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The Hotel
As we welcome the Rowe family to our beautiful clifftop hotel, a shadow passes over my husband’s face. In that moment I see my husband is hiding a terrible secret. Has he put us all in danger?
Mark and I pride ourselves on giving visitors to our hotel, high on the rugged Maine cliffs with views of the ocean, a vacation they won’t forget. But the Rowes are strangely over-familiar when they arrive with their teenage daughter. The wife puts a hand on Mark’s forearm and her husband meets my eyes with a knowing look as I hold my little son tight. They gush that they loved their previous stay here� But I’m certain I’ve never seen them before.
Mark reassures me that the Rowes are just being friendly. We have so many visitors, maybe we forgot meeting them. When I am locked in the master bedroom for over an hour, he later soothes my panic and says it was just an accident. But I know one of the Rowes was out in the hallway listening to me cry for help. I hear one of them whispering a lullaby to my baby on his monitor. I cannot trust these people.
But as the relentless icy rain gives way to the biggest blizzard of the season and we become cut off, I realize my son and I are trapped. Mark knows more about the Rowes than he’s letting on. I’ll do anything to protect my gorgeous baby boy. But how far will I have to go, to keep him safe?
Mark and I pride ourselves on giving visitors to our hotel, high on the rugged Maine cliffs with views of the ocean, a vacation they won’t forget. But the Rowes are strangely over-familiar when they arrive with their teenage daughter. The wife puts a hand on Mark’s forearm and her husband meets my eyes with a knowing look as I hold my little son tight. They gush that they loved their previous stay here� But I’m certain I’ve never seen them before.
Mark reassures me that the Rowes are just being friendly. We have so many visitors, maybe we forgot meeting them. When I am locked in the master bedroom for over an hour, he later soothes my panic and says it was just an accident. But I know one of the Rowes was out in the hallway listening to me cry for help. I hear one of them whispering a lullaby to my baby on his monitor. I cannot trust these people.
But as the relentless icy rain gives way to the biggest blizzard of the season and we become cut off, I realize my son and I are trapped. Mark knows more about the Rowes than he’s letting on. I’ll do anything to protect my gorgeous baby boy. But how far will I have to go, to keep him safe?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2023
2,198 people are currently reading
1,598 people want to read
About the author
Emily Shiner
32books576followersEmily lives in the mountains of North Carolina and loves hiking with her dogs--only when she's not thinking up twisted tales, that is. She loves books that keep you up long after you should be in bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
September 6, 2023
Shocking, jaw dropping, atmospheric and hard to put down!!
Abby and Mark run a picturesque clifftop hotel, overlooking the ocean in Maine. Their hotel is in a beautiful setting, but it is struggling financially. Abby has found a way to entice guests by offering a promotion. Soon, the Rowe family books the entire hotel for a three week stay! Abby is excited! The Rowe's say they have stayed there before, but Abby can't find their previous booking. Strange but she is not concerned. She and Mark have a toddler and they both love having people around. This booking will help with their cash flow.
From the moment the Rowe's and their teenage daughter arrive, there is discomfort and unease. Soon strange things begin to happen like Abby being locked in her bedroom, whispering on her son's baby monitor, etc.
This book grabbed my attention from the very first page! I loved the setting of the cliffside hotel in Maine. When the snow begins to fall, this book became very atmospheric and as they were all trapped inside waiting out the blizzard, the tension, sense of dread, anxiety and feeling of isolation grew by the page!
This book had secrets and twists galore! I had a hard time putting this book down! There are several reveals, each better than the last! This is how you do it! This is the second book that I have read by Emily Shiner, and I cannot wait to read what she writes next.
Well written, well thought out, gripping, atmospheric and shocking!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
Abby and Mark run a picturesque clifftop hotel, overlooking the ocean in Maine. Their hotel is in a beautiful setting, but it is struggling financially. Abby has found a way to entice guests by offering a promotion. Soon, the Rowe family books the entire hotel for a three week stay! Abby is excited! The Rowe's say they have stayed there before, but Abby can't find their previous booking. Strange but she is not concerned. She and Mark have a toddler and they both love having people around. This booking will help with their cash flow.
From the moment the Rowe's and their teenage daughter arrive, there is discomfort and unease. Soon strange things begin to happen like Abby being locked in her bedroom, whispering on her son's baby monitor, etc.
This book grabbed my attention from the very first page! I loved the setting of the cliffside hotel in Maine. When the snow begins to fall, this book became very atmospheric and as they were all trapped inside waiting out the blizzard, the tension, sense of dread, anxiety and feeling of isolation grew by the page!
This book had secrets and twists galore! I had a hard time putting this book down! There are several reveals, each better than the last! This is how you do it! This is the second book that I have read by Emily Shiner, and I cannot wait to read what she writes next.
Well written, well thought out, gripping, atmospheric and shocking!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
September 20, 2023
Abby knew her husband lied to her but she never knew what he was hiding. Or did she?
When guests arrive and Mark’s expression seems scared or shocked, Abby wonders what’s going on.
Something is definitely going on, and then the electricity goes out from the raging storm.
What will happen now, and what’s up with the guests at the isolated B&B?
They are acting odd and odd things are happening.
You won’t be able to stop reading because you HAVE to find out what plans the guests have and what the secret that not only Mark is keeping but others as well.
Oh the tension in this book, and the characters are ones that you won’t be able to decide which one is the most cunning. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
When guests arrive and Mark’s expression seems scared or shocked, Abby wonders what’s going on.
Something is definitely going on, and then the electricity goes out from the raging storm.
What will happen now, and what’s up with the guests at the isolated B&B?
They are acting odd and odd things are happening.
You won’t be able to stop reading because you HAVE to find out what plans the guests have and what the secret that not only Mark is keeping but others as well.
Oh the tension in this book, and the characters are ones that you won’t be able to decide which one is the most cunning. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
August 10, 2023
When the Rowe family arrives at Saltside Inn they stretch the hospitality of the Hardy family really thin. As the get-away kicks off, readers soon realize that everyone has ulterior motives which are slowly revealed as the snowstorm wreaks havoc on Oyster, Maine.
It isn’t a stretch to imagine how unsafe it is to have sketchy strangers in your home during a snowstorm�.Shiner plays on this!
What I loved:
✔️isolated setting; B&B on a cliff in Maine during a snowstorm
✔️locked ‘room�; 2 families trapped in B&B during storm
✔️limited cast of characters
✔️multiple POV
✔️ٱԲDz
✔️unreliable narrators
✔️secrets/hidden agendas; not knowing who to trust
✔️mystery to solve
My takeaway? (1) Things aren’t always as they seem and (2) be careful not to put yourself in a position where you need to risk your safety to earn a dollar.
Looking back, I shudder to think of what could have happened when my parents operated a B&B in the mid-80s when our city had Expo. We met wonderful people from all over the world, but the outcome could have been so very different�.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
It isn’t a stretch to imagine how unsafe it is to have sketchy strangers in your home during a snowstorm�.Shiner plays on this!
What I loved:
✔️isolated setting; B&B on a cliff in Maine during a snowstorm
✔️locked ‘room�; 2 families trapped in B&B during storm
✔️limited cast of characters
✔️multiple POV
✔️ٱԲDz
✔️unreliable narrators
✔️secrets/hidden agendas; not knowing who to trust
✔️mystery to solve
My takeaway? (1) Things aren’t always as they seem and (2) be careful not to put yourself in a position where you need to risk your safety to earn a dollar.
Looking back, I shudder to think of what could have happened when my parents operated a B&B in the mid-80s when our city had Expo. We met wonderful people from all over the world, but the outcome could have been so very different�.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 31, 2023
I think I'm definitely the outlier here after seeing a lot of really good reviews, but I did not like this at all. I felt like the writing was repetitive and disjointed. The character arcs made zero sense. The storyline was not interesting enough to hold up for the whole book, which made it pretty boring. But also, the storyline was extremely farfetched. I understand having to suspend your beliefs when reading fiction sometimes, but this was too over the top unrealistic. I guessed the big twist really early on, which left next to no suspense for me.
I did like the short chapters from multiple POV's, but overall, this one just didn't do it for me. But, based on other really good reviews, I think it's a me thing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I did like the short chapters from multiple POV's, but overall, this one just didn't do it for me. But, based on other really good reviews, I think it's a me thing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 30, 2023
Mark and I pride ourselves on giving visitors to our hotel, high in the rugged Maine cliffs with views of the ocean, a vacation they won't forget. But the Rowes are strangely over-familiar when they arrive with their teenage daughter. The wife puts a hand on Mark's forearm and her husband meets my eyes with a knowing look as I hold my little son tight. They gush that they loved their previous stay here.... But I'm certain I've never seen them before.
Emily Shiner is quickly climbing up my favourite authors list. Set at a secluded bed and breakfast during the winter months, a blizzard sets in. Abby and Mark are our hosts in Oyster, Maine. A family book the entire B&B for three weeks. Everyone has secrets. Soon after the Rove family arrive, there are some strange occurrences take place. The story is told from the four main characters perspectives. This is a fast-paced captivating read. The characters are well developed.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #EmilyShiner for my ARC of #TheHotel in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Shiner is quickly climbing up my favourite authors list. Set at a secluded bed and breakfast during the winter months, a blizzard sets in. Abby and Mark are our hosts in Oyster, Maine. A family book the entire B&B for three weeks. Everyone has secrets. Soon after the Rove family arrive, there are some strange occurrences take place. The story is told from the four main characters perspectives. This is a fast-paced captivating read. The characters are well developed.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #EmilyShiner for my ARC of #TheHotel in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2023
The Hotel
By Emily Shiner
Pub Date: 07 Sep 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.25/5
Emily Shiner's The Hotel is a compelling and effective domestic novel with shocking twists. Since thrillers are my favorite genre, I usually have the ending figured out long before I turn the last page. I enjoyed reading The Hotel because Emily Shiner completely fooled me. This story is a fun read for fans of the suspense genre, with an unpredictable plot line and well-crafted characters. And, I couldn't put it down; I read the entire book in one sitting!
The Hotel's cast of characters has a creepy and unnerving quality. As the story unfolds in an old B&B in Oyster, Maine, a coastal town, an eerie and mysterious adventure emerges. Several perspectives are told in this story, and the writing is tight and engaging. Initially, the pace is slow, but quickly picks up, and by the end I was completely absorbed. This is my first book by Emily Shiner, and I found her to be an extremely creative author. I look forward to reading more from her.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this thriller with me. Your kindness is appreciated.
