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annarella's review
5.0
A gripping, adrenaline fuelled, and highly entertaining anthology of short stories by eight interesting authors.
I knew some of them and some were new, I was fascinated by how some of the known author were able to write story very different from their usual ones.
It's entertaining and all the stories are at high level.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I knew some of them and some were new, I was fascinated by how some of the known author were able to write story very different from their usual ones.
It's entertaining and all the stories are at high level.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
carmnsndiego's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
2.0
A few of the stories were interesting to me but it’s not a book I’d ever recommend or want to read again.
rosemaryandrue's review
4.0
In this anthology of eight crime stories, the reader is introduced to a quite wide cast that includes multiple hitmen and detectives, a senator, an influencer - and a whole bunch of victims.
I don't read many anthologies, but I do make an exception for ones consisting of crime stories. I think the mystery genre is one of the most diverse when it comes to the way authors explore its common tropes. Hotel California's central theme is that each story is inspired by a song by The Eagles, with some more closely aligning to the songs than others.
I'm not familiar with most of the authors in this anthology, so it was fun for me to be introduced to them through these short stories. The tone of the stories ranges from noir to semi-cozy to surreal, providing enough variety that at least a couple of stories will appeal to each reader's particular sensibilities.
I most enjoyed Reed Farrel Coleman's "Victim of Love" and Amanda Flower's "Try and Love Again". The former tells the tale of a down-trodden man whose role in life is altered by the influence of a Siamese cat mask, while the latter is about a private eye who is charged with investigating a twenty-year-old cold case on a small island in Michigan.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I don't read many anthologies, but I do make an exception for ones consisting of crime stories. I think the mystery genre is one of the most diverse when it comes to the way authors explore its common tropes. Hotel California's central theme is that each story is inspired by a song by The Eagles, with some more closely aligning to the songs than others.
I'm not familiar with most of the authors in this anthology, so it was fun for me to be introduced to them through these short stories. The tone of the stories ranges from noir to semi-cozy to surreal, providing enough variety that at least a couple of stories will appeal to each reader's particular sensibilities.
I most enjoyed Reed Farrel Coleman's "Victim of Love" and Amanda Flower's "Try and Love Again". The former tells the tale of a down-trodden man whose role in life is altered by the influence of a Siamese cat mask, while the latter is about a private eye who is charged with investigating a twenty-year-old cold case on a small island in Michigan.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
zasou_reads's review
4.0
This is a collection of 8 short stories inspired by my favorite song of all times, Hotel California.
So, obviously, I had to read it! I enjoyed all of the stories, but the first, New Kid in Town by Andrew Child, and Hotel California by Jennifer Graeser Dornbustle were my favorites. I couldn't help but smile at every direct reference to the lyrics inserted in Jennifer's text, I tought it was so cool and well done! I read this as an audio book, and the narration was great.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So, obviously, I had to read it! I enjoyed all of the stories, but the first, New Kid in Town by Andrew Child, and Hotel California by Jennifer Graeser Dornbustle were my favorites. I couldn't help but smile at every direct reference to the lyrics inserted in Jennifer's text, I tought it was so cool and well done! I read this as an audio book, and the narration was great.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
eddienewreads's review
4.0
Wonderful short stories from a diverse group of authors. There's something for everyone in this feast of mystery and thriller stories. I really enjoyed this and recommend that people go out and purchase a copy on May 17, 2022. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this advanced copy.
bookshelf_by_britt's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Imagine the Eagles album ‘Hotel California’, pick a song from that album, now write a short crime story using that songs title and one line of lyrics in the story. That’s what the writers of Hotel California have done. I don’t know if that was their process when they wrote these stories, but I think it’s incredibly imaginative and and such a unique concept!
I listened to the audiobook version and it does not disappoint. Each narrator seems to fit each story and brings each one to life. Each story is different with the the theme of crime, Eagles song title and lyrics of that song title to tie them together. Between dark, creepy, mysterious, surreal, and action packed there is something for every crime fan.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ashley__reads's review
4.0
Sometimes, you just can’t kill the beast.
This short story collection was AMAZING! The first two stories kind of drug for me but from ‘Wasted Time’ to the very end it was hit after hit. I want to focus on my favorite story from the collection and that was ‘Hotel California’ by miss Jennifer Graeser Dornbush. Holy CRAP! If you know and love the song by The Eagles, you are going to LOVE this story! The modern twists to this short story are phenomenal, the way that Jennifer’s mind interpreted the song and she put into these words is mind blowing. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I went into this story but I was not disappointed. This story was a solid five stars for me, I’m absolutely impressed.
Some honorable mentions: Victim of Love by Reed Farrel Coleman, Pretty Maids all in a Row by Heather Graham, Try and Love Again by Amanda Flower and The Last Resort by Rick Bleiweiss
This short story collection was AMAZING! The first two stories kind of drug for me but from ‘Wasted Time’ to the very end it was hit after hit. I want to focus on my favorite story from the collection and that was ‘Hotel California’ by miss Jennifer Graeser Dornbush. Holy CRAP! If you know and love the song by The Eagles, you are going to LOVE this story! The modern twists to this short story are phenomenal, the way that Jennifer’s mind interpreted the song and she put into these words is mind blowing. I honestly didn’t know what to expect when I went into this story but I was not disappointed. This story was a solid five stars for me, I’m absolutely impressed.
Some honorable mentions: Victim of Love by Reed Farrel Coleman, Pretty Maids all in a Row by Heather Graham, Try and Love Again by Amanda Flower and The Last Resort by Rick Bleiweiss
alwaysaudreyreads's review
3.0
✨✨ Book Review ✨✨
"A dangerous drifter, a hired gun, a grisly corpse—you never know who you’ll run into at the Hotel California."
This is a book of eight short stories written by different mystery writers. It took me a moment at first to realize the quick jump between the stories, but once I understood the format it was easy to keep up. Each story is well written and entertaining. Several having a really good twist at the end that I thoroughly enjoyed (would love to explain why but I don't want to risk any spoilers). This is a great book to read or listen to when you only have small pockets of time to digest a quick story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook.
Release Date scheduled for July 12, 2022.
"A dangerous drifter, a hired gun, a grisly corpse—you never know who you’ll run into at the Hotel California."
This is a book of eight short stories written by different mystery writers. It took me a moment at first to realize the quick jump between the stories, but once I understood the format it was easy to keep up. Each story is well written and entertaining. Several having a really good twist at the end that I thoroughly enjoyed (would love to explain why but I don't want to risk any spoilers). This is a great book to read or listen to when you only have small pockets of time to digest a quick story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this audiobook.
Release Date scheduled for July 12, 2022.
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