The Vacancy in Room 10

by Seraphina Nova Glass

When Anna Hartley’s husband, Henry, calls her with a terrible, guilty confession, she can’t believe what she hears. It has to be a bad joke—the mild, predictable artist she married would never hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. But her confusion turns to horror when police find his body washed up on the banks of the Rio Grande.

Desperate for answers to the millions of questions his untimely death has raised, Anna checks in to The Sycamores, the run-down motel turned apartment Henry rented as an art studio. As she absorbs every bit of gossip the eclectic mix of residents are willing to share about her husband and each other, she begins to piece together a picture of a very different man than the one she married, and the life he led behind her back. The more she learns, and the less sense things seem to make, she finds herself wondering: Did she ever really know Henry at all?

But Henry’s secrets aren’t the only ones; as Anna’s search for clues expands, Cass, the mysterious, jaded motel manager, seems more and more determined to keep Anna in the dark. And when threatening letters start appearing at her door, Anna has to decide what’s more important—the truth, or her own safety.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Adult

ebook

First published April 9, 2024

About the author

Seraphina Nova Glass is a two-time EDGAR AWARD nominated author. Hew novel, On A Quiet Street, was a New York Times Summer Read, a #1 Amazon Bestseller, and Editor’s Pick. It was also featured in the Boston Globe and Bustle.

Publisher’s Weekly has named her “a writer to watch.” She’s also an award-winning playwright and holds an MFA degree in
Dramatic Writing from Smith College, and a second MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho in Directing (theatre.)
 
She is a proud dog mom to Boston Terrier Spaghetti, and loves to travel the world with her husband, Mark. She resides in Dallas, TX.

​

​

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wowza! Let me say it one more time—wowza! This book has not only secured its place as my favorite Seraphina Nova Glass thriller, but it has also claimed the title of the best thriller I've read in the last six months.

The characterization is an absolute delight! It's not just the leading characters, Cass and Anna, who are true tough survivors, but the entire pool deck gang—Jackie, Crystal, Rose, and their witty banter. Barry, the samurai sword expert, and the little handyman Frank have stolen my heart. Team Sycamore might just overshadow the main characters!

The gripping intercepted mysteries, including a husband's suspicious death and the accidental demise of another eccentric tenant, pull you into the premise. You'll find yourself turning the pages faster, biting your nails, and clutching onto anything soft nearby, including your husband's left arm (at least that's what I did).

The revelations are sucker punches that keep surprising you, and most of the twists are unexpected! The feminist vibes, coupled with strong, flawed characters you can easily resonate with, keep you alert and excited with each chapter until you reach the climax and start screaming.

Now, let's dive into the main synopsis:

Cass reluctantly manages the Sycamores, an apartment complex that could easily be mistaken for a dumpster and hasn't seen better days for centuries. Trapped in this place after her rich realtor boyfriend Reed kicks her out for a younger and trashier version, Cass lacks money, a diploma, and experience. She turns into a handyman, fixing things for the inhabitants. But one day, her encounter with a married man sparks an idea—she can punish these men for what they do to their wives, seeking retribution for what her boyfriend did to her. This side job of blackmailing can help her pay the bills, but what if she chooses the wrong man, one who could ruin her entire life?

Enter Anna, whose husband's haunting last words before his suicide were, "I killed someone!" Suspicious and determined to unravel the mystery, Anna realizes she didn't know much about her longtime husband, who rented a studio at Sycamore for his painting. As she investigates, she becomes adamant that her husband's death was not a suicide and starts questioning Cass, who might be inadvertently involved with more dangerous people than she can handle.

This is the kind of thriller that deserves adoration, prompting you to scream at the top of your lungs from rooftops, "I loved this book!" Of course, I'm giving it my highly recommended five stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing / Graydon House for sharing this incredible book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:

medium blog
instagram
facebook
twitter

[Nina (ninjasbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for this since what feels like forever. And man, this was so worth the wait. I absolutely loved on a quiet street, and this was as good if not better. Nova glass does what she does best; Creating a community where people look out for each other and creating characters that you simply fall in love with. The two POVs worked really well, especially with their hardships described that made me feel their pain and believe in their choices. I especially loved Cass. She is the type of characters I love. Snarky, smart and headstrong. No dumb-wit like in McFadden’s books. She also has a big heart, and I love the relationships that developed between the other people at the motel. The pace really picked up at the end, like a good thriller should. There was no unnecessary and drawn-out backstory, you got just the information you needed to get a feel for their motivation that fitted their personalities. And Rosa! She was such a surprising delight!

This is my second psychological thriller in a row where I confidently can give all the stars in the universe! Please read it if you love the genrea!

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

OUTLIER REVIEW!

After reading all of the many 5 star reviews for this book, it became one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, but I struggled to stay engaged from the start. I knew that I had really enjoyed “On a Quiet Street” by this author but didn’t have as much luck with “Someone’s Listening”. Out of curiosity, I revisited my review for the latter, and here were my opening thoughts….

“Well, that took me twice as long as it usually takes me to read a book! I was curious enough to want to finish, and learn the answers, but the pace was SLOW and the writing just wasn’t keeping me engaged. I was easily distracted by anything and everything else going on around me. PING! Better check that email! 👩🏻‍💻. Barking dog-better see what is going on out there? 🐶”

And, I copied and pasted them here because I felt EXACTLY the same way about this book.

