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A review by mrsbooknerd
Hotel Alpha by Mark Watson
2.0
I desperately wanted to like this book, and was sure that it was a solid four star, if not an illustrious five star rating, in the making. Early promotions about this novel gave me the impression that this would be [b:Eleven|8466327|Eleven|Mark Watson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1349055634s/8466327.jpg|13330815] but in the setting of a hotel. The constant narrative changes, a catalogue of unique voices and a plethora of individual stories that were all woven together to create a tense over-arching plot. I knew from Watson's previous novels that his talent as an author is superlative, and therefore my expectations were very high.
I did however find that 'Hotel Alpha' fell a little short of these expectations. I cannot fault the writing style at all, there was a lovely description throughout the novel and a subtle sense of humour that ran through every page. Watson is the Howard York of writing, seemingly effortless but always brilliant at everything that he tries.
The issue was then in the concept. I wanted to see the world of the Hotel Alpha through the voices and eyes of those living within it's walls. I wanted to know how everyone felt, and was disappointed when the voices were only given to Graham and Chas.
these were the voices that I wanted to hear.
I had hoped that the additional stories written online would give these major characters their time, but I found that actually the stories were rather hard to read and their impact on the book was near to zero. There was of course the odd "Oh I see!" as I puzzled my way through the website, but beyond that... sadly lacking. I did not however, read all of the stories as I kept getting lost on the site, so apologies if any aspects mentioned were eventually covered.
The plot was sorely lacking as well, I had hoped that the stories of Agatha, Ella and Lara would all interweave to reveal something much more sinister about Howard York and his dealings. I wanted Graham and Chas to discover that Howard wasn't the idol that they both believed him to be. There was always this undercurrent of something sinister going on in the Hotel Alpha, but the reality was a bit of a disappointment. For all the tension and the secrecy in the novel, the ending was relatively anti-climatic,
Overall I quite enjoyed the novel because it was so well written and the narrators were likeable, but I had just hoped that there would have been something more
I did however find that 'Hotel Alpha' fell a little short of these expectations. I cannot fault the writing style at all, there was a lovely description throughout the novel and a subtle sense of humour that ran through every page. Watson is the Howard York of writing, seemingly effortless but always brilliant at everything that he tries.
The issue was then in the concept. I wanted to see the world of the Hotel Alpha through the voices and eyes of those living within it's walls. I wanted to know how everyone felt, and was disappointed when the voices were only given to Graham and Chas.
Spoiler
How did Ella feel when she was forced to leave Chas? How did Sarah-Jane feel when she realised that Howard was a cheater? How did Pattie feel when Graham spent a life devoted to the Alpha, but barely knew her? Did Kathleen and Chas ever get back together now the secret was uncoveredI had hoped that the additional stories written online would give these major characters their time, but I found that actually the stories were rather hard to read and their impact on the book was near to zero. There was of course the odd "Oh I see!" as I puzzled my way through the website, but beyond that... sadly lacking. I did not however, read all of the stories as I kept getting lost on the site, so apologies if any aspects mentioned were eventually covered.
The plot was sorely lacking as well, I had hoped that the stories of Agatha, Ella and Lara would all interweave to reveal something much more sinister about Howard York and his dealings. I wanted Graham and Chas to discover that Howard wasn't the idol that they both believed him to be. There was always this undercurrent of something sinister going on in the Hotel Alpha, but the reality was a bit of a disappointment.
Spoiler
I understand the impact on the family once they understood that Graham and not Howard had saved Chas, but really, Howard had been as much as a father to Chas since the fire, that Graham had. And sure, Sarah-Jane may have understood that Howard had been having and affair with Roz, but had she not already said that she not onl knew about his affairs but always forgave him?Spoiler
and Howard seemed to escape once again unscathed.Overall I quite enjoyed the novel because it was so well written and the narrators were likeable, but I had just hoped that there would have been something more