Member Review
Review by
Julie C, Media/Journalist
This is the second book I have read in the Hotel Mysteries series by Jim Eldridge, and there is a lot going on. As always, I appreciate Eldridge's historical accuracy for this time period. I always learn fascinating tidbits about England during WWII.
But back to the plot or plots. Firstly, a kitchen worker has been strangled at Claridge's Hotel, but this is no ordinary murder...a garrote was used. The book takes place during WWII and many of the crowned heads of Europe as well as exiled government officials have taken up residence at the luxury hotel. Could this murder be tied to one of these VIPs? Detective Chief Inspector Coburg is called in to investigate. But that's not all. There also is a subplot dealing with feuding gangsters; another with a prostitution ring/person selling military commissions running out of Claridge's; and another with Coburg's sergeant's son, who has fallen in with a bad crowd; a small one about the sergeant's cousin. We also read again about the intense resentment that DCI Lomax feels for Coburg (Backstory: The powers-that-be want Coburg on this sensitive case even though Lomax was first assigned the case; this also happened in the second book. Coburg is the brother of a earl). This is a good addition to the series, but I do think there was way too much going on. Having said that, I will read subsequent books in the series.
Thank you to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. Murder at Claridge's will release April 21.
But back to the plot or plots. Firstly, a kitchen worker has been strangled at Claridge's Hotel, but this is no ordinary murder...a garrote was used. The book takes place during WWII and many of the crowned heads of Europe as well as exiled government officials have taken up residence at the luxury hotel. Could this murder be tied to one of these VIPs? Detective Chief Inspector Coburg is called in to investigate. But that's not all. There also is a subplot dealing with feuding gangsters; another with a prostitution ring/person selling military commissions running out of Claridge's; and another with Coburg's sergeant's son, who has fallen in with a bad crowd; a small one about the sergeant's cousin. We also read again about the intense resentment that DCI Lomax feels for Coburg (Backstory: The powers-that-be want Coburg on this sensitive case even though Lomax was first assigned the case; this also happened in the second book. Coburg is the brother of a earl). This is a good addition to the series, but I do think there was way too much going on. Having said that, I will read subsequent books in the series.
Thank you to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for providing this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. Murder at Claridge's will release April 21.
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