The Midnight Guests: A grand hotel is opening. Beware who checks in...

by Alex Hay

Welcome to the Hotel Artemis - and an opening night to remember. The White Lotus meets Peaky Blinders in this page-turning new mystery from the bestselling author of The Housekeepers.

'Wildly entertaining, twisty, and elegant (with a modern twist)... Alex Hay is a rare talent' WILL DEAN
'The bold, brash and unashamedly devious women are pure delight' JESSICA BULL
'A mystery that resonates down the decades... and twists that just keep coming' KRISTIN PERRIN

1926. 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.

Yet nothing at the Hotel Artemis is quite what it seems - not least two infamous guests who Diana expects at midnight. Powerful and dangerous, they've dragged her from the gutter and taught her all she knows. Now they're calling in her debt - and Diana must take perfect care of them, unless they take care of her first.

But when a body is found in the hotel's finest suite, the lavish opening night begins to spiral out of control. And over twenty-four fateful hours, the staff and guests of the Artemis will find out why they are really there.

Praise for Alex

'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' Janice 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

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

Audible Audio

Expected publication September 10, 2026

Reviews

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An original read from Alex Hayes. I was immediately drawn into the 1920’s world of Hotel Artemis & its Art Deco decor - and intrigued by Diana Gold & the varied clientele she had selected for her important ‘house party’. The present day sections following Joe uncovering the mysteries his grandmother had left behind were equally intriguing & I was trying to fathom out how the two worlds would fit together.

The ‘twist’ at 50% was skilfully executed & a real surprise- the highlight of the book for me. As the second half unfolded I felt it became a harder read- a bit too wordy with so many dead ends. The untied loose ends regarding who was controlling who do add an air of mystery & I was pleased to discover the link between past and present but I was otherwise left feeling a little confused & therefore slightly disappointed. Overall an interesting one with the hotel itself in a staring role.

Many thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Annette Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay is a wonderful mystery set in a luxurious hotel in 1920's London.
Diana Gold is hosting a grand opening for her beloved Hotel Artemis, a luxury hotel that she hopes will become the place to stay and be seen for the elite of London society. Among the guests is Cleo Van der Meer, a young American heiress desperate to escape the expectations and strict rules of her overbearing mother, whose luxurious suite is next to that of politician Robert Fox - Stanton and his wife Polly. While on the surface everything is the height of luxury and gilded opulence behind it all Diana is on edge, like the hotel itself she has secrets and hidden depths , but also significant debts and tonight at midnight those debts fall due. While she anxiously awaits her Midnight guests, criminal bosses who taught Diana everything she knows and who now hold her fate, and her life in their hands, Diana is busy making sure her guests are experiencing the best that the hotel has to offer. For Cleo that is not just freedom to dress and behave as she wishes but also a growing attraction to both of the Fox-Stantons, something that both confuses and simultaneously delights her. As the clock strikes midnight and events come to a head a body is discovered beginning a spiral of events that will have huge consequences for everyone in the hotel.
This was a really well crafted mystery with interesting and engaging characters. I loved the setting, the author did an exceptional job of bringing the opulence and luxury of the hotel to life while also showing the hard work and attention to detail that is needed for an operation of that size. The historical setting was also really well evoked, from small details of characters appearance and dress to things like speech patterns and the mores of social class. The author does use a dual timeline narrative with a modern day author investigating the events of that fateful night, and while I can see what the author was trying to do these sections did not work as well for me, I kept wanting to go back to the twenties. The characters are really excellently developed, I love seeing so many strong and powerful female characters, especially given the time in which the book is set. They may not be likeable but they were fascinating, and I enjoyed seeing their interactions as the story unfolded with several twists and turns, I have to admit that I did feel like the last few chapters felt a little rushed in comparison to the pacing of the book overall, but that is a pretty minor gripe about a very enjoyable book
I read an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Headline Review for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I love Alex's books so far - The Housekeepers and The Queen of Fives - and have been keeping an eye out for his new one and HERE IT IS!

It's a mixture of first person (Diana) and third person (everyone else) with multiple POVs. Personally, I generally only like first person narrative in a thriller which, whilst there are elements, I wouldn't say this is. But the change in viewpoints and narrative actually worked well with this story, it gives us closer access to the important characters. There's also a change in time period going from the 1900s to the present day which I wasn't expecting.

