logo

60 pages 2 hours read

The Sun Down Motel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Simone St. James

The Sun Down Motel

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020
Book Details
Pages

327

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Fell, New York • 1980s

Publication Year

2020

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James alternates between two timelines, following Viv Delaney in 1982 and her niece Carly Kirk in 2017, both of whom work the night shift at the mysterious Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. As they each investigate unexplained events and disappearances, they uncover dark secrets about the motel, its paranormal residents, and a series of connected murders.

Mysterious

Suspenseful

Unnerving

Dark

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.2

176,283 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Simone St. James's The Sun Down Motel captivates with its dual-timeline narrative and eerie atmosphere. Positive reviews highlight suspenseful plot twists, well-developed characters, and effective Gothic elements. However, some critics find pacing issues and predictability in parts. Overall, it's a compelling read for fans of supernatural mysteries.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Sun Down Motel?

A reader who would enjoy The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James is likely a fan of atmospheric thrillers with a touch of the supernatural. They may also appreciate novels like The Shining by Stephen King or The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson for their eerie, suspenseful narratives and richly developed settings.

4.2

176,283 ratings

77%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Carly Kirk

A determined 20-year-old who travels to Fell, New York, to uncover the truth about her missing aunt, Viv, and works the night shift at the Sun Down Motel to investigate mysterious events linked to her family.

A young woman who, in 1982, leaves Illinois to work at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York, where she becomes deeply involved in unraveling a series of strange and haunting occurrences.

A resident of Fell with a troubled family history, who forms a close bond with Carly as they both seek to address the past and confront the secrets lingering around the motel.

A former police officer in Fell, who in Carly's timeline offers guidance and support while harboring her own secrets from the past.

A traveling salesman in 1983 with a suspicious presence at the Sun Down Motel, whose connection to several critical events raises questions about his true nature.

One of the ghosts haunting the Sun Down Motel, whose restless spirit influences the events unfolding throughout the story.

The ghostly former front desk worker of the Sun Down Motel, connected to a tragic incident at the motel's pool.

A ghost of a young boy who died in a pool accident at the Sun Down Motel, often seen running through the corridors in confusion.

Book Details
Pages

327

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Fell, New York • 1980s

Publication Year

2020

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.