Book Review: One Enchanted Evening

Not satisfied with being a professional dancer, media personality and singer, Anton du Beke has now added novelist to his CV.

Anton's debut novel is entitled One Enchanted Evening.

The action centres around the Buckingham Hotel, and the many characters working in the hotel, all of whom have secrets which could destroy their careers, and probably their lives, if they were to get out.

The story is set in 1936, the inter-war period, a time of uncertainty and unrest.

Raymond de Guise is the confident professional ballroom dancer who wows the patrons of the Buckingham's Grand Ballroom. With a name like de Guise, you cannot help but think about Anton, but he also quite Johnny Castle-like. He has reinvented himself, and his colleagues know little of his past.

Hélène Marchmont is Raymond's dance partner. She has recently returned from a year off spent travelling and trying to become a star. But she has a secret...

Nancy Nettleton is a young chambermaid, who has just joined the Buckingham, hoping to earn money to support herself and her younger brother. They have recently lost their father.

Maynard Charles is the hotel director, pivotal to the running of the hotel. He does the hiring and firing. He also has secrets...

Vivienne Edgerton is living at the hotel, which is owned by her stepfather. She is a lush, who gets exactly what she wants because she is the boss' daughter.

Billy Brogan is the young page, who seems to know everything going on in the hotel. Knowledge is power, and there isn't much that Billy doesn't know.

All of the characters' stories intersect, as they try to maintain their secrets while upholding the values of their upmarket workplace.

Is the book any good?

I'm not going to lie. I love Anton, but I was skeptical. An autobiography would be an obvious move, but a novel? Could he pull it off?

The book is quite engaging. Every so often I had to remind myself that this was written by Anton. You soon begin to care about the characters, and want to learn more about the secrets they are protecting. Anton's love of this period of history is apparent. The descriptions of the Buckingham and its Grand Ballroom are vivid.

I wasn't a fan of the ending, personally. I thought that there were much more engaging scenes earlier in the book. But I am happy to say that I did enjoy it, and would consider reading something else from Anton. He recently told Chris Evans that he has enough material for more books, so I don't think this will be the last one.

One Enchanted Evening is available now.

Disclosure: Thank you to the nice folks at Bonnier Zaffre publishing who kindly sent me a signed copy of the book to review.