'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