Disillusioned by the ailing state of Britain and with no 'baggage', old Toby Hope decides to seek a retirement venue overseas. He chooses the Land of Smiles for its sunshine, ease of immigration and low cost of living. His lengthy research finds a seemingly ideal retirement resort in Hua Hin, a thriving seaside town three hours south of Bangkok, Thailand, and he books a trial stay in `Lotus Rest'. Its CEO, Peter Shares, makes the whole retirement concept highly attractive by offering condo-cum-hotel style facilities catering to every need, and Toby is instantly enamoured of the lush tropical gardens, swimming pools, free beverages and parties. But he quickly realises he is one of few English folk there amongst all the Germans and Swiss, and probably being the youngest, he wonders just how he will fill his days, until he meets Eve, an old lady from Belgium with similar concerns. Their unlikely friendship soon realises all is not well in this palling paradise of deceit and creative accountancy. Residents are wilfully overcharged and poorly treated by a company deep in debt from trying to expand too quickly into other similar projects elsewhere. Lotus Rest suddenly receives much adverse publicity from various 'incidents', which is when the Russians decide to move in and 'help out' with its financial problems. Toby and Eve inadvertently find themselves in the centre of a huge corruption scandal and they start to fear for their very lives when they try to expose it...

About the Author: Derek Trueman is a retired teacher and examiner who has worked and travelled around the world. His affection for Thailand is based on the many holidays he took there whilst living in Singapore. 'Lotus Rest' is his fourth novel, and although dramatically heightened in places for this work of fiction, Toby Hope's experiences and lifestyle are grounded in perceived reality, as Derek is indeed presently living the retirement dream in The Land of Smiles.

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: White Falcon Publishing; 1 edition (October 2024)
• Author: Derek Trueman
• ISBN-13: 9798892224383
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inch

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