#TheHotel #EmilyShiner
@advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #bookmail #netgalleyapprovals #Netgalleyapproval @advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
By Emily Shiner
Pub Date: 07 Sep 2023
Bookouture
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4.25/5
Emily Shiner's The Hotel is a compelling and effective domestic novel with shocking twists. Since thrillers are my favorite genre, I usually have the ending figured out long before I turn the last page. I enjoyed reading The Hotel because Emily Shiner completely fooled me. This story is a fun read for fans of the suspense genre, with an unpredictable plot line and well-crafted characters. And, I couldn't put it down; I read the entire book in one sitting!
The Hotel's cast of characters has a creepy and unnerving quality. As the story unfolds in an old B&B in Oyster, Maine, a coastal town, an eerie and mysterious adventure emerges. Several perspectives are told in this story, and the writing is tight and engaging. Initially, the pace is slow, but quickly picks up, and by the end I was completely absorbed. This is my first book by Emily Shiner, and I found her to be an extremely creative author. I look forward to reading more from her.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing this thriller with me. Your kindness is appreciated.
#TheHotel #EmilyShiner
@advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra #bookmail #netgalleyapprovals #Netgalleyapproval @advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
September 7, 2023
Abby and Mark own a secluded B& B called the Saltside Inn overlooking a cliff in Oyster, Maine. They live there with their young son Henry, who they struggled to have for years. The scenery is beautiful but they are struggling financially so they’re delighted when Abby’s social media blitz brings the Rowes in for a three week stay. This should really give them a much needed boost in the checkbook and also some company while the major snowstorm that’s expected to hit town and cut them off from everything hits. Except everyone is keeping secrets, not everyone is who they seem and all their motives are questionable. Abby must do anything she can to keep her son safe. But is Abby keeping secrets too?
The story unfolds through the POV of Abby, Mark, Lottie and occasionally Chelsea, the teenage daughter of the Rowes, who seems to have made an unlikely alliance with Mark. There were several surprises from each of the characters and the author did a good job of ramping up the tension.
An enjoyable, fast paced read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this eArc in exchange for my review.
The story unfolds through the POV of Abby, Mark, Lottie and occasionally Chelsea, the teenage daughter of the Rowes, who seems to have made an unlikely alliance with Mark. There were several surprises from each of the characters and the author did a good job of ramping up the tension.
An enjoyable, fast paced read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this eArc in exchange for my review.
August 11, 2023
This was my first Emily Shiner book, & it did not disappoint. The setting of being secluded in snowy, Maine during a horrible blizzard really set the atmosphere for me. I absolutely loved this book from the setting to the characters, storyline and all the twists! I second guessed myself many times. Abby was such a badass!!!
This was such a fun & fast paced read. I love a revenge filled book full of twists & turns.
Plus, I really had some major cover LOVE for this book.
Rating: 4/5
PUB Date: September 7, 2023 Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a fun & fast paced read. I love a revenge filled book full of twists & turns.
Plus, I really had some major cover LOVE for this book.
Rating: 4/5
PUB Date: September 7, 2023 Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2023
A family-run B&B hosts guests who rent out the whole place. They claim they've stayed before but the owners don't remember them. A bad storm huddles them together without electricity and things go from mysterious to suspenseful.
Shiner did so well with this. I loved the buildup, slowly creeping up to the explosion. Lots of great tension and characters you love to hate.
Shiner did so well with this. I loved the buildup, slowly creeping up to the explosion. Lots of great tension and characters you love to hate.
July 26, 2023
The Hotel
by Emily Shiner
Publication date 07 Sep 2023 by Bookouture
⭐️⭐️�
A story full of secrets. A secluded B&B on the top of a cliff. Another family threatening their peace and quiet. then comes the snowstorm and things go downhill quite quickly.
My first book by her was almost my last. But I decided to give her works some more tries and it paid off for me. Her last book I liked a lot. This one was more on the miss than hit side.
The story was ok. A very slow start, it picked up towards the middle but the ending ruined it. Totally. Everything was very convenient and turned up right when needed. Every single character was extremely unlikable and I relatable. If nothing else, the story was predictable. I don’t know if the “twist� was on purpose that easy to figure out from the beginning? Not sure if I’d read her future works anymore.
by Emily Shiner
Publication date 07 Sep 2023 by Bookouture
⭐️⭐️�
A story full of secrets. A secluded B&B on the top of a cliff. Another family threatening their peace and quiet. then comes the snowstorm and things go downhill quite quickly.
My first book by her was almost my last. But I decided to give her works some more tries and it paid off for me. Her last book I liked a lot. This one was more on the miss than hit side.
The story was ok. A very slow start, it picked up towards the middle but the ending ruined it. Totally. Everything was very convenient and turned up right when needed. Every single character was extremely unlikable and I relatable. If nothing else, the story was predictable. I don’t know if the “twist� was on purpose that easy to figure out from the beginning? Not sure if I’d read her future works anymore.
January 3, 2024
I always get sucked in to the "thriller, page turner, twist you don't see coming" genre. The synopsis itself was riveting. I should have quit reading after that. This one did not live up to any of it. First, the title was a complete misnomer. This had nothing to do with a hotel, but rather a B&B-and was referred to as such throughout the story. Second, I saw one of the twists coming early on despite how hard they tried to dance around it. Which got to be monotonous. Third, I was not a fan of any of the characters. In fact, the main character-the wife- I found her to be just short of a crazy loon. The lengths she was willing to go to 'teach her husband a lesson'-just too much. Lastly, I felt like this book dragged on and on. It was a short book, but it just kept going and going and going.....and going. I would have given it only one star but I reserve that for books I absolutely hate and usually don't finish. I gave the second star to myself for finishing it.
