We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.
Books: Dead of Summer & Asylum Hotel

Today, we are talking about Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell. Orla returns to her hometown years after her childhood best friend, Alice, disappeared. Meanwhile, her childhood crush, the son of one of the richest families in town, David, has also returned with his new girlfriend, and alleged soon-to-be fiancée, Faith. Although much of this description makes the book sound like more of a love story than a thriller, it definitely is not.
While the story remains intriguing enough to hold interest throughout, the book is mostly disappointing. Regular readers of thrillers or viewers of theatrical thrillers can likely spot several of the big twists before they are revealed. Plus, there are too many unlikable characters. This includes Orla, Alice, and David, none of whom has an inkling of what it is like to be a good friend. The ending is also less than satisfying. It doesn't make complete sense and needs further explanation. To say more would be spoilery.
Today, we are recommending Asylum Hotel by Juliet Blackwell. Aubrey likes taking pictures of old abandoned buildings. When she takes pictures of the Asylum Hotel, she meets YouTube celebrity, Dimitri, who ends up dead at the bottom of a cliff the next day. The locals think he is just another victim of the hotel's alleged curse because he is not the first person associated with the hotel who has died.
If you enjoy reading about alleged haunted buildings, you may enjoy this exciting thriller. Aubry is a courageous and determined heroine. She and her friend, Nikki, make a good team, and their friendship is quite enjoyable. However, the story is a bit overwhelming at times. There is not one but several stories about what happened in the hotel's past. At times, it's hard to keep it all straight.
The solution to what happened to Dimitri is a surprise that you are unlikely to figure out. However, that is because you were not given enough information to do so. Also, it doesn't relate enough to the main part of the story. Still, there are parts of the story's resolution that are more interesting and satisfying.
Movie: Sound of the Surf
Today, we are recommending Sound of the Surf. This is a fascinating film about the development and history of surf music. Most people are probably only aware of The Beach Boys when thinking about this genre, but it neither started nor ended with them. While they are mentioned in the film, they are only a small part of it. None of them appear in it. However, it does include interviews with numerous other surf music pioneers, including one woman, as well as numerous samples of surf music songs.
And that's our view. Dead of Summer was published today. Asylum Hotel will publish next Tuesday, June 29. Sound of the Surf is now available for purchase on DVD and digitally for purchase or rental.
Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.
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