The Boutique Hotel by Melissa D. MacKinnon
Reviewed by James M. Fisher
A dead body in the bushes in the courtyard of Le Boutique Hotel de Couer de Nice is the impetus for two mysteries. Who is the deceased, and who would have wanted to kill him?
No spoilers! Let's leave the identity of the body for now and find out why “it” was there in Nice.
A group of Canadians, not all travelling together, but are in Nice for a wedding. Evie, our female protagonist, is there as an agent for the travel agency she works for (but used to own, it's complicated), trying to strike a deal with the hotel to get listed with them. But strange things are going on in the hotel. There appear to be a lot of children. Could they be the offspring of the couple running the hotel? They are definitely not French Nationals.
Of course, there is romance in the air, despite Evie's insistence that she has no time for a relationship. Evie has attracted the notice of Jacob Liszt, who is there for the wedding along with David, his older brother, their mother, and David's wife Hillary. David, a lawyer, is trying to get a prenuptial agreement accepted by both marriage partners.
While it may sound a bit like a Hallmark movie, there is a dead body and other odd things going on at The Boutique Hotel to draw attention away from the inevitable romance, and to keep the mysteries foremost. The Boutique Hotel is 80% cozy mystery, with some unsavoury goings-on making up the other 20%.
In conclusion, The Boutique Hotel is a richly absorbing novel. From the opening pages, Ms. MacKinnon weaves multiple narrative threads with confidence and nuance, compelling the reader ever forward through its layered and engaging plot.
About the Author
Melissa D. MacKinnon loves writing, reading, and travelling. She holds bachelor's degrees in English and Education. Her first book, The Remarkable Meadow Andrews, was published in 2024. Melissa lives with her husband in Ontario, Canada.
About the Reviewer
Book Details
Publisher : FriesenPress
Publication date : July 30 2025
Language : English
Print length : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 1038339065
ISBN-13 : 978-1038339065