An obsessed Hitchcock fan invites his college 'best friends' for a weekend stay at his Hitchcock themed hotel with less than clear intentions. Is it really just for a reunion, or is there something else at play.
I had high hopes for this one but I was slightly disappointed. There was something from the beginning that I just wasn't vibing with. The extremely dislikable characters didn't really help. I wasn't rooting for any of them. I didn't care if they made it to the end in one piece.
What really saved the day was the 'mystery' element to it. I did not see that ending coming a mile away. Brought me from a 3 star to a 4. I am a sucker for a good twist at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel is the best kind of story that messes with your mind. I kept changing my mind on who the villian was. The culprit also confounded me and I was so excited to be shocked! As a locked room (hotel?) mystery, Wrobel created the perfect amount of tension and eeriness. The Hitchcock information sprinkled through out made me want to go back and watch all of this movies! With every book Wrobel is getting better and better and she is an auto buy for me!

I loved Darling Rose Gold by this author. Unfortunately, this one didn't do it for me :( Super dragging and cliche.

I've been itching for a new book from Stephanie Wrobel so I was really excited when I saw she was releasing a new one! The Hitchcock Hotel is a great murder mystery with Hitchcock themes peppered throughout. Not only in the rooms these characters are staying in but in the way the author writes the novel. While none of the characters were very likeable, I found this to be a good mystery, one that I ate right up!

I expected to love this as the subject matter and genre really appealed to me. I'm a huge Hitchcock fan, and I read tons of psychological thrillers. Unfortunately this was not my cup of tea.

Something about this novel fell flat for me; perhaps the pacing - it was definitely a slow-burn and while it was interesting enough to want to finish, I felt like I had to keep reminding myself to pick it up. May just not be for me.

This one was a little hard for me to get into. I think it was the writing style? I wanted to love it but it just didn’t click with me!

College is a time where we transition from our carefree teenage life into adulthood. Friendships are forged from laughter, tears, and sweet memories. What about an alliance formed from something more sinister, like murder?

For the one year anniversary of it's opening, Alfred Smettle invites his college film club friends to his Hitchcock themed hotel. While friends would normally be delighted to help celebrate such a huge endeavor, these friends haven't spoke since they all graduated. Reluctantly they all agree and arrive for a weekend of reminiscing. When odd things begin happening around the hotel, old secrets get stirred up.

Overall a great read that will keep you guessing. I'm not a huge Hitchcock person otherwise I think a lot of the references would have landed better. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the plot. I always appreciate authors who use a multi-person POV with their storytelling because I feel it gives it more depth and that's exactly what Stephanie Wrobel brought forward in this book. I loved the reference to Stephen King and the hotel that gave him motivation for writing The Shining. She cultivates such a fun novel that I wish the hotel was real!

Thank you to @stephaniewrobel @berkleypub @netgalley for an advanced reader copy. This book releases on September 24, 2024.

This book kept me guessing until the end and held my interest throughout.
I appreciated that the setting (the hotel) and the multiple perspectives added to the tension in the story.
There were a few plot pieces that didn’t add to the story, but they also didn’t subtract from the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, the cover art, and especially the ending.

🫣 F R E A K Y F R I D A Y review 🫣 featuring “The Hitchcock Hotel” by Stephanie Wrobel!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Welcome to the Hitchcock Hotel - a secluded stay that offers its guests movie screenings, props and memorabilia of all things Alfred Hitchcock aka the Master of SUSPENSE 🔎!

The hotel is owned and managed by Alfred Smettle who purchased the creepy house on the hill to live out Hitchcock’s legacy. What better way to celebrate his hotel’s first anniversary than by inviting his old college film club for the weekend. The group have not spoken for 16 years … especially after what happened THAT night. But regardless of this, Alfred just knew that they wouldn’t turn down his invitation. Who will survive the weekend and who will not??

Thank you kindly to @stephaniewrobel @berkleypub @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on September 24, 2024 and fans of Alfred Hitchcock films will certainly enjoy it!

This book had promise, but didn't deliver. I think the author was trying to go for a suspenseful-twisty tale, but it just fell flat for me. The characters were unlikable, the "twists" were not that shocking, and the storyline felt inorganic. While the "big reveal" at the end did surprise me, it was a case of too-little too-late. I wouldn't recommend this one.

I should know better by now not to pursue any "read now" novels. My experience hasn't been the greatest. And The Hitchcock Hotel is the latest in a string of "read now" books that have failed in meeting my expectations.