THE SYCAMORES is where the broken people live.

It’s a run down, U Shaped motel that has been converted into low rent apartments. Crappy and Creepy. (LOVE the book cover!!)

Cass is the live-in manager who gets free rent for fixing what’s broken-and since she is barely scraping by, she also has a side hustle of blackmail. She seems to know everything that is going on.

Anna’s husband Henry rented unit 10 as his Art Studio. After Anna receives a call from him confessing to Murder-shortly before his dead body is found-a presumed suicide-she decides to move into his unit to investigate. Neither makes sense or sounds like the man she knew.

And, someone immediately lets her know that she isn’t wanted there, by leaving her threatening notes and “gifts”.

The story is told from the alternating POV’s of both women.

Kudos to the author for creating a repugnant setting that I could completely envision. I felt like I needed a shower when I put this book down!

And, points for originality which was hard to come by in last year’s crop of thrillers.

BUT-this story was way too OTT for my personal taste-much of it hard to buy into!

My favorite character was little Frank Sinatra…and I can’t wait for you to meet him!

AVAILABLE NOW

Thank You to Harlequin/Graydon House for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5-stars rounded up**

The Vacancy in Room 10 is the latest from Seraphina Nova Glass, a Mystery/Thriller writer who has definitely become one of my go-to authors over the past couple of years.



The first time I picked this up, it was in the morning before work. I have about 35-minutes each morning, before I start my real day, where I sit and read and drink coffee. It's my me-time, Monday through Friday.

I read the first few chapters of this in one of those moments and knew it was something I would want to binge. I put it down and patiently waited for the weekend to arrive...



I picked it up again on Saturday morning and didn't stop until it was done. This was fully-immersive and engaging, the day flew by. It was seriously so fun!

In this story, we follow two MCs, Anna and Cass. Anna's husband, Henry, an artist, dies at the beginning of the story, tragically and unexpectedly. He phoned Anna just prior to his death, saying some cryptic things she didn't understand.

In the wake of his death, Anna begins to dig into the parts of his life from which she was excluded, like the apartment he rented at The Sycamores, a dilapidated repurposed-motel. He claimed to be using the space as an art studio.



Cass is the property manager-handyma'am at The Sycamores. Cass is only there following a total upheaval of her regular life, where her long-time partner left her for a much younger woman. It was a very public, very messy break-up, that has severed all Cass's previous ties.

Cass is at rock bottom now, as are some of the other residents at The Sycamores. It's a colorful place. The long-time residents have formed a bit of a dysfunctional found family that was fascinating to read about.



Anna decides to move into Henry's studio to immerse herself in that side of his life. She figures she can question the people there and find out if they know anything that could help her make sense of what happened to Henry.

As the Reader, you follow along with these two women as they try to put the pieces of their shattered lives back together, find peace and maybe return to some normalcy.

The alternating perspectives kept this one moving along at a nice steady clip. I found both Cass and Anna's perspectives so interesting, but I will admit to favoring Cass. I just loved her way of navigating everything she was going through. I found her dry humor relatable and endearing.



There were so many twists and turns throughout this story. SNG definitely had some tricks up her sleeve with this one. It went in directions I wasn't expecting and kept me guessing in an entertaining way.

I also loved the feelings I had while reading this. I found myself really connecting with the vibe of The Sycamores and the way that many of residents interacted with one another. That found family feel was oozing off every page and it took me by surprise.

I was rooting for these characters. I wanted them to be able to move forward from the things that had happened to them and going along with them on their journeys was as captivating as the mystery elements.



I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a well-rounded Mystery/Thriller, with captivating characters and strong levels of suspense. This will be a memorable one for me. I'm just so pleased.

Thank you to the publisher, Graydon House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. For me, this was the best I have read from this author. She slayed it!

[Holly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS (going to round up)

A crazy popcorn, page-turning, mouth gaping read! 😮

My third by this author and I'm a fan.

Cass has an arrangement at the Sycamores, a run down motel that has been renovated into apartments....kind of. She has room 100 that is missing the last zero, and pretty hideous inside. She gets free rent in exchange for apartment cleaning and repairs.

I really liked Cass and when she meets the residents its like crazy mamas at the food throwing pool party! Everyone seems WHACK!

Something unexpected happens and Cass feels like she has entered her own Horror Show. 

There are many red flaggy flags that kept me guessing and I lost count how many times I literally GASPED at what was going down! I love how the author revealed everything and kept it super pacy!

Thanks to EW for my arc. OUT on April 9, 2024

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picking up the phone one evening, Anna is startled to hear her husband’s desperate tone. Before she knows what’s happening, Henry has admitted to killing someone which is followed by a loud noise on the line. Only hours later, his dead body is found on the shallow bank of the Rio Grande in what looks like an apparent suicide. For Anna, however, it just doesn’t make sense. Determined to figure out what made Henry take his own life, she moves into his art studio in a dilapidated motel-turned-apartment building. Surely, there’s something there to hint at what had been going on in his head at the time.

Once she’s unpacked her meager belongings, Anna puts her ear to the ground. In a complex filled with people who love to gossip, it’s only a matter of time until she starts learning surprising things about Henry and her neighbors. Things that she is shocked to have been left in the dark about prior to his death. But when Anna starts getting threatening notes and unsettling packages, her fear of her surroundings may trump her desire to get at the truth. Should she pack it all in and return to her safe and pristine world? Or will the mystery surrounding Henry’s death drive her into the danger zone?

Meanwhile, Cass lives just down the hall. Hired to run the shabby apartment complex after her life hit the skids, she spends her days unclogging drains and chasing mice. When she’s not blackmailing badly behaving men for a bit of extra cash, that is. She may not be comfortable doing it, but needs must and all. Besides, no one is really getting hurt. It’s just a small amount of money. Until the day she tries her scam on the exact wrong man—and things go horribly awry. Now she has to keep the new widow who has been poking around out of her business. Can Cass keep her secrets hidden? Or is Anna going to wreak everything in her hunt for the truth?

Oh. My. God. I literally just put down The Vacancy in Room 10 and my mind is well and truly blown. A brilliant collage of broken individuals, the suspense and mystery drove this one all the way. But let me forewarn you, don’t start this one when you have plans you can’t cancel or chores that have to get done. After all, if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself wide awake at 2 A.M. because you just couldn’t put the book down—not even for sleep. Not to mention the laundry I didn’t do and the dishes that are still dirty in my sink. Don’t judge me, you’ll see what I mean.

So why was this so utterly awe-inspiring in all of its unputdownable magic? Well, for starters the setting was pure perfection. A run down motel turn landing pad for the downtrodden, I could almost envision the blinking “vacancies” sign glowing neon. And just like Schitt’s Creek had me grinning with glee, this last chance saloon was exactly as you’d expect, but also oh so much more.

The truly shining star of this out-of-this-world novel, though? That would be the characters at the heart of the story. An entertaining collection of people living in relative squalor, you’d never know it from their own perspectives. Cunning, hilarious, endearing, and a boatload of fun, I’d love to be called one of their friends. At the same time, however, I had no clue who to trust. All put together, it was the perfect recipe for one epic thriller. But even better, I could easily see each of these candid personas all coming alive on the silver screen just like they did on the page. I, for one, am praying that happens as I’ll gladly be in the front row on opening day.

The plot wasn’t too shabby either (read sarcasm there). A complex, winding tale told via dual alternating POVs, I couldn’t, for the life of me, work out where this one was headed even once. Not to mention that the climax was pure gold and the conclusion left me smiling like a little kid. Did the whole plot feel slightly over-the-top and require some suspension of disbelief? Well, yes. But once I accepted that fact and buckled up, I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ride.

To be frank, I could rave about this one all day, but I’ll try and wind up my review. Already a gigantic fan of Seraphina Nova Glass, she’s merely cemented her name onto my auto-buy author list now. I mean, this twisty, twisty tale left me breathless by the end in all of its well-plotted glory. All I know is, if you enjoyed On a Quiet Street, you’re going to LOVE this badass book. I know I’ve said this a lot lately, but this is just one of those thrillers that I’m already wishing I could reread fresh. It was simply that good. Rating of 5+ stars.

Thank you to Seraphina Nova Glass, Graydon House Books, NetGalley, and Thriller Book Lovers Promotions for my complimentary copy. It was an honor to be included in this exclusive early pre-release tour. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: April 9, 2024

👉 Be sure to head to my Amazon Storefront to order. I get a small commission and would love your support!

Trigger warning: infidelity, blackmail, suicide, spousal abuse, fatal stabbing, threatening messages, kidnapping, mention of: death of a spouse, miscarriage, drug overdose

[Kaceey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for a five star thriller to close out your 2023? Or maybe a great start to your 2024? Here you go!🤩

Told from two perspectives:
Cass: The superintendent for a dilapidated apartment complex known as the Sycamores. She’s scraping by but has a wild hair to try something less than savory to make a few extra bucks! It’s all well and good…until everything goes sideways.

Anna: Recently widowed, has moved into the Sycamores. She’s still seeking answers as to what happened to her husband.

And that’s all you’ll pry from me regarding the premise. You know what I’m going to say next…Go in blind!

Do you like neighborhood thrillers? How about we squish all that neighborhood drama into one small apartment building. Where literally everyone knows your business. No secrets here! Ok, maybe a few but I have a feeling they won’t stay that way for long!

I adored all the characters in this complex. From the older gals with their martinis to the young moms with toddlers running wild, always throwing food into the pool.
But Frank stole the show for me. Such a sweet, kind young soul. I just wanted to give him the biggest hug! 🤗

This read had my un-divided attention! Desperately waiting to see how it was going to play out when all the pieces would fall in place for an explosive ending!
And I wasn’t disappointed!

Seraphina Nova Glass is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors! I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been flipping back and forth between four and five stars with this book, but ultimately I’m going with four stars and that’s only because this book seemed a bit lengthy- and while this is a fiction book I still found a couple of the scenes very implausible (I know, why can’t I just go along for the entertainment?! 🤦🏻‍♀️).

This story takes place at The Sycamore Apartments. The Sycamore used to be a run down motel, which has now turned its rooms into small apartments. The people that live there are misfits (no judgement from me), and don’t have a lot of money. During this story we get to meet the many different members who live at The Sycamore, and get a few chuckles along the way.

Cass (Cassidy Abbott), has found herself living at The Sycamore after her wealthy boyfriend dumped her for a much younger woman. Cass had nowhere else to go, and after accepting a job there, she now has a roof (although not desirable) over her head. Cass is able to live for free here for being the apartment maintenance manager, but she still needs to find ways to make extra cash…

We also have the POV of Anna. Anna is staying at The Sycamore in her dead husband’s room that he used as an art studio. Anna’s husband Henry, has just committed suicide and she is trying to find clues as to why he would take his life. Anna is not receiving the warm welcome from these people like her husband did, and she’s not sure why…

With all that went on in this book, I have to say that I absolutely loved Cass’s character!! Like Cass (and some of the others in this story), I think I’ve acted out of character due to heartbreak, desperation, hurt, and anger. Those acts can make a person seem crazy and irrational, only to make the tormenter seem like the sane and mellow person (trust me, I’ve been there too many times). And believe it or not, I can find myself getting along and wanting to be with some of the people at The Sycamores- because to this day I’m always sticking up for the misfits and underdogs!

Do I recommend this story? Most definitely!! This is the first book this year that grabbed my attention and kept me turning the pages! Even when I wasn’t reading this story, I was thinking about it. It’s a fantastic thriller that must be read!

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my 50th and Anticipated book of the year being a mid read 😒😒

Soft Sigh!

So we have Cass and Anna who live at the Sycamores. It is a motel turned Apartment and pretty much all the residents have a story/ secrets about them. Cass has resorted ending up living there when her husband cheats on her with a young thing and now she is trying to make ends meet by running the Sycamores, while blackmailing cheaters and then we have Anna who has moved in after her husband Henry committed suicide, and the sycamores is where he had a painting studio and Anna thinks there is more to his 'alleged suicide' and she thinks she can get the real answers from the residents. OKKKKK.

Although some have claimed that this started off with a punch and granted it somewhat did, i was completely bored for the first 25% of it. When my mind starts wandering off and I'm thinking what to cook for dinner, it looks like it just might be a good time to DNF! ...
But i don't know how to DNF a book and always feel like I'll get FOMO even if I'm not enjoying what I'm reading (i know, i know, life is to short to be reading books that don't serve me... I'm working on it...promise... 😏)

Anywhooo I'm glad i didn't give up with this book because it did have some really good/ fun moments.

WHAT I LIKED
➽ Ms Glass is a really good writer and i was def able to picture every scene like an A24 movie!
➽ Cass blackmailing cheating ass men!
➽ The Pool Girls! They were such a vibe and i loved their unhinged energy/behaviour
➽ There was a good level of drama that piqued my interest for most of the time
➽ Little Sinatra... he was sooo cute!
➽ Girl Power! The women in this book were not pushovers and it was refreshing to read.
➽ I didn't guess the reveal, but in my defense my mind was wondering off for a good chunk in the beginning so i probably missed the obviousness of it all! 🤷🏾

WHAT I DIDNT LIKE
➽ The whole story was pretty mid and overdone. There was nothing surprising or new that i haven't read before.
➽ There was no suspense, and the slow burn was just Slow no Burn.
➽ The Red Herrings were as dry as my burnt toasts in the morning.
➽ I don't mind a plot where i have to suspend my disbelief but when the story is moving slow and drawn out it just doesn't work for me.

This has very high ratings on here, so I'm definitely an outlier, but this was just ok for me. With that being said i would still read another of this authors previous and future works.




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

⋆｡°✩ PRE READ ⋆｡°✩

Woooop Wooop! 🥳🥳
Finally got my hands on another of my 2024 Anticipated Reads!
Pleasssssse don’t disappoint 🤞🏾♥️

[Tara — on semi-hiatus for health reasons; will check in when possible. · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

"The Vacancy in Room 10" is told from the viewpoints of two very different women. Both ended up at The Sycamore apartment complex, the dead-end, run-down motel-turned-apartment complex on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico, because of tragic events in their life which they had no control.

We hear from the alternating POV's of Anna and Cass. Cass is the motel manager, dumped by a successful realtor boyfriend, Reid, who refused to marry her and then traded her in for a younger trophy named Kimmy. She happens to be very handy and has the very unpleasant and depressing job of fixing up the worn-down units for low wages and lives rent-free. She knows almost everything going on in those apartments behind closed doors.

Anna was married to Henry, an artist with a unit at the Sycamores to use as a studio. She puts her house on the market and moves into his studio to get some answers after he kills himself following a disturbing phone call to her when he confesses to committing a terrible crime. Was he forced to take his life, or is something more sinister happening at the Sycamore Apartments? Neither makes sense or sounds plausible to her. Yes, he was depressed, but Anna knew deep down in her bones that something horrible was going on and didn't believe that her husband would take his own life, much less murder someone. She intends to get to the bottom of what happened to Henry at whatever cost.

Daily life at The Sycamores is no treat, but there are the "pool girls," the kids, the other oddball tenants, and one man with a hair-trigger temper. However, someone there knows what happened to Henry, and soon, Anna finds evidence that she has no idea what Henry has been doing in this place.

I found the pacing of this story so slow I was easily distracted, and my mind wandered. I could not get fully invested and absorbed in this story. The pace was slow; revelations, the climax, and the resolution took this down several notches. It was a female empowerment trope with many repugnant men all around. It didn't ring true, and I found it all wildly unplausable and hard to suspend my belief and buy into the plot. Also, the characters did not feel realistic or believable, and I didn't like any of them, what they did, or how it all ended. The only person I was rooting for was "Sinatra." He was a clever boy, and my heart ached for him.

