The Sun Down Motel â€� Reader Q&A

Questions About The Sun Down Motel

by Simone St. James (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)

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Answered Questions (42)

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Wes Martin

This answer contains spoilersâ€� (view spoiler)[1. The Sun Down Motel was basically abandoned. Nobody stayed there and the owners seemed resolved to let it exist until a catastrophe happened and they could collect the insurance payout (which they did). This isnâ€™t suggested in the book, but itâ€™s also possible that the owners were getting kickbacks from the prostitutes and drug dealers who â€œset up shopâ€� in the Sun Down. Throughout the book there were several references to Viv and Carly showing up for their shift to find the employee from the previous shift was already gone or leaving before their replacement showed up.

The fact that Viv went unnoticed for 4 days was part-luck (her roommate was out of town), and partly strategic (she had a cop who was covering for her and likely diverting suspicion or attention while Viv could disappear).

2. The Sun Down collecting mold and flooding at the end was metaphorical. The motel had been stuck in time. Carly makes a reference to how the motel hadnâ€™t aged from the pictures she had seen with her Aunt Viv from 35-years prior. It was like the motel was stuck, just like how Betty was stuck - with her killer still not identified. However, at the end when it came to light that Simon Hess was Bettyâ€™s murdered and she, in turn, murdered her killerâ€™s grandson, both Betty and the Sun Down were free to move forward to the â€œafterlifeâ€� so to speak. So, in a sense Bettyâ€™s presence had supernaturally kept The Sun Down from aging, and when her spirit was free to move on, the Sun Down accumulated 35-years of delayed deterioration, seemingly overnight.

In making this decision, I think that St. James was able to capture two ideas beautifully. First, she showed what it is like for a victim and their family to have a tragedy without any justice, resolution, or closure. Betty and her â€œburialâ€� location were unable to move forward. But, once she received justice on Hess, 35-years of â€œstucknessâ€� was undone overnight. Second, I think that it was important that the Sun Down be demolished to bring resolution to the story for the reader. By tearing down the motel, the ghosts of the Sun Down (both literal and figurative) are put to rest, and thus the reader can imagine that the town of Fell is able to rest as well. (hide spoiler)]

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Claudine Iâ€™m thinking this was included so that we wouldnâ€™t be sure to trust Nick.

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How does an unpublished book get 2500+ ratings?

Daisy Regular people (like me) have book subscriptions & new releases are there.

I know Indie book stores have books â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðRegular people (like me) have book subscriptions & new releases are there.

I know Indie book stores have books they sent over the librarians there to have them read beforehand as well so when you go to the bookstore they might've read it and have more insight to the customers. (less)

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Kelly

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Super nitpicky, but was anyone else bothered by the bookâ€™s cover photo not matching the motel description in the book? In the book the Sun Down is described multiple times as an L-shaped two story building on an empty road with a blue and yellow sign out front displaying â€œcable TVâ€� which does not match the cover photo at all.

Rhys Yes, it actually bothered me too! I was disappointed that those rich details outlined in the book weren't important enough to get the cover art right.â€¦m´Ç°ù±ðYes, it actually bothered me too! I was disappointed that those rich details outlined in the book weren't important enough to get the cover art right. It may seem nitpicky, but the motel is essentially one of the biggest characters in the book, so the cover art should've represented it accurately!(less)

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Unanswered Questions (8)

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I am wondering who the lawyer is that got Victoriaâ€™s boyfriend and the homeless man off? Alma wouldnâ€™t say who it was and I have no ideas! Thanks in advance!

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