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The Sundial Inn
On a return flight from a dream vacation at the Sundial Inn located in the outskirts of New Orleans, Tim and Sara find themselves covered in bruises with no memory of the past three days. The mystery deepens once they learn the inn had ceased operations many decades earlier in 1954.
Plagued with lucid nightmares, Sara struggles to return to her normal life forcing Tim to return to New Orleans in search of answers. Aided by a local clairvoyant Mrs. Lizzie, the secrets of the Sundial Inn and its enigmatic founder, Atticus Busby are slowly unearthed. There is much more to the inn than meets the eye, and Tim begins to realize that his own connection to it is much deeper-and darker-than he ever could have guessed.
A paranormal horror with a streak of dark humor, The Sundial Inn questions the human condition and our desire for power, control, and revenge.
Plagued with lucid nightmares, Sara struggles to return to her normal life forcing Tim to return to New Orleans in search of answers. Aided by a local clairvoyant Mrs. Lizzie, the secrets of the Sundial Inn and its enigmatic founder, Atticus Busby are slowly unearthed. There is much more to the inn than meets the eye, and Tim begins to realize that his own connection to it is much deeper-and darker-than he ever could have guessed.
A paranormal horror with a streak of dark humor, The Sundial Inn questions the human condition and our desire for power, control, and revenge.
306 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2022
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Stephen John Ross
1 book3 followersStephen John Ross is a business professional, songwriter, and musician. Married with three children and four grandchildren, Stephen enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife Debbie and chihuahua CeCe. The Sundial Inn is his first novel, with plans for a sequel.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 8, 2025
I took this book on vacation with me. Instead of being on the beach, I was stuck in my room reading this book. I couldn't put it down even with my kids nagging me. I just had to know what happens next and I was not disappointed. I cannot wait for the sequel!!
January 20, 2025
Tim and Sara have had a lot of heartache lately. After many failed attempts to have a baby, things aren’t working in their favor. Plus, Tim feels he is in an unfulfilling job where he’s not appreciated like he should be. Out of the blue, a box arrives at their place from a courier. Sara thinks Tim knows something about the box and leaves it for him to open when he gets home from work. But when Tim looks at it, he doesn’t know where it came from. They are both in for the surprise of their lives.
In the box, there is a letter stating that they have won an all-expense paid vacation to the luxury Sundial Inn in New Orleans, two airline tickets, and transportation instructions. Each thinks the other entered a contest without telling their spouse. But neither did. Although it seems a bit odd to win such a luxurious vacation neither tried for, they can both use the few days of peace and luxury to recharge their batteries. They decided to go, but they never planned on just how different this vacation was going to be for them.
“The Sundial Inn” by Stephen John Ross is one thriller that had this reviewer sitting on the edge of her seat. Right from the start, something didn’t feel right about this whole vacation package given to Tim and Sara. It was obvious with all the burdens they were shouldering lately that they needed a vacation, but one would think they would have questioned more about the origins of this paid luxury vacation since neither one entered any vacation contest. Mr. Ross penned such emotions into his characters, Tim and Sara, that readers will feel as if they are witnessing everything firsthand. You very well might feel as if you were another character standing next to them trying to make sense of everything.
When they ended up days later boarding their flight home to San Francisco battered and bruised, with no recollection of how they got on the plane, one must wonder what happened to them once they arrived at the Sundial Inn. But without much recollection to the last few days, Tim and Sara must try piecing together exactly what happened to them and why they have no memory of any of it. But how do they even go about trying to make sense of something so outlandish to begin with?
Stephen John Ross has a way of developing his characters to be people you can relate to and that could very well be your neighbors next door. Tim and Sara seem like an ordinary couple going through their rough patch of misfortunate events, and nearly everyone can relate to them at some point. But once they show up battered and bruised, with no recollection of anything odd happening to them both, readers have to wonder why they were picked out to have won this luxury vacation in the first place.
