Book Review: HOTEL MELIKOV by Jonathan Payne

HOTEL MELIKOV is one of those rare books that manages to be genuinely funny while also telling a smart, tightly plotted story. Jonathan Payne leans hard into satire here, and it absolutely works. If you enjoy political absurdity, dry wit, and a main character who is way in over his head, this book is a blast.

HOTEL MELIKOV by Jonathan Payne

The novel follows Citizen Orlov, a former fishmonger who has somehow become the Minister of Security in a fictional Central European country on the brink of chaos. Orlov is not a suave spy or a master strategist—he’s an ordinary guy who would very much like to stop being involved in coups, revolutions, and secret plots. That disconnect between Orlov’s intentions and the increasingly ridiculous situations he finds himself in is where most of the humor comes from, and it lands again and again.

Payne has a great sense of comedic timing. Scenes escalate quickly, misunderstandings pile up, and the logic of politics is pushed just far enough that it becomes laugh-out-loud absurd. One moment you’re watching officials disguise themselves as nuns, and the next you’re wondering how the situation got so unhinged so fast. The humor is dry, sometimes understated, and often sneaks up on you mid-sentence, which makes it even funnier.

What really sells the comedy, though, is Orlov himself. He’s deeply relatable in his confusion and quiet frustration, and his internal commentary adds an extra layer of amusement. He’s not trying to be heroic; he’s just trying to survive, keep his conscience intact, and maybe go back to selling fish someday. That everyman quality makes the satire feel warmer and less cynical, even when it’s poking fun at power, corruption, and bureaucracy.

Despite all the humor, HOTEL MELIKOV never feels sloppy. The plot is surprisingly sharp, with plenty of twists to keep things moving. The jokes don’t come at the expense of momentum, and the book balances comedy and suspense better than you might expect. It’s the kind of novel where you’re laughing on one page and genuinely curious about what’s going to happen next on the following one.

Overall, HOTEL MELIKOV is a smart, funny, and highly entertaining read. It’s perfect for readers who like their thrillers a little weird, their politics skewered, and their humor dry and absurd. Jonathan Payne clearly knows how to have fun with his story—and that fun is contagious.