⏬Book Review

The Sun Down Motel

I give this one a nice 4.5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
This was an excellent read. I really didn't expect to like this book as much as i did. But, to me it has it all. Murder, mystery, love, secrets, friendships. The only reason I didn't give a full five stars is because I believe there could have been a little more to it. However, it kept me intrigued and the pages turning!

Description from #goodreads

The secrets lurking in a rundown roadside motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before, in this new atmospheric suspense novel from the national bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate NY, 1982. Every small town like Fell, New York, has a place like the Sun Down Motel. Some customers are from out of town, passing through on their way to someplace better. Some are locals, trying to hide their secrets. Viv Delaney works as the night clerk to pay for her move to New York City. But something isn't right at the Sun Down, and before long she's determined to uncover all of the secrets hidden…

Expected release date: February 18th 2020

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC
#thesundownmotel #arc #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booknerd #booklife

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James did not disappoint, especially after reading The Broken Girls. This story follows Carly, who decides to take off for a small town called Fell, NY after her mother dies. Carly has always wondered what happened to her aunt Viv, as she went missing from work in 1982 and hasn't been seen since. Carly goes to Fell, and ends up working the same night shift at the Sun Down Motel to put herself in her Aunt Viv's shoes. Carly slowly pieces together what happened leading up to her aunt's disappearance, with help from quirky Fell locals. The story flips back and forth between Carly in 2017 and Viv in 1982, as the stories unfold at the same time, decades apart.
I love Simone St. James' writing style. The language she uses makes her books truly creepy. She is one of the few authors I have read where I can't read her books alone at times. She incorporates the paranormal without being too sci-fi which I like, and she does not make it unrealistic. This book kind of reminds me of a scarier, more horrifying Nancy Drew story. This is great for those who love thrillers, and those who enjoyed The Broken Girls.

5 stars to this fantastic read!

The Sun Down Motel was the perfect blend of mystery, thriller, and supernatural. The author did a great job of creating and maintaining a spooky atmosphere that put me right at the Sun Down motel. I feel like a lot of times supernatural elements in suspense novels can feel cheesy and out of place, but the haunting at the Sun Down was so well written and felt realistic.

The dual storylines were equally captivating and the characters in both were awesome (especially Nick and Heather-I would have loved to see them a bit more prominent). I did not want this book to end but was happy to find an unexpected yet satisfying conclusion.

This one will definitely be in the running for best read of the year-and its only January! Great job, Simone St. James.

This book was a perfect blend of ghost story and thriller novel. These two aspects work together to keep you guessing through the entire novel; will it be a ghost or a person who ends up being the true antagonist. Just as with her her previous book the author manages to fit a large amount of important information into the story without making you feel overwhelmed.

"It could always be you.....''

Fell, NY. A small upstate town...quaint, not much going on....but a lot of secrets hiding in the shadows. In 1982, girls from Fell are being murdered. Vivian works at the Sun Down Motel. It's mostly boring. Nothing happens in Fell....until the murders. She decides to do a little investigating. She finds the killings to be strangely intriguing and exciting, because.....it could have been her. Or any other girl in town. It could have happened to anyone.....anyone could be the killer....anyone could be next.

.....then Vivian disappears.

Flash forward to 2017. Carly comes to town. She's Vivian's niece...and she wants answers. What happened to her aunt? She ends up working at the Sun Down Motel...just like her aunt back in 1982. And just like her aunt, she is in danger.....

This book is so spooky cool! There are strange happenings in the motel....the weird vibe in Fell....Vivian's disappearance.... Loved it! I think the line "It could always be you....'' really grabbed hold of my brain and never let go. Because it's true. I watch way too much Discovery ID Channel. The stories of disappearances, random killings, murders....the stories are always about someone else...the unlucky person in a bad relationship or just the wrong place at the wrong time. But......nobody is immune. With one mistake or twist of fate, it could be ..... anyone. It could be me. It could be you. It could be someone I know....someone you know. Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to shows like that.....it's intriguing and interesting because it COULD be me, but wasn't. I got sucked right into the atmosphere of this story. This ended up being a binge read for me.....I couldn't stop reading! Any book that keeps me reading until the wee hours of the night earns full stars from me! Very entertaining story!

I enjoyed The Broken Girls by this author, so I'm not too surprised that I also enjoyed this newest book! I added another book by her, The Haunting of Maddy Clare, to my TBR list. I'm sure I will enjoy it too!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Ghost story, murder mystery, a mesmerizing thriller told by Simone St. James. If you want to escape under the covers and read a spooky murder mystery on a cold or rainy day The Sun Down Motel is a good choice. Lights flickering, doors opening then closing, blackouts......are the the ghosts of the motel making this happen? What happened to Viv Delaney, is she dead or did she just disappear 35 years ago? You will want to keep reading to find out what happened to five women in the small town of Fell, New York in 1982. Who is haunting the motel and why? I’m not telling so you have to read the book to find out! Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC of this book. So glad a took a chance on it! It will be out February 18, 2020. Be prepared to keep reading way into the wee hours of the morning.

