The Last Chance Hotel - Seth Seppi Mystery 1 (Paperback)

Waterstones Children's Book of the Month for October 2018

In the kitchen of the Last Chance Hotel the loudest sound you were usually likely to hear was the gentle bubble of a lone egg coming to the boil. But today, the air was alive with yells from Henri Mould, the balding head chef, bent double with old age, barking out orders as he hobbled around the kitchen.

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?

Nicki Thornton’s debut fuses magic and whodunit together in an exuberant and wickedly funny mystery for 9 to 12-year-olds. Aspirant chef Seth is the downtrodden kitchen boy for The Last Chance Hotel, an unusual guest house for very unusual guests. Wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Seth - with the help of Nightshade, the kitchen cat - sets about proving his innocence. A wild imagination, fabulous cast and a plot Agatha Christie would be proud of make for one of the year’s must-reads for children.