There is a worry that when an author has been bringing out banger after banger, that their form is bound to slip and I was worried that it would be this one after the brilliance of his previous books, but alas, no. It is just as spectacular.

This felt different to his other books and I think it's because the other two were set firmly in the historical setting. Whereas this one, whilst mostly set in the historical period, it does have the 2026 chapters alongside it, and they do link, which brings it all together. So you get these conflicting but complementary timelines.

You've got goodies and baddies - and may I saw more so of the latter. Although everyone has part goodie and part baddie in them, it just depends who is interacting with them. Some are more likeable than others, even the baddies, but they all had a place in the story and were all interesting to read.

It ties you up in so many knots. I'd just figure one thing out before everything gets turned on its head. It's thrilling without being too in your face. It captures the intrigue and the glamour of the 1920s perfectly.

It doesn't require a sequel, and I'm not sure there would be scope for one. Having said that, I would love a collection of short stories, each dedicated to one of the characters' background and future life so I could live in this world a little longer.

I read it in less than 24 hours I was so hooked. I'm starting to believe that Alex will never write a book less than perfect.

[Denis Wheller · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1926, Hotel Artemis was opened by Diana Gold, who then disappeared. Was this connected to the two unknown corpses stored in the vaults? Two mysteries from 1926 which remained unsolved in 2026. The Hotel had been created to be the height of style, sophistication and modernity, a magnet for the glitterati and the crème de la crème of High Society. Diana had built up her reputation in the hospitality trade over many years and she and the Artemis were rightly recognised as the pinnacle of that world. But on the opening night, unknown to her staff and the assembled guests who fill the hotel, she is expecting two ‘guests’ who could destroy all of that, and she needs all of her knowledge and skill to save the hotel. Which she obviously did since it is still here in 2026, albeit now dilapidated and about to close forever. One of the guests on the last night is Joe, an investigative reporter, who is the grandson of one of the maids from the hotel’s early days. She has recently died and left Joe some clues to the mysteries. Can he use these clues to find evidence that will explain the two mysteries?
The story is told in the two different time lines. The events of that one night in 1926 are obviously the most important and occupy most of the book. They are mostly told from Diana’s perspective, although an entwined strand is told from that of Cleo, an apparently gamine American ingénue. The style is consistent with that sort of story in that sort of time. The events of that one night in 2026 take up less space, and read rather like following the path taken by someone who is working their way through a ‘gamebook’ (e.g. dungeons and dragons). I can see why the author handled the story this way, but I don’t think it worked as a technique. The reader does resolve the mysteries, but I don’t think Joe did. That has caused me to knock off a star so 4 becomes 3.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[Aura C · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was something so deliciously addictive about this book. Picture a glittering London hotel in the 1920s, champagne flowing, movie stars and criminals mingling beneath sparkling chandeliers, and absolutely everyone hiding secrets. The atmosphere alone was enough to pull me in, but it was the mystery layered beneath all that glamour that kept me turning pages.

Diana Gold is the kind of character I love reading about—ambitious, sharp, complicated, and willing to do whatever it takes to survive. I found myself rooting for her even when I wasn’t entirely sure I should be. The hotel itself almost felt like a character, full of hidden agendas, dangerous guests, and enough drama to fuel multiple books.

The dual timeline worked well for me and added an extra layer of intrigue. I loved uncovering how the events of the hotel’s grand opening night connected to the mysteries being investigated decades later. Every time I thought I had figured something out, another secret surfaced.

This gave me all the vibes of The White Lotus meets a 1920s murder mystery, with a dash of Knives Out energy thrown in for good measure. Wealth, power, deception, revenge, murder, and plenty of twists made this an incredibly entertaining read.

The reason this lands at four stars instead of five is that I wanted a little more from the ending. A few story threads felt slightly rushed, and I finished with some lingering questions. Even so, I flew through this book and had a hard time putting it down.

If you love historical mysteries, glamorous settings, morally gray characters, and stories packed with secrets, betrayal, and murder, this one is definitely worth checking out.

A fun, twisty, atmospheric read that kept me guessing right until the end.

