Hotel Melikov

(Hardback)

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"[An] enjoyable comic fable . . ." -Wall Street Journal, on Citizen Orlov

"We wouldn't mind at all if this turned out to be the start of a series." -Apple Books Review, on Citizen Orlov

"[An] auspicious debut . . ." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review, on Citizen Orlov

Not every fishmonger can be a double agent.

Return to an unnamed mountainous country in central Europe on the cusp of civil war. Enter once again Citizen Orlov, a former fishmonger who is now the Minister of Security for a government teetering on collapse. When tensions between the government and revolutionaries erupt, Orlov, hoping to escape the conflict and return to his normal life, is instead recruited by both sides to spy on the other.

With war raging around them, the new king and his ministers are whisked away for safety to the highest point in the kingdom, the convent at the peak of Mount Zhotrykaw. But all is not what it seems at the convent, including the nuns, and Orlov discovers a sinister plot that forces him to choose whose side he is on.

Reviews

"Payne follows Citizen Orlov with a superb sequel . . . Once again, the colorful comedic antics are complemented by shrewd plotting. It's another hugely enjoyable espionage satire from Payne." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Jonathan Payne is in top form with Hotel Melikov, a beautifully orchestrated symphony of glorious mayhem that slyly underscores our current political moment. To miss it would be a sin!" --Elizabeth McCullough Keenan & Greg Wands, international bestselling authors of Trust Issues

"[A] flawlessly entertaining read that raises expectations for the third installment in the series." --Kirkus Reviews

Author Bio

Jonathan Payne is a British-American writer based in New York City. He holds a Master of Arts degree in novel writing from Middlesex University, London. His debut novel, Citizen Orlov, was published by CamCat Books in May 2023. Apple Books named it one of the Books of the Month. It won the 2024 IBPA Ben Franklin Silver Medal for Mystery/Thriller and the 2024 IPPY Bronze Medal for Suspense/Thriller.