They say blood is thicker than water. I say blood is just harder to wash off your hands.
My name’s Kimberley. I’m twenty-five. I have epilepsy, a seizure alert dog named Muffin, and a job I love as a senior housekeeper in one of London’s top hotels. I’m used to being invisible. Overlooked. Safe.
But that was before Jennifer Clifton checked in. She’s rich, powerful, terrifyingly calm — and she asks for me by name.
She offers me my dream job, working in her exclusive hotel in the Scottish Highlands. It’s more money than I ever imagined.
There’s just one catch: Don’t open the door to Room 21.
How hard can that be?
But something is wrong in this hotel. The guests give me the creeps. The staff whisper behind closed doors. And that room — the one I promised not to enter — calls to me.
I took this job for a better life. Now I’m trapped in a nightmare
I’ve read many of Jessica Huntley’s thrillers and enjoyed most, and Room 21 is definitely the darkest one I’ve read yet. Like several of her previous books, this is a multi-POV story with multiple complex FMCs, and while I wouldn’t classify it as either a full-on revenge thriller or serial-killer thriller, it has strong elements of both. It also has quite a few content warnings, particularly around epilepsy, abuse, sexual assault, abduction, and graphic depictions of murder—although most of the violence happens off-page. It’s a very dark and twisted read—so if that’s your cup of tea, this one’s for you!! —and it’s easy to become emotionally invested in the main FMC, Kimberley, early on.
The multiple first-person POVs follow twenty-something Kimberley, the ultra-wealthy, condescending Jennifer Clifton, and a young woman, Emily, in the past. The gripping prologue grabs your attention with Kimberley making plans to kill her family of serial killers, whom she only met weeks earlier, before the story jumps back to her life working at the Harris Hotel in Mayfair, London, and preparing for the arrival of a rich woman, Jennifer Clifton. Kimberley’s epilepsy takes center stage early on, and I appreciated how much we get to understand how it affects her everyday life rather than simply being mentioned in passing. She has had to learn how to live with her condition, has Muffin, her seizure-alert dog, constantly by her side, and hasn’t allowed it to stop her from being ambitious and independent, which made me empathize with and root for her right away! Jennifer’s arrival puts the entire hotel staff on edge as she’s demanding, condescending, and high-maintenance. She makes Kimberley a surprise job offer at her exclusive, ultra-private hotel in the Scottish Highlands, complete with a much higher salary, room and board, and medical care. The only catch is an NDA and strict secrecy. It’s an offer too good to refuse, and Kimberley agrees. After arriving at the striking Clifton Hotel, things quickly become unsettling when she meets the suspicious, tight-lipped staff and learns about Room 21, an off-limits room that nobody’s willing to talk about.
Emily’s POV chapters take place 25 years earlier. She’s a pregnant teen whose life has fallen apart after being rejected by her family and abandoned by her boyfriend. While working as a cashier, she’s abducted and wakes up terrified inside a strange room. Without giving anything away, Kimberley and Jennifer’s lives and POVs intersect in unexpected ways, while Emily’s storyline slowly becomes more important to the present timeline. There are also despicable hotel guests, some of whom Kimberley has very unpleasant interactions with. The deeper she digs into the hotel and its secrets, the more danger she’s in—and I found the book increasingly difficult to put down!
The chapters are short to medium in length, and the story is always moving. I had an idea of where things were headed because of the prologue, but I never found the book predictable in terms of what was coming in the next chapter or two. If you’re paying close attention to the clues and thinking carefully about how the timelines connect, you may be able to predict the major twist, like I did. That said, there are several smaller twists and a final reveal that completely pulled the rug out from under me—and I love when that happens, so thanks, Jessica Huntley!
The satisfying resolution had me literally fist-pumping as some of the evil characters finally got what they deserved. I also liked that the epilogue gives us one last little surprise and shows how even some of the characters we’ve been rooting for are capable of being morally grey.
