Pierre Chambrun is the manager of an elite hotel in New York City. He has seen it all and must be quick enough to keep ahead of it. This he is. On the top floor of his hotel there resides a man who is bent on twisting the minds and ruining the lives of everyone he meets. Not surprisingly, a plot to murder him is discovered.

Pentecost develops each character in this story with care. He reveals just enough that the reader feels clever in seeing "the mystery," yet isn't ahead of Chambrun. Having managed a hotel for six years, I can tell you that the attitudes, behaviors and situations are spot-on. I only wish I had as much savvy as Chambrun, perhaps I could have stood the job a bit longer. ( )