Monsieur Ren - Peter Ustinov

This is a delightful novel about a 70-year-old retired hotelier, Monsieur Rene, who is President of the International Brotherhood of Concierges and Hall Porters. Despite a sharp and active mind Monsieur Rene is suffering from late life depression so he decides to bring together a group of like-minded hoteliers to monitor suspicious-acting hotel guests. M. Rene then falls helplessly in love with Agnes, one of his fellow hoteliers and gradually he discovers a new purpose in life. This novel wonderfully combines a detective story with a moving evocation of falling in love when you no longer think it is possible.