[Teresa Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay
Having read The Housekeepers by the same author I was pleased to be offered a copy of this book to review. It is a wonderful mystery set in the 1920’s in a plush hotel where we focus upon the owner of the hotel, Diana Gold. She has worked in many hotels around the world and hopes that this new Hotel Artemis will be the favoured place for the rich and famous to stay. Everything is planned for a wonderful opening night but Diana Gold is on edge, something is amiss. For Diana is waiting for the guests who will arrive at midnight, the criminals to whom she is in debt.
We also meet the Fox Stantons, he is the Chancellor of the Exchequer with his eye on the prize of the top job and she is a woman used to getting her own way. Into their orbit is drawn Cleo Van der Meer and young woman keen to escape the watchful eye of her mother and keen to know Robert Fox Stanton rather better.

Alongside this story we have that of a young, out of work journalist in the present day. He is following the trail of his grandmother who has recently died but had been investigating the Hotel Artemis and the mystery discovery of two coffins in the basement.
This is a mystery peopled by interesting and engaging characters. The setting in an opulent hotel is also an important feature with the myriad of people required to keep everything running smoothy. There are some interesting characters and some strong powerful women. The sections in the present day did not work as well for me as the sections in the past. A good read which kept me engaged. My thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.

[Seriesbooklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was invited to review an eARC on Netgalley for a free and unbiased opinion (Thank you Headline Publishing)
I really enjoyed Alex Hay’s The Housekeepers, so I was looking forward to reading his next book except the tag line suggested this as rival to White Lotus ( a tv programme I really didn’t get into) but The Midnight Guests was a book I couldn’t put down till I finally finished it.
The setting is the roaring 20’s and the author’s coveys the lush, decadence of that time and the rich, privileged people who enjoyed this versus the people who are trying to make it anyway they can.
I loved Diana-,the first-person narrator- her character was fascinating and well written- as hard as nails, ruthless but also with hints of vulnerability and fear. Diana’s desperation to raise the money she owes and then her fight to survive is the heart of the story with plenty of tension.
The other narrators include Cleo, a rich young American who is drawn into the weird sexual relationship between a power couple staying at the Artemis . In the modern-day Joe, is a guest at The Artemis , the night before it closes forever trying to finish his grandmother’s story about the hotel murky past, but this untold story might actually get him killed!
The fact that the two dead bodies in coffins found in the basement isn’t the main mystery but one of the many mysteries as well as the complicated pasts, the guests at the Artemis are trying to hide makes The Midnight Guests stand apart from other similar books.
My only whinge about the book, is that the ending felt a little abrupt and I would have liked to known what happened to some of the characters.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex Hay’s ‘The Midnight Guests’ is a high-stakes thriller set in 1926 and in contemporary London. Focusing on what was once the London hotel of its day, Hay introduces plenty of shady characters who have dubious connections with Diana Gold, the hotelier everyone wants to be seen with. But would they if they knew all that she has done to rise to such dizzy heights?

The opening night at the extraordinary Hotel Artemis introduces readers to millionaires, film stars, and the criminal underworld. The tone of the writing makes it clear that when a body is found in a luxurious hotel suite, the story has more in common with “Knives Out’ than ‘The Great Gatsby’. This is entertainment above all else and no worse for being so.

Strong female characters feature throughout the novel. The author seems to suggest that the misogynistic early twentieth century means that the only way women can succeed is through ruthless behaviour and dogged determination.

Hay transports us to the here and now through Joe, an academic who is trying to finish his journalist grandmother’s research into the hotel’s nefarious past. The distinctive timelines create further tension as the reader is fed information from two different eras. There is added jeopardy as we wonder whether or not Joe will live to tell his tale.

A shame that ‘The Midnight Guests’ won’t be published until September. This will make an ideal holiday read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens with a newspaper story in the New York Times dated September 19, 1929 about two bodies found in the vaults of the Hotel Artemis. Before returning to 1st of May 1926, the opening night of the Hotel Artemis in Londons Mayfair district. The owner is Diana Gold and her closest ally and manager is Silas Vance. The historical story is told over a 24 hour period, the book largely in dual timelines and from three POVs, Diana’s in the first person and Cleo and Joe in the third. A fairly slowburn read which perfectly suits the story. I didn’t want to put it down.

Briefly, 100 years after the opening of the hotel Joe Carberry checks into the hotel on what is to be its closing night. Joe found some papers about the hotel belonging to his grandmother after her death and is planning to write a book about the hotel and the bodies discovered nearly a century earlier. In 1926 Cleo has come over from her home in America and is staying in the hotel, her last taste of freedom, before her mother insists on her knuckling down to the family business. Diana is waiting for two important guests, but less than 24 hours after the hotels opening Diana is missing.

