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Hokey Pokey
A grand hotel, a famous opera star and a psychoanalyst with a hidden agenda. Kate Mascarenhas's third novel offers her readers a glamorous, thrilling ride through murder, madness and the darkest recesses of the mind. February, 1929. The Regent Hotel in Birmingham is a place of deception and glamour. Behind its six-storeyed façade, guests sip absinthe cocktails on velvet banquettes, spying on their surroundings in the gilt mirrors and perfectly polished tableware, while the hotel's red-jacketed staff scurry through its lavish corridors to ensure the finest service is always at hand. In the early evening, a psychoanalyst checks in under a Nora Dickinson. Nora is young, diligent and ambitious. Though she doesn't see herself as a liar, she is travelling with an agenda. Having followed the famous opera singer, Berenice Oxbow, from Zurich to Birmingham, she's determined not to let her out of her sight. But when a terrible snow storm isolates the hotel – and its guests – from the outside world, the lines between nightmare and reality begin to blur and Nora will find herself face to face with a past she thought she had long left behind...
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2022
32 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
About the author
Kate Mascarenhas
5 books394 followersKate Mascarenhas is a writer.
Born in 1980, she is of mixed heritage (white Irish father, brown British mother) and has family in Ireland and the Republic of Seychelles.
She studied English at Oxford and Applied Psychology at Derby. Her PhD, in literary studies and psychology, was completed at Worcester.
Since 2017 Kate has been a chartered psychologist. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, bookbinder, and doll’s house maker. She lives in the English midlands with her partner.
Her new novel, The Psychology of Time Travel, will be published by Head of Zeus in August 2018.
Born in 1980, she is of mixed heritage (white Irish father, brown British mother) and has family in Ireland and the Republic of Seychelles.
She studied English at Oxford and Applied Psychology at Derby. Her PhD, in literary studies and psychology, was completed at Worcester.
Since 2017 Kate has been a chartered psychologist. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, bookbinder, and doll’s house maker. She lives in the English midlands with her partner.
Her new novel, The Psychology of Time Travel, will be published by Head of Zeus in August 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
April 28, 2023
Well that was a roller coaster of a book. It started out as quite an ordinary sort of murder mystery and I was getting to the point of getting quite bored, wondering whether I was going to be ploughing through the last two thirds.
Then we fell off a cliff in Part 2 into somewhere extremely dark, dangerous and so much more engaging. I zipped through pretty much all of the rest of the book.
I understand we were scene setting in the first third and it was necessary but I wasn't engaged, which is partly why I knocked a star off. I was also a tiny bit disappointed in the end of the book which felt just a bit rushed.
Other than that I enjoyed the supernatural aspects and the character of Nora was very intriguing. I'd definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Then we fell off a cliff in Part 2 into somewhere extremely dark, dangerous and so much more engaging. I zipped through pretty much all of the rest of the book.
I understand we were scene setting in the first third and it was necessary but I wasn't engaged, which is partly why I knocked a star off. I was also a tiny bit disappointed in the end of the book which felt just a bit rushed.
Other than that I enjoyed the supernatural aspects and the character of Nora was very intriguing. I'd definitely recommend this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
April 16, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
Not my favourite by the author, but that's maybe because I had different expectations going into it! This follows Nora, a psychoanalyst as she is trapped in a hotel during a snowstorm, and we learn why she's there, her past and exactly what she is...
The idea of the main character being a mythical being is made believable, and I loved how as a reader I kept thinking: "is this real? is she real?" which made for a very thrilling journey. Nora has had a strange childhood, and her belief that she's a 'hyring' that can mimic and eat people, while travelling through mirrors is something I was dying to see in action. I really liked how her past shaped her- she's always trying to be someone else, usually someone she meets, and tries to embody them mind and soul. Her ability to suspend herself as a whole person and think she's this cold, cunning monster really made me think whether she's a psychoanalyst or a patient, and her whole reason for being a mind doctor.
As always, I adored the writing- it was descriptive and engaging, and I loved the many different plot threads. I think the marketing for this book changes what this book is actually about. We spend more time in Nora's past and in flashbacks than at the hotel itself. I didn't mind this, and I found that this gave more depth to the story and Nora herself. The twist I honestly didn't see coming, although the clues were there. I enjoyed the raw and gory exploration into the human mind, and the selfishness of humans and monsters.
Berenice was another character that I grew to love. She's someone who doesn't want to be tied down, while Nora is the opposite. Both of them are linked by Leo, who humiliates and uses Nora, and despite this she doesn't think she needs revenge. She is infatuated with both of them and by the end thee outcomes off-page show exactly her thoughts. She embodies the monster being she has always believed herself to be, and I honestly just wanted her to be happy in her own skin.
Hokey Pokey is definitely a unique story, unlike anything I've ever read, and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read it early! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!
Not my favourite by the author, but that's maybe because I had different expectations going into it! This follows Nora, a psychoanalyst as she is trapped in a hotel during a snowstorm, and we learn why she's there, her past and exactly what she is...
The idea of the main character being a mythical being is made believable, and I loved how as a reader I kept thinking: "is this real? is she real?" which made for a very thrilling journey. Nora has had a strange childhood, and her belief that she's a 'hyring' that can mimic and eat people, while travelling through mirrors is something I was dying to see in action. I really liked how her past shaped her- she's always trying to be someone else, usually someone she meets, and tries to embody them mind and soul. Her ability to suspend herself as a whole person and think she's this cold, cunning monster really made me think whether she's a psychoanalyst or a patient, and her whole reason for being a mind doctor.
As always, I adored the writing- it was descriptive and engaging, and I loved the many different plot threads. I think the marketing for this book changes what this book is actually about. We spend more time in Nora's past and in flashbacks than at the hotel itself. I didn't mind this, and I found that this gave more depth to the story and Nora herself. The twist I honestly didn't see coming, although the clues were there. I enjoyed the raw and gory exploration into the human mind, and the selfishness of humans and monsters.
Berenice was another character that I grew to love. She's someone who doesn't want to be tied down, while Nora is the opposite. Both of them are linked by Leo, who humiliates and uses Nora, and despite this she doesn't think she needs revenge. She is infatuated with both of them and by the end thee outcomes off-page show exactly her thoughts. She embodies the monster being she has always believed herself to be, and I honestly just wanted her to be happy in her own skin.
Hokey Pokey is definitely a unique story, unlike anything I've ever read, and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to read it early! Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an e-arc!
June 5, 2023
Based on the blurb, and the first few chapters of the book, you might be forgiven for thinking you were about to read a ‘Golden Age’ mystery so you will be surprised – as I was – to find yourself embarking on a quite different journey into something dark and macabre. The author’s debut novel The Psychology of Time Travel, which I read in 2018, had elements of mind-bending fantasy but Hokey Pokey takes the reader into the realm of horror. It becomes clear that evil stalks the Regent Hotel.
