Viv wants to travel and and preferably live in New York City, but when her money runs out, she ends up in Fell N.Y. where she decides to take a job as a front-desk clerk at the Sun Down Motel. Ironically, the motel was the last place Viv's aunt (who was also a front-desk clerk) was seen 35 years ago. So naturally, being a curious and frankly, dark, person, Viv decides to take the opportunity to investigate her aunt's disappearance while she's there. While she's investigating, the motel seems to become more and more sinister, and Viv's not entirely sure her own safety isn't at risk.

Reading this book at home alone late at night before going to bed is not a good decision! I really enjoyed this one, as I have of Simone St. James’ books. Very creepy. I recommend it for fans of her other books, those who enjoy Susanna Kearsley, and fans of ghosts/mysteries with gothic elements and/or dual timelines.

A completely stellar read. Was lucky enough to get an ARC from NetGalley. I loved reading THE BROKEN GIRLS, so this was an obvious choice. Simone St. James has created an intricate time-jumping narrative that all centers on the Sun Down Motel. I normally have a hard time with multiple POV in different eras, but each of these women were easily differentiated, and had their own unique take in their investigations of the motel. St. James’ writing is compelling, and I found myself devouring pages expeditiously.
If you’re a fan of amateur detectives, family history narratives, or creepy motels, grab this up when it is released.

Carly Kirk is a 20 year old woman from Illinois who finds herself fascinated by a cold case that happened in Fell, New York thirty-five years before. In 1982, a 20 year old woman named Vivian Delaney disappeared without a trace when working the night shift at The Sun Down Motel. She was one of several Fell women to go missing around that time. Carly travels to the town where Vivian disappeared, searching for clues about Vivian’s demise. In an ironic twist , Carly finds employment as the night shift manager of the Sun Down Motel. Carly soon discovers that The Sun Down is not a typical motel and the more investigating that she does, the more secrets that she uncovers.
This novel is an intriguing blend of true crime, suspense, and supernatural. It alternates between 1982 and 2017, from the perspectives of Vivian and Carly. This book catches the reader’s attention in the first chapter and keeps their interest until the final page.

This was like a love letter to murderinos and fans of true crime. The Sun Down Motel is a ghost story told in alternating viewpoints: Viv, the night shift worker at the hotel in 1982 who is trying to track down the serial killer responsible for the murder of young women of Fell, NY, and Carly, Viv's niece in 2017 trying to solve the case of Viv's disappearance in 1982. Both women find themselves working nights at the Sun Down Motel, where each night, the hotel's ghosts make themselves known. I love hotels as settings for horror novels because the point of a hotel is to be as ignorant of the previous guests as possible, but at the Sun Down Motel, the guests who have stayed and died there come back again and again.
I always love Simone St. James, and her writing just keeps getting better. She manages to make this story really feminist and female empowering, and I loved the references to Michelle McNamara and My Favorite Murder.

Wow! I did not see that coming! I loved the cover of the book and it sounded like it might be pretty entertaining. I’m so glad I requested this one! Excellent mystery with just the right amount of creepy! Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley, Simone St James and Berkley publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I actually chose this book because I loved the cover when I saw it, and the cover did the book perfect justice!
After reading what the book was about I didn't think I would like it but I'm glad I judged a book by its cover in this case since I loved this book way more than I thought I would.
It was fast paced made me want to keep reading and transported me there with both of the main protagonists. It is a book loaded with good old fashioned creepiness.
I actually chose this book because I loved the cover when I saw it.
I will definitely be following and reading more from this author.

I loved this even more than The Broken Girls! I admire St. James' ability to blend real life monsters with incredibly believable ghosts is impressive. Her characters are so well-developed and real--flawed, but believably so. Pre-order this today!

Simone St. James does not disappoint. This is my second book by her, Broken Girls being my first, and this won't be my last.
First I have to say that the setting genuinely creeped me out. When the author describes the setting in the beginning of the book it kind of takes on its own character and even though you are not physically at the Sun Down Motel you are painted a perfect creepy picture that will make you think you are. While reading the first 50% of this book I did not want to be alone while reading it, it was that creepy. There are not many books that can do that to me,so I know that our author has done a fantastic job in her writing.
I really enjoyed the dynamic of the back and forth between times at the Sun Down. So you know what Carly may find or experience as you have already lived through it with Viv. It gives you that vibe of wanting to jump up and say "don't go in there!!" like you get a the movies.
Without spoiling anything, I think this is an absolute must read for anyone that loves a good mystery along with some paranormal elements.
I loved it and I cannot wait to read more by this author.

OH.MY.GOD. It has been about two days since I finished this book around 4am and I am STILL thinking about it. I loved the author's other book, The Broken Girls, so I had very high expectations for this one. Well, they were met and then some.

It has been a long time since I read something that literally had me shaking with fear. The atmosphere in this book is so insane that I felt like I was put in Viv or Carly's shoes.

Decades ago a young woman named Viv went missing without a trace at The Sun Down Motel. This invoked seriously creepy vibes (ala The Shining and the motel in the movie Identity). Now someone else close to her starts to dig into the past, therefore, waking up all the hides within the motel....

