About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.
Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.
When he is found dead the next day at the base of a cliff, the police are quick to close the investigation. But Aubrey feels unsettled by locals who claim he was murdered and that it’s not the first time someone interested in the hotel was killed. As she digs deeper into the property’s dark history (and its origins as an asylum) as well as Dimitri’s professional rivalries, she becomes mired in an unsolved murder case from several decades earlier, one with eerie parallels to the contemporary case. But someone is determined to keep her from discovering the truth—at any cost.
My Review
Old, abandoned buildings are quite interesting to architect, Aubrey Spencer. She loves photographing them. The Hotel Seabrink is the perfect place for pictures. It’s about to go through renovations so Aubrey wants to get her photos before the rebuilding starts. The local townspeople warn her against going to the hotel, which has a reputation for being haunted. However, Aubrey isn’t scared off and checks it out for herself.
She isn’t the only one snooping around. Online podcaster, Dimitri Petroff, is also lurking around the old hotel. Aubrey and Dimitri compare notes and decide to help each other out. Unfortunately, their partnership doesn’t last long when he’s found dead and the police determine no foul play occurred. Aubrey isn't buying it.
As Aubrey conducts her own investigation, she learns that Dimitri wasn’t as popular as she thought. She’s determined to find out what really happened to him. She, also, learns that the old hotel has a past of its own with a mystery to be solved.
The mystery hooked me from the start. There were a few spots in the middle that I thought were too slow, but overall, I really enjoyed this one. With a scary hotel like this, there are gothic overtones throughout the book. It kept me engrossed, wanting to know what would happen next. I do enjoy a good mystery surrounding an old house. This fit the bill.
I was at the edge of my seat as I swiped through the pages on my e-reader. This book has all the ingredients for a suspenseful, chilling tale. I could easily see this being made into a movie. It would be the perfect Halloween read.
Disclosure: I borrowed this e-book from the library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
It would make a good movie. :)
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