Coastal, creepy thriller review 🌊⛰️👻
Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell
Pub date: 7/29/25
“I’ve always thought of life and death as a bit of a courtship - a dance, if you will. And in the end, we finally embrace our lethal lover. It’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Aubrey is an architect and photographer who loves exploring abandoned buildings. When the chance to explore the isolated and abandoned Hotel Seabrink, a luxury hotel from the 1920s, turns up, Aubrey jumps on it. The hotel is said to be cursed, and when someone she meets while exploring the building turns up dead less than 24 hours later, Aubrey is determined to uncover the truth about the hotel and the reason behind the curse.
What to expect:
-Coastal setting
-Haunted hotel
-Paranormal activities
-Singular POV
-Sordid pasts
I really enjoyed Asylum Hotel! I’m always a sucker for thrillers with eerie and/or isolated settings, and this book did a great job capturing both. I had no idea what the truth was or who was behind the strange things happening in the places Aubrey was traveling to and from, and I liked that I wasn’t able to guess what would happen in the end. There was some cringey dialogue between Aubrey and her friend at times that felt a little over the top for the situation they were in, but overall, this book was super creepy, and I was hooked! I could’ve spent more time exploring the hotel and its secrets if the author had chosen to go in that direction. I binged it in less than a day.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CW for death, violence, suicide, murder, grief, stalking, kidnapping, child death (in past).
#lemon8books #thrillerbooks #bookreviewer #thrillerbookreview #bookrecommendations
Exploring abandoned places has long been a gateway for thrill-seekers and mystery lovers alike, and Asylum Hotel taps deeply into that fascination. Set against a chilling coastal backdrop, the novel's eerie setting enhances the suspense, creating a palpable sense of isolation and unease that is the hallmark of great thriller fiction. The luxury hotel from the 1920s, with its dark reputation and supernatural hints, becomes not only a place but almost a character itself, embodying the haunted history and hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered. Architect and photographer Aubrey’s perspective gives readers an intimate look at the horror and beauty intertwined in such forsaken sites. This singular point of view amplifies the personal stakes involved, particularly as Aubrey confronts increasingly disturbing paranormal activities. The concept of life and death portrayed as a 'courtship' or 'dance' adds a poetic depth to the narrative and resonates throughout the novel’s themes, subtly influencing the mood and character motivations. For readers who love thrillers with a paranormal twist set in remote, eerie places, this book delivers on multiple fronts. The suspense builds steadily, making it difficult to put the book down—perfect for binge reading. The author’s choice to keep the true nature of the hotel’s curse and the identities of those responsible a mystery keeps readers guessing until the very end, a key attribute of effective thriller storytelling. While some of the dialogue may feel slightly exaggerated, such moments serve to heighten tension and inject human vulnerability amidst the supernatural atmosphere. Additionally, the content warnings highlight the serious themes explored, adding layers of complexity and realism that avoid trivializing difficult subjects. In sum, Asylum Hotel stands out as a compelling coastal, creepy thriller that masterfully blends haunted hotel lore, paranormal intrigue, and emotional depth. It is a recommended read for fans of suspenseful, atmospheric thrillers that explore both the seen and unseen forces shaping our fears and fascinations.