Part one of the book introduces us to Nora who, as well as being a psychoanalyst, has a remarkable ‘gift’ but one which can be used for good or ill. (No prizes for guessing which in this case.) The origin of this gift the reader learns more about in part two of the book which takes us back to Nora’s childhood and has a fairytale quality reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm allied with a real sense of the macabre. Although set in a village near Birmingham, Nora’s home deep in the woods wouldn’t be out of place in Transylvania. This section includes a particularly gruesome scene which, if you’re squeamish, you may find disturbing although I guess no more than watching one of Shakespeare’s more bloody plays.
Part three of the book fills in more of the background to Nora’s mission and her rather disturbing motivation for embarking on it whilst the final section of the book provides just about everything fans of Gothic horror could desire. Personally, if I’d known what was in store I’d have checked out of the Regent Hotel soon after arrival.
Part one of the book introduces us to Nora who, as well as being a psychoanalyst, has a remarkable ‘gift’ but one which can be used for good or ill. (No prizes for guessing which in this case.) The origin of this gift the reader learns more about in part two of the book which takes us back to Nora’s childhood and has a fairytale quality reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm allied with a real sense of the macabre. Although set in a village near Birmingham, Nora’s home deep in the woods wouldn’t be out of place in Transylvania. This section includes a particularly gruesome scene which, if you’re squeamish, you may find disturbing although I guess no more than watching one of Shakespeare’s more bloody plays.
Part three of the book fills in more of the background to Nora’s mission and her rather disturbing motivation for embarking on it whilst the final section of the book provides just about everything fans of Gothic horror could desire. Personally, if I’d known what was in store I’d have checked out of the Regent Hotel soon after arrival.
June 15, 2023
I agree with other reviewers that the synopsis is a bit misleading. The summary and cover make it seem like this book is a cozy historical mystery but really it’s a horror book with supernatural elements and an overarching mystery set in 1920s Europe. It’s dark and won’t be for everyone. My favorite portions were the supernatural bits because the author introduced a new supernatural mythology that was very unique.
In terms of the structure, we’ve got multiple timelines and settings happening. Part 2 was by far my favorite. It read like a dark macabre fairytale complete with a child’s misunderstanding that led to dastardly results.
The characters are complex and richly developed. I empathized with Nora and hated Leo. The sections with Leo were my least favorite parts but it was essential to the story. Overall, Hokey Pokey is unlike any book I’ve read. I loved how the author seamlessly blended so many genres while maintaining a wholly unique story.
In terms of the structure, we’ve got multiple timelines and settings happening. Part 2 was by far my favorite. It read like a dark macabre fairytale complete with a child’s misunderstanding that led to dastardly results.
The characters are complex and richly developed. I empathized with Nora and hated Leo. The sections with Leo were my least favorite parts but it was essential to the story. Overall, Hokey Pokey is unlike any book I’ve read. I loved how the author seamlessly blended so many genres while maintaining a wholly unique story.
April 17, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "People are willing to show themselves in a hotel because it's an in-between kind of place. Normality is suspended. One is repeatedly exposed to strange, even dubious phenomena." This book was not what I was expecting at all in the slightest, but that was certainly not a negative as I read on.
This book follows Nora, a psychoanalyst, who travels to a hotel in Birmingham to spy on her "friend" Leo's wife, Berenice, to uncover her infidelities. However, when Nora arrives not all is as it seems as people disappear and secrets which were long meant to be kept hidden begin to arise.
I will start by saying that this book was not what I expected in the least. I believed that it would be a classic murder mystery, a whodunnit of the sort where there is killer in the hotel whilst all are trapped in due to the snow. However, it bore no great resemblance to that. It was instead a wonderfully bizarre tale spanning numerous different genres. There were elements of romance, fantasy, historical fiction, and crime. The fantastical element is what took me by surprise the most as it was as it was not mentioned in the summary. I did not mind the introduction of the hyring in the slightest, it was a unique surprise. But if what you are expecting from this book is a murder mystery set in 1920s Birmingham, there is an element of the peculiar.
Nora is one of the most unique characters I have ever read about. She is just extraordinary and slightly strange, yet you get too see exactly how her mind is working. The whole idea of her being a mimic was something I found rather confusing at the start, but interesting nevertheless. Her relationships with the different characters were all unique and easy to read about. I was also slightly confused about what the relationship between her and Leo was at the start. The more predominant characters in this book all easily recognised and memorable. In particular, Valery, whom I could read a book entirely dedicated to. The whole section regarding Nora's childhood was fast paced and captivating. It wasn't normal, none of the characters were, but then again this book makes you question what normality even is in the first place as everyone is slightly twisted.
The book went straight into the action, as you were instantly picking up characters and motives. However, I felt at the start reading about Nora it seemed rather lists- Nora this, Nora that, Nora said. However, that really only happened at the start so it didn't bother me too much. The rest of the writing was phenomenal and so crudely dark and poetic, flowing with each of the twists and turns as they came along. My main issue with this book is that I just don't believe it was what it was advertised to be. I didn't mind the element of fantasy, it just honestly wasn't expected. I also found it difficult to remember the more minor characters in the hotel after the section about Nora's childhood and her work in the hospital.
All in all this was an incredibly unique read and one that I recommend if you wish to read something fast paced and very twisted. Thank you netgalley for the arc!
This book follows Nora, a psychoanalyst, who travels to a hotel in Birmingham to spy on her "friend" Leo's wife, Berenice, to uncover her infidelities. However, when Nora arrives not all is as it seems as people disappear and secrets which were long meant to be kept hidden begin to arise.
I will start by saying that this book was not what I expected in the least. I believed that it would be a classic murder mystery, a whodunnit of the sort where there is killer in the hotel whilst all are trapped in due to the snow. However, it bore no great resemblance to that. It was instead a wonderfully bizarre tale spanning numerous different genres. There were elements of romance, fantasy, historical fiction, and crime. The fantastical element is what took me by surprise the most as it was as it was not mentioned in the summary. I did not mind the introduction of the hyring in the slightest, it was a unique surprise. But if what you are expecting from this book is a murder mystery set in 1920s Birmingham, there is an element of the peculiar.
Nora is one of the most unique characters I have ever read about. She is just extraordinary and slightly strange, yet you get too see exactly how her mind is working. The whole idea of her being a mimic was something I found rather confusing at the start, but interesting nevertheless. Her relationships with the different characters were all unique and easy to read about. I was also slightly confused about what the relationship between her and Leo was at the start. The more predominant characters in this book all easily recognised and memorable. In particular, Valery, whom I could read a book entirely dedicated to. The whole section regarding Nora's childhood was fast paced and captivating. It wasn't normal, none of the characters were, but then again this book makes you question what normality even is in the first place as everyone is slightly twisted.
The book went straight into the action, as you were instantly picking up characters and motives. However, I felt at the start reading about Nora it seemed rather lists- Nora this, Nora that, Nora said. However, that really only happened at the start so it didn't bother me too much. The rest of the writing was phenomenal and so crudely dark and poetic, flowing with each of the twists and turns as they came along. My main issue with this book is that I just don't believe it was what it was advertised to be. I didn't mind the element of fantasy, it just honestly wasn't expected. I also found it difficult to remember the more minor characters in the hotel after the section about Nora's childhood and her work in the hospital.
All in all this was an incredibly unique read and one that I recommend if you wish to read something fast paced and very twisted. Thank you netgalley for the arc!
February 13, 2023
This was a surprising read, but an enjoyable one.
I have to say the cover and initial book blurb doesn't really give the full picture here. Yes, the tagline of "A grand hotel, a famous opera star and a psychoanalyst with a hidden agenda", is accurate but...that's leaving out a whole lot of weird, supernatural shit that dominates the book!
Luckily, I enjoy weird, supernatural shit, when it's written well. And this is written well. Hokey Pokey was a great page-turner, with a fun mystery and a very odd protagonist at it's core.
Great fun - I'll check out other books by this author.
PS - anyone else picture 'Hyrings' like those dog things from Ghostbusters?
thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
I have to say the cover and initial book blurb doesn't really give the full picture here. Yes, the tagline of "A grand hotel, a famous opera star and a psychoanalyst with a hidden agenda", is accurate but...that's leaving out a whole lot of weird, supernatural shit that dominates the book!
Luckily, I enjoy weird, supernatural shit, when it's written well. And this is written well. Hokey Pokey was a great page-turner, with a fun mystery and a very odd protagonist at it's core.
Great fun - I'll check out other books by this author.
PS - anyone else picture 'Hyrings' like those dog things from Ghostbusters?
thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 22, 2023
Very interesting.
Took me a while to get into it and it did feel dragged at times, but the whole narrative and concept made this a very interesting read.
Took me a while to get into it and it did feel dragged at times, but the whole narrative and concept made this a very interesting read.
May 16, 2023
3.5/5
a dark and twisty novel following a set of characters who are trapped in a grand hotel after lots of snowfall, but these characters pasts just may be a lot more interlinked then we originally thought…
this was a very unique and veryy dark read. It had elements of mystery, historical fiction, horror and supernatural all wrapped up to make a story where I truly couldn’t guess what was coming next
the characters were interesting, the plot was well thought out and I had a good time with this one
a dark and twisty novel following a set of characters who are trapped in a grand hotel after lots of snowfall, but these characters pasts just may be a lot more interlinked then we originally thought…
this was a very unique and veryy dark read. It had elements of mystery, historical fiction, horror and supernatural all wrapped up to make a story where I truly couldn’t guess what was coming next
the characters were interesting, the plot was well thought out and I had a good time with this one
October 9, 2023
*Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me an early copy of this to review!*
Oh I was obsessed with this book and completely overwhelmed with intrigue that I could not get enough of it for the first 150 pages or so. It was atmospheric, unpredictable, and full of deep dark secrets waiting to be uncovered. The characters were suspicious, the setting was mysterious, and events needed unearthing. Honestly this was shaping up to be a four or five star read straight off the bat, and then it all fell apart.
I think this was really well written and that’s what immediately hooked me and got me wanting to devour this in a single sitting - which I almost did until I started losing interest. It struck me as extremely binge worthy and I could not read fast enough. I knew there was something very sinister underneath the present day timeline that needed unravelling and I knew it was going to be crazy after just a few chapters. The characters at play in here were also really interesting, Nora and Berenice in particular I couldn’t take my mind off and their dynamic and individual quirks really set them apart. They were a great choice for the focal point of the book, but they turned out not to be enough.
While this had the premise, set up, and characters to be cover to cover incredible, the weird plot twist near the middle/latter half of the book just completely ruined it for me. I didn’t like the direction the story went in at all, and it all ended up feeling very random, and made the actual ending of the book feeling cut short and abrupt. There was such an emphasis put on developing a really good backstory for Nora, which made her relationship with Berenice so intriguing and unpredictable that was just ruined entirely. And I couldn’t really piece together what was real, and what wasn’t. I just didn’t like it.
Oh I was obsessed with this book and completely overwhelmed with intrigue that I could not get enough of it for the first 150 pages or so. It was atmospheric, unpredictable, and full of deep dark secrets waiting to be uncovered. The characters were suspicious, the setting was mysterious, and events needed unearthing. Honestly this was shaping up to be a four or five star read straight off the bat, and then it all fell apart.
I think this was really well written and that’s what immediately hooked me and got me wanting to devour this in a single sitting - which I almost did until I started losing interest. It struck me as extremely binge worthy and I could not read fast enough. I knew there was something very sinister underneath the present day timeline that needed unravelling and I knew it was going to be crazy after just a few chapters. The characters at play in here were also really interesting, Nora and Berenice in particular I couldn’t take my mind off and their dynamic and individual quirks really set them apart. They were a great choice for the focal point of the book, but they turned out not to be enough.
While this had the premise, set up, and characters to be cover to cover incredible, the weird plot twist near the middle/latter half of the book just completely ruined it for me. I didn’t like the direction the story went in at all, and it all ended up feeling very random, and made the actual ending of the book feeling cut short and abrupt. There was such an emphasis put on developing a really good backstory for Nora, which made her relationship with Berenice so intriguing and unpredictable that was just ruined entirely. And I couldn’t really piece together what was real, and what wasn’t. I just didn’t like it.
July 20, 2025
okay where to begin so this was an easy read for me bc i used it as an escape from family vacation… too shut my mind off
I loved the psychological aspect of it and nora was a very intriguing character and also felt very original
However i felt the plot could have been better although i like some twists, it felt a bit bland at times mostly the end felt like could have used more work
overall still a nice experience and the genre is a must in my coming reads :))
I loved the psychological aspect of it and nora was a very intriguing character and also felt very original
However i felt the plot could have been better although i like some twists, it felt a bit bland at times mostly the end felt like could have used more work
overall still a nice experience and the genre is a must in my coming reads :))
did-not-finish
May 17, 2025May 2025, DNF on page 64. It’s too “something” … a narrative that’s too tightly constrained? I think something like that. The characters seemed slightly transparent and distinctly unfinished but zipped up, nonetheless.
April 7, 2023
I hate to be so negative but I reeeeeeally didn’t enjoy this book at all.
Firstly and most importantly (and probably the reason why I didn’t get on with it) is because the blurb is so far from the what the majority of the actual story is about. If it had actually been described as what it was, then I might of enjoyed it more, but I feel like the blurb made it out to be kind of like historical fiction/crime thriller, and it wasn’t really any of those it was just more like a supernatural horror vibe. I was so close to DNFing this after the first few chapters because I was like hold on have I got the right book?
I didn’t like any of the characters at all, so I didn’t really care what happened to them. The setting is cool and that’s what attracted me (working in Birmingham, I thought I might enjoy reading about the city, and I find it’s not represented in that many books) but Birmingham isn’t actually the main setting of the book, a lot is set in flashbacks in Zurich.
There are SO many plots and subplots going on, yeah they do kind of weave together in the end but it is so hard to keep track. Particularly when the elements are supernatural and leave you completely bewildered. I was just so so shocked that it was a supernatural/horror story when the intro was giving me more 1920s plush art deco hotel mystery.
When the truth of the mystery is uncovered I just felt like it was wrapped up so quickly at the end and that 75% of the story was flashbacks, backstory etc that could’ve been really condensed. And the mystery doesn’t seem to impact anyone emotionally in any way at all, which is just bizarre.
If I would’ve known what the story really was I wouldn’t have read this book as I just don’t like horror/supernatural. If that’s your thing then you might really like this. But pleeeeeease can the publisher/editor change the blurb pre-publication??? SO many reviews say the same thing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
Firstly and most importantly (and probably the reason why I didn’t get on with it) is because the blurb is so far from the what the majority of the actual story is about. If it had actually been described as what it was, then I might of enjoyed it more, but I feel like the blurb made it out to be kind of like historical fiction/crime thriller, and it wasn’t really any of those it was just more like a supernatural horror vibe. I was so close to DNFing this after the first few chapters because I was like hold on have I got the right book?
I didn’t like any of the characters at all, so I didn’t really care what happened to them. The setting is cool and that’s what attracted me (working in Birmingham, I thought I might enjoy reading about the city, and I find it’s not represented in that many books) but Birmingham isn’t actually the main setting of the book, a lot is set in flashbacks in Zurich.
There are SO many plots and subplots going on, yeah they do kind of weave together in the end but it is so hard to keep track. Particularly when the elements are supernatural and leave you completely bewildered. I was just so so shocked that it was a supernatural/horror story when the intro was giving me more 1920s plush art deco hotel mystery.
When the truth of the mystery is uncovered I just felt like it was wrapped up so quickly at the end and that 75% of the story was flashbacks, backstory etc that could’ve been really condensed. And the mystery doesn’t seem to impact anyone emotionally in any way at all, which is just bizarre.
If I would’ve known what the story really was I wouldn’t have read this book as I just don’t like horror/supernatural. If that’s your thing then you might really like this. But pleeeeeease can the publisher/editor change the blurb pre-publication??? SO many reviews say the same thing.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
June 5, 2023
February, 1929.
The grand and opulent Regent Hotel in Birmingham is somewhat of an unusual residence, for it is a place of quiet deception, and glamour for one could look upon such a place as an ideal escape from the many stresses of life, or you could end up walking straight into a labyrinthine minefield of no escape, as behind its six-storeyed façade, guests sip absinthe cocktails on velvet banquettes, basking in the gossip of each other, while the staff navigate the hotel’s many hidden pathways and service passageways to ensure they are always here. Anytime you may need them. For any reason.
In the early evening, psychoanalyst Nora Dickinson checks into the Regent under false pretences.
It is rather unlike Nora to deceive - her gross aversion to lying borders on the pathological - but she is here with a strict agenda, having shadowed the famous opera singer Berenice Oxbow, from Zurich, she has come too far to lose sight of her target now.
When a terrible and freak snow storm cocoons and envelopes the hotel, isolating those within its walls, reality seems to shift to something akin to a waking nightmare as Nora starts to lose her grip, Berenice begins to suspect the impossible, and something which hides in plain sight bares it’s teeth once more…
Yet Both Nora and Berenice may have no option but to navigate this world which seems to have twisted to the point of breaking and perhaps working together they can make sense of not only what is unfolding, but maybe even discover something about themselves.
A heady mix of horror, mystery, madness, and 1920’s glamour, make for an addictive and terrifying read.
The grand and opulent Regent Hotel in Birmingham is somewhat of an unusual residence, for it is a place of quiet deception, and glamour for one could look upon such a place as an ideal escape from the many stresses of life, or you could end up walking straight into a labyrinthine minefield of no escape, as behind its six-storeyed façade, guests sip absinthe cocktails on velvet banquettes, basking in the gossip of each other, while the staff navigate the hotel’s many hidden pathways and service passageways to ensure they are always here. Anytime you may need them. For any reason.
In the early evening, psychoanalyst Nora Dickinson checks into the Regent under false pretences.
It is rather unlike Nora to deceive - her gross aversion to lying borders on the pathological - but she is here with a strict agenda, having shadowed the famous opera singer Berenice Oxbow, from Zurich, she has come too far to lose sight of her target now.
When a terrible and freak snow storm cocoons and envelopes the hotel, isolating those within its walls, reality seems to shift to something akin to a waking nightmare as Nora starts to lose her grip, Berenice begins to suspect the impossible, and something which hides in plain sight bares it’s teeth once more…
Yet Both Nora and Berenice may have no option but to navigate this world which seems to have twisted to the point of breaking and perhaps working together they can make sense of not only what is unfolding, but maybe even discover something about themselves.
A heady mix of horror, mystery, madness, and 1920’s glamour, make for an addictive and terrifying read.
June 4, 2023
— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Hokey Pokey
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Kate Macarenhas
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Mystery
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 8th June 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 4th June 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.25/5
Well, this wasn’t what I expected!
With a description that states ”A grand hotel, a famous opera star and a psychoanalyst with a hidden agenda” and an art deco front cover, I expected a glamorous murder mystery, whereas in reality Hokey Pokey is a transcendent and morbid ghost story with supernatural elements
I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect and wish it had the same strong focus in the last half of the story that it had in the first.
I also enjoyed the main character, Nora, who was a female psychoanalyst which was a rare occurrence in the historical setting of 1929.
I’ve actually read a Kate Mascarenhas novel before (The Psychology of Time Travel) and find her writing really good, it has such a compelling quality, but my favourite aspect is the fascinating exploration of characters that are so truly unique to the world of fiction.
Whilst this story has a lot going on to make it stand out from the crowd, I found the story way more weird than I expected and whilst it was still enjoyable, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was more grounded.
—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚♀️✨
♡Booksta
♡Twitter
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Hokey Pokey
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Kate Macarenhas
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Mystery
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 8th June 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 4th June 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 3.25/5
Well, this wasn’t what I expected!
With a description that states ”A grand hotel, a famous opera star and a psychoanalyst with a hidden agenda” and an art deco front cover, I expected a glamorous murder mystery, whereas in reality Hokey Pokey is a transcendent and morbid ghost story with supernatural elements
I really enjoyed the murder mystery aspect and wish it had the same strong focus in the last half of the story that it had in the first.
