Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)'s Reviews > The Vacancy in Room 10

Picking up the phone one evening, Anna is startled to hear her husband’s desperate tone. Before she knows what’s happening, Henry has admitted to killing someone which is followed by a loud noise on the line. Only hours later, his dead body is found on the shallow bank of the Rio Grande in what looks like an apparent suicide. For Anna, however, it just doesn’t make sense. Determined to figure out what made Henry take his own life, she moves into his art studio in a dilapidated motel-turned-apartment building. Surely, there’s something there to hint at what had been going on in his head at the time.

Once she’s unpacked her meager belongings, Anna puts her ear to the ground. In a complex filled with people who love to gossip, it’s only a matter of time until she starts learning surprising things about Henry and her neighbors. Things that she is shocked to have been left in the dark about prior to his death. But when Anna starts getting threatening notes and unsettling packages, her fear of her surroundings may trump her desire to get at the truth. Should she pack it all in and return to her safe and pristine world? Or will the mystery surrounding Henry’s death drive her into the danger zone?

Meanwhile, Cass lives just down the hall. Hired to run the shabby apartment complex after her life hit the skids, she spends her days unclogging drains and chasing mice. When she’s not blackmailing badly behaving men for a bit of extra cash, that is. She may not be comfortable doing it, but needs must and all. Besides, no one is really getting hurt. It’s just a small amount of money. Until the day she tries her scam on the exact wrong man—and things go horribly awry. Now she has to keep the new widow who has been poking around out of her business. Can Cass keep her secrets hidden? Or is Anna going to wreak everything in her hunt for the truth?

Oh. My. God. I literally just put down The Vacancy in Room 10 and my mind is well and truly blown. A brilliant collage of broken individuals, the suspense and mystery drove this one all the way. But let me forewarn you, don’t start this one when you have plans you can’t cancel or chores that have to get done. After all, if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself wide awake at 2 A.M. because you just couldn’t put the book down—not even for sleep. Not to mention the laundry I didn’t do and the dishes that are still dirty in my sink. Don’t judge me, you’ll see what I mean.

So why was this so utterly awe-inspiring in all of its unputdownable magic? Well, for starters the setting was pure perfection. A run down motel turn landing pad for the downtrodden, I could almost envision the blinking “vacancies” sign glowing neon. And just like Schitt’s Creek had me grinning with glee, this last chance saloon was exactly as you’d expect, but also oh so much more.

The truly shining star of this out-of-this-world novel, though? That would be the characters at the heart of the story. An entertaining collection of people living in relative squalor, you’d never know it from their own perspectives. Cunning, hilarious, endearing, and a boatload of fun, I’d love to be called one of their friends. At the same time, however, I had no clue who to trust. All put together, it was the perfect recipe for one epic thriller. But even better, I could easily see each of these candid personas all coming alive on the silver screen just like they did on the page. I, for one, am praying that happens as I’ll gladly be in the front row on opening day.

The plot wasn’t too shabby either (read sarcasm there). A complex, winding tale told via dual alternating POVs, I couldn’t, for the life of me, work out where this one was headed even once. Not to mention that the climax was pure gold and the conclusion left me smiling like a little kid. Did the whole plot feel slightly over-the-top and require some suspension of disbelief? Well, yes. But once I accepted that fact and buckled up, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ride.

To be frank, I could rave about this one all day, but I’ll try and wind up my review. Already a gigantic fan of Seraphina Nova Glass, she’s merely cemented her name onto my auto-buy author list now. I mean, this twisty, twisty tale left me breathless by the end in all of its well-plotted glory. All I know is, if you enjoyed On a Quiet Street, you’re going to LOVE this badass book. I know I’ve said this a lot lately, but this is just one of those thrillers that I’m already wishing I could reread fresh. It was simply that good. Rating of 5+ stars.

Thank you to Seraphina Nova Glass, Graydon House Books, NetGalley, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for my complimentary copy. It was an honor to be included in this exclusive early pre-release tour. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: April 9, 2024

👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!

Trigger warning: infidelity, blackmail, suicide, spousal abuse, fatal stabbing, threatening messages, kidnapping, mention of: death of a spouse, miscarriage, drug overdose