Publication Date: September 23, 2025
A Zibby’s Most Anticipated Book of Fall 2025!
From USA Today bestselling author Sara Ackerman comes a spellbinding dual-timeline novel set at Honolulu’s iconic Moana Hotel, where a real-life mysterious death in 1905 collides with a writer’s search for the truth one hundred years later. For fans of Ariel Lawhon and Fiona Davis.
1905 As the mother of a university and a woman with an iron will, Jane Stanford has made her share of enemies. After a scare at her mansion in San Francisco and on the advice of her doctor, she flees to Honolulu and the fashionable new Moana hotel. But as fate would have it, the island is not as safe as it seems.
2005 Zoe Finch is a bestselling author who desperately needs a jump start on her next novel, and she makes a split decision to attend a writers’ conference at the Moana under an assumed name. As a storm brews offshore, she begins having nightmares that feel hauntingly real. Terrified, Zoe enlists the help of mystery writer Dylan Winters and, over the course of the week, races to uncover the shocking truth of what happened in the hotel one hundred years ago almost to the day.
1905 ‘Iliahi Baldwin’s life changes the moment she lands a job at the Moana. Newly hired and reeling from a tragic loss, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the formidable Jane Stanford upon her arrival, which leaves young ‘Ili devastated when the unthinkable happens. ‘Ili knows things, but there are powerful people who need the truth to remain hidden, and to cross them could prove disastrous.
Inspired by the incredible true story of one of America’s most mysterious deaths, this is an unforgettable tale of betrayal and secrets that still echoes through the years.
More captivating stories from Sara Ackerman:
- The Maui Effect
- The Uncharted Flight of Olivia West
- The Codebreaker’s Secret
- Radar Girls
- Red Sky Over Hawaii
- The Lieutenant’s Nurse
- Island of Sweet Pies & Soldiers
The lives of three women intersect in a fascinating dual timeline, a century apart.
Inspired by true events, author Sara Ackerman breathes fresh life into an unsolved early 20th century mystery while building a connection to a frustrated writer in 2005. The Guest in Room 120 explores a “what if” scenario combining both fact and fiction.
Set primarily in Hawaii, the story revolves around Jane Stanford of Stanford University fame, who checks in at the Moana Hotel. The author stays close to Jane’s true story as the plot deepens.
In addition to Jane’s perspective, a fictional woman named ‘Iliahi Baldwin provides interesting context as both a native to the island and a newly hired hotel employee. Her experience also highlights the prevalence of leprosy during the turn of the century.
Everything comes together at the hands of Zoe Finch. Haunted by her own ghosts, she counts on a writers conference for inspiration. The author deftly weaves in tension as Zoe uncovers the history tied to the hotel and finds valuable clues.
The Guest in Room 120 delivers a fresh twist on an unsolved mystery packed with secrets and betrayal.
Sara Ackerman is the Hawai’i born, bestselling author of historical & contemporary novels set in the islands. Her books have been labeled “unforgettable” by Apple Books, “empowering & deliciously visceral” by Book Riot, and New York Times bestselling authors Kate Quinn and Madeline Martin have praised Sara’s novels as “fresh and delightful” and “brilliantly written.” Amazon chose Radar Girls as a best book of the month, and ALA Booklist gave The Codebreaker’s Secret a starred review.
