Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: July 29th, 2025


Synopsis:

When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.

Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.

Review:

I was in from the very first page. Throw in a murder, a curse, and just enough ghostly intrigue to give me goosebumps and you’ve got a winning combo that had me fully locked in.

Aubrey was such a compelling character to follow and I really enjoyed the dynamic between her and Nikki. I liked how grounded the friendship felt, even in the middle of all the supernatural chaos. The mystery surrounding the Seabrink Hotel felt haunting and emotionally charged and the suspense kept me turning the pages.

The author did a fantastic job creating the perfect spooky atmosphere around the Sebrink Hotel at the beginning. I just wanted more of that creep factor throughout the whole book.

While the mystery started off strong and was rather intriguing, the pacing was a bit slow, and the many subplots were distracting. I enjoyed the resolution of the historical mystery, but the present-day murder mystery didn’t make sense to me. The motivation of the culprit and others was lacking.

I think Asylum Hotel falls more into the cozy mystery column rather than horror thriller. I enjoyed the fun banter between characters, but overall I was hoping for a darker, scarier tale.

Life has been increasingly tricky lately so I’m embarrassingly late with this review BUT once I sat down to read I simply did not stop. Real life and the paranormal crash into each other in such a satisfying way that I was equally creeped out and satisfied by the end of this novel! This book also reminded me why I need to stop reading creepy things late at night 🙃

I just finished Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell and here are my musings.

Aubrey ignored the no trespassing signs to get into the Hotel Seabrink to get photos of the abandoned hotel. She never expected to bump into a youtuber called Dimitri looking to do a netflix show on abandoned buildings. After spending the night together, Aubrey wakes to find him gone… He fell off the cliff in the middle of the night. What was he doing walking up there in the dark and has it anything to do with the curse?

OOHH this book gave me the CREEPS!!!!

I love abandoned buildings so I already knew I was going to adore this book. So much to unpack! There were small storylines weaved over the top of the main one. Audrey wants to know what happened to Dimitri. It’s not easy to believe suicide when you just spent the night with the person. The more she learns, the more danger she is in!

I loved finding out about the history of the hotel and the dark secrets that haunt the walls and the legend the townsfolk have of it.

Well written and well paced, I was drawn right into the story. I finished it in one sitting and I felt the dark undertones under my skin the whole time.

If you are looking for a dark thriller, this is the one!!!!

5 stars

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for my gifted copy

Title: Asylum Hotel
Author: Juliet Blackwell
Genre: Paranormal Thriller
Pub Date: July 29, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 rounded to 4)

I enjoyed the chilling and spooky aspects of this book. Also the general concept. I was however left wanting MORE paranormal, all of those bits were perfection to me. There were lots of twists and turns to keep me guessing of what was going on and who was doing what. It kept me invested.
But also some parts of Aubrey's snd her best friends pasy made me feel like I missed a book. Or a prologue.
But again, overall I did enjoy it, kept me engaged and guessing for the most part.

Thank you @berkleypub for the free book. As well as @netgalley and the author.

Aubrey, an ex architect who has taken time to explore her passion of photography and if abandoned buildings runs into another explorer. Dimitri, who has a famous YouTube channel and just signed a deal with Netflix. The two hit it off, spend the night together, for Aubrey to wake up and find Dimitri was dead outside the hotel. The deputy said it was a suicide but Aubrey disagreed and made it a personal mission to learn the truth. Through various locals, and her best friend, Nikki, she explores the famous hotel, where her and Dimitri met, and learns if it's dark and disturbing past.


Interesting story overall but there were many plot points that felt as though they were not entirely hashed out. If these instances were, then I think it would have been a much more intriguing story.

Opportunities to improve the story:
- more background on Ty and Nikki's relationship. We don't learn anything about what he is like until the second to last chapter right before he is killed. He isn't scary seeming because we know nothing other than Nikki has a protective order. By giving us more insight into their relationship or the things he did for Nikki to obtain a protective order, his threat of being in the area would have felt more intense and the buy in for the characters feelings would have been stronger
- more on Xavi and who he was. He was troubled for quite some time .. sure, but how, what? His pairing with Ty and even his rage against Dimitri was confusing even with the explaination at the end.
- Jasper as a love interest could have been cute but really all we know about them is that her friend, Nikki, thinks he's hot and Aubrey should go for it. But we don't really get to know him or their attraction at all. A missed explaination of their relationship caused their ultimate attraction to be confusing and unfulfilling.

I'm at the creepy hotel. I'm at the creepy asylum. I'm at the combination creepy hotel and creepy asylum.

A mystery with some light, paranormal elements, Asylum Hotel is a fun read.