And for you audiobook lovers, Room 21 is brought to life by seasoned narrators Charlie Albers and Anna Burnett, and they both do a sensational job portraying their characters. Burnett captures Kimberley’s determination, vulnerability, and intelligence, while Albers narrates both Jennifer and Emily convincingly and with enough distinction to make their POVs easy to follow. Room 21 is one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to from Jessica Huntley overall, and if you enjoy dark, twisty psychological thrillers with complex female leads, dark family secrets, and shocking twists, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Narrator Performance
Room 21 is narrated by seasoned narrators Anna Burnett and Charlie Albers.
Anna Burnett drew me right into the dramatic prologue, portraying Kimberley with a determined, badass, strong-willed voice as she decides to kill her family of serial killers she’s only recently met. I was immediately intrigued. When the story jumps back to a few weeks earlier, there’s a shift in her performance as she gives Kimberley a more innocent, vulnerable, but still determined voice while she works at the Harris Hotel in Mayfair, London. All of Kimberley’s interactions with her coworkers, especially Mary, are immersive, and Burnett’s delivery conveys how Kimberley’s respected and takes her job very seriously.
The early scenes between Kimberley and Jennifer Clifton are a highlight, as you can hear the tension building as Jennifer’s condescending, demanding personality puts her and the other staff on edge. Burnett nicely captures how Kimberley tries to remain professional while attempting to keep Jennifer happy. When Jennifer offers Kimberley a position at the mysterious Clifton Hotel, you can hear the wheels turning in Kimberley’s mind. Once she learns she’ll have to sign an NDA, there’s a sense of hesitation in her response, but her difficult circumstances make the offer too good to refuse. When Kimberley arrives at the Clifton Hotel, Burnett shifts her performance again, and you can hear the awe in Kimberley’s voice as she takes in the beautiful grounds, building, and impressive interiors.
Burnett’s narration is especially captivating during Kimberley’s interactions with shady hotel guests, including Lincoln and Dr. Wyatt, narrating those scenes with lots of expression and tension. Then, during the final dramatic scenes in the ballroom, you can hear how much Kimberley has changed. Burnett gives her a stronger, more self-assured voice that brought me back to the woman we heard in the prologue. The epilogue is another highlight because of the final reveal—and even after everything that’s happened, Burnett keeps Kimberley’s delivery calm and collected—a fantastic way to close out the performance!
Charlie Albers gives Jennifer Clifton a confident, compelling voice, particularly in early scenes when she arrives at the London hotel with a very specific plan. I loved how the narration kept me wondering exactly what Jennifer was planning, and it’s clear how calculating she’ll be to make everything unfold the way she wants. In Jennifer’s early inner monologues, Albers conveys two sides of Jennifer’s personality. When Jennifer’s interacting with the hotel staff and Kimberley, she sounds condescending and intimidating. But once she learns more about Kimberley’s medical condition and circumstances, there’s a subtle shift—you can hear that she feels empathy for Kimberley underneath.
When the story moves to the Clifton Hotel, Albers brings out more of Jennifer’s real personality, particularly when she encounters some of the disturbing guests. Her exchanges with Lincoln are compelling, as you can hear the disgust and distrust Jennifer has toward him. There’s a clear history between them, and Albers does a great job conveying how Jennifer has no patience for his dark intentions. As the story moves close to its climax and things unravel in ways Jennifer didn’t expect, Albers shifts her delivery once again—Jennifer’s certainty is replaced by confusion and fear—and I was hooked to my headset and on edge!
Albers also does an excellent job with Emily’s chapters in the past timeline, and her performance made me empathize with the character. She makes Emily sound desperate, abandoned, and overwhelmed after being kickedout by her parents and dumped by her boyfriend after announcing her pregnancy. Then, after Emily is abducted and wakes up trapped inside a strange room with no way out, the performance becomes more intense and creepy.Her interactions with the strange woman who visits her and offers her things were a highlight, as Albers captures Emily’s growing fear and suspicion perfectly.
