This book was solid - it dropped enough hints to keep me intrigued enough to keep going. Told in multiple perspectives, a family goes to a remote B&B in Maine and gets snowed in. The owner lives there with her husband and toddler and notices not only some tension between her husband and the guests, but also some strange happenings around the house. The power goes out and things get worse. People disappear, and things aren't as they seem.
Somewhat generic plot with somewhat generic characters, but I wanted to finish it to see how it ended.

3.5 stars.

The Rowe family have booked a three week stay at our B&B and my husband Mark seems upset by this but he assures me that all is okay. When they arrive they seem overly familiar but once again I am assured that it's okay. So atmospheric the settings of a snow storm really made the story pop for me and I couldn't get enough. This book is written by one of my all time favourite physcological thriller authors and that is because I am always shocked when she comes up with something new and exciting every single time. This one I believe tops the cake with it's dark and deeply disturbing plot and characters who all have there own agenda you can't trust anyone. My only wish is for a follow up sequel to this brilliant physcological thriller.

Abby and Mark run a bed and breakfast ( not a hotel as the title suggests) in a big pink house on a tall hill overlooking the ocean in Maine. Times are a bit tough so they offer a discount for the month of December. The Rowe family rents the entire house for 3 weeks. Abby is thrilled. Mark is not. The story is told in alternating chapters by the characters, all of whom are unreliable narrators. This was effective and not at all confusing as long as you read the chapter title. The characters were believable and likable, or not. The story was good but somewhat predictable. The secret was easy to guess. It’s winter in Maine so of course they will get snowed in. Part of the outcome was predictable but some is a surprise. Even with its flaws I enjoyed the story. It came me raptly reading to the end. Thanks to netGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this and expected more after really enjoying The Wife in The Photo. Some of the plot didn’t quite make sense to me - I wasn’t convinced about Abby and Tim waiting for so many years to take their revenge on their respective spouses. I did figure out a few of the twists but again the circumstances that brought all of these people together just didn’t ring quite true and I struggled to believe the plot. I really didn’t warm to any of the characters and found Abby to be lacking in many areas.

I will absolutely read more from this author - this one just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘:

•• Psychological Thrillers
•• Multiple POV
•• Family Secrets
•• Plot Twists
•• Unpredictable Endings

𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:

𝗪𝗢𝗪! I couldn’t put this novel down! It was just gripping from the get go! There was something happening on every single page and I 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗜𝗧!!

I loved how cleverly written the characters were, you adore them and fall for who you 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 they are and 𝗕𝗔𝗠! Tables are turned and spins you like a rollercoaster! No one is who they say they are! You’re fooled by their innocent charm.

Secrets also unravel themselves - well what you think are secrets anyway! Then you realise that the whole thing is about to go 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗠!

Revenge is on the menu but they all seem to want it! But for what reason exactly?!

The twists and turns throughout the story were 𝗔𝗠𝗔𝗭𝗜𝗡𝗚! You just don’t see them coming and oh my - there are 𝗦𝗢
𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗬 of them, it’s never ending!!

Such a great read! Can’t wait to read more by Emily!!

Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “The Hotel” by Emily Shiner.
If you are looking for a story with a twist, this book is for you! Abby and Mark own a B & B and rent it out for three weeks to a family who comes with their own secrets.
This book kept me awake longer than I should have allowed but you just don’t want to stop reading. Very good read! Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Abby, Mark and Henry live and and run a B&B in Maine. The character development really kept me intrigued though some of the conversations and events got a little repetitive.
I couldn't wait to finish this and put all of the pieces together.

Hard to put down!!

Abby, Mark and their son Henry own Cliftop hotel.
They welcome the Rowe Family who have booked the whole hotel for three weeks.
Lottie says she loved their stay with them before but Abby doesn’t remember them staying.
The moment the Roses and their teenage daughter Chelsea arrive there is discomfort and secrets.
Because each one of them is hiding a secret and each one of them is hoping that they come out on top, but at what cost?

The story is told from four main characters perspective, Abby, mark, Lottie and Chelsea.

I found the story fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns. The ending so wasn’t what I expected.

I would definitely give it five stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And would love to see a second book to find out what’s happens to Abby, Mark, Henry and Chelsea.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture who provided me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how everyone - except the toddler, had a plan they were working. He just wanted love and attention while everyone else was looking out for themselves.
A family owned hotel needs an influx of business. Moments after advertising a holiday special, all rooms are booked. By one family.
A snowstorm forces them all together - some low level vandalism dismembered Mark's truck, the only vehicle equipped for the snow. And now they're all together - with their secrets. And plans.

BLOG TOUR HOST Sept 8th!

