No spoilers here…just a good mystery with interesting characters. Some to feel sorry for and others, not. (I’ll let you decide.) What this book does have is deceit, conflicted relationships and a lot of tension. A definite thriller with a chilling ending. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the early copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC.

An atmospheric, locked room, who-dun-it, semi "Shining"-eque novel. Does that intrigue you? Okay then definitely pick this one up. Don't expect to like any of the characters. I don't know that this one will stick out to me as anything super special, but did have fun with it.

Kerry is going through a rough patch of going through a divorce and having writer’s block. She’s also relying heavily on alcohol to get her through her emotions. She takes up a job as a caretaker in a remote area in hopes of having fewer distractions and more time to work on her writing. Her plans alter when she sees a woman’s hand sticking out of the snow.

I liked the concept of this book, but it fell flat for me. I think it was more of the style of writing and I couldn’t connect with the characters. I would still recommend this to people interested in the concept, but it wasn’t something I’ll think about much in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

3 stars.

Very average book. The think the premise was very unique but the middle kind of lost me a little bit.

"Kerry's life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal - the one that was supposed to change everything - is looming, she can't write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It's the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ..."

I mean, everyone wants a nice read alike to The Shining right? It can't JUST be me.

Kerry's life was going great...until her drinking messed everything up. Cut off from her soon-to-be ex-husband, and having blocked her best friend, Siobhan, she decides to become the caretaker at a remote hotel in the Catskill Mountains. She hopes that will give her the time, and space, to finish writing the book that is supposed to change her life. But as soon as she arrives, things start going wrong. Namely, finding a trashed room and seeing a woman's hand poking out of the snowbank.

But when Kerry finally gets help, the body is gone.

This story starts initially in Kerry's perspective, but then switches between Siobhan and Kerry throughout the rest of the story.

This story has a lot of tension and kept my attention. I finished this one day and it was easy to keep reading on, wanting to see what would come next.

That said...this story wasn't really for me. There were too many things happening. It felt like the author took many different tropes and tried to shove them into this story, and it became disjointed. The setting alone set the tone, so the little red herrings felt obvious and it started to become silly. There is the mysterious character in the woods, a spurned ex, a young teenage girl, the guy into S&M, a friend popping up out of the blue, and a betrayal. It was disappointing because, without all of the extra fluff, it would have been a great story.

Another aspect of this story that made it challenging is that none of the characters are likable. I didn't find myself caring what happened to them or even wanting to see them redeem themselves. We primarily see Kerry and her transgressions but Siobhan isn't much better.

While this story wasn't for me, you may enjoy it if stories where the twists are twisting and the turns are turning is your thing, then this popcorn thriller may be for you.

A huge thank you to Putnam for the advanced copy!

I truly love Leah Konen books and will continue to read them as long as she writes them! They're quick, addictive, and always scratch that itch for an immersive bingey thriller read.

My favorite part about THE LAST ROOM ON THE LEFT was how atmospheric it was. The setting itself was absolutely immaculate and it was described so well, I could really envision myself there. The story takes place in the Catskill Mountains at remodeled roadside motel during a blizzard. Check. Check. Check. If you love isolated thrillers or winter thrillers or thrillers about authors, this is the one for you!

While there were so many positives, a few parts definitely got...weird. Maybe a tiny bit weirder than what I typically enjoy. I had the ick a couple of times while reading this, but that is probably just a me issue.

Overall, this was a fun and fast-paced read that I think will be a big hit!

A lone caretaker at a deserted hotel during a snowstorm, who happens to be an alcoholic sees a frozen dead body, and then it mysteriously disappears. This book is told from a few different peoples perspectives and it definitely keeps you guessing. I kept changing my mind about how this one would end. I liked the book, even though there were no likeable characters throughout.

This was a entertaining locked room mystery in the middle of a snowstorm, with unlikeable characters.

I thought the plot was intriguing with some twists that I wasn’t expecting.

It was atmospheric and creepy, and it will keep you turning the pages until the end.

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Son for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Publication date 01/14/2025.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Leah Konen’s The Last Room on the Left is a masterful psychological thriller that combines suspense, mystery, and a touch of horror. As a book reviewer who values originality and well-crafted plots, I found this novel to be an enthralling read.

The story follows Kerry, a struggling writer whose life is in disarray. Her husband has left her, her drinking problem is spiraling out of control, and her book deadline is looming with no progress in sight. Desperate for a change, she takes a job as a caretaker at a remote mountain hotel in the Catskills, hoping the isolation will help her focus. However, her retreat quickly turns into a nightmare when she discovers a frozen body outside her window during a blizzard.

Konen excels in creating complex and relatable characters. Kerry is a deeply flawed yet sympathetic protagonist, whose struggles with addiction and self-doubt add layers to her character. Her journey from a broken individual to someone fighting for her life and sanity is compelling and emotionally resonant. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic hotel staff and the mysterious figures from Kerry’s past, add depth and intrigue to the narrative.

