Great story. Great narrators and lots of twists and turns that kept my attention through to the very end.

I really enjoyed the setting for this. I would’ve liked it to lean more into the ‘locked room’ trope than it did!
I really enjoyed the character writing & the interactions between them! The twist at the end was wild, like I would never have seen that coming!

I really enjoyed the audio actors on this! Much prefer it to just 1 voice for everyone!!

A great cold thriller with some great characters & a crazy twist that I don’t think even the best sleuths will work out!!

✨What it’s about: Several people, from couples to influencers, are staying at this hotel in Finland. The hotel promises to recreate all their guests best memories. They do until some not so fond memories are also exposed. These horrible memories are fracturing couples and friendships left and right. But wait… there’s more! Other creepy things start happening making people want to leave the hotel asap! Will they make it out alive though…

✨My thoughts: If you like The White Lotus show, you’ll like this. It was excellent, atmospheric writing. I was sucked it and unable to quit reading. It felt like I was at the hotel. I could really picture everything. The characters were not my favorite but I think it was supposed to be that way. The plot was excellent. The pacing and suspense was great. I enjoyed the Finnish folklore throughout as well. I think my only complaints are that there wasn’t more creepy things happening, hahaha! Also, the ending felt a little rushed and confusing. Butttt that could totally be a me thing! A first by Kit Duffield but definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing with with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. In all honesty, I was not a huge fan of this book. It started off capturing my attention as it follows several couples who have booked a Valentines weekend at an exclusive brand new hotel in Finland. Even though the hotel is quite expensive, the hotel caters to every couple personally right down to playing the exact song that the couple first danced to at their wedding and other memories that are captured specifically from a pre-booking questionnaire filled out. Of course I had to take a chance and see what the outcome would be. Unfortunately, it was a little uninteresting for me and as I listened to the audiobook, I found my thoughts drifting off and then could not figure out what was really going on....this one is just a 2 star for me.....Enjoy!!!

The Hotel by Kit Duffield (narration by Ella Lynch, Anthony Cloyd, Nadia Verde, Darren Eliker and Tessa Auberjonois)
337 pages, Kindle Edition / Audiobook 9hrs 9min
Publication August 15, 2025

Welcome to beautiful Finnish Lapland where you will be surrounded by magical winter landscapes, and the best views of natures majestic Northern Lights. This winter wonderland at the lavish exclusive hotel offers a stay that will cater to all your wants and needs specialized specifically to the guest for the most perfect and unforgettable Valentine's Day getaway. 

The guest list:

A multimillionaire psychiatrist - In the closet, estranged from his parents, and is investigating the owner of this infamous high end hotel.

An online sex worker influencer and her two influencer best friends- She has millions of followers online and this trip was just part of her persona. Her friends have a large following as well, but only a fraction of their friend. They came from the same area and grew up poor with a tragic past. This holiday was free in exchange for good exposure to the hotel documenting her 5 star experience.

A couple on their honeymoon - A financial struggling couple spent more than they could afford on this trip, but it was their honeymoon and the price for the stay was heavily discounted. The perfect memorable stay in a luxury hotel that they normally could never afford. 

This getaway wasn't exaggerating when they stated it would make each guest an unforgettable experience. Not long into their stay, each person is faced with their troubled past and present transgressions that are their worst personal nightmare. It seems like their lives are being torn apart and each one are desperate to get answers and for it to stop. 

This was an interesting concept that ties in struggles with the consequences of social media, and when the characters lives slowly crumble due to information that was held in secret against the people closest to them is exposed. This audiobook features multiple POV and duel narration 

Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for an Advanced Audiobook (ALC) in exchange for an honest review.

A little vacation in a stunning new hotel in Finnish Lapland should be the romantic escape of dreams.

For Beth, it’s also a chance to finally feel like she belongs among her husband’s wealthy friends.

For Fletcher, it’s a time to unwind from his job and responsibilities as CEO and recognised phycologist in America.

For Jordy, it’s a perfect opportunity to boast her standing and wealth as an influencer and up her level in social media.

The hotel staff promises to recreate each guest’s most treasured memories—champagne from their wedding night, dinner from their first date, music from their young days. Everything is personalised and tailored to each guest.

