Fans of Alfred Hitchcock will truly love this book! It had creepiness, scare tactics and a scary hotel made in the image of the Psycho movie. Props to the author because that is my favorite movie from good ole Alfred. This story was about revenge and it almost did that except the killer didn’t think about all of the moving parts and players involved.

Old college friends are summoned to one of their “friends” new acquisitions. He has built himself a hotel decorated and designed to pay tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. He intends to exact revenge for how he was treated by them all. One will be a victim and one will be a killer. His plan is going true to plans until it isn’t. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It kept me up and kept me interested. I feel like this would make a really great movie too because the details are so perfectly placed to actually see the scene play out in your imagination. A definite must read and 4️⃣⭐️ read❗️

Solid mystery story with some twists and turns I did not expect. Enjoyed the bits of Hitchcock-related trivia scattered throughout the novel as well. Definitely will recommend to those who like mystery novels.

Mystery and thriller seekers should enjoy this novel, with its liberal sprinkling of Hitchcockian references. The scene-setting, the tone, and the character quirks make this domestic thriller a page-turner. I liked it enough to excuse the ending, which wasn’t quite as thrilling as the rest of the book. Still, I’m giving it four stars. This is the second book I’ve read by Stephanie Wrobel and I would call myself a fan.

[Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of the book.]

Thank you so much @berkleypub for this spooky well paced read. I would recommend this for both Hitchcock lovers & general horror film devotees. You should absolutely go in blind otherwise!

This was such a fun twisty read! I loged the Hitchcock plot and the setting was eerie and fun! I loved the vibes and the narration was done well!

"A Hitchcock fanatic with an agenda invites old friends for a weekend stay at his secluded themed hotel in this fiendishly clever, suspenseful new novel." - from Goodreads summary.

This cover, that premise - this book was at the very top of my TBR as soon as it came in from the library. I love a book featuring friends reuniting with a shared dark past. What made this book unique was Alfred himself. From the very beginning of this book, we know that Alfred seems to have his own agenda behind inviting his old friends to visit his hotel for the weekend. The question is what are his plans behind the stay and why? The book builds slowly as we get to know this group of friends. They each seem to have their own secrets but with this shared past that ties them together. I honestly was completely here for it all and loved how the suspense was building. Without sharing specifics or spoilers, there comes a point to this book where things change and I wasn't expecting it. It took a fun turn that for me was unexpected. That being said, I didn't completely love the ending which I did see coming. This was a very solid, enjoyable read for me overall though. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author and seeing what she comes up with next.

Readers who enjoy atmospheric, suspenseful reads should pick this book up. If you enjoyed There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh, give this one a try or vice versa as both books have the friends reuniting and things going badly vibes. This book feels perfect for fall reading and the spooky season. I'm going with four stars overall.

Old college friends are reunited at The Hitchcock Hotel. Alfred runs the hotel, and invites his old film club friends to celebrate the hotel’s one year anniversary. Once they’re all reunited, things take a dark turn, and someone ends up dead.

The Hitchcock Hotel is told using multiple points of view and timelines. The timelines are past and present, with one major event happening in college that changed their friendships. The characters are intriguing and the setting is unique.

Atmosphere and tension make The Hitchcock Hotel a compelling read. Recommended for fans of dark and twisty murder mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It’s been nearly fifteen years since a tight-knit group of six friends left college and went their separate ways. They never expected an occasion where they’d get back together. But there’s unfinished business between these so-called friends. The storyline is told from multiple POV’s in both the present and past. All characters were distinctly developed making it easy to differentiate. The storyline itself held my interest throughout. I will be honest I was looking more I feel as if I missed something in the end or it just fell a bit under whelming to me.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read set in a hotel over a couple of days. It was a locked-door mystery. I liked the characters which was basically a group of friends that met up for a reunion. They all have plenty of secrets that you find out by the end of the book. The story flowed well and it was easy to tell the past from the present. It makes a lot of references to Hitchcock films, but I don’t think you have to know too much about his films to understand the book. There were a couple of twists. I did figure some out, but that didn’t detract from me liking the book.