I also enjoyed the main character, Nora, who was a female psychoanalyst which was a rare occurrence in the historical setting of 1929.
I’ve actually read a Kate Mascarenhas novel before (The Psychology of Time Travel) and find her writing really good, it has such a compelling quality, but my favourite aspect is the fascinating exploration of characters that are so truly unique to the world of fiction.
Whilst this story has a lot going on to make it stand out from the crowd, I found the story way more weird than I expected and whilst it was still enjoyable, I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was more grounded.
—Kayleigh🤍
@ Welsh Book Fairy🧚♀️✨
♡Booksta
December 22, 2023
3.5 rounded up to 4.
This was a strange little read and I am not entirely sure how I feel about it still. I loved the mystery and the fantasy vibes within the book and I thought the setting in the roaring 20s was a good choice but I also felt a little confused at times. The two time lines felt a little disjointed (almost like from two different stories) and I found it hard to like many of the characters. Great concept but would have liked it executed a little better.
This was a strange little read and I am not entirely sure how I feel about it still. I loved the mystery and the fantasy vibes within the book and I thought the setting in the roaring 20s was a good choice but I also felt a little confused at times. The two time lines felt a little disjointed (almost like from two different stories) and I found it hard to like many of the characters. Great concept but would have liked it executed a little better.
October 18, 2023
So Berenice is Russian. OK.
She was Веранiка on her documents.
Her real name is Веранiка. 😑🤦♀️ That's not Russian name. The Russian alphabet doesn't not have "i" letter. As far I can tell Веранiка is either Ukrainian or Belarus name (both languages have letter "i").
Her maiden name Luckiewicz is not Russian. That's Belarus or Polish surname.
Was it that hard to сheck out how Veronica is spelled in Russian? It's Вероника.
She was Веранiка on her documents.
Her real name is Веранiка. 😑🤦♀️ That's not Russian name. The Russian alphabet doesn't not have "i" letter. As far I can tell Веранiка is either Ukrainian or Belarus name (both languages have letter "i").
Her maiden name Luckiewicz is not Russian. That's Belarus or Polish surname.
Was it that hard to сheck out how Veronica is spelled in Russian? It's Вероника.
December 23, 2025
What I expected: mysterious shenanigans at a snowed-in hotel
What I got:
I've read all three of Kate Mascarenhas's books now, one of which I loved, one of which I felt meh about and now unfortunately we have arrived at a 1 star rating. I have to give it to her that her plots are always unique and this was also true for this one, albeit in a very bizarre way. From the blurb, I expected a wintry mystery set at a hotel, but what I got was... Zuul from Ghostbusters and cannibalism?? 😭 The characters were also all deeply unlikable (in a bad way) and the plot genuinely felt like a 13-year-old making up an "edgy" story as they went.
I rated this author's debut five stars, but I'm sorry to say that her releases have become gradually worse with each book ever since.
What I got:
I've read all three of Kate Mascarenhas's books now, one of which I loved, one of which I felt meh about and now unfortunately we have arrived at a 1 star rating. I have to give it to her that her plots are always unique and this was also true for this one, albeit in a very bizarre way. From the blurb, I expected a wintry mystery set at a hotel, but what I got was... Zuul from Ghostbusters and cannibalism?? 😭 The characters were also all deeply unlikable (in a bad way) and the plot genuinely felt like a 13-year-old making up an "edgy" story as they went.
I rated this author's debut five stars, but I'm sorry to say that her releases have become gradually worse with each book ever since.
April 14, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 "People are willing to show themselves in a hotel because it's an in-between kind of place. Normality is suspended. One is repeatedly exposed too strange, even dubious phenomena." This book was not what I was expecting at all in the slightest, but that was certainly not a negative as I read on.
This book follows Nora, a psychoanalyst, who travels to a hotel in Birmingham to spy on her "friend" Leo's wife, Berenice, to uncover her infidelities. However, when Nora arrives not all is as it seems as people disappear and secrets which were long meant to be kept hidden begin to arise.
I will start by saying that this book was not what I expected in the least. I believed that it would be a classic murder mystery, a whodunnit of the sort where there is killer in the hotel whilst all are trapped in due to the snow. However, it bore no great resemblance to that. It was instead a wonderfully bizarre tale spanning numerous different genres. There were elements of romance, fantasy, historical fiction, and crime. The fantastical element is what took me by surprise the most as it was as it was not mentioned in the summary. I did not mind the introduction of the hyring in the slightest, it was a unique surprise. But if what you are expecting from this book is a murder mystery set in 1920s Birmingham, there is an element of the peculiar.
Nora is one of the most uniqueI have ever read about. She is just extraordinary and slightly strange, yet you get too see exactly how her mind is working. The whole idea of her being a mimic was something I found rather confusing at the start, but interesting nevertheless. Her relationships with the different characters were all unique and easy to read about. I was also slightly confused about what the relationship between her and Leo was at the start. The more predominant characters in this book all easily recognised and memorable. In particular, Valery, whom I could read a book entirely dedicated to. The whole section regarding Nora's childhood was fast paced and captivating. It wasn't normal, none of the characters were, but then again this book makes you question what normality even is in the first place as everyone is slightly twisted.
The book went straight into the action, as you were instantly picking up characters and motives. However, I felt at the start reading about Nora it seemed rather lists- Nora this, Nora that, Nora said. However, that really only happened at the start so it didn't bother me too much. The rest of the writing was phenomenal and so crudely dark and poetic, flowing with each of the twists and turns as they came along. My main issue with this book is that I just don't believe it was what it was advertised to be. I didn't mind the element of fantasy, it just honestly wasn't expected. I also found it difficult to remember the more minor characters in the hotel after the section about Nora's childhood and her work in the hospital.
All in all this was an incredibly unique read and one that I recommend if you wish to read something fast paced and very twisted. Thank you netgalley for the arc!
This book follows Nora, a psychoanalyst, who travels to a hotel in Birmingham to spy on her "friend" Leo's wife, Berenice, to uncover her infidelities. However, when Nora arrives not all is as it seems as people disappear and secrets which were long meant to be kept hidden begin to arise.
I will start by saying that this book was not what I expected in the least. I believed that it would be a classic murder mystery, a whodunnit of the sort where there is killer in the hotel whilst all are trapped in due to the snow. However, it bore no great resemblance to that. It was instead a wonderfully bizarre tale spanning numerous different genres. There were elements of romance, fantasy, historical fiction, and crime. The fantastical element is what took me by surprise the most as it was as it was not mentioned in the summary. I did not mind the introduction of the hyring in the slightest, it was a unique surprise. But if what you are expecting from this book is a murder mystery set in 1920s Birmingham, there is an element of the peculiar.
Nora is one of the most uniqueI have ever read about. She is just extraordinary and slightly strange, yet you get too see exactly how her mind is working. The whole idea of her being a mimic was something I found rather confusing at the start, but interesting nevertheless. Her relationships with the different characters were all unique and easy to read about. I was also slightly confused about what the relationship between her and Leo was at the start. The more predominant characters in this book all easily recognised and memorable. In particular, Valery, whom I could read a book entirely dedicated to. The whole section regarding Nora's childhood was fast paced and captivating. It wasn't normal, none of the characters were, but then again this book makes you question what normality even is in the first place as everyone is slightly twisted.
The book went straight into the action, as you were instantly picking up characters and motives. However, I felt at the start reading about Nora it seemed rather lists- Nora this, Nora that, Nora said. However, that really only happened at the start so it didn't bother me too much. The rest of the writing was phenomenal and so crudely dark and poetic, flowing with each of the twists and turns as they came along. My main issue with this book is that I just don't believe it was what it was advertised to be. I didn't mind the element of fantasy, it just honestly wasn't expected. I also found it difficult to remember the more minor characters in the hotel after the section about Nora's childhood and her work in the hospital.
All in all this was an incredibly unique read and one that I recommend if you wish to read something fast paced and very twisted. Thank you netgalley for the arc!
January 15, 2024
Disclaimer: Jonathan Ball Publishers kindly sent me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
If you were expecting a locked-room mystery set in a fancy hotel in the 1940s you would be stunned to find that the novel Hokey Pokey is of a very different genre, despite the misleading blurb. Rather than a mystery, this story is about two women who have lived very different lives, and how they are brought together through distrust and the supernatural.
The story takes place in 1929, and Nora Dickinson has just checked into The Regent Hotel in Birmingham. A hotel that was famous for an Absinthe-based cocktail called a Hokey Pokey. She has been hired to spy on the famous opera singer Berenice Oxbow, by the singer's own husband, Leo. He believes his wife is having an affair, and Nora, who has this remarkable ability to mimic the people around her is going to use this skill to report back to Leo. Like Leo, Nora is also a psychoanalyst, while Berenice insists she is a clairvoyant and often has 'visions' during her performances. After one of these interrupted performances, Nora begins to keep a close eye on Berenice Oxbow.
"I like the traffic. I like the assortment of humanity, and how very mixed it is. People are willing to show themselves in a hotel because it's an in-between kind of place. Normality is suspended. One is repeatedly exposed to strange, even dubious, phenomena."
The hotel has been snowed-in and to leave would be dangerous. One night Nora wakes up in her room to find a strange man in her room flanked by an enormous dog - beastly in description. Not long after that a woman who reckons herself a bit of a ghost hunter goes missing after visiting the supposedly rejuvenating springs that lie beneath the Regent Hotel. The hotel staff seem keen to cover up stories about giant beasts and missing guests.
"...hotels should be for pleasure or business, but never an emergency in a storm. As soon as people were confined to them, things went wrong. So many people in proximity, none of whom belonged there, and who had been deprived of their exit, were bound to start acting strangely. Because of this, no building cut-off, could rival a hotel for claustrophobia."
As Nora tries to find out exactly what is going on inside The Regent, she's becoming drawn to the woman she's meant to be spying on. She's also starting to relive some of the more traumatic parts of her childhood - Nora grew up in Edwardian England and lived in the woods with her mother who made her daughter spy on the villagers, and especially her own father. All would end in a tragedy, and the only thing to show for it would be a death and a flower tattoo.
The closer Nora gets to Berenice, the more convinced she is that she imagined her traumatic childhood, and if she didn't then perhaps something inhuman is responsible.
This 'Gatsby-era' novel blends genres that overlap and become unrecognizable. A sapphic love affair, a vampire myth, and the threat of murder are all visitors to the Regent Hotel. Hokey Pokey is a fun, and delicately written weird little novel that you'll either love, or you'll hate.
If you were expecting a locked-room mystery set in a fancy hotel in the 1940s you would be stunned to find that the novel Hokey Pokey is of a very different genre, despite the misleading blurb. Rather than a mystery, this story is about two women who have lived very different lives, and how they are brought together through distrust and the supernatural.
The story takes place in 1929, and Nora Dickinson has just checked into The Regent Hotel in Birmingham. A hotel that was famous for an Absinthe-based cocktail called a Hokey Pokey. She has been hired to spy on the famous opera singer Berenice Oxbow, by the singer's own husband, Leo. He believes his wife is having an affair, and Nora, who has this remarkable ability to mimic the people around her is going to use this skill to report back to Leo. Like Leo, Nora is also a psychoanalyst, while Berenice insists she is a clairvoyant and often has 'visions' during her performances. After one of these interrupted performances, Nora begins to keep a close eye on Berenice Oxbow.
"I like the traffic. I like the assortment of humanity, and how very mixed it is. People are willing to show themselves in a hotel because it's an in-between kind of place. Normality is suspended. One is repeatedly exposed to strange, even dubious, phenomena."
The hotel has been snowed-in and to leave would be dangerous. One night Nora wakes up in her room to find a strange man in her room flanked by an enormous dog - beastly in description. Not long after that a woman who reckons herself a bit of a ghost hunter goes missing after visiting the supposedly rejuvenating springs that lie beneath the Regent Hotel. The hotel staff seem keen to cover up stories about giant beasts and missing guests.
"...hotels should be for pleasure or business, but never an emergency in a storm. As soon as people were confined to them, things went wrong. So many people in proximity, none of whom belonged there, and who had been deprived of their exit, were bound to start acting strangely. Because of this, no building cut-off, could rival a hotel for claustrophobia."
As Nora tries to find out exactly what is going on inside The Regent, she's becoming drawn to the woman she's meant to be spying on. She's also starting to relive some of the more traumatic parts of her childhood - Nora grew up in Edwardian England and lived in the woods with her mother who made her daughter spy on the villagers, and especially her own father. All would end in a tragedy, and the only thing to show for it would be a death and a flower tattoo.
The closer Nora gets to Berenice, the more convinced she is that she imagined her traumatic childhood, and if she didn't then perhaps something inhuman is responsible.
This 'Gatsby-era' novel blends genres that overlap and become unrecognizable. A sapphic love affair, a vampire myth, and the threat of murder are all visitors to the Regent Hotel. Hokey Pokey is a fun, and delicately written weird little novel that you'll either love, or you'll hate.
February 27, 2023
Dr Nora Dickinson is on a mission. She has followed famous opera singer Berenice Oxbow to an upmarket hotel in Birmingham, hoping to discover whether the latter is up to no good. When the hotel residents are snowed in, Nora is forced to change her approach, but possessing as she does some unusual talents, she still makes progress in her quest. As the story unfolds, Nora’s history and the reasons for her interest in Berenice become clearer, and then, well just about anything can and does happen.