In my head I could see an opulent art deco hotel with beautiful chandeliers and beautiful people. But behind the beautiful facade there is a much darker side. It’s a twisted and strange mystery full of manipulative characters with a healthy shot of debauchery on the side. Both timelines are good but I particularly enjoyed the historical story. A highly entertaining read.

[Antonia Chitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the first two books by Alex Hay and this third one, the Midnight Guests, was very much up to the same standard.
The book starts in 1926, and like the first two books is in a nostalgic version of London where we are deep in a glamorous criminal underworld… this time based on a hotel. However Hay takes a slightly different approach to previous books, interweaving chapters set in 2026 with the historic ones. At first I wasn’t sure about this… did I really want to be taken out of the world of 1926 and faced with the somewhat stereotypical historian/researcher delving into a family mystery? But by the end of the book Hay had convinced me that this device did add to the story. In the final chapters he cleverly unpacks all the subtle links that he has built
I also enjoyed the strong female leads in the book. Diana Gold is the creator behind the Artemis hotel, and with a nod to her mythical namesake has set it up as the perfect place to hunt powerful men. But her motivation is unclear at first and unfolds throughout the book.
Cleo Van Der Meer is a young American woman and guest at the hotel, trying to get away from her overbearing mother. She falls in with Lady Polly Fox Stanton, wife of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Together with Diana these three women propel the story along at pace.
If you like nostalgic golden age mysteries and strong female leads definitely read the Midnight Guests.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay

DNF @ 31%

Based on the premise of this book, I really thought that I would enjoy it. However, I just don't think I will.

I can usually tell how much I enjoy a book by the time that I spend reading it with an average being around 3-5 days.

However, I've been reading it for over a week - which I don't usually do - and *only* got 31% through it.

It wasn't necessarily the premise that I didn't like but I have quite a few bones to pick:
*The Kindle formatting:
On Kindle, it is very easy to miss where a new chapter starts based on the formatting of the PDF that they are using. On a few occasions, I didn't even realise I was swapping time-lines because of this.
*The dual timeline:
The dual timeline I found confusing. Like we are speaking about the d**d bodies found in the luxury room in the 2026 TL on their opening day BEFORE the d**d bodies are introduced on the opening day (1926) TL.
*The flow of the book:
So... I know this is probably a slow burner. But I cannot list many *big* events that have happened in this book. Yes, there has been a resignation. Yes, there has been the meetings of historian's... But... What else?
*Reading slump...:
This is probably the biggest issue. I am in a reading slump currently. I am waiting for a book to get me out of it. Happy to go back to this book at some point... but it's just pushing me further into that slump currently because it's slow.

Hope this helps :3. May come back at some point but not now.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay, a mystery that moves between the 1920s and the present day and centres on a hotel packed with secret rooms and hidden spaces. I particularly loved reading it while on holiday in an apartment that seemed to have cupboards everywhere, which made the hotel's concealed corners feel even more vivid.

In the 1920s, Diana Gold, owner of the hotel, is preparing for the arrival of two important guests at midnight, connected with the family dynasty behind the hotel which itself brings plenty of intriguing relationships and management dynamics into the story.

Alongside this, we follow Joe in the present day as he investigates his family history connected to the hotel, increasingly fascinated by the stories he uncovers and, at the same time, in real danger. He uncovers secrets, dangers and surprises, which keeps the tension building throughout. The combination of hidden histories, coffins in the vaults, mystery and suspense makes for a fun and exciting read, with enough twists to keep things interesting. I especially enjoyed the atmosphere and the sense that there was always another secret waiting to be discovered.

While I thought it was a good read overall, I have to admit that I preferred The Housekeepers.

(Copilot assisted me with the writing of this review - based on very specific prompts taken from my notes of reading the book).

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 is anyone is here. Everyone, that is, except two guest 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 master plan. 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....

This is a well-thought-out mystery. The characters were intriguing and well-developed. It's been descriptively written that I felt like one of the guests at the luxury hotel. The story has a dual timeline - the opening of he hotel events, and the present day when an author investigating what happened the night the hotel opened. This is an addictive read.

Published 10th September 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #AlexHay for my ARC of #TheMidnightGuests in exchange for an honest review.

[The Northern Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced, time spanning thriller.

