This suspenseful story begins with a group of theater students heading to a competition out of town. They are surprised by a blizzard and soon get off course and are forced to stop at a run down motel. The motel is pretty good size, but only has a handful of people who also got caught in the storm. The owner, Stuart, seems both defensive of his family’s motel as well as a little embarrassed by it. Nell, the main character is quickly drawn to Knox, a boy from another group of teens who seek refuge in this motel for the night. The two groups all agree to meet in the common room to play games and wait out the storm. They each write down two truths and a lie and throw it in a basket and as they draw them out they have to figure out not only who wrote it but which one is the lie. When it’s Nell’s turn she draws an unsettling entry that states this person has killed before and they all get spooked, especially when it’s revealed that 20 years ago there was a double homicide in this very hotel that lead to its decline. Will they all survive this storm or will they be picked off one by one? Who can they trust among this random group of strangers all stuck together in this storm?
Fans of April Henry will really enjoy this title because there are many plot twists that add to the suspense of being stuck in a remote hotel during a blizzard where it is impossible to seek help if needed. The characters include two groups of teenagers, their supervisors, and a handful of random male motorists who all claim not to know one another. Yet, they know that whoever is at the very least trying to scare them is among the few people at this hotel. Reluctant readers will especially enjoy this fast paced thriller that dives into the action very quickly in the story.
Young Adult Book Reviews 