I was very attracted to the premise of this book. A spooky old abandoned hotel with a checkered past? Yes please. A mystery in the present, possibly connected to one in the past? Sign me up.

Like Aubrey, our main character in this book, I love abandoned places. There is just something cool about the way nature overtakes manmade structures that is haunting and beautiful. Juliet does a great job of describing the old hotel so the reader can picture it clearly, and in a way that is appropriately creepy. I had shivers going down my spine when Aubrey was exploring it.

I wouldn’t categorize this as a cozy mystery, but it isn’t too far off. If you like your mysteries without a lot of gore or graphic descriptions, this would be a good choice of read for you.

There were a lot more paranormal elements in this story than I was expecting based on the synopsis. That’s not usually my thing, but I didn’t hate it in this book. Aubrey witnesses some strange things while she’s at the Hotel Seabrink – smells and sounds that can’t really be explained. There is also said to be a curse; that if you look up and see a figure in the attic window, you will die within 24 hours. Locals insist that it is true.

Another thing not included in the description is a trigger warning for abusive relationships. Aubrey’s best friend Nikki comes to support her after the shock of Dimitri’s death. She has recently escaped an abusive relationship and there is quite a lot of talk about it. If that is a trigger for you, you may want to steer clear of this book.

I did enjoy the blossoming romance between Aubrey and local paramedic Jasper. It was a lovely unexpected surprise. They don’t get too far into the romance, but it added a sweet element to balance out all the creepier ones.

Overall, Asylum Hotel was a fun read.

Aubrey Spencer likes photographing abandoned buildings. She arrives at The Seabrink Hotel, an abandoned luxury hotel that once saw the likes of A list celebrities. With a sordid history that Aubrey wants to learn, she becomes even more curious when the man that she bumps into there, YouTube star Dimitri Petroff, dies the very next day. She learns of the local folklore of curses, murder, and what the hotel was before it became the hotel. As she looks into Dimitri and his death, as well as another death that happened years ago, someone wants to keep her away – and won’t stop at anything.

Someone recommended this book to me and I’m SO glad they did! A thriller with a tad bit of paranormal mixed in? Yes please! While paranormal isn’t my go to genre, if it’s just a bit of the story, and it’s done well, I do enjoy it. And this whole book was written fantastically.

Blackwell writes an atmospheric novel that makes you uncomfortable as you read it. But also, you can’t stop reading it because it’s just that good and you want to know what’s happening, who is behind it, and why. I especially liked that Aubrey didn’t just take what everyone said at face value, she conducted her research to the best of her ability to find the truth.

Most of the characters I really enjoyed. There was one of two that I didn’t care for, but I’m sure those characters were written that way. I would love this book to be made into a movie on Netflix, or even a series! I think it would be amazing!

This was my first time reading this author and I would absolutely read another book by Blackwell!

This was a really good book- I think I finished it in under 24 hours. It centers on Aubrey, who photographs an abandoned resort in Northern California and runs into a YouTuber doing pretty much the same thing. Lots of scary things then happen and it’s up to Aubrey (and the reader) to decide if the place is haunted or if there are other forces at work.

Aubrey is a likable character and I felt like she made decisions normal people would make. The resort site was legitimately creepy and I could so clearly picture myself there- I loved the scenes where they were walking through it. The author did a great job at infusing some humor into very dark material, which just made the story even more engaging. There are plenty of great red herrings and I changed my mind a few different times as to what was really going on. I thought the end of the book was perfect for the rest of the story and really liked the way it was all tied up.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read and would recommend for those who like psychological thrillers as well as mysteries and haunting stories. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book. It’s a great murder mystery with a supernatural twist. I loved the setting of the hotel in the small coastal town. I was surprised to find out it’s a real town. The plot and pacing are good. It was very enjoyable.

Thank you for the free book @penguinrandomhouse and @berkleypub! #penguinrandomhousepartner #berkleyIG #BerkleyBookstagram. Thank you for the free audiobook, @prhaudio!

I love horror books especially when they give me the goosebumps 😂

I honestly was so surprised with how much I binged this book. I started listening to it on audio and I just couldn’t stop reading/ listening to it!!!

I love a good creepy setting and this haunted hotel is definitely going to give you the heebie jeebies 😂

This has everything I want in a horror book: atmospheric, haunted setting, urban legends, and ghosts. Omg it was sooo good. And listening to it on audio where the narrator hums eerie tunes and stuff?? I got spooked but I love it 😂

Okay so this is what it’s about
Hotel Seabrink was once a very popular vacation spot for celebrities and important people. It’s known for its spring with the healing water. After several tragic deaths and with modern medicine it eventually just became abandoned. The townspeople have also left it alone as they believe in the Seabrink curse: all of those who happen to see the ghost in the attic window dies within 24 hours.