“The Sundial Inn” by Stephen John Ross is one historic thriller that will not only have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, but you may question your own well-being in the end. This was a great story that comes highly recommended!
In the box, there is a letter stating that they have won an all-expense paid vacation to the luxury Sundial Inn in New Orleans, two airline tickets, and transportation instructions. Each thinks the other entered a contest without telling their spouse. But neither did. Although it seems a bit odd to win such a luxurious vacation neither tried for, they can both use the few days of peace and luxury to recharge their batteries. They decided to go, but they never planned on just how different this vacation was going to be for them.
“The Sundial Inn” by Stephen John Ross is one thriller that had this reviewer sitting on the edge of her seat. Right from the start, something didn’t feel right about this whole vacation package given to Tim and Sara. It was obvious with all the burdens they were shouldering lately that they needed a vacation, but one would think they would have questioned more about the origins of this paid luxury vacation since neither one entered any vacation contest. Mr. Ross penned such emotions into his characters, Tim and Sara, that readers will feel as if they are witnessing everything firsthand. You very well might feel as if you were another character standing next to them trying to make sense of everything.
When they ended up days later boarding their flight home to San Francisco battered and bruised, with no recollection of how they got on the plane, one must wonder what happened to them once they arrived at the Sundial Inn. But without much recollection to the last few days, Tim and Sara must try piecing together exactly what happened to them and why they have no memory of any of it. But how do they even go about trying to make sense of something so outlandish to begin with?
Stephen John Ross has a way of developing his characters to be people you can relate to and that could very well be your neighbors next door. Tim and Sara seem like an ordinary couple going through their rough patch of misfortunate events, and nearly everyone can relate to them at some point. But once they show up battered and bruised, with no recollection of anything odd happening to them both, readers have to wonder why they were picked out to have won this luxury vacation in the first place.
“The Sundial Inn” by Stephen John Ross is one historic thriller that will not only have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next, but you may question your own well-being in the end. This was a great story that comes highly recommended!
December 12, 2023
This was a dark and gripping read that had me hooked from the very first chapter.
The story bounces between multiple timelines but it does so seamlessly. There’s present day where Tim and Sara and trying to piece together what happened. It also goes back in time to Atticus Busby’s Inn, its dark history and how it was founded. It follows Lizzie’s past all the way back to her childhood. There are other important characters including a wealthy socialite who is fascinating.
I read paranormal books a lot but this is such a unique twist. There is also a little history mixed in. It isn’t just a paranormal horror. There are other deeper things the characters are dealing with such as grief and self harm.
Toward the middle I was wondering how it was all related. It comes together brilliantly in the end! Overall this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I would love a sequel!
The story bounces between multiple timelines but it does so seamlessly. There’s present day where Tim and Sara and trying to piece together what happened. It also goes back in time to Atticus Busby’s Inn, its dark history and how it was founded. It follows Lizzie’s past all the way back to her childhood. There are other important characters including a wealthy socialite who is fascinating.
I read paranormal books a lot but this is such a unique twist. There is also a little history mixed in. It isn’t just a paranormal horror. There are other deeper things the characters are dealing with such as grief and self harm.
Toward the middle I was wondering how it was all related. It comes together brilliantly in the end! Overall this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I would love a sequel!
September 1, 2025
The Sundial Inn is a spine-tingling mystery that keeps you questioning reality until the very last page. Stephen John Ross crafts an eerie, atmospheric tale where every detail matters and nothing is as it seems. Tim and Sara’s unsettling journey from dream vacation to nightmare grips you immediately, blending supernatural suspense with a haunting sense of history. Perfect for fans of ghost stories and psychological thrillers, this book will linger with you long after you finish it.
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March 30, 2023With no memory of their trip, one couple fights to grasp reality in riveting novel, THE SUNDIAL INN by Stephen John Ross.
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September 11, 2025
Read this book in 1 day. Couldn’t put it down. Great story from start to finish!!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews