Seth is the oppressed kitchen boy at the remote Last Chance Hotel. But when a strange gathering of magicians arrives for dinner, their leader is poisoned. A locked-room murder investigation ensues - and Seth is the main suspect. Can he solve the mystery and clear his name, especially when magic's afoot?



Harry Potter meets Robin Stevens in this thrilling magical murder mystery! 'This mystery is a worthy prizewinner ... a jolly, atmospheric mystery.' THE TIMES 'Thornton, like [Agatha] Christie, can turn murder into a thoroughly comforting bedtime read.' THE TELEGRAPH 'All kinds of fun' THE OBSERVER 'Featuring magical antics, a talking cat and a locked-room murder mystery, Seth's story reads like an old-school whodunnit with added wizards and spells and echoes of ancient sorcery.' BOOKTRUST 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 magical locked-room murder mystery: Agatha Christie meets Harry Potter! Readers aged 9+ will love guessing whodunnit with the novel’s fantastic ensemble cast The Seth Seppi Mysteries continue in book 2, The Bad Luck Lighthouse, and book 3, The Cut-Throat Café Nightshade the cat becomes the star of her very own adventure in the first book Nicki Thornton's new series, The Howling Hag Mystery! MORE PRAISE FOR THE LAST CHANCE HOTEL: 'Wonderfully atmospheric' DAILY EXPRESS 'A magical blend of murder and mystery for super-sleuthing fans everywhere.' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'There are plenty of surprises and some shocks in store as this intriguing story develops, drawing the reader in and stirring their detective juices' PRIMARY TIMES 'If you like whodunnits, you’ll enjoy this mystery, inspired by Agatha Christie and Enid Blyton, but set in a magical world. Entertaining and inventive' THE WEEK JUNIOR