I loved the opening vibe. The Lapland hotel is atmospheric and immersive—icy landscapes, luxurious details, and a sense of isolation that sets the stage perfectly for a thriller.
The story is told from multiple POVs, but the characterisation was inconsistent, and there were moments I connected with the characters, only to be pulled back by sudden changes in tone or behaviour.
The narrative flirts with paranormal elements, but for me, that twist felt out of place and not fleshed out. That said, I appreciated the layers of tension between the characters and the luxurious nature of the setting.

Overall, The Hotel had an excellent premise, a striking setting, and moments of genuine suspense, but the execution didn’t really land for me.

Audiobook: This story definitely reminds me of White Lotus with a little bit of horror mixed in. Everyone's dark secrets are revealed and you get to see how they react to their personal exposures. Good twists towards the end.

The concept of a luxury hotel that recreates your happiest memories is as dreamy as it is unsettling and Kit Duffield leans all the way into that tension. What starts as a romantic Valentine’s escape quickly spirals into something much darker as the curated nostalgia begins to twist into something unrecognizable. I loved how memory, trust, and identity all played into the suspense. A clever, twisty thriller for sure.

Thank you Kit Duffield, Brilliance, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

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Thank you Netgalley, Brilliance Audio and Kit Duffield for the Audio Arc of The Hotel.
Narrated by Ella Lynch; Anthony Cloyd; Nadia Verde; Darren Eliker; Tessa Auberjonois

This was a twisty thriller following five people who have booked into an exclusive Finnish hotel in Lapland. Each person has been promised perfection, recreating the ideal from information given. Trouble is that for each person, they have secrets to keep. Once exposed, who will get out alive.

This was a really interesting narrative and each of our characters had very different backgrounds and each one was narrated by someone different. With multi POV in first person, you really get into the heads of each of them. As the narrative unfolds, you find yourself rooting for some characters and others, well not so much! This makes for a compelling read. As the whole book pretty much happens at the Hotel, you get a sense of this place being very desolate and claustrophobic. All in all a really compelling, engaging, medium paced read.

All the narrators did a brilliant job of keeping the tension, the characters unique and suited the pacing of this thriller.

4 stars

I enjoyed listening to this book. The narrators did a wonderful job with the various points of view. The cast of characters collide at a swanky newly-built hotel in the Finnish Laplands. The different storylines kept me intrigued, and the final scene was quite satisfying. Well done, Kit Duffield!

✨Audiobook Review✨
📖 The Hotel
✍️ Kit Duffield
📅 Publication: August 15, 2025
🎤 lla Lynch; Anthony Cloyd; Nadia Verde; Darren Eliker; Tessa Auberjonois

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
A romantic escape. A luxury hotel. A perfect weekend until it isn’t.
She never felt good enough around her husband’s wealthy friends, but a Valentine’s getaway in Finnish Lapland is their chance to shine. The staff recreate their most cherished memories, wedding night champagne, favorite songs, and a candlelit dinner under the stars.
But the next morning, she wakes alone… and finds him with another woman.
Then a storm hits, trapping them inside as power fails and buried secrets rise to the surface. Trust shatters. The past won’t stay hidden. And paradise is turning into something far more dangerous.
Will they make it out alive, or will the truth tear them apart for good?
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The audiobook was well-narrated by a talented cast who did a great job building suspense and bringing the characters to life. The story started off strong, with intriguing character introductions and slowly unfolding secrets. What stood out were the distinct and engaging character arcs, which kept me interested throughout. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t quite deliver; it felt a bit disconnected and lacked the impact I was hoping for. Overall, it was an okay listen: entertaining in parts but not entirely satisfying as a whole.
Thank you @Netgalley and @brillianceaudio, for allowing me to review this ALC.

Thank you to the publisher for the ACL.

This review will be a bit scattered. I took a lot of ranty notes but cut it down quite a bit.

First, I really enjoyed the narrators.

I couldn’t wait to start this one. It sounded so good, but it disappointed hard, so my rating might be a bit harsh.

This had a lot of promise, and initially I found it riveting. But by the end, it felt unfulfilling and I was left a bit baffled.

Based on the setup with all the story lines, I feel like it should have been longer. Or some of the stories lines should have been excluded (like maybe focus on 2 people only??). It had a lot going on for it to be the length it was.

I hated most of the characters, but not in a necessarily bad way. Some were redeemed who I felt didn’t deserve it. (I.e. Georgie’s redemption arc was weird. I wish she didn’t get one. I was enjoying hating her.)

