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Midnight at the Barclay Hotel
Hunting ghosts and solving the case before checkout? All in a weekend's work.
Read the novel that New York Times bestselling author, Chris Grabenstein calls, "My kind of mystery!"
When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.
Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.
Read the novel that New York Times bestselling author, Chris Grabenstein calls, "My kind of mystery!"
When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.
Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2020
109 people are currently reading
1631 people want to read
About the author
Fleur T. Bradley
6 books219 followersFleur (F.T.) Bradley is the author of Double Vision and the (spooky) middle-grade mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (Viking Children’s, Aug. 2020), set in the fictional Barclay Hotel, inspired by the Stanley. Her story “The Perfect Alibi” appeared in Mystery Writers of America’s middle-grade anthology Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, edited by Chris Grabenstein (June 2020, HarperCollins). She regularly does school and Skype visits, as well as librarian and educator conference talks on reaching reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, she now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two daughters, and entirely too many cats.
For more information on Fleur and her books, visit www.ftbradley.com or follow her on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor
For more information on Fleur and her books, visit www.ftbradley.com or follow her on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
October 6, 2020
I finished this yesterday. When I picked it up I was at 44%. I finished the rest in 1 sitting lol I absolutely loved it! This is a PERFECT October read!! We have a murder mystery, a creepy hotel, & ghosts! The book begins setting up the story for the reader. Different “suspects” all get an invitation to a free weekend at the hotel. They each have a secret to hide-as does pretty much everyone in the story besides the detective lol once they get there, they learn of the murder of the owner & how he thought the guests each could be a suspect if something happened to him. So the weekend turns into a “Clue” like event. The guests task is to figure out who among them is the killer. Then the chapters alternate b/n the 3 kids-1 is a suspects son, 1 is the detectives granddaughter, & the other lives at the hotel. They set off to figure out who the killer is themselves, while also doing some ghost hunting on the side. I loved these kids & the friendship they created. They all helped each other so much-seeing as all 3 also had secrets of their own as well. I never saw the twist coming, nor how some of the things ended up. I absolutely loved this book. Such an absolutely beautiful cover & illustrations throughout too!😍😍Highly recommend!!💜💜
Synopsis: Hunting ghosts and solving the case before checkout? All in a weekend's work.
When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.
Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.
Synopsis: Hunting ghosts and solving the case before checkout? All in a weekend's work.
When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.
Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.
December 24, 2023
Very cute book, with an adorable cast of main characters.
September 6, 2023
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
“Not everyone read the fine print—not when there was a free vacation at stake. Some guests read it later, but by then it was too late.
No, each and every one of the five people invited felt very special when they received the letter, even if not All of them were all that excited to go. Congratulations! You are a winner, the letter said.
Everyone likes to be a winner. Mr. Barclay counted on it.”
Reminiscent of some of my favorite murder mystery films, like Murder By Death and And Then There Were None, Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is Fleur Bradley's middle grade take on the classic whodunit scenario.
The suspects have been rounded up at the Barclay Hotel. The unspeakable act has been committed. The murderer is among us. The game is afoot, and it's up to a trio of three young tweens - JJ, Penny, and Emma - who have nothing in common, except for being the 'stragglers' of the invited guests, as they put on their thinking hats and detective cloaks to round up the intended killer, before he or she strikes again. 🕵️🕵️
I appreciated how multi-faceted each of the narrators were - JJ, with his fierce interest in ghost hunting and his desire to seek out the truth if Barclay Hotel was haunted or not - Penny, with her love for reading and sleuthing, which she inherited from her Detective Grandfather, and Emma, the hotel chef's niece, who only wanted a group of friends to play with. With great charm and wit, we were introduced to each of them, and I was delighted in how easy-going the story was and how the characters interacted with one another with great candor and youthful spirit that young readers will certainly resonate with. 👍🏻👍🏻
“These dealings were not always pleasant, or to your liking.” Mr. Clark made a point of looking at every person in the room. “Which is why, exactly a week ago, one of you in this room killed Mr. Barclay.
And this weekend, we will find out who the murderer is.”
With 'motives, means, and opportunity' as their guidelines, our relentless and fearless detectives rise to the challenge to track down the culprit behind the heinous act. Featuring delightful chills and collective thrills, I loved following them as they battled their heads together and tried to understand what connected all the gathered suspects to the hotel - what was the missing link? 🧐🧐The hint of a secret that each guest was hiding, alluded to a much deeper game at play, that was slowly brought to light as the plot thickened and the cause behind the murder was questioned.
