He's one of my favorite authors. What impresses me is the level of expertise he displays in each of his books about the subject being discussed. Its not just the details but also how the story keeps you wanting to turn page after page. ( )

This was a very well written book about an independent New Orleans hotel that is about to be bought out by a huge chain. At the last minute a surprise buyer who intends for the hotel to remain independent steps into the picture. The book is really about the hotel's manager who knows how much potential the run down business has, but lacks the authority from the hotel owner to make the necessary changes. The assistant chef knows that between the two of them, the hotel could be something very special and together they could restore the hotel to its former glory. This book was not an edge of your seat thriller which is what I tend to read more of. However, it was well thought out with a great story line including a love interest or two for the flawed main character and some criminal mischief surrounding a keycase thief and a hit and run that results in the death of a local woman and child. The behind the scenes workings of the hotel are particularly interesting. It is set around the time of desegregation which also comes into play throughout the novel. Although the book is written as fiction, the re-released copy intended for a new generation that I read had an introduction from the author that identified the actual hotel that the book is loosely based on. Clearly it was a well researched novel. I really enjoyed this book and am moving on to another of Hailey's novels now. ( )

"To Lowell/ Devotedly/ Father Henry/ 3/5'65" Between pages 304 and 305 was a pamphlet for the Boston Byweek of 1976.

This is one of a series of books that Arthur Hailey wrote that I suppose you could call dramatic thrillers, or something like that.

Some are more o one end than the other, and Hotel management isn't exactly your life and death situation that can happen in an Airport, for example. Decent enough book, though, for that. ( )

read a long time ago more than once - over 25 years but I can still remember it . I enjoyed all the different characters and the explanations of how a large hotel works. ( )