Cass finds herself the manager of a run-down motel turned apartments called The Sycamores when her boyfriend, who she lived with, ended their relationship and she has nowhere to live. She gets free rent in return for taking care of the place. There she interacts with the interesting bunch of renters which include those who are quirky, eccentric, and lonely. Cass is low on cash and has come up with a devious and not the safest way to make spending money on the side. 😮

Anna's husband, Henry, called her and admitted to a crime. She checks into The Sycamores to get some answers after his death. There she begins to get answers and finds that she did not know her husband as much as she thought she did.

This book is told through the POV's of Cass and Anna. I found this to be a nice touch. As Anna gets closer to the truth, things begin to get tense and it is obvious that someone will do whatever it takes to prevent her from getting to the truth!

Initially this book was slow for me, and I kept putting it down, but then it slowly crept up on me, tapped me on the shoulder and grabbed my attention. I enjoyed the mystery, the motel, the tension, the suspense, and the motel's tenants.

Despite it feeling slow in the beginning, I enjoyed the author's wonderful writing, the intricate plot, the mystery, the setting, the characters, and the mounting suspense, tension and danger.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely love a psychological thriller about what may be happening behind closed doors in your neighborhood. Take that concept and push them all into a rundown, moody apartment building and you’ve got the context for Seraphina Nova Glass’s newest thriller, The Vacancy in Room 10. This book is an absolute blast to read! A gritty, unexpected, unique summer thriller to binge by the pool.

What is The Vacancy in Room 10 about?

The Sycamores is a rundown motel outside of Santa Fe that was poorly converted into apartments. Nearby neighborhood establishments include a Shell gas station with a sign missing the S, a liquor store, an Arby’s, and Teaser’s Gentleman’s Club. Inside the U-shaped complex live a group of neighbors who all provide fodder for gossip.

Cass lost everything she had when her longtime partner left her for a younger woman. Now, Cass has moved to the Sycamores where she works as the apartment manager and uses handyman skills passed down from her father to keep the dodgy structure up and running. Cass has plenty of secrets of her own—she’s resorted to some unsavory schemes to make it through paycheck to paycheck. Each time she promises herself it will be the last time, but it never sticks. And then Cass’s desperation puts her in the path of someone dangerous...

Seven months later, a woman named Anna is worried when she hasn’t heard back from her husband Henry. She is just about to head to the art studio he has in one of the rundown units at the Sycamores when her phone rings. Henry is sobbing and apologizing, and then he says something shocking, “I…killed someone.” Hours later Henry’s body is found on the shallow banks of the Rio Grande in what the police believe was a suicide.

Anna is heartbroken and determined to find out what Henry was trying to confess, so she packs up her meager belongings and moves into his art studio at the Sycamores. As Anna looks for clues about the secrets Henry was holding, she realizes Henry wasn’t the only resident of the Sycamores with secrets. She’s certain someone knows more than they’re sharing, but her prying only leads to more problems when she begins receiving threatening letters on her door. What is going on at the Sycamores?

What did I think overall?

In her fourth thriller, Seraphina Nova Glass proves once again that her writing and storytelling has a broad range. The Vacancy in Room 10 has a different vibe than her others. It’s gritty, seedy, dark, and addictive. The cover of the book is a perfect representation of what I imagined when I read about the Sycamores. This is an all-time great setting—it felt as though the people living at the Sycamores existed in a different world than the nearby city of Santa Fe. I could picture everything from the broken Shell sign blaring at them (“HELL”) and the seedy gentleman’s club across the street.

The Sycamores is not a place that people come to with levity and good fortune—this is a place of last resorts. It’s a group of people hanging on to their lives by a thread and living in relative squalor. And yet, as depressing and bleak as the setting is, there’s a sense of humor in the eclectic and delightful cast of characters residing in the rundown structure. They spend their days sitting outside their unit on lawn chairs or sitting with their feet in the old motel pool, gossiping wildly about the other residents. The Sycamores is, if nothing else, a community.

How was the pacing and structure?

Several chapters in and this is one of those books you won’t want to put down. Alternating chapters from Cass and Anna keep the pace moving quickly, and things take their first shocking turn early in the story and don’t stop from there. The reader feels transported to the gritty u-shaped complex where secrets and dead bodies could be lurking anywhere. Cass and Anna are very different characters, and initially their stories don’t have any connection outside of them both being forced into the Sycamore. Eventually, Anna’s and Cass’s stories become intertwined.