That’s all I have to say about the plot 😂

It comes out next Tuesday, friends! Highly highly recommend if you want to be scared 😂

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Berkley Publishing Group.

When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.

Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.

When he is found dead the next day at the base of a cliff, the police are quick to close the investigation. But Aubrey feels unsettled by locals who claim he was murdered and that it is not the first time someone interested in the hotel was killed. As she digs deeper into the property’s dark history (and its origins as an asylum) as well as Dimitri’s professional rivalries, she becomes mired in an unsolved murder case from several decades earlier, one with eerie parallels to the contemporary case. But someone is determined to keep her from discovering the truth—at any cost.

This was one of my most anticipated thrillers. But it was definitely not what I expected. Blackwell did a fantastic job creating the perfect spooky atmosphere. The setting of the haunted hotel and its mystery kept my interest but I just wanted more of that creep factor throughout the whole book. The mystery did overall start off strong and was rather intriguing, but the pacing was slow, and the many subplots were distracting. The book was overwritten and a lot of the dialogue felt unrealistic. The long chapters also did not help. And the ending felt rushed and some of the reveals seemed to come out of nowhere. Asylum Hotel did have a solid setup with spooky potential, but the second half definitely did not quite live up to the tension and mystery in the beginning. I would only recommend checking it out if you are looking for a spooky summer read, but it was not a new favourite of mine.

I loved this ! The vibes were amazing and i absolutely loved the setting .. right up my alley! It started strong , but then kind of drug for me ? But still really enjoyed it

haunting and atmospheric novel that combines elements of historical fiction, mystery, and supernatural intrigue. Set against the backdrop of a once-grand hotel with a dark past, the story weaves together the lives of the hotel’s residents, revealing secrets and uncovering ghostly presences that haunt its halls. Blackwell’s evocative writing vividly captures the eerie setting and the suspenseful tone keeps readers engaged. The characters are well-developed, and the plot masterfully balances psychological tension with moments of emotional depth.

2/5 ⭐️

Aubrey Spencer is a photographer obsessed with abandoned places, and the eerie Seabrink Hotel is calling her name. The crumbling hotel comes with rumors of a ghost and a dark history as an asylum. While exploring, she meets Dimitri, a fellow thrill-seeker, but things take a turn when he’s found dead shortly after. Determined to uncover what really happened, Aubrey dives into the hotel’s past only to get caught in a messy mix of secrets, stalkers, and hauntings.

I went into this really excited for the creepy hotel vibes, but the idea was better than the execution. I wanted this to lean more into the paranormal side, but instead I got a ton of history and speculation about past hotel occupants that I honestly didn’t care about. I also found it weird that Aubrey went to such lengths for a guy she barely knew.

One thing that irritated me early in was the lazy police work. You're telling me that the police didn't ransack Aubrey's room, and didn't open the drawer to find Dimitry wallet? Also, they would most definitely go find his things like a wallet, his backpack. They would have most definitely looked into where he was staying, where he lives .. it was annoying.

There were some characters I liked, like Aubrey’s friend and Jasper, but the plot got messy fast. The whole stalker ex storyline felt random, and the twists came out of nowhere without making much sense. I didn’t hate it, but it just wasn’t what I was hoping for and ended up feeling pretty lackluster....

The premise and the author drew me to Asylum Hotel. I loved Juliet Blackwell’s paranormal cozy mysteries, so I had high hopes for Asylum Hotel. I liked the abandoned hotel with its fascinating history along with the rumors that it is haunted by a ghost and there is a curse. The author did a wonderful job at creating the spooky atmosphere (I wanted to start with the positive). The paranormal aspect was a letdown. There is speculation as well as innuendo, but that is it. I wanted a scary ghost or two wreaking havoc at the hotel. We got a detailed history of the hotel along with the people who stayed there (a little too much detail). The characters lacked depth. In addition, there were so many characters that it was a challenge to keep track of them (a spreadsheet would have been helpful). I did not understand why Aubrey felt the need to investigate the death of her one-night stand (she knew the man less than twelve hours). The reveal came out of the blue (Sherlock Holmes would have been baffled by this one). The pacing was slow and there were too many distracting subplots. There were items that had vague mentions and then they were never brought up again (they were totally unnecessary). Asylum Hotel is a messy story which is not what I expected from Juliet Blackwell.

Ahoy there me mateys!  I discovered Juliet Blackwell's mysteries this year and have been enjoying her work immensely.  This standalone novel features Aubrey Spencer, an architect whose hobby is taking photographs of abandoned buildings and places. 

One such location is the Seabrink Hotel.  Though it was a celebrity hotel back in the 1920s, it sits forgotten on the shoreline of the Pacific Ocean.  It doesn't appear on the internet or on any maps.  Aubrey finds a mention in an old document and decides to take photos while on holiday.

