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Murder at the Ivy Hotel
Not yet published
Expected 12 Feb 26“A deliciously cosy and clever mystery with
buckets of charm, and a cast of characters you can't help but adore.”
- Hana Tooke, author of The Unadoptables
Two girls who live in a hotel are drawn into a murder
mystery in this charming, classic-feeling cosy-crime children's
debut from bestselling Irish author Emily Hourican - perfect for
fans of Murder Most Unladylike, The Swifts and
Enid Blyton.
Twelve-year-old Meredith and ten-year-old Macy feel like the luckiest
girls around. The Ivy Hotel in Dublin is old, beautiful and
beloved, with a tight-knit staff that feel like family, and they
get to call it home. Meredith and Macy's mum is the General Manager,
and their modest apartment is tucked away in a corner, but
it has lots of perks.
The girls make friends with long-term residents - like Colin,
the quiet little boy who plays piano, and Agatha, the eccentric older
lady who stays in a plush suite with her dog, Milo.
The girls love spying on fancy events, sneaky treats from the
restaurant and knowing all the secret stairs and corridors
that guests never see, where the staff move around invisibly,
making sure everything runs like clockwork...
This is going to come in handy. Because within the cosy
walls of the Ivy Hotel, there is also danger, intrigue and threat.
Just as the hotel's new owners arrive, ready to sniff
out any excuse to make cuts and fire staff, the girls are faced
with their biggest task a murder to solve.
A welcoming and super-cosy hotel setting with a loveable cast
of characters and a dash of danger, perfect for mystery fans age
9-12.
Alternating perspectives from two brilliant sisters - responsible
and emotional Meredith and fierce, logical Macy.
Full of suspense, sleuthing and twisting discoveries, as the
kids take the lead, working to cleverly uncover the identity of a
mysterious guest and his even more mysterious death...
buckets of charm, and a cast of characters you can't help but adore.”
- Hana Tooke, author of The Unadoptables
Two girls who live in a hotel are drawn into a murder
mystery in this charming, classic-feeling cosy-crime children's
debut from bestselling Irish author Emily Hourican - perfect for
fans of Murder Most Unladylike, The Swifts and
Enid Blyton.
Twelve-year-old Meredith and ten-year-old Macy feel like the luckiest
girls around. The Ivy Hotel in Dublin is old, beautiful and
beloved, with a tight-knit staff that feel like family, and they
get to call it home. Meredith and Macy's mum is the General Manager,
and their modest apartment is tucked away in a corner, but
it has lots of perks.
The girls make friends with long-term residents - like Colin,
the quiet little boy who plays piano, and Agatha, the eccentric older
lady who stays in a plush suite with her dog, Milo.
The girls love spying on fancy events, sneaky treats from the
restaurant and knowing all the secret stairs and corridors
that guests never see, where the staff move around invisibly,
making sure everything runs like clockwork...
This is going to come in handy. Because within the cosy
walls of the Ivy Hotel, there is also danger, intrigue and threat.
Just as the hotel's new owners arrive, ready to sniff
out any excuse to make cuts and fire staff, the girls are faced
with their biggest task a murder to solve.
A welcoming and super-cosy hotel setting with a loveable cast
of characters and a dash of danger, perfect for mystery fans age
9-12.
Alternating perspectives from two brilliant sisters - responsible
and emotional Meredith and fierce, logical Macy.
Full of suspense, sleuthing and twisting discoveries, as the
kids take the lead, working to cleverly uncover the identity of a
mysterious guest and his even more mysterious death...
Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 12, 2026
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Emily Hourican
15 books93 followersEmily Hourican is a journalist and author. She has written features for the Sunday Independent for fifteen years, as well as Image magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Woman and Home. She was also editor of The Dubliner Magazine.
Emily's first book, a memoir titled How To (Really) Be A Mother was published in 2013. She is also the author of novels The Privileged, White Villa, The Outsider and The Blamed, as well as two bestselling novels about the Guinness sisters: The Glorious Guinness Girls and The Guinness Girls: A Hint of Scandal.
She lives in Dublin with her family.
source: Amazon
Emily's first book, a memoir titled How To (Really) Be A Mother was published in 2013. She is also the author of novels The Privileged, White Villa, The Outsider and The Blamed, as well as two bestselling novels about the Guinness sisters: The Glorious Guinness Girls and The Guinness Girls: A Hint of Scandal.