I listened and paired my e-arc copy with the audio. Brittney Pressley voiced Cass, and Stacey Glemboski narrated Anna. It was my first time listening to Stacey Glemboski, and I found her voice flat and monotone. When she narrated the male voice, it wasn't distinct from Anna. It was my first read by Seraphina Nova Glass. Even though I didn't love this book, I will try another one from her.

I want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! 🔥🔥🔥 Hello you fantastic thriller!! This is how I spent last weekend… Thank you SO much to @blondethrillerbooklover @thrillerbookloverspromotions for having me on this book tour!! 🥰🥰🥰Huge thank you to @seraphinanovaglass @graydonhousebooks for this gorgeous gifted copy!!! 🥰🥰 Pub date is April 9th!!! 🥳🥳🥳

First off… the hype is real!! So well deserved! 👏👏👏 I totally binged this because.. I seriously couldn’t put it down!! Five twisted stars ⭐️…Listen to this…. 😳

That cover … completely NAILS the atmosphere… a creepy run down motel.. I mean just imagine the worst… 🤷‍♀️and there you have it…😳… SO much shady business going on! 🙄 What did I love most??

✅ Creeptastic atmosphere.. The Sycamore Motel… made my skin crawl… I felt uneasy… freaked out.. and I loved every min of it. 😂👏👏

✅ Excellent characters that were so well developed.. again made me freak out a bit. 😳

✅Blackmail 🤨
✅Secrets 🤫
✅Lies 😏
✅MURDER 😳😍🫢
OH HELL YES!! How is that for nailing everything your thriller lover heart ❤️ wants?!!

I couldn’t figure out what secrets these people were hiding… even the dead ☠️ people had secrets!! 😳 Twisted… creepy… I loved it so much.. I really didn’t want it to end. 😂 I don’t say that very often. 🤷‍♀️😍

This was my first book by @seraphinanovaglass .. even though I own four more! 🙄… Let me tell you.. after reading this.. I will be binging her backlist!! Seriously can’t recommend it enough!!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cass finds herself the manager of a run-down motel turned apartments called The Sycamores when her boyfriend, who she lived with, ended their relationship and she has nowhere to live. She gets free rent in return for taking care of the place. There she interacts with the interesting bunch of renters which include those who are quirky, eccentric, and lonely. Cass is low on cash and has come up with a devious and not the safest way to make spending money on the side. 😮

Anna's husband, Henry, called her and admitted to a crime. She checks into The Sycamores to get some answers after his death. There she begins to get answers and finds that she did not know her husband as much as she thought she did.

This book is told through the POV's of Cass and Anna. I found this to be a nice touch. As Anna gets closer to the truth, things begin to get tense and it is obvious that someone will do whatever it takes to prevent her from getting to the truth!

Initially this book was slow for me, and I kept putting it down, but then it slowly crept up on me, tapped me on the shoulder and grabbed my attention. I enjoyed the mystery, the motel and its tenants.

Despite it feeling slow in the beginning, I enjoyed the writing, the plot, the mystery, the setting, the characters, and the mounting suspense.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, hear me out. I think this author loves weird and hoodrat characters for her books. Nothing really wrong with that, it just reminds me of the old me when I grew up in a trailer, poor and miserable. I’m dead serious. That poor old life is one I’d clearly love to forget.

Cass and Anna both live at the Sycamores. An old run down motel turned into sad small apartments. What brought them there in itself is sad. Cass’s husband was a cheating prick that basically forced her to move out with no money. Anna’s husband committed suicide. Her husband, Henry, had a room there where he turned it into his own ‘painting studio’. Anna wants to stay and dig into the final weeks that led to his death, desperately trying to understand his decision to end his life.

Throw in some pool girls, a few bad guys and you got characters that are very similar to ones that played in that old show My Name is Earl with Jason Lee. Remember that show? Maybe you don’t. If you do, then you get my drift. Yes, it was funny. I love me some Jason Lee. However, I don’t really care for these types of characters in my books. It’s a me thing, I guess.

I did enjoy the reveal and the why. I suspected this person very early on and nothing really wrong with that. That makes a nice twist.

What I didn’t like were a few other plot lines thrown in. The dialogue is somewhat straight from the trailer type nonsense. The pool girls are pure comedic hoodrats. Some of it was actually entertaining, I’ll admit. Some just silly.

Cool fact- Seraphina Nova Glass is an Assistant professor and Playwright-In-Residence at the University of Texas, in Arlington. Just a little over an hour away from me.
3.5 ⭐️ raised to 4

I’d like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and S.N.G for an opportunity to an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass was a riveting mystery thriller. This was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by this author. Seraphina Nova Glass proved to me that she is a masterful storyteller and I will look for her books in the future. There were times that I found myself holding my breath while reading this tension filled book. I always enjoy a character driven book and this one fit the bill and did not disappoint. The Vacancy in Room 10 was told from the POV’s of several of the characters. It was paced just right and had me engaged from the very beginning to the unexpected but satisfying conclusion.

