The writer and journalist Ron Base discusses his latest novel Midnight at the Savoy: A Priscilla Tempest Mystery, Book 5 (Douglas & McIntyre, 2026), with Joseph Planta.
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Midnight at the Savoy: A Priscilla Tempest Mystery, Book 5 by Ron Base (Douglas & McIntyre, 2026).
Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Midnight at the Savoy [1] |
Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.
Ron Base joins me again. He’s got a new book out, Midnight at the Savoy: A Priscilla Tempest Mystery, Book 5. It follows the fun and fascinating Priscilla Tempest and her swinging life in 1960s London. England that is. Her day job is running the press office at the famed Savoy Hotel. This puts her in contact with all sorts of celebrities and powerful people. This book features the infamously difficult Rex Harrison, and the legendary Marlene Dietrich, who was as seductive with Priscilla as we read in the book. We meet Priscilla’s sister Pheobe, who comes from Toronto for a visit, and more. There’s a murder at the beginning of the book, and Priscilla goes to the top of the suspect list. And as Priscilla goes about clearing her name, she enlists the help of Agatha Christie, who happens to be staying at the hotel. Ron started this series with the late Prudence Emery, who herself worked at the Savoy, and later became a unit publicist for various film and television productions. She inspired the character of Priscilla Tempest, and as Ron says, she was very much on his mind as he wrote this new book. Like the gal herself, the books are fun and fascinating, and they’re solid mysteries that come alive with these appearances of notable names. And that Priscilla is Canadian provides a unique insight in how the British are viewed, and how they view those who are American and Canadian. Ron Base is a former newspaper and magazine journalist and movie critic. His works include twenty novels, two novellas, and four nonfiction books. He’s written screenplays and worked with legendary filmmakers such as John Boorman and Roland Joffe. He divides his time between Milton, Ontario, where I reached him last Sunday, and Fort Myers, Florida. Visit www.ronbasebooks.com [2] for more. This new book is published by Douglas & McIntyre. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Rob Base; Mr. Base, good morning.
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