Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed on 12/18/2020 + 1223 more book reviews

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.

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