Sunny Singh
‘Over and over again I came across passages that were so true that I was punching the air… Sunny Singh’s Hotel Arcadia is the ultimate nail-biting thriller, as well as a work of literary art worthy of a Booker Prize shortlist.’ Edward Wilson, Author of The Envoy and The Whitehall Mandarin
‘Macabre, gripping, fantastically well-written and brave.’ Isabel Wolff, Author of Ghostwritten
Sam is a war photographer famous for her hauntingly beautiful pictures of the dead. After a particularly gruelling assignment, she checks into an expensive hotel. Unfortunately she has chosen the exact moment terrorists attack the hotel. Abhi, the hotel manager, begs her to stay quiet and stay put.
Abhi has never wanted to be a hero; a disappointment to his army father and army brother. He thought he’d come to a safe haven at the hotel, a place where he could be himself. Now stuck inside the sealed off manager’s office in the middle of a terrorist attack, he’s desperately trying to keep all those still alive safe. His lover Dieter is amongst the hostages in the bar and the photographer Sam, refusing to stay in her room, is roaming through the hotel taking pictures, potentially coming face to face with the terrorists at any moment.
A small child Billy is found alive under the bodies of his dead parents and Abhi has to persuade the non-maternal Sam to bring him back to her room. He’s hurt and Sam has no clue how to look after a child. As the tension mounts and more people are killed, the bond between Sam and Abhi, between Sam and Billy, grows. If any of them get out alive, none of them will ever be the same.
‘Powerful and absorbing… Singh’s novel is not only a page-turning thriller. It is far more than that.’ The Independent
‘The excellence of this novel is its canny synthesis of elements: the essential thriller plot (at times reminiscent of the most powerful writing of Graham Greene; no mean feat in itself) and the careful accretion of character detail in which the principals force us to decide that our initial impressions of them may not be the ones we’re finally left with.’ Barry Forshaw, Crimetime UK
‘Elegantly plotted, psychologically subtle and almost unbearably exciting.’ Book of the Week, The Tablet
‘A gripping novel that makes you think. I read it in one breath.’ Abdelkader Benali
‘A terrifyingly lifelike and filmic tale of a terrorist attack. As reader you feel that you yourself are locked up in Hotel Arcadia.’ Philibert Schogt
‘Reminiscent of Graham Greene. A very persuasive novel.’ Financial Times
‘A powerful and thought-provoking novel, a literary thriller that will both keep you on the edge of your seat and leaving you feeling emotionally drained in the best way possible. A really really terrific story, exquisitely constructed with two amazing and memorable characters at its heart. I really cannot recommend it highly enough.’ Lizlovesbooks.com
‘Hotel Arcadia is a powerful literary piece which is well-researched, engaging and emotional. This is edge of your seat stuff and is difficult to put down.’ Wordsofcolour.co.uk
‘This is an outstanding read, the juxtaposition of war zone and luxury hotel creates such powerful images. I loved the tension that Sunny Singh generated each time Sam left the safety of her room it had me frantically flicking the pages urging her to get her back to safety. A gripping, thoughtful read and one that will remain long in my memory.’ Grab This Book
Sales
- Oneworld UK & Comm. ex. Canada
- Galaade France
- Meridiaan Netherlands
- Zodyak Kitap Turkey
- WF Howes audio
Material: finished copies of UK edition (224pp)