What do you think?
Rate this book
Hotel St. Kilda #1
Catalyst
When three brothers, the leaders of a brutal gang, are lured to an isolated street and shot dead by a mysterious stranger, the subsequent euphoria on the estate where they lived is picked up by the national press.
Tom Brown, an MP for the Opposition Party, whose constituency includes the estate, seizes the opportunity to exploit the story. Having built a reputation as a champion of law and order, he leads the crusade to implement a New Justice Regime with several supporters in tow, including local campaigner George Holland who embarks on a tour of the country to rally support for radical change.
There are those who steadfastly oppose these reforms, one individual being Tom’s wife Maggie, a high-profile Human Rights activist. Their relationship suffers badly during his campaign, a situation which pushes him closer to Grace, his assistant.
When the killer is eventually caught and sentenced to life imprisonment, the gang sets out for revenge, targeting George for his outspoken condemnation of their activities and uncompromising proposals for their demise. They descend in large numbers on the quiet village where he lives, armed and ready to kill, and the resulting event is dubbed 'The Meadow Village Massacre' across the national papers.
Meanwhile, Party Leader Andrew Donald is pursuing his own agenda…
This intriguing novel, the first of the Hotel St Kilda books, contains themes of politics, crime and the military with family drama at its heart, creating a wide appeal for readers both young and old.
Tom Brown, an MP for the Opposition Party, whose constituency includes the estate, seizes the opportunity to exploit the story. Having built a reputation as a champion of law and order, he leads the crusade to implement a New Justice Regime with several supporters in tow, including local campaigner George Holland who embarks on a tour of the country to rally support for radical change.
There are those who steadfastly oppose these reforms, one individual being Tom’s wife Maggie, a high-profile Human Rights activist. Their relationship suffers badly during his campaign, a situation which pushes him closer to Grace, his assistant.
When the killer is eventually caught and sentenced to life imprisonment, the gang sets out for revenge, targeting George for his outspoken condemnation of their activities and uncompromising proposals for their demise. They descend in large numbers on the quiet village where he lives, armed and ready to kill, and the resulting event is dubbed 'The Meadow Village Massacre' across the national papers.
Meanwhile, Party Leader Andrew Donald is pursuing his own agenda…
This intriguing novel, the first of the Hotel St Kilda books, contains themes of politics, crime and the military with family drama at its heart, creating a wide appeal for readers both young and old.
320 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2013
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 27, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive a signed copy of 'Hotel St Kilda: Catalyst' by Michael Knaggs, along with the other two books in the trilogy, as a thoughtful gift from a family member. And let me tell you, I'm hooked! From the very first chapter, I was ADDICTED to the plot! This book really pulls you in with its intriguing storyline and keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the end.
Knaggs has a knack for creating a world and scenarios that feel entirely plausible and that's what makes this book even more gripping. The plot is fast-paced and packed with tension, making it hard to put down - I found myself constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next. The concept of the hotel and the mysterious events surrounding it had me completely immersed. It's not just a story about a hotel; it's a clever thriller with deep layers of suspense and intrigue.
Considering the themes Knaggs explores, I can definitely see this book being something we could see in the future - maybe not exactly as it happens in the story, but the underlying ideas really make you think. It's the kind of plot that lingers in your mind after you've turned the last page.
If you're into thrillers with a touch of mystery and an addictive plot, I highly recommend 'Hotel St Kilda; Catalyst'. It's the first book in the trilogy and, I can't wait to dive into the next two!
Knaggs has a knack for creating a world and scenarios that feel entirely plausible and that's what makes this book even more gripping. The plot is fast-paced and packed with tension, making it hard to put down - I found myself constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next. The concept of the hotel and the mysterious events surrounding it had me completely immersed. It's not just a story about a hotel; it's a clever thriller with deep layers of suspense and intrigue.
Considering the themes Knaggs explores, I can definitely see this book being something we could see in the future - maybe not exactly as it happens in the story, but the underlying ideas really make you think. It's the kind of plot that lingers in your mind after you've turned the last page.
If you're into thrillers with a touch of mystery and an addictive plot, I highly recommend 'Hotel St Kilda; Catalyst'. It's the first book in the trilogy and, I can't wait to dive into the next two!
June 1, 2016
The writing style, for some reason, reminded me a little bit of John Grisham’s; not so much in style, although there are similarities, but more the effect of the narrative. Though fairly straight forward and devoid of unnecessary adjectives or poetic devices, it just sucks you in and compels you to keep on reading. It doesn’t beat about the bush: the author knows what his going on in his world and he tells you in no uncertain terms. But the style is engaging, and keeps the reader hooked throughout. I always found myself wanting to know more; wanting to know what was going to happen next.
A quite surprising outcome of reading this book was that it allowed me to understand the workings and mindsets of local politicians and their job roles. OK, so perhaps some aspects within the book might have been exaggerated or changed with artistic license, but being taken through the story from both private and political angles really helped me understand how events can shape political manifestos and campaigns. It also shows how gang violence affects every aspect of modern society. And the reaction to it in this book really is extreme. (But that’s what makes it all the more exciting to read.)
This book will most definitely appeal to all crime novels and thriller fans, which I think goes without saying. But I would urge people who would not normally read these genres (like myself) to give it a try, because it really is a great read.
Read my full review: https://wordsaremycraft.wordpress.com...
A quite surprising outcome of reading this book was that it allowed me to understand the workings and mindsets of local politicians and their job roles. OK, so perhaps some aspects within the book might have been exaggerated or changed with artistic license, but being taken through the story from both private and political angles really helped me understand how events can shape political manifestos and campaigns. It also shows how gang violence affects every aspect of modern society. And the reaction to it in this book really is extreme. (But that’s what makes it all the more exciting to read.)
This book will most definitely appeal to all crime novels and thriller fans, which I think goes without saying. But I would urge people who would not normally read these genres (like myself) to give it a try, because it really is a great read.
Read my full review: https://wordsaremycraft.wordpress.com...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews