Murder at Hotel Marvelo – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Magic, family, mystery, secrets, deception.
Children’s book title: Murder at Hotel Marvelo.
Children’s author: Ruth Lauren.
Children’s illustrator: Federica Frenna.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Piccadilly Press.
ISBN: 9781835870440.
Recommended for children aged: 8-12.
First published: Paperback March 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: reading either as a class or individually.
To see the latest price or order, click on the book cover image. As an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Our review:
Finnian Marvelo has his life all planned out – as the eldest child he will eventually take over the running of the Hotel Marvelo, a place where the guests can recharge their batteries in a relaxing environment, where magic is forbidden but pampering definitely isn’t! When a guest is found dead in the spa, the family is horrified, but things get far worse for Finnian and his two sisters, Juniper and Teddy, when their parents are arrested.
Determined to bring Caspian and Ida home before they are banished from the magical world forever, the children know they have to investigate everything themselves. Unfortunately, they have a newly appointed and unpleasant guardian to avoid as they question guests and discover secrets the hotel has kept to itself since it first opened its doors. Gradually, the three siblings begin to piece things together, but time is running out. Can they convince Detective Bianco, the police magicide detective-in-charge, that all the clues they have discovered prove their parents didn’t kill anyone?
Our verdict:
Murder at Hotel Marvelo is a fun read, with three main protagonists who complement each other and a cast of magical creatures who are one of the highlights of this book. It also has engaging illustrations throughout, which definitely enhance the reading experience.
Finnian has been brought up to be a people-pleaser, which is a prerequisite in the running of a successful hotel retreat, while Juniper speaks or acts first and thinks later! The youngest sister, Teddy, is very possibly autistic, but this isn’t actually confirmed, and, although she is non-verbal, she knows things about the hotel neither of her siblings has any idea about. She often wanders off on her own to help Finnian and Juniper discover the secrets they need to free their parents. The children are half-siblings, but again, this is not a subject for discussion and is only mentioned in passing. Everything in this book, from the things many children accept as normal to the mythological guests, is delivered as if it needs no explanation, which works very well. Written from Finnian’s POV, his struggle with having to question guests rather than providing them with impeccable service and nothing else is well explained, as is his surprise that he can actually do so.
This is the first in a new series and has a hint about their next investigation at the end of the story.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- How difficult would it be to live in a hotel? Do you think having to be on your best behaviour in front of guests all the time would be hard?
- There are both a map and a plan of the hotel at the front of the book. How much did they help your imagination as you read the book?
- In a cross-curricular activity with art, design a poster appealing for information about the magicide of Wizard Henry Gravelaxe. What is the most important information to put on your poster?
- There is just a hint of the children’s next investigation at the end of the book. Does this make you want to carry on with this series?
- Some of the creatures have rooms which are specific to their needs. Which one would you like to stay in?
Many thanks to Piccadilly Press for the review copy.
To order a class set of this book, please click below to order via uk.bookshop.org, an organisation that supports local bookshops, or Amazon.co.uk.
Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Browse our Year 5 reading list.