“It takes nerves of steel to be a librarian.
Books were magic to Ms. Chelsea. She wanted to share that with the world.
But it was an uphill battle, being a librarian.”
There were two personal preferences that also made this much more enjoyable for me. Still fresh from recently reading The Lost Library, I loved the casual mentions of the true magic behind books - how Battle of the Books 'was like the grand master of misery for those who are not into books' and that at the library 'there was always something new to discover'. 📚 📚 It served as a pivotal part to the story, one which we get to see play out in an intriguing way. The illustrations included in the story were also a lovely treat - giving a visual representation to each of the characters made it a much more solid and entertaining read, since I'm such a stickler for physical descriptions. It heightened the setting and provided a humorous light to the scenes, which made me appreciate the story a lot more. 🤍🤍
Ms. Bradley's writing was sharp, witty, and engaging; despite the serious setting, she keeps the tone very humorous and light, with how the young children are treated in the eyes of the adults. I like it when the narration tends to speak to the audience, as if inviting us to be an active participant in the murder mystery. It was with solid believable details and mysterious clues that served to make the many twists so very well done, that I let out a comical gasp at each unexpected reveal! 😅 For, the Barclay Hotel murderer would have certainly got away with it, 'if it hadn't been for those meddling kids'. 🥰 👌🏻 🥰
“Not everyone read the fine print—not when there was a free vacation at stake. Some guests read it later, but by then it was too late.
No, each and every one of the five people invited felt very special when they received the letter, even if not All of them were all that excited to go. Congratulations! You are a winner, the letter said.
Everyone likes to be a winner. Mr. Barclay counted on it.”
Reminiscent of some of my favorite murder mystery films, like Murder By Death and And Then There Were None, Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is Fleur Bradley's middle grade take on the classic whodunit scenario.
The suspects have been rounded up at the Barclay Hotel. The unspeakable act has been committed. The murderer is among us. The game is afoot, and it's up to a trio of three young tweens - JJ, Penny, and Emma - who have nothing in common, except for being the 'stragglers' of the invited guests, as they put on their thinking hats and detective cloaks to round up the intended killer, before he or she strikes again. 🕵️🕵️
I appreciated how multi-faceted each of the narrators were - JJ, with his fierce interest in ghost hunting and his desire to seek out the truth if Barclay Hotel was haunted or not - Penny, with her love for reading and sleuthing, which she inherited from her Detective Grandfather, and Emma, the hotel chef's niece, who only wanted a group of friends to play with. With great charm and wit, we were introduced to each of them, and I was delighted in how easy-going the story was and how the characters interacted with one another with great candor and youthful spirit that young readers will certainly resonate with. 👍🏻👍🏻
“These dealings were not always pleasant, or to your liking.” Mr. Clark made a point of looking at every person in the room. “Which is why, exactly a week ago, one of you in this room killed Mr. Barclay.
And this weekend, we will find out who the murderer is.”
With 'motives, means, and opportunity' as their guidelines, our relentless and fearless detectives rise to the challenge to track down the culprit behind the heinous act. Featuring delightful chills and collective thrills, I loved following them as they battled their heads together and tried to understand what connected all the gathered suspects to the hotel - what was the missing link? 🧐🧐The hint of a secret that each guest was hiding, alluded to a much deeper game at play, that was slowly brought to light as the plot thickened and the cause behind the murder was questioned.
“It takes nerves of steel to be a librarian.
Books were magic to Ms. Chelsea. She wanted to share that with the world.
But it was an uphill battle, being a librarian.”
