When they were teenagers, Mia’s beloved cousin Tristan was murdered during their stay at an infamous castle in the Austrian Alps. As the only witness, Mia’s testimony put the killer behind bars, but that action tore her life asunder. The media accused her aunt, a controversial true-crime author, of being involved.
Now a decade later, the murderer is appealing his convictions, and a popular true-crime podcaster begins to cover the case, determined to exonerate him and circulates resurfacing lies about Mia’s family in the process. Desperate to protect her aunt and knowing what she knows about the truth, Mia returns to Austria. The castle is being revamped as a luxury hotel, and Mia gets a job as a nanny to the new owner’s daughter Evie, which gives her access to the grounds as well as hiding in plain sight, as she investigates, needing to set the story straight once and for all. But after someone mysteriously disappears on the property and sinister new evidence emerges regarding her cousin’s death, she realises she might have accused the wrong man, putting her life in danger.
The engagement with the story is strong from the beginning to end, with suspense and a lot of foreboding. One has to wonder if the bad energy lingering from Tristan’s death as well as a prior death before that, is causing an eeriness to invade. Some of Mia’s decisions are poor and may impinge on her and Evie but her persistence in enquiring as to the background of her cousin’s death makes the danger imminent.
Mia starts doubting her memories while also doubting who she can trust while confronting her past as she follows a trail of toxic family secrets and deadly lies. This is what is at the heart of this cracker-of-a-story that delivers a riveting amalgam of a cold case, psychological thriller thats chased by a gothic edge.
The alchemy and mystery are active ingredients in this twisted tale of murder, family secrets and an active podcast set in a creepy castle in the alps. The premise and certainly the gothic atmosphere is right up there, however the story expectation remains in my lower register. Got to say there’s something about an isolated castle turned lux lodging with its pedigree of dark history is a hook that percolates interest. It makes for a perfect backdrop for the author’s twin threads of the past and present to intertwine as Mia returns to the place that altered her life. Some chords attached to the mystery engage more than others but the twist and overall payoff does revel in the creepy aspect.
So back to the spooky location and the old murder that comes back like a haunting spectre that includes ravens and mysterious sightings in the sealed off areas of the hotel. If we think this is all machination in Mia’s head- others saw them too, and the paranormal connection begins with gothic coattails.
I felt that the protagonist is setup to be frustrating and frankly annoying, with all the side characters feeling a mite one-dimensional. The book will appeal to aficionados of the spooky nature and also those readers who love the supernatural elements that criss-cross the story.
Author Tara Goedjen fleshes-out the history of murders in the castle adding that zest and mystery into the mix. She makes an interesting segue by making the podcast keep up with current events, hinting at secrets floating back from the past. That said, the present is full of drama as well with more revelations of secrets. Its a clever linking every characters secrets and ties to the past while setting up the worry that they could be the next victim.
Tara’s style makes for an easy read for entertainment and to be invested in the creative potential of all the characters. Besides entertaining, there’s enough moodiness to entice the reader with its promising premise.
PLEASE ENJOY YOUR STAY serves up a home run from this adult debut novelist. The conclusion ties all the ambiguous pieces neatly keeping your attention glued to the pages and its grin-inducing ending
