The Sun Down Motel is an atmospheric mystery set in 1982 and the present day. This novel was not what I was expecting -- I thought it would be a dual storyline mystery, but it has a strong supernatural element that is not my cup of tea.

The Sun Down Motel has lots of secrets, ghosts, unknowns, and more, such that when Viv Delaney worked as the night clerk and disappeared, it causes a family to be torn apart with a lot of unanswered questions.

Viv's niece, Carly arrives in the same town where her Aunt disappeared 35 years earlier and gets a job in the same motel as a night clerk. The question now becomes, will the same thing happen to her what happened to Aunt Viv?

While an interesting premise, it wasn't the page-turner I was hoping for. Too many repetitive situations, and I stayed confused with the back and forth between characters Viv and her niece. With that said, If you are a fan of the mystery genre, you may enjoy this read.

Reading this book was like having a black and white film play in my head. A good story and an enjoyable read.

I am an unabashed Simone St. James fan. I was super excited to read her latest book. And friends? It doesn't disappoint.

Those familiar with her work know that she weaves ghost stories with human stories in a completely unique way. This one centers around the aforementioned Sun Down Motel. A derelict, still open, run-down motel in upstate NY. The story flashes between the 1980s and the present time, with two family members desperately trying to solve the past. I was hooked from the start.

Highly recommended for a twisty, gothic, psychological suspense thriller. I thought I had the twist figured out, but she got me in the final few chapters!

I can't wait for more from this author.

Another well-written page-turner by Simone St. James about a haunted motel and an unsolved disappearance! The book opens in 1982 on the night that Viv disappears from the Sun Down Motel, where she has been working as the night clerk for the past three months. Bad things are happening there, and things reach a crisis point on this cold, fall night. By 3:00 am Viv has disappeared, and her family never sees her again. In 2017, Viv's niece Carly comes to Fell, an eerie town in upstate NY, to find out what happened to her aunt all those years ago. Carly's mom died not knowing what happened to her sister, and Carly intends to find out. While working at the Sun Down, and researching the town's history, Carly uncovers the secrets surrounding the disappearance of four local women. I really enjoyed this spooky, believable thriller--highly recommended! Thank you to Netgalley and Berkely for the preview copy!

not sure about this one. overall story i liked, the style maybe i didnt. just something off but still worth reading, maybe just had a bad few days reading for me, four stars

This was my first book by Simone St. James and my expectations were high because I had heard great things about it. I'm so happy to say this book did not disappoint!

Almost everything takes place in one of these creepy old L-shaped motels you keep seeing next to the road. We have to main characters: Viv and Carly, who are both 20-something and are both working as the night clerk of the motel, only 35 years apart. We know from the start that Viv disappeared from the face of the earth in 1982, in the midst of the murder of several women around the town of Fell, near NYC. Now, 35 years later, her niece Carly goes to Fell after the death of her mother, trying to make sense of the murder of her aunt, a subject that was never really talked about in her mother's house and has always been a huge mystery.

Being a Murderino myself, this was incredibly interesting. The writing is excellent and the story never gets boring, even if sometimes you figure out what's going to happen in advance. I am SO glad I read this, I will absolutely read more from this author!

Not my favorite haunted thriller, but still an enjoyable read. I felt the same way with the other St. James I've read, and that one got a lot of buzz too. I guess there's something about her writing style that just doesn't quite suit me.

Two girls 35 years apart work at the Sun Down Motel and try to solve the mysteries of the town. Both become ensnared in the mystery and put themselves in danger. I really enjoyed the story told from the two different viewpoints 35 years apart, it added a layer of complexity to the story. I also liked how it highlighted the struggle women have of feeling safe. Heather, Carly's roommate, could have had more character development.

I thought this book was very suspenseful through about 2/3 of it, then it started to lag some. I read it in one day, so it kept my interest, but I did start wishing I could get through it faster. But we will buy it I am sure, as we have her first book and it gets checked out well.

This was so freaking GOOD! And SCARY!! And I LOVED IT! First off, the dedication is to Murderinos. Whaaat?? You KNOW it’s gonna be good when this is how we begin.

We are in Fell, New York, past (1982) and present day. Past - Viv's POV, she left home and is trying to get to NYC but gets diverted at The Sun Down Motel. She starts working, taking the overnight shift, and soon after begins to see things happen that are a little out of the norm.... Then Viv herself disappears, never to be heard from again.

Present day - Carly is Viv's niece, and has recently lost her mother to cancer. Feeling lost, only having her brother left, she sets off to Fell, determined to find out what happened to her aunt all those years ago. Carly also begins working at the Motel, and starts to experience some of the same odd things that Viv did.

Side note - I grew up out in the country, driving on dirt roads and used to get a wee bit creeped out at night as my mind would think of scary things that could happen. Oh hey, guess what? There is a scene in here that utilizes the hood of a car in the EXACT same way that I envisioned these creepy things happening. And yes, I freaked out when I read that in the book, but I loved it.