One of the best books I've read this year and will no doubt be a huge hit when it comes out! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

Ms. St. James does it again! I am not normally a fan of ghost stories, but this author can spin a tale like no other. This story takes place in 2 different time periods, 1982 and 2017. Viv is from 1982 and has decided that she wants to move to New York City. On her journey, she ends up in a place called Fell, NY. There she takes a job as the night desk clerk of the Sun Down Motel. A couple of murders have happened in the 2 years before her arrival. Viv has a curious nature and starts to investigate. Carly is from 2017 and is the neice of Viv. She is there to solve Viv's disappearance or murder. She runs into some unlikely allies who might have known her Aunt Viv back when she lived in Fell. Carly and her roommate Heather begin investigating and turn up some very interesting that could lead to solving the murders from 35+ years ago. Carly also gets the job of the night desk clerk at the Sun Down Motel to try to solve the mystery. This is where she meets Nick Harkness. He has his own story involving a murder, and to be quite honest, I thought he was going to end up being the bad guy.

The last book I read of Ms. St. James, Broken Girls, had me guessing until the twist at the very end. This book, The Sun Down Motel, got predictable close to the end. There is a twist that was a bit surprising, but the rest I had pretty much guessed. All in all, this was a read I couldn't put down!

In my opinion, Simone St. James set the bar very high with The Broken Girls, but The Sun Down Motel almost reaches it. Both ladies remind me a bit of Veronica Mars because they’ve gotten in the middle of something and need to work out the what/who/when/where/why of the situation and make educated decisions based on what they learn and the people they deem trustworthy. As per usual, surprises are abundant and not ones you’ll be guessing from the start!

ARC from the handlers at the wonderful NET GALLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not a ghost story guy but I did enjoy the mixing of ghosts and bad guys.

This book is dedicated to the “odd girls, the nerdy girls, and the murderinos,” and they will not be disappointed in this book. Carly investigates the disappearance of her Aunt Viv decades ago as she works nights at the same small-town motel her aunt disappeared from. The story alternates between Carly’s story in 2017 and Viv’s story in 1982. Viv thinks she has found a serial killer, but nothing turns out quite how readers may expect. Throw in some ghostly happenings, a hot guy, and some soul-searching by both women about the way crimes against women are treated (spoiler that's not much of a spoiler: not as much has changed as one would hope) and you've got a fun, affecting, and satisfying mystery.

4.5/5 This book was so much fun to read. There are ghosts, yes actual ghosts, haunting the Sun Down Motel. Through alternating POVs, Viv from 1982 and Carly from 2017, we see our protagonists go down similar journeys of trying to figure out what makes people return to haunt the motel. Oh, and we also know from the beginning that Viv is Carly's aunt who mysteriously disappeared from the motel in 1982. There are so many great characters and other than the ghosts, the plot wasn't too far fetched.

I don't usually read ghost stories. At all. But this is my second ghost story in the past few weeks. Is it a trend I've missed? The Sun Down Motel is haunted - not by one ghost, but by several who died there at different times. They cause problems after midnight: slamming open locked doors, turning lights on and off, even lurking around the corner smoking. Living guests aren't always easy, either. The Sundown attracts prostitutes, drug dealers, cheating couples, and a traveling salesman who may be a serial killer.
As a result, the Sundown Motel has a hard time keeping night clerks. Viv, a young woman headed to New York City in 1982, gets on the wrong bus and gets dropped off near the motel. Almost out of money, she takes the job of night clerk. Intending to stay only a few days, Viv becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of the Sundown. Just as she thinks she has the answer, Viv steps out of the motel office, leaves her purse and keys behind, and disappears.
Thirty-five years later, Viv's niece, Carly, is hired for the same job: Night clerk at the Sundown Motel. She wants to find out what happened to her aunt and her investigation leads her down the same dangerous path Viv followed. The novel alternates between the two viewpoints, 1982 and present day. A suspenseful, mostly dark atmosphere , with enough light moments to keep it from being a downer.

The Sundown Motel is a run down side of the road motel in the small town of Fell, NY. Many young women have disappeared and been killed in Fell including Carly Kirk's Aunt Viv in 1982. After Carly's mother dies, she realizes she doesn't know much about her aunt and decides she must find out what happened to her. She is hired at the Sundown and starts her hunt. Along the way she also realizes there is more to the Sundown than just an old building. Maybe some occupants past and present will help direct her along her investigation if she isn't killed herself. I enjoyed The Sundown Motel, but didn't find it as suspenseful as Simone St. James' previous novel, The Broken Girls.

St. James knows how to deliver a great old-fashion ghost story!!! Full of suspense from beginning to end!!

<I>Run!</I>

Woah! This author has been on my to-read list for a long time and for some reason I’ve just never got around to her but this book! I’m so glad I made the time to read it! I would have finished it a lot sooner BUT when my husband is out of town I tend to not be able to read dark, spooky tales at night and this is definitely one of those!

I am SO impressed with this author’s writing. The way the story is told is unique and I don’t know that I’ve read a book like this one before. Different POV 1st,3rd for the two different main characters. You’re going to open the book and be like “oh, this is different!” But give it a chance because it works so good for this!

<b> There are so many of them, she’d said when I first met her, and when I asked her what she meant, she said Dead girls.</b>

Serial killers and ghosts. I don’t know that I’ve ever read a better combination!

Carly’s on the search for her missing aunt. You get Carly’s side and her aunt’s side. Their sides collide at the point of no return and fear radiates off the pages.

The ghosts are haunting and angry, though their story is quite sad. I’ve never felt for the dead characters more than in this story.

Pick this one up! I’m off to read The Broken Girls!

*Review will be posted to After the Pages book blog closer to the publication date.

4.5 Really good mystery, complete with ghosts. Told in alternating timelines in 1982 with Viv, who's landed in Fell, NY and gets a job at a haunted motel and in 2017 with her niece Carly, who comes to Fell to find out what happened to Viv. Compelling and well-paced, I see lots of people liking this, especially Koontz and King fans.