Konen’s writing is sharp and evocative, with a pace that keeps the tension high throughout the novel. Her descriptive prose vividly brings the eerie, isolated setting to life, enhancing the sense of dread and suspense. The narrative shifts between different points of view and timelines, creating a multifaceted story that keeps readers guessing.

The Last Room on the Left explores themes of isolation, mental health, and the blurred lines between reality and imagination. It delves into the psychological impact of trauma and the struggle to reclaim one’s life amidst chaos. The novel also touches on themes of creativity and ambition, examining the lengths one might go to achieve success.

The Last Room on the Left is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and horror. Leah Konen has crafted a story that is chilling and emotionally engaging, with a plot full of unexpected twists and turns. This book is a testament to her skill as a storyteller and is highly recommended for anyone looking for a unique and captivating read.

For readers who enjoy a blend of intense suspense and psychological depth, The Last Room on the Left is a must-read.

In this snowy thriller, Kerry has taken on the role of winter caretaker of a mountain inn. Her personal life is in shambles and she resorts to drinking as her main form of coping. She stumbles upon a dead body and when the police arrive, it’s nowhere to be found. Can she be believed, or is she imagining all the sinister things happening around her?

I struggled a bit with both rating and finishing this book. Ultimately, it wasn’t one I particularly enjoyed because of a few problematic elements. However, I rounded up my rating because I think some readers might be willing to overlook these issues and enjoy the book. I liked the snowed in aspect of the storyline, but it could have been developed further to be creepier and more atmospheric. Also, there was a good twist at the end that was unexpected. However, the book was advertised as a feminist take on The Shining, and there’s little resemblance to The Shining other than the winter caretaker element and one character quoting Jack Nicholson’s famous movie line (which I don’t believe was in the book). I also wouldn’t describe it as feminist other than a small conversation around the topic of consent, but it’s a minor subplot. The final problematic element is the continued use of a character who has been through unsuccessful IVF and as a result, turns to alcohol. I can’t tell you how many times I have read this trope and as a person who has experienced IVF, I’m so tired of it. It nearly made me stop reading altogether.

Ultimately, this book may appeal to those who enjoy a locked room mystery and snowed in thriller. However, I encourage readers to not be disappointed with comparisons to The Shining or expectations of feminism being heavily present.

Thank you to Leah Konen and Putnam Books for the arc copy and chance to be an early reader and reviewer.

The plot itself was alright, but the writing made it worse.

Starting with the plot. I honestly thought it was pretty decent. I enjoyed it and wanted to find out what happened. You can kinda predict the twists, especially if you read a lot of thrillers, but I didn’t mind that. One criticism though is, I feel like the McKenzie character was really poorly fleshed out. Idk. Maybe it was the last chapter where McKenzie is suddenly in the movie that really threw me off.

Moving on to the writing. It really dragged. I thought this would be a quick popcorn thriller but I was unfortunately wrong. There is a LOT of repetition and a lot of rhetorical questions (there were like three “did I? Should I? Would it?” on every page). Some things were also described multiple times (within the same page!), as if the first two times weren’t sufficient for getting the message across. If the writing was tidied up a bit, I’m sure the book could be cut by a good (and helpful) amount, which would’ve brought it up by a star for me.

Kerry’s life is in shambles. So going away to a hotel for a little bit of time to reflect and write seems like a great idea. That is until she finds an arm reaching out of the snow and she has a foreboding feeling that someone is watching her. Yet whenever she reaches out for help everyone seems to think she is crazy. This book is told from two points of view of two friends whose lives were both affected by one pivotal moment. Filled with twists and turns, readers will be emersed into a world where they will be left wondering what really happened right down to the last page.
Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This one is excellent. I loved that it's both a mystery and a thriller. Like who died? Who is the killer? Are they all crazy and hallucinating? We have at least 1 unreliable narrator. There is a whole list of potential, credible suspects. And basically everyone is in danger.

What I didn't totally love is that we have a remote motel in a snow storm in upstate NY. There are so many of these that normal people must all think we're a bunch of crazy killers. And I get it. Snow makes people a little unhinged. There are a couple of minor details that make no sense if you've spent any time in the remote areas of upstate NY. Like there's no snow when the characters first turn up in January (unlikely) and there is running water in the motel rooms, despite not having power (or any mention of a generator). But I'm being nit picky and I recognize that.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one, both for mystery and thriller fans.

Boy, I really enjoyed this book. It bounced between the three main characters: Kerry, Siobhan and Allison. Kerry was writing a book. Siobhan was writing a screenplay. And Allison was an actress. In the month of January, Siobhan had gone to the Twilite Motel to be the caretaker and to get away from it all so she could write. Allison showed up shortly thereafter to inspire her friend. Kerry arrived there in February. She, too, went there as a caretaker and to get away so that she could work on her book. There were two other key players in this saga: Jeremy, who was a reclusive millionaire, and Tyler who was a handyman, and the son of Denise who had property issues with Maisy, the owner of the motel. The issue was also with Jeremy. Finally, there was Frank who was Kerry's husband, the man she had betrayed, and Charlie who was Siobahn's boyfriend, the man she'd broken up with for cheating on her. She assumed he cheated with her best friend, Allison.

