From USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman comes The Guest in Room 120, a spellbinding dual-timeline historical mystery set at Honolulu’s iconic Moana Hotel. Blending history, suspense, and a touch of the paranormal, Ackerman delivers a haunting story where a real-life mysterious death in 1905 collides with a writer’s desperate search for answers one hundred years later.
If you’re a fan of Ariel Lawhon, Fiona Davis, or anyone who loves historical fiction with a side of secrets, this one belongs on your fall reading list.
Summary (spoiler free)
- 1905: Jane Stanford (co-founder of Stanford University and a woman with more than a few enemies) flees to Honolulu after a scare at her San Francisco mansion. She checks into the newly opened Moana Hotel, hoping for safety. But paradise proves far more dangerous than expected.
- 2005: Zoe Finch, a bestselling author struggling with writer’s block, arrives at the same hotel for a writers’ conference under an assumed name. As a storm looms, Zoe begins experiencing vivid nightmares that feel more like visions. With the help of fellow author Dylan Winters, Zoe races to uncover the century-old truth behind Jane Stanford’s death before history repeats itself.
- 1905 again: Through the eyes of ‘Iliahi Baldwin, a young woman working at the Moana, readers also see the events unfold firsthand. ‘Ili forms a surprising friendship with Jane Stanford and faces devastating fallout when the unthinkable occurs. But some truths are too dangerous to tell…
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My Review
⭐4.5/5 stars
Perfect for your fall TBR especially if you like a little paranormal mixed with your historical mysteries.
I’ve been reading Sara Ackerman since her WWII historical fiction days (Radar Girls is still a favorite of mine), and I love the direction she’s taken with these dual-timeline mysteries. The Guest in Room 120 feels like a perfect evolution of her work: history rooted in Hawaii, layered with suspense and emotional depth.
The pacing kept me hooked, the characters were easy to root for (and fear for), and the paranormal elements added just the right amount of spookiness without tipping into full-on fantasy. If you enjoy stories that balance real history with imaginative mystery, this one’s for you.
What I Loved
The dual timeline structure: Both the 1905 and 2005 storylines are equally compelling, something rare in dual-timeline novels. The historical sections set up the eerie mystery, while the modern timeline reopens the case in a fresh, page-turning way.
The setting: Ackerman is known for her evocative Hawaiian settings, and she nails it again here. From the elegance of the Moana Hotel to the storm-lashed shores, the atmosphere adds an immersive, gothic vibe.
The genre mash-up: This isn’t just historical fiction it’s part thriller, part paranormal mystery, and even has touches of romance. I especially enjoyed the meta twist of having two writers at a writers’ conference trying to piece the mystery together.
Inspired by real history: The book draws from the real-life mysterious death of Jane Stanford in 1905, one of America’s strangest unsolved cases. That nugget of truth makes the novel even more chilling.
Final Thoughts
The Guest in Room 120 is perfect for fans of:
- Dual-timeline historical fiction
- Mysterious real-life deaths and unsolved cases
- Gothic settings with a paranormal twist
- Slow-burn suspense with a dash of romance
Another atmospheric, compelling read from Sara Ackerman and proof that Hawaii is just as rich a setting for gothic suspense as it is for WWII fiction.
If you liked The Guest in Room 120 try these:
1. The Address by Fiona Davis
A dual-timeline mystery set at New York’s famed Dakota building. In 1884, an English housekeeper arrives at the iconic apartment building only to become embroiled in scandal. A century later, an interior designer discovers secrets hidden in the Dakota’s walls. Perfect if you loved the historical/contemporary layers and iconic setting of The Guest in Room 120.
2. The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles
Moving between WWII Paris and 1980s Montana, this novel blends the true history of the American Library in Paris with a contemporary coming-of-age story. Fans of Ackerman’s way of linking past tragedy to modern-day revelations will enjoy this.
3. The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis
Another atmospheric dual-timeline novel, this one set in the Frick mansion in New York. It explores secrets, scandals, and betrayals that echo across decades. Readers who liked the haunted, mysterious vibes of the Moana Hotel will feel right at home.
4. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Set in 18th-century London and present-day England, this dual-timeline mystery follows an apothecary who secretly sells poisons to women seeking revenge, and a modern woman who stumbles upon her legacy. With mystery, suspense, and strong female leads, it scratches the same itch.
5. The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Though less paranormal, this dual-timeline historical novel spans the 1950s and beyond, weaving together secrets, hidden histories, and the struggles of women trying to rewrite their futures. Readers who loved The Guest in Room 120’s focus on hidden truths will connect with this too.
