Official Review: The Hotel Detective and his Lover

[Cristina Chifane]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Hotel Detective and his Lover" by Derek Picot.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Richard Marker, Chief Security Officer at the Adelphi Hotel in London, has to deal with lots of challenging problems, ranging from petty theft to kidnapping and murder. Somehow, he still finds time to enjoy the exquisite food and drinks the hotel has to offer. Infatuated with the ravishing Sandrine Parte, the French Public Relations Officer, he wonders if he is ever going to have a chance at winning her heart, especially since she is having an affair with George Brooks, one of the managers. When Sir John Bulling, the Chairman of the Adelphi, gets caught up in a hostile takeover bid, an opportunity arises for Marker and Sandrine to work together and sort things out.

The Hotel Detective and his Lover by Derek Picot is a riveting thriller with countless twists and turns of the plot and a surprising ending. In terms of action and suspense, there is never a dull moment. Even if the novel has more than 500 pages, it reads easily. Each of the 16 chapters is subdivided into cinematic scenes so that the different players engaged in the cat-and-mouse game in the book can alternatively be in the limelight. What I liked most about the novel was that I never knew what to expect next. Adrenalin addicts will be rewarded with a cavalcade of clandestine meetings, illegitimate children, cover-up stories, betrayals, and illicit payments.

Most of the action takes place at the Adelphi Hotel in London. Since Derek Picot has managed luxury hotels on five continents, he does a great job of capturing the atmosphere of the Adelphi in vivid pictures. An establishment with a long tradition, the hotel is a highly successful family business that survived not only the war and postwar times, but also the Swinging Sixties. I absolutely loved the scenes in which the author elaborated on the variety of minor and major incidents affecting the hotel’s employers and guests. The Adelphi Hotel becomes more than a setting. Although it has a tumultuous life, it still works like a Swiss watch. The author skillfully turns the hotel into a majestic figure gracefully protecting both its personnel and customers. This is the reason why we breathlessly read one page after another to find out whether the hotel will live through the takeover bid or not.

Derek Picot’s novel also excels in elaborate descriptions of the characters and detailed background information. Regardless of their episodic or main role in the story, all the characters are realistically portrayed. Richard Marker is not exactly the ideal type of detective. In his mid-forties and more than slightly overweight, he seems to have enjoyed the privileges of the high-end life at the Adelphi to the maximum. Despite his apparent laissez-faire style, he has eyes and ears all over the place. His investigations give us the opportunity to get acquainted with a large cast of picturesque characters: the femme fatale, the arrogant boss, the unscrupulous mole, the estranged son, the cheating husband, the homosexual, the drug addict, and the killer. What I liked least about the novel was the fact that many characters were driven by self-interest and had no qualms of conscience.

I couldn’t finish this review without mentioning the author’s dry sense of humor. It certainly made the whole reading experience much more pleasant. When calculating an increase in the hotel’s profits, Brooks candidly hopes that they “might get something from the Royals this year, a State funeral, another Royal marriage…” (p. 30). In a different chapter, a rather gullible character “swallowed the story like a hungry priest on the last day of Lent” (p. 478). Similarly, a thug called Alberto Francisci is extremely disappointed by the interference of the police in his muddy affairs: “Nothing, in his opinion, works properly in Italy. The Italians have assassinated the only two people who could run the country. Caesar and Mussolini” (p. 489).

Unfortunately, the novel needs another round of proofreading and editing. The errors are not distracting because they mainly consist of punctuation mistakes and typos. However, they should be fixed for the book to get the highest rating. Considering the current editing of the novel, I am giving it 3 out of 4 stars. I am recommending it to fans of thrillers and murder mysteries. Because of the occasional profane words, hot scenes, and graphic violence, it is not suitable for younger audiences.
**THIS BOOK HAS SINCE BEEN EDITED AND UPDATED**

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The Hotel Detective and his Lover
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[Masekake]

This a well written review, I enjoyed reading it, so much that I would be tempted to read the book myself. Well done on a great review.

[Tarilan]

I love thrillers. Thanks for the review. Sounds like a good read.

[Miracle_]

This is a very well written review. It has given me a great insight on the book

[Cynthia Olyy]

I love the romance genre. It always has beautiful love stories. As for you, Richard, good luck on your love quest!

[HannahsReads]

I didn't think I would like this book based on the cover image, but your review changed my mind! It sounds like an exciting read. I always find the "insides" of places like hotels to be interesting.

[MURANGA9]

Never read it before but it sounds like a great book. Thanks for the awesome review. I will give it a try.

[Raluca_Mihaila]

You had me at the dry sense of humor . Thank you for the review! I thought it was a romantic book at first, but a thriller seems much more interesting.

[NetMassimo]

This seems an intriguing murder mystery the keeps the reader's attention until the end, and the humor is a plus. Thank you for your great review!

[Ogbara]

Your review was breath taken and has inspired me to read his book. thank you.

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

This sounds a bit like a soap opera, in a good way. And I love books in which the location is so important and majestic that it almost becomes a character in itself. Plus, dry humor always gets me. I'll add this book to my TBR list. Thanks!

[Kirsten Wheeler]

Fantastic review. The way you've described the book shows how much you've enjoyed it. This is definitely a case of not judging a book by its cover (as others have already pointed out) but your review has me very intrigued. Will be adding this to my TBR.

[Rodel Barnachea]

I am fascinated by the tons of challenging problems, ranging from petty theft to kidnapping and murder, Chief Security Officer at the Adelphi Hotel Richard Marker needs to face. I am intrigued by Sandrine's affair with George, one of the hotel's managers. I am interested in learning if Richard would be able to make Sandrine fall in love with him.

[Uplanders]

The myriad challenging cases confronting Chief Security Officer Richard Marker, from theft to kidnapping, and Sandrine's affair with George, captivate. Can Richard win Sandrine's heart?

[ZameerSnaggs]

This comprehensive review of "The Hotel Detective and his Lover" provides a vivid portrayal of the novel's intricate plot and well-crafted characters. The insights into the Adelphi Hotel's atmosphere and the author's dry sense of humor add depth to the reader's experience. While acknowledging the riveting suspense and unexpected twists, it also highlight the need for further proofreading. The consideration of mature content provides valuable guidance for potential readers. Overall, this review offers a balanced perspective, making it a helpful recommendation for fans of thrillers and murder mysteries.