Murder at the Mayfair Hotel

Name: Murder at the Mayfair Hotel
Availability: InStock
Author: C.J. Archer
ISBN: B08CMRCHPD

by C.J. Archer

Book 1 in the Cleopatra Fox Mysteries series

Historical Women Sleuths Amateur Sleuths

british 1920s

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About Murder at the Mayfair Hotel

It was the most fashionable place to stay in London, until murder made a reservation. Solve the puzzle in this new cozy historical mystery from USA Today bestselling author of the Glass and Steele series. December 1899.

After the death of her beloved grandmother, Cleopatra Fox moves into the luxury hotel owned by her estranged uncle in the hopes of putting hardship and loneliness behind her. But the poisoning of a guest on Christmas eve throws her new life, and the hotel, into chaos. Cleo quickly realizes no one can be trusted, not Scotland Yard and especially not the hotel’s charming assistant manager.

With the New Year’s Eve ball approaching fast and the hotel’s reputation hanging by a thread, Cleo must find the killer before the ball, and the hotel itself, are ruined. But catching a murderer proves just as difficult as navigating the hotel’s hierarchy and the peculiarities of her family. Can Cleo find the killer before the new century begins?

Or will someone get away with murder?

What readers say

Readers enjoy this light historical cozy for its glamorous turn-of-the-century London hotel setting, the immersive period detail, a spirited heroine finding her feet in her wealthy family's world, and an easy, fun pace. The most common criticism is the heroine herself, who jumps to wrong conclusions on thin evidence and causes trouble for the people around her. Other complaints are a slow opening spent introducing hotel staff before any crime, a mystery with little suspense until the last chapters, and writing that feels standard for the genre.

Best for: Readers who want a breezy, low-stakes Edwardian hotel mystery and don't mind an impulsive sleuth.

Summary of public reader reviews, updated November 2026.