Moonlight Over Mayfair
The sequel to One Enchanted Evening (HNR 89), Moonlight Over Mayfair explores the complicated lives of the staff and patrons of London’s luxurious Buckingham Hotel. In 1937, war is looming, and the hotel is facing an uncertain future. Given du Beke’s background as a regular on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, it is no surprise that the glamour and glitz of the hotel’s Grand Ballroom takes centre stage. Raymond de Guise is a handsome professional dancer who must choose between the bright lights of Hollywood, and his love for chambermaid Nancy Nettleton. Helene Marchmont is Raymond’s professional dance partner, who keeps the existence of her mixed-race daughter a closely guarded secret. Indeed, no-one is entirely as they seem in this novel and as the story progresses, their secrets are slowly revealed.
As a fan of both Strictly and Downton Abbey, I really wanted to like this book, but sadly I didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Whilst the characters are well drawn, the plot was strangely low-key, and at times the writing felt irritatingly trite. The novel would also have benefitted from a final edit; for example, there are tulips and crocuses blooming in London in July. Having said that, for all those who enjoy “moonlight and music and love and romance” (with apologies to Irving Berlin) – this could be the book for you.
