From the bestselling author of The Housekeepers comes a glossy, dark, page-turning mystery to rival The White Lotus – unfolding over twenty-four fateful hours in London’s most lavish hotel. 1923. Diana Gold, owner and impresario, throws open the doors to the most opulent new hotel in London. As the champagne flows and the chandeliers shimmer, millionaires and gamblers rub shoulders with film stars and royalty. Everyone who’s anyone is here. Everyone, that is, except two guests due at midnight. Powerful and dangerous, they’ve dragged Diana from the gutter and taught her all she knows. Her fate rests in their hands. If everything goes right, a whole new life awaits. One mistake will cost her everything. For this is much more than a hotel – it’s the heart of Diana’s intricate masterplan. Over twenty-four fateful hours, her guests will learn why they’re really here. And Diana will take perfect care of them – unless they take care of her first. But when a body is found in the depths of the hotel, Diana’s lavish opening night suddenly spirals out of control. . . Praise for Alex Hay: ‘Sets a cracking pace… with plenty of twists and a great deal of fun, this is the perfect holiday read’ Guardian ‘Sheer delight from start to finish’ J anice Hallett ‘Delightfully mischievous’ The Times ‘Audacious, cunning, quick-witted’ Louise Candlish ‘Fiendishly clever’ Jennie Godfrey ‘A dangerous game… delivered with fabulous aplomb’ Daily Mail ‘A period piece, a full-throttle thriller and a masterclass in characterisation’ Erin Kelly