Affair at the Semiramis Hotel is a thrilling and suspenseful mystery novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end. The story follows a young woman named Juliet who finds herself embroiled in a complex web of lies and deceit after a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger at the Semiramis Hotel. As she delves deeper into the stranger's past, Juliet uncovers a shocking secret that threatens to unravel her own life.

Mason's writing is crisp and engaging, drawing readers into the heart of the mystery from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and nuanced, each with their own hidden motivations and desires. The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they try to unravel the truth behind the affair at the Semiramis Hotel.

Overall, Affair at the Semiramis Hotel is a gripping and captivating read that will appeal to fans of mystery and suspense. Mason's skillful storytelling and intricate plotting make this novel a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking mystery.

Book Description:
Inspector Hanaud is a member of the French Sûreté. He is said to have been the model for Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, as well as the opposite of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. The Affair At The Semiramis Hotel , a novella, is the second Hanaud mystery. Did the robbery/murder really happen or was it the mescal-induced hallucination of the witness? The first novel is At The Villa Rose . The third is The House Of The Arrow . In 1910, Mason undertook to create a fictional detective as different as possible from Sherlock Holmes, who had recently been resuscitated after his supposed death by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1903. Inspector Gabriel Hanaud was stout, not gaunt like Holmes; a professional policeman, not a gentleman amateur; from the French Sûreté, not Victorian England; and relying on psychological insights rather than physical evidence. His "Watson" is a retired London banker named Mr. Julius Ricardo. - Summary by David Wales