" 'I think it must be much easier to be a king than to be a doorman' the boy declared"
Once again netgalley has fortunately delivered a rather lovely new book to read. It delivers an intriguing locale and some particularly entertaining characters. During the second world war a luxury hotel on the Portuguese riviera is a hot bed of intrigue. When a young, Jewish boy, Gaby, is separated from his parents on the run from the Nazis, he arrives with the means to stay within the palatial surrounds of the Hotel Palácio Estoril and await his parents' arrival. He acts as a catalyst for introductions to many of the colourful guests, one of my favourites being the dashing womaniser, Duško, and of course a cast of more famous characters such as Ian Fleming, the former King of Romania, and chess master Alexander Alekhine to name but a few.
This is a fascinating imaging of a real place and real guests of the hotel during that time.
My only reservation was the pace and , this may be due to the fact that I had a pre-release copy, I felt it needed a bit more of an edit. There were sections that seemed a little disjointed. That being said, it is still an engaging read and one I'd recommend. Rather like a fantastic date that ends in just a kiss that promises something more toe curling.Spend some time in the past in this luxury hotel where anything could happen and everyone has a double life.
4 out of 5 unlikely pals abound.
This is a fascinating imaging of a real place and real guests of the hotel during that time.
My only reservation was the pace and , this may be due to the fact that I had a pre-release copy, I felt it needed a bit more of an edit. There were sections that seemed a little disjointed. That being said, it is still an engaging read and one I'd recommend. Rather like a fantastic date that ends in just a kiss that promises something more toe curling.Spend some time in the past in this luxury hotel where anything could happen and everyone has a double life.
4 out of 5 unlikely pals abound.
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