As Anna learns more about the secrets Henry was hiding in his studio at the Sycamores, she becomes suspicious of Cass. Cass is everywhere, going in and out of units repairing broken parts and generally knowing everyone’s business. Anna is certain Cass knows a lot more about Henry’s double life than she’s sharing, but what reason could Cass have for keeping it a secret? As Anna is tailing Cass, looking for her to slip up, the reader sees that Cass has much bigger problems than worrying about Anna snooping around.

What can you expect?

There were several different threads that became more tangled as the story unfolds. The first and more obvious was Anna’s search for answers about Henry’s final words to her. Relatively early in the story, the police inform her that they are investigating his dead as a homicide, which only adds to the mystery surrounding Henry. Anna discovers some shocking truths that led to more questions. Anna’s story was engaging to me, I wasn’t sure if or how it would tie to everything else, but it was clear that Henry chose this squalid complex for a reason.

Several other things are happening. Cass and Anna both witness a resident named Eddie abusing his wife Rosa. A resident named Callum is grieving the loss of his wife to terminal cancer and gets into a different altercation with Eddie. Several of the residents accompany Cass to a party where her ex, her former friends, and his new girlfriend will be for support and things go awry. Someone winds up dead and it is going to cause problems for the residents of the Sycamore. Despite the darkness in the book, the residents are a breath of fresh air (except Eddie). They offer moments of levity, and bits of gossip and information. In a place like the Sycamores, someone is always watching.

Final thoughts

This is a complex, layered, gritty story that takes twists and turns at every corner. The alternating POV kept the pace moving quickly, and there is an ominous feel as Anna and Cass’s stories begin to overlap. The twists caught me by surprise and the ending was a heart-pounding stunner. An exciting and fresh story with a cinematic quality to it, you won’t soon forget the Sycamores or it’s residents.

Thank you to Graydon House for my copy. Opinions are my own.

THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10 was a great read from Seraphina Nova Glass - Cass and Anna were distinct but equally relatable and their intervowen stories were compelling against a rotating backdrop of characters. I was immediately drawn into the plot and the many twists and turns. The ending felt a bit long and drawn out but was ultimately satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Graydon Books for the opportunity to read and review THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10.

This is the story of Cass and Anna and how they ended up living in the rundown apartment complex call the Sycamore's.

They come from very different walks of life and are living through their own trauma.

The Sycamore residents are a very eclectic group of characters. There are a lot of people in this book, but unlike other books I've read, I had no trouble keeping them straight.

This is a book that I believe is best read blind so I won't reveal any more of the book.

The characters are great. Appropriately nasty, funny or mysterious.

This one kept me guessing.

Thanks to netgalley and Graydon House for the arc.

This was a lot of fun. Seraphina Nova Glass writes a good popcorn thriller and this one is no exception.

This read had my un-divided attention! Desperately waiting to see how it was going to play out when all the pieces would fall in place for an explosive ending! And I wasn’t disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book was such a wild ride! I usually go into thrillers blindly so I had no idea what to expect going in, but this is definitely one of the most bingeable thrillers I’ve picked up this year.

I always enjoy domestic suspense stories because I love pulling the curtain back and seeing what couples are like behind the scenes. And oh boy, are the characters in this book going through things! Secrets, lies, betrayals, suspicious deaths, certain murders — you name it, this book has it!

There are so many things to love about this book but I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers. I loved how fully fleshed out and flawed Anna and Cass, the main characters, were and found myself equally riveted to both of their stories and eager to see how the two stories finally came together since I was sure they would. I also thought the pacing was perfect and loved that all of the twists and turns kept me guessing. This is one of the least predictable thrillers I’ve read in a while, which is always exciting!

Another element that really pushed this story to a full five stars for me was the motel/apartment setting itself. It might sound strange to say it but the author so vividly brings this setting to life that it almost felt like another character in the story.

The Vacancy in Room 10 was my first time reading a thriller from Seraphina Nova Glass, but it most definitely will not be my last!

I recommend going into this one blind! It was an awesome read. It took me a little bit of time to get into and hooked on this one, but once I did it was super entertaining.

I loved the way Seraphina made the setting so tangible and how she assembled such distinct characters as it really set the tone and stage for the book. For me, this was not a story with a predictable plot and that’s always a huge plus for me. I’m not going to go into specifics since I feel letting this one unfold without an idea of what to expect was part of the fun.

