Stephen John Ross
The
Sundial Inn
On a return flight from a dream vacation at the Sundial Inn located in the outskirts of New Orleans, Tim and Sara find themselves covered in bruises with no memory of the past three days. The mystery deepens once they learn the inn had ceased operations many decades earlier in 1954.
Plagued with lucid nightmares, Sara struggles to return to her normal life forcing Tim to return to New Orleans in search of answers. Aided by a local clairvoyant Mrs. Lizzie, the secrets of the Sundial Inn and its enigmatic founder, Atticus Busby are slowly unearthed. There is much more to the inn than meets the eye, and Tim begins to realize that his own connection to it is much deeper—and darker—than he ever could have guessed.
A paranormal horror with a streak of dark humor, The Sundial Inn questions the human condition and our desire for power, control, and revenge.
About the book
The Sundial Inn is an adult horror fantasy story comprised of 64,600 words. After seeing an abandoned hotel, condemned, and scheduled for demolition, I dreamed of a story that would draw unsuspecting guests to the building. The innocence of the guests would blind them from the truth and place them directly in the hands of evil. Yet, the story cuts much deeper than that and takes the reader back to the early 1900s to when it all began and to a plane or spiritual realm where only certain people with special abilities can journey, to seek out answers and see the absolute truth.
This story cuts to the core of the human condition to expose our desires and weaknesses as humans. From a purely optic view, a Sundial Inn could be in operation today and nobody would be the wiser which makes the story believable and compelling.
The Sundial Inn Reviews
goodreads
"This was a dark and gripping read that had me hooked from the very first chapter. [...]
I read paranormal books a lot but this is such a unique twist. There is also a little history mixed in.
It isn’t just a paranormal horror. There are other deeper things the characters are dealing with such as grief and self harm.
Toward the middle I was wondering how it was all related. It comes together brilliantly in the end!
Overall this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. I would love a sequel!"
Reader Views
"Mr. Ross penned such emotions into his characters that readers will feel as if they are witnessing everything firsthand. You very well might feel as if you were another character standing next to them trying to make sense of everything. This was a great story that comes highly recommended!"
BookTrib.
"We’re welcomed to a world that is extremely familiar, one where our protagonist, Tim, labors through the rigors of an unfulfilling job while he and his wife struggle through financial burdens. When Tim and Sara are offered an all-expense paid trip to New Orleans, they simply cannot turn it down."
IndieReader
"From a supremely intriguing beginning lightly glossed with black humor, The Sundial Inn evolves into a disturbing supernatural horror full of twisted complexity. Author Stephen John Ross capably uses multiple timelines and shifting perspectives to showcase a chilling tale of unearthly retribution that ends in surreal mayhem and with the enticing hint of a sequel."
