Things aren't going well for Pearl Fuller. Reeling from a breakup and struggling to make ends meet, she's sleeping on her ex’s couch and working nights at The Driftwood Motel.

The same motel that years ago was the scene of the legendary Berkman murder. They say that room 52 has been empty ever since that night. But if that's true why can Pearl see someone moving around in there? And why is she the only one who can hear that eerie voice?

I can’t leave a review because this book is not listed on Goodreads. Will you please see that it’s listed?

Absolutely loved it! Easy to read, great character development (Edsel is a sweetheart!), and a storyline that is intriguing enough to keep you wanting one more chapter. Will definitely be checking out Nancy's first book, too!

I love a good thriller.
This one definitely gave me the eerie/creepy vibes that I love.
Definitely recommend

I absolutely enjoy this book. Nancy’s writing is good. I feel so bad about Pearl. I’m glad she got what she deserves. I felt so bad what happened to her and the fact she got her own happing ending.

Nancy Savage’s “The Motel” was a sitting on the edge of your seat type of read! I had a hard time putting it down once I started to read it, especially since the main character, Pearl, was a sympathetic character. There were a few moments where I could feel her pain and disappointment with others. The book was full of twists throughout and the ending was unexpected! I would recommend this book to my friends and family.

The Motel opens with a deliciously eerie premise—a weary night clerk, a seaside motel steeped in rumor, and the unsettling sense that the past is never truly locked away. Nancy Savage wastes no time plunging Pearl Fuller into an atmosphere thick with unease, where odd noises, half-glimpsed figures, and questionable strangers blur the line between paranoia and truth.

The setting is a standout—humid coastal air, dimly lit hallways, and a perpetual undertone of decay. Savage’s writing balances restraint with precision, making each flicker of movement and shadowed corner feel charged with threat. Pearl’s internal landscape—tinged with exhaustion, insecurity, and a quiet yearning for stability—gives the tension a human heartbeat.

Where the book excels in mood and character, it occasionally falters in momentum. Some threads feel left dangling, and the final act leaves questions that may frustrate those wanting a more airtight resolution. Still, the disquiet lingers after the last page, making it a read that thrives more on its atmosphere than on traditional thriller beats.

For readers who like:
-Coastal Gothic settings
-Small-town secrets
-Darkly atmospheric

Final Verdict
The Motel is less about jump scares and more about the slow seep of dread. While it won’t satisfy readers hunting for a tightly plotted thriller, it will appeal to those who savor mood-driven mysteries where the setting itself feels like the most dangerous character.

Grateful to NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Nancy Savage for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for twists after twists???...pick this one. Mindblowing, satisfying and left me wanting that little bit more

The Motel is a moody, slow-burning psychological thriller that expertly blends isolation, paranoia, and the lingering chill of a decades-old crime.

Nancy Savage crafts a haunting tale around Pearl Fuller, a woman adrift—emotionally bruised, financially strained, and stuck working the night shift at the eerie Driftwood Motel. The setting is pitch-perfect: a rundown coastal motel with a dark history, where room 52 remains untouched since the infamous Berkman murder. Or so they say.

Pearl’s descent into unease is beautifully rendered. The flicker of movement in an allegedly empty room, the voice only she can hear, and the creeping suspicion that her charming new acquaintance Noah isn’t who he claims to be—all build a sense of dread that’s both psychological and supernatural. Savage’s prose is lean and evocative, capturing the claustrophobia of Pearl’s world and the growing fear that she’s being watched—or worse, manipulated.

This is a story about trauma, perception, and the danger of ignoring what lurks in plain sight. Fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware will appreciate the layered suspense and the emotional vulnerability at its core.

A chilling, character-driven thriller that proves sometimes the scariest place isn’t the haunted room—it’s the mind trying to make sense of it.

With thanks to Nancy Savage, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

At first I wanted to shout at the main character, Pearl she was such a mess, but the mystery pulled me in, and Lucas was an amazing character. Thank god Pearl grew up and started to take proper care of herself.
The Watcher chapters were intriguing, it has a great twist that I did not see coming until almost the end of the book.

Pearl is trying to start over after being dumped by her bf while still living on his couch. She soon lands herself a side gig as a pet sitter, all while working night shifts at the Driftwood Motel. Pearl moves in the house where she is pet sitting and quickly finds out that someone is messing with her but she can't figure out who.

I feel like my review is kind of all over the place, kind of like the plot. The books is labeled as a chilling psychological thriller and I feel like that is a bit of a stretch. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the book but it definitely wasn't a thriller. By the end I did feel like there were a couple of plot holes that got missed that would have been great to get a different ending.

A brilliant read that hooked me from the outset I couldn’t tear myself away! The plot was truly exceptional!

There were many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming and this book was simply captivating! ‘The Motel’ had me glued to my seat… it had everything I look for in a thriller!

I found myself shocked and riveted right to the end. It was perfect blend of mystery and suspense.. You won’t be able to put this down until you’ve finished!

I unfortunately needed to DNF at 25%.

Here is why:
-I felt this book did telling over showing and was quite vague with descriptions
-The writing style was just not for me and I struggled to get through the first few chapters personally so I can tell this one is simply not for me.

Please know I’m very picky when it comes to thrillers so just because this book and I didn’t connect doesn’t mean it won’t be your next favorite.

Thank you for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.