The storm / [Large Print] Rachel Hawkins.

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A New York Times Bestselling Author

St. Medard's Bay, Alabama, is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town; the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that's survived every one of those storms; and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover in 1984. When Geneva Corliss, current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard's Bay on the map, she's interested in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn's bottom line. But as the summer heats up and another monster storm begins, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive -- and deadly -- as any hurricane.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Hawkins (The Heiress) uses multiple points of view, mixed media, and alternating timelines to explore a 40-year-old mystery in her new suspense novel. In 1984, Hurricane Marie devastated the town of St. Medard's Bay, AL; one of the few structures still standing was the stalwart Rosalie Inn. In that same storm, Landon Fitzroy was killed; his teenaged mistress, Gloria "Lo" Bailey, was ultimately tried for his murder. The present day sees Geneva Corliss struggling to keep the Rosalie Inn afloat. When author August Fletcher, researching a new book, asks to reserve a room at the inn for an open-ended period of time, Geneva can't say yes fast enough. It turns out that August is writing about the crime that put St. Medard's Bay on the map, and his investigation threatens to unearth secrets best kept buried, even inspiring Lo to return to prove her innocence. At first, Geneva is only concerned with saving the inn; by the time she realizes that August's discoveries might reveal her own family's secrets, it may be too late to step in. VERDICT Both Hawkins's fans and new readers will enjoy her fast-paced, atmospheric suspense novel.--Jane Jorgenson

Publishers Weekly Review

A woman returns to the Alabama tourist town where she was humiliated decades earlier in this sleek suspense novel from Hawkins (The Heiress). In 1984, Landon Fitzroy, political hopeful and son of Alabama's governor, died under mysterious circumstances in the gulf town of St. Medard's Bay. His mistress, 19-year-old Lo Bailey, was accused of killing him, but a highly publicized trial acquitted her of wrongdoing--though that hardly stopped the rumor mill. Now, 41 years later, Lo returns to St. Medard's Bay with writer August Fletcher in tow. The pair take up residence at the Rosalie Inn, now run by Geneva--the daughter of Lo's childhood friend, Ellen--who starts to suspect that Lo might be more interested in revenge than correcting the record in print. Hawkins toggles back and forth between Lo's return to St. Medard's Bay and the days leading up to Landon's death, marking each timeline with the name of a contemporaneous hurricane. She shrewdly orchestrates the plot twists in each story line, folding in letters, emails, newspaper articles, and excerpts from August's unfinished manuscript to raise new questions and ratchet up suspense. When the pieces finally click into place, readers will be more than satisfied. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary. (Jan.)

Booklist Review

In 1984, Landon Fitzroy is found dead on the beach in St. Medard's Bay after a hurricane has roared through town. His death is initially thought to be an accident, a horrible case of wrong place, wrong time. When Landon's affair with local teen Lo Bailey is discovered, Lo is accused of murder and of using the storm to cover up her crime. After she is acquitted, Lo escapes the gossip and leaves town. Forty years later, Geneva Corliss is the current owner of her family's struggling hotel, The Rosalie Inn. When August, a writer, reserves a room to work on a book about the Fitzroy case, Geneva thinks the publicity may help her save the inn. Unexpectedly accompanying August is Lo, and as another hurricane makes its way toward the town, the truth about what happened in 1984 will be uncovered. Hawkins uses her mastery of multiple time lines and characters to great effect in this quick and enjoyable read, and the pulpy nature of the story will appeal to fans of Sally Hepworth and Laura Dave.

Kirkus Book Review

A Gulf Coast hotel owner who loves true crime suddenly finds herself at the center of one. When journalist August Fletcher reaches out to Geneva Corliss, offering to pay double for two last-minute rooms at her failing, century-old hotel, The Rosalie Inn in St. Medard's Bay, Alabama, it feels like the port in a storm she's been praying for. August has partnered up with beautiful, no-nonsense Gloria "Lo" Bailey to co-write her memoir. In 1984, when Hurricane Marie struck St. Medard's Bay, Lo, then 19, was accused of murdering her married lover, Landon Fitzroy, who was the son of Alabama's governor. Although Lo was acquitted, and the death ruled an accident caused by the storm, the tabloids never tired of the salacious version of events. Now 60, Lo is eager to tell her own story. For her part, Geneva is excited for the financial boon their stay will bring, and harbors hopes that her inn will turn into a hotspot for true crime aficionados. But as Geneva grows closer to both Lo and August, she begins to develop theories about the crime and learns that her own life might be tied to this messy past. Hawkins deftly weaves together the voices of a host of intriguing characters, with August being the only mostly one-note miss. And while it doesn't take a trained meteorologist to predict many of the twists and turns this quick-moving thriller takes, the story is gripping from beginning to end. A sharp read for literary sleuths. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.