The Last Chance Hotel

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 Agatha Christie in this bestselling magical
murder mystery!

Seth is the oppressed 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?

'This mystery is
a worthy prizewinner ... a jolly, atmospheric mystery.'THETIMES

'Thornton,
like [Agatha] Christie, can turn
murder into a thoroughly comforting bedtime read.' THE TELEGRAPH

'...
all kinds of fun: a locked-room murder
mystery paced breathlessly, but fruited with humour, poignancy and
great character names' THE OBSERVER

'[A] mash-up
of murder mystery and fantasy that celebrates food and cooking,
and is full of great characters, plot twists and intriguingdetail.'
METRO

'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