Fortunately, Hokey Pokey is a well written novel with strong characters, as everything else about it is unusual. In your wildest dreams you could not imagine how it might develop; entertaining, whimsical and sexy yes but grotesque and graphic at times too. A tale of coming to terms with what you are and maybe taking revenge when the opportunity presents itself, this is well worth a read, and while it’s a difficult book to review without the risk of spoilers and it drifted at the expense of maintaining the tension, I really enjoyed this, loved the possibilities in the ending, and am grateful to Netgalley UK and Head of Zeus Ltd for the opportunity to read it.
Fortunately, Hokey Pokey is a well written novel with strong characters, as everything else about it is unusual. In your wildest dreams you could not imagine how it might develop; entertaining, whimsical and sexy yes but grotesque and graphic at times too. A tale of coming to terms with what you are and maybe taking revenge when the opportunity presents itself, this is well worth a read, and while it’s a difficult book to review without the risk of spoilers and it drifted at the expense of maintaining the tension, I really enjoyed this, loved the possibilities in the ending, and am grateful to Netgalley UK and Head of Zeus Ltd for the opportunity to read it.
June 8, 2023
Firstly, let me say that this is not my kind of read. I completely missed the 'horror' part in the description which is solely down to me.
As befitting the roaring twenties, Birmingham's Regent Hotel is rather opulent; just the kind of place to sip evening cocktails. Nora Dickinson has booked in, but under a pseudonym which is completely unlike her, but she's on a mission. secretly shadowing a famous opera singer. When a snow storm confines everyone to the hotel and isolates them from the outside world, Nora's grip on reality loosens and darkness descends.
Now, this wasn't one for me at all, and I take full responsibility for choosing it. Having said that, I didn't realise until some way through and started off full of enthusiasm. What I think was the 'horror' part of the book didn't bother me too much but I really struggled to stay with the story. I had to force myself to keep reading and it didn't really do anything for me - in fact, I reached the end with a feeling of relief. While it wasn't for me, I couldn't fault the author's succinct writing and so I'll give this one 3*.
As befitting the roaring twenties, Birmingham's Regent Hotel is rather opulent; just the kind of place to sip evening cocktails. Nora Dickinson has booked in, but under a pseudonym which is completely unlike her, but she's on a mission. secretly shadowing a famous opera singer. When a snow storm confines everyone to the hotel and isolates them from the outside world, Nora's grip on reality loosens and darkness descends.
Now, this wasn't one for me at all, and I take full responsibility for choosing it. Having said that, I didn't realise until some way through and started off full of enthusiasm. What I think was the 'horror' part of the book didn't bother me too much but I really struggled to stay with the story. I had to force myself to keep reading and it didn't really do anything for me - in fact, I reached the end with a feeling of relief. While it wasn't for me, I couldn't fault the author's succinct writing and so I'll give this one 3*.
May 1, 2023
2.0
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in return for an honest review.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start with this one.
It was definitely not the book I was expecting to read when I requested this book. I expected a, closed-room, Agatha Christie-like cosy crime book. This was not that. Far from it actually and I think the book would benefit from a change in publicity.
The writing became comfortable to me (a non-native speaker) after reading for a bit, but I definitely sometimes still got lost in the lengthy descriptions of places and people. The introduction of the book felt all together too long for me, as I almost gave up reading. In the end, the way the story is set up works really well, but while reading it made for a very confusing experience.
Again, I think this book would definitely benefit from a change in description. This book will definitely appeal to a lot of readers, but it was a miss for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in return for an honest review.
Honestly, I don't even know where to start with this one.
It was definitely not the book I was expecting to read when I requested this book. I expected a, closed-room, Agatha Christie-like cosy crime book. This was not that. Far from it actually and I think the book would benefit from a change in publicity.
The writing became comfortable to me (a non-native speaker) after reading for a bit, but I definitely sometimes still got lost in the lengthy descriptions of places and people. The introduction of the book felt all together too long for me, as I almost gave up reading. In the end, the way the story is set up works really well, but while reading it made for a very confusing experience.
Again, I think this book would definitely benefit from a change in description. This book will definitely appeal to a lot of readers, but it was a miss for me.
March 25, 2023
Hokey Pokey has established Kate Mascarenhas as an auto-buy author for me. I have really enjoyed all her books so far, if enjoyed is the word for something so disturbing and addictive.
Stepping into The Regent is stepping into a world that is both dazzling and hazy, understated and dark.
Nora is a psychoanalyst, who has followed her friends wife from Zurich to England, in an attempt to discover her affair. But when a snowstorm traps everyone from travel, and disappearances and murders begin, you find a lot more to this story than a 20s murder mystery.
This book had me questioning whether the psychological side of this story was more disturbing than the Brothers Grimm style violence, and had me gripped from start to finish.
P.S. Thanks Netgalley for my e arc.
Stepping into The Regent is stepping into a world that is both dazzling and hazy, understated and dark.
Nora is a psychoanalyst, who has followed her friends wife from Zurich to England, in an attempt to discover her affair. But when a snowstorm traps everyone from travel, and disappearances and murders begin, you find a lot more to this story than a 20s murder mystery.
This book had me questioning whether the psychological side of this story was more disturbing than the Brothers Grimm style violence, and had me gripped from start to finish.
P.S. Thanks Netgalley for my e arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2023
I was a bit disappointed with this I’m afraid. Reading the synopsis I was rather expecting a murder mystery, what we actually get is more of a supernatural horror.
While it is well written, for me it gets rather bogged down with long descriptive passages. I don’t know if this meant that my mind wandered, but in places I felt that I must have missed parts of the plot as I’ve been left scratching my head in places.
Not for me, I’m sorry.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While it is well written, for me it gets rather bogged down with long descriptive passages. I don’t know if this meant that my mind wandered, but in places I felt that I must have missed parts of the plot as I’ve been left scratching my head in places.
Not for me, I’m sorry.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2023
This wasn't what I was expecting from reading the blurb, I was anticipating a thriller/murder mystery but what I got was a supernatural horror book (think shape shifters/vampires), which is great as I love that genre! but maybe the description could be clearer. This book is bizzare in the best way, I thought it was utterly unique and I fell in love with the characters, the prose was beautiful and I 100% want to read more by this author! Thankyou so much to netgalley for the eARC
January 16, 2025
'Hokey Pokey' van Kate Mascarenhas neemt je mee naar het Regent Hotel in 1929, een art-decojuweel waarin luxe en duisternis samenkomen. Wanneer een sneeuwstorm het hotel afsluit van de buitenwereld, raken de gasten – en hun geheimen – gevangen in een claustrofobische setting. Terwijl de realiteit vervaagt en magisch realisme binnensluipt, houdt psychoanalytica Nora Dickinson haar blik strak gericht op operazangeres Berenice Oxbow. Langzaamaan ontrafelt ze mysteries die haar eigen onzekerheden en verleden weerspiegelen.
