REVIEW

The Storm

by Rachel Hawkins

I Recommend!

4 Stars

GoodReads

At a Glance

Published01/06/2026

GenreMystery & Thriller

FormatAudiobook, ARC

NarrationAlex Knox, Cathi Colas, Dan Bittner, Jane Oppenheimer, Patti Murin, Petrea Burchard, and Stephanie Nemeth-Parker

GoodReads3.73

My Score4

Spice LevelNone

Book Summary

St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…

[summary provided by GoodReads]

My Review

I really enjoyed this one. This author can be a bit of a hit or miss for me, but this was absolutely a hit.

I listened to the audiobook, and I highly recommend going that route if you can. It features a full cast of narrators, which made the experience even more immersive. Each POV felt distinct, and it really helped bring the characters to life in a way that pulled me deeper into the story. Just a quick note: there is quite a bit of strong language, but no spice.

From the very beginning, I was completely intrigued. This is one of those thrillers that keeps you guessing the entire time. Every time I thought I had it figured out, something shifted. When the big reveal finally came, I was genuinely shocked. The twists and turns were so well done, and it gave me the same kind of satisfaction I get from a great Riley Sager–style thriller, where nothing is quite what it seems.

I won’t say too much about the plot because thrillers are always better when you go in blind, but the atmosphere alone makes this one worth picking up. The story is set during hurricane season in Alabama, and the setting feels incredibly vivid. I’ve never been there myself, but I felt completely transported. The storm isn’t just background noise either; it almost feels like a character of its own. There’s this constant sense of tension, like something is building, waiting to break.

The story moves between past and present timelines, slowly uncovering long-buried secrets, scandal, and betrayal. I loved how layered everything felt. The history of the inn and the town added so much depth, and the characters were complex in a way that kept me invested in all their storylines. The storm also works as a powerful metaphor, mirroring the characters’ lives as everything begins to unravel and their secrets come to the surface.

If you’re looking for a gripping, fast-paced thriller or an audiobook that will fully pull you in, I definitely recommend this one. I was so engrossed that I finished it in just a few days. It kept me hooked from start to finish, had me constantly guessing, and completely surprised me by the end. Perfect for a summer beach read. I’m so glad I enjoyed this one, and will continue to read from this author.