Asylum Hotel

By: Juliet Blackwell

Narrated by: Xe Sands

When a mysterious figure shows up in the photograph an architect takes of the derelict Seabrink Hotel, ghostly encounters and murder are unleashed.

Aubrey Spencer loves photographing classic old buildings and abandoned places that hold old secrets. The Hotel Seabrink, perched overlooking the sea, is one such place. Currently abandoned but scheduled for a major renovation, it has a torrid history. Back in the 1920s it hosted A-list celebrity clientele, and now the locals insist it is haunted by the ghosts of two young women who died there. When Aubrey goes to photograph the site before the renovation begins, she bumps into a man named Dimitri Petroff, a minor online celebrity who shares her fascination with old buildings, the Hotel Seabrink in particular.

When he is found dead the next day at the base of a cliff, the police are quick to close the investigation. But Aubrey feels unsettled by locals who claim he was murdered and that it’s not the first time someone interested in the hotel was killed. As she digs deeper into the property’s dark history (and its origins as an asylum) as well as Dimitri’s professional rivalries, she becomes mired in an unsolved murder case from several decades earlier, one with eerie parallels to the contemporary case. But someone is determined to keep her from discovering the truth—at any cost.

Critic reviews

"Gothic mystery with modern edge, perfect for fans of haunted history, true crime tangents, and hotels that should’ve stayed condemned."—Daily Mom

“Readers who remember Barbara Michaels’s wonderfully ghostly genre-blurring novels and fans of newer authors such as Jennifer McMahon and Riley Sager will be beguiled by Blackwell’s chilling, supernatural literary treat.”—Library Journal

“This atmospheric standalone from Blackwell offers supernatural mystery fans a hearty helping of murder, ghosts, and doomed love at a long-abandoned hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean.”—Publishers Weekly

Great thriller!

This was a great thriller that was hard to put down, and the writing, pacing, and narration were perfect! Aubrey and Dimitri shared what could've potentially been the start of something new, but his death ruined that. The Asylum Hotel, aka The Seabrink Hotel, holds a lot of secrets. With the help of her friend Nikki, Aubrey works to uncover what they are and if any of them are the reason for Dimitri's death. Only, it isn't just the hotel holding on to secrets. Some of the townsfolk are as well.

Narrator and flow of the story

First!! I just love XE Sands voice!
And J Blackwell weaves a ghost story like no other!
More please!!

narrator was fantastic. I love the story

loved it all will listen to more from both. that's all I have to say. thanks

5 stars

Well written with engaging characters and an entertaining plot. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Perfect supernatural thriller

I have been a fan of Juliet Blackwell's books for a long while. This is my first standalone of hers and I loved it! It is especially perfect for listening to the story. It's very atmospheric and well-told. It's supernatural but not especially horror. It's a thriller with supernatural elements.
I liked the main character, Aubrey. I especially liked her friend Nikki. I like that she came to the rescue even with creepy stalker issues occurring in her own life.
Abandoned buildings fascinate me, but I think I am more cautious than Aubrey is in the book. She wanders into the reportedly haunted hotel that's been abandoned for decades and is the site of several disturbing deaths.
This is a perfect October spooky book to listen to and I can definitely recommend this book and author.