The Vacancy in Room 10 explored the fates of two independent, intelligent and strong women who were handed forks in the road that took their lives to places they had not expected. Although the circumstances that led these two women to The Sycamores, an underwhelming, falling apart, creepy motel that was bought and converted into apartments were completely different, they were both drawn to it to find important answers to the issues that had impacted their lives and about themselves. Cass, a thirty-five year old woman who was jilted by her long term boyfriend for a much younger woman, found that The Sycamore offered her a temporary place to live free of charge in exchange for becoming its manager. Her position as manager also included doing repairs for the renters.. Cass was quite capable in that regard. She had once operated her own Handymam business. She was quite resourceful and level headed which suited her in running The Sycamore. Anna Hartley had just recently become a tenant. Her husband, Henry, had rented one of the units at The Sycamore as his art studio. Both Anna and Henry had agreed that financially it made more sense for Henry to rent the space at The Sycamore than undergoing a costly renovation at their home to build a studio for him. Anna had just learned that Henry had been found dead on the banks of the Rio Grande. It appeared that Henry had committed suicide. Anna was having a hard time wrapping her head around that determination. Henry had not been depressed nor had he ever exhibited signs of depression to Anna. She knew that they had grown apart over the years but Anna was unable to accept the reasons for his death that the police had provided. Anna decided to put her and Henry’s home up for sale and live in Henry’s art studio at The Sycamore temporarily. Since Anna was not convinced that Henry committed suicide, she was anxious to discover what really happened to her husband. Perhaps Henry’s art studio would hold some clues to what really happened to him. When Anna arrived at The Sycamore, she couldn’t understand why Henry had spent so much of his time in this place. It was not what Anna had expected. As Anna explored The Sycamore and its storage facilities and spoke to the renters the more confused she became about her husband and the life he was leading without her knowledge. Would Anna get the answers she so desperately wanted to know? Would Cass be able to help Anna in her search for the truth about what happened to Henry?

The Vacancy in Room 10 was fast paced, suspenseful, packed with secrets throughout and the ending was so good. Regarding the ending, I never saw it coming until it was in my face. It was brilliant! Be prepared to keep turning the pages as fast as you possibly can. I adored the pool moms who were some of the more colorful characters in The Vacancy in Room 10. Rosa was probably my favorite! I also enjoyed the relationship Cass forged with young “Sinatra”. It was nice to see how Cass’s character grew, changed and evolved over the course of the book. Seraphina Nova Glass skillfully planted a seed of doubt in establishing who was trustworthy and who was not. She totally had me fooled until the amazing conclusion. I really enjoyed reading The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass and highly recommend it if you enjoy mystery thrillers.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dee (on Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars - I liked this one, but I wasn’t super blown away or anything by it like many reviewers. But it’s a good, solid thriller & I loved the two (three?) very strong female MC’s at it’s center, the mystery itself was a little weak & I guessed a lot of it, but it was well-plotted & I would definitely read this author again.

[blondethrillerbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m calling it now - this is the best book of 2024

[Nancy (Busy feeding 6 rescued baby bunnies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and I can totally understand why she has a huge fan base.

Told from two POVs. The first is Anna whose husband called her with an alarming yet confusing confession and then ends up dead, his body found based ashore on the banks of the Rio Grande. Next we have Cass, the handyman/manager of The Sycamores, a run-down motel turned low-rent apartment complex.

This was a fun popcorn thriller, but you definitely need throw plausibility out the window and just go with the flow in order to enjoy it. The atmospheric setting of The Sycamores was so well-written and I LOVED the Pool Girls and Little Frank. The biggest issue I had was the ending which was so OTT causing me to drop half a star. 3.5 stars rounded up because I did enjoy it overall.

[Soma Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna's world falls apart when her husband, Henry, tells her a shocking secret over the phone. At first, she thinks it's a mean joke, but her shock turns to horror when she finds Henry dead near the Rio Grande. To find peace and answers about his death, Anna moves into The Sycamores, the run-down motel where Henry had his art studio. As she listens to the gossip from the odd residents there, she learns surprising things about Henry that make her question who he really was. While uncovering his hidden life, doubts arise: Did she truly understand the man she loved? But as she digs deeper into the mystery, Anna meets Cass, the mysterious motel manager determined to stop her from finding out the truth. With scary threats appearing, Anna must choose between solving Henry's secrets or keeping herself safe.

Glass's The Vacancy in Room 10 had two different views that kept me guessing. The best part was brilliant, and the ending made me smile like a happy kid. The plot was a bit hard to believe but once I accepted it, the exciting journey was even better than expected. An amazing book! Definitely recommended.

[Natalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first thing I said after finishing this book: “that was dumb.”

It really was. I don’t understand the high praise this book is getting. This was my first book by this author and the thought of a guest unraveling the mystery of a creepy apartment complex was giving me vibes of The Sun Down Motel and I was really excited to pick it up.

Unfortunately, the entire thing was completely ridiculous and over the top. I could not suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy the story and I didn’t like any of the characters except Rosa. I suspected the villain almost instantly and was not happy to be proven right.

The pacing was slow as well. I had high hopes for this one but sadly it didn’t work for me.

[Susan Z (webreakforbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm calling it now, this will hands down be one of the best thrillers of 2024.

This is only my 2nd book by Seraphina Nova Glass, and she as solidified herself as one of the best thriller writers.

Vacancy is Room 10 is a complex story, with many characters told in multi POV from the two main MCs. The story is carefully woven, with tons of intrigue and intensity that had me glued to the pages.

The ending was quite emotional in the very best way, and was truly the icing in the cake.

