Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

178 reviews

steffi_23's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I did enjoy the story but there were several moments in the writing that made me go … was that really necessary. Yes a lot of the story is set in the 80s but some remarks were unnecessary

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Murder

Minor: Child death and Death of parent

raavi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Cancer, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Gun violence, Terminal illness, and Torture

lexkazokas's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

booksandcoffeewithlexi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

emilylovesgoodbooks's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Rape, Kidnapping, and Murder

redefiningrachel's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Gore, Infidelity, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Drug use

mariakureads's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Ok. A book this good shouldn't have taken me as long as it did but trying to read this at night in a home that makes weird sounds and then randomly nothing but silence creeped me enough to just read this during the day which thanks to work took longer than what even I wanted.

The duo POV from the two MCs took me a bit to get their names and timelines straight since one timeline is in the 80's and another in 2017 but once I had it sorted out, it was interesting to have both voices alternating chapters. One giving the reader the buildup and world building and the other working backwards to get where the other is leading.

St. James did an amazing job of keeping me in my toes. I really thought I had it figured out but the surprise twist was something I didn't see coming and I love that element of surprise. Honestly a fantastic read. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault

decembermagpie's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Homophobia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, and Murder

boba_nbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Told in a dual timeline, we follow Viv in 1982 and her niece, Carly, in 2017 as their lives follow a disturbingly similar path in the town of Fell and at the Sun Down Motel. Viv disappeared back in 1982 and has not been found since. No one else seems to care what happened to Viv, so Carly decides to go to the Sun Down and figure it out for herself. Back in 1982, Viv is trying to figure out why the Sun Down is haunted and what its ghosts are trying to tell her. 

I was held in suspense the entire time wondering what happened to Viv and how it's related to Carly in 2017, and the ending does not disappoint. I flew this creepy, paranormal novel! This is the perfect story to get you in the mood for spooky season. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Sexual assault

Minor: Cancer, Cursing, and Death of parent

maregred's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Murder

Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, Blood, and Stalking

Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail