Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

74 reviews

bookishbutch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexism, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

bxnnny's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

greatly enjoyed the pace of the story, the plot, and the two different timelines coinciding. though it was pretty predicitable, it was enjoyable and i read through it in one day.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Stalking

Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Sexism, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

murder, paranormal activity, and violence against women are main themes. rape is mentioned several times as well as some mentions of cancer. there are brief instances of homophobia and sexism. pedophilia is implied as well.

theonlybaillie's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Sexual harassment

dilani's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Incredible world building and characters. I felt immersed from the first chapter all the way to the last. The alternating POVs from Viv and Carly kept the plot interesting and engaging. I never felt like there was a dull moment with these two.

Overall, I had an amazing time reading this book and felt invested in all the characters. I can’t wait to read more of Simone St. James!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Rape and Kidnapping

Minor: Cancer and Stalking

libraryghost's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, and Terminal illness

jupiter_01's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

It took me about 50 pages to get into the story because I didn't like either of the main characters at first. However, after that mark, my opinion changed, and I really enjoyed the dynamic and kinship between Viv, Marnie, and Alma. I was always keen to solve each mystery and I liked the plot twist (and it was a lesson for me to stop reading ahead!!). 

To me, Viv and the town's pot dealer--who had all of two interactions on screen--had a thousand time's more chemistry than Nick and Carly ever did. And he's 29 while she's 20!!! (ew.)

The end felt a little lacklustre, but it didn't leave me sad like I thought it would. I enjoyed the atmospheric writing and the story never dragged so I'll check out more from this author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Sexual violence

ticktock's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Death, Rape, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, and Murder

beckyremillard's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Carly is looking into the disappearance of her aunt, Vivian, which occurred 35 years ago. Her mother died without ever discussing it and Carly wants answers. She goes to the town Viv disappeared from, Fell, to check it out. 

The story is told in 2017 from Carly’s perspective and in 1982 from Viv’s perspective. A lot of information is discovered twice, when Viv finds out in 1982 and when Carley finds out in 2017. 

This book definitely held my interest and I did not want to put it down. 

I didn’t expect there to be actual ghosts. Most thrillers I read, the “ghosts” are explained away by something else. I feel like the paranormal aspect of it should be more announced, I might have reached for the book sooner. 

Also, I was expecting there so be some tie in with the mother. She was so adamant about not wanting to discuss Viv, I thought she’d have known about her or something.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Rape, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Death of parent

Minor: Mental illness

christyco125's review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Another good one by St. James. I love her mix of paranormal and mystery along with the split timeline POVs. While The who done it mystery only lasts to about halfway through the book, I didn’t mind. 

The story is more of an amateur sleuth crime procedural. Both MCs are in the process of proving her theory of what happened in November 1982. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Stalking

jax00's review

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I wish it had more supernatural at the beginning/middle of Viv's story. However, it does a good job of mixing true crime and supernatural.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Stalking, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer