Release Day! A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James ~ My Thoughts #ABoxFullOfDarkness

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Simone

on the release today of

A Box Full of Darkness!

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

Ghost Thrillers, Paranormal Suspense, 344 pages

Published January 20, 2026 by Berkley

Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.

Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother's shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.

My thoughts about A Box Full of Darkness ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"When I wake in the middle of the night, I don't always see darkness."

What can I say about A Box Full of Darkness? I absolutely loved it! 

I am a huge fan of Simone St. James and love her stories. This one takes the reader to the dark world of Fell, NY, where lots of mysterious things and deaths have happened over the years. Is it all a coincidence or is there something really evil in the town? 

Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie are 'called back' to their hometown and they all reluctantly go. They need to solve the mysterious disappearance of their little brother Ben once and for all. But what they discover is not pleasant for anyone. Do they have the strength and belief in themselves to conquer the evil that they uncover?

This was a gripping, creepy story that I devoured, just like I have all of St. James' other tales. It kept me on the edge of my seat while pushing me to the exciting ending. I highly recommend A Box Full of Darkness, especially if you like creepy suspense thrillers. This is a definitely a good one!

I received an ARC of A Box Full of Darkness and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases, The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. 

She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

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Release Day! Murder Road by Simone St. James ~ My Thoughts #MurderRoad @BerkleyPub

Happy Release Day!

Congratulations Simone

on the release today of

Murder Road!

Murder Road by Simone St. James

Mystery, Thriller, 352 pages

Published March 5, 2024 by Berkley

A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel.

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchhiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all.

    

My thoughts about Murder Road ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First lines—"That July night seemed full of possibilities, with the empty highway stretching out before us."

Do you have any authors that you'll read without even knowing what the story is about, like just give me the book, I know I'm going to be thoroughly entertained? Simone St. James is one of those authors for me. Since I first discovered her books, I have absolutely loved the weird, spooky, creepy rides that she takes me on. And I love each new book more than the previous one. How does she do that? I totally devour each and every one of her stories!

Murder Road is an exciting, breathtaking thriller with the right amount of supernatural happenings, things that could, maybe, really occur... maybe. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and totally loved everything about it. The twist that ties it all together is mind-blowing. 

I highly recommend Murder Road but be prepared to spend some time with April and Eddie because you won't be able to rest until they do. 

I received a copy of Murder Road from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

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About the author

Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Book of Cold Cases, The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. 

She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

Release Day! The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James ~ My Thoughts #TheBookOfColdCases

Happy Release Day!

Congrats Simone

on the release today of

The Book of Cold Cases!

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

Mystery, Thriller, 352 pages

Published March 15 by Berkley

A true crime blogger gets more than she bargained for while interviewing the woman acquitted of two cold case slayings in this chilling new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel.

In 1977, Claire Lake, Oregon, was shaken by the Lady Killer Murders: Two men, seemingly randomly, were murdered with the same gun, with strange notes left behind. Beth Greer was the perfect suspect--a rich, eccentric twenty-three-year-old woman, seen fleeing one of the crimes. But she was acquitted, and she retreated to the isolation of her mansion.

Oregon, 2017. Shea Collins is a receptionist, but by night, she runs a true crime website, the Book of Cold Cases--a passion fueled by the attempted abduction she escaped as a child. When she meets Beth by chance, Shea asks her for an interview. To Shea's surprise, Beth says yes.

They meet regularly at Beth's mansion, though Shea is never comfortable there. Items move when she's not looking, and she could swear she's seen a girl outside the window. The allure of learning the truth about the case from the smart, charming Beth is too much to resist, but even as they grow closer, Shea senses something isn't right. Is she making friends with a manipulative murderer, or are there other dangers lurking in the darkness of the Greer house?

My thoughts about The Book of Cold Cases ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First lines—"The Greer mansion sat high on a hill, overlooking the town and the ocean."

I have read Simone St. James' last three novels, and OMG, each one is better and more suspenseful than the previous one. I don't know how she does it, but this author just keeps creating amazing stories!

The Book of Cold Cases is chock full of creepiness and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Exactly what I love! This is a story that will make you want to keep turning the pages, but seriously, can your heart take it? 

I highly recommend this book but make sure you have a big block of time to devote to it because you will not be able to put it down. The Book of Cold Cases will blow your mind!

I received an ARC of The Book of Cold Cases from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

About the author

Simone St. James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel, The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. 

She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Happy Release Day! The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James ~ My Thoughts #TheSunDownMotel #NetGalley

Happy Release Day!



Congrats Simone
on the release today of
The Sun Down Motel!

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
336 pages
Published February 18th 2020 by Berkley

Something hasn’t been right at the roadside Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why in this chilling new novel from the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of The Broken Girls.

Upstate New York, 1982. Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York. But something isnʼt right at the motel, something haunting and scary.

Upstate New York, 2017. Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv, who mysteriously disappeared from the Sun Down before she was born. She decides to move to Fell and visit the motel, where she quickly learns that nothing has changed since 1982. And she soon finds herself ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed her aunt.

My thoughts about The Sun Down Motel ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first line.)

First line—"The night it all ended, Vivian was alone."

My first thought when I finished binge-reading this book was "Wow! Just wow!!" The author pulled me into this amazing story and I couldn't stop. I devoured it!

This book has it all—murder, an age-old mystery, a creepy ghost story, and a little bit of romance Or maybe just an attraction, who knows what will happen when there are ghosts involved.

Simone's stories are just getting better and better with each book she writes. I'm super excited to see what she has coming next. But in the mean time, I can't recommend this book enough! It was a thrilling page-turner that I can't get out of my mind. Pick it up! You will not be disappointed, I promise.

I received an ARC of The Sun Down Motel from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion of the book.

About the author

Simone St. James is the award-winning author of The Broken Girls and The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

Release Day! The Broken Girls by Simone St. James #TheBrokenGirls #NetGalley

Happy Release Day!!

The Broken Girls

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Published March 20th 2018 by Berkley

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .

Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. . . . 

    

Congratulations Simone

 on the release today of

The Broken Girls!

I've already read The Broken Girls and it is amazing! You can read my thoughts HERE. 

About the author

Simone St. James is the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

***********************

Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James ~ My Thoughts #TheBrokenGirls #NetGallley

The Broken Girls

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James
Kindle Edition, 336 pages
Expected publication: March 20th 2018 by Berkley

Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . .

Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.

When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. . . . 

    

My thoughts about The Broken Girls ~~

(I love to note the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their first lines.)

First line—"The sun vanished below the horizon as the girl crested the rise of Old Barrons Road. Night, and she still had three miles to go."

Wow! Just wow! This is an amazing story. It starts of with a very intense first chapter and just keeps going from there. And it has it all. It's a ghost story. It's a mystery. There are twists. There's a bit of historical fiction. And there are relationships to work through. Like I said, there's a little bit of everything so it should appeal to a lot of people.

And once I started reading, I didn't want to put it down. This is definitely a book you will want to block off time for because it will draw you in and it won't let go. I'm going to be adding this author to my must-read author list.

I received an ARC of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

About the author

Simone St. James is the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare, which won two RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and an Arthur Ellis Award from Crime Writers of Canada. She wrote her first ghost story, about a haunted library, when she was in high school, and spent twenty years behind the scenes in the television business before leaving to write full-time. She lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and a spoiled cat.

Connect with Simone

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for all of my current giveaways!