The Sun Down Motel Review
Hello, all!
Do you like multiple POVs/timelines when it comes to thrillers? I think it can be very hit or miss, but if done well, can really add another element to the story. In the case of The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James, it definitely worked in its favor.
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| Pub Date: 2-18-20 Adult - Thriller |
It's 1982 and Viv Delaney is a night shift worker at the rundown Sun Down Motel in the rural upstate New York town of Fell. Viv has always felt uneasy at her job, and she has good reason. Shady customers, lights that flicker and go out on their own, cigarette smoke filling the air when no one's around, and phone calls with nothing but heavy breathing on the end of the line are the norm around the Sun Down. Then, Viv mysteriously vanishes in the middle of a shift and is never seen or heard from again. Did she stumble upon a secret she was never meant to know? Did she succumb to whatever lurks in the shadows of the Sun Down? No one knew until now.
Carly is a young woman who grew up hearing about the aunt that was kidnapped. She never met her Aunt Viv, but she knew her mother grieved for her lost sister her entire life. When Carly's mom passes away, she makes it her mission to find out what truly happened to Viv. She decides to move to Fell and in doing so, ends up taking the same job that her aunt once had. Carly soon starts experiencing the same strange occurrences that plagued Viv, and she can't help but feel like she may be out of her depth. With the help of some locals, Carly uncovers the truth behind what happened that fateful night back in '82, and she can't help but wonder if the past is better left buried.
This hooked me from the very first page. I was immediately sucked into this mystery and the whole atmosphere of the book. I think the dual timeline/POVs worked so well and made it even more fascinating. Viv and Carly were both interesting characters to follow and it was cool to see how similar their journeys were despite being in two different times. Both were very strong-willed and refused to let anything deter them from their investigations, even when it threatened their safety. The whole mystery was so intricate and gripping, and I kept holding my breath waiting for what was going to happen next. There were small bits I figured out, but the overall mystery was a shock and I thought very well done. The supernatural elements were just right and never felt too cheesy or out of place. If you're looking for a thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, pick this up.
Carly is a young woman who grew up hearing about the aunt that was kidnapped. She never met her Aunt Viv, but she knew her mother grieved for her lost sister her entire life. When Carly's mom passes away, she makes it her mission to find out what truly happened to Viv. She decides to move to Fell and in doing so, ends up taking the same job that her aunt once had. Carly soon starts experiencing the same strange occurrences that plagued Viv, and she can't help but feel like she may be out of her depth. With the help of some locals, Carly uncovers the truth behind what happened that fateful night back in '82, and she can't help but wonder if the past is better left buried.
This hooked me from the very first page. I was immediately sucked into this mystery and the whole atmosphere of the book. I think the dual timeline/POVs worked so well and made it even more fascinating. Viv and Carly were both interesting characters to follow and it was cool to see how similar their journeys were despite being in two different times. Both were very strong-willed and refused to let anything deter them from their investigations, even when it threatened their safety. The whole mystery was so intricate and gripping, and I kept holding my breath waiting for what was going to happen next. There were small bits I figured out, but the overall mystery was a shock and I thought very well done. The supernatural elements were just right and never felt too cheesy or out of place. If you're looking for a thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, pick this up.
Rating: 4.5/5
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