The Hitchcock Hotel is a thriller that combines Hitchcockian suspense with a modern, psychological edge. The story centers on Alfred Smettle, an obsessive Hitchcock fan who’s turned his passion into an eerie, immersive experience at his remote, themed hotel. But this isn’t your typical getaway—Alfred has a more sinister purpose in mind when he invites his old college friends to celebrate the hotel’s anniversary. It's been sixteen years since they've spoken, and there's some unfinished business between them.

The hotel is a really fun idea for a book setting. It's filled with Hitchcock memorabilia, vintage props, and an unsettling amount of crows. The cast of characters is large, so we don't get too much time to get to know each, but despite that, I felt like I had a firm grasp of each, with their motivations and quirks. They were all really interesting to try to figure out. The layers of mystery and the slow-burn tension make for a captivating read. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers or Hitchcock movies, The Hitchcock Hotel is a smart, engaging page-turner that keeps you guessing right up until its ending.

I was so excited to see this book because I love anything Hitchcock. This book was very interested, and I think they did a great job revamping the typical locked room mystery. It was well written, and I enjoyed it very much. I can't wait for more from this author.

Thanks to Net Galley ARC.

In The Hitchcock Hotel, Alfred Smettle has created a hotel completely dedicated to the legendary director of suspense and has invited the members of his college film club to celebrate its first anniversary with round the clock screenings, memorabilia, and the aviary stockrd with fifty crows. After what happened sixteen years ago, Alfred hasn’t spoken to any of them. This is the perfect opportunity to get everyone together and bury the past, except maybe they will be burying a body during this trip, too.

While I wish it was spookier and less just thrillery, I did love the association to Hitchcock and film history. If you’re a thriller/mystery enthuiast, you might like this. A twisty/turny whodunnit with lots of secrets and lies. It’s intricately crafted with characters who are all hiding something.

Alfred Smettle is the proud founder, owner and manager of The Hitchcock Hotel, an Alfred Hitchcock-themed hotel settled amongst the rugged landscape of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. It's beautiful, yet secluded.

The Hotel has been a labor of love for Alfred, a life-long Hitchcock fan. With the 1-year anniversary of the hotel's founding approaching, Alfred decides it would be a great time to invite his best friends from college for a reunion. Of course, he hasn't really spoken to any of them in 16-years, but that doesn't stop him from reaching out and extending the invitations.

For their part, the five invitees, once all members of the Film Club at their college, are surprised to get the invitations. It just seems strange after all this time, but curiosity gets the best of them and they all accept. Zoe, Samira, Grace, TJ and Julius arrive one-by-one at the hotel and the strange weekend begins. As the Reader you get to know each of these characters. The story jumps around between perspectives, as well as past-and-present timelines.

It is a fully unlikable cast with a ton of interpersonal drama and secrets among them. Personally, I enjoy that kind of set-up, but if you are someone who needs to like your characters, you may not. There's not much to like here. This is in part a murder mystery, although it does take some time to get there. You know pretty early on that not all is going to go right with this weekend.

Even though I knew someone was bound to die, I still didn't see it coming. Not the person, not the circumstance. Every single one of the remaining people had a motive, which did successfully keep me guessing.

I'll be honest though, after the first few chapters, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but IMO, Wrobel pulled it off in the end. There were some fun twists and reveals. It may have helped that I am a big Hitchcock fan, so have watched all the movies mentioned and understood the many references. I'm not sure I would have had quite the same experience with it if I didn't have that background.

At the end of the day, I feel like this is a solid showing for Wrobel. I would recommend it to people who enjoy secluded locations with set cast of characters. I also, of course, would recommend it to any other Alfred Hitchcock fans.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm interested to see what Wrobel delivers us next. All her books have been quite distinct from one another, but I like her in this Murder Mystery space.

Darling Rose Gold is a book I’ll never stop recommending to people. It remains a favorite, and I’ve loved Stephanie Wrobel ever since! An Alfred Hitchcock themed hotel that is complete with props, memorabilia, and screenings? Sign me up to stay!

The owner, Alfred, wants to celebrate the first anniversary of the hotel in style. Who better to invite than his friends from his college film club?? Despite the time apart and the friendships drifting apart, he thinks this is the perfect way to reconnec. All the secrets and all the mystery. Not a single likable character in the bunch. However, the premise did keep my interest, and I flew through this one!

Better than Darling Rose Gold? Not quite. Do I recommend this one? Absolutely! If you like all things Hitchcock and little nods to film, then you’ll find this one to be a lot of fun! Now the wait for her next book begins!

3.5 stars rounded down

I am a Hitchcock and a classic film enthusiast. The idea of this novel is intriguing, and it sounds like a fun layer to add to a typical thriller. This locked-room mystery story, with lots of twists, fantastic setting and of course Hitchcock references from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I was really really excited about reading this book! I loved Wrobels debut but the books after haven’t been the best for me.

I have to say that I was on outlier island with this book. It was really slow for me and I was just bored the majority of the book. It did get a little better as the mystery picked up.

Overall, not that impressed.

3/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher for my copy!

4+ stars!

Pure entertainment!

Alfred hasn’t seen his college friends in well over a decade. He invites them for a weekend stay at his Hitchcock-themed hotel to reconnect.

I loved this locked room mystery from start to finish! There is a thick, foreboding sense of tension that made me uneasy but also had me glued to the pages. The characters were great - unique and well developed. The main character was stand out for me. He was dark, creepy, snarky and sneaky yet vulnerable. The writing was excellent. It flowed smoothly and wasted no words.

While Hitchcock is a central theme to the story, the reader does not need to be a Hitchcock expert to enjoy this novel. I know the very basics about Hitchcock and was able to feel fully immersed within this mysterious story.

The ending had some unrealistic elements but I was so wrapped up in the story that I didn’t care. I loved the whole vibe of this novel.

I have read and loved all of this authors work. She writes unique, well-researched stories that always create an unforgettable reading experience. I really click with her writing and highly recommend all of her books!

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

The cover of this one sold me but I was easily drawn into the story from the first page. A man named after Alfred Hitchcock, who is obsessed with Alfred Hitchcock, and who opens a Hitchcock themed hotel?! AND the hotel has an aviary full of crows?! Hello! Now I want to go visit!

Alfred invites his college friends to spend a weekend to celebrate the one year anniversary of his Hitchcock themed hotel. The problem is that he hasn’t spoken to any of them in sixteen years. But they owe him after what happened back then. Awkward doesn’t begin to describe how this reunion begins but, right on track with Alfred’s plans, the weekend will surely end with a bang. Besides, what’s Hitchcock without a dead body?

The twists in this one are jaw-dropping and I never expected the ending! I read this one with a friend and we were both floored with the outcome! The audiobook is exceptionally well done and I enjoyed the full cast. The eerie atmosphere, unique plot, and unspooling mystery make this a read you won’t soon forget!

I am as much of a Hitchcock fan as any classic film enthusiast. The idea of this novel is intriguing and it sounds like a fun layer to add to a typical thriller. However, this book was a mess. It sets up several partial story lines that don't go anywhere. These are not red herrings -- just loose ends. It meant the overall enjoyment was lessened because I was distracted by what felt like mistakes. And the Hitchcock references were largely transparent and unexciting. It felt like your little brother poking you, "Get it? Get it?" Yes. I get it.

This whodunnit mystery was perfect for the season!! Clue is my favorite movie and this book gave me major Clue vibes! Main character, Alfred is a Hitchcock fanatic and recently opened up a Hitchcock themed hotel. He gave major Mr. Boddy and Norman Bates vibes! I also enjoyed all the Hitchcock movie references and clues throughout!

I enjoyed the fact that all the main characters/ suspects were suspicious and unlikeable! It made the mystery all the more intriguing! Check out this book today if you're a fan of creepy thrillers or a Hitchcock fan like Alfred and crew!