Richard Speke is a troubled man. At one time, he was a brave and well-respected TV journalist. He covered wars, disasters and other difficult topics with courage and ambition. Now, however he has lost his confidence. He is nervous and unsure of himself to the point where, “he couldn’t get out his passport without his hands shaking.” With the encouragement of his TV station, Richard is hoping to regain his spirit and confidence at the retreat with Dr. Miriam Graves.

Dr. Graves is fiftyish, no-nonsense type of woman. A GP who later trained as a psychologist, she is the minder of the weekend encounter. She also walks a fine line where her ethics are concerned; Miriam knows a lot more about the behind-the-scenes planning involved than she lets on.

Sheelagh Cody is small but tough. Acid-tongued and unhappy to be attending the retreat, she is there as a businesswoman trying to please an important client. Her strong demeanor is important to her survival, as well as the others.

Tariq Straker is a Pakistani-Englishman. Young, handsome and a successful agent in the entertainment industry, he is seemingly without problems. His hopes for the weekend include making some useful contacts, perhaps a little more personal insight, and plenty of flirting.

Tessa McNaught is a doctor in her early forties. Relaxed and confident, she has been invited to write an article about the retreat for a medical journal.

Will Furney is an attorney with a good heart. Complacent and lacking confidence in himself, he is suffering from a recent breakup with his girlfriend when he “wins” the retreat weekend in a contest he never entered.

Larry Ford is an athletic and powerful man. Ten or fifteen years ago, everyone knew him as one of Britain’s best tennis players. But having never been able to achieve at the top rung of tennis, he is now a bitter man. Forced to attend the retreat to keep his job as a country club tennis pro (where he has angered the members), Larry doesn’t want to be there.

Last but not least is the retired printer Joe Lockhead. In the last two years, Joe has lost his beloved wife to cancer and his adult daughter in some kind of accident. Depressed and confused at how his once happy life is now gone, Joe is a willing participant in the retreat.

As any reader of this time-tested setting will already know, all is not what it seems at the Hotel Lazaire. As the various participants open up about their lives, loves and heartbreaks, it soon becomes clear that there is a common thread which ties them together. Shortly after this eerie discovery, there are more “accidents” that begin to look more like attempted murder. Who organized this retreat so carefully? And for what frightening purpose? Can they keep themselves alive through a hair-raising weekend until they can be rescued?

Jo Bannister has a good recipe for mystery with her unique array of characters and the right amount of plot thickening. The Lazarus Hotel is a memorable turn on an old favorite.

--Martha Moore