This book had me hooked all the way through. Young Cynthia Holt is more than just a little inquisitive - she's a proper sleuth, and immediately after being told that room 913 at Parkview Manor is a no go, no talk about room, she has to find out why. Trying to find out why its resident has been locked inside for over forty years, she leaves no stone unturned, and had me seriously worried for her safety quite a few times. I loved the different takes on the resident of room 913 from various residents and workers at the institution as to who lurked behind that door - not wanting to post spoilers here, but a couple were hilarious. I didn't see the ending coming at all, but when it did it was wonderfully heartwarming. I recommend this book to lovers of mysteries everywhere.
Inside Room 913 was an excellent read. The book is well written and the author, Bruce A. Borders develops his main character well. The suspense builds from the opening pages about the identity of the of the resident in room 913 of this retirement home/hotel.
Cynthia, an eighteen-year-old lands her first job in the retirement home. She finds herself consumed with curiosity when her boss instructs her not to talk about or ask about the resident inside Room 913 - which is locked from the outside. Not only is she curious, but she is also concerned about the welfare of whoever has been locked up for at least four decades.
I enjoyed the ending and really didn't see it coming. Well done!!
Inside Room 913 was an excellent read. The book is well written and the author, Bruce A. Borders develops his main character well. The suspense builds from the opening pages about the identity of the of the resident in room 913 of this retirement home/hotel.
Cynthia, an eighteen-year-old lands her first job in the retirement home. She finds herself consumed with curiosity when her boss instructs her not to talk about or ask about the resident inside Room 913 - which is locked from the outside. Not only is she curious, but she is also concerned about the welfare of whoever has been locked up for at least four decades.
I enjoyed the ending and really didn't see it coming. Well done!!
There is nothing better than a good suspense story. Inside Room 913 has a premise that just invites a suspenseful journey. There's a guy who has been in a room for over forty years and the protagonist Cynthia is hired to work in the place where he is. She shows up for work and is given the background that a person has been sealed in a room and has been there for over forty years. She is told by her boss not to even think about asking for any information about the guy who is in Room 913. She is warned not to discuss the issue with anyone on staff and to keep her nose out of the man's business. Well for Cynthia this is an invitation to plan and scheme to try and get information on the man and why he was sealed in the room. The balance of the story concerns her hunt for information and an eventual discovery that she never expected.
The story is well written by Mr. Boarders and it is very evident he knows how to construct a compelling piece of suspense. The reader is literally unable to guess the surprises and gets to the end of the story still wondering what is going to happen. Only in the final moments do the details jump up and resolve the story to great satisfaction. I would recommend this book to suspense readers and anyone who would enjoy a good story.
Bruce Borders has written another really good book that can be read in one sitting. The reason I start with that comment is to prepare you for the inevitable. You will not be able to put it down once you begin.
Cynthia Holt, an eighteen year old, goes to work at Parkview Manor, an assisted living facility, formerly Parkview Sanitarium, a former mental institution. She is given her job duties the first day of work, and informed that she is never to disturb the person in Room 913 and never to discuss Room 913 with any of the other employees or residents of the facility. Cynthia becomes obsessed with discovering the mystery of Room 913. Against instruction, and under threat of being fired, she learns many conflicting stories about Room 913 from other employees and residents. The story takes many twists and turns until it reaches the great final twist. Bruce Borders is a master storyteller, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense, an easy read, and a fascinating story.
Cynthia Holt and I no doubt have curiosity in common. But it is the author’s ability to build up the mystery surrounding Room 913 that compels us both to find out exactly what or who is in that room. The conjectures and suggestions are just what a person would expect in an assisted living facility, and the real reason behind Cynthia’s curiosity is more than plausible. I started this book on a Wednesday and finished it that same day. I took a small break to keep myself from skipping ahead to see what was in the room. I’m glad I didn’t peek because, for me, finding out what was behind the door was worth the wait.
One strongpoint of this fiction is Bruce’s choice to keep the investigation of the mystery primarily in Cynthia’s POV. Readers can’t escape Cindy’s obsession. Consequently, it more readily becomes their obsession, and they feel the frustration and need-to-know as keenly as she does. Another strongpoint is the book’s length. There is no dragging out of the story. The plot is streamlined and unfolds at the right pace.
I knew I would give this book four stars pretty much from the moment I started reading it. The ultimate decision to go with five stars came when reading the final chapters. The ending caught me off guard, but totally worked for this story. The author could have gone too far to the left or to the right with it. Instead the conclusion hit the perfect middle and felt more like what might happen in real life. Thanks, Bruce Borders, for such an engaging story.