She lives in Dublin with her family.
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 7, 2025
Murder at the Ivy Hotel
Written by Emily Hourican
Published by Scholastic.
If this book is anything to go by 2026 is going to be an amazing year for MG books.
Twelve-year-old Meredith and ten-year-old Macy feel like the luckiest
girls around. The Ivy Hotel in Dublin is old, beautiful and
beloved, with a tight-knit staff that feel like family, and they
get to call it home. Meredith and Macy's mum is the General Manager,
and their modest apartment is tucked away in a corner, but
It has lots of perks.
The girls make friends with long-term residents - like Colin,
the quiet little boy who plays piano, and Agatha, the eccentric older
lady who stays in a plush suite with her dog, Milo.
The girls love spying on fancy events, sneaky treats from the
restaurant and knowing all the secret stairs and corridors
that guests never see, where the staff move around invisibly,
making sure everything runs like clockwork...
This is going to come in handy. Because within the cosy
walls of the Ivy Hotel, there is also danger, intrigue and threat.
Just as the hotel's new owners arrive, ready to sniff
out any excuse to make cuts and fire staff, the girls are faced
with their biggest task a murder to solve.
The child in me can think of nothing better than living in a hotel, all those secret nooks to explore, all the places to hide, having food prepared for you when needed.
But what if your parents worked there, there would be no freedom, too many adults keeping an eye on you, so many people to tell you off.
Even though there are cons to it, I'd still love to live in a hotel.
But the strange thing is that as an adult I wouldn’t want to stay in a hotel, I am more of a holiday cottage type of person.
I was so happy when this book turned up on my doorstep. I actually took this on holiday (to my quiet holiday cottage) and after a day of walking miles and miles ( way too far) and with sore muscles I didn’t know I had, I snuggled into bed with this book.
And to be fair the book didn’t take my aches and pains away but it did let me live out the fantasy of living in a hotel.
The first thing to say about this book is that this needs to be a series, there are so many places the author can take these characters, so many mysteries to be solved.
This book is set in an upmarket posh hotel, probably the type of place I could never take my family.
The main characters Meredith and Macy live in the hotel in a flat because their mum is the general manager.
But now new owners are threatening to make staff changes and everyone's job is one the line.
And when a guest is found dead it’s up to the girls not only to solve this mystery - because the police have got it badly wrong but they must also save the hotel.
The characters of the two girls are so believable - they are like chalk and cheese just the same way a lot of siblings are. But they pull together to save the day.
This is a great mystery that will leave the readers hooked and guessing right to the end.
Written by Emily Hourican
Published by Scholastic.
If this book is anything to go by 2026 is going to be an amazing year for MG books.
Twelve-year-old Meredith and ten-year-old Macy feel like the luckiest
girls around. The Ivy Hotel in Dublin is old, beautiful and
beloved, with a tight-knit staff that feel like family, and they
get to call it home. Meredith and Macy's mum is the General Manager,
and their modest apartment is tucked away in a corner, but
It has lots of perks.
The girls make friends with long-term residents - like Colin,
the quiet little boy who plays piano, and Agatha, the eccentric older
lady who stays in a plush suite with her dog, Milo.
The girls love spying on fancy events, sneaky treats from the
restaurant and knowing all the secret stairs and corridors
that guests never see, where the staff move around invisibly,
making sure everything runs like clockwork...
This is going to come in handy. Because within the cosy
walls of the Ivy Hotel, there is also danger, intrigue and threat.
Just as the hotel's new owners arrive, ready to sniff
out any excuse to make cuts and fire staff, the girls are faced
with their biggest task a murder to solve.
The child in me can think of nothing better than living in a hotel, all those secret nooks to explore, all the places to hide, having food prepared for you when needed.
But what if your parents worked there, there would be no freedom, too many adults keeping an eye on you, so many people to tell you off.
Even though there are cons to it, I'd still love to live in a hotel.
But the strange thing is that as an adult I wouldn’t want to stay in a hotel, I am more of a holiday cottage type of person.
I was so happy when this book turned up on my doorstep. I actually took this on holiday (to my quiet holiday cottage) and after a day of walking miles and miles ( way too far) and with sore muscles I didn’t know I had, I snuggled into bed with this book.
And to be fair the book didn’t take my aches and pains away but it did let me live out the fantasy of living in a hotel.
