Murder at the Hotel Orient
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected 30 Apr 2026
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- £9.99
Publisher Description
'A clever and satisfying thriller in a wonderfully decadent setting. Sterling Lockwood is an unforgettable heroine' Elly Griffiths, author of The Frozen People
'Sultry, sinister and smart. Sterling Lockwood is going to steal your heart - just don't trust her with it' Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
In modern Vienna, the infamous Hotel Orient glitters at the heart of the city, luring lovers inside for an evening of debauchery. Behind its velvet curtain, cameras are forbidden, aliases are required, and every guest has something to hide.
For those seeking illicit liaisons, Sterling Lockwood is the perfect concierge. Sultry and poised, she's the ultimate keeper of secrets, including her own.
But when dawn breaks and two of the anonymous guests are found dead in their suite, Sterling must break the Orient's sacred code of discretion, turning detective to find a killer and clear her own name.
Alongside Fernando, her quick-witted friend and bellhop, Sterling steps beyond the hotel's stained-glass doors, venturing from grand coffee houses where power whispers between porcelain cups, to dimly lit bars where the curious seek rapturous oblivion, and risking everything to solve an impossible case.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Ranelli debuts with an intriguing if messy mystery centered on American concierge Sterling Lockwood, who works at Vienna's notorious Hotel Orient, a well-known location for illicit affairs between wealthy men and sex workers from a nearby brothel. Since all guests use aliases, and no cameras or mobile phones are allowed on the premises, Sterling's job primarily consists of protecting the identities and private matters of the hotel's transitory residents. She adores the anonymity the job provides, owing in part to her own shady past. One night, however, two guests are found murdered in their room after a particularly chaotic evening, and police arrive on the premises. Aided by Fernando, a budding actor and faithful bellhop, Sterling investigates the deaths, hoping to solve the case before the police can dig too deeply into her affairs or those of the Orient's regular clients. The story gets off to a slow start, and Ranelli's insistent focus on the Orient's salacious sexcapades can feel gratuitous. Eventually, however, her large cast of colorful characters and convincing evocation of the setting win out. Readers who stick with the program will be rewarded.
