The Lazarus Hotel

In a partially constructed skyscraper London hotel, six troubled individuals meet for a weekend to attend a group therapy session on recovering from the trauma of a recent tragedy affecting all of them. None of the participants initially know that they are connected by the same tragedy that links them together forever. However, they all were involved in some way with tennis star Cathy Beacham, an apparent recent suicide victim. They were her lover, parent, friend, agent, doctor, or coach. As the six people soon realize their link with each other through Cathy, strange things begin to occur. Soon nothing seems to work properly in the hotel and the six are trapped high above the city. One by one, tragedies occur, reducing their number. Someone, most likely one of them, is methodically eliminating the others. THE LAZARUS HOTEL pays homage to the classic Agatha Christie tale, AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. This time around the story occurs right in the middle of a London hotel, making the story line seem a bit narrow in what can happen to the victims. However, in the hands of the incredibly talented Jo Bannister, this turns out to be an asset as a malevolent urban tale unfolds. The novel is a well crafted tale of revenge that may not quite reach the master's level, but is not far removed from those lofty peaks. Harriet Klausner