October 31, 2023
This book was a quick read! It held my interest throughout. There were several good reveals, but there were enough clues sprinkled in so that you had a heads up in advance. Not my preferred way of learning what should have been surprises, but that’s okay. What really prompted my good review was the ending. I loved it! It’s one of those endings where you want to scream, “YES!� If that’s how you feel, then this book is clearly a winner!
August 19, 2023
Sadly The Hotel didn't quite work for me.
The premise is intriguing at first glance: Abby and Mark own a secluded B&B and are struggling financially. They're delighted when the Rowes book the whole place out during the winter - this should be a real opportunity for them and their young child. The only problem is that everyone's keeping secrets...
Ultimately, for me, this premise was simply too thin to sustain a whole story. I guessed the core secret early on, which informs everything else. The characters aren't particularly likeable, no one ever has a decent conversation/confrontation and it's all dragged out a bit. There is a decent level of tension but it left me with a desire to rush through rather than savour the moment. Sorry to say that this wasn't the holiday blockbuster I was looking for. Some of the right elements were there, but simply missing a level of depth that turns a thriller into a must-read.
The premise is intriguing at first glance: Abby and Mark own a secluded B&B and are struggling financially. They're delighted when the Rowes book the whole place out during the winter - this should be a real opportunity for them and their young child. The only problem is that everyone's keeping secrets...
Ultimately, for me, this premise was simply too thin to sustain a whole story. I guessed the core secret early on, which informs everything else. The characters aren't particularly likeable, no one ever has a decent conversation/confrontation and it's all dragged out a bit. There is a decent level of tension but it left me with a desire to rush through rather than savour the moment. Sorry to say that this wasn't the holiday blockbuster I was looking for. Some of the right elements were there, but simply missing a level of depth that turns a thriller into a must-read.
Read
September 7, 2023This is a captivating thriller with so many surprises that you’ll be completely absorbed until the very last page. To say that some of the characters are not who they seem would be an understatement, and the author keeps us guessing throughout the book. The spine-tingling suspense with a tiny touch of “creepy� almost borrows a bit from the horror genre, but this is a thriller to the core. The setting in a B&B in Maine in the middle of a blizzard adds perfectly to that “trapped in� feeling. There are multiple points of view, and they work to give the story added dimension. When those perspectives are woven together, shocking secrets are slowly revealed.
Thriller fans will love this unpredictable, tension-filled novel.
I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Thriller fans will love this unpredictable, tension-filled novel.
I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
August 10, 2023
this was my first emily shiner book and i liked it. the only issue i have is that the plot twist is extremely predictable from the first couple of chapters and i can help but feel it had all the ingredients for a good thriller but just didn't pay off - that being said, the pace of this book was ideal and i finished it within a couple of hours. it kept me hooked from the first chapters and i didn't mind the plot twist being predictable as i was intrigued to see where the story would end.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
thank you netgalley for the arc!
September 20, 2023
Abby,Mark and their son Henry live at a clifftop hitel. The rowel family rent the entire place out for 3 weeks. As they come every character has secrets and lies which iunravel.Told from different characters pov this is so entertaining. I did gueese the originsl twist the subsequent were fantastic. I was totally hooked.. The action was fast paced. . I felt Tim could have done with a chapter of his own . Some of the events seem far-fetched in places but it was very enjoyable lead. I loved the way the pov were written to lead you to think one thibg but it was actually another.
Thank you netgallery publisher and author for a solid four star arc
Thank you netgallery publisher and author for a solid four star arc
September 9, 2023
Saw this author on a Facebook group and had to check out her books! So. Glad. I. Did! Twists and story arc gave Freida McFadden vibes and I was here for it!
July 25, 2023
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was my second Emily Shiner book, and it did not disappoint. The setting of being secluded and shut off from the world, in Maine during a horrible blizzard was so eerie.
Abby and Mark have it all with their son Henry, and working at their B&B in Oyster, Maine. But lately things aren’t going great financially, and Abby has the idea of sending out a special coupon code for past guests, to get more people booking the B&B. Lottie, Tim, and Chelsea not only book the B&B through the special, but decide to rent out the entire place for three whole weeks. Abby is elated that their financial issues are coming to an end, but for some reason Mark is on edge. Who is this family that booked the entire place to themselves for three weeks? And what are their motives? When a blizzard hits, and they’re all stuck under the same roof tensions come to a head, and secrets start spilling out. As the reader you’re struggling to figure out who to believe? How will this all end, because not everyone is making it out alive.
I’ve learned that this author is the Queen of twists, and the two that came in the last chapter were jaw dropping. If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller, this is the one. Can’t help but thinking it’s the perfect book to curl up with in front of a fire on a snowy day (just make sure you look over your shoulder).
This was my second Emily Shiner book, and it did not disappoint. The setting of being secluded and shut off from the world, in Maine during a horrible blizzard was so eerie.