Het verhaal begint traag als een elegante eerder onopvallende mysterieroman. Dit boek vraagt geduld, maar onthult voor de vastberaden lezer net op tijd zijn bijzondere kant. Zodra het magisch realisme binnensluipt, krijgt het plot een intrigerend twist die je bij de les houdt.
Wanneer je die schok kan verteren en de genreswitch omarmt, dan sleept het verhaal je moeiteloos mee naar het einde. De originaliteit uit het midden van het boek, eindigt helaas simplistisch en voorspelbaar. Een spannend decor verdient een sterker slotakkoord.
Mascarenhas weet sfeer te scheppen, dat zeker. Haar beschrijvingen en dialogen zijn stijlvol en elegant, alsof je zelf op een fluwelen bank zit met een absintcocktail in je hand. Maar het boek hinkt tussen intrige en teleurstelling. Voor wie houdt van unieke settings en een vleugje magie, is dit een boeiende, zij het geen onvergetelijke, reis.
★★★☆☆
Het verhaal begint traag als een elegante eerder onopvallende mysterieroman. Dit boek vraagt geduld, maar onthult voor de vastberaden lezer net op tijd zijn bijzondere kant. Zodra het magisch realisme binnensluipt, krijgt het plot een intrigerend twist die je bij de les houdt.
Wanneer je die schok kan verteren en de genreswitch omarmt, dan sleept het verhaal je moeiteloos mee naar het einde. De originaliteit uit het midden van het boek, eindigt helaas simplistisch en voorspelbaar. Een spannend decor verdient een sterker slotakkoord.
Mascarenhas weet sfeer te scheppen, dat zeker. Haar beschrijvingen en dialogen zijn stijlvol en elegant, alsof je zelf op een fluwelen bank zit met een absintcocktail in je hand. Maar het boek hinkt tussen intrige en teleurstelling. Voor wie houdt van unieke settings en een vleugje magie, is dit een boeiende, zij het geen onvergetelijke, reis.
★★★☆☆
February 8, 2024
A bit of a come down from The Psychology of Time Travel but still an intriguing and nuanced plot.
Hokey Pokey is set in 1929 Birmingham at the fictional Regent hotel where psychoanalyst Dr Nora Dickinson is spying on a former lover's wife, the debauched opera singer Berenice Oxbow. It is Nora's motive for doing this that drives the story, a desire to experience more of Berenice so that she may mimic her better. At first their relationship is adversarial but soon enough the two women bond in a way neither expected.
The first half of this book is distinctly a thriller but, around the halfway mark, horror and dark fantasy intervene. While I appreciate this genre blend in theory, in practice I felt it led to a weak midsection. The transition from psychosexual drama to something with more teeth and blood took too long for me and never really peaked. The violence and suspense was just as understated as the characterisation, probably because those who discovered it were dispassionate and quick to tidy up. If other narrators had to be introduced, I think it would have helped to hear from normal people who would first and foremost be panicked by brutal murders happening in a sophisticated establishment.
That being said Mascarenhas writes some beautiful description and fascinating character dynamics, and then introduces a perfectly symbolic type of monster into the narrative. If only we could have seen more of the pandemonium it caused rather than the minor inconveniences and slow burn epiphanies.
I recommend Hokey Pokey to anyone who is drawn to bad love and personality disorders in a vintage setting.
Hokey Pokey is set in 1929 Birmingham at the fictional Regent hotel where psychoanalyst Dr Nora Dickinson is spying on a former lover's wife, the debauched opera singer Berenice Oxbow. It is Nora's motive for doing this that drives the story, a desire to experience more of Berenice so that she may mimic her better. At first their relationship is adversarial but soon enough the two women bond in a way neither expected.
The first half of this book is distinctly a thriller but, around the halfway mark, horror and dark fantasy intervene. While I appreciate this genre blend in theory, in practice I felt it led to a weak midsection. The transition from psychosexual drama to something with more teeth and blood took too long for me and never really peaked. The violence and suspense was just as understated as the characterisation, probably because those who discovered it were dispassionate and quick to tidy up. If other narrators had to be introduced, I think it would have helped to hear from normal people who would first and foremost be panicked by brutal murders happening in a sophisticated establishment.
That being said Mascarenhas writes some beautiful description and fascinating character dynamics, and then introduces a perfectly symbolic type of monster into the narrative. If only we could have seen more of the pandemonium it caused rather than the minor inconveniences and slow burn epiphanies.
I recommend Hokey Pokey to anyone who is drawn to bad love and personality disorders in a vintage setting.
December 20, 2023
3.5 / 5 stars!
A bizarre but entertaining read!
The story starts off as a detective with our main character Nora (who is very difficult to like, but I also didn't feel like that was something the book really wanted us to do anyway) shadowing the wife of her (former?) lover to see if she's cheating. Murder and supernatural elements quickly occur, leading the book to suddenly switch tracks and balancing precariously on the edge of going too far, but I thought it just managed to work.
I liked how the slow increase of the supernatural elements makes you wonder whether any of it is actually real, or whether Nora is just slowly becoming crazy / something else is happening. The division in separate parts does help the cohesion of the book and I actually thought it was really well done.
The downside was that it was all a bit much within one ca. 300 page book, and especially the ending seems a bit rushed. I also would have liked more time in the 'now' setting (1929 Birmingham) with Nora after she's made the 'supernatural discovery'. In general, the main characters are interesting and worked out pretty well, but they are not likeable in any way and they feel difficult to empathise with, which isn't a bad thing per se, but it does resist immersion in the story.
A bizarre but entertaining read!
The story starts off as a detective with our main character Nora (who is very difficult to like, but I also didn't feel like that was something the book really wanted us to do anyway) shadowing the wife of her (former?) lover to see if she's cheating. Murder and supernatural elements quickly occur, leading the book to suddenly switch tracks and balancing precariously on the edge of going too far, but I thought it just managed to work.
I liked how the slow increase of the supernatural elements makes you wonder whether any of it is actually real, or whether Nora is just slowly becoming crazy / something else is happening. The division in separate parts does help the cohesion of the book and I actually thought it was really well done.
The downside was that it was all a bit much within one ca. 300 page book, and especially the ending seems a bit rushed. I also would have liked more time in the 'now' setting (1929 Birmingham) with Nora after she's made the 'supernatural discovery'. In general, the main characters are interesting and worked out pretty well, but they are not likeable in any way and they feel difficult to empathise with, which isn't a bad thing per se, but it does resist immersion in the story.
August 18, 2024
Dit boek las lekker weg, met de ene plottwist na de andere. Personages waren niet heel erg uitgediept en het einde was een beetje teleurstellend. 3.5 ⭐️ (afgerond naar 4 omdat het wel plezierig was).
February 8, 2024
This book was unexpectedly grisly! I expected a 1920’s murder mystery, but instead got dismemberment and cannibalism! Gruesome!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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