The twist with the therapist, Fletcher, seemed too far fetched, although it explained why he was there. Perhaps I was let down because I thought he was there for other purposes (some hints came across as too mysterious for why he was really at the hotel).

The ending…I don’t even know what to say. It went splat (best way I can describe it). Probably the most bizarre ending I have ever read. Just when you thought everything was wrapped up nicely, some parts felt open ended. Was the point to hint at a sequel? (If so, I’ll have to pass.)
We go from happy (or at least positive) endings (wrapped in a bow, which was weird considering the rest of the story) to another time jump to misery. Like what?
Why did I say a “splat” ending? It felt very check box off-ish. And the wrap up was way too quick for all the build up during the first 1/2-2/3 of the novel. Did the author plan a much longer, more twisted & complicated book initially but changed their mind (or got sick of it) without adapting the first half of the book?
It didn’t match the rest of the book.

I could not get into this book. All over the place. Weird nails scattered around. Weird animals. Just odd and creepy and I didn't finish it.

The Hotel has a White Lotus vibe with a dash of horror. The audiobook was skillfully performed by a cast of narrators who brought the characters to life while adding tension and suspense. The story started strong as the characters were introduced and secrets were gradually revealed. The conclusion however was a bit underwhelming. Overall it was entertaining and held my interest. I would recommend the audiobook because of the masterful narration. Thank you, NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for my audiobook.

There really is a lot going on here. So many people and secrets, and I loved the setting-- it's so unusual to read a story set in Finland. I do wish the author had taken more advantage of the setting and how ritzy everything was, because I also enjoyed when it was decadent.
The people were interesting and likeable enough, the narration was excellent, and the ending was extremely satisfying to me. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook

The Hotel offers a solid mystery, though it never quite leans fully into the suspense you might expect. The real strength lies in the characters—each one unique with compelling individual storylines that kept me interested. However, the ending didn’t feel fully connected or satisfying in the context of the larger story. Worth a read if you enjoy character-driven plots with a touch of intrigue. I will say, audiobooks with multiple voices make any story 10x better.

The Hotel by Kit Duffield was a little all over the place. It just never seemed to find its footing and was a little too scattered

Manipulation, cheating, hidden agendas, ego, secrets and lies, this book has it all, the whole nine yards. Each character brought with them secrets and gradually it got all unravelled.

Although the premise sounded good I was surprised by the sheer engaging and fast-paced plot. The characters were chosen just for the cause. The fact that each one of them had something that they didn't want the world to know definitely though that this vacay will be a respite but it it took a complete u-turn. Their carefully boxed up lies and tied together faux world came crashing down the moment their fears emerged in reality.

Where to start with this one…

This is kind of your typical “trapped in a snowstorm” cliché, but it’s actually not a whodunit. Thankfully.

I really liked the idea of this. Someone behind the scenes at this luxury hotel in Finland seems to know way more about its guests than they should. Think serious privacy violation, definitely would-not-be-legal type of thing.

The whole point of this place is that they basically cyberstalk you and create your entire experience around your best memories. Or… what’s supposed to be your best ones.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators were all fine when speaking as their own characters. But with so many different accents in this book, I’m sure it was a challenge. Sadly, it also made it kind of a challenge to listen to, at least for me. I actually don’t even know one of the character’s names because two of the three narrators say “Georgie,” and the other says “Jordy.”

I think this story had potential with the whole “this place knows too much” vibe, but then it started to get a little weird. At one point I thought, if this turns paranormal, I’m going to be annoyed — but not to worry, because that subplot gets explained away at the end… with my least favorite book trope ever.

I could keep going on about how there’s truly not a single likable character in this book or how I just don’t see the appeal of a luxury hotel in the dead of winter, but I’ll save it. There are also what felt like small plot holes at the end, or maybe just things that didn’t make sense based on what I knew about these characters, but I don’t want to spoil anything.

Overall, this kept my attention, but I definitely caught myself rolling my eyes a few times. If you can get past some of the absurdity, I think you’ll enjoy it. I’ve probably just read one too many of these “locked in” thrillers at this point.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for the early listen.

This really hurts to say I had to DNF at 60%! I tried and tried to push through it but it’s all over the place and really didn’t like the narrator’s I tried to play with the speed to see if it helped unfortunately it didn’t. I’m sorry