The Thirteenth Room

Kempston Hardwick #4

by Adam Croft

Over two weeks, three guests enter Room 13 at the Manor Hotel, but none comes out alive...

When a married man seemingly kills himself at a local hotel, Kempston Hardwick is not so sure the death was suicide.

As he tries to convince the police to investigate, Kempston yet again throws himself into an investigation where all is not as it seems, but not before the Manor Hotel is home to more suspicious deaths...

298 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2015

About the author

With more than half a million books sold to date, Adam Croft is one of the most successful independently published authors in the world, and one of the biggest selling authors of the past year.

Following his 2015 worldwide bestseller Her Last Tomorrow, his psychological thrillers were bought by Thomas & Mercer, an imprint of Amazon Publishing. Prior to the Amazon deal, Her Last Tomorrow sold more than 150,000 copies across all platforms and became one of the bestselling books of the year, reaching the top 10 in the overall Amazon Kindle chart and peaking at number 12 in the combined paperback fiction and non-fiction chart.

His Knight & Culverhouse crime thriller series has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide, with his Kempston Hardwick mystery books being adapted as audio plays starring some of the biggest names in British TV.

In 2016, the Knight & Culverhouse Box Set reached number 1 in Canada, knocking J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child off the top spot only weeks after Her Last Tomorrow was also number 1 in Canada.

During the summer of 2016, two of Adam’s books hit the USA Today bestseller list only weeks apart, making them two of the most-purchased books in the United States over the summer.

Before writing full time, Adam had previously worked as an internet marketing consultant, delivery driver and professional actor.

Adam has been featured on BBC Radio, The Guardian, The Huffington Post, The Bookseller and a number of other news and media outl

Reviews

[Kay (Brigidsmomma) Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good mystery. Hardwick tries to solve a mystery where the police don't see a murder, but instead a suicide. It takes a while, and a couple of additional "suicides" before the police catch on that Hardwick is on the right track. Good analysis of the clues and putting together of thoughts to get to the outcome. I really enjoyed this one and wouldn't mind a few more of this series, Mr. Croft...

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read.

[Nancy Silk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Great British Tale of Murder And Suspense"

At the Manor Hotel an apparent suicide has been found. The police have no interest in thinking it may have been murder. The man was found hanging from the rafters on the top floor, with a chair laying on its side. An obvious suicide they think. But Kempston and Ellis Flint want the truth. Will the next guest in room 13 die also? This is an exciting novel with a little humor along the way. Enjoy, and I hope you are not in a motel or hotel, room 13!

[june duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do like the Kempston Hardwick novels. He's a refreshing change though in this book he does drag himself into the 21st century. There's a hint of possible supernatural but it's a Kempston Hardwick novels so you smile at Ellis as you know that there will be a logical explanation.
I did get to the who and how before Kempston but the why made me sigh. Still, the author's getting there.
This is, by far, the longest KH novel so far, there's more substance to it and it was a more satisfying read.

[Mark Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

Loved this as much as the other Kempston Hardwick stories I have read. As a paranormal investigator with Fright Nights, I even learned a little about the field and the conditions it can create. Fascinating thank you Adam.

[Killian Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the dynamic between Hardwick and Ellis, as Ellis tries hard to prove that the murders had to do with the paranormal while Hardwick is down to the science. This is the first of the Kempston Hardwick books I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the other books.

[Christine Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really gripping and this time really didn’t guess the murder Adam Croft is a bloody good author

[John Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Another great book in the Kempton Hardwick series , great who dunnit
With a great ending , highly recommend , a great read , couldn't put it down , well done Adam croft 😀

[Dave Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually enjoy Mr Croft’s books but I was disappointed with this novel. Fairly slow moving and a struggle at times to read the next chapter. Sluggish.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personalised copy received from goodreads with thanks.

This series & author were unknown to me & for some reason I was expecting it to be a period thriller. While the name Kempston Hardwick added to that assumption the odd mention of smartphones & facebook put me straight.

Anyhow none of that had an adverse effect on my enjoyment of the book as I found it thoroughly entertaining. Its a very good murder mystery in what I'd class as the more traditional vein - by that I mean its not gory & gruesome but yet its got alot more about it than a "cosy mystery".

Kempton & Ellis are a great coupling & coming in at book 4 as I have done, I'm intrigued to learn more about their friendship & past (I'm sure there was a fleeting mention of a Mrs F....can't imagine what she must be like!)

I'm certainly looking forward to reading more of this series, & as I'm usually a fan of something grittier in style, I'm interested to see that there is also something by this author that fits that bill so I shall be on the lookout for that too :o)

[lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliot Carr is found hanging and dead in room thirteen of the Manor Hotel. He had been staying at the hotel with his wife Scarlett for their anniversary. Private Detective Kempston Hardwick is not convinced that the death was suicide.

The police seem to be satisified that there was no foul play, while Kempston is determined to persuade them otherwise. Along with his assistant Ellis Flint he begins to investigate. Meanwhile the deaths keep chalking up as a further two guests are found dead in room thirteen.

This is the fourth book in the Kempston Hardwick Mystery series. However it's the first I have read. I liked it along with the straight forward murder mystery plot. It could have been longer though with further development of the main characters. Incidentally I found myself comparing Kempston and Ellis to Sherlock and Watson and then struggled to separate this notion.

All in all an enjoyable quick read.

3 stars

- Received book free from Goodreads firstreads and author Adam Croft thank you

[Oriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Adam Croft