By Ruth Lauren (author) , Federica Iossa (illustrator)
"This classic Cluedo-esque whodunnit rings with magic, riddles and a race-against-time to solve a murder."
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Melding magic and mystery with a luxury hotel setting, Ruth Lauren’s Murder at Hotel Marvelo is a marvel of middle grade fiction. Excellently-pitched for 7+-year-olds who love magic, and readers who relish the challenge of figuring out clues alongside characters, themes of courage, trust, teamwork and sibling solidarity play out through a twisting plot, with Federica Frenna’s illustrations enhancing the story’s page-turning appeal, especially the clever Cluedo-esque plans of the hotel.
“Leave your spell book at home and relax at Hotel Marvelo”. Such is the tempting motto of a splendid establishment that’s been run by the Marvelo family for generations. “Renowned for providing a temporary escape from the magical world”, and for offering the likes of wizards, witches and water sprites the “chance to relax and detox”, magic is banned within the hotel’s handsome walls.
As a result, big questions are raised when a wizard is found murdered “by diabolical and magical means” in the hotel’s spa. It’s not long before Detective Bianco comes to the conclusion that the hotel’s proprietors are responsible for this dreadful deed, and so it falls to Finnian Marvelo and his two siblings to find the real killer so their parents can be freed.
While the novel’s fast-paced, clue-strewn plot and fun sense of magical mayhem amounts to a thrilling detective adventure, Murder at Hotel Marvelo is also notable for its representation of family dynamics, neurodiversity, and teamwork, and comes especially recommended for confident readers who love playing a part in character-driven mysteries.
Welcome to Hotel Marvelo - a luxury retreat for magic-makers!
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Hotel Marvelo is famous for allowing all magical beings a place to relax, rest and recover in safety. Until, that is, the wizard Henry Gravelaxe, is discovered dead in the spa. But who is the murderer?
As soon as his parents are blamed, Finnian Marvelo knows that he must do everything he can to clear their names. Together with his siblings Juniper and Teddy, Finnian sets about using his exhaustive knowledge of the hotel to interview the guests and hunt for clues to reveal the truth.
But it soon becomes clear that not even Finnian knew everything there is to know about the hotel - and more than one of their guests is hiding something.
Could the murderer be: Miss Romunculus, the alchemist? Gruffydd, the water sprite? Cornelius Ashwand, the sorceror?
To make matters even harder, their new guardian Mrs Weatherly, is determined that they should stop investigating and focus on their studies. But with the clock ticking, the pressure is on to solve the murder before time runs out!
'A cosy whodunnit set in a magical hotel' The Times Children's Book of the Week (21 March 2026) 'The most bewitching murder mystery I've ever read!' SOPHIE ANDERSON, author of The House with Chicken Legs
Ruth Lauren has been a teacher and worked in lots of different offices, but she likes writing best, as well as walking in the woods, cheese, orchids, going to the movies, and reading as many books as she can. She is the author of Prisoner of Ice and Snow and its sequel Seeker of the Crown and currently lives in a Victorian house in the West Midlands in England with her partner and a lot of children and cats.
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Welcome to Hotel Marvelo - a luxury retreat for magic-makers!Hotel Marvelo is famous for allowing all magical beings a place to relax, rest and recover in safety. Until, that is, the wizard Henry Gravelaxe, is discovered dead in the spa.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Murder at Hotel Marvelo and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-10 years old
Murder at Hotel Marvelo features in the following genres: Featured Books for 7+ readers, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Crime & Mystery, Fantasy / Magical, Romance / Relationship Stories, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Friendship stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Murder at Hotel Marvelo was written by Ruth Lauren and published by Piccadilly Press an imprint of Bonnier Books UK
Murder at Hotel Marvelo has 255 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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