Baskerville and Alessandra Ranelli check in to Murder at the Hotel Orient with major pre-empt
Jade Chandler, publishing director at Baskerville, John Murray Press, has snapped up UK & Commonwealth rights to Murder at the Hotel Orient by Alessandra Ranelli, in a major two-book deal from Harry Illingworth. US rights sold in a pre-empt to Alison Callahan at Scout Press (S&S) through Lisa Gallagher at DeFiore & Company on behalf of Illingworth.
Baskerville will publish Murder at the Hotel Orient as their lead debut for 2026, backed by an unmissable marketing and publicity campaign, in time for Valentine’s Day. It will also be a lead title of the year for Scout Press.
Taking place in modern day Vienna, the book delivers all the thrills of a Golden Age locked room mystery, with its setting inspired by the real ‘love hotel’ in the city where cameras are banned, aliases are required, and every anonymous guest has something to hide. Ranelli’s debut stars Sterling Lockwood, the sultry and unforgettably charming concierge at the Hotel Orient, as she tries to solve the double murder of her ex-girlfriend and the tech CEO building a Viennese surveillance state –a man despised by the clientele. Everyone’s a suspect, especially Sterling. To clear her name, she’ll have to break the Orient’s sacred code of secrecy to find the guests, all while protecting her own secrets. If only she knew their real names.
Jade Chandler said, ‘This was a case of love at page one for me, both with Alessandra’s incredible cast of characters and the world of the Hotel Orient. I love the glamorous, timeless feel of the hotel – where modern technology is banned – and Sterling Lockwood is an utterly beguiling and fun protagonist. Alessandra’s love for her adopted city of Vienna shines through, and the novel evokes the quirky, murder mystery tone of Knives Out, all with a delicious Queer twist. The Baskerville team can’t wait to introduce Sterling and her friends to readers!’
Alison Callahan said, "From the moment I entered the Hotel Orient and met Sterling Lockwood, I was hooked. A place frozen in time, filled with secrets. The read is like stepping into a tent in The Night Circus, but with the air of murder and mystery (and incredible cocktails). I am delighted to introduce Alessandra's unique and alluring world to readers."
Alessandra Ranelli said, ‘So much of this project felt meant to be. From the wild night that inspired it, to becoming writer in residence at the Hotel Orient, to finding my amazing agent, and now the dream team of lovely editors. Baskerville’s plans– schemes, honestly – are astounding. I knew from Jade’s first email that they got the joke. After two years laughing to myself as I wrote, that was a welcome relief.
‘I’m thrilled to invite readers into the lamplit corners of contemporary Vienna with a funny, sultry mystery that toys with the genre boundaries of cosy crime. Luckily, Sterling is an alluring tour guide, and I suspect she’ll leave them wanting more.’
Harry Illingworth said, ‘When this book came to me on submission I was immediately transfixed and could see why agents were already jumping all over it. I believe crime novels should always bring something fresh to the genre and I’ve never read one quite like this. It turns out murder can be extremely fun, and this flamboyant and spicy book, in a unique setting, will create huge discussion. With its cinematic spark, it’s also crying out for adaptation and I expect big things are to come in the future for Sterling Lockwood.’