After finishing Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet, I desperately needed a palate cleanser. Something lighter. Something fun. And preferably something where no children were killed.
Enter Lucy Foley’s Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel.
I fully admit I was drawn to the cover. I was shopping at the Severna Park Park Books with my dad and stopped in my tracks. For a skier in off season, it was a sign. Yes, Foley had me at the red gondola. And fun fact: I even got a first edition signed copy.
Then I realized this wasn’t just any murder mystery. Foley had brought back Agatha Christie’s legendary amateur sleuth, Miss Marple, and sent her on a glamorous ski vacation. It’s the first authorized full-length Miss Marple novel in 50 years and skiers like me are in for a treat.
A murder mystery set at a luxury Alpine resort? With vintage skiing, fabulous clothes, and a cast of suspicious characters? I’m in.
Miss Marple Takes a Ski Vacation
The year is 1950, and Miss Marple is taking a well-deserved break from postwar England. Along with her dear friend Dolly Bantry and Dolly’s companion, Diana Glass, she travels to the Swiss Alps for some fresh mountain air, fabulous views, and a little pampering.
The Grand Alpine Hotel promises everything the women could want: luxurious accommodations, a spa, excellent food, and spectacular mountain scenery. What they didn’t bargain on was a murder.
And naturally, once someone turns up dead, Miss Marple’s vacation becomes considerably more interesting. The murder is only the beginning. A snowstorm leaves the guests stranded at the hotel, and it quickly becomes apparent that several people have secrets worth killing to protect.
Stolen Gold, Wartime Secrets, and Plenty of Suspects
At the center of the mystery is a stash of gold stolen from the French Resistance during World War II. A shady British politician has his sights set on recovering the treasure, and as the story unfolds, we learn more about how the gold was stolen and the lengths some people will go to reclaim it. The war may be over, but its consequences are very much alive.
Foley does a terrific job of weaving together the political intrigue, wartime betrayals, and personal grudges that connect the hotel’s guests. There are plenty of suspicious men to keep track of, but for me, the women steal the show.
The Women Make This Mystery
In addition to our British trio, we meet Sylvia Sinclair, a glamorous American movie star with plenty of curves, cravings, and secrets. I adored her. Foley gives Sylvia some of the best clothes, the best lines, and the most entertaining plot twists. She’s exactly the sort of larger-than-life character I want to encounter in a glamorous Alpine hotel.
There’s also something wonderful about watching Miss Marple operate in this setting. She’s not the flashiest woman in the room. Let’s remember our elders are keen observers of all around us. While everyone else is busy showing off, flirting, and trying to conceal their secrets, she’s quietly taking notes.
Never underestimate an older woman who is paying attention.
I also loved that Foley didn’t try to turn Miss Marple into someone she’s not. She’s still the observant, unassuming detective Christie created, only now she’s surrounded by mountains, champagne, and people who really should know better. My only wish? That she at least donned skis for a quick cross country excursion.
Snow Is Practically Another Main Character
In addition to all the delicious female characters, there’s another star of this novel.
Snow!
And you should know by now that I love the stuff. This book is packed with snowy mountain scenes, vintage ski culture, horse-drawn sleighs, tobogganing, and all the trappings of a glamorous midcentury winter vacation. As a skier, I’m here for the button lifts, stem Christie turns, wool sweaters, and fabulous Alpine atmosphere.
There’s something irresistible about the contrast between the cozy luxury of the hotel and the dangers lurking just beyond its doors. Outside, snow is piling up. Inside, the guests are drinking cocktails, exchanging suspicious glances, and trying not to become the next victim.
It’s basically my dream winter vacation. Minus the murders.
Foley clearly understands that a great mystery needs more than a clever plot. It needs a setting that makes you want to stay a little longer.
A Classic Mystery With a Modern Touch
I love an old-fashioned whodunit, especially one where the violence doesn’t overwhelm the storytelling.
There are plenty of murders here, but not much gore. Instead, Foley relies on clever plotting, suspicious behavior, hidden motives, and a cast of characters who all seem to be keeping something from one another.
It’s the kind of mystery that invites you to play detective alongside Miss Marple while not giving you nightmares.
Final Thoughts
Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel was exactly the palate cleanser I needed after Hamnet.
It’s glamorous, snowy, clever, and thoroughly entertaining. Foley delivers a classic murder mystery with enough twists to keep the pages turning and enough vintage ski atmosphere to make me want to book a trip to the Alps.
Read this book to get excited about winter, enjoy a fabulous cast of women, and lose yourself in a good old-fashioned mystery.
Plenty of murders. Not much gore. Perfection.
One-line takeaway: Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel combines Miss Marple, vintage ski glamour, and a deliciously twisty mystery into the perfect winter escape.
For fans of: Agatha Christie, Lucy Foley, The Thursday Murder Club, classic whodunits, cozy mysteries, glamorous hotels, and anyone who loves a snowy Alpine setting.
Where I read it: I finished this book off on my trip to Saugerties with my daughter. We were there for hiking, golf and spa. This relaxing setting was perfect for some murders!
You can find this—and everything else I’m reading this year—on my running 2026 book list.
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