This is the US cover
This is the cover here in Australia
Do you have a nostalgic memory of reading Agatha Christie murder mysteries? Would you like to introduce this genre to your young reading companion aged 10+? Then this might be the book for you.
It contains:
- A orphan whose father has disappeared in mysterious circumstances
- A murder in a locked room - it all seems impossible
- A cast of disparate characters - all of them could be the murderer and all of them have fantastic names such as Dr Torpor Thallomius; Professor Penelope Papperspook; Gloria Troutbean; Darinder Dunster-Dunstable; Angelique Squerr; Gregorian Kingfisher; and Count Boldo Marred - thank you to the author for including this list at the beginning of the book - very helpful.
- Poisoning
- Seth, the young innocent boy accused of the murder - has he been framed and if who did this and why?
- A spooky setting in an old hotel located in a remote place near a spooky forest
- Unfairness in the form of the hotel owners who treat young Seth like a slave and even worse their dreadful daughter who enjoys meting out her cruelty
- An attic bedroom
- A wise cat
- A bumbling detective - Inspector Pewter
- The hotel oozes magic and there are other hints such as the talking cat and the mirror in Seth's room that seems to show more than just his reflection
I didn't devour this book in the way I expected. The ending is quite complicated and at times the way the plot kept being repeated was a little distracting. Also as other reviewers have said, it was very clear early on (spoiler alert) that Seth himself had magical ability even though he had no idea. I picked up this book at a charity book sale for just AUS$3.
Publisher blurb: Seth is the downtrodden kitchen boy at the remote Last Chance Hotel, owned by the nasty Bunn family. His only friend is his black cat, Nightshade. But when a strange gathering of magicians arrives for dinner, kindly Dr Thallomius is poisoned by Seth’s special dessert. A locked-room murder investigation ensues – and Seth is the main suspect. The funny thing is, he’s innocent … can he solve the mystery and clear his name, especially when magic’s afoot?
... a nifty, magical spin on the classic locked-room mystery. Kirkus
If you enjoy stories set in old hotel these might be better choices:
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