By: Leah Konen
Narrators: Karissa Vacker, Erin Bennett,
Julie Webster
Penguin Audio
ISBN: 9780593715895
Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP Putnam
Publication Date: 01/14/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (ARC)
The caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life—and sanity—in this "twisty, addictive, feminist take on The Shining" (Andrea Bartz).
Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It's the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.
But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .
Praise
One of BookBub's Best Mysteries and Thrillers of Winter 2025
One of BookRiot's Best Books of the Week
One of Gizmodo's Most Anticipated SFF & Horror of January
One of Paste's Most Anticipated Mysteries/Thrillers of 2025
"A textured romp through unreliable snow that ramps up tension while staying on the lighter side to deliver a chilling, nail-biting mystery."
—BookTrib
"It’s becoming a welcome pattern to spend the winter with a Leah Konen thriller set in upstate New York."
—Paste
"Cleverly constructed . . . Everything a winter read should be: addictive, chilling, tense and so twisty. . . If you enjoy dark, surprising thrillers about women on the edge, The Last Room on the Left is about to become your new favorite read." —People, as Recommended by Andrea Bartz
"Konen deftly shifts the mesmerizing narrative between characters as well as back and forth in time, with nerve-shredding results, before delivering a pulse-pounding conclusion with a final, delightfully devious, Hitchcockian twist. Not since Paula Hawkins’s The Girl on the Train or A.J. Finn’s The Woman in the Window has an unreliable protagonist been used to such great effect. Tipping her literary cap to Stephen King’s The Shining, Konen serves up a superbly crafted novel of suspense that will thrill and delight fans of Lucy Foley, Alice Feeney, and Sarah Pearse."
—Library Journal (starred review)
"Full of creepiness and tenable red herrings, the story is solidly engaging, with the author offering just enough breadcrumbs to hint at the truth without giving anything away too soon. . . [The] setting of the secluded motel is evocative and entirely eerie, and the story is sufficiently dire to keep readers engaged. As the characters try to make sense of their situation while also tackling weighty issues like addiction and self-doubt, things eventually become clear. . . A fast-paced thriller that plays up the disorientating nature of isolated locations."
—Kirkus Reviews
"[A] fast-paced and engrossing read."
—Booklist
"Terrifying and taut, The Last Room on the Left is equal parts tantalizing mystery, scary snowstorm survival tale, and thoughtful portrait of a complex female friendship speeding toward a cliff. If you love tightly plotted thrillers about women on the edge—read this now."
—Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of The Spare Room
"Leah Konen’s The Last Room on the Left is a masterclass in psychological tension, weaving themes of creativity, ambition, and betrayal into a gripping narrative that kept me unable to look away until I reached the last page. Konen expertly explores the haunting space between truth and deception, both in the stories we write and the ones we live. A must-read for anyone who loves a thriller that lingers long after the final page.
—Danielle Valentine, New York Times bestselling author of Delicate Condition
My Review
Leah Konen’s latest thriller, THE LAST ROOM ON THE LEFT is “Atmospheric. Edgy. Spine-Chilling!” It is a twisty, electrifying locked room mystery set in the Catskills mountains at a secluded retro motel with a horror vibe. What could go wrong?
Step into the enigmatic world of the Twilite Motel Catskills —Upstate New York. Room 13 beckons with its secrets, ready to unravel.
About...
Kerry, a writer, leaving the city behind for some alone time to get her act together. She wanted to prove to herself, her ex, and possibly someone else that she could live and survive. She can handle it. She needs a place to work and prove that she can write a horror novel and give up booze to herself and everyone else. Her friend Allison set it up for her.
Despite her disaster, she has managed to sell the film rights to her short story, and she is to turn it into a novel. Now she needs to write it.
Kerry is fighting her battles and is self-destructive. In her mid-thirties, with several failed IVF attempts and no mother status, dumped by her hubby, she had hurt the people she loved—an alcoholic and self-destructive.
She blocked her friend, Siobhan, and if she did not write and produce something for her agent, she would have to repay the advance to her publisher (which she had spent). Little does she know these personal struggles will intertwine with the mystery at the motel.
She is determined. No more missed deadlines. No more excuses. No more booze. If she did not give her agent something, the project would be canceled, and the publisher would demand repayment. That hopefully is enough motivation.