While taking photos, Aubrey meets Dimitri, a YouTube star there to take notes for his new Netflix series about abandoned buildings.  The next day, he is found dead at the bottom of a cliff and the death is ruled a suicide.  Aubrey believes it is murder and wonders if Seabrink has something to do with it.  She decides to investigate.

This was an extremely fast read and I loved the abandoned hotel's atmosphere.  My favorite thing were all of the historical deaths in the hotel and the curse.  Aubrey learning about the hotel's history from the locals was a lot of fun.  I thought it was great how the locals gossip and genuinely believe in the curse.  All of the scenes at the Seabrink were great.  I enjoyed the ghost aspect too.  There were plenty of possibilities of murderers and motives which kept me guessing.

The main problem with the book was the ending.  I thought that the reveals didn't make much sense.  I also thought the best friend's stalker subplot was messy and should have been left out.  I guess I expected there to be a better resolution.  There were better options hinted at but not used.  The twists were just weird.  I also hated what Aubrey does with the Seabrink at the end which I can't reveal because spoilers.  But seriously, it was silly.  There also seemed to be some plot holes or dropped threads in the end.  Basically it finished and I thought "huh?".

The book really was fun up until the big storm and silliness.  I had fun reading this and have no regrets.  Arrrr!

3.5 rounded up

The first third of this book really grabbed my attention. We follow Aubrey, an architect with a penchant for photographing abandoned buildings. She’s heard of an abandoned hotel called The Seabrink that’s been scrubbed from all media. With some boots-on-the-ground research, she successfully finds the hotel, and a YouTuber named Dmetri who’s also documenting the facility.
After a day exploring the building, the two decide to spend the night together. But when Aubrey wakes up, she discovers Dmetri is dead. His body was found at the base of the cliff her hotel is on, and the local police have labelled it a suicide. The townspeople start telling Aubrey stories about how haunted The Seabrink is, and Aubrey becomes convinced that Dmetri was killed, either by a ghost or someone trying to protect The Seabrink.
The plot starts going downhill as Aubrey decides to investigate his death on her own. There’s 20 different characters introduced in the modern timeline, along with another 10 characters with historical relevance that are included. The bloated cast adds even more complications to an already overly-complex plot. I felt like I needed to have a corkboard and red string to keep everything straight. And after all that mental work, the ending wasn’t scary. It was downright ridiculous.
I was definitely not the best fit for this book, but I think this could still be a great option for other readers. If you’re looking for an almost-cozy psychological horror book, this would be a great pick. Also, if you’re looking for a haunted house book where the house’s vibes are immaculate, this would definitely work!

Asylum Hotel:⁣
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Thank you @prhaudio @berkleypub for my gifted copies! #PRHAudioPartner #BerkleyPartner ⁣
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“I’m just saying. The bros don’t impress me much.”⁣
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I’ll be honest, this book was kind of confusing. But I felt like it was supposed to be because there’s such a blur between horror and reality, which was fun. I was constantly trying to understand what was real and what was history or lore.⁣
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The book is dedicated to Xe Sands, and of course Xe Sands is the reader! She is one of my favorites and did not disappoint. I loved her playing Aubrey and Nikki. 10/10 audio.⁣
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Overall, a decent read. Out now! ⁣
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QOTD: What are you reading today?

I was in the mood for a haunted house story and this hit the spot perfectly. The Seabrink Hotel is cursed and forgotten, the small towns around it keeping its lore alive while encouraging people to stay away.

Aubrey Spencer is an architect with a hobby of taking photos of abandoned places. After reading briefly about the Seabrink in an old magazine, she tracks it down. Once inside she meets Dimitiri, a YouTuber with a similar respect for the sacredness of the abandoned and a love for architecture. The Seabrink shows itself to them - showing that it's definitely haunted, but also that the parties who want to renovate it are determined to make it happen. Aubrey and Dimitri spend an intense night together, but the next morning Aubrey wakes up alone only to find out that Dimitri fell off a nearby cliff, giving more credence to the curse of the Seabrink. From there a series of mysteries unfold about the Seabrink, Dimitri, the past of the land even further back than the hotel.

I loved the mix of modern and historical mysteries, the specificity of the history, the evolving story of the ghost of the Seabrink, while also having this charming small-town thread of how everyone knows everyone, and the universe is trying to show Aubrey that this is where she belongs.

There were so many elements to this book that scratched all the itches and ticked all the boxes. Creepy haunting, multiple villains and dangers, and a main character that it's easy to care about. There was a lot of depth to these people, and it made them feel very real. I'd go to the Seabrink in a heartbeat.