There were two personal preferences that also made this much more enjoyable for me. Still fresh from recently reading The Lost Library, I loved the casual mentions of the true magic behind books - how Battle of the Books 'was like the grand master of misery for those who are not into books' and that at the library 'there was always something new to discover'. 📚 📚 It served as a pivotal part to the story, one which we get to see play out in an intriguing way. The illustrations included in the story were also a lovely treat - giving a visual representation to each of the characters made it a much more solid and entertaining read, since I'm such a stickler for physical descriptions. It heightened the setting and provided a humorous light to the scenes, which made me appreciate the story a lot more. 🤍🤍
Ms. Bradley's writing was sharp, witty, and engaging; despite the serious setting, she keeps the tone very humorous and light, with how the young children are treated in the eyes of the adults. I like it when the narration tends to speak to the audience, as if inviting us to be an active participant in the murder mystery. It was with solid believable details and mysterious clues that served to make the many twists so very well done, that I let out a comical gasp at each unexpected reveal! 😅 For, the Barclay Hotel murderer would have certainly got away with it, 'if it hadn't been for those meddling kids'. 🥰 👌🏻 🥰
March 7, 2022
Middle Grade March! This book was so much fun and FANTASTIC on Audio! I've never read a "Mystery" book set for this age group, but I think so many kids would absolutely love this. Something different...a little murder mystery mixed with some paranormal aspects and a haunted hotel, but definitely nothing too scary for the kiddos. Enjoyed the twists... an overall super fun read!
October 3, 2020
I immensely enjoyed reading Midnight at the Barclay Hotel not only does it have this atmospheric location that is based off the historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, it also had an interesting murder mystery to solve by piecing together the clues to find out who had the motive and opportunity to kill Mr. Barclay. Which is not as easy as it may seem because everyone was harboring a secret, even Penny, JJ and Emma. As the story progresses and the guests begin to interview each other, it's determined that four of the suspects defiantly had a reason to be angry with Mr. Barclay, but was it enough to kill him? Then additional clues come to light, pointing toward the chef and the butler, Mr. Clark as suspects complicating things further. When the guests get stranded at the Hotel because of a snow storm, the killer among them begins to get nervous that they'll get caught and tries to hide their identity. I really loved how Bradley preserved some of the original rumors of hauntings at the Stanley Hotel, the flickering of lights, voices of children and the hedge maze. I especially enjoyed Peggy, JJ and Emma, our amateur sleuths and ghost hunters. JJ for his passion of ghost hunting, with his voice recorder, EMF detector and infrared camera and Penny for her love of books. I so loved the location of the Barclay Hotel which sounds like such a fun place to explore, with its swimming pool, hot tub, bowling alley, carousel and even a Cupcake Shoppe! Such a fun read, reminiscent of something like Greenglass House by Kate Milford or Winterhouse by Ben Guterson, with some Agatha Christie and the board game Clue vibes. Perfect kind of story if you enjoy old hotels, murder mysteries, ghosts and hauntings, and a story with a some pleasant twits and turns, and a little suspense but nothing too frightening. **A huge thank you to Fleur Bradley for my review copy.**
October 12, 2022
4.5 stars!* i finished this in one evening just within a couple of hours. this is a fantastic middle grade spooky mystery! i loved this setting, clearly an homage to the overlook/stanley hotel & the shining, and the locked room murder mystery à la agatha christie. once i started, i couldn’t stop. this was so fast paced! i loved the main characters and was genuinely surprised by some of the reveals! the character development in this book is amazing and positive for children to see. i also may or may not have shed a tear at the end. i loved the illustrations and will for sure be checking out more from this author.
September 7, 2021
Guess who has a new favorite middle grade?! 😍
It feels like it has been so long since I’ve found a middle grade book that I’ve enjoyed this much. Fleur Bradley weaved an incredible mystery, reminiscent of Clue, that has me guessing until the very end! I love the little twists and turns along the way. I loved the atmosphere of the hotel. I loved the main characters. And I loved the illustrations. This was just an all-around incredible middle grade mystery, and I’m so glad I got to read it and discuss it with my middle grade book club kiddos!
If you like spooky, paranormal, middle grade, murder mysteries then you should absolutely check this one out!
It feels like it has been so long since I’ve found a middle grade book that I’ve enjoyed this much. Fleur Bradley weaved an incredible mystery, reminiscent of Clue, that has me guessing until the very end! I love the little twists and turns along the way. I loved the atmosphere of the hotel. I loved the main characters. And I loved the illustrations. This was just an all-around incredible middle grade mystery, and I’m so glad I got to read it and discuss it with my middle grade book club kiddos!
If you like spooky, paranormal, middle grade, murder mysteries then you should absolutely check this one out!
