In St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, the old Rosalie Inn has weathered a century of hurricanes, but its walls hold some deadly secrets. Geneva Corliss, the inn’s owner, is struggling to keep the family legacy alive as occupancy rates are low and debts are mounting. She hopes that the arrival and lengthy open-ended stay of true-crime author August Fletcher will boost business since he’s also bringing an infamous ghost from the past. Lo Bailey, now almost 60, was accused and freed after a hung jury when she was put on trial for murdering her married lover, Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie years ago in 1984. August intends to help Lo write her memoirs, or so he says, and she wants to clear her name once and for all. What happened on that stormy night at St. Medard’s Bay.
This was a fun, atmospheric read with the tension enhanced by an approaching storm as the events from years ago set up a multi timeline narrative. The different points of view as well as snippets from the manuscript that August is writing add a clever layer to the mystery. Secrets are revealed and though some of the twists were a bit predictable, the setting and the complicated history between the characters kept me hooked. At times it seemed completely grounded in Southern Gothic backdrop with the inn at the water’s edge and the weather almost another character. In the end, it is about loyalty and friendship.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also reading along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The multicast recording by 7 different performers made it so much easier to track the shifts in time and point of view. The accents were seamless and distinct and each character infused his/her role with great emotional depth and dramatic flair. Their performances definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre and tags: murder, adultery, hurricanes, friendship, true crime
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