Challenge Corner discussion

In this chilling supernatural horror novel set in a mysterious hotel, a woman fleeing her abusive ex finds herself running from more than just her past.

A historic hotel long past its prime and huddled along The Cut, a questionable Lake Erie beach, isn’t Sadie Miles’ ideal place to raise a toddler while also navigating her second pregnancy. After finally fleeing her abusive ex-fiancé, though, Sadie’s new housekeeping position and free room at L’Arpin Hotel are the best she can manage.

On her first night, Sadie runs to help a guest struggling in the hotel’s pool only to find the water calm and empty when she gets there, leaving her with a lingering unease. When a guest then goes missing and her manager insists they simply left without checking out, Sadie suspects he’s covering up darker goings-on in the hotel.

After her ex, Sadie won't let anyone convince her that what she’s experiencing isn’t real again. So, she keeps digging, quickly uncovering suspicious interactions with the staff, mysteriously vanishing security cameras, more missing guests, and things that go bump in the night...and drip in the walls, slither in the tub, and squirm in the halls. Everything isn't as it seems within the dim hallways of L’Arpin. Sadie has nowhere to go and nowhere to hide; she'll need to keep her wits about her to survive and keep her toddler and unborn child safe from whatever lurks nearby.

To Ch 9: (view spoiler)[I have found getting to know Sadie quite interesting. I wish she was just pregnant though and didn't have Izzy, because that kid drives me nuts. No offense. It's hard to tell who is friend and who is foe around the hotel. I think Mel, the 19-yo cleaner is a friend, and Joe the cook, but not sure on everyone else yet. Bunch of busybodies. Also, this Bill guy at thr power plant. He's quite aggressive, but it sounds like he thinks someone from the hotel is intentionally damaging the plant. Also, can't wait to find out what lives in the lake!! (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 14: Okay, how is Izzy (view spoiler)[getting even more annoying?! I'm sorry. Anyway, more importantly, what the hell happened to Mel and obviously they are all covering it up!? I'm intrigued. (hide spoiler)]

6 chapters / 26%

WOW!

(view spoiler)[ I'm surprised by how casually she took the job but then she's being really nosy - searching rooms she isn't supposed to and checking security feeds. yikes, she's been there just days and she's constantly leaving her daughter to scooby-doo around the hotel!

but I like it so far. I'm not totally pulled in yet, because a few things don't make sense - but I'm rolling with it!

I like Gertie but I feel like Gertie and Dyer know something is weird about this place. is it because it's next to the power plant? something growing in the water?! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "6 chapters / 26%

WOW!

I'm surprised..."

Right!? (view spoiler)[Her behavior is so odd. I mean, I could get it if she didn't have the annoying kid, but like, maybe mind your business, do you job and get the heck out of there! I can't wait for you to get further in!!! (hide spoiler)]

megs_bookrack wrote: "To Ch 9: [spoilers removed]"

OMG I agree 💯
(view spoiler)[ I wish she was just pregnant. Her constantly having to shuffle around Izzy and constantly leave her is bananas. I'd keep my head down just TO protect her!

and wow, what was in the water? Interesting that it didn't try to hurt her. it was giving her visions or something - but caressing her, not hurting her (hide spoiler)]

to Ch 14

ahahah!! YES! (view spoiler)[ I agree, I'm not sure the point of having Izzy in the story unless it was the first reason this group of sketchy adults wanted her - because she had a kid they could, I don't know, feed to the tentacle thing.

and I can't believe Sadie is looking at 2 bedroom and 1 bedroom places! To get out of that place, and protect my kid, I would be looking at closets if I had to! She's showering in a truck stop and already living in a studio with the kid! lol

and once they disappeared Mel, and she kind of has the evidence that even Gertie is in on it - I would skip town with my last check! I would be so far out of there!! lol

I do wonder - she didn't get a new phone or sim card - I'm hoping her ex can't track her. but maybe the creature will eat him instead!! lol

and it's creepy how excited they all are about the baby, right? makes me wonder . . . (hide spoiler)]

21 chapters

I hate it but I'm really struggling here.

