hotel | Book Girl & Little Bear

The Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

This is not a cozy science fiction novel, but feels like it in parts. The Grand Abeona Hotel has been a luxury resort hotel traveling between solar systems for many decades. Nina was the manager, now Carl is. Many staff started out as runaways, like Carl. As it’s become difficult to get good staff, they are welcomed. The hotel is starting to show some wear and has been traveling the same sub-orbital route for the past few years.

While I usually focus on characters first, then plot, in The Floating Hotel I wanted more description of the hotel, the views, the food and clothes. I understand the need for intrigue to move the plot along, but to use a TV analogy, I wanted more Love Boat and less Fantasy Island.

We meet the head housekeeper, accountant, the front desk manager, an engineer, and the organizer of an movie club. A linguist and a mathematician come aboard for an academic conference at the Hotel, and are paired to solve an impossible logic puzzle. There are always new guests. Everyone has a secret and a story. Perhaps the Lamplighter is on board with their revolutionary online dispatches; the unidentified spies are searching for them. Also on board are a blind pianist with a visor, a new server, a thief, and a terrible rich boss. The worlds visited are not entirely democratic, and there is some danger to the ship and crew. Lovely and melancholy, with some mystery and suspense.

Brenda

The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel by Nita Prose

This is the sequel to the very popular mystery, The Maid. I thought the Maid was well written, but didn’t like it nearly as much as some other reviewers. I think this sequel is a step up for Nita Prose.

Molly Gray is now Head Maid at the Regency Grand Hotel, and is training another maid, Lily. Molly has a sweetheart, who is out of town visiting his family. Mr. Preston is still the doorman, Mr. Snow is the manager, the unpleasant Cheryl is still a maid, and Angela works at the bar. Detective Stark is still very suspicious, but is willing to work with the very observant Molly when there is a suspicious death at the hotel. Famous mystery author J.D. Grimethorpe is headlining an event at the Regency Grand, and is about to make a big announcement, when he dies of poison. Angela helps Molly investigate, and members of Grimethorpe’s fan club also provide tips.

There are flashbacks to Molly’s childhood when her beloved Gram was the housemaid at the Grimethorpe mansion, and Molly spent time there, reading and cleaning the silver. Grimethorpe was a rather scary figure to a young girl, as was his wife, but she still wants to solve the crime and preserve the reputation of the Regency Grand Hotel.

Brenda