The day after Kerry got there, she found a dead body and she assumed it was Siobhan. She called the police to report the sighting and the body had been moved. So, of course, they thought she was daft. And then the next day, Siobhan showed up on her doorstep. She had been holed up in the boiler room. There had been a party and she had gotten displaced. At any rate, she was alive. At this point, the body had been moved to the freezer in the pantry and Kerry had seen it there. So when she saw Siobhan at her door, she went to the freezer and was able to identify the body as that of Allison. At first, she thought Siobahn had killed her, but then she realized that was impossible. Siobhan was too fragile to move a dead body.

Within the telling, there was the full story about the party. Tyler and Jeremy had attended, as had Charlie and two Frenchmen that he brought along. And then, of course, there was Allison and Siobhan who co-hosted the party. Allison had been a real jerk at the party, and she had pissed off Jeremy. Actually, she had pissed off a few people, including Siobhan. She could have killed her with help.

So it was difficult to figure out who the culprit was. I really liked the way the author told the tale. The characters were well developed and the storyline was easy to follow. I pride myself on being able to solve mysteries, but when I found out who killed Allison I was really surprised. The author did a fine job holding back the truth until need be. This book gets five stars from me.

This thriller hooked me from the very first page and didn’t let go until the end. Kerry’s life is already in tatters when she takes a caretaker job at a remote motel in the Catskills, hoping for a fresh start and a quiet place to finish her overdue book. But the blizzard outside quickly turns her retreat into a nightmare when she spots a dead body buried in the snow—and realizes she might not be as alone as she thought.

The setting is incredible, almost suffocating in its isolation. The snowstorm isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a force that traps Kerry physically and mentally, amplifying her paranoia. The author does an amazing job making you feel Kerry’s desperation. Her spiral into fear, doubt, and self-preservation feels real and raw, especially as her past—her failed marriage, her drinking problem, her unfulfilled career—creeps in to cloud her judgment. You start to wonder, just like she does: Is there really a killer? Or is her mind playing tricks on her?

The pacing is tight, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I loved how the story toys with your perception of reality—one moment you’re convinced Kerry’s in mortal danger, the next you’re questioning if she’s imagining it all. That tension is what kept me turning the pages late into the night.

That said, a few of the twists felt a little over-the-top, and there were moments where the story leaned more into melodrama than suspense. But honestly, I didn’t mind too much. The tension, the snowy atmosphere, and Kerry’s flawed, relatable character more than made up for it.

3.5/5 This is a creepy thriller set in a remote area during the winter- so snow, power outages, and poor cell reception are major plot points. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but at times the dialogue felt a bit contrived. For example, I recently moved to a rural area and not a soul has referred to me as a city girl- something that every character seems to comment about the protagonist in this book. Honestly, people don't care where you move from as long as you act like a normal person. Along with this, there were other situations and comments made that felt like only characters in a book would say them.

I love love loved this book!! It kept me guessing and also was personally relatable for me (trigger warning for IVF, alcoholism). I have some frustrations at the ending, but I don't want to voice them here because it'll spoil it... but the ending unfortunately is what often happens to powerful, wealthy or attractive men in today's society.

Yesterday on my first official day of vacation, I read The Last Room on the Left by @leahkonen! If there is anything I love, it’s without a doubt, a locked room mystery. The author noted this is a female “The Shining” but I haven’t seen that so can’t really speak to those vibes. What I can say is- I finished this book in one day! I was feeling a thriller vibe and it was rainy yesterday so I thought this one fit the bill perfectly. It follows Kerry, a semi washed up writer who’s struggling to finish her novel amid the recent mess she’s made of her life. She decides to take a month long gig as a hotel caretaker in the isolated Catskills mountains. Upon arriving, something is off and when Kerry spots something sinister in the snow and she realizes she’s completely cut off, it’s up to her to figure out if she’s being hunted or if her imagination is running wild.

I really enjoyed this book- it’s a perfect winter thriller that is easy to get into and has lots of fun twists and turns. I was initially not loving the ending but there was a very surprising plot twist that made me change my mind. If you are a fan of Lucy Foley and books like The Guest List, I think you will absolutely devour this one! I have read a few of Leah’s books and have so far found them very engaging and well written.

Huge thanks to the author and G.P. Putnam and Sons for an early copy in exchange for a fair review. The book will be released on January 14, 2025- perfect for a mid winter read!

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It's the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ .

This is how my life feels sometimes. Stuck in a bad place, only one little thing away from disaster. Not that a dead body is a little thing. 🙂 Konen writes an edge-of-your-seat thriller with lots of twists and turns - albeit mostly predictable - that weave into a story that is lots of fun. Satisfying, but I doubt I'll remember this book in a year. Still, great entertainment for an evening!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!