So she takes a caretaker position at a remote, trendy, renovated retro motel in the Catskills in a snow blizzard. The motel is closed for the winter, so she is responsible for taking care of any property needs for a month. All the while, she plans to write and give up alcohol.
But things do NOT go as planned. It appears there has been a major party, with the room in complete disarray upon arrival. Then she sees a dead body (is it the prior caretaker or someone else)? She sees an arm reaching out of the snow in the blizzard. Without power, internet, or cell, she drives to the neighbor’s Victorian house, Denise, and calls the cops. They come, and they see nothing and have better things to do.
Is she seeing things mixing alcohol with sedatives?
Then she swears she sees the body in the freezer next. Who is the murderer? She is alone and cannot get help here at the property. From threatening and uncovering messages and things from the dead woman. Does she know her?
Is someone coming for her next? Or is she losing her mind?
What happened in Room 13?
Is she getting too close to the secrets of the Twilite Motel?
My thoughts...
THE LAST ROOM ON THE LEFT is a standout tapestry of mystery and suspense woven with diverse characters. From Denise, the next-door neighbor who dislikes the guests, her son, Tyler, the cop, Billy, to Maisy, the enigmatic owner; McKenzie, the girl lurking around; Allison, her friend; and Jeremy, the reclusive hedge fund lawyer— each character adds a layer of intrigue to the story.
As a fan of locked-in thrillers, I was immediately drawn to THE LAST ROOM ON THE LEFT , especially with its atmospheric Catskills winter remote setting. The snow and weather conditions added a layer of claustrophobia, making the setting feel vivid, eerie, and realistic. This was my first book by Leah Konen, and I was thoroughly entertained, eagerly turning the pages to see how it would all unfold.
I enjoyed the alternating POVs: Kerry, Siobhan (best friend), and two chapters and Epilogue (Allison). What happened the night of the party? It is a wicked whodunit with themes of creativity, art, ambition, addiction, self-doubt, self-hatred, guilt, betrayal, redemption, and murder. Super fun and creative!
It is an addictive mystery psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping, wicked Hitchcockian twist. I cannot wait to see what comes next. I loved the author's note and the feminist twist, reminiscent of the atmosphere in 'The Shining' —a classic in the psychological thriller genre.
Audiobook...
The audiobook version (purchased), narrated by the talented Karissa Vacker, Erin Bennett, and Julie Webster, is a thrilling experience. Their performances breathe life into the story, adding a layer of suspense as we follow Kerry’s fight for survival and sanity in this mind-bending mystery.
Recs...
THE LAST ROOM ON THE LEFT is for fans of the author and those who enjoy works by Alice Feeney (Beautiful Ugly), Sarah Pearse (The Sanatorium), Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, Freida McFadden (Do Not Disturb), Heather Gudenkauf (The Overnight Guest), and Taylor Adams (The Last Word). And, of course, SK’s The Shining.
Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for sharing this killer digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins.comn | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
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On a personal note...
This book reminded me of my time in the Catskills, and I can see this story playing out. I formerly had hotel owner consulting clients with renovated trendy retro motels in the Catskills. Some offer pools, bars, and restaurants. (not small). I have flown into Albany, rented a car to the Catskills, and spent time there. Once, when the owners were working on another project, they asked if I would be an interim innkeeper for a month (in the winter). I have been overseeing hotels and resorts for years. I asked first, “Who will shovel the snow?” You will. “No thanks.” This place is remote and creepy at night. "No, not this Florida gal." I refuse to drive in the snow (Of course, I had my share of driving in the snow when I worked in Chicago). But now, no shoveling snow— They ditched their other project and made a significant expansion and lavish reno to the current one,
So these trendy retro motels are anything but plain and typical roadside. They are not Schitt's Creek but with the same flair as the Roses.
About the Author
Photo: Nina Subin
Leah Konen is the author of Keep Your Friends Close, You Should Have Told Me, The Perfect Escape, All the Broken People, and several young adult novels, including Love and Other Train Wrecks and The Romantics. Her books have been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Reader’s Digest and The NY Post, among others. She lives in Brooklyn and Saugerties, New York, with her husband; their daughters, Eleanor and Mary Joyce; and their dog, Farley.
