next!
Both Viv and then Carly work as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel, both trying to solve a mystery. There is a haunted story involving the Sun Down - doors open, there is the smell of fresh cigarette smoke, and then there is the ghost of a woman and one of a little boy. As Carly learns more about her aunt, where she could have gone, what could have happened to her, she learns more about herself as well.
This is a historical fiction ghost story set in more recent years. I stayed up late a few nights just to see what would happen next!
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed this mix of the supernatural and a good murder mystery. The story is told from two different points of view. First, from the view of Viv who in 1982 wanted to get away from her mother and ends up working at a motel in Fell, New York. Second, from the perspective of Carly in 2017 who goes to Fell to try to find out what happened to her aunt Viv who disappeared in 1982. In 1982, there are a series of murders of young women in and around Fell, one of which seems to be haunting the Sun Down Motel where Viv is working the night shift. Viv is on the track of the murderer and along with a local female police officer and a female freelance photographer, she thinks she has the mystery solved. But then she disappears. Then in 2017, Carly moves to Fell and ends up working the same shift at the same motel and living in the same apartment as her Aunt Viv did in 1982. Carly also sees the same ghosts at the motel and realizes her aunt was trying to identify the killer of the young girls. So what happened to Viv? Was she also a victim of the serial killer?
I thought this was a fun book and it kept me guessing up till near the end. St. James was obviously inspired by Stephen King and referred to several of King's works throughout the novel. This included an old battered copy of Firestarter that Viv found at the motel office. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is. I also enjoyed St. James' The Haunting of Maddy Clare which I read about a year ago. Will be on the lookout for more of her works.
I thought this was a fun book and it kept me guessing up till near the end. St. James was obviously inspired by Stephen King and referred to several of King's works throughout the novel. This included an old battered copy of Firestarter that Viv found at the motel office. Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is. I also enjoyed St. James' The Haunting of Maddy Clare which I read about a year ago. Will be on the lookout for more of her works.
Helpful Score: 1
Really good ghost story/mystery! I did feel there was one loose thread left unanswered but definitely a creepy page turner.
Helpful Score: 1
Loved it! In this book we have 2 main characters. One is Viv and her story is set in 1982. The other one is Carly and her story is set in 2017. Viv is Carly's missing aunt. Between the two perspectives, we slowly learn what happen to Viv through Carly's detective work. The story was spooky with ghosts being tied into all that is going on. Not only that but there seems to be a serial killer on the loose in Viv's time. Is that how she disappeared?
The story was nonstop until the end. I enjoyed the characters, the town and the creepy hotel. The only part I had a little trouble with is I would get the two main characters mixed up sometimes but that was probably just me. Highly recommended.
The story was nonstop until the end. I enjoyed the characters, the town and the creepy hotel. The only part I had a little trouble with is I would get the two main characters mixed up sometimes but that was probably just me. Highly recommended.
