Synopsis –
Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.
Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James was overall a great reading experience. The plot combined a murder mystery, supernatural elements, and several likable characters and relationships into a suspenseful and fun ride. I will say the narratives shifting from 2017 and 1982 did get confusing at times, as there were moments I was getting the story mixed up between Viv and Carly. However, I also thought that the two points of views kept things more interesting and this was necessary to understand the full picture as it unraveled. There were a few twists that I did enjoy and while they were somewhat predictable, they all still caught me by surprise. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the presence of multiple strong female characters, who felt like real people in a small town, in both 1982 and 2017. I also really enjoyed the character of Nick and his role and was excited every time he appeared. Although I wasn’t really ever scared by the book, there were lots of vivid, suspenseful moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. All in all, I’d rate the book 4.5/5 stars. If you want a fun and morbid read, consider picking up The Sun Down Motel next.