The story in one page
Theodore Racksole, an American millionaire, checks into the Grand Babylon Hôtel for dinner. Irritated by poor service, he buys the establishment on the spot. His tenure as proprietor begins with the discovery of a murder and a disappearing corpse, dragging him into an international conspiracy surrounding Prince Eugen. Between a yacht escape near the Belgian coast and tense confrontations in the hotel’s wine cellars, Racksole discovers that running a world-class hotel is a surprisingly lethal business. With the help of his daughter Nella and the interference of a treacherous head waiter named Jules, Racksole works to protect the prince from a ruthless criminal syndicate, proving that even a millionaire requires more than just a checkbook to survive a night at the Grand Babylon.
Who's who
- Theodore Racksole
A wealthy American who buys a hotel out of frustration.
- Nella Racksole
Racksole's daughter who helps navigate the hotel's criminal underworld.
- Jules
The head waiter and mastermind of a complex criminal operation.
- Prince Aribert
A royal of Posen who becomes entangled in the hotel intrigue.
- Felix Babylon
The previous owner who finds retirement far too boring.
What it's really about
- Corporate Acquisition
- Buying infrastructure to fix poor service.
- Class Warfare
- Staff manipulation against high-society guests.
Why it's memorable
- Racksole discovers a coffin in an ante-room, only to find it is empty.
- A millionaire spends the night locked inside his own hotel lift.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Racksole sells the hotel back to its original owner for the same price he paid. He then settles ten million pounds on his daughter so she can marry Prince Aribert.
For your book club
- Does purchasing the hotel count as a successful retirement hobby?
- Why is the head waiter always more competent than the security?