"This is a very funny novel in the mold of Vladimir Nabokov's Invitation to a Beheading, and it's as entertaining as it is astute. A sharp comic novel that unpacks the evils of authoritarianism."
Kirkus Reviews
"The most fun spy thriller we've read in ages. The helter-skelter plot involv(es) a hapless revolutionary party, an alluring belly dancer, two hotels with almost exactly the same name - oh, and plans to assassinate the king. Payne mixes Franz Kafka's surreal absurdism with the ingenious plotting of Graham Greene's spy novels, then adds a hilarious layer of deadpan comedy."
Apple Books
"An odyssey that seems part Kafka, part Alice In Wonderland."
Wall Street Journal
"Payne's stellar debut pokes hilarious fun at spy fiction through the exploits of a fishmonger named Orlov. The blend of action and picaresque buffoonery flatteringly calls Conan Doyle's Brigadier Gerard tales to mind. This auspicious debut announces a bright new voice in comic suspense."
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"A very funny satire about men and nuns at war."
Kirkus Reviews
"A superb sequel that continues the humorous exploits of fishmonger Orlov. Another hugely enjoyable espionage satire."
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
"Jonathan Payne is in top form with Hotel Melikov, a beautifully orchestrated symphony of glorious mayhem that slyly underscores our current political moment. To miss it would be a sin!"
Elizabeth McCullough Keenan & Greg Wands, international bestselling authors of Trust Issues
"Once again, we are dropped head-first into the world of Citizen Orlov, whose misadventures amuse us, yet challenge us to ponder the meaning of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And the ending makes us breathlessly want to know what's next!"
Tom Fontana, Emmy Award winning writer of Oz and St. Elsewhere