Thank you NetGalley and Stephanie Wrobel for the ARC of The Hitchcock Hotel. If you enjoy a fast read thriller and Alfred Hitchcock, the book is for you. Alfred Smettle is an odd young man raised by a mother who loves Alfred Hitchcock movies and shares the love with her son. He goes to college and is accepted into a group that share or tolerate his Hitchcock obsession. When he is disgraced and suspended from school, none of his friends support him, setting up a simmering need for revenge. His opportunity comes 16 years later when he invites them all to a private weekend at his year old Hitchcock Hotel in their old college town. There are twists and turns and we learn that none of these people are without sin.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! This book has so many twist and turns. Some I saw coming, and others I didn’t see coming! That being said, most twists were predictable, but I was not expecting the ending! I wasn’t a big fan of the flashback chapters as much as it kept taking me out of the main creepy hotel setting, but I understand why those were needed to tell the story. This was a great Agatha Christie “who done it type book” mixed with creepiness of Norman Bates style!

"I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Meet Alfred Smettle. He is an INSANE Hitchcock fan! To honor his favorite director he has created The Hitchcock Hotel, a medium size boutique hotel dedicated to Hitch, complete with themed rooms, pictures and rare paraphernalia. Located near the school Alfred attended, he offers his college roommates a free weekend to reunite and catch up.

It's only been 16 years but the group has spread far and wide. Some were unsure if they wanted to attend. Others come for reasons they keep secret. There is one thing for certain, not everyone will leave alive!

Totally Unique! Fabulously constructed! A mystery that celebrates the construction of Alfred Hitchock movies through and through

Read if you like: hotel settings, shady pasts, Alfred Hitchcock movies, dark academia

Alfred invites his estranged college best friends to his new Hitchcock-themed hotel. He has a plan for revenge in mind.

I really wanted to love this. I love Hitchcock and the references were fun but I felt like I slogged through this book.

The characters were all very unlikeable and the central mysteries (and corresponding twists) just weren’t very interesting.

I would have loved to learn more about Alfred and his relationship with his mother but it didn’t end up going anywhere.

I feel like there were good ideas here, they just weren’t full executed.

I absolutely loved this mystery--especially the unique, evocative, creepy hotel setting and the cast of eccentric characters. The mystery unfolded at the perfect pace and I was surprised at the ending. It definitely inspired me to rewatch some Alfred Hitchcock classics!

As someone who is a fan of Hitchcock films and enjoyed Wrobel's previous novels, This Might Hurt and Darling Rose Red, I thought this would be as immediately immersive and fast-paced as those. I really struggled to get into this story. I don't think I even made it far enough to get to the "twist" and I still made the call that it wasn't worth it. Unfortunately, this one did not work for me

The Hitchcock Hotel brings a group of college friends back together to celebrate the one friend who made each of their lives miserable in college. Alfred has opened his dream hotel based on Alfred Hitchcock Movies, and has invited his old friends back to celebrate the 1 year anniversary. As the weekend relieves lie and secret, one is found dead. Every chapter reveals why each friend should be a victim and the villain. Wait to the very end to see the truth come out - you will be shaking your head as you go online to start your own Hitchcock marathon! 4 stars - would recommend!

"The Hitchcock Hotel" intrigues with its unique premise: a hotel themed around Alfred Hitchcock, complete with film memorabilia and crows. The owner, Alfred Smettle, invites old friends for a suspense-filled reunion, aiming to celebrate the hotel’s first anniversary. The setup promises a thrilling blend of mystery and homage to Hitchcock's style.

The novel excels in atmosphere, rich with Hitchcockian references that fans will appreciate. However, the story soon shifts focus to past conflicts among the characters, which dilutes the suspense and detracts from the potential intrigue of the setting. While the plot includes some predictable twists, it mainly serves as a light, enjoyable read rather than a gripping thriller.

Overall, "The Hitchcock Hotel" is a decent choice for those looking for a novel with a strong cinematic flavor, though it may leave readers wanting more depth and unpredictability.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I have mixed feelings about this one. I was expecting a semi spooky thriller. This is more of a fast moving murder mystery. I enjoyed all of the Hitchcock references and the atmosphere. I couldn't wait to see how the crows were incorporated into the story. However, after a certain event happened, it became more about past drama and conflict between characters that I didn't care much about. I know we needed some reference to the past but it was too much for me. There were a few surprises, but I was able to predict most of the ending. Overall I think it was a decent popcorn read, but there was tons of wasted potential.

