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"A clever, sinister fun-house ride."–People
Alfred Smettle is not your average Hitchcock fan. He is the founder, owner, and manager of The Hitchcock Hotel, a sprawling Victorian house in the White Mountains dedicated to the Master of Suspense. There, Alfred offers his guests round-the-clock film screenings, movie props and memorabilia in every room, plus an aviary with fifty crows.
To celebrate the hotel’s first anniversary, he invites his former best friends from his college Film Club for a reunion. He hasn’t spoken to any of them in sixteen years, not after what happened.
But who better than them to appreciate Alfred’s creation? And to help him finish it.
After all, no Hitchcock set is complete without a body.
"Jaw-dropping."–Riley Sager
"Hugely readable and tremendous fun."–Alex Michaelides
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
September 24, 2024 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593913888
- File size: 292974 KB
- Duration: 10:10:21
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Languages
- English
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Reviews
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June 24, 2024
Wrobel’s diverting if somewhat lethargic latest (after This Might Hurt) introduces Hitchcock aficionado Alfred Smettle, owner of the eponymous hotel, a bed-and-breakfast (complete with a crow-filled aviary) in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. To celebrate the first anniversary of the hotel’s grand opening, Alfred invites five friends from his university film club for a four-day stay. Few members of the group—which includes security specialist TJ, entrepreneur Samira, hedge fund manager Grace, recently disgraced restaurateur Zoe, and luxury clothing heir Julius—have remained close in the 16 years since they graduated, but each has their own private reason for accepting Alfred’s invitation. The group’s mild interest in reuniting turns to unease as the weekend wears on and buried secrets from their university days rise to the surface, calling into question why, exactly, Alfred has summoned them. Eventually, somebody dies. Wrobel front-loads the narrative with too much exposition, but once the secrets are out, she delivers a fun third act. Hitchcock fans will delight in the copious easter eggs, but others will find this unremarkable. Agent: Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Agency. -
This quirky whodunit is seamlessly narrated by three award-winning narrators--Michael Crouch, Gail Shalan, and Helen Lloyd. Crouch voices Alfred Smettle, capturing his oddball sensibilities. It's been almost 15 years since Alfred has seen his college friends, so when he invites them to the first anniversary of his Hitchcock-themed hotel's opening, they accept. Some suspect it's much safer to get together than to ignore the invitation. Why that turns out to be the case--and who's tracking whom for what purpose--keeps the listener engaged throughout. Though each chapter focuses on an individual and the storyline is told in both the present and past, it's woven artfully and includes plenty of suspicious behavior from all the alums. The ending will come as a surprise. L.W.S. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine -
December 6, 2024
Alfred Smettle, a lover of all things Hitchcock, concocts a plan fit for the movies he so voraciously consumes--he has lured five of his old college friends to his Hitchcock-themed hotel under the guise of an overdue reunion. The weekend quickly turns sour as tensions rise over the long-buried secrets of the past, casting suspicion and paranoia over the secluded hotel. The plot thickens when a murder is committed, and all the guests maintain a desperate stranglehold over the past. The book is presented by a trio of talented narrators: Michael Crouch, Gail Shalan, and Helen Lloyd. Crouch stands out as the outcast Alfred; Lloyd narrates Alfred's unsettling assistant Danny; and Shalan gamely narrates the rest of the uncomfortable group. The novel's pace is somewhat languid but gains momentum as the twists and turns multiply. Listeners may be initially puzzled by how Wrobel (This Might Hurt) utilizes each narrator, but satisfying answers are supplied in the end. As clues are revealed, the atmosphere of tense watchfulness mirrors the characters' increasing seclusion. VERDICT While the resolution may receive mixed reviews, this locked-room mystery with plenty of Hitchcockian embellishments rewards with a creepy and sneakily innovative listening experience.--Gina Collett
Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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