Review of The Hotel Detective and his Lover
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- Latest Review: The Hotel Detective and his Lover by Derek Picot
Review of The Hotel Detective and his Lover
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Hotel Detective and his Lover" by Derek Picot.]
Derek Picot introduces readers to the world of luxury hotels in his book, The Hotel Detective and His Lover. Richard Marker, a newly unemployed detective, starts working as the chief in-house detective at the famous Adelphi—a hotel with a long and illustrious history—after he happens to run into his former girlfriend.
The Adelphi Hotel, a cherished family legacy, has been under the dedicated stewardship of John Bulling. However, relentless pressure from Broadman, a determined development group, threatens to buy out the hotel and reshape it into an entirely new business venture—a prospect that John staunchly opposes. Despite numerous lucrative offers, he remains resolute in his refusal to sell and relinquish control. But in the ruthless world of high-stakes business, some will stop at nothing to get what they want. In an attempt to gain any advantage, Broadman begins digging into John’s past, uncovering a murky history, including a dark secret and an estranged relationship that could be the key to forcing his hand. Despite a lack of personal involvement, the peculiar events surrounding the buyout pique Marker’s curiosity. As a series of events unfold, directly impacting powerful figures, Marker becomes determined to uncover the truth—no matter the cost.
The story offers a thrilling glimpse behind the closed doors of the rich and powerful, with the Adelphi serving as their luxurious playground. Yet, where wealth and power congregate, darker forces often lurk in the shadows. Alongside the intrigue, there are humorous day-to-day happenings that add a lighter, comedic touch. It weaves together multiple storylines that mostly flow seamlessly. Within the opulent hotel space, a flurry of action unfolds—encompassing a kidnapping, a murder plot, a serial killer, various love affairs, and minor crimes. These compelling plotlines work together to keep the story engaging and dynamic.
Picot's meticulous depiction of the hotel industry is a highlight, unveiling the intricacies and trade secrets of hotel operations that typically remain concealed from the general public. His descriptions of culinary experiences and the inner workings of the hotel, including the impact of events like a death within the hotel, provide a unique perspective. As well, the inclusion of French culinary terms adds a distinctive flair to the narrative and enriches the reader's vocabulary.
While the subplots added depth to the story, certain structural elements still felt disjointed. Specifically, the serial killer plot. I felt that it lacked clarity by the end of the book. Additionally, I craved deeper character development, as I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of the characters.
Overall, the book is well-written, but it suffers editing-wise, particularly with punctuation and sentence structure. These issues lead to numerous run-on sentences, impacting readability and flow. While I appreciate that this might reflect the author’s stylistic choices, they did not resonate with me.
Although not graphically depicted, this book strongly implies sexual themes and uses vulgar language, making it inappropriate for young readers. It also contains violent scenes and mature themes that can be upsetting or unsuitable for some audiences.
I give this book a rating of three out of five stars. Although the plot and premise are intriguing, it could use some more writing and editing work to bring it to the next level. Addressing plot errors and improving overall cohesion would greatly enhance the story. The book initially piqued my interest, but I struggled to maintain it, and the ending left me yearning for more. In spite of these shortcomings, the book has a lot of promise.
******
The Hotel Detective and his Lover
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Derek Picot introduces readers to the world of luxury hotels in his book, The Hotel Detective and His Lover. Richard Marker, a newly unemployed detective, starts working as the chief in-house detective at the famous Adelphi—a hotel with a long and illustrious history—after he happens to run into his former girlfriend.
The Adelphi Hotel, a cherished family legacy, has been under the dedicated stewardship of John Bulling. However, relentless pressure from Broadman, a determined development group, threatens to buy out the hotel and reshape it into an entirely new business venture—a prospect that John staunchly opposes. Despite numerous lucrative offers, he remains resolute in his refusal to sell and relinquish control. But in the ruthless world of high-stakes business, some will stop at nothing to get what they want. In an attempt to gain any advantage, Broadman begins digging into John’s past, uncovering a murky history, including a dark secret and an estranged relationship that could be the key to forcing his hand. Despite a lack of personal involvement, the peculiar events surrounding the buyout pique Marker’s curiosity. As a series of events unfold, directly impacting powerful figures, Marker becomes determined to uncover the truth—no matter the cost.
The story offers a thrilling glimpse behind the closed doors of the rich and powerful, with the Adelphi serving as their luxurious playground. Yet, where wealth and power congregate, darker forces often lurk in the shadows. Alongside the intrigue, there are humorous day-to-day happenings that add a lighter, comedic touch. It weaves together multiple storylines that mostly flow seamlessly. Within the opulent hotel space, a flurry of action unfolds—encompassing a kidnapping, a murder plot, a serial killer, various love affairs, and minor crimes. These compelling plotlines work together to keep the story engaging and dynamic.
Picot's meticulous depiction of the hotel industry is a highlight, unveiling the intricacies and trade secrets of hotel operations that typically remain concealed from the general public. His descriptions of culinary experiences and the inner workings of the hotel, including the impact of events like a death within the hotel, provide a unique perspective. As well, the inclusion of French culinary terms adds a distinctive flair to the narrative and enriches the reader's vocabulary.
While the subplots added depth to the story, certain structural elements still felt disjointed. Specifically, the serial killer plot. I felt that it lacked clarity by the end of the book. Additionally, I craved deeper character development, as I didn’t feel particularly attached to any of the characters.
Overall, the book is well-written, but it suffers editing-wise, particularly with punctuation and sentence structure. These issues lead to numerous run-on sentences, impacting readability and flow. While I appreciate that this might reflect the author’s stylistic choices, they did not resonate with me.
Although not graphically depicted, this book strongly implies sexual themes and uses vulgar language, making it inappropriate for young readers. It also contains violent scenes and mature themes that can be upsetting or unsuitable for some audiences.
I give this book a rating of three out of five stars. Although the plot and premise are intriguing, it could use some more writing and editing work to bring it to the next level. Addressing plot errors and improving overall cohesion would greatly enhance the story. The book initially piqued my interest, but I struggled to maintain it, and the ending left me yearning for more. In spite of these shortcomings, the book has a lot of promise.
******
The Hotel Detective and his Lover
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Hotel Detective and his Lover by Derek Picot
