Book Review: The Hanging in the Hotel

Reviewed By: Dawn Dowdle

[3 stars]

The Hanging in the Hotel Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Simon Brett
Class/Genre: Mystery
Series: Fethering Mystery # 5
Hardback, August 2004, 345 pages, $23.95

First let me preface my review with the statement that I am not too fond of mysteries set in England. Since this is set in England, it doesn’t surprise me that I had some trouble reading it. If you like series set in England, you will probably like it more than I.

The Hopwicke Country House Hotel has hit some hard times. Owner Suzy Longthorne has reduced her staff and has had to welcome groups she might not have in the past. The Pillars of Sussex, an elitist men’s group, is one such group. They are holding one of their social gatherings at the hotel. Since it will revolve around much drinking, they have all booked rooms for the night.

Jude has been hired by her friend Suzy to help with waitressing the event. She helps Nigel, a young man supposedly an initiate for Pillar membership, up to his room after having drunk too much. He talks about wanting to marry Wendy. The next morning Jude discoverrs him hanging from the beam of the four-poster bed in his room. It is determined it to be suicide. Jude does not agree. She enlists her friend Carole to help her investigate. She feels he was murdered.

Jude and Carole are constantly stymied by people giving them information on their whereabouts the night he died, and especially as the stories change to hide the truth. Suzy is concerned about the reputation of the hotel and refuses to cooperate with Jude.

At times I found it tough to keep up with all the characters in this book. I also found the differences of how we speak and write in America versus England difficult.

I like the way Jude and Carole work together in this series. I recommend this book to those that like mysteries set in England.

Dawn Dowdle

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Dawn Dowdle

Please visit Dawns website at www.mysteryloverscorner.com