WHEN BLOOD SPILLS AT MIDNIGHT, THERE IS NO ESCAPING THE SINS OF THE PAST...
The Château du Ciel was once the destination for the rich and famous to play, drink and ski-complete with a private railway to shuttle those desiring extra luxury. Now, however, the guests are few and far between. The New Year's Eve party is supposed to hoist the rundown hotel back to its former status, until a massive blizzard hits, trapping the guests who've come to celebrate the grand hotel's last hurrah. The circumstances might even be romantic, if the Château wasn't reputed to be haunted.
When hotel employee Mave Michael finds the resident artist dead, and shortly thereafter security discovers Mave alone with the body, the reputation that Mave has fought long and hard to outrun comes back to haunt her: her father is an incarcerated hitman serving multiple-life sentences. She has changed her name and location dozens of times, but he somehow manages to track her down-even sending her a postcard on the eve of her birthday, January 1st. She's the perfect choice to frame for murder, and now the number one suspect. Mave can no longer deny the lessons in survival her father taught her, or her uncanny sixth-sense for finding lost objects. To save herself, she not only has to stop running from her own past, she must unearth the history of the hotel, its elite guests and buried secrets-one deadly sin at a time.
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"A fast-paced haunting novel of survival." -Library Journal, (starred review)"Intense with foreboding and an eerie sense of place. The past and present perspectives captivate the reader and connect brilliantly to reveal a shocking conclusion. Fans of Jen Williams, Karin Slaughter, and Alex North will enjoy this one!" -Booklist"Nails every classic gothic horror trope in the most elegant of ways, drawing us into a ghostly suspense story with exquisite imagery, lush language and a cast of characters in the tradition of the best whodunits. Sumptuous, sinister, and seductive, I was both charmed and haunted." -Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of The Weight of Lies and Gothictown"That kind of can't-put-it-down, just-one-more-chapter book that will have you turning pages as fast as you can. A masterclass in plotting and pacing, with nail-biting cliffhangers galore and clever twists I never saw coming." -Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain"Suspenseful, haunting and intricate, Topdjian masterfully delivers in this atmospheric debut that will have you on the edge of your seat." -Karen Winn, author of The Society
"A tense and atmospheric gothic mystery with lots of unexpected twists. Topdjian brings the Château du Ciel to life, with its haunted library, the twisting labyrinth of tunnels beneath it, and the suspicious cast of residents and guests whose pasts are intertwined with the hotel's dark history." -Allison Buccola, author of The Ascent"A deliciously sinister setting and high stakes make this a highly entertaining read. A perfect book for a snowy day. Or any day." -Emilya Naymark, author of Behind the Lie"A spooky, mind-bending tale. Topdjian grabs our attention fast and skillfully draws us through a twisty journey laced with deviousness, longing, and murder." -Sandra Young, author of Divine Vintage"Wild and fast paced and skillfully wrought. If you love thrillers that keep you up all night-and make you keep the light on afterwards-this book is for you!" -Elizabeth Everett, author of The Lady Sparks a Flame