Loved it!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Vacancy in Room 10 by Seraphina Nova Glass is a thriller novel. The story in The Vacancy in Room 10 is one that is told in a dual point of view style alternating by the two main characters in the novel with some flashing back to past events.

Anna Hartley’s happy life was completely uprooted one night when she gets notified that her husband just may have committed suicide. Just before his death Anna’s husband had called with a disturbing confession that he had taken another life so Anna is left wanting nothing but answers to just what happened.

Anna’s husband had kept a room at a rundown motel called The Sycamores and that is where Anna is determined she’ll find her answers. Shortly after moving into the vacant room Anna meets Cass who manages the complex. Cass once had a nice comfortable life but now finds herself scraping by at The Sycamores doing routine maintenance after her ex left her for a newer, younger woman.

Seraphina Nova Glass is an author that I have read multiple times in the past so I went into The Vacancy in Room 10 with high hopes having enjoyed her previous novels. Thankfully I didn’t need to worry a bit about being disappointed because just as I expected I found a compulsively addictive story as I expected. This novel is full of a cast of colorful characters that make for a long list of suspects which just made the pages fly by. After finishing the author definitely stays on my list of ones to return to in the future any chance I get.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars — THE VACANCY IN ROOM 10 is a simmering story of suspense set in a seedy motel called The Sycamores in Santa Fe. (Alliteration is fun.)

After her husband dies, Anna moves into The Sycamores, a roadside motel that's been converted into apartments. He rented a space for his art studio there, and after making a distressing call to Anna, his body is found along the Rio Grande the next day. She wants answers about the life he was hiding.

Another resident living there is Cass who works as the building's manager and handyman. She's a hot mess who lost everything after splitting up with her wealthy cheating boyfriend. She also has some secrets of her own to keep.

I greatly enjoyed this domestic thriller filled with many eclectic characters. The story unfolds through the alternating POVs of Anna and Cass, but we get to know all of The Sycamores' quirky residents. The big question is how are their stories connected? I love how everything was woven together in this complex mystery. There were surprising twists along the way, but that ending was wild. Lots of action, funny moments, and endearing characters made this an enjoyable and memorable read. [Library Loan]

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware of a woman scorned!

Opening this book to read has coincided with the news that Seraphina Nova Glass’ previous thriller, On A Quiet Street, has been optioned for a limited TV series. How exciting! If you haven’t read one of her novels, what’s keeping you!?

Nova Glass writes spectacular suspense, sweeping readers away in nail-biting drama fueled by mystery, and secrets and propelled by her twisty, unique plotlines showcasing fantastic characters. Her ability to balance humour and suspense is noteworthy.

This is one of those books where giving too much away would ruin it for you. These are the hardest types of reviews for me to write! All I’ll say is when Cass and Anna’s lives intersect at the dilapidated Sycamore apartment complex, it turns into a completely engrossing read.

It explores
✔️ how trauma can either unite strangers or turn them against each other as they clamber to tell their own story.
✔️secrets. If you have a secret, don’t let Superintendent Cass know anything about it. She doesn’t let secrets stay buried…and it almost causes her downfall.
✔️how appearances can be deceiving
✔️found family

That’s it. Go into it blind. Learn to love the eclectic characters who inhabit this authentic setting.

I can’t wait for the next SNG novel!

I was gifted this copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Santa Fe
Publication date ~ April 9, 2024
Page Count ~ 303 (34 chapters)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 43 minutes
Narrators ~ Brittany Pressley, Stacey Glemboski
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ murder, slow burn, secrets, infidelity

Cass is managing a run down motel/apartment building after breaking up with her boyfriend.
Anna's husband, Henry, has just died by apparent suicide, so she moves into the apartment that he used as an art studio to find some answers.

This was pretty good. The suspense was definitely built up in this slow burn journey searching for answers. The twist was nice.

Narration notes:
Brittany does an outstanding job, as usual. She's really one of the best. Stacey was fine, a little slow talking at times.

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing, addictive thriller about two women, Cass and Anna, whose lives collide when Anna’s husband is found dead and it all seems to be connected to a seedy apartment building, The Sycamores, where Cass works as the superintendent.

This is fast-paced, intense, full of non-stop twists and turns with two great, strong, feisty women as the leads and a wonderful cast of supporting characters who live at The Sycamores.

Everything worked with this novel: dual narratives, plot twists, action-packed plot, writing style that sucks you in, and an exciting thrilling ending. I inhaled this one in a day as I raced through the pages. What a gripping, wild ride!!

I predict that this one will be a big hit for @seraphinanovaglass when it releases on April 9/24. It deserves all the praise!

A huge thanks to @thrillerbookloverspromotions and @graydonhousebooks for early access to this novel! All opinions are my own.

[Teju A · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 40%

Sorry folks couldn't do it.... 😵‍💫

[Cristina Neves · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's my first book by this author.
What an amazing, gripping, addictive, with lots of twists thriller!
Couldn't stop reading, kept turning the pages as fast as I was able to until the last one!
Went to sleep at about 5 a.m., tired but happy!

Two POVs:
Cass's and Anna's in alternating chapters.
The secondary characters are an important part of the plot development, especially the pool girls, Rosa, Jackie and Crystal, not forgetting Barry the sword master.
The place:
The Sycamores, a used to be motel into a complex of apartments.
It's run down, dilapidated, some units in very bad condition and it's tenants a bunch of sad, broken, lonely and some a bit wacko people, and of course with just enough money to pay the rent and not a lot more.

