October 2022 Group Read: The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James (spoiler)

[Randy]

Hi, all.

Here's the spoiler thread for The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James.

[Chris]

I'd be interested to hear what people thought about the two POVs and whether they thought Viv or Carly's storyline was stronger?

Also would someone of Viv's background and the times have pursued what she did placing herself in a number of potentially dangerous situations? I thought it was a stretch, although it didn't keep me from turning the pages!

Were you surprised by the outcome?

[Chris]

As a ghost story was it effective?

[SassafrasfromAmazon]

Chris wrote: "As a ghost story was it effective?"

The ghost element really added that extra frightful eerieness that elevated a mere crime story into much more. It was most effective.

[SassafrasfromAmazon]

Chris wrote: "I'd be interested to hear what people thought about the two POVs and whether they thought Viv or Carly's storyline was stronger?

I found Viv’s POV stronger and much more compelling. Viv was all alone and grappled with what was happening at the Sun Down. She only had her wits, her intuitiveness and her bravery to rely on for most of the things experienced. As Viv’s story progressed, we know she tried to enlist the help of Alma and Marnie, to no avail. Her letter and phone call to warn about the teenager’s possible murder, weren’t taken seriously. She was on her own. On the other hand, Carly had help from her roomie, Nick and Callum (oops!).

Also would someone of Viv's background and the times have pursued w..."

I think Viv’s actions were very consistent with her personality and background. She was a rebellious and adventurous young woman. She showed courage even though she was scared. I’m on the fence about whether she would have put herself in each of those potentially dangerous situations; however, I think she would have, perhaps not quite to the extent she did.

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Viv seemed the stronger character to me.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Chris wrote: "I'd be interested to hear what people thought about the two POVs and whether they thought Viv or Carly's storyline was stronger?

Also would someone of Viv's background and the times have pursued w..."

Viv was a very strong willed and determined young woman. The way she behaved didn't surprise me at all. I preferred Viv's storyline to Carly's, although I enjoyed them both.

Taken from my review: The Sun Down Motel is a taut and twisty blend of mystery and ghost story. Set over two timelines: 1982 when Viv Delaney works the night reception at the Sun Down Motel; and 2017 when her niece, Carly Kirk, unable to let go the mystery of her missing aunt, works the same job, the story is compelling from the very first sentence.

I enjoyed Viv's story a little more than Carly's. It's somehow a little creepier to not have mobile phones and technology at hand. Not that they work at the Sun Down anyway. It's a bit of a dead spot - excuse the pun. Viv is the bad girl, the one compared unfavorably to her 'good' sister. Her mother asked her, before she left home, 'What would you do if you ever got into real trouble?' She's about to find out.

While I loved Carly's tenacity and determination to find out what happened to her aunt, it was Viv's character that enthralled me. She was determined to get justice for the dead girls, and there are a number of them, far too many for a town the size of Fell. She put on her Nancy Drew persona and followed the clues, listened to the ghosts.

There are a number of twists throughout the book in both timelines, none of which I saw coming. St. James has written a subtlely creepy, unsettling mystery that kept me guessing and enthralled from beginning to end.

Links to my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...