The queen of revenge plots, Emily Shiner, returns following The Husband's Secret and The Wife In the Photo with her latest twisty locked-room thriller, THE HOTEL —Welcome to The Saltside Inn, Oyster Maine! A romantic secluded cliffside getaway, a gorgeous inn with four towering stories of catwalks, decks, windows, and spectacular ocean views!

The perfect getaway or the ideal trap?

THE HOTEL is another tantalizing, beguiling thriller —from suspicious guests and a cat-and-mouse dangerous game between husband and wife, with surprising wicked twists.

Abby and Mark Hardy own a Bed and Breakfast hotel, The Saltside Inn is located on a remote cliffside in Oyster, Maine. overlooking the ocean. The views are incredible, and the home is enormous. The B&B was Abby's dream. Her other dream was to have a baby, which took forever. They now have Henry, the adorable baby boy, now a toddler. Mark supplements their income by being the local handyman in the area.

It is cold and wintery, with snowstorms and blizzards expected. The winters are brutal. It is a slower season, and the revenue is down, so Abby posts a special. She also has something up her sleeve—a secret plan. Nothing can stop her now!

Told from POVs:
Abby (owner/wife)
Mark (owner/husband)
Lottie (guest/wife)
Chelsea (guest/teen daughter)

She is delighted when she gets a booking from Lottie Rowe. It will be Lottie, her husband, Tim, and their daughter, Chelsea. They want to stay three weeks and renting out the entire inn! Abby is thrilled. They have paid, and Abby is excited and prepares for their arrival.

Mark has secrets
Abby has secrets
Lottie has secrets.
Chelesa has secrets.
Tim has secrets.

Abby suspects Mark is having an affair. He has changed his phone password, so how will she spy? He is handsome, and women swoon over him. She has a plan. She worked hard to get her little boy, and nothing will get in her way.

In the meantime, Mark is being blackmailed and running scared. He does not share this with Abby. She never has to know. He thinks he can work it out. But the blackmailer is closing in.

However, when the guests arrive, it does not go as expected. Bad things start happening. They are snowed and locked in with virtual strangers taking over their home. Being secluded was part of the charm when they purchased the inn, but not so much now. Someone is watching.

Claustrophobic and creepy! The baby monitor goes missing, and someone has removed the batteries. Things are moved and misplaced. Someone puts Henry outside in the freezing snowstorm. What is going on? She has to cook the meals because no one can get out in this snowstorm. (The cliffside scene had me holding my breath!).

Then, someone tampers with their vehicles. Abby gets locked in. The power goes out. Abby must get rid of these people. Abby trusts no one, not even her husband. How could her plan go so wrong? Someone is evil. Her plan is not going as anticipated.

Someone will die before the three weeks are over. Someone is running out of time. Who will walk away with what they want?

There is more than one with a plan seeking revenge, and they will stop at nothing until they WIN! Who is in control? Shocking, suspenseful, with clever twists and an abundance of hidden secrets, will keep you guessing until the end! This is like a scary game of survival!

Shiner cleverly weaves another entertaining, twisted tale of love, greed, deceit, revenge, obsession, and betrayal. Prey or predator? One character is trying to beat the other. THE HOTEL has red herrings and twists galore; you will find yourself switching allegiances from one moment to the next, and you still won’t guess the ending.

The remote cliffside setting, the brutal snowstorm, the wild stormy seas, and rocks make for a creepy, claustrophobic setting added to the locked room trapped owners and guests. Who is the bad guy/gal?

All the characters are bad, flawed, evil—(except little Henry). Compulsive and absorbing, a fast-paced, intriguing, and binge-worthy thriller. As always, a final jaw-dropping twist.

For fans of K.L. Slater, Freida McFadden's Do Not Disturb, and Miranda Rijks' The Visitors, and The Lodge.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Review Posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 7, 2023
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I found this book to be overall quite good. There was a good, solid plot that maintained tension throughout. The main characters (Abby, her husband Mark and their 2-year old son Henry) are living in a big, beautiful (but old) 4-story home that they've turned into a B&B, which was Abby's lifelong dream. Having a child was also a lifelong dream for Abby and she and Mark finally were able to have Henry after years of trying and years of heartbreak. Abby would do anything to keep Henry safe. The story revolves around a period of time just before Christmas, when a couple (Lottie and Tim) and their teenage daughter (Chelsea) rent out the entire B&B for 3 weeks. The Rowe family arrives just before a huge winter storm is coming. They end up all stranded in the B&B and we start to discover that they're all hiding secrets. Each and every one of these characters (other than little Henry) has a secret (or secrets) and they all have agendas. There are twists and turns along the way to finding out who knows what, who is hiding what, and how all of these people have come to be in the same place at the same time, alone together in a storm. This certainly wasn't by accident. But there are multiple motivations at play here. It was fun figuring them out and there were some surprise revelations.

