Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Hotel is a spooky thriller that from the first page teases with mysteries about the three very different characters it follows and then deepens the sense of unease surrounding them with the moody setting of a mysterious luxury hotel.

The closest thing I’d compare this to is The Menu, though more in the tone, isolated setting, and ‘hunt’ in its pages than the actual plot. Our main characters - insecure Beth who is in debt staying at Kuvastin but wants to honeymoon in a place that would make slimy husband James’s friends stop looking down on her, Psychologist Fletcher who lives a sterile life isolated from others, and influencer Jody who has noble aspirations but may be getting lost in her social media persona - are only linked together in the weekend they spend at the hotel and the strange events that seem to indicate someone knows their secrets and is after them.

A very moody read that was completely engaging, I was fully lost in the Finnish winter and the mysteries inside its pages.

"The Hotel" by Kit Duffield is an engaging psychological thriller about three guests spending Valentine’s weekend at a lavish new hotel in Finnish Lapland. The story alternates between their POVs.

Beth and James are a newly married English couple honeymooning at the hotel, even though they can’t afford it. Beth mainly chose it to impress James’s snobby circle of friends—people she doesn’t even like. Fletcher is an American psychologist and CEO of Small Talk (an online therapy platform) in Silicon Valley, and he has plenty of issues of his own (psychologist—heal yourself!). Jordy is a provocative Brazilian influencer invited along with her best friends, Matteo and Rosa.

Kuvastin isn’t your typical five-star hotel. Everything—from food and music to scents—is personalized using your social media and submitted data to recreate your happiest memories. In theory, it sounds perfect.

Alas, some memories are better left alone. Strange occurrences begin right after the arrival of the guests, dredging up old traumas. Each guest has secrets, and a data breach exposes things they'd rather keep hidden. The plot thickens when a snowstorm traps them in the hotel, and the power goes out. As secrets unravel, the perfect getaway becomes a nightmare.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It wasn’t quite the locked-room mystery I’d expected, but it was still captivating. The writing is taut and smooth, with a steadily building atmosphere of dread. Each character is distinct and well-drawn.

I liked the emotional dynamics and the interactions between the characters. Fletcher was my favorite, even though he seemed a bit aloof at first. I had mixed feelings about Beth—I didn’t like her obsession with impressing others and posting the perfect Instagram shot. Her husband I downright disliked. I also didn’t care for Jordy and her constant self-justifications.

The book explores abuse, manipulation, infidelity, secrets, social media, and the craving for external approval. The ending gave satisfying closure, but its tone felt a little off compared to the rest of the story—less sharp, more subdued.

This isn’t a hotel I’d want to visit. I don’t post much online, but the sheer amount of personal data out there gives one pause. As one character comes to realize, it’s better to make memories the old-fashioned way—by living them, not by recording every moment.

To sum, I found the book a good read and recommend it to fans of a fast-paced plot, eerie settings, unexpected twists, and trapped-in-a-snowstorm trope.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

This book is a masterclass in building tension and suspense. The story unfolds with perfect pacing, keeping you hooked with every reveal and red herring. The characters feel real, their motives complex, and their choices unpredictable. I found myself completely immersed, unable to guess the ending until the very last page. It’s a smart, satisfying thriller that sticks with you long after you finish.

Hugely Entertaining…
A weekend away in Lapland in a unique environment with every luxury catered.. what can possibly go wrong? In this particular hotel..perhaps everything. Hugely entertaining with a well crafted cast of eclectic characters populating a pacy, suspense fuelled plot in an atmospheric and well drawn setting. The surprises never let up and the narrative never flags. Delicious.

I live a good thriller and to be honest i was not disappointed. When you read a thriller they eventually all.seem to end up the same good but not satisfying but this had me quickly turning every page. Set with different Povs three groups of strangers end up in an retreat in Finland for a relaxing break but all us not what it seems and their experiences are going to end with them all entwined in a storm they didn't see coming. Nice short chapters and we'll written this book will appeal to you if you like modern day drama.mixed with social media and technological influences. A great read to refresh the mind.