Onto her backlist for me. 🤩

Thank you #NetGalley and #GraydonHouseBooks for an arc of #TheVacancyInRoom10 in exchange for an honest review.

Note: Published to www.instagram.com/FeverReader on 4/11/24

Vacancy In Room 10
Seraphina Glass

Thank you @htphive @htp_books and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I seen so many great things about this book so I knew it was one I had to read. Once I really sat down and got into it, I could not put it down. I finished the rest of the book in less than a day!

There are many different characters in this book but somehow it wasn’t so confusing you couldn’t keep track. I enjoyed getting glimpses into the many different Sycamore residents lives. Though unconventional the majority of these residents made up a family. With their pool days and Friday night cookouts. I loved to see the support they gave one another!
Thank you Seraphina for throwing a character like Frank into this book. He pulled on my heartstrings for sure. Any child needing support and love like he was searching for is a way to keep me emotionally invested.

The twist! How did I not see that coming?! I had many different thoughts but definitely nothing like what unfolded. I appreciate a good thriller with many different characters and backstories. If you’re looking for your next thriller read, I recommend you pick this one up!

This book had me hooked immediately! Both Cass and Anna’s backgrounds leading up to how they ended up at The Sycamores were so compelling. Then the tension continues to build up until all the secrets were unraveled in ways you least expected. This was definitely a page turner and already one of my favorite books of 2024. I can’t wait to read more books from this author!

Anne and Cass are two women who find themselves in unpredictable circumstances. Anne is trying to come to grips with her husband’s suicide while Cass is reeling from a life-changing break-up. Both women end up at the Sycamores, a run-down motel that has been transformed into run-down apartments. It’s filled with shady characters, lovable characters, and characters that intend to hide their secrets at all costs.

Ms Glass has written a book that is compelling, interesting, suspenseful, and even a bit heart-warming. Blending all these qualities into a single novel that was hard to put down is, in my book, quite an accomplishment. I thoroughly enjoyed her novel as I navigated the Sycamores, its secrets, and its surprises. Both Cass and Anne are complex characters who are simply trying to figure out their lives but continue to find roadblocks along the way. The Vacancy in Room 10 is well-written and filled with well-defined characters. The pace is good and the story moves along to a take-away-your-breath finish.

Thoroughly enjoyable, this book is not to be overlooked. NetGalley provided an advance copy.

I've loved this author's previous books and was thrilled to get this one! I was not disappointed. This was a quick, gripping thriller. I loved the large cast of characters and the twists kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend!

Two women starting over because of two very different circumstances find themselves living at the same beat down Sycamores Motel. Cass kicked to the curb by the her two timing scum of a fiancee who left her with nothing and Anna is hunting down leads as to what her late husband's last words really meant. Crossing each other's paths by happenstance but building a great friendship in the process that now holds their deepest darkest secrets.

Seraphina got me, she really got me! No lie I was absolutely bamboozled until that big twist...I MEAN MIND FREAKING BLOWN

Im finding out one of my favorite things to see in a thriller is a well executed layered plot. Yes there is something going on over here and something is going on over there too but how does it all connect?!? The thrill, chase and adrenaline of it all just gives me complete and utter enjoyment. And this book did all of that and so much more.

Your given a large cast of characters that you will learn to love and a couple to loathe but they all are so easy to decipher between each other because each character is given such a unique charismatic personality. Sinatra is probably my new favorite.

It's Jam packed with humor, mystery and intrigue. And although this does carry a few heavy topics and insinuates some unsettling content it's very easy to become addicted and fly through the pages. For real I finished it one sitting because I couldn't fathom tearing my eyes away and not knowing how this ended.

And what a beautiful ending it was

You guys do not sleep on this one or anything Seraphina writes for that matter. Trust me you won't be disappointed

Thank you to Seraphina Nova Glass, Graydon House Books and Netgalley for the advanced stay at the Sycamores. I had the best time and I cannot wait to see what thrills and chill you throw at us next.

This story is told from two different narrators, Anna and Cass. Cass’ world has just fallen apart and she has taken a job at a rundown motel that has been turned into apartments. Anna’s husband has recently killed himself. She decides to move into the cheap apartment he kept as an art studio. This apartment is in this rundown hotel but she wants to understand why he kept this place.

There are quite a few characters in this tale. And I enjoyed every one. I loved the “trailer park” feel! The strangeness and the connections they have to each other is quite amusing. And the author uses each character to help uncover the truth about what is happening at this trailer park…uh..apartment complex!

This story weaves back and forth between Anna and Cass. They each have a different storyline which eventually comes together to catch a killer! Cass is my favorite…she is not really a good person but she just has a charisma you don’t want to miss!

Need a good thriller with unique characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This book was a lot of fun! I enjoyed the main characters, and the quirky apartment building setting. I would definitely be interested in reading a sequel involving these characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Seraphina Nova Glass is one of my favorite authors, and 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝟭𝟬 is a testament to why. I love her writing, and I couldn’t get through it fast enough to find out the connections and what was going to happen. Told in dual POV, this is a fast paced and complex story with an entertaining list of characters. There are so many secrets! I don’t want to give anything away so I’ll just say that if you love psychological and domestic thrillers, suspense, and strong women then you are definitely going to want to read this one!! Thank you to HTP books, htp hive, NetGalley and Graydon House for this ARC!

4.5 Stars!!

This was a really good popcorn thriller full of suspense! I flew through this within a day!

I really enjoyed the plot and the author did a great job revealing everything and tying it up with a satisfying ending. I also loved the setting and the dual POVs.

This was my first by the author, but look forward to reading more!

Recommend checking this one out!🖤

We begin our story from the perspective of Cass. She's the handyma'am at the run-down and creepy low-rent Sycamore apartments, converted from a cheap motel complete with a pool. Cass was unceremoniously kicked out of her house when her slimy boyfriend of six plus years traded her in for a younger model. She gets by on the meager salary (free rent) and a side hustle that may involve blackmail.

Enter Anna. She's a grieving widow. Before dying, Henry called her with a bizarre confession. She decides to investigate, to get answers on her own, and heads to the Sycamore, where Henry was using one of the apartments as an art studio.

There is a lot going on at the Sycamore and Cass and Anna are right at the center. Red herrings galore and whiplash inducing twists. Girl power (Cass really is handy). A very funny Greek chorus of the regulars that play cards, yell at their kids and drink by the pool. A very real feeling of dread, an eerie atmosphere that does make this one feel, at times, like a horror story.

This one was gripping, unpredictable, scary and (at times) laugh out loud funny. I ate it up.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

This thriller that seamlessly weaves a mystery within another mystery is character driven and unputdownable from page one until the end. Anna’s husband makes a confession that he has killed someone and she is determined to follow the clues and find the truth. After all, Henry seemed too mild-mannered to have ever harmed anyone. Part of the mystery is that the characters are not at all how they seem, not all of the narration is reliable, and the reader has to pay attention to details to solve the mystery along with Anna and Cass. The setting of a run-down motel that has seen better days is perfect for the mystery and a great foil for the action of the book. The characters are dynamic, untrustworthy and compelling additions to the story. I did not relate to the characters, but I certainly enjoyed reading their story! The pace is fast with secrets, twists and red herrings, mostly when you least expect them. Just when I thought I knew what was happening and thought I could make a prediction, something changed my mind and I had to start guessing all over again. This is my kind of mystery thriller and a perfect book to read quickly, the only way to read it so that your heart can stop racing before it explodes out of your chest.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Title: The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass
Genre: Psychological Crime Thriller
Pub Date: April 9, 2024

⭐️ 5/5

This book was so good, I devoured it in two sittings!

After being dumped by her long time boyfriend, Cass goes from a life of opulence to a dilapidated room and a handyman position at the The Sycamores, a local run-down motel. Here, in a desperate pursuit of additional income and a little vigilante justice, she engages in some questionable activities.

Anna's husband, Henry, an educator and struggling artist, has taken his own life but not before making a final phone call to her in which he confesses to a murder. Unable to accept his demise and driven by an urgent need for answers, Anna visits Henry's art studio located at The Sycamores, seeking any clues that may shed light on the cryptic message he conveyed during their final conversation.

Both women find themselves entangled in a complex web of circumstances, either running from secrets or desperate to unearth them.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital review copy 🫶❣️

TW: suicide, miscarriage

#TheVacancyInRoom10 #netgalley #netgalleyarc #arcreader #thriller #crimethriller #thrillerbooks

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarlequinTradePublishing for the book #TheVacancyInRoom10 by SeraphinaNovaGlass. This book is a stories of different people’s lives and how they all connect. Anna is trying to find out why her husband killed himself and why he chose this run down motel to use for his paintings. Who was involved? Did he commit suicide? Who can she trust? This book had me sucked in from start to finish and I could not believe how it unfolds. Highly recommend!