Book Review: The Storm: A Novel by Rachel Hawkins- Psychological Thriller

Hello, dear Readers,

My book review of: The Storm: A Novel by Rachel Hawkins.

Title: The Storm: A Novel

Rating:  5/5 Stars

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: St.Martin's Press

Publication Date: January 06, 2026

Language: English

Hardcover: 288 pages
Meet the Author: Rachel Hawkins
Buy Me: Amazon

Book Description

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins is back with a thrilling new gothic suspense set in a Gulf Coast beach motel where hurricane season can be murder.

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 actual 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…

My Thoughts

My new favorite of Rachel Hawkins. It was so engaging and hard to put down. Unlike many thrillers I have read, I liked all the characters and thought they served the story well. 

I also loved the setting and, honestly, kept wanting to go to St. Medard's Bay; everything revolving around past and current storms was fascinating. 

I recommend The Storm 100%.

Thank you, St. Martin's and Netgalley, for the free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wendy