For me, pacing is key and this story moves along slower than molasses. I kept waiting for that "breadcrumb" that would keep my going, but it never happened even at 33% which is when I started to get antsy.

I liked the premise of a Hitchcock themed hotel and the hope that at least a Psycho type event/events would occur. Unfortunately, most of what I read were backstories of all the characters. And I just couldn't see myself slogging through 30% more of the same to get to the exciting parts which other reviewers have mentioned.

I found the characters interesting and mysterious. They probably all had secrets from what I gathered. Too bad I could not get invested in the story enough. Though I may attempt to read it again in the future. For now, however, it's a one star DNF at 33%

I received a DRC from Berkley Publishing through NetGalley. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for the copy of The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel. Would you accept an invitation to a weekend party at an old college roommate’s Hitchcock-themed hotel? I would think twice after reading this book! The book was intriguing and clever. If you’re a fan of Hitchcock’s films, you will love the little trivia tidbits and hotel decor. If you’re not, you will get a feel for the movies. I liked how the characters were developed in the beginning, laying the groundwork for what was to come. While the characters weren’t likable they were so interesting it was easy to stay engaged with the story. There were plenty of reveals and some of them made me gasp. The only thing I didn’t love was how the final reveal was disclosed. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

If you're a fan of suspenseful mysteries, THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL is one to add to your TBR! Even though I'm not a Hitchcock fanatic like the character and hotel owner, Alfred, I still found myself drawn into the eerie atmosphere of this book.

One thing that made this read so captivating is that none of the characters are particularly likeable—but that only adds to the thrill. Watching them crack apart as the story unfolded was oddly satisfying. The story is told from multiple POVs, each from one of the six "friends." There's no consistent pattern to the chapters, which keeps you on your toes and leaves you with little cliffhangers that make it hard to put the book down.

With a slow-burn, character-driven plot, this one is all about the tension building up to that final twist. I didn't correctly guess the ending, and that's always a treat in a mystery!

Thank you to Netgalley for my arc - this one comes out in September (just in time for spooky season!)

I don't know if a mystery/thriller can be considered a "slow burn", but that's what this one feels like.

The pros:
✅ The locked in vibe. I love a good thriller where the group is trapped with no where to go (creepy I know).
✅ The multiple character POV's. Each character's POV helps to move the story forward. The character's also have depth.
✅ I love how much I hated some of the characters (I don't want to name drop to help avoid spoilers).
✅ I liked the ending-once again I was way off.

The cons:
❌ Not all the storylines seemed to wrap up completely--this could be intentional.
❌ There's a lot... A LOT...of description.
❌ It's slow to get going, but once it does it's worth the read!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC

The Hitchcock Hotel by Stephanie Wrobel is an absolutely enthralling read that masterfully blends suspense and psychological intrigue. Wrobel’s skillful storytelling and richly detailed setting create a mesmerizing atmosphere that grips readers from the very first page. The book’s complex characters and unexpected twists ensure a thrilling, page-turning experience that leaves a lasting impression. This novel is a standout in the genre, offering both deep emotional resonance and spine-tingling suspense.

Since I have quite a few favorite Hitchcock movies, this title intrigued me right away and fortunately this book did not disappoint! Alfred has turned an old Victorian home into the Hitchcock Hotel, dedicated to his love for the Master of Suspense. On the hotel’s first anniversary, Alfred shuts down the hotel and invites his former best friends from college to help him celebrate. Alfred has not seen his former friends in sixteen years, not since they all betrayed him, and he has big plans for them. If the weekend should end with a dead body or two, then so be it. I loved the suspense and creativity of this story and was captivated from beginning to end.

I struggled with this one a little. It was a good book but it was slow for me to get through. The concept was good but the story line was slow.

College friends meet at the Hitchcock Hotel owned by their friend Alfred.

They haven’t seen each other for sixteen years.

Why did Alfred invite them?

They were never really close, but most have a secret from college and/or their life since college.

Will these secrets come out?

Is this going to be a friendly get together or a sinister one?

A lot of strange things begin to happen including all of their cell phones gone missing, but when a body shows up, who did it and who is it?

THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL started out to be a book I didn't think I was going to continue with but so glad I did.

The slow start had too much background, but wow did it turn out to be a good one.

Lots of secrets, untrustworthy, conniving, unlikeable characters, and a well-crafted plot. 4/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Berkley for the gifted digital ARC.

I unfortunately decided to DNF this one about 25% in. I wasn't connecting with the characters and the story just didn't progress quickly enough for me personally.

NetGalley is the only retail site I will rate this on as I do not typically rate books I do not finish.