Opened in 1926, the Hotel Artemis is Diana Gold's life's work, why then do reports from the time say she disappeared the same night and what is the connection between this and the bodies found in the hotel vault?

Cleo's trip to London is a last hurrah before she returns to the US and the life her mother expects. Rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous at the Hotel Artemis' opening night, Cleo makes new friendships but at what cost for her and her family?

Joe is visiting the Hotel Artemis in its final days of business (in 2026), following in the footsteps of his grandmother. Working on a deadline, he tries to uncover the secrets his grandmother has tried to point him towards but, what will be the cost of his historical interest?

Moving between 1926 and 2026, we follow Diana, Cleo and Joe as they each pursue their individual quests linked with the Hotel Artemis and the shadowy visitors who arrived shortly before midnight on opening night.

Suspenseful and beautifully woven together, the dark, shadowy tale of the quest to obtain and retain power will be enjoyed by lovers of period set stories as well as those who enjoy female led stories and crime.

My thanks to Headline publishing and Netgalley for allowing me early access to the book in return for an honest review.

[Mrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Gold opens Hotel Artimis in 1926. The Hotel is full of glitter, famous and rich people on opening night. She makes her grand entrance and glides around the room. The Hotel has her stamp on every room and nothing has been left to chance. However, there is something worrying her. She knows that at midnight she is due to have some guests which will cause her big problems. The book goes from 1926 until the present day. The Hotel is in the process of closing and before it does two coffins are found in a vault. Diana Gold disappeared shortly after the opening – is it her in one of the coffins. The story goes backwards and forwards date wise and I feel it ran smoothly inbetween the eras. A lot of the story is set in 1926 and you can feel almost present as the story goes on. Present time – Joe’s grandmother has passed away and she was one of the maids in the early era. She leaves clues for Joe (her grandson) to chase as to what happened when the Hotel opened and he wants to find out the mystery behind the Hotel. Things do not run smoothly for Joe as there are people who do not want the mystery solved or indeed the names of the bodies in the coffins. Eventually the story comes together and although I enjoyed the book I am not sure about the ending – left open I guess

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing possibly more beautiful than the Hotel Artemis, London’s newest luxury hotel, is the owner, Ms. Diana Gold. Beautiful. One of a kind. She owns the room when she walks into it. She knows how to take care of her guests. But she does struggle to take care of one thing, a major debt. And she has until midnight of opening night to figure out how she is going to pay off this debt. Those coming to collect are dangerous people. And no one is beyond their cruelty. No one.

Oh, and the guests. Surely, they are just there to enjoy the opulence of the Hotel Artemis. Surely none of them have secrets and they are all who they claim they are. Correct? Where is the fun in that?

I love the descriptions of the Hotel Artemis. I love that time period and how they operated. The author, to me, got a little long-winded at times. Not in over describing the facilities, it was in just rehashing and over explaining situations. But with this mystery you can sort of overlook it or just skim a bit on a few paragraphs from time to time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.

[Zandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved The Housekeepers by Alex Hay, so I was pleased to be offered a copy of his latest book, The Midnight Guests. The story begins in 1926 with the opening of Hotel Artemis in Mayfair. Diana Gold has planned every last detail in this new luxury hotel. She has invited the rich and famous, from politicians to celebrities. Everyone who wants to be seen at this glamorous event. Her only problem is there are two important guests arriving at midnight. Diana owes them a very large sum of money, one million pounds! She doesn’t have it, so she only has a few hours left to accumulate it. Exactly one hundred years later in 2026, Joe arrives at the hotel for its last evening before it finally closes its doors. He is researching a book which he hopes to write about the hotel, including information left to him by his grandmother, who was a maid at the hotel in its first days. Who were the two bodies in the vault? There are so many twists and turns in this story that I had no idea how the story would end and indeed found it hard to keep up at times. An intriguing mystery!
I would like to thank NetGalley, Alex Hay and the publishers, Headline Publishing for an arc of Alex’s latest book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 1926 and an exclusive hotel in Mayfair, London has its grand opening. Hotel Artemis is the stunning project of Diana Gold, famed in the hospitality profession for here lavish parties. The rich and the famous gather for the opening but all is not as it seems. Diana is awaiting, with some trepidation for two significant guests who will arrive at midnight. Set over a period of 24 hours, events quickly spiral out of control.
The story is told from three view points in alternating chapters: Firstly, Diana's memoir is a first person narration; secondly there is the third person chapters told from the view point of Cleo a young American guest and lastly there is Joe, a modern day researcher, who has been put on the path to discovering the secrets of the Hotel Artemis from the previous century.
This was a fast and compelling read. The atmosphere reflected the grandeur and decadence of the 1920s. The twists were dramatic and plentiful.
Highly recommended.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Alex Hay’s first two books, and this third novel is equally as enjoyable.

