All right, I know that is not a legit Twilight Zone quote, but it is the perfect intro to this book. This was a ride. Great mystery and ghosts, how can you go wrong?
- Young Viv Delaney, on her way from Illinois to New York City, ends up at a rundown motel, just off the main road, in Fell, New York. You know the kind of motel, mid-century, pull your car up to the door of your room, and the power tends to dramatically go off and on for no reason. Short of cash and with not much else on her plate, she takes the job of night clerk. Then she begins to meet the ghosts. There’s been a series of young women killed in the area, over the past few years, and she starts to put the pieces together. Not too long thereafter, she disappears, and is presumed dead.
- Her niece, mostly through with college and terminally bored, decides to see if she can find out whatever happened to Aunt Viv. She also heads off to Fell and finds out that, oh, look. The Sun Down Motel appears to be in need of a night clerk again. And takes the job. And meets the ghosts, who seriously have some issues here. Electricity still appears to be dodgy, and that candy machine?
This was a lot of fun, as the viewpoint continually shifts back and forth between these two, and I did not see that ending coming. And such a creepy Twilight Zone vibe, I can’t even tell you. Big thumbs up.