The first thing to say about this book is that this needs to be a series, there are so many places the author can take these characters, so many mysteries to be solved.
This book is set in an upmarket posh hotel, probably the type of place I could never take my family.
The main characters Meredith and Macy live in the hotel in a flat because their mum is the general manager.
But now new owners are threatening to make staff changes and everyone's job is one the line.
And when a guest is found dead it’s up to the girls not only to solve this mystery - because the police have got it badly wrong but they must also save the hotel.
The characters of the two girls are so believable - they are like chalk and cheese just the same way a lot of siblings are. But they pull together to save the day.
This is a great mystery that will leave the readers hooked and guessing right to the end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is just a fabulous debut story. Perfect for all Robin Stevens and Fleur Hitchcock fans.
The heroines of our story are Meredith and Macy, aged 12 and 10 respectively. They live in an apartment in Dublin's oldest hotel, The Ivy, because their mother is the general manager. They are allowed in and out of the main door but they have to use the service lift to get to their rooms, and they know all the back entrances and corridors in the hotel. They have a lady, Agatha, that they rather like she is elderly and lives in an apartment with her little dog, Milo. They often visit her after school. They also love the hotel library, and often do their homework there.
But there is a cloud on the horizon, the old owner of the hotel has died and his son doesn't want the hotel - just the money so it is being sold. The new owners want to make changes - including possibly to the staff! Their mother's job may be on the line.
Then worse still, a guest who came in suddenly the night before with no luggage, is found dead in his room...and the coroner suspects murder. When Jake the second chef is arrested for poisoning him, the children decided they have to find out what happened and who is responsible. And they have another helper, Colin, a boy who lives in an apartment with his parents but who hasn't really spoken to the girls before. They travel a lot so this is his home, because they know he is safe and can get back and forth to school. He doesn't want the hotel to change any more than the girls and Agatha. They certainly don't want the staff to lose their jobs.
When pieces start to fall into place the girls and Colin take risks but can they prove Jake's innocence? A chance encounter with Colin's piano teacher gives them even more but is it enough?
Absolutely loved this. It's warm and gentle with elements of risk and intrigue. The characters and their friendships are believable. The setting sounds just gorgeous, I need to visit a hotel like this, although I have a feeling it's the type I couldn't afford! Definitely keeping this copy at home!
Thanks to Kiran at scholastic for the early copy, out on 12th February.
The heroines of our story are Meredith and Macy, aged 12 and 10 respectively. They live in an apartment in Dublin's oldest hotel, The Ivy, because their mother is the general manager. They are allowed in and out of the main door but they have to use the service lift to get to their rooms, and they know all the back entrances and corridors in the hotel. They have a lady, Agatha, that they rather like she is elderly and lives in an apartment with her little dog, Milo. They often visit her after school. They also love the hotel library, and often do their homework there.
But there is a cloud on the horizon, the old owner of the hotel has died and his son doesn't want the hotel - just the money so it is being sold. The new owners want to make changes - including possibly to the staff! Their mother's job may be on the line.
Then worse still, a guest who came in suddenly the night before with no luggage, is found dead in his room...and the coroner suspects murder. When Jake the second chef is arrested for poisoning him, the children decided they have to find out what happened and who is responsible. And they have another helper, Colin, a boy who lives in an apartment with his parents but who hasn't really spoken to the girls before. They travel a lot so this is his home, because they know he is safe and can get back and forth to school. He doesn't want the hotel to change any more than the girls and Agatha. They certainly don't want the staff to lose their jobs.
When pieces start to fall into place the girls and Colin take risks but can they prove Jake's innocence? A chance encounter with Colin's piano teacher gives them even more but is it enough?
Absolutely loved this. It's warm and gentle with elements of risk and intrigue. The characters and their friendships are believable. The setting sounds just gorgeous, I need to visit a hotel like this, although I have a feeling it's the type I couldn't afford! Definitely keeping this copy at home!
Thanks to Kiran at scholastic for the early copy, out on 12th February.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Meet Macy and Meredith, who live at the Ivy Hotel with their mum, who's the general manager. Surrounded by a cast of quirky characters, the Ivy is a glorious paradise of a place, with old grandeur, a library, beloved guests and surprise treats from the kitchen. So far, so wonderful. But all is not well.... Soon there will be events and happenings that throw shadows on this happy place, and a mystery that's set to threaten the Ivy Hotel's very existence..... Full of atmosphere and affection with just the right amount of scariness, this is a beautifully plotted, perfectly old-fashioned, gorgeously written, heartwarming story - cosy, compelling, impossible to put down. I loved every minute. Can't wait for more of the same from the brilliant Emily Hourican. Thanks to Scholastic for the advance copy. Out in Feb.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Timeless and charming - full review to follow!