It is 1920s London, and we are witnessing the grand opening of the new premier class Hotel Artemis that sits within the most prestigious of addresses – Mayfair. Hotelier, (in)famous hostess and consummate organiser, Diana Gold, is running the show and has her work cut out keeping all the plates spinning and all the guests and sponsors happy and heavily plied with their vice of choice.

Cut to the modern day and the hotel has guests for the last time before closure, when two occupied coffins have been discovered in a vault in the basement. But who are they and why are they there?

If you’ve read Hay’s previous novels, you’ll know he is a master of plotting and multi-layered machinations of cunningness and intrigue – this is no different.

Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Hay’s The Midnight Guests promises to be a dazzling and darkly magnetic mystery, brimming with intrigue, glamour, and danger. Set in 1923 London, the novel transforms a single night in a grand new hotel into a stage where ambition, deception, and revenge converge under the shimmer of chandeliers and the weight of secrets.

Hay, celebrated for The Housekeepers, once again blends elegance with menace crafting a narrative that captures the pulse of an era intoxicated by wealth and risk. Diana Gold, the hotel’s enigmatic owner, commands the story with sharp intelligence and haunting vulnerability as she hosts a night that spirals from celebration into chaos.

The atmospheric tension, the interplay of power, and the richly drawn characters promise a reading experience both stylish and sinister. The Midnight Guests is poised to captivate fans of The White Lotus, The Great Gatsby, and high society thrillers that explore the glittering facades hiding darker truths.

[Sharon Greenwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Guests is an incredibly engaging read that perfectly balances high-society glamour with a gritty, dangerous underbelly. The pacing of this dual-timeline mystery is absolute perfection, moving at a steady, medium pace that allowed the tension to build beautifully while keeping me guessing from the very first page.

The story is packed with manipulative and dark characters who are entirely out for themselves, driving a plot fuelled by murder, sex, and intense power plays. As the characters' backstories are slowly revealed, a wave of fantastic twists kept reshaping the narrative, leading to a surprisingly high body count that raised the stakes at every turn.

My only real gripe is that the 2026 timeline ending felt a bit lacking and didn't hit with the same punch as the rest of the book. Even with that slight letdown at the finish line, it is a thoroughly gripping thriller.

Thank you Headline and NetGalley UK for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Headline Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this novel!

This atmospheric mystery/historical fiction novel primarily follows the events of a single, fateful night at London's Artemis Hotel in 1926 and the repercussions of that night a century later. We experience the story alongside three separate protagonists, two in the 1926 timeline and one in the 2026 timeline. I really enjoyed how Diana's sections in the 1926 timeline were told from a first-person POV while Cleo and Joe's sections were narrated from a third-person perspective.

This story was twisty and exhilarating to the point of biting off more than it could chew- it got to a point where it felt like the author was throwing every possible plot twist at the wall just to see what would stick. That being said, Hay crafted an elegant and interesting mystery to unfold with this novel and I'd recommend it to anyone who's a fan of plot twists and murder mysteries set in luxury hotels.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Deliciously dark and mysterious, The Midnight Guests is a story of the glittering decadence of the 1920’s hiding the dark underworld of blackmail and gangsters, to Joe’s story today and his searching for answers of the mystery behind The Artemis and its elusive owner, Diana Gold.
We’re treated to chapters from the main characters and seeing the hotel on the opening day from their eyes was a really clever way of experiencing the story. Each of them able to give their own view on decisions taken and opinions given.
Most of the story is taken from opening night in 1926 and all of Diana’s plans have come to fruition on this sparkling evening. But dark secrets are hiding beneath the shiny facade and are people who they say they are in this, the hotel everyone wants to be seen in.

[anahiddeninbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so deliciously addictive, and I honestly had a hard time putting it down. I loved the whole 1920s London hotel setting with the champagne, movie stars, criminals, and, of course, everyone hiding something. Diana Gold was such an interesting character because she was smart, ambitious, complicated, and definitely not always making the right choices, but I still found myself rooting for her. I also really liked the dual timeline and how the mysteries from the hotel’s opening night slowly connected to what was happening decades later. It gave me major The White Lotus meets Knives Out vibes, with plenty of glamour, secrets, betrayal, murder, and twists. I did wish the ending had been a little more satisfying because a few things felt rushed, but overall this was such a fun, twisty read that kept me guessing until the end.

thank yo unetgalley for the copy

[Bookfox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Hay really knows how to create strong-willed, powerful women in a historical setting! I've loved both his previous books and surely wasn't disappointed this time! The story is written in a captivating way in a beautiful historical language, revealing schemes and plans long in the making. This time, there's also a plot taking place in this year which was a good addition to the tension of finding out what had happened in the past. The multilayered characters' motives are intriguing and there's also a mystery to solve: Whose bodies were hidden in the infamous Artemis hotel's vaults and where has the famous hotel owner Diana Gold vanished to?
I've enjoyed every second of this book - if you love Alex Hay's other books, you'll love this one as well and if you don't know them already and like mystery and a bit of historical fiction, I can only recommend reading it!

[Miss Bookery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to The Hotel Artemis...

Where the staff, and guests, are enmeshed in the criminal underworld, in 1920's London.

We meet lead character, Diana, on the opening night of her glamourous, eponymous ,art deco hotel, where excess is the name of the game.

Strong female characters lead the way and that is a real highlight of this book, for me!

The book jumps between modern day and the 1920's but, is in no way, hard to keep track of and manages to be suspenseful in both.

This reads so easily, that I could not put it down and I inhaled it, in one sitting, and am off to find the authors previous works, immediately!

Many thanks to the publishers Headline, the author Alex Hay and NetGalley for providing this book for review.

All opinions are my own

#TheMidnightGuests #NetGalley

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diana Gold has a dilemma. It is the opening of the Hotel Artemis, in London, her hotel, and she needs to raise a large amount of money tonight, to pay her debt to some dubious people.
The rich and famous are arriving and expecting a splendid evening and she must be on show, and provide it.
One hundred years later, it is the closing of The Hotel Artemis, and Joe, a historian is spending the night there, and has a personal interest in its history.
The hotel was a character itself, with its public and very private areas, corridors, and secrets, and the sad dilapidation at the time of its closure.
The majority of the action takes place over the same 24 hours a century apart and as events unfold Diana’s connection to her surprising masters become clear, as do Joe’s reason for being there.
I enjoyed the book immensely, but was left wanting to know more about many of the characters.
Maybe that’s a good sign of being invested in the book?

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read told in two timelines 1926 and 2026. In 1926 ,Diana Gold is the creator of the Artemis Hotel in Mayfair for the rich and famous .nothing is out of bounds. It is opening night and everything is going well but Diana knows that two people will arrive to collect a million pounds that she owes them and she doesn't have the money yet !!!!! Diana disappears and two bodies are found in the vaults . In 2026 Joe a grandson of one of the maids back in 1926 is staying at the hotel it is the last night before it closes forever and is now crumbling and old. Joe is hoping to solve the mystery of the two bodies from clues his Grandma left him .There are some great characters and the story is fast paced mysterious and compelling .I loved it !! Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was invited to review this eARC by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
I enjoyed Alex Hay's previous novel The Housekeepers, and was excited to read The Midnight Guests, however, I soon found that it was not for me. That's not to say that it was not a good story - it was, but it just didn't hold my attention in the same way as The Housekeepers. I tend to struggle to keep up with narratives which are set in different eras, so this unfortunately added to my inability to enjoy this story to its fullest and engage with the plot. Having said that, I did like how Joe, the main character in the modern day were linked to a character from the 1920's plotline.
#TheMidnightGuests #NetGalley

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked by NetGalley to review this intriguing story. I have not come across Alex Hay before and will be seeking out the other books this long school summer holiday.

The story starts 100 years ago in London's glamourous criminal world, based in a hotel called Artemis. Diana Gold who is behind this interesting London hotel. Diana has created the perfect backdrop to seek out powerful men. Cleo Van Der Meer is trying to get away for a very over bearing mother and Lady Polly Fox Stanton ( wife of the Chancellor of the Exechequer) . These powerful women drive the story forward.

Arecommended read and due for publication September 10th 2026