February 1, 2021
(c/p from my review on TheStoryGraph) Cute enough. Sort of like All the Wrong Questions meets City of Bones. The plot is a little simple, even for a middle grade book, with most of the "big reveals" being super obvious. Also, there are fully adults in the building (including a retired detective) and yet it's it he kids that work everything out. Like every SINGLE adult in this book is basically worthless!
TW for this book include: child death, parent death, poison
TW for this book include: child death, parent death, poison
June 20, 2022
3,5*
The perfect muder mystery 'Whodunit' for MG readers
A group of strangers are invited to a hotel that it's believed to be haunted. We follow the story of 3 kids that will have to solve the mystery of the hotel and find proof that ghosts do exist.
This was such a sweet, fun, fast paced MG ghost story. However the twists were so easy to see from the beginning but that also has something to do with the fact that I am an adult.
Definitely a cozy read for fall and a great book for kids.
Perfect for: Fans of a cozy muder mystery party in a haunted hotel
The perfect muder mystery 'Whodunit' for MG readers
A group of strangers are invited to a hotel that it's believed to be haunted. We follow the story of 3 kids that will have to solve the mystery of the hotel and find proof that ghosts do exist.
This was such a sweet, fun, fast paced MG ghost story. However the twists were so easy to see from the beginning but that also has something to do with the fact that I am an adult.
Definitely a cozy read for fall and a great book for kids.
Perfect for: Fans of a cozy muder mystery party in a haunted hotel
January 16, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book, which I stumbled across by accident, and will now search out in paper copy for our school library.
It is a real whodunnit, with an Agatha Christie meets Scoobie Doo feel about it.
Five seemingly random strangers are invited to a weekend away at a hotel in the Rockies, only to find that they are suspects in a murder-mystery. Two of the suspects have brought a child along for the ride and these two (bookish Penny and ghost hunter JJ) meet up with Emma, who lives at the hotel, and they start to try and solve the mystery.
Full of twists and turns (you DO have to concentrate!!!) this is a captivating story and I loved every minute of it!!!
It is a real whodunnit, with an Agatha Christie meets Scoobie Doo feel about it.
Five seemingly random strangers are invited to a weekend away at a hotel in the Rockies, only to find that they are suspects in a murder-mystery. Two of the suspects have brought a child along for the ride and these two (bookish Penny and ghost hunter JJ) meet up with Emma, who lives at the hotel, and they start to try and solve the mystery.
Full of twists and turns (you DO have to concentrate!!!) this is a captivating story and I loved every minute of it!!!
August 29, 2020
Fantastic book. This story has all sorts of things I geek out about: mystery, ghost hunting, theater... the only thing it’s missing is zombies! (Wait. Is that a spoiler?) Anyway, the story starts with characters that (even as an adult) were very relatable to me and likable to boot. Lots of story twists with Easter egg homages to Stephen King, Agatha Christie, C.S. Lewis, and probably more that I missed.
October 18, 2020
A fun, Agatha Christie style mystery, set in a haunted hotel in Colorado. When the guests get snowed in, it's up to the three kids to figure out who the murderer is. It has a similar feel to Greenglass House, though set in the present day. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
October 17, 2020
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The Barclay Hotel is well-known for being haunted, so JJ is super excited when his mom gets an exclusive invitation to spend an all-expense-paid weekend there. He talks her into going, planning to do a little ghost hunting while he’s there. Meanwhile, Penny’s grandpa is also invited to the hotel, while Emma is just excited to finally have some kids around to hang out with. They’re surprised to find, though, that this isn’t just any invite–Mr. Barclay has been murdered, and almost everyone invited is a suspect (except Penny’s grandpa, who’s a detective). The guests are expected to figure out whodunit (murder-mystery-party style). This story is a fun mystery that never takes itself too terribly seriously, and the story has some great twists that I didn’t see coming. The ghost elements aren’t incredibly scary, so it’s great for younger middle grade readers too. This was a really fun read!!
The Barclay Hotel is well-known for being haunted, so JJ is super excited when his mom gets an exclusive invitation to spend an all-expense-paid weekend there. He talks her into going, planning to do a little ghost hunting while he’s there. Meanwhile, Penny’s grandpa is also invited to the hotel, while Emma is just excited to finally have some kids around to hang out with. They’re surprised to find, though, that this isn’t just any invite–Mr. Barclay has been murdered, and almost everyone invited is a suspect (except Penny’s grandpa, who’s a detective). The guests are expected to figure out whodunit (murder-mystery-party style). This story is a fun mystery that never takes itself too terribly seriously, and the story has some great twists that I didn’t see coming. The ghost elements aren’t incredibly scary, so it’s great for younger middle grade readers too. This was a really fun read!!
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July 10, 20242024-2025 Wisconsin Elementary State Battle of the Books
May 13, 2022
A fun mystery with ghosts and everything. (Not a bit scary, tho). Not too hard to puzzle out, but then I'm a bit older than the target audience of 8-12 yo's.
May 20, 2021
*reread March 2021*
When I was younger I used to love playing Clue with my friends. Reading this book really took me back to those days. If I had the time I would’ve finished it in one sitting because it was just too good to put down. I got really excited trying to guess who the killer was and was pleasantly surprised with all the twists and turns along the way. I can really see myself reading this to my kids later, knowing they will love this book just as much as I did
When I was younger I used to love playing Clue with my friends. Reading this book really took me back to those days. If I had the time I would’ve finished it in one sitting because it was just too good to put down. I got really excited trying to guess who the killer was and was pleasantly surprised with all the twists and turns along the way. I can really see myself reading this to my kids later, knowing they will love this book just as much as I did
November 26, 2025
This middle grade mystery will be the perfect addition to our school library collection! Relatable characters, secrets and mysteries all swirl together in a blizzard that traps everyone, including a murderer, together in a haunted mountain hotel.
11/25/25 - Just finished reading a second time - listened to the audio! January LaVoy did a terrific job narrating!
11/25/25 - Just finished reading a second time - listened to the audio! January LaVoy did a terrific job narrating!
August 17, 2020
Five mysterious invitations go out to an eclectic group of people asking them to join a special event at the Barclay Hotel. When JJ sees his mom’s invitation he knows it’s his chance to get into the old hotel to do some ghost hunting. He has a lot of cool equipment and he’s been excited to try it out. Since his mother owes him one- it’s time to cash in. Penny is visiting her grandfather, a retired detective, and is intrigued by the old hotel. Her grandfather wants to get away and be pampered, so Penny convinces him that this is his chance. Once the invitees and the “stragglers” (the two extra kids) are at the hotel, the butler, Mr. Clark, announces that they are all there because one of them is the murderer of Mr. Barkley. And here begins the whodunit! It’s a murder mystery with some interesting suspects. Was it the CEO? The actress? The librarian or cowboy? It seems possible it could be any of them, except JJ knows his mom didn’t do it. Penny and JJ meet up with Emma, a child who lives at the hotel, and the three of them are on the case. JJ wants to clear his mom’s name and Emma and Penny want to help catch the killer. Can the three sleuths solve the case? Will the murderer strike again? Is everyone who they say they are? And are there really any ghosts at the Barclay Hotel? Will JJ get to do any ghost hunting? You’ll have to read along and spot the clues as they are unveiled.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is not the first book that I’ve read by Fleur Bradley. I also read her Double Vision series, and was lucky enough to interview her twice on my blog back then. Midnight at the Barclay Hotel reminded me of a modern day The Westing Game, but easier to understand. The Westing Game is a whodunit with a lot of characters and clues for readers to sort out. I remembered reading it as a kid and enjoying it- but when I read it to my 5th grade class they hated it. They found the number of characters overwhelming and just too confusing. I tried to make it as exciting and accessible as I could, but in the end they didn't enjoy it very much. After reading this book- I think it would be the perfect book for teachers to introduce and explore the whodunit genre with their class. With less characters it will be much easier for kids to follow the story and try to sort out the clues. I think kids will really love the mystery and the chance to try to solve the crime. Lots of clues sprinkled in. JJ, Penny, and Emma have a fast friendship, but it seems to make sense and is believable. They all have their own strengths and interests, which makes them intriguing. I thought the ghost hunting was a cool aspect of the book, and I loved all the tools JJ has. I also liked trying to narrow down who had committed the murder. I highly recommend this to kids in third grade and up who like mysteries, the game of Clue, or any other book in which you try to solve a crime. It’s a murder mystery without being scary or gory. This book was a lot of fun and it had a great ending!