Doors that open themselves are just the beginning. A night clerk at the local motel shouldn't be a hard job but this motel has a past that won't stay past. A psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your chair.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Two women, one mystery...what is happening at the Sun Down Motel??

PLOT SUMMARY: This story is told from two POV’s - Viv from 1982 and Carly from 2017. Present day Carly has just lost her mother, and is searching for a family connection...her Aunt Viv went missing without a trace in 1982 and Carly is determined to find out what happened to her. In Viv’s story, we get to see the events leading up to her disappearance and clues as to what may have caused it. These two women are strong, determined and brave...but in the face of a haunted motel, sketchy motel guests and several murdered women...will these traits be enough to help them survive??? And will they get the answers they so desperately want??

PROS: Suspenseful, dramatic and well written...

CONS: Perhaps not the most suspenseful one by this author...The Haunting of Maddy Clare and Silence for the Dead are seriously spooky. Still loved it though!!

YES or NO: It’s a YES - anything by Simone St. James is worth reading...and even more so if you are into mysteries or thrillers with a supernatural twist.

4 Stars

On her way to NYC to be an actress, Viv Delaney ends up working at the Sun Down Motel as the night clerk to earn money for her goal. As she is drawn further into the bizarre events at the motel and the unsolved murders that have rocked the town, Viv begins her own investigation and then disappears. Thirty-five years later, Carly Kirk, Viv's niece, is obsessed with finding out what happened to her aunt and why no trace was ever found. Growing up I spent many family vacations, staying in roadside motels and I always wondered what tales they could tell. As Viv and Carly both get closer to the truth, I loved the creepy, chilling undertone that ran through the story. An intriguing mystery with ghosts, a heartless killer and two determined young women on a quest for the truth. Perfect for someone looking for a chilly mystery!

Ooooh spooky! Just enough supernatural elements to keep it creepy but not cheesy. A nice surprise. Loved this!!

This was a really good book. Love the cover, it reminds me of any seedy small town old motel. There is a lot happening in this story, mystery, murder, romance, ghosts...lots to hold your interest. I received this as an advance copy and it will be on sale next month. This is a good story and I have read others by this same author that were also very good, but totally different plots. Check out her books, if you have not read anything by her before. If you have, you need to read this one too.

I can already tell you that this book will be in my top 10 this year. I absolutely loved it! I loved both the female leads, Viv and Carly and it felt easy to connect with them. The story haunted me every time I put it down and still haunts me since I finished it. If you read one thriller/suspense book this year then this one should be it.

Simply a well written supernatural mystery, I had a great time reading it. Not everything is fully resolved, but what is resolved is sufficient. Reminds me of last year's Netflix show The Haunting of Hill House with a dash of Bad Times at the El Royale - not verbatim, but just the fact that "some houses can be born bad" and some motels are perfect crime spots.
Looking forward to recommending it upon release date!

Thank you to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with an arc for review. This in no way influenced my opinion.

I love a good ghost story, and The Sun Down Motel did not disappoint!

Told in alternating timelines, we follow Viv in 1982, a 20 year old who got sidetracked in Fell and accidentally got a job as the night clerk at The Sun Down while on her way to New York. She eventually disappears, from (you guessed it!) The Sun Down, which leads us to the second timeline - Carly in 2017, Viv's 20 year old niece who is determined to find out what happened to her aunt.

I really liked St. James' first book, The Broken Girls, but she has definitely honed her writing since then. The atmosphere the author created was perfect. I was totally sucked in, right from the beginning. The descriptions of the motel itself were fantastic. I could see myself there, ghosts and all. It's been a while since I've received an arc that was un-put-downable, this really hit the spot. I'll definitely be purchasing it for the library, and for myself.

*Side note* I'm a total night owl, and when I was a wee babe of 19 I got a job working nights at a truck stop, and ever since my body does not want to sleep at night. I could FEEL the character's delirium from lack of sleep. Glorious.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for this ARC!
.
YES!
.
From the dedication page (Murderinos!!!) to the very last word I was HERE FOR THIS BOOK! An easy 5 stars - and I very seldom 5-star a thriller. It isn't that I don't like thrillers, I just find myself more critical of the twists and turns - so many feel contrived and super rushed at the end. However, The Sun Down Motel met all my scary book expectations!
.
The atmosphere of The Sun Down Motel was spot on! It was so creepy and eerie that I literally turned on every light in my room. There were moments that I had to read through my fingers because the plot was so spine-tingling creeptastic! If a book can make you feel this scared when you're reading in the comfort of your couch - well, that's some damn good writing! Simone St. James knows how to tell a scary story!
.
The dual timelines made this book all the more compelling. Unlike most thrillers, I was super invested in the characters - they were likable and I was cheering for them! I find that so many thrillers are so plot-driven that you don't get a ton of character development. Sun Down excelled in characterization and plot and I totally applaud this!
.
If you read a thriller this year, make it this one!

As soon as I read the dedication page, "For the odd girls, the nerdy girls, and the murderinos. This one is yours" , my face lit up and I just knew I was going to love this book!

The Sun Down Motel is getting A LOT of hype and pre-pub buzz. Usually I'm skeptical of over hyped books, but The Sun Down deserves all the praise it's receiving!

The Plot: In 1982 Viv Delaney mysteriously goes missing in the middle of her night shift at The Sun Down Motel, a run down, sketchy roadside motel.

Fast Forward to present day: Viv's neice, Carly, has always wondered about her aunt Viv. What happened to her? Why doesn't anyone talk about it? Is she still out there somewhere? These are the questions Carly needs answers to. So she takes it upon herself to figure out what happened. Carly decides to visit the town where her aunt went missing. One thing leads to another and Carly finds herself working the same night shift as her aunt.

But things at The Sun Down start to get weird. Supernatural even.

____

The Characters: The book is told in alternating narratives: Viv's and Carly's. I absolutely LOVED Carly. She is like a long lost sister. She is nerdy, loves true crime, and is so very endearing. I loved reading about her.

The Writing: I've heard some criticisms about the writing of this book. I actually enjoyed the writing style. Some found the writing repetitive, I can see where those reviewers are coming from, but that wasn't my experience of the book. I think the writing style is simple (in a good way that made the book very "readable"- if that makes sense) and not over-fluffed.

My favorite part of this book is how atmospheric it is. Through the writing, you truly get the feel of the motel and the haunting, creepy experiences that ensue.

This is definitely one I recommend you check out when it is published!

This book was such a ride, and I couldn't put it down.
SPOILERS
I hardly ever get chills when reading a book but this one gave me some, especially in the beginning.
Even though the book was somewhat predictable, it wasn't like I was upset, it was exactly how I wanted the book to be minus Vivs ending.
This book was very fast paced, interesting as it went back and forth to Viv back in 1982 who worked at a Motel that was haunted and had a story to tell. she ends up going missing and the other chapters are of her niece Carly. 35 years later Carly wants to know what happens to her aunt. From getting her aunt Vivs night job and finding out its haunted with a victim who wants to be heard.
I don't want to spoil everything but i just want to say this was such a fun read and def one i recommend.
thank you netgalley and Berkley for the e-arc

I LOVED The Broken Girls a whole lot, and I was so excited to read St. James new book, The Sun Down Motel. Again, she gives us a very haunted location and a couple of generations of women. There's also a couple of mysteries to solve along the way.

In 1982, Viv finds herself working in a rundown motel in Fell, New York - a small town where four women have been murdered within a few years. The police don't think they are dealing with a serial killer; one of the killers has been caught! But Viv can't seem to let it go and the Sun Down can't seem to either.

In 2017, Carly is looking for her aunt who went missing 35 years earlier. As she retraces her aunt's steps, she experiences all the same supernatural events at the Sun Down and feels like someone or something is watching her. She's probably right.

This book took me a little while to get into, and sometimes I had a hard time remembering which girl, Viv or Carly, certain things had happened to. They were very similar characters. But there was enough creepy stuff constantly happening and the mystery was compelling enough, that I finished this in no time.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this. I will definitely be recommending!

Simone St. James does it again! Her writing is so mesmerizing that you feel like you’re really part of the story. The Sun Down Motel was the second book I’ve read by her, and I loved it from start to finish!

The story is told in dual timelines, Viv in the past and Carly in the present. In the past, Viv works for the Sun Down Motel and strange things start happening. She starts looking into recent murders and thinks she may be starting to find answers. In the present, Carly comes to the Sun Down Motel looking for answers about her aunt Viv. Viv disappeared 35 years before and Carly thinks she might be able to solve it.

Carly ends up getting a job at the Sun Down, moves into the same apartment her aunt had lived in and begins digging. In the past and present, information about the haunted hotel begins coming to light and both Viv and Carly experience the paranormal.

This story was a great paranormal thriller and I loved every minute. The parallel storylines kept my attention the entire time and I read it in a few hours. I loved the way the two stories connected and the creep factor was perfect! 5-stars always to for this amazing book!

Goodreads review:

I'm pretty sure that The Sun Down Motel will be listed as one of the top books of 2020 by the end of the year. Thrilling and chilling, I read this book scared AF but also as fast as I could; The Sun Down Motel is that moving and good.

You'll find yourself empathizing with the ghosts, looking over your shoulder--even if the sun is out--and yelling at Viv for being so stupid while cheering for her the entire time.

Girl power, mystery, ghosts, and killers on the loose!? What more could you ask for?

See The Uncorked Librarian's full review here: https://theuncorkedlibrarian.com/february-2020-book-releases/

Facebook review:
NetGalley ARC| Are you looking for a book that is as gripping and upsetting as the Ted Bundy series? If you love true crime or My Favorite Murder, this February 2020 new release is for you...

On February 18th, get ready for what I think will be one of the top books of 2020: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James.

Pissed off ghosts, a killer(s) on the loose, and two different women's timelines make for the perfect murder mystery.

OMG, I couldn't sleep for days without getting the chills.

Please refer to link for my blog review. Thanks!