I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this book but the way it was written kept me intrigued
The many different people staying at the hotel with twists and turns, uncovering secrets and secrets he family dynamics I throughly enjoyed this!

I attached my review link with this.

I will say that I did enjoy the book. The first half had me biting my nails wanting to know what was gonna happen next. About 80% in I was actually wondering if this book was a horror or a thriller because I had goosebumps. The ending tied up all the loose ends.

The only downfall to this was no one died. Kind of disappointing. There were some harsh topics in this one but it didn’t take away from the story. The writing was great. I was hooked from the very beginning. Definitely looking for more from this author.

This book had almost a supernatural vibe to it. It creeped me out and gave me chills down my spine.
You don't realise how much of an online footprint you leave in this world, and don't realise how much is noticed on social media. Nothing every disappears.
That definitely is horribly creepy.

There are loads of secrets, and many lies in this book... shameful secrets and lies to cover them.

Definitely a page turner.

Really unique concept that could have been super amazing if the ending hadn't seemed to contrived. I really liked the style of the book and the writing had me hooked and kept me reading.

A very modern thriller, featuring the worst of social media and technological intrusion and making for an added layer of creepy context. The characters are amazing - there are so many perspectives and each back story is stranger than the next. Bringing them together in a luxury hotel highlights their differences, but also what makes them the same. Their personal weaknesses and shames are exposed, making for a sense of terror topped only by whatever is outside in the snow…. Everything is nicely explained and wrapped up at the end, which makes for a satisfying conclusion to a pretty nail biting read.

This was a weird and creepy read in the best way. The hotel felt super eerie and full of secrets. I liked how the story kept me on edge and made me question what was going on. Quick and unsettling — I was hooked.

The random numbers throughout made the flow difficult, but I’m sure it will be fixed before it’s published.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I absolutely loved the authors debut novel “pretty little thing” last year with its moody atmosphere and popcorn like thriller components, so I could not wait for the authors next release! And yay im so glad I got a copy on netgalley 🙏🏻🙏🏻

“The hotel” features a “perfect” romantic getaway at a scenic picturesque Finnish hotel for one married couple, except a storms brewing and when it hits trapping the guests on the remote island, secrets start to spill and situations take a turn for the worst (and more dangerous).

Give me a locked room / trapped on an island due to extreme weather conditions thriller any. Day. Of. The. Week! This is what I live for 😂😂😂😂😂

I love the authors ability to make fictional situations so uncomfortable for the characters and reader alike. Youll find yourself sitting with tension and feeling it build to a boiling point where things have no choice but to blow over 😆. You may find some under notes or humour trapped below all the creeping tension if you pick up on the authors quick wit,

Kit duffield is definitely becoming one of my favourite go to authors, his books do not disappoint!

Thank you to Amazon Publishing and Kit Duffield for the gifted copy!

Publishes : August 15th

Interesting premise, certainly a page turner and a very easy read. I wasn’t a fan of how things tied together and felt that it was at times, a little clichè.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book!

I thought this was pretty okay. It kept me reading, but the ending was disappointing. I did like the various points of view and seeing how everything was going to unfold. I just thought some of the side stories didn’t make sense with what was going on. It was like so much happening in one book, I found it kind of hard to keep up or care about some of the characters. Still, this is a solid thriller that I think people will enjoy. I found it interesting to see all the points of view and how they connected to the sinister things happening at the hotel.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

When a huge storm arrives, I’m trapped. It’s just me, my husband… and our secrets. The power goes down and paradise becomes a nightmare, can we make it out alive? Or will this holiday destroy us both?! Great read! It was a wild read and definitely a twisted thriller! The storyline was a bit out there but so very interesting! It had chilling suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, and some jaw dropping twists! I highly recommend reading this book! It’s definitely a bit different but well worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
The Hotel - Kit Duffield
Hotel Kuvastin looks like something out of a fairytale but it has dark secrets inside.
Beth is looking to jumpstart her marriage to her new husband James, she books a Valentine’s Day getaway in a luxurious new hotel.
Fletcher is psychologist and CEO in Silicon Valley. Jordy is an influencer looking to up her content for her followers. She brings along her roommates and friends Matteo and Rosa for a weekend at Hotel Kuvastin.
Before checking in the guests are asked to fill out a series of questions to help the hotel staff create unique and personalized experiences. However these experiences soon turn from nostalgic to sinister with private information being leaked. Just when the drama is coming to a head the raging storm outside causes the power to go out and the guests have to fight for survival.