The two different POV's, switching from past to present, that creepy as hell motel, the characters, the ghosts - it was all just brilliant, and terrifying!! I won't be able to stop talking about this one for a while, and will go ahead and call it now - Top read of 2020.

I also will never be the same again if I ever witness a door opening on its own at night. Js…

Pure entertainment! I really enjoyed this book and I don't normally enjoy supernatural tales. However, this one had me from the start. Simone St. James' writing is compelling and fun, a real page turner!

Thank to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!
#TheSunDownMotel #NetGalley

I chose to read this book based on the synopsis (and the cover). I haven't read a horror/ghost story in a long time and I'm glad I revisited the genre with The Sun Down Motel. The author did a good job creating atmosphere and character with this story. Thank you for the opportunity to read this e-galley.

Twilight zone’s intro music blasting out in my mind: nananana!!!! I’m in the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition and I’m at the dimension of imagination….Nanana!!!

I cannot sleep! I cannot move! I cannot breathe! When I was younger so much younger than today I never needed anybody’s help in anyway but even all ghost members of Beatles cannot save me! I’m numb, terrified!
I’m speechless! I’m about to do something in my pants but I don’t! I barely hold myself! Thankfully, I wore diapers before reading something sooooo scary! So I’m giving my 5 gaazzzzzillion ssstaaarss (I cannot even speak or properly write, this book is so horrifying! I wish I hold my childhood Teddy bear to gather my wits but I already ripped its head when I was nine, reading Salem’s Lot! Dammit!)
It’s midnight in LA, even my 24/7 partying neighbor is sleeping. My husband is still making entire Jurassic
World’s sound effects by snoring loudly. But I’m alert! Eyes shut open! Already all lights in the house are turned on! I’m at the verge of hysterical breakdown, waiting to see Sun Down Motel’s ghosts banging on the door.

Is this smoke I smell right now? Is this a salesman walking toward me? Who keeps knock, knock my heavenly house’s doors? Eric Clapton! Daattt! Freddy Mercury! Nope! He will rock not knock! Okay, I can’t stand anymore, dear lovely occupants of Sun Down Motel, I’m not night clerk, I’m just regular reader who loves your stories (I’m not talking about one of your friendly one named “Casper”, I actually find it overrated!) and Simone St. James did an amazing job because I didn’t eat for 8 hours, I didn’t move an inch and now my legs turned into jellies that I couldn’t move them, they’re useless right now. And of course I had limited booze service from my husband (you can imagine drinking and empty stomach could be definition of living dangerously!) I didn’t blink and I think my face is also paralyzed! I’m just looking like a survivor after over botox injections. I didn’t even visit to bathroom so my bladder already performing “Under Pressure” as a tribute to Bowie and Mercury.

As a summary: This book is mind blowing, horrifying and so much better than entire horror movies I’ve watched lately. It’s better than Bad Times at the El Royale (I wish salesman Simon could dance like Chris Hemsworth but you cannot get what you want all the time!), entertaining as Bates Motel (this time night clerks are women and innocent, but we cannot say the same for the deceased occupants of the place whose souls stayed there for their unfinished businesses!) and they’re as creepy, spooky, disturbing as Overlook occupants.

So we have an amazing gem is an impressive combination of Vacancy, Inkeepers and Poltergeist.
In 1982 Viv Delaney, night clerk of Sun Down hotel, vanishes into thin air. They never find her corpse. Nobody knows her whereabouts. Till in the present time her niece Carly, arrives at the hotel, getting the same job her missing aunt had performed decades ago. After her mom’s sudden death because of big C, Carly is so adamant to find out what has happened to her aunt. By getting rid of the burden of the past, she feels like she may designate her own path for her own future steps.

As soon as Carly arrives to Fell and starts her new gig, she’s going to find out, she’s living ten times worse experience of Paranormal Activity movie sequels and she knows who she is gonna call (of course Ghostbusters!) but there is bad reception at the hotel.

The story is narrated by two people and two timelines. We move back and forth between 1982 and today. We have Viv and her niece Carly as narrators. They’re so interestingly similar each other, only their zones are different but both of them brave, smart, risk taker, loner, introverted, happy with their own terms and small things kind of ladies. ( I thought too many times, Carly could be daughter of Viv. Their instincts and approaches to the events, their actions are so similar.)

Carly is too determined to find the secrets about the hotel and what happened to her aunt which puts her life in danger because she literally has to deal with the supernatural entities who could help her show the truth!!!!

There are so many amazing characters such as Helen ( I visualized as Billie Lourd, only Carrie Fisher’s talented daughter could handle this creepy, weird but also loveable character.) And of course nobody knows what is like to be the sad man behind blue eyes Nick is also memorable character, hiding from his traumatic past, a great partner of crime to help Carly to solve the puzzle.

I had great, terrifying time and I truly enjoyed every second of it by reading this book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group to share this best ARC COPY and give me early Christmas gift in exchange my honest review. And honestly guys, PLEASE READ IT, READ IT, READ IT!
And special thanks to Simone St. James for creating this amazing, memorable, stunning, mind blowing masterpiece!