Cass has been kicked out of her relationship with Reid her wealthy ex-non husband, who changed her for a younger woman.
She's the caretaker, cleaning, doing small repairs, always being called to fix something in the ruined units.
So she's rent free.
She earns a little extra by blackmailing men who are cheating or wrong doing to their respective wives.
Gossip is the number one hobby of the tenants and as part of her job she goes everywhere, sees and hears things, sometimes makes a video.
She can't stand injustice and wanting to correct a big one she makes the mistake of messing with the most dangerous man who lives there, Eddie.
And that's when her life completely derails, doing something she thought she couldn't ever do, putting her in a grave danger.

Anna is between journalism jobs, and when her husband Henry was laid off school where he had an arts teaching job, he rents Room 10 in Sycamores as a painting studio.
One day he doesn't answer any of Anna's calls and messages. She's worried.
But then a call comes through her phone and relieved she sees it's Henry.
But he's crying, saying he can't do it anymore, that he did something unforgivable, killed someone and suddenly there's a big bang noise and the call ends.
The next day he is found dead in a shallow water bank of Rio Grande.
The authorities declared it a suicide.
He was only 36, so young, why didn't he talked to her?
She's heart broken!

She decides to sell their house and in the meanwhile she moves into Henry's studio to try to discover why he would do such a thing.
But someone doesn't want her there.
She receives threatening letters, disgusting packages and she's locked down in the storage units a whole night.
Then the police calls her down to the station and informs her that the autopsy showed it wasn't self inflicted, that he was murdered.
She becomes a suspect.
She keeps that information to herself and searches all Henry's boxes for a clue of who might the killer be.
Her suspicions keep changing and mine did too.
The only person who seems to help her is Callum, a teacher in the same school Henry worked, because they have a connection. He is grieving too. His wife recently died of cancer.

Then there's a big twist and she thinks she found out who the killer is and talks to Cass.

It was a surprise to me too, but it makes sense when we are given all the information that we didn't know yet, especially the one from the already dead Henry.

The ending was absolutely stunning, a total roller coaster, not knowing which way it wouldl turn to, because Anna didn't do what I was shouting her to "stay put and lock the door!" like I was watching a movie and seeing the shadow of the assassin approaching the soon to be victim!!

[Wendy Jonson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! What a terrific book! The Vacancy in Room 10 is full of suspense, emotion, mystery, thrills, desperation, resilience and some humorous moments too. I had a hard time putting it down.

The story centers around the lives of the characters at The Sycamores, a previously run-down motel converted into no-thrills and somewhat creepy apartments. Most of these people have had to deal with some serious tragedy in their lives and are trying to pick up the pieces and move on. There's Cass who is learning to survive on her own after being kicked out of her boyfriend's house/"comfy" life and being replaced by someone much younger; Anna who is searching for answers after her husband Henry commits suicide; Callum, a handsome school teacher who is coping with the recent death of his wife from cancer; plus a whole mishmash of other interesting and funny people who make this an entertaining, but gripping read. Despite the seriousness of their situations, the storyline had plenty of upbeat, comical moments in addition to the edge-of-your-seat tension created by the mysteries, crimes and abuse going on. Glass did a fabulous job of creating unique and meaningful relationships between the characters, and by the end, I found myself rooting for most of them. This was my first read by Seraphina Nova Glass, and I am looking forward to more. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the digital ARC.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why? WHY?????????????? Why don’t I review things in a timely manner?!?!?!?!?!

Okay, so earlier this year I became sort of obsessed with Sean Baker (thanks Matthew - my little film buff son from anotha motha) and in particular The Florida Project - so you give me a book where the cast of characters all reside in a motel AND you throw a little mystery in to the mix? Yep, that’s a winner. I didn’t love On a Quiet Street (like AT ALL), but I did dig The Vanishing Hour and I liked this one even more. I will definitely pick up whatever the author puts down next.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

[thenovelqueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was gifted this book from a Bookstagrammer who runs a promotion group- after rating this book 3 ⭐️ I was then annexed from the group(without warning) for not giving this book a higher than 4 star review. In my opinion a 3 ⭐️ read is a GOOD read- there are a lot of 3 star books which I constantly reccomend.

I enjoyed alot of aspects of this book and was planning on promoting this book throughly on my bookstagram feed- but apparently my thoughts (and rating) were not up to the standards/rules of this particular group & was told not to post. There are tons of 4/5 star reviews for this book and a lot of them are from members from this particular group. So, I have to wonder how many truly loved this book or just rated it enough stars so they could continue to be a member of the group & get free arc books🤷🏻‍♀️

Anyways, here is my review for The Vacancy in Room 10:

Get your 🍿 ready! The Vacancy in Room 10 was a drama filled, entertaining, popcorn thriller. This story is filled with several unreliable characters which made this a fun ride, not knowing who to fully trust. I enjoyed the storyline, and the setting was unique- a breath of fresh air as most thriller drama books are set typical domestic settings.

Although I found this a fun story, the plot seemed rushed and somewhat messy. The twists were lacking and I found them predictable.

I would reccomend this to those who enjoy neighborhood dramas, light thrillers, and for fans of author Liane Moriarty! This was the first book I’ve read by this author, but have her other books on my TBR!

** I will always be honest with my reviews