Sirk TV Book Review: RED HOTEL [Beaufort]

The essence of international terrorism and the continued nationalism of Russia even until significant sanction strain provides a continual and pertinent look at the nature of security in international business and the intelligence community. "RED Hotel" [Gary Grossman & Ed Fuller/Beaufort/517pgs] through its lead character, the hotel executive Reilly provides a nice parallel to co-author Ed Fuller who spent many years at Marriott International keeping track and advising on crisis elements. Co-Author Gary Grossman provides the international intrigue. The book provides a great character but also an inherent look on problems inherent in tourism and facing new businesses. Reilly’s character working for CEO Shaw always needs to look at varying possibilities and the book builds that jumping from Tehran to Moscow and then to Brussels. It shows Reilly’s instincts during a side trip to the Caribbean where it establishes an inherent tendency of empathy in his persona which helps balance out certain decisions he must make later. In some ways he is not unlike a Jack Ryan at times like the Admiral in that world. Heath as his former colleague/CIA contact provides a nice balance as parallel story though done in secret.

The great thing that the authors do later in the book is balance out the storylines by quickly jumping from both worlds between paragraphs across oceans which makes it inherently cinematic. There are also a history lessons with many experts including those referenced as professors and CIA analysts that really give perspective to why the action in the story, especially those undertaken by the Russian President (through the former KGB like another) moves a certain way. The bad guy in so many words has a cool arc showing intelligence but evil at the same time yet, in his mind, it is done for a reason and yet revenge makes its point in his progress. Miklos is deliberate but also has backing and intelligence from the top which helps out until the bitter end not unlike "In The Line Of Fire". That gives this book fuel right until the very end. There is also a nice romantic subplot that can be exised for a film version but provides a balance of mystery and subterfuge as this is perhaps the first book in a continuing series so it is always good to get an establishment point. "RED Hotel" owes a lot to other spy thrillers but has an interesting historical and hospitality bent that gives it a different flavor than most. 81%!(B)

By Tim Wassberg