(view spoiler)[
I just don't find Sadie realistic. no way she'd keep shoving her daughter with these people - even she describes them as barely above strangers. Her kid is 3 AND there is an abusive ex she's running from and she thinks monsters in the hotel?
and she leaves her alone just so she can check when Sam is leaving the hotel? Or shoves her at the first stranger she can just to save a guy she hates from a monster that defies reality? I mean, wouldn't she want to protect her kid? Scream for help, call the cops, but hold your kid . . .

the monsters are wild but I'm struggling to imagine - either this town is so small Sadie has never so much as ventured to a thrift shop to buy her kid toys (she's playing with toilet paper rolls)

or it's big enough they can sell this many people went missing - like guests and employees- and everyone just believes the hotel and doesn't worry when it sounds sketchy All these missing people, but don't worry, no serial killer here! hahah!!

and now Joe's dead - crazy! he did seem to know about Mel though - his comments about her being okay were weird right?

and now Gertie being weird about her leaving but also showing her the monsters. I wonder how this ends. . .Mel being the thing that grabbed Sam was wild too. I mean, what is going on here? Are they feeding people to the monsters? Is Gertie a monster? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "megs_bookrack wrote: "To Ch 9: [spoilers removed]"

OMG I agree 💯..."

I'm glad you agree, I was fearing I was just being a total bitch! Hahahaha -- but, yeah, (view spoiler)[things in the water have always freaked me out, although I love the water more than anything, you never know what's under there...so that is definitely playing into my wheelhouse! (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "to Ch 14

ahahah!! YES..."

Yeahhhhh, I agree with all of these thoughts and felt very similarly, particularly in regards to (view spoiler)[Gertie. Like, peace out, Sadie, this isn't the only place in the world you can go!? (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "21 chapters

I hate it but I'm really struggling here..."

Hahahaha, I'm LOVING all these thoughts, because I totally get where you are coming from. You are making perfect sense, (view spoiler)[the book isn't necessarily making sense, but it did keep me entertained. This reminded me of, you might not be old enough to remember this, but in the late-70s to like mid-80s, before cable, they used to play like these creature feature movies on television during the day on the weekend and each one was so ridiculous. I mean it was before CGI, so it was all like animatronic spiders and ants and stuff, and there would be like a toxic waste spill and the ants would grow to be the size of houses and eat the entire town...this book follows the same logic as those movies. (hide spoiler)]

Done! I'm so on the fence as to what to rate this. I was entertained the entire time. Did I think it was logical? No. Do I think it will win a Bram Stoker Award? Absolutely not. Was I entertained, compelled to keep going and laughing at some of the B-Horror elements? Abso-freaking-lutely. IDK, I am leaning 3.5-stars rounded up! I have a feeling that will be higher than you. Hahahhahaa

But then, perhaps I will stick to just 3.5-stars and not round up. I hated Izzy. LOL -- like that annoyed me the whole book. Hmmmm, what to do, what to do...

And done!

ooh, I've never heard of the shows you described but they sound fun!
You know, if I think of this in terms of a b-level horror movie - it's a lot more enjoyable!!

(view spoiler)[ the ending was definitely entertaining, like you said.

for sure, if we're thinking of, like, swamp monster or The Thing - then I think this is a good, older style horror movie kind of book. things don't necessarily make sense but 90% of it happens at night, in the near dark, and it's all jump scares and high entertainment value with shock-value thrown in! lol

with that in mind - all the deaths in the end were pretty surprising! I really thought most of them would make it out! I didn't think the 'who' all were behind it was surprising, just surprising how far they would go to continue with these monsters.

I'm also glad she didn't go with the power plant guy. he kind of sucked too - just too grumpy (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "And done!

ooh, I've never heard of the shows you described but they sound..."

Yeah, it's sort of like if movies like The Conjuring, or Get Out, are blockbuster Horror, this is like the made for the SciFi channel level of Horror. It's not gonna win any awards, but can still be an entertaining way to pass a couple of hours on the weekend. LOL