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Neil Double is a 'conference surrogate,' hired by his clients to attend industry conferences so that they don't have to. It's a life of budget travel, cheap suits, and out-of-town exhibition centers. But his latest job, at a conference of conference organizers, will radically transform him and everything he believes as it unexpectedly draws him into a bizarre and speculative mystery. In a brand new Way Inn - a global chain of identikit mid-budget motels - he meets a woman he has seen before in strange and unsettling circumstances. But before Neil can learn more, she vanishes. Intrigued, he tries to find her - a search that will lead him down the rabbit hole, into an eerily familiar place where he will discover a disturbing secret about the Way Inn.
A professional conference surrogate finds his mundane existence upended when he encounters a mysterious woman at a global motel chain, pulling him into a surreal and unsettling conspiracy. Neil Double navigates a life defined by corporate anonymity and budget travel, serving as a stand-in for clients at industry events. His latest assignment at a conference of conference organizers forces him to confront the uncanny architecture and hidden agendas of the Way Inn chain. The narrative follows his descent into a labyrinthine mystery where the physical environment itself seems to shift and conspire against his perception of reality.
Critics and readers alike have lauded the novel for its sharp, satirical take on modern corporate life and the unsettling nature of globalized spaces. Many reviewers highlight the author's ability to blend dark humor with a creeping sense of dread that feels grounded in our current reality. The work is frequently compared to the tradition of J.G. Ballard, noted for its focus on the psychological impact of the built environment. Readers appreciate the cleverness of the central conceit, which transforms the familiar experience of a budget hotel into a site of genuine mystery and existential unease.
Page Count:
352
Publication Date:
2014-06-05
Publisher:
Fourth Estate Ltd
ISBN-10:
0007545541
ISBN-13:
9780007545544
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