Intriguing ‘What If’? Particularly with the author’s note at the end, where Ackerman notes that her motivation for this book was to try to resolve the mystery behind Mrs. Stanford’s death, this book feels most like a phenomenal book most of y’all have never heard of – The Last At-Bat Of Shoeless Joe by Granville Wyche Burgess. The key difference being that Ackerman admits she created a character to blame the death on, while Burgess actively dug into the scandal and claims to have unearthed new real-world evidence that definitively exonerates Shoeless Joe Jackson of the Black Sox scandal.
This noted, for what this book actually is, it will absolutely put you back into Mrs. Stanford’s last days both in California and in Hawaii, where all of Ackerman’s books (at least every one I’ve ever read, including her January 2026 release The Shark House (review will be written shortly after I finish writing this one)) are set. The story is full of Ackerman’s usual attention to detail of the specific time period of Hawaiian history that her central mystery actually took place in, and really makes the reader long for the Hawaii of old rather than the hyper-touristy destination it can be at times and in places today. (Which is only going to get worse with Carnival Cruise Line resuming cruises from Los Angeles to the Hawaiian islands in the coming years.)
One of the more interesting things about this tale that I’ve never seen Ackerman do is the addition of the novelist character and the discussions on writing novels… which always seem like the author inserting meta-commentary about their own views and practices, even when they’re actively creating a character they actively oppose with every fiber of their being. (As Dale Brown once somewhat infamously did in Warrior Class with the introduction of President Thomas Nathaniel Thorn over 20 years ago now.)
Between the turn of the 20th century timeline and the 21st century timeline, there really are two compelling stories that do in fact eventually sync up to some degree… and the damn cat nearly steals every scene it is in. Seriously, this cat will make even dog lovers want to at least consider have a cat adopt them.
Overall truly a strong book of its type, one that will absolutely leave you questioning the official narrative of Mrs. Stanford’s death – even with the introduction of the fictionalized killer.
Very much recommended.
This review of The Guest In Room 120 by Sara Ackerman was originally written on September 23, 2025.