The Midnight Guests

by Alex Hay

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER

“Hay’s tightly woven plot unfolds at an addictive pace, and the twists come in all the right places." —Publishers Weekly

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.

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.

Though, things at the Hotel Artemis aren’t quite what they seem—including the two guests Diana expects at midnight. Powerful and dangerous, they’ve dragged her from the gutter and taught her all she knows. Now 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.

More clever mysteries from Alex The HousekeepersThe Queen of FivesThe Midnight Guests

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

Audible Audio

Published September 29, 2026

Reviews

[Mac Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

everyone was gay

[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

[Emma Alvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glamorous, entertaining, immersive and twisty, The Midnight Guests is an absolute delight. Cosy crime at its best, the story is told in dual timelines over two fateful twenty four hours.

May 1st, 1926. The night of the grand opening of the Hotel Artemis, which is owned by socialite and impresario Diana Gold. Tonight the champagne will flow as prominent guests enjoy the result of months of her hard work. But there are two guests that Diana is not looking forward to welcoming; two infamous people who could give away the truth that lies beneath the glittering facade of this opulent hotel. Because the Hotel Artemis isn’t what it seems and Diana is hiding some dark secrets. And when a body is found in one of the lavish suites, it sparks a chain reaction of events that spirals out of control.

Meanwhile, in January 2026, Joe Carberry is staying at the Hotel Artemis for its final night in business. But Joe has ulterior motives for his stay. He is here to try and uncover the identity of the two bodies that were found in the hotel’s crypt a century ago. Could the bodies be linked to the tragic events that unfolded on opening night? And if so, who will end their night dead in the crypt? And why?

Part The Great Gatsby and part Peaky Blinders, there is an elegance merged with a sense of danger and criminality in this book that feels intoxicating. Well-written, expertly plotted, intricately interwoven and surprising, Alex Hay crafted a treasure trove of mysteries and misdirects and transported me back back to the roaring 1920s with all of its sophistication and glamour. An array of potential victims and suspects kept me guessing and I was on tenterhooks from start to finish.

The story is filled with a collection of charismatic characters who leap from the pages. But the characters I loved most were the array of strong, feisty, audacious and devious women who were unashamedly themselves. These women were taking their lives into their own hands and refusing to conform to societal expectations or cow down to men. I had a real soft spot for Cleo and loved her character arc. But there were some great male characters, too, and I enjoyed reading Joe and following his journey as he tried to uncover the truth about the bodies in the vault.

A glamorous and entertaining murder mystery that you don’t want to miss.

[Ranjini Shankar · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was a fast read but not what I thought I was getting into. I think I expected a locked room mystery but what I got instead was a woman’s harrowing journey to survive the night by the power of her wits. It was not disappointing just not expected.

Diana Gold is launching her extravagant new hotel but there are a lot of secrets and villains hiding in plain sight on her big night. She will have to stay alive and outmaneuver them all to keep what she has worked so hard for

I think the hardest part for me was the ending. It felt very unsatisfying after everything that the characters had been put through. I wanted a complete victory and take down and instead it ends on a fizzle.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I receieved an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

This is a dual-timeline novel, with one timeline being in 1926 and the other in present day, both taking place at the Hotel Artemis. In 1926 Diana Gold, the owner, opens the doors to the most opulent new hotel in London. Millionaires, royalty, film stars & gamblers all swarm in to rub shoulders, drink chhampagne, gamble, and dine the nights away. Things aren't quite what they seem though. Diana is awaiting two powerful & dangerous guests, who will be showing up at midnight They’ve dragged her from the gutter and taught her all she knows. Now Diana must take perfect care of them—unless they take care of her first. When a body is found in the hotel’s finest suite, the lavish opening night begins to spiral out of control. Then, in present day, Joe is a historian and his recently deceased grandmother was a frequent guest at Hotel Artemis. A former journalist, she left behind unfinished reasearch into two bodies discovered in the vaults in 1929. He is determined to do some digging before the hotel closes its doors for good the next next day.

I always enjoy this author's books, and this one did not disappoint. I felt like I was there at Hotel Artemis, watching it all unfold. The author did an excellent job of bringing the two timelines together seamlessly, and making all of the characters feel real. There was non-stop action, and the tension really ratcheted up on both timelines towards the end of the book. I highly recommend this one!

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

I'm trying to read more historical fiction, so dove into The Midnight Guests. The dual timeline format was a little odd: a countdown to midnight in 1926 at the Hotel Artemis, and then in 2026, the grandsonof a former chambermaid comes to investigate the hotel, where two bodies in coffins were discovered.

As you watch the countdown in 1926, you are introduced to all the hotel guests, some staff, and the mysterious owner, Diana. Who is going to die, and who is the killer?

On the positive side, the lavish yet creepy hotel vibe was great, and I was intrigued by the triangular relationship between Robert, Cleo and Poppy. On the negative side, I never quite understood what shady things Diana was doing and why (yes, the book explained it, but I thought it was a bit hand-wavey.)

The ending offered a fun twist. All in all, not the perfect book for me, but I'm not sorry I read it. If you like historical fiction, dual timelines, and slow burn suspense, check it out for your TBR!

Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!

[Marilyn Boyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this new novel by Alex Hay. Hay uses discourse well, both in his 1926 section and in the 2026 section section, creating believable characters speaking in the distinct language of the time. The one odd sounding phrase I came across seems typical of grammatical problems we hear today, unfortunately, so it was not problematic. Because I read an ARC, I cannot comment further on it.

The writing is lively and suspenseful. I wanted to know what happened next in both time frames. At times, the lot seems a little too convoluted, with a juggling of the many characters and names, but nothing is off-putting. Hay gives you a true sense of the luxurious Artemis and the moneyed clientele it pampers. Likewise, we are let into the milieu of the underworld of the twenties. We can see the workings of the firm through the ages. The light tone balances the suspense, and Hay's novel provides a tale with enough grit and enough bubble to keep us entertained.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to listen to the endlessly entertaining 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑴𝑰𝑫𝑵𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 𝑮𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑺 𝒃𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝑯𝒂𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑭𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 thanks to @htpbooks_audio @htp_hive via @netgalley!

I was hoping for a distraction from a potentially irritating start to my day, and this did much more than that for me, though it did completely take me away long enough to mole-hill my mountain.

This story gave an old-school caper feel with some cheeky touches. I thoroughly enjoyed the roaring twenties atmosphere in the Artemis Hotel in London, and was happily surprised to find the mystery of the dead man in the best suite was darker than the cozy cover might suggest.

The audio was extra impressive to me as Howard switched between the British accent and the American one seamlessly. I thought there may have been two narrators! An excellent way to dive into a mystery with very strong women dealing with a world that seems to have changed little beyond the the fashions.

[Gavin Neugart · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

24 books read during the year

[Nicole Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for the advance reader copy of The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay. I very much enjoyed this author's previous work, "The Queen of Fives". In this most recent novel, the Art Deco Hotel Artemis is very much a character in its own right, which I enjoyed. The descriptions of the decor, the hidden passageways, and the vault were especially vivid. The dual timeline worked well, and I was equally invested in what was happening in 1926 as in the events of 2026. Unfortunately, the characters were largely unlikeable, except for modern-day journalist Joe. It was hard to know who to root for. I was curious about what happened to Diana Gold, as well as who was in the coffins in the vault, and I couldn't wait for the reveal. The halfway-point twist was done really well, and I did not see it coming. However, I found the second half of the book confusing and full of dead ends. By the last page, I wondered if I had missed something important, because I was left with so many questions. I even wondered if journalist Joe ever figured things out!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set mainly in 1926, this story opens on the Artemis’s lavish opening night, with London’s elite arriving to enjoy the sparkling chandeliers, flowing champagne and Art Deco splendour. But beneath all that glamour, something much darker is brewing. Outside, post-war London is facing unrest and the threat of strikes, while inside the hotel, a more insidious threat lurks, with the guests who are due to come calling at midnight for owner Diana Gold expecting their debt to be paid.

There’s something about a glamorous hotel and the dark secrets contained within its walls that makes for an irresistible setting, and the Hotel Artemis certainly delivers on that front. The story moves between 1926 and the present day, where the once-grand Artemis has fallen into disrepair and is preparing to close its doors for good. Joe, a college lecturer, has booked in for its final night, hoping to uncover those secrets and finish an article his journalist grandmother was threatened into walking away from. Of course, the closer he gets to the truth and solving a mystery one hundred years in the making, the more it becomes apparent even now, not everyone is ready to let the secrets of the hotel’s opening night be exposed, intent instead that the past should stay buried. Initially the story does take a little while to get going as readers are introduced to the large cast of guests and staff. There’s business tycoons mixing with minor aristocracy including the Chancellor Sir Robert Fox-Stanton and his wife Polly to the obligatory wealthy American heiress Cleo Van der Meer and, at the centre of it all, Diana Gold herself - a woman who has fought her way out of the gutters, clawing her way to the top which just means she clearly has further to fall. Alongside her is her manager and right-hand man, Silas, who is obviously under increasing pressure and desperately seeking a way out. None of these characters are particularly likeable, but strangely that actually worked for me and there’s an ominous sense that not everyone is going to make it through the night. The pace does pick up as events begin to unfold, and secrets start bubbling to the surface.

