Helpful Score: 2
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: 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
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.
What a great ghost story! Creepy and spooky and literally non stop reading.
It takes place in two time periods, 1980's and 2017 about Vivian and her niece Carly. They both work the night shift in a run down, haunted decrepit motel in Fell NY.. Carly wants to find out what happened to her aunt Viv who disappeared one fateful night shift leaving behind her belongings and purse in her office. The result was like watching a horror movie that caused my anxiety to spike.
Loved this book.
It takes place in two time periods, 1980's and 2017 about Vivian and her niece Carly. They both work the night shift in a run down, haunted decrepit motel in Fell NY.. Carly wants to find out what happened to her aunt Viv who disappeared one fateful night shift leaving behind her belongings and purse in her office. The result was like watching a horror movie that caused my anxiety to spike.
Loved this book.
Something hasn't been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why. In 1982 Carly's aunt Viv Delaney moved to New York City and got a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. It's 2017 and Carly wants to find out what happened to Aunt Viv because she mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before Carly was born. Carly moves to Fell, New York and visits the motel. She soon finds herself involved with the same mysteries that claimed her aunt. This is a creepy ghost story and mystery full of secrets. It is a dark and twisted story with an ending I didn't see coming. The story switches back and forth between 1982 and 2017 with two points of view. Simone St. James is an excellent writer and kept the pages turning. If you enjoy the supernatural, then you will enjoy this book.
A book that I just can't put down! I love it!
A somewhat entertaining, but too long, story tinged with the supernatural; the women in each time period are a bit immature and do some silly things, though. Like the women the story revolves around (30 years apart) did, I wished I had taken a notebook and listed the characters in each of the times since I sometimes got confused and had to reread parts to place someone in the proper storyline.
A minor criticism is that I could have done without the too-detailed clothing descriptions.
The stories are interesting although I felt the young woman in the 1982 saga was kind of dumb in some of her actions (well, she was young, soâ¦) It comes to a satisfying conclusion although the supernatural aspect was a little too far-fetched and probably could have been done without. And there was at least one question I thought went unanswered.
Note: I know this is pretty anal, but since the motel sign is referenced more than once (Cable TV!), why the paperback publisher chose to use artwork on the cover that didn't match the sign (or the building) in the story was bothersome.
A minor criticism is that I could have done without the too-detailed clothing descriptions.
The stories are interesting although I felt the young woman in the 1982 saga was kind of dumb in some of her actions (well, she was young, soâ¦) It comes to a satisfying conclusion although the supernatural aspect was a little too far-fetched and probably could have been done without. And there was at least one question I thought went unanswered.
Note: I know this is pretty anal, but since the motel sign is referenced more than once (Cable TV!), why the paperback publisher chose to use artwork on the cover that didn't match the sign (or the building) in the story was bothersome.
Just scary enough to keep the lights on. I will probably never stay at a semi-rundown hotel again, by the way. Two different women, two different times, the same creepy experience. Plenty of characters to keep you guessing which one may the bogey man. Several references to Steven King and his books, so you know who the inspiration for this book is. A good read.
