“The caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life–and sanity–in this twisty, addictive thriller.

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal–the one that was supposed to change everything–is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen. The Last Room on the Left is published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons today (that’s Tuesday 14th January 2025) and is available in hardcover and digital formats. I chose to read a free eARC of The Last Room on the Left but that has in no way influenced my review. My grateful thanks to Regina at G.P. Putnam’s Sons for sending me a digital proof copy.

This book will be published in the UK by Penguin Michael Joseph on 30th January 2025 under the title The Woman in Room 13.

Kerry has hit rock bottom. She’s separated from her husband, Frank. Her best friend, Siobhan, hates her. She’s under pressure from her publisher following a large advance for a book that she just can’t write. And the only comfort Kerry can find is in a large glass of wine (or whatever she has to hand that’s strong enough to numb the pain). In order to escape her many distractions and focus on her writing, Kerry takes a caretaker job at a revamped motel in the Catskills. With very little required of her on a day to day basis, and no booze to distract her, it’s the perfect location to finally write the novel that will make her a household name. But on arrival at the remote motel, Kerry makes a a startling discovery. A body in the snow. Trapped in a blizzard all alone and with no phone service, will Kerry make it out of the Twilite Motel alive…?

The Last Room on the Left is the third book I have read by Leah Konen. What I have come to expect from this author over the years is a strong female-led thriller, where friendships and allegiances are put to the test. Konen’s books are always very readable, easy to immerse yourself in and they are always, always entertaining. The Last Room on the Left is no different. Kerry is an unlikeable, unreliable lead who, in a moment of clarity, realises that she needs to step away from the mess of her life to try and get the book that’s hanging over her written. The caretaker job seems perfect. Perhaps, too perfect? But on arrival Kerry discovers that the previous caretaker, there for the month of January only, hasn’t checked out. Further investigation finds her room in disarray.  Half drunk bottles of wine, evidence of a wild party. No sign of the occupant though. That is, until the following morning when Kerry sees bright red finger nails poking out of snow. And the horror of her situation finally hits home.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. If you’re looking for a very readable, snowbound psychological thriller with a cast of unlikeable characters (always makes for a more interesting read in my opinion!) then The Last Room on the Left will certainly fit the bill. My love for an unreliable narrator has grown over the years and Kerry is about as unreliable as they come! She is consumed with thoughts of where her next drink is coming from, how her marriage fell apart and how her friendship with Siobhan broke down. The reader doesn’t find out until much later in the book the reasons behind her relationship issues with her husband and her friend, but the more I read, the more curious I became. I had to discover how things had gone so badly wrong for Kerry. All in all, I enjoyed The Last Room on the Left with its interesting, flawed characters, multiple POVs and isolated setting. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Last Room on the Left. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen was published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons on 14th January 2025 and is available in hardcover and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Leah Konen is the author of Keep Your Friends Close, You Should Have Told Me, The Perfect Escape, All the Broken People, and several young adult novels, including Love and Other Train Wrecks and The Romantics. Her books have been featured in Vogue, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Reader’s Digest and The NY Post, among others. She lives in Brooklyn and Saugerties, New York, with her husband; their daughters, Eleanor and Mary Joyce; and their dog, Farley.