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is not the first book that I’ve read by Fleur Bradley. I also read her Double Vision series, and was lucky enough to interview her twice on my blog back then. Midnight at the Barclay Hotel reminded me of a modern day The Westing Game, but easier to understand. The Westing Game is a whodunit with a lot of characters and clues for readers to sort out. I remembered reading it as a kid and enjoying it- but when I read it to my 5th grade class they hated it. They found the number of characters overwhelming and just too confusing. I tried to make it as exciting and accessible as I could, but in the end they didn't enjoy it very much. After reading this book- I think it would be the perfect book for teachers to introduce and explore the whodunit genre with their class. With less characters it will be much easier for kids to follow the story and try to sort out the clues. I think kids will really love the mystery and the chance to try to solve the crime. Lots of clues sprinkled in. JJ, Penny, and Emma have a fast friendship, but it seems to make sense and is believable. They all have their own strengths and interests, which makes them intriguing. I thought the ghost hunting was a cool aspect of the book, and I loved all the tools JJ has. I also liked trying to narrow down who had committed the murder. I highly recommend this to kids in third grade and up who like mysteries, the game of Clue, or any other book in which you try to solve a crime. It’s a murder mystery without being scary or gory. This book was a lot of fun and it had a great ending!
May 27, 2022
* 4.5
Wow, this book wasn't anything I was expecting at all. I just loved it so much. The atmosphere was incredible. At first, I thought it would be a usual ghostly mystery book, but of course it wasn't!
This book was so twisty and mysterious. It was a whodunit story with ghosts. There were a lot of plot twists I didn't see coming at all. I was so surprised because I literally couldn't guess even just one of them. The murderer and their motives were also quite shocking. Basically this book was very different from some middle grade ghostly books I've read. This one is so underrated, it definitely deserves more hype because it's so goooddddd.
I think this book was just fantastic and fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a atmospheric ghostsly murder mystery book.
Wow, this book wasn't anything I was expecting at all. I just loved it so much. The atmosphere was incredible. At first, I thought it would be a usual ghostly mystery book, but of course it wasn't!
This book was so twisty and mysterious. It was a whodunit story with ghosts. There were a lot of plot twists I didn't see coming at all. I was so surprised because I literally couldn't guess even just one of them. The murderer and their motives were also quite shocking. Basically this book was very different from some middle grade ghostly books I've read. This one is so underrated, it definitely deserves more hype because it's so goooddddd.
I think this book was just fantastic and fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a atmospheric ghostsly murder mystery book.
May 16, 2023
Middle Grade Rating: 5
This is a wonderful and complex story that I assessed for its value as a middle grade story, as well as something I enjoyed reading as an adult. I might even go so far as to compare this book’s story structure as being similar to Agatha Christie - bringing together a variety of strangers with different backgrounds and personal agendas. Once the main characters arrive at a special location, in this case a free promotional weekend stay at the possibly haunted Barclay Hotel, they’re presented with a mystery to solve that brings everyone together… while also lining up many of those same characters as potential suspects!
The main protagonists are a diverse group of middle graders: amateur ghost hunter JJ, book lover Penny, and hotel resident Emma who’s excited to spend time with kids her own age because her family is too busy with the hotel to make time for her. They’re an unlikely group who eventually discover they each have some knowledge or skills so that if they work together there’s a better chance they can solve the hotel’s mystery before the special weekend stay is over for JJ and Penny.
The perspectives of chapters switch amongst different narrators, but are mostly told from the POV of JJ, Penny, and Emma. They’re bright, friendly, resourceful, and responsible children who have good relationships with the adults in their lives. This isn’t a particularly scary story, in my opinion, but the spooky hotel atmosphere, especially after dark, is excellent. The artwork throughout the book is very cute and fit the story so nicely.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, January LaVoy, did a great job voicing not only the child characters, but the adults too.
The digital version includes a sneak peak of the author’s novel, Daybreak on Raven Island. The Prologue and chapter shared are intriguing.
This is a wonderful and complex story that I assessed for its value as a middle grade story, as well as something I enjoyed reading as an adult. I might even go so far as to compare this book’s story structure as being similar to Agatha Christie - bringing together a variety of strangers with different backgrounds and personal agendas. Once the main characters arrive at a special location, in this case a free promotional weekend stay at the possibly haunted Barclay Hotel, they’re presented with a mystery to solve that brings everyone together… while also lining up many of those same characters as potential suspects!