I enjoyed reading Broken Girls last year so I was excited to read another Simone St. James. Unfortunately, the one thing that bothered me about Broken Girls was also an issue with this book.

I find that you really need to believe in ghosts in order for St. James' books to work for you. If you're like me and looking for an explanation for any ghostly behavior then you'll just end up frustrated and disappointed. If you can get past the ghosts then this is a fun thriller, especially for women who are also true crime fans. The entire premise is that girls are uniquely prepared to solve crimes because of how easily they can identify with the victims and see themselves as potential victims.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book I have ready by Simone St. James and it is another winner! In 1982, Vivian Delaney works as the night clerk for the Sun Down Motel in creepy Fell, NY. Unexplained things happen while Viv works there - the doors to the rooms open on their own, she smells cigarette smoke when nobody is around - you get the picture. One night, Viv disappears with no explanation. Years later, Carly arrives in Fell to try and piece together what might have happened to her Aunt Viv. She too begins to work as a night clerk at the motel and observes for herself the odd occurrences that regularly seem to happen at the Sun Down. Told in alternating chapters of Viv and Carly, this is an intriguing creepy story with just the right amount of ghostly apparitions and eeriness. I loved this book and couldn't wait to find out what happens in the end. Creepy, eerie and very satisfying!

Carly left college for a "few" days so she could head to Fell, New York, to see if she could find anything out about how her Aunt Viv died or where she might be.

Viv disappeared from The Sun Down Motel where she worked in 1982 and was never found.

When Carly arrived and checked out The Sun Down Motel, she couldn't believe her aunt would even think of working there.

It was a creepy, out-of-the way place, but Carly surprised herself and took a job there on the same shift that her aunt worked.

Carly saw strange things and knew she should leave, but she stayed. She had to find out what happened at this motel and what happens now at THE SUN DOWN MOTEL.

We follow Carly as she investigates and as Viv’s story is told back in 1982.

Besides the creepy town and motel, we meet ghosts, creaky doors, weird guests, odd sounds, and no way to contact anyone not on the hotel grounds.

We learn about the hotel and the murders that took place in the town of Fell as well as the connection to The Sun Down Motel.

Each chapter got stranger and stranger as the motel seemed to come to life and have a life of its own.

If you enjoy tense, creepy, spooky story lines that include unsolved murders from years ago, THE SUN DOWN MOTEL will be your perfect read.

Be careful with the motel you choose, and especially do not stay at a motel that has anything remotely close to the name of this motel.

The entire book and the ending are twisty and brilliant.5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, Simone St. James did it again, in writing a well developed, chilling story! The characters were done in a way, you could connect and want to see what was going to happen to whom and when! Chilling, thrilling, unputdownable book, which is sure to send shivers down your spine and keep you flipping the pages! A must read for those who love thrillers with a bit of supernatural mixed in!
Will make sure I buzz it up!

The Sun Down Motel was an excellent book!! I couldn’t put it down. I loved the writing style, and mystery. It was creepy and unpredictable. The twist at the end was a surprise. I wish we could find out more about Heather though, I will definitely recommend to anyone that would will listen!

4.5 stars!

A dark, engrossing, chilling, gothic, suspenseful, atmospheric, mysterious thriller! Loved it!!!

After her mother’s death, Carly moves to the small town of Fell, to investigate the disappearance of her mothers sister, Vivian. Decades earlier, Carly’s aunt Vivian took a job as the night clerk at the remote Sun Down Motel. Unexplained strange things happen at this motel including the disappearance of Vivian from her shift one night. Police investigation provides no answers as to what happened to Vivian. Haunted by the tragedy that happened before she was born, Carly begins her search at the Sun Down Motel, only to be offered a job as the night clerk. Carly finds herself in the same role that her aunt Vivian had before she vanished. Will Carly be able to uncover the long buried secrets and get the answers she hopes for?

I loved this book! The atmosphere was thick! I felt every spine-tingling scare that Carly felt. I was with her there in that run down motel, holding my breath in anticipation of what would happen next. The author, Simone St. James, created a storyline that completely engrossed me within the suspense and mystery. I felt like I truly knew the characters, the small town and the motel. The story is brilliantly narrated in two timelines/perspectives - through Carly in 2017 and her aunt Vivian in 1982. Loved the pace and flow - it kept me curious and hungry to read “just one more chapter.” My one tiny critique is that I felt a couple things near the end were a stretch for me to accept.

I will warn you that this novel is quite ghost-y. I am not one who generally attracts to ghost-y type novels, however, this story simply felt so real and kept me fully immersed and invested that I never doubted the supernatural element.

I read and loved Simone St. James’ previous novel, The Broken Girls. This book was just as good! I’m a huge fan and look forward to what this author comes out with next! I must make note of how much I LOVE THIS COVER!!

Thank you to Berkley for sending me a physical copy to read and review with The Traveling Sisters!

Expected Publication Date: February 18, 2020.