Abby and Mark have it all with their son Henry, and working at their B&B in Oyster, Maine. But lately things aren’t going great financially, and Abby has the idea of sending out a special coupon code for past guests, to get more people booking the B&B. Lottie, Tim, and Chelsea not only book the B&B through the special, but decide to rent out the entire place for three whole weeks. Abby is elated that their financial issues are coming to an end, but for some reason Mark is on edge. Who is this family that booked the entire place to themselves for three weeks? And what are their motives? When a blizzard hits, and they’re all stuck under the same roof tensions come to a head, and secrets start spilling out. As the reader you’re struggling to figure out who to believe? How will this all end, because not everyone is making it out alive.
I’ve learned that this author is the Queen of twists, and the two that came in the last chapter were jaw dropping. If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller, this is the one. Can’t help but thinking it’s the perfect book to curl up with in front of a fire on a snowy day (just make sure you look over your shoulder).
September 15, 2023
The Hotel
By: Emily Shiner
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagine owning a hotel on top of the cliffs of Maine and hoping to keep it booked. The Rowe family books the entire hotel for their vacation, so your money worries are solved!
As the family shows up clearly something is amiss. The daughter looks at your husband in a flirtatious manor. This novel is so full of secrets and twists in which everyone seems know something. When secrets are revealed who will come out unscathed?
The owners have a baby and the mother hears something on the baby monitor! Let the games begin. Non-stop action until the haunting conclusion.
Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and Author Emily Shiner for this advanced copy. I am a little late posting as I was on vacation.
#thehotel, #emilyshiner, #bookouture, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
August 7, 2023
I hate how much I disliked this book. The whole book seemed rush. For me it was very bland. Alot of parts were way too obvious and most of the story was very far fetched. There was so much repetitive content that I started getting very irritated having to hear which ever character going over things again. About half way through I wanted to give up. There are just too many plot holes for me and never in a million years cod all of this take place in such a short time. Dont even get me started how out of nowhere it jumps ahead 18 months. I was really looking forward to this one and was severely let down 😕
July 30, 2023
A suspenseful and fast paced pyschological thriller, filled with lies and deceit.
'He loves that about me. Loves that I'd do anything for my family. What he doesn't know if just how far I'm willing to go'.
Synopsis
Abby and Mark run a remote B&B, up on the cliffs - when it snows, they are cut off from everyone. Trying to keep the B&B afloat after financial difficulties, Abby decides to run a discounted rate for returning guests.
Straight away, a family wants to book the place out for three weeks over December. Abby is over the moon, but Mark is quiet - he's not 100% on board with a family staying for three weeks.
In the end, the family turn up - Lottie, Tim and their daughter Chelsea. Everything runs smoothly at first, but then the snow storm comes - effectively trapping them all inside the house... and that's when things start to go wrong. Abby and Mark's son, Henry, keeps turning up missing, the baby monitor goes missing, someone leaves a creepy note in the kitchen, and someone locks Abby in a room.
Is it their new guests? What would be their motive for messing with Abby like this, but also - what secrets and lies are they all hiding?
Thoughts
Suspenseful, fast paced and filled with secrets - it's a captivating read, full of surprises. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, seeing what others are thinking and what secrets they are hiding, or the game they're trying to play.
I would have liked to see a little more background as to why Chelsea has turned out the way she has (she's a little bit psychopathic!), and why Mark did a complete personality change at the end, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this read.
'One of us is going to walk away from this with the thing we want. And it's going to be me'.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this copy. This review is voluntary.
'He loves that about me. Loves that I'd do anything for my family. What he doesn't know if just how far I'm willing to go'.
Synopsis
Abby and Mark run a remote B&B, up on the cliffs - when it snows, they are cut off from everyone. Trying to keep the B&B afloat after financial difficulties, Abby decides to run a discounted rate for returning guests.
Straight away, a family wants to book the place out for three weeks over December. Abby is over the moon, but Mark is quiet - he's not 100% on board with a family staying for three weeks.
In the end, the family turn up - Lottie, Tim and their daughter Chelsea. Everything runs smoothly at first, but then the snow storm comes - effectively trapping them all inside the house... and that's when things start to go wrong. Abby and Mark's son, Henry, keeps turning up missing, the baby monitor goes missing, someone leaves a creepy note in the kitchen, and someone locks Abby in a room.
Is it their new guests? What would be their motive for messing with Abby like this, but also - what secrets and lies are they all hiding?
Thoughts
Suspenseful, fast paced and filled with secrets - it's a captivating read, full of surprises. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, seeing what others are thinking and what secrets they are hiding, or the game they're trying to play.
I would have liked to see a little more background as to why Chelsea has turned out the way she has (she's a little bit psychopathic!), and why Mark did a complete personality change at the end, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this read.
'One of us is going to walk away from this with the thing we want. And it's going to be me'.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this copy. This review is voluntary.
September 12, 2023
Snowed in & stuck with strangers and very weird things keep happening. Are the B&B guests dangerous to Abby & her family, or are the guests in danger themselves?
A great multiple POV thriller that keeps you questioning everybody and what their ulterior motives may be.
The unreliable/questionable characters, the stressful scenery (snowed in in a secluded cliff side B&B), and the spooky things that keep happening around the house will keep you at the edge of your seat wondering when the shoe is going to drop and everything hit the fan.
Some of the details of this story are a little far fetched (like renting out an entire B&B for 3 weeks in the middle of winter when you only live an hour away), but that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable honestly.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
A great multiple POV thriller that keeps you questioning everybody and what their ulterior motives may be.
