Breakfast at the Hotel Déjà vu: A Novella [Kindle Edition]

Paul Torday has become one of my favourite authors over the last few years, always writing fiction that is thought provoking and intelligent as well as entertaining. In this new novella he tells the story of Robert Wansbeck MP ("Bobby"). Bobby is currently staying in a hotel that he remembers from a previous visit long ago. He has been ill after a scandal involving expenses claims and is looking to relax.

At first, everything seems fine. The room is comfortable and, when he returns to it, is always freshly made up. He intends to spend the time writing his memoirs. Although never high in power, he sees himself as a foot soldier - a man who made local things happen for his constituents. Yet, every time he puts pen to paper, the words seem to disappear. This is the hotel Deja vu and whenever Bobby comes downstairs, there are echoes of things he feels he has seen before. Who is the woman and the small boy he sees leaving the restaurant? Why is there nobody in the shop to serve him? Things seem out of touch, out of reach. Is Bobby really the man of integrity he believes he is and how far has the shadow of his father affected his life?

This is a very touching piece of fiction about a middle aged man who has built up a life which is crashing around him, as his career and marriage slip from his grasp. I love the way the news of the expenses scandal hitting the newspapers reminded him of past school reports and being called in to discuss it by his party was like going to see the Headmaster at school... The story is set in both the past and the present and is brought together beautifully. Absolutely excellent and it is followed by a preview of Mr Torday's new novel, out next year, The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall. I have it on pre-order and look forward to reading it immensely.

This well-written story tells of an MP who was exposed (he feels unjustly) in the expenses scandal. He then finds out he is ill with cancer, decides to take a break to write his memoirs and checks into a hotel where he stayed many years ago.

The question is - what exactly is going on in the hotel. Where are the staff, what's happening to his memoirs, what's the problem with his memory and who are the woman and child he keeps on seeing.

I was a little surprised to reach the ending when my Kindle was only reading 70%. However the remainder consists of a few chapters from The Legacy of Hartlepool Hall, the author's next novel due out in 2012.

Overall an excellent story which I very much enjoyed reading.

Robert Wansbeck is an MP in disgrace after being caught claiming false expenses. While Robert is trying to deal with the scandal which he feels is unjust as he has achieved so much for his constituents, he finds out he is very ill with cancer. On deciding to write his memoirs he checks into a hotel on the Mediterranean shore where he once stayed and which appears to hold special memories to him. Only not all is as it seems.
Interesting concept, enjoyed reading this very much.