The main protagonists are a diverse group of middle graders: amateur ghost hunter JJ, book lover Penny, and hotel resident Emma who’s excited to spend time with kids her own age because her family is too busy with the hotel to make time for her. They’re an unlikely group who eventually discover they each have some knowledge or skills so that if they work together there’s a better chance they can solve the hotel’s mystery before the special weekend stay is over for JJ and Penny.
The perspectives of chapters switch amongst different narrators, but are mostly told from the POV of JJ, Penny, and Emma. They’re bright, friendly, resourceful, and responsible children who have good relationships with the adults in their lives. This isn’t a particularly scary story, in my opinion, but the spooky hotel atmosphere, especially after dark, is excellent. The artwork throughout the book is very cute and fit the story so nicely.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, January LaVoy, did a great job voicing not only the child characters, but the adults too.
The digital version includes a sneak peak of the author’s novel, Daybreak on Raven Island. The Prologue and chapter shared are intriguing.
October 25, 2020
This is a fun middle grade mystery with plenty of red herrings and twists I didn't see coming. The amounts of spookiness and danger elements are perfect for this age group and even younger readers who want to level up to longer books. The characters are ones I grew to care for and I enjoyed their friendship and family relationships.
March 29, 2021
This book was such a joy! It's a fun, spooky mystery with a fantastic setting (a haunted hotel in the Colorado Rockies) and intriguing characters. Completely charming and engaging for the whole family!
September 27, 2022
A quick fun middle grade read. It wasn’t TOTALLY predicable. In some ways (setting, tone) it reminded me of “The Westing Game” but was completely it’s own story. Good characters. Overall I enjoyed it!
October 18, 2020
A great Agatha Christie type MG story! A wonderful plot with twists and turns to keep readers hooked til the end. I enjoyed the fun mystery and think MG readers will too!
December 12, 2020
What a blast! Such a fun mystery for younger readers and for this mystery lover as well.
June 5, 2020
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss+ for an eARC of this book.
This was just the kind of story that I was looking for! It's a mystery without being scary, a murder to solve without being gory, and has ghosts without being creepy.
Five people are invited to the Barclay Hotel for the weekend. Little do they know that they have been invited because they are all suspects in a murder investigation. These individuals, along with one granddaughter, one son, and one resident of the hotel, must figure out who committed the murder by interviewing each other. But the best part about the Barclay Hotel is that it's haunted, and even the ghosts have a role to play in helping solve the mystery.
I really enjoyed the tone of this story, and connected with the kid characters. I like the twists that were revealed, and found the story moved along quite quickly. I look forward to hearing feedback from young readers when it's released in August 2020.
This was just the kind of story that I was looking for! It's a mystery without being scary, a murder to solve without being gory, and has ghosts without being creepy.
Five people are invited to the Barclay Hotel for the weekend. Little do they know that they have been invited because they are all suspects in a murder investigation. These individuals, along with one granddaughter, one son, and one resident of the hotel, must figure out who committed the murder by interviewing each other. But the best part about the Barclay Hotel is that it's haunted, and even the ghosts have a role to play in helping solve the mystery.
I really enjoyed the tone of this story, and connected with the kid characters. I like the twists that were revealed, and found the story moved along quite quickly. I look forward to hearing feedback from young readers when it's released in August 2020.
July 28, 2020
Honestly reads like The Westing Game without teeth. Perhaps because it's so reminiscent of that, the tone here reads a bit strange to me—it feels like it often teeters on the border of patronizing, like in the passage below, a conversation between Penny (11), JJ (12), and Emma (12):
Penny pulled out the notepad. “We create character sheets, like these. Then we add clues—secrets we find out about the others—which will tell us whodunit.”
“Who-whatsit?” JJ asked.
“Whodunit,” Emma said, like JJ should know. “That’s the killer, but you also call a mystery story that: a whodunit.”
“All my favorite Agatha Christie novels are whodunits,” Penny added. All serious mystery readers who practically live at the library, like Penny, know Agatha Christie.
Penny pulled out the notepad. “We create character sheets, like these. Then we add clues—secrets we find out about the others—which will tell us whodunit.”
“Who-whatsit?” JJ asked.
“Whodunit,” Emma said, like JJ should know. “That’s the killer, but you also call a mystery story that: a whodunit.”