Overall, both narrators do a standout job bringing their characters to life and keeping the tension high. All the character voices were authentic and distinct enough to make all the POV transitions very easy to follow. If you’re considering Room 21, or you’ve enjoyed Jessica Huntley’s thrillers before, I HIGHLY recommend listening to this one on audio. It’s one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to from her, and I wouldn’t hesitate on this one!
Narrator Performance
Room 21 is narrated by seasoned narrators Anna Burnett and Charlie Albers.
Anna Burnett drew me right into the dramatic prologue, portraying Kimberley with a determined, badass, strong-willed voice as she decides to kill her family of serial killers she’s only recently met. I was immediately intrigued. When the story jumps back to a few weeks earlier, there’s a shift in her performance as she gives Kimberley a more innocent, vulnerable, but still determined voice while she works at the Harris Hotel in Mayfair, London. All of Kimberley’s interactions with her coworkers, especially Mary, are immersive, and Burnett’s delivery conveys how Kimberley’s respected and takes her job very seriously.
The early scenes between Kimberley and Jennifer Clifton are a highlight, as you can hear the tension building as Jennifer’s condescending, demanding personality puts her and the other staff on edge. Burnett nicely captures how Kimberley tries to remain professional while attempting to keep Jennifer happy. When Jennifer offers Kimberley a position at the mysterious Clifton Hotel, you can hear the wheels turning in Kimberley’s mind. Once she learns she’ll have to sign an NDA, there’s a sense of hesitation in her response, but her difficult circumstances make the offer too good to refuse. When Kimberley arrives at the Clifton Hotel, Burnett shifts her performance again, and you can hear the awe in Kimberley’s voice as she takes in the beautiful grounds, building, and impressive interiors.
Burnett’s narration is especially captivating during Kimberley’s interactions with shady hotel guests, including Lincoln and Dr. Wyatt, narrating those scenes with lots of expression and tension. Then, during the final dramatic scenes in the ballroom, you can hear how much Kimberley has changed. Burnett gives her a stronger, more self-assured voice that brought me back to the woman we heard in the prologue. The epilogue is another highlight because of the final reveal—and even after everything that’s happened, Burnett keeps Kimberley’s delivery calm and collected—a fantastic way to close out the performance!
Charlie Albers gives Jennifer Clifton a confident, compelling voice, particularly in early scenes when she arrives at the London hotel with a very specific plan. I loved how the narration kept me wondering exactly what Jennifer was planning, and it’s clear how calculating she’ll be to make everything unfold the way she wants. In Jennifer’s early inner monologues, Albers conveys two sides of Jennifer’s personality. When Jennifer’s interacting with the hotel staff and Kimberley, she sounds condescending and intimidating. But once she learns more about Kimberley’s medical condition and circumstances, there’s a subtle shift—you can hear that she feels empathy for Kimberley underneath.
When the story moves to the Clifton Hotel, Albers brings out more of Jennifer’s real personality, particularly when she encounters some of the disturbing guests. Her exchanges with Lincoln are compelling, as you can hear the disgust and distrust Jennifer has toward him. There’s a clear history between them, and Albers does a great job conveying how Jennifer has no patience for his dark intentions. As the story moves close to its climax and things unravel in ways Jennifer didn’t expect, Albers shifts her delivery once again—Jennifer’s certainty is replaced by confusion and fear—and I was hooked to my headset and on edge!
Albers also does an excellent job with Emily’s chapters in the past timeline, and her performance made me empathize with the character. She makes Emily sound desperate, abandoned, and overwhelmed after being kickedout by her parents and dumped by her boyfriend after announcing her pregnancy. Then, after Emily is abducted and wakes up trapped inside a strange room with no way out, the performance becomes more intense and creepy.Her interactions with the strange woman who visits her and offers her things were a highlight, as Albers captures Emily’s growing fear and suspicion perfectly.
Overall, both narrators do a standout job bringing their characters to life and keeping the tension high. All the character voices were authentic and distinct enough to make all the POV transitions very easy to follow. If you’re considering Room 21, or you’ve enjoyed Jessica Huntley’s thrillers before, I HIGHLY recommend listening to this one on audio. It’s one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to from her, and I wouldn’t hesitate on this one!