I particularly enjoyed the dual timeline and the contrast between the glittering Artemis of 1926 and the faded, almost haunting hotel we encounter in the present day. Even the smaller details, like the original golden keys replaced by modern entry cards, add to the feeling of a glamorous bygone era that has long since slipped away. But for me, the atmosphere and setting were probably the strongest parts of the book. It has that wonderfully claustrophobic feeling of a hotel full of people who all have something to hide, while the minute hand ticking closer towards midnight adds another layer of tension. My only real frustration was the ending. By the time I closed my book, I found myself wanting to know what happened to the characters once they left the Artemis. Yes, there is a jump forward a few years for the final chapters, but it doesn’t really give us enough detail about everyone’s eventual fate. Overall, this was an atmospheric and intriguing mystery with a fantastic setting, plenty of secrets and a cast you’re never quite sure who you can trust. It took a little while to find its pace, but once it did, I was fully invested. I just wish it had given me a little more closure… because apparently, I wasn’t quite ready to check out of the Artemis.

[Raji (WorldsUnlikeOurOwn) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own .

Thank you to the publisher, HTP Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This mystery is set across the first and last day of The Artemis, a luxurious London hotel. Owner Diana Gold’s lavish opening night spins out of control when a body is discovered, upsetting everything carefully planned out. The who’s who of London is here, but Diana is waiting for two particular guests who will arrive at midnight and her fate is in their hands. A hundred years later, journalist Joe Carberry arrives at The Artemis for its final night before it closes for good, determined to solve the mystery of what really happened on opening night.

💭 Initial Thoughts: I’ve read two other books by Alex Hay before this one and while I found there were a few things that could be improved on, the mysteries were largely solid and interesting, so I added this book to my TBR immediately.

🌎 Plot, World building & Atmosphere: The setting of The Artemis was marvellous. With the detailed and immersive descriptions, I could easily imagine the lavishly appointed hotel on opening night in the 1920s, what the glamorous parties and dinner must have been like and more. It was equally intriguing to see the hotel in 2026, in the last hours before it closes for good, with many secrets still hidden in the walls. It was definitely very atmospheric and right from the beginning, there was always a lingering feeling that there was something dark going on behind the scenes.

The plot on the other hand, felt overly convoluted in my opinion. It was good until about the halfway point when the twist unnecessarily complicated things and took a lot of excitement out of the 1920s timeline. It seemed a bit absurd that someone like Diana who has been playing this game for so many years would allow herself to be so thoroughly outmaneuvered and make the decision she did. As for the modern timeline, I didn’t feel like it added much and it seems a bit ridiculous that any bit of evidence would have survived the passage of a hundred years.

✍🏻 Writing & Narration: The pacing was pretty slow and I struggled with most of the first half of this book after which it did pick up. I can’t remember the last time it took me this long to finish a 350 page book and a mystery at that – I usually fly through this genre with barely any effort. I also didn’t like the narrative style much, it moved between first and third person based on which character’s chapter it was. In Diana’s POV especially, it was first person, but with direct address, like breaking the fourth wall and addressing the reader directly, which is something I really dislike seeing in books of any genre.

👥 Characters: Despite the plethora of characters weaving in and out of this tale, I didn’t find any of them particularly likeable. In the present day timeline, the excitement of Joe trying to track down a hundred year old mystery felt almost manufactured and I simply couldn’t get invested in it at all. And on opening night, I was initially kind of curious about Cleo’s arc but after the twist halfway through, lost interest and focused more on Diana, and how she was going to get herself out of the ever growing mess that was unfolding.

🎬 Ending: The choice the author made for the ending was an interesting one. The readers get to figure out the mystery, but Joe doesn’t so I’m a little conflicted. I usually like my mysteries all neatly wrapped up and in a way this was, but there’s also the big question of if Joe ever finds the truth and how the organization connected to Diana’s employers was still around a century later.

❓ Final Thoughts & Recommendation: The Midnight Guests was not Alex Hay’s best work in my opinion, and it definitely needed some work in terms of both pacing and plot, but once the story found its footing, it was an interesting read. While it’s not something I’m likely to re-read, I would still recommend it.

[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.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1926 and London’s newest, grandest hotel is opening its doors for the first time. Owner Diana Gold is getting ready to welcome her first guests, who include some of the richest and most powerful people in the world – millionaires, bankers, royalty, film stars, politicians and gamblers. But she’s also expecting two guests who are not so welcome – two people who took her under their wing as a young woman and led her into a life of crime. Now Diana has found herself in their debt and they’re due to arrive at midnight to take what they are owed.

From that fateful opening night, we jump forward one hundred years to 2026 and meet Joe, an out-of-work historian who is staying at that same hotel, the Hotel Artemis, on its final night before it closes down. Joe’s grandmother, a former journalist, has recently died, leaving behind her uncompleted research into the mystery of two unidentified dead bodies found in the vaults of the hotel in 1929. Seeing a chance to earn some money, Joe has decided to continue his grandmother’s research and write about a book about it – but tonight is his final opportunity to investigate inside the hotel itself before it closes its doors again forever.

The novel is written from the perspectives of both Diana in 1926 and Joe in 2026, but there are also some chapters written from another character’s point of view – Cleo van der Meer, a young American woman who is one of the first guests at the Hotel Artemis. We don’t know at first how Cleo fits into the story, but everything becomes clear eventually! Although the plot is quite complex, it moves along at a fast pace and there are some clever twists, including a great one halfway through which I hadn’t seen coming at all. Hotels are always interesting settings, I think, and although the Artemis doesn’t really exist, I loved Alex Hay’s descriptions of it – he really captures the feel of what it may have been like to stay in a luxury hotel in the 1920s.

Like Hay’s previous two novels, The Housekeepers and The Queen of Fives, The Midnight Guests is unusual in that it focuses on the lives of criminals – people we would usually see as villains. Through the stories of Diana, her assistant Silas, and several of the other characters we see how easily people can drift into a life of crime and how difficult it can be for them to get out of it again. This is not a book to be taken too seriously, though, and is clearly intended to be fun and entertaining. It does all become quite far-fetched, particularly towards the end – with such a high body count that the remains found in the vault could be almost anyone’s! – but if you’ve read Hay’s other work you’ll have known what sort of book to expect anyway.

I don’t want to say too much more about this book as I don’t want to risk spoiling a story that relies so much on suspense and surprises. I enjoyed it and will be looking out for his next one.

[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.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while, but I'm so happy to be back with another twisty historical mystery read by this author.
I absolutely loved The Housekeepers and The Queen Of Fives and this story takes us back to the 20's and draws us into a world of glamour and corruption among the staff and guests of the Hotel Artemis.

This story unfolds over a dual timeline with Joe in the present day trying to unravel the clues and papers that his Grandmother had left for him.
Something happened at the hotel that has never been explained, but Joe is determined to discover the secrets before the hotel closes it's doors for the last time.

As we flit back to the 1920's, Diana Gold is hosting a lavish special opening night event with a carefully curated guest list, but things take a turn when two guests turn up to cash in on the debts she's accumulated over her years working with the firm.

I loved the contrast between the on the surface glamour and opulence of the London society members and this wonderful luxury hotel set against the dark and gritty world of the crime family, laundering and corruption.

There was a lot going on in the 20's timeline that kept me guessing and wondering just who was manipulating who and with the threat of these mystery guests turning up, I wasn't sure who was going to make it out the other side.

This was packed with twists and turns and with the added uncertainty of the journey Joe was taking in the present day, I was on edge and racing through the pages.

I really liked the way that this story was woven together with the mystery unfolding gradually allowing me to make my own theories along the way - but I didn't see the twists coming and at one point I even wondered whether we might encounter something a little more sinister - especially with the mention of coffins!

As ever the writing style really draws us into the storyline and I found myself transported to this era and surrounded by the atmosphere within the hotel.
With a fascinating guest list I was never sure who to trust and kept changing my opinions as more came to light.

Another great read and I'm already looking forward to seeing where we end up in the next book.

[TBS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Hay writes clever and archly plotted English historical fiction, often about the long con and crime associations. In The Midnight Guests, the stakes are slightly different. It takes place in the once magnificent Hotel Artemis, at the opening in 1926 and 100 years later on the day before it is slated for shutdown. The meticulous period details are there, and Mr Hay takes the reader on a luscious tour of the height of art deco interior design, its dazzling culture, and the lifestyles of the rich, venal, and glamorous. This is juxtaposed with the second storyline revealing a century of deterioration and neglect seen through the eyes of Joe Carberry, a former teacher and writer who is trying to piece together his deceased grandmother’s notes and aborted investigation on the murders and scandals that rocked the Artemis shortly after it opened. At the center is the stunning Diana Gold, described as a socialite and impresario extraordinaire, who founded the elegant Artemis, sparing no expense in creating an exclusive networking haven for the illicit schemes and deals of the rich and powerful. Much is artifice here, including the illusion of wealth, for Diana is on the verge of insolvency, with her ruthless debt collectors due to arrive on the opening night. Hays introduces a large cast of unsavory and very savory characters: a handsome upcoming politician and his beautiful bored titled wife, the androgynous daughter of a very wealthy family who is given a small measure of freedom before returning to the family fold, and the staff and aides who have their own ambivalent history and secrets. And some of these secrets seem to be still active a century later as Joe discovers when his info gathering visit turns increasingly dangerous. The plot spins and turns much like the hopping balls on the Artemis’s glitzy roulette table and there are some delightfully shocking twists, but I didn’t find any of the characters remotely likeable, so ultimately the high stakes were pretty low ones. And the central mystery for me, remained a mystery. Still, the descriptions alone of the now fading history of these gorgeous architectural grande dames is well worth a visit.

[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.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Midnight Guests is fast-paced, clever, twisty, glamorous, and super entertaining. From the historical setting to the intriguing mystery to the locked-in setting, The Midnight Guests is an atmospheric read that is fun, full of secrets, and keeps readers guessing until the very end.

In 1920s London, Diana Gold, the owner, opens a luxurious new hotel in London. Millionaires, movie stars, royalty, and gamblers are all eager to be a part of the action and experience the lavish new hotel. However, things at the Hotel Artemis aren’t what they seem, especially the two guests Diana expects to arrive at midnight. Equal parts powerful and dangerous, they’ve brought her from nothing and taught her everything she knows. Now, Diana must do everything to take care of them. When a body is found in the hotel’s most opulent suite, the opening night starts to feel out of control. And over the next twenty-four hours, everyone at the Artemis will start to find out why they are really there.

The Midnight Guests is a fast-paced and engrossing mystery full of deception, revenge, and lots of twists and turns along the way.

Diana Gold is a multifaceted character and her complex background strengthens the intrigue. The hotel is the perfect setting for the story to unfold and is equally compelling and glamorous. The dual timeline works very well and helps to form a well-rounded mystery, as the connection between the events of the hotel’s opening night and the mysteries being investigated decades later adds an additional layer to the mystery. All of the secrets, drama, hidden motives, and loyalties make for a mystery that’s full of twists and turns.

Overall, The Midnight Guests is an engaging, atmospheric, and fun mystery read!

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐½ The Midnight Guests by Alex Hay

Set against the glittering backdrop of 1920s London, The Midnight Guests takes readers inside the luxurious Hotel Artemis on the night of its grand opening. Diana Gold, the hotel’s ambitious and charismatic owner, has created a place where the rich, famous, and powerful can indulge in every imaginable pleasure. But beneath the champagne and glamour, two dangerous guests are expected to arrive at midnight—and when a body is discovered, the carefully planned opening night begins to unravel.

The story moves between 1926 and 2026. In the present day, historian Joe Carberry arrives at the Artemis shortly before the hotel is due to close its doors for good. His grandmother once worked there, and clues from the past lead him to question what really happened on that infamous opening night. As he digs deeper, he discovers secrets that have remained hidden for nearly a century.

I enjoyed the wonderfully atmospheric setting of this book. The Hotel Artemis is brought to life with all the glamour, decadence and intrigue of 1920s London, while there is always the feeling that something darker is hiding beneath the beautiful surface. Diana Gold was an especially intriguing character, and I enjoyed watching the various secrets and relationships unfold.

That said, the story became quite intricate at times, and I occasionally found myself trying to keep track of all the characters, timelines and connections. While I appreciated the twists and the slow uncovering of the mystery, I didn’t find myself completely swept up in the story.

Overall, The Midnight Guests was an entertaining and atmospheric historical mystery with an unusual premise, a glamorous setting and plenty of secrets to uncover. It wasn’t a five-star read for me, but I appreciated the creativity and the sense of mystery surrounding the hotel. A solid 3.5 stars from me.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Hay’s The Midnight Guests places us at Diana Gold’s grand opening of a marvellous hotel on May 1, 1926–but she is desperate to repay a crushing debt that will ruin her if she does not fulfil it by midnight. A century later, Joe Carberry has checked into the hotel, which is closing the next day. He is there to write a book about the two corpses found in the vault in 1929, hoping to possibly discover their identities and why they were placed there. But it seems like there are those who wish for long-buried secrets to stay covered…

Negative thoughts:

-I liked Cleo’s POV (there were three: Diana, Cleo, and Joe) the least of all. Joe is investigating, Diana has secrets to unravel, but most of Cleo’s POV is just her thinking how attracted she is to both Polly and Robert and how she wants away from her mother. She has very little personality and presence, which makes certain events understandable, but it’s not as fun reading as the other two.

-At a certain point, there is an AWFUL lot of death going on in a few short hours with cops all around. It kind of stretches credulity, and the same casual despatching in the present timeline is a bit difficult to believe.

Positive thoughts:

+Great twists. I was able to guess who the bodies belonged to fairly quickly in and how Joe tied into everything, but there were two points where I gasped out loud, so well done!

+It is a VERY compelling read. I wanted to keep going and going, and it didn’t take me very long to finish, either. I was hooked.

I’d say 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. This is a little bit different than what I usually read, but if I say why, that would spoil it too much, I think. I thought I may dislike it, but I didn’t! For people who like past and present timelines with a little mystery to parse through.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest 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.

[Daphne Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

1926. The Hotel Artemis opens and caters for the very rich of London society, who demand privacy, absolute luxury , discretion and who might have some possibly illegal activities fulfilled there.
Diana Gold has made this hotel what it is. She has nurtured it, and her tolerant attitude makes this place popular for secret assignations, liaisons and affairs, and there is always the chance of some discreet gambling opportunities. Her staff are paid well, and their loyalty is assured.
Diana is considered all powerful and a self made woman, but a year ago, she made a deadly mistake, which has left her in debt. Failure to pay will mean some hidden and dangerous truths will come to light which will sully her hard earned reputation.
Some debts cost more than money, and a lack of retribution is seen as weakness.
There are two guests arriving at midnight, and they are the unseen power behind Diana’s throne. Can they forgive her mistake , and if not, how will they punish her?
2026. Joe Carberry checks into the Artemis on its closing night. His Grandmother used to work there as a maid, and she has left Joe a collection of notebooks that hint at a scandal and secrets at the Artemis that he is determined to solve.
If only he didn’t feel under constant observation!!
It must be a powerful secret if there are still people willing to take drastic measures to protect it after all these years.
There are some ruthless people who will stop at nothing to keep Joe away from the truth.
The end takes us back to the beginning.
An exciting and absorbing thriller, a definite page turner. Well formed characters that chill the bones.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1926 Diana Gold launches her most ambitious venture, that of opening the stunning Hotel Artemis to the grand clientele of London. However, this is Diana’s last chance to gain the upper hand as there are dangerous people who are out to wreak havoc on everything she has worked so hard to achieve. With amazing verve and je ne sais quoi, Diana manipulates and controls everyone like the puppet master she undoubtedly is but things don’t go quite as smoothly as she anticipated.

Set in two distinct time frames we occasionally jump forward a hundred years to 2026 where we follow Joe Carberry who has a special interest in the hotel and who is investigating what happened at the Artemis on its fateful opening night, revealing secrets which have been buried for far too long. There are some fascinating characters amongst the main players and the author brings their faults, foibles and peccadilloes into the spotlight so that they become as fascinating to observe as Diana.

The story initially unfolds rather slowly, setting the scene, introducing us to a world of utmost luxury as no expense has been spared in the building of the Artemis and this opening event reflects the sumptuousness of its surroundings. As the story gathers momentum so the pace increases and the characters have a darker undertone with a distinct sensation of menace lurking in shadowy corners.

Cleverly written, with a fine eye for historical detail, The Midnight Guests is a fascinating glimpse into a forgotten world of crooks, gamblers and shady deals all masquerading under the glamorous facade of 1920s London.

[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.