The Sun Down Motel

A New York Times and USA Today best seller, The Sun Down Motel is a paranormal thriller and women’s fiction novel by Simone St. James. Originally published in 2020, this summary guide refers to the Kindle Edition by Penguin Publishing Group. The Sun Down Motel alternates between two timelines: the stories of Viv Delaney in 1982 and Carly Kirk in 2017, who both work the same shift as night clerks at the front desk of the Sun Down Motel in Fell, New York.

Plot Summary

The Sun Down Motel tells the parallel stories of Viv Delaney in 1982 and her niece Carly Kirk in 2017. In their different timelines, both young women discover several secrets about the Sun Down. The pool is closed because a young boy hit his head and died from the injuries. His ghost haunts the motel alongside that of the smoking man, or Henry, who called 911 when the accident happened and died of a heart attack six months later. Betty Graham was the first death at the motel, as her body was discovered during its construction.

Betty visits Viv and Carly, warns them of danger, and even speaks with them on occasion. When Viv finds that she’s unable to let go of Betty’s mysterious death, she puts all of her energy into hunting down her murderer. Similarly, Carly is unable to let go of the mysterious disappearance of her aunt Viv. Both women are frustrated with the lack of answers and dismissal of evidence and clues. They become more aware of the dangers of being alone at night, the way society portrays and treats women, and the importance of trusting their instincts.

Viv gets help from Officer Alma Trent, a local photographer named Marnie Mahoney, and her crush, Jamie Blaknik, to find out more about a strange traveling salesman who she believes is related to the death of Cathy Caldwell. As Viv uncovers more about Betty Graham and Victoria Lee, she realizes that their disappearances are connected.

Viv begins following the salesman, Simon Hess, and witnesses him following a young girl named Tracy Waters. Despite Viv’s efforts to try and protect Tracy by calling the high school principal, mailing an anonymous letter to Tracy’s parents, and warning Alma and Marnie, Tracy’s murdered body is found two days later. Viv is positive it was Simon Hess, who unexpectedly checks into the motel the night of Tracy’s discovery.

Viv is beside herself over the death of Tracy and knows the spirit of Betty is angry that Simon is at the Sun Down Motel again. With the help of Jamie, she lures Simon away from his hotel room so she can find more evidence, but she isn’t fast enough. Simon comes back to his motel room and catches Viv with his suitcase.

Viv confronts Simon and with the help of Betty stabs Simon in the chest. She gets him to confess to the murders of Betty, Cathy, Victoria, and Tracy. After he dies, Viv attempts to remove him from the motel room. Marnie finds her and helps Viv carry Simon to the trunk of his car. Alma arrives and realizes what’s happening; she too feels guilty and decides to help cover it up. They take Simon and his car to an abandoned barn.

In Carly’s timeline, Carly gets help from her roommate, Heather Atkins, and her crush, Nick Harkness, who is staying at the motel. They slowly piece together the connections between the three deaths. Heather discovers that Tracy Waters was found on the same day that Viv disappeared. When they find the barn, it is apparent that there is a body hidden in the trunk, and Carly fears it’s her aunt Viv. They call the police, and when Carly learns the body is a man’s, she realizes her aunt killed him.

A Fell local named Callum MacRae, whom Carly met at the Fell Central Library, has been keeping a close eye on her. After an uncomfortable meet-up where Callum tells Carly that he has a family secret too, Carly decides she has to get away from him. Callum tells her he’s the grandson of Simon Hess and that he’s always wanted to know what happened to him. Callum tails Carly in her car, and when Carly avoids him by going to Alma’s house, he shows up at the motel.

Nick and Carly try to talk to Callum, but he shoves Carly into the empty pool and runs into the woods. Nick goes after him and Viv picks Carly up. Carly is shocked to see her aunt is alive and has been hiding in plain sight in Fell. Viv explains that she’s changed her name and that everyone seems to have forgotten about her. Nick calls Carly and tells her Callum is dead and the motel is in chaos. Viv and Carly go back to the Sun Down, which is nearly collapsing. They know it’s Betty destroying the place once and for all.

Viv and Carly go to the police station and wait for Nick to finish giving his statement. Viv decides she’s going to confess. She’s taken to prison, but the DNA from Simon matches the DNA from Betty, Cathy, and Tracy’s cases. Viv’s confession leads to a reopening of Victoria’s case as well. Nick gets an apartment in Fell, and Carly moves into Viv’s old place. They begin dating and planning for their future as the Sun Down Motel is demolished.