“All my favorite Agatha Christie novels are whodunits,” Penny added. All serious mystery readers who practically live at the library, like Penny, know Agatha Christie.
December 4, 2020
I couldn't get into this. I didn't like the writing style, and neither did my daughter, who DID finish. It seems too young, even for the age group it was intended for. I felt the writer tried too hard to be witty with their writing. Did not finish, which is rare for me. :(
October 5, 2020
This was a fantastic story filled with many mysteries. Can't wait to read more by Fleur Bradley.
July 8, 2021
This is a joint review that Andrea M and I wrote. Disclaimer: This E-copy of the book was provided by the Author for this review, thank you!
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is Fleur Bradley’s most recent middle grade novel. It features beautifully crafted illustrations by Xavier Bonet. Five people are selected to enjoy a weekend stay at the Barclay Hotel. However, everyone ends up pulled into a murder mystery. When We saw the synopsis, we knew we would be into it.
Adri: The beginning got to the point, introducing the reader to all the important places and characters –like JJ, Penny, and Emma among others. Not too long after, I found myself sucked into the story and had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to get to the end to find out what was really going on at the Barclay Hotel. Even though I did predict a few things, it did not take away my enjoyment. I still found myself guessing with each reveal.
Andrea: I absolutely love Fleur Bradley’s writing style. She does an amazing job of writing middle grade books with just the right amount of suspense and adventure. I was first introduced to her work when I reviewed the Double Vision series, which was an exciting adventure that I highly recommend. As for Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, it didn’t disappoint. Each character’s profile added a layer of suspense. Although the story seemed predictable, it just wasn’t that simple.
Adri: The next thing I really like was the chemistry between the characters. JJ has a dislike of reading but loves ghost hunting; Penny loves reading but is skeptical of ghost; and Emma just wants kids her age to hang out with. This created a nice balance of personalities. And I can’t forget the relationship that that JJ has with his mother and Penny her grandfather. I have my reasons but I think they’re kind of spoiler-y, so…
Andrea: I have to agree with you the characters had amazing chemistry. JJ’s sense of adventure, Penny’s insecurities, and the fact that Emma was simply peculiar created an amazing team of Junior sleuths. I also liked the characters’ growth as the story progressed.
Andrea & Adri: Anyway, Midnight at the Barclay Hotel was a fun read. We recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting to you. We especially recommend it if a young reader is interested in murder mysteries and paranormal/ghost hunting.
Thanks for reading. This review also appears on Our Thoughts Precisely.
Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is Fleur Bradley’s most recent middle grade novel. It features beautifully crafted illustrations by Xavier Bonet. Five people are selected to enjoy a weekend stay at the Barclay Hotel. However, everyone ends up pulled into a murder mystery. When We saw the synopsis, we knew we would be into it.
Adri: The beginning got to the point, introducing the reader to all the important places and characters –like JJ, Penny, and Emma among others. Not too long after, I found myself sucked into the story and had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to get to the end to find out what was really going on at the Barclay Hotel. Even though I did predict a few things, it did not take away my enjoyment. I still found myself guessing with each reveal.
Andrea: I absolutely love Fleur Bradley’s writing style. She does an amazing job of writing middle grade books with just the right amount of suspense and adventure. I was first introduced to her work when I reviewed the Double Vision series, which was an exciting adventure that I highly recommend. As for Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, it didn’t disappoint. Each character’s profile added a layer of suspense. Although the story seemed predictable, it just wasn’t that simple.
Adri: The next thing I really like was the chemistry between the characters. JJ has a dislike of reading but loves ghost hunting; Penny loves reading but is skeptical of ghost; and Emma just wants kids her age to hang out with. This created a nice balance of personalities. And I can’t forget the relationship that that JJ has with his mother and Penny her grandfather. I have my reasons but I think they’re kind of spoiler-y, so…
Andrea: I have to agree with you the characters had amazing chemistry. JJ’s sense of adventure, Penny’s insecurities, and the fact that Emma was simply peculiar created an amazing team of Junior sleuths. I also liked the characters’ growth as the story progressed.
Andrea & Adri: Anyway, Midnight at the Barclay Hotel was a fun read. We recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting to you. We especially recommend it if a young reader is interested in murder mysteries and paranormal/ghost hunting.
Thanks for reading. This review also appears on Our Thoughts Precisely.
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