the fat innkeeper: a hilarious oceanside mystery (a hotel detective mystery book 2)  <b>enjoy an instant beach vacation with this hilarious oceanside mystery set at a posh california resort.</b> <br> <br><b>winner of the lefty award for best humorous mystery <br>critics’ choice award winner</b> <br> <br>the fog isn’t the only thing wreaking havoc at la jolla’s landmark hotel california. a prankster has been hiring employees for nonexistent jobs, a decomposing whale interrupts a grunion run, and a group of swingers has arrived at the property for a love-in. not for the first time, hotel detective am caulfield is overheard saying, “hotels are like a circus without the tent.” <br> <br>in addition to those headaches, am has more than a few mysteries on his hands: which one of the hotel guests murdered the famed paranormal debunker in room 374? what changes does the hotel’s new owner—aka the fat innkeeper—have in store? and can am juggle a new romantic interest and the increasing animosity of the local police while still nabbing a killer? <br> <br><b>"perfect...screamingly funny."</b>—<em>ocala star banner</em> <br> <br><b>"booked solid with humor."</b>—<em>pittsburgh post gazette</em> <br> <br><b>"<em>the fat innkeeper</em> makes alan russell one of the best of the comic detective novelists."</b>—<em>virginian-pilot and ledger-star</em> <br> <br><b>"ebullient and irresistible."</b>—<em>kirkus reviews</em> (starred review) <br> <br><b>"russell and his readers have great fun."</b>—<em>publishers weekly</em> <br> <br><b>"like tony hillerman and sue grafton, russell has created characters we care about, whom we want to visit again."</b>—<em>san diego blade-citizen</em> <br> <br><b>"a dandy piece of humorous storytelling guaranteed to produce laughter. russell and his readers have a rollicking good time."</b>—<em>san diego union-tribune</em> <br> <br><b>"well-written and very funny."</b>—<em>mystery news</em> <br> <br><b>"am caulfield is...charming, witty, and appealing."</b>—<em>booklist</em> <br> <br><b>"the characters are reminiscent of masters like hiaasen....am's east-vs.-west meeting with the new management is terrific."</b>—<em>mystery collector's bookline</em>