This book felt like White Lotus meets The Menu. The story is told through 3 alternating POVs of the main characters, each with their own unique storyline. I throughly enjoyed the first half of this book reading it mostly in one sitting, however the second half I started to lose interest. I loved the dynamic between Beth, James and Jordy but I felt that the Fletcher and Johanna storylines seemed disconnected like 2 separate books and the ending was underwhelming.

If you love locked room mysteries, multiple POVs and a secluded hotel setting this one is for you! Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this. It was a tense, atmospheric read that kept the pages turning. Set in a remote luxury hotel in Finnish Lapland, the novel mixes psychological suspense with relationship drama in a way that feels fresh and engaging.

The writing is sharp and evocative, bringing the cold, eerie setting vividly to life. You can almost feel the snow pressing in as the tension builds. The pacing is tight, with just the right amount of creepiness and slow-burning dread to hold your attention throughout.

The characters are well developed and believable, each with their own secrets and emotional weight. I found myself invested in them quickly, which made the unfolding drama all the more compelling.

Overall, it’s a very readable, gripping book. Perfect for when you want to escape into something unsettling and immersive.

4-

CW: animal abuse (referred to but not explicit), sexual assault (also mostly just referred to)

So I devoured this one reading about 70% of it in one day.

We follow three sets of guests as they make their way to an exclusive hotel experience in a remote region of Finland. The hotel's hook is that they recreate your favourite memories through sensory details like scents, music and food - the founder of the hotel is a former perfumer. I loved this idea and thought it was a great hook.

Shortly after our guests arrive at Kuvastin (meaning mirror, or to reflect - nice touch), however, they realise not all is well. The mirror image starts to twist into something grotesque, and as tensions rise and guests want to leave, they get trapped in a blizzard. Trapped with themselves, each other, and memories they would rather forget.

The atmosphere in this one was fantastic - top notch creepy vibes, and it felt like the hotel and the nature surrounding them were characters in the story too. Weirdly it kind of made me miss northern winters (I lived 10 years in the North of Norway), even though I hated them at the time. It was taught and tense and difficult to put down. The tension and the fast-paced story did come a little at the expense of character development though, which I think is difficult to avoid in a story like this. The characters were a little clichéd, but still interesting enough to get a little invested.

Maybe partly because of this, the ending wasn't quite as good as it could have been. It was solid and believable, but there were no twists or shocking revelations or connections or devastating realisations.

**SPOILER**

Also, I admit I was waiting for it all to come together somehow, that there was some kind of connection between all our guests and whomever was torturing them, like they had somehow wronged them in some way, but that wasn't the case, they were mostly random unsuspecting victims, which made it lose a little bit of punch.

**END SPOILER**

Still recommended for an entertaining, immersive read, and definitely a good slump buster.

This book was absolutely addictive and gripping. I seriously WOULD NOT even start this book unless you have cleared your schedule because you will not be able to put it down!!!

This plot had me hook, line and sinker! One of the most gripping, unputdownable, nerve-wracking books that I have EVER read!!! It had me on the edge of my seat throughout!

This book is quite fast-paced, so once you get into it, you just can't stop reading it. If you need a quick read, this might be it. It's a thriller with mystery aspects, which leave you confused and intrigued about what's going on in the hotel, and will leave you doubting just about anyone who works at the hotel. It has multiple POVs of the guests who are checked in and their personal stories that leave you rooting for them. Weird things go on in the hotel, which the guests are very unhappy about, and there are also monsters added in the mix that the guests constantly see, so it leaves you wondering what the hotel staff are up to. Personally, it was quite enjoyable for me, and I flew through it! I'm glad that I was able to read this early through NetGalley!