January 4, 2026
Absolutely FANTASTIC!! I absolutely loved this.
Full review will be on Instagram @mr_hindle_primary later this week!
Full review will be on Instagram @mr_hindle_primary later this week!
January 4, 2026
Murder at the Ivy Hotel is a cosy whodunnit, brimming with charm, intrigue and danger, that kept me utterly entranced throughout.
Meredith and her younger sister, Macy, live in an apartment in the grand Ivy Hotel in Dublin where their mother is the General Manager. Changes are afoot at the hotel as it faces a change of ownership, something that is causing their mum stress as the new owners are more interested in profit than retaining the cosy and friendly character of the beloved hotel where long-term residents and staff feel more like family than guests. When it seems that the new owners are keen to find reasons to dismiss their mum, there is a real possibility that Meredith and Macy may lose their home, something they are determined to fight against.
But then something happens that may well ruin the reputation of the hotel: the suspicious death of a guest. Could a murder have taken place and, if so, can the sisters discover the culprit and save the their home?
And so begins a terrifically twisty, intriguing mystery as the sisters and their new friend, Colin, work together to solve a puzzling crime. I loved the blend of cosy mystery, intrigue and danger that had me eagerly turning pages as I followed this sleuthing trio as they worked together to piece together the clues to discover the culprit behind this crime. I really enjoyed the sense of urgency as the mystery unfolds over the course of a week, the increasing level of peril and the red herrings all of which made this an exciting and fast-paced read which I have no doubt its young readers will adore – just as I did! I can also imagine many young readers wanting to keep their own notes – just as Colin does – as the mystery unfolds.
The tenacious trio of children in this whodunnit are incredibly likeable and together bring different qualities to form a perfect sleuthing team. Twelve-year-old Meredith has an intuitive and sensible nature whereas her ten-year-old sister Macy is more impulsive and practical. Their new friend Colin, who lives at the hotel, is meticulous and keeps notes as they investigate the crime. I also really enjoyed the feeling of family within the hotel as the children have close and trusting bonds with both employees and long-term guests who clearly care for them.
A delightfully charming and cosy mystery, with friendship and family at its heart, perfect for young sleuths of 9+.
Meredith and her younger sister, Macy, live in an apartment in the grand Ivy Hotel in Dublin where their mother is the General Manager. Changes are afoot at the hotel as it faces a change of ownership, something that is causing their mum stress as the new owners are more interested in profit than retaining the cosy and friendly character of the beloved hotel where long-term residents and staff feel more like family than guests. When it seems that the new owners are keen to find reasons to dismiss their mum, there is a real possibility that Meredith and Macy may lose their home, something they are determined to fight against.
But then something happens that may well ruin the reputation of the hotel: the suspicious death of a guest. Could a murder have taken place and, if so, can the sisters discover the culprit and save the their home?
And so begins a terrifically twisty, intriguing mystery as the sisters and their new friend, Colin, work together to solve a puzzling crime. I loved the blend of cosy mystery, intrigue and danger that had me eagerly turning pages as I followed this sleuthing trio as they worked together to piece together the clues to discover the culprit behind this crime. I really enjoyed the sense of urgency as the mystery unfolds over the course of a week, the increasing level of peril and the red herrings all of which made this an exciting and fast-paced read which I have no doubt its young readers will adore – just as I did! I can also imagine many young readers wanting to keep their own notes – just as Colin does – as the mystery unfolds.
The tenacious trio of children in this whodunnit are incredibly likeable and together bring different qualities to form a perfect sleuthing team. Twelve-year-old Meredith has an intuitive and sensible nature whereas her ten-year-old sister Macy is more impulsive and practical. Their new friend Colin, who lives at the hotel, is meticulous and keeps notes as they investigate the crime. I also really enjoyed the feeling of family within the hotel as the children have close and trusting bonds with both employees and long-term guests who clearly care for them.
A delightfully charming and cosy mystery, with friendship and family at its heart, perfect for young sleuths of 9+.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews