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Murder at the Hotel Orient
A spicy whodunnit with Golden Age style, set in a timeless location inspired by a real Viennese no-tell love hotel.
'Sultry, sinister and smart. Sterling Lockwood is going to steal your heart - just don't trust her with it' Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
In modern Vienna, the infamous Hotel Orient glitters at the heart of the city, luring lovers inside for an evening of debauchery. Behind its velvet curtain, cameras are forbidden, aliases are required, and every guest has something to hide.
For those seeking illicit liaisons, Sterling Lockwood is the perfect concierge. Sultry and poised, she's the ultimate keeper of secrets, including her own.
But when dawn breaks and two of the anonymous guests are found dead in their suite, Sterling must break the Orient's sacred code of discretion, turning detective to find a killer and clear her own name.
Alongside Fernando, her quick-witted friend and bellhop, Sterling steps beyond the hotel's stained-glass doors, venturing from grand coffee houses where power whispers between porcelain cups, to dimly lit bars where the curious seek rapturous oblivion, and risking everything to solve an impossible case.
Check into the Hotel Orient and prepare for a thrilling case that will leave your heart pounding. Don’t be shy, darling, ring the bell . . .
'Sultry, sinister and smart. Sterling Lockwood is going to steal your heart - just don't trust her with it' Stuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle
In modern Vienna, the infamous Hotel Orient glitters at the heart of the city, luring lovers inside for an evening of debauchery. Behind its velvet curtain, cameras are forbidden, aliases are required, and every guest has something to hide.
For those seeking illicit liaisons, Sterling Lockwood is the perfect concierge. Sultry and poised, she's the ultimate keeper of secrets, including her own.
But when dawn breaks and two of the anonymous guests are found dead in their suite, Sterling must break the Orient's sacred code of discretion, turning detective to find a killer and clear her own name.
Alongside Fernando, her quick-witted friend and bellhop, Sterling steps beyond the hotel's stained-glass doors, venturing from grand coffee houses where power whispers between porcelain cups, to dimly lit bars where the curious seek rapturous oblivion, and risking everything to solve an impossible case.
Check into the Hotel Orient and prepare for a thrilling case that will leave your heart pounding. Don’t be shy, darling, ring the bell . . .
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2026
About the author
Alessandra Ranelli
1 book62 followersCrime Writer.
Storyteller.
Woman in the Red Dress.
Alessandra Ranelli is an American author living abroad in Vienna, Austria. Her work focuses on love, lust, and loss. She’s been known to kiss and tell.
Alessandra’s crime writing is influenced by her love of old Hollywood glamour and golden age crime. Her style is a cocktail made from a generous pour of bourbon, an ounce of film noir, and a dash of bawdy humor — served in a rocks glass, with red lipstick staining the rim.
As a professional storyteller she has a reputation for making audiences laugh and cry in equal measure. Alessandra is known for her New York Times Modern Love essay "Two Kisses We Never Talked About" and her debut crime novel, "Murder at the Hotel Orient"
She can be found on Instagram @alessandra_ranelli
Storyteller.
Woman in the Red Dress.
Alessandra Ranelli is an American author living abroad in Vienna, Austria. Her work focuses on love, lust, and loss. She’s been known to kiss and tell.
Alessandra’s crime writing is influenced by her love of old Hollywood glamour and golden age crime. Her style is a cocktail made from a generous pour of bourbon, an ounce of film noir, and a dash of bawdy humor — served in a rocks glass, with red lipstick staining the rim.
As a professional storyteller she has a reputation for making audiences laugh and cry in equal measure. Alessandra is known for her New York Times Modern Love essay "Two Kisses We Never Talked About" and her debut crime novel, "Murder at the Hotel Orient"
She can be found on Instagram @alessandra_ranelli
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