The unreliable/questionable characters, the stressful scenery (snowed in in a secluded cliff side B&B), and the spooky things that keep happening around the house will keep you at the edge of your seat wondering when the shoe is going to drop and everything hit the fan.
Some of the details of this story are a little far fetched (like renting out an entire B&B for 3 weeks in the middle of winter when you only live an hour away), but that didn’t make the story any less enjoyable honestly.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 10, 2023
Jesus!! I need a sequel! I need to know what is going to happen next!! What an end!! Eek!!
Emily is and always will be a go-to author for me. Her tales are twisty, her writing is inclusive, and she always gives you a wide ride!! Although I don’t know that I have any words right now that are new and fresh to say about her and her books!
This was a thrill for a minute, as everyone was playing a game of cat and mouse and I mean EVERYONE! There are overarching agendas everywhere, and your mind is filled with trying to figure out who is going to come on top! If anyone!
With the pretext of a hotel and a trip away, things go dark quickly as we see the past unfold, not told. I had my theories and it all kept changing with every flick on the Kindle. My mind was boggled as to whom I should trust, especially when you are in the heads of all the different characters…apart from Tim! So glad we didn’t stray there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this vindictive little tale, and I defo need that sequel! I felt the cold of the hotel as the building had its own persona as it aided the different characters. And that final twist, with that final truck! Jeez!
Aaahhhh I have no words, the author sucked me in and spat me out. Mind blown!
Emily is and always will be a go-to author for me. Her tales are twisty, her writing is inclusive, and she always gives you a wide ride!! Although I don’t know that I have any words right now that are new and fresh to say about her and her books!
This was a thrill for a minute, as everyone was playing a game of cat and mouse and I mean EVERYONE! There are overarching agendas everywhere, and your mind is filled with trying to figure out who is going to come on top! If anyone!
With the pretext of a hotel and a trip away, things go dark quickly as we see the past unfold, not told. I had my theories and it all kept changing with every flick on the Kindle. My mind was boggled as to whom I should trust, especially when you are in the heads of all the different characters…apart from Tim! So glad we didn’t stray there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this vindictive little tale, and I defo need that sequel! I felt the cold of the hotel as the building had its own persona as it aided the different characters. And that final twist, with that final truck! Jeez!
Aaahhhh I have no words, the author sucked me in and spat me out. Mind blown!
January 17, 2025
This is a fun thriller that I read straight through. Abby and Mark (and 2-year-old son, Henry) own a B&B in Maine and rent it to Lottie and Tim (with teenage daughter, Chelsea) for 3 weeks. There's a huge snowstorm going on and they are afraid they may be snowed in, but Mark discovers his truck won't start as the battery cables have been cut! And this is just the beginning of the disasters that await as there is history involving two of them that is diabolical!
September 3, 2023
Abby‘s dream has always been to have a B&B and now she does it’s on a beautiful cliff in Maine where she lives with her husband Mark and her little boy Henry. Sadly however the business isn’t doing so well so she decides to run a promo in 20 minutes after posting it someone rinse the whole B&B for the month of December. She cannot wait to tell Mark that a family called the roe’s made such a huge booking. It’s a good thing she told Mark over text because then she didn’t see how his face completely fell when reading her message. It seems Mark knows the Ro family The Roe family consist of Tim Lottie and their teen-age daughter Chelsea who seems to be strangely excited about staying at a end on the Cliffon Maine in the middle of winter. Abby and Mark have been married for over 20 years and it took them a very long time to conceive baby Henry who Abby is completely gaga over when the royal family shows up she is excited to welcome her gas but soon after they arrive strange and dangerous things start happening including Henry going missing in the middle of a snowstorm and Abby being locked in her room and even though she can clearly see someone under the door no one answers when she calls. What does this family want with Abby and why does it seem this triple only end in a horrible way? I usually love Emily Shriner books but The Hotel in my opinion was not her best and it wasn’t even about a hotel but a bed-and-breakfast in Maine. That is neither here nor there but that is the misleading I believed when going into this book I found it hard to get into and somethings in the book we’re hard to believe something I’m not used to with Miss Shreiner and her stellar thrillers. I want to thank Bookoucher end NetGalley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 9, 2023
The Hotel by Emily Shiner has all the right elements for a thriller. A B&B on an isolated cliff over the ocean in a small town in Maine, a terrible snowstorm, and two families trapped inside. Abby and her husband Mark own the place and live there with their toddler, however they are beginning to struggle financially. Abby entices the Rowe family to come, and surprisingly they reserve the entire B&B for three weeks. Abby’s family will live on the second floor which can be locked for privacy. Soon there are strange occurrences, the couples seem to know each other, and Abby feels frightened for her child’s safety. The story is told from four POVs, with each one ending with a hope that no one spoils their “plan.� I figured out the twist very early on, and I finished the book in one day. I wanted to feel more surprised by the characters and their actions, although the author does increase the tension. The ending was fairly predictable. Still it was an enjoyable, fast moving read. With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. My opinions are my own.
September 7, 2023
A secluded B&B, a snowy blizzard and some secrets that are about to all be exposed.
2.5⭐️
This book did not do it for me, the story started extremely slow for my taste, it picked up towards the middle but by the end I felt like I had already guessed all the “plot twists�.
There weren’t any characters in the story that I found myself connecting with and honestly didn’t find myself liking any of them.
I was intrigued by the initial premise of the book, but throughout reading I wasn’t engrossed like I normally would be in a psychological thriller book. I wasn’t hanging to get answers as I was constantly finding I had already figured out what was going to happen next.
There were elements in the book that I did enjoy, however overall the plot was lacking for me to stay invested throughout the entirety of the story.
Thankyou Netgalley & Bookouture for an ARC of ‘The Hotel� in exchange for an honest review.
2.5⭐️
This book did not do it for me, the story started extremely slow for my taste, it picked up towards the middle but by the end I felt like I had already guessed all the “plot twists�.
There weren’t any characters in the story that I found myself connecting with and honestly didn’t find myself liking any of them.
I was intrigued by the initial premise of the book, but throughout reading I wasn’t engrossed like I normally would be in a psychological thriller book. I wasn’t hanging to get answers as I was constantly finding I had already figured out what was going to happen next.
There were elements in the book that I did enjoy, however overall the plot was lacking for me to stay invested throughout the entirety of the story.
Thankyou Netgalley & Bookouture for an ARC of ‘The Hotel� in exchange for an honest review.
September 3, 2023
This was a DNF for me.
What worked : The setting sounded interesting, and had the potential for a good thriller.
What didn’t: I didn’t care for the writing style. I found it to be repetitive and slow. Also, I found the characters to be flat, and unlikeable. There was too much time spent doting on the kid, and needless details, all of which made it a slog to read.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.
Two stars out of five.
What worked : The setting sounded interesting, and had the potential for a good thriller.
What didn’t: I didn’t care for the writing style. I found it to be repetitive and slow. Also, I found the characters to be flat, and unlikeable. There was too much time spent doting on the kid, and needless details, all of which made it a slog to read.
Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.
Two stars out of five.
September 5, 2023
The perfect escape...or the perfect trap...?
This is by far one of the best Emily Shiner books I've read, though to be fair, I've only read four and the other two didn't quite live up to the first one I read "The Stolen Child" which I really liked. This one was a whole lot of twisted secrets, lies and deception. A complex web so tangled I'm surprised even the spider herself could get out of it. But oh what a tangled web it was. And that ending.
Abby and Mark live in and run a B & B on the rugged cliffs of Oyster, Maine. The windswept views of the ocean, the sweeping coastline, so remote and isolated especially in a storm when the power is out and there is no way down the mountain back to civilisation. Not in a blizzard at any rate. So when Abby notices the outgoings are more than their incomings, she knows something has to change. And so she pitches her idea to Mark in the hope he will love it as much as she does. And he does. He trusts her judgement implicitly when it comes to the running of Saltside Inn.
So Abby puts together an offer for prospective guests too good to refuse in the hope she gets a bite. And no sooner has she posted the ad than she gets her first customer. And they want to book the entire B&B for three weeks...for just the three of them. Abby is thrilled. But when she texts Mark the good news, it's immediately obvious the news is not so good for him. And one has to wonder why that is. What is it that Mark is hiding?
When Lottie, Tim and their sixteen year old daughter Chelsea arrive two days later, Abby does her best to make them feel welcome. She cooks up a storm and they enjoy the meal around the table like one big happy family. But they are anything but. Because each one of them is hiding a secret. And each one of them is hoping that they come out on top. But at what cost? And to whom?
But when Abby's two year old son Henry goes missing one night and is not on any of the four floors of the Inn, her blood runs cold when she sees that there is snow just inside the door. Someone has been outside. And that someone took Henry with them. But they came back because everyone is accounted for...everyone except Henry. So where is he? And will they find him before it's too late?
This is a compelling domestic suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout. Though a different continent, it conjures up similar images of the unforgiving rugged Cornwall coastline, creating an atmospheric setting that is both creepy and chilling. As the story unfolds throughout the various narratives, the plot is tense and fast paced and by the end I was so completely absorbed I found I had been holding my breath.
The plot twist was fairly predictable but the writing is so tight and the story so engaging, it doesn't particularly matter. By this stage you just want to know how it all ends. But in saying that, nobody in this cast of characters is all that likeable although I did find myself silently rooting for Abby. Even so, I read this in one sitting.
What a delightfully vindictive little tale this was! And just when you thought it was over...that ending.
I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHotel in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at .
This is by far one of the best Emily Shiner books I've read, though to be fair, I've only read four and the other two didn't quite live up to the first one I read "The Stolen Child" which I really liked. This one was a whole lot of twisted secrets, lies and deception. A complex web so tangled I'm surprised even the spider herself could get out of it. But oh what a tangled web it was. And that ending.
Abby and Mark live in and run a B & B on the rugged cliffs of Oyster, Maine. The windswept views of the ocean, the sweeping coastline, so remote and isolated especially in a storm when the power is out and there is no way down the mountain back to civilisation. Not in a blizzard at any rate. So when Abby notices the outgoings are more than their incomings, she knows something has to change. And so she pitches her idea to Mark in the hope he will love it as much as she does. And he does. He trusts her judgement implicitly when it comes to the running of Saltside Inn.
So Abby puts together an offer for prospective guests too good to refuse in the hope she gets a bite. And no sooner has she posted the ad than she gets her first customer. And they want to book the entire B&B for three weeks...for just the three of them. Abby is thrilled. But when she texts Mark the good news, it's immediately obvious the news is not so good for him. And one has to wonder why that is. What is it that Mark is hiding?
When Lottie, Tim and their sixteen year old daughter Chelsea arrive two days later, Abby does her best to make them feel welcome. She cooks up a storm and they enjoy the meal around the table like one big happy family. But they are anything but. Because each one of them is hiding a secret. And each one of them is hoping that they come out on top. But at what cost? And to whom?
But when Abby's two year old son Henry goes missing one night and is not on any of the four floors of the Inn, her blood runs cold when she sees that there is snow just inside the door. Someone has been outside. And that someone took Henry with them. But they came back because everyone is accounted for...everyone except Henry. So where is he? And will they find him before it's too late?
This is a compelling domestic suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout. Though a different continent, it conjures up similar images of the unforgiving rugged Cornwall coastline, creating an atmospheric setting that is both creepy and chilling. As the story unfolds throughout the various narratives, the plot is tense and fast paced and by the end I was so completely absorbed I found I had been holding my breath.
The plot twist was fairly predictable but the writing is so tight and the story so engaging, it doesn't particularly matter. By this stage you just want to know how it all ends. But in saying that, nobody in this cast of characters is all that likeable although I did find myself silently rooting for Abby. Even so, I read this in one sitting.
What a delightfully vindictive little tale this was! And just when you thought it was over...that ending.
I would like to thank #EmilyShiner, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHotel in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at .
August 15, 2023
The Hotel by Emily Shiner was a mystery filled, pulse pounding thriller perfect to curl up with on a cold winter day and get your blood pumping. As the characters contend with being snowed in, the reader can take comfort in their own warmth and comfortable surroundings while trying to get to the bottom of all the lies and nefarious things hinted at throughout the course of this novel. It certainly had me captivated, winter weather being nowhere in sight and all, and I found myself flying through the pages, literally unable to stop one I got started.
The atmosphere of this novel was just perfection. I felt like I was in this cold little bed and breakfast trying to stay warm by the fire even amidst the middle of summer weather in reality. When creepy events started taking place, I was spooked, imagining them perfectly and feeling Abby’s terror and unsettled emotions for her son.
I enjoyed the multiple different POVs, and never felt like any one of them seemed entirely unnecessary or like there were too many to switch between which for me isn’t always the case when it comes to thrillers and having more than a couple different viewpoints being told, particularly when it’s a shorter book. Admittedly I didn’t always find the characters likeable, particularly when it came to the secrets they were keeping and the morally questionable things they would do in pursuit of accomplishing their goals, but I was able to get passed this and not focus on it too strongly.
There were a lot of secrets. Which was super intriguing and what kept me flipping through the pages, just wanting to know what everyone was hiding from one another. In my impatience it was also frustrating how well the characters inner monologue skirted away from actually revealing what they knew.
The second half of the book is where things get TENSE. I was stressed out reading it just waiting to see what would happen next. It also has me wondering what the heck was happening, a la so many unanswered questions. In other words, in a good way because my mind was boggled about what was going on and why it would possibly be going the way it was. This is in part, I feel because these characters make for some very unreliable narrators. With all the secrets, with the contrasting events that took place, I felt like I couldn’t trust anything they were saying or doing at times, which made it so difficult to know who and what to believe. This completely made the story. Not knowing who to believe made it fascinating and impossible to turn away from and it sucked me in to the story.
I devoured this book in a day I was so engrossed in it, and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised with how much The Hotel sucked me in to its story. I feel like locked room mysteries can go one of two ways, either deeply immersive, or unfortunately boring and lack depth, and The Hotel was definitely the former, knocking the genre out of the park. I highly recommend this read for those looking for a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, while questioning everything the narrators tell you and turning things completely on their head.
The atmosphere of this novel was just perfection. I felt like I was in this cold little bed and breakfast trying to stay warm by the fire even amidst the middle of summer weather in reality. When creepy events started taking place, I was spooked, imagining them perfectly and feeling Abby’s terror and unsettled emotions for her son.
I enjoyed the multiple different POVs, and never felt like any one of them seemed entirely unnecessary or like there were too many to switch between which for me isn’t always the case when it comes to thrillers and having more than a couple different viewpoints being told, particularly when it’s a shorter book. Admittedly I didn’t always find the characters likeable, particularly when it came to the secrets they were keeping and the morally questionable things they would do in pursuit of accomplishing their goals, but I was able to get passed this and not focus on it too strongly.
There were a lot of secrets. Which was super intriguing and what kept me flipping through the pages, just wanting to know what everyone was hiding from one another. In my impatience it was also frustrating how well the characters inner monologue skirted away from actually revealing what they knew.
The second half of the book is where things get TENSE. I was stressed out reading it just waiting to see what would happen next. It also has me wondering what the heck was happening, a la so many unanswered questions. In other words, in a good way because my mind was boggled about what was going on and why it would possibly be going the way it was. This is in part, I feel because these characters make for some very unreliable narrators. With all the secrets, with the contrasting events that took place, I felt like I couldn’t trust anything they were saying or doing at times, which made it so difficult to know who and what to believe. This completely made the story. Not knowing who to believe made it fascinating and impossible to turn away from and it sucked me in to the story.
I devoured this book in a day I was so engrossed in it, and I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised with how much The Hotel sucked me in to its story. I feel like locked room mysteries can go one of two ways, either deeply immersive, or unfortunately boring and lack depth, and The Hotel was definitely the former, knocking the genre out of the park. I highly recommend this read for those looking for a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat, while questioning everything the narrators tell you and turning things completely on their head.
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