"The Hotel" by Emily Shiner is a chilling and suspenseful thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Shiner's masterful storytelling takes readers on a journey into the lives of the seemingly perfect Rowe family and the dark secrets that lurk behind their friendly facade.

Set against the backdrop of a beautiful clifftop hotel in Maine, Shiner paints a vivid picture of the stunning scenery, which serves as a stark contrast to the growing tension and unease within the story. The protagonist, whose name remains a mystery, becomes increasingly suspicious of the Rowes' intentions as strange events unfold during their stay. Shiner skilfully captures the protagonist's paranoia and fear, making it easy for readers to empathize with her as she grapples with the uncertainty of her husband's involvement in the unfolding mystery.

The novel's pacing is relentless, with each chapter unveiling new twists and revelations that keep you guessing until the very end. Shiner's writing is both evocative and atmospheric, immersing readers in the eerie and isolated atmosphere of the clifftop hotel during a blizzard.

"The Hotel" is a gripping psychological thriller that explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child. Emily Shiner has crafted a compelling and suspenseful narrative that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages, eager to uncover the truth behind the Rowe family and the secrets that threaten to destroy everything. This is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and domestic thrillers.

Intriguing concept - a closed door mystery in a snowbound inn! The writing was effectively evocative of the setting, which was lovely. I found engaging with the characters quite challenging, and the final plot twist was ultimately predictable, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless

What an epic read!
A true rollercoaster of a ride. A cast of characters who, with the exception of the baby, haven't a redeeming feature amongst them. So many twists and turns. You're lead up so many false paths it leaves you reeling.

THE HOTEL

Wow. What a ride! Was this ridiculous and over the top? Sure. But was it fun? Yup.

What did I like: all of the narrators. The short chapters. The pacing. It kept things loving a fast clip. I also like the “you’re playing checkers, but I’m playing chess” of it all.

Was it believable and unsettling? Nope. I like I my thrillers to be a little haunting, and this wasn’t, but I’m okay with that because it was, again, very fast paced with no soggy middle, and there was a ton of action.

I can dig that!

Solid 4. Silly but wow.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I think this story had a lot of potential and can be a great introduction to thrillers for some readers, this just was not for me. I felt there were a lot of plot holes and had a repetitive tone. I personally enjoy more complexity in my characters and I think that could have helped tremendously with the plot development.

That being said, this was a very atmospheric read and really made me feel like I was at a B&B in the dead of winter. And I can understand why this was well-liked by many. Just not for me and that’s okay!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC. I really liked this book. The family that comes to stay at their hotel definitely have weird vibes and I knew something was up with them. Chelsea was SO creepy and the way she kept constantly calling Mark “dad” was a lot 🫣 she was absolutely obsessed with him and I would’ve found a way to get away from her. I thought Abby was a great character but the way she was with Henry irritated me so bad. I loved the ending and the fact that Abby always came out on top 💁🏼‍♀️ overall I did like this book but I also felt that it was a little too drawn out.

My review was also posted on Goodreads.

I liked that there were several characters to suspect, as it kept me guessing. They weren't all very likeable characters but the setting and story were good. The twists did surprise me. This was the first read by Emily Shiner. I will definitely read more.

This is a captivating thriller with so many surprises that you’ll be completely absorbed until the very last page. To say that some of the characters are not who they seem would be an understatement, and the author keeps us guessing throughout the book. The spine-tingling suspense with a tiny touch of “creepy” almost borrows a bit from the horror genre, but this is a thriller to the core. The setting in a B&B in Maine in the middle of a blizzard adds perfectly to that “trapped in” feeling. There are multiple points of view, and they work to give the story added dimension. When those perspectives are woven together, shocking secrets are slowly revealed.

Thriller fans will love this unpredictable, tension-filled novel.

I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Abby and Mark own a secluded B& B called the Saltside Inn overlooking a cliff in Oyster, Maine. They live there with their young son Henry, who they struggled to have for years. The scenery is beautiful but they are struggling financially so they’re delighted when Abby’s social media blitz brings the Rowes in for a three week stay. This should really give them a much needed boost in the checkbook and also some company while the major snowstorm that’s expected to hit town and cut them off from everything hits. Except everyone is keeping secrets, not everyone is who they seem and all motives are questionable. Abby must do anything she can to keep her son safe. But is Abby keeping secrets too?
The story unfolds through the POV of Abby, Mark, Lottie and occasionally Chelsea, the teenage daughter of the Rowes, who seems to have made an unlikely alliance with Mark. There were several surprises from each of the characters and the author did a good job of ramping up the tension.
An enjoyable, fast paced read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this eArc in exchange for my review.