Room 21 is narrated by seasoned narrators Anna Burnett and Charlie Albers.
Anna Burnett drew me right into the dramatic prologue, portraying Kimberley with a determined, badass, strong-willed voice as she decides to kill her family of serial killers she’s only recently met. I was immediately intrigued. When the story jumps back to a few weeks earlier, there’s a shift in her performance as she gives Kimberley a more innocent, vulnerable, but still determined voice while she works at the Harris Hotel in Mayfair, London. All of Kimberley’s interactions with her coworkers, especially Mary, are immersive, and Burnett’s delivery conveys how Kimberley’s respected and takes her job very seriously.
The early scenes between Kimberley and Jennifer Clifton are a highlight, as you can hear the tension building as Jennifer’s condescending, demanding personality puts her and the other staff on edge. Burnett nicely captures how Kimberley tries to remain professional while attempting to keep Jennifer happy. When Jennifer offers Kimberley a position at the mysterious Clifton Hotel, you can hear the wheels turning in Kimberley’s mind. Once she learns she’ll have to sign an NDA, there’s a sense of hesitation in her response, but her difficult circumstances make the offer too good to refuse. When Kimberley arrives at the Clifton Hotel, Burnett shifts her performance again, and you can hear the awe in Kimberley’s voice as she takes in the beautiful grounds, building, and impressive interiors.
Burnett’s narration is especially captivating during Kimberley’s interactions with shady hotel guests, including Lincoln and Dr. Wyatt, narrating those scenes with lots of expression and tension. Then, during the final dramatic scenes in the ballroom, you can hear how much Kimberley has changed. Burnett gives her a stronger, more self-assured voice that brought me back to the woman we heard in the prologue. The epilogue is another highlight because of the final reveal—and even after everything that’s happened, Burnett keeps Kimberley’s delivery calm and collected—a fantastic way to close out the performance!
Charlie Albers gives Jennifer Clifton a confident, compelling voice, particularly in early scenes when she arrives at the London hotel with a very specific plan. I loved how the narration kept me wondering exactly what Jennifer was planning, and it’s clear how calculating she’ll be to make everything unfold the way she wants. In Jennifer’s early inner monologues, Albers conveys two sides of Jennifer’s personality. When Jennifer’s interacting with the hotel staff and Kimberley, she sounds condescending and intimidating. But once she learns more about Kimberley’s medical condition and circumstances, there’s a subtle shift—you can hear that she feels empathy for Kimberley underneath.
When the story moves to the Clifton Hotel, Albers brings out more of Jennifer’s real personality, particularly when she encounters some of the disturbing guests. Her exchanges with Lincoln are compelling, as you can hear the disgust and distrust Jennifer has toward him. There’s a clear history between them, and Albers does a great job conveying how Jennifer has no patience for his dark intentions. As the story moves close to its climax and things unravel in ways Jennifer didn’t expect, Albers shifts her delivery once again—Jennifer’s certainty is replaced by confusion and fear—and I was hooked to my headset and on edge!
Albers also does an excellent job with Emily’s chapters in the past timeline, and her performance made me empathize with the character. She makes Emily sound desperate, abandoned, and overwhelmed after being kickedout by her parents and dumped by her boyfriend after announcing her pregnancy. Then, after Emily is abducted and wakes up trapped inside a strange room with no way out, the performance becomes more intense and creepy.Her interactions with the strange woman who visits her and offers her things were a highlight, as Albers captures Emily’s growing fear and suspicion perfectly.
Overall, both narrators do a standout job bringing their characters to life and keeping the tension high. All the character voices were authentic and distinct enough to make all the POV transitions very easy to follow. If you’re considering Room 21, or you’ve enjoyed Jessica Huntley’s thrillers before, I HIGHLY recommend listening to this one on audio. It’s one of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to from her, and I wouldn’t hesitate on this one!