I don't know how to put this nicely, so I'll just be honest: This was a slog that lacked substance and wasn't even the popcorn thriller the blurb purported it to be. Stephanie Wrobel clearly did her homework on Alfred Hitchcock's films, which is cool, but other than that, there's basically no substance in this glacially-paced thriller about an irritating and unlikable group of college friends who unite at the eponymous Hitchcock Hotel run by their weirdo friend Alfred. I think Wrobel was so caught up in the idea of building Hitchcockian suspense that, as a result, so little happens in this book. It takes a solid 60% to arrive at an actual plot point/twist. And while there's many more reveals in the last quarter or so of the book, there wasn't enough story here to sustain me, nor was I invested in any of the characters. Even though this book was meant to entertain, there wasn't anything for me to grab onto in the story or characters so it was a flimsy, slow reading experience with no substance.

✨This will be a great read for spooky season this year – especially for those who like an eerie suspense novel over outright horror.
✨I love a good isolated setting, and this one was super creepy with its Hitchcock-themed hotel which takes inspiration from Hitchcock’s Psycho house.
✨The cast of characters and the plot kept me guessing, and I was so surprised at the twist! I thought I had it figured out; I did not!

🌿Read if you like:
✨Spooky season reads
✨Isolated settings
✨Locked room mysteries
✨Whodunnits
✨Dark academia
✨Alfred Hitchcock

The Hitchcock Hotel had an interesting premise, but it just did not work for me. I couldn't seem to get fully into it and be fully immersed which caused me to DNF this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC.

I enjoy watching Alfred Hitchcock’s films and television episodes, so this book immediately caught my attention on the NetGalley website.

Unfortunately, this was a definite DNF for me, because it’s written in present tense.

What a lovely, twisty mystery! I think Hitchcock would have given his nod of approval. It has me guessing until the end.

When a Hitchcock fanatic, invites his five college ex friends to his Hitchcock based hotel. A Hitchcock presents mystery takes place. Will there be a murder at THE HITCHCOCK HOTEL

A hotel that is based on Alfred Hitchcock and a reunion "of sorts" of six friends from college, with the plan of revenge for what happened, what could possibly go wrong?

This book has it all, a little romance, a little cheating and a whole lot of revenge plots. I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book, with all the twists and turns you will be left guessing till the very last page.

Commence the suspense! A group of individuals are coming together to spend the weekend at the Hitchcock Hotel. What is the worst that could happen? (Insert sinister smile here).

By Chapter 2, numerous subtle hints and foreshadowing have been delivered. I was extremely curious to discover what transpired next.

The writing in this book evokes thoughts of Agatha Christie's writing, is replete with Hitchcock memorabilia, quotations, and references, and is simply marvelous. This makes me so excited for this novel as a great fan of Hitch and classic noir novels and films alike. Around chapter nine there was quite a turning point. A growing number of indications and clues are being unveiled. Local legends are beginning to materialize. Plenty of eerie occurrences are taking place. Undeniably, suspense is mounting.

Just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, someone is no longer with us in the story and it wasn't what I expected at all! From that point forward, I was even more curious about what was to occur. The story's numerous turns and surprises remained consistent with the thriller and suspense genre. Nevertheless, this work (in my opinion) has a minor flaw concerning law enforcement officers at some point. I'd be happy to discuss it someday once the book is published and thoroughly reviewed.

In general, this book was phenomenal. Wrobel has an impressive vocabulary and offers outstanding character development. This is required reading for any admirer of Alfred Hitchcock. As a person in their thirties with an insatiable passion for crime fiction and noir, I value this book in the year 2024 beyond all expression. The author undoubtedly did her research, and after reading this book, I will read ANYTHING she writes. This ARC is greatly appreciated, big thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley. I shrieked with joy upon realizing I had obtained this one! Very happy to have been given early access. I admire the Hitchcock quotations, statistics, and small tributes interspersed throughout the pages of this shocking new fiction novel. 

This is a novel that I would read TWICE and probably still discover something new. I think it'd make for a killer movie. Pun intended.

The story was fun and well-paced. However, as with any locked room mystery, there was a certain predictability to the outcome. I think the book is good but not something I'd go out of my way to recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC.

Do you love Alfred Hitchcock?! So does Alfred Smettle, who has created a boutique hotel dedicated to his favorite horror auteur. Sixteen years after graduating, a group of college friends decide to check in at The Hitchcock Hotel to catch up on old times. But not everyone will be checking out alive!

A super fun murder mystery that kept me guessing till the very end. Highest recommendation!