A former crime reporter who became a night taxi driver in Alicante navigates a quirky, darkly comic mystery as Halloween draws near. The city serves as a canvas for a novel that fuses noir parody with a Fortean edge, inviting readers to follow a shy, skeptical narrator through a world where the strange feels almost everyday. Hotel Grand Finale opens the planned trilogy, introducing Daniel Valverde as a storyteller who enjoys lampooning the mysterious while delivering a crisp, engaging thriller.
“The Tragicomic and Fortean is a dark novel in Alicante, a playful salute to the city,” Valverde explains, noting the warm response the manuscript earned. The book features a cover illustration by Adrián Bago and is published under the editorial direction of Gante Blanco. The action threads through the hotel’s grand corridors and the aging spa in Aigües, where every character — from the taxi driver to two enigmatic men in black and a mysterious mummy trapped in an elevator — becomes entangled in a growing, bizarre conspiracy. A public signing at Fnac Boulevard drew a crowd with local culture expert Jorge Fernandez Carbonell, celebrated for its lively dialogue and strong sense of place.
Valverde, who also works as a private aviation pilot and hosts a mystery show and podcast, has made Alicante his home since 2006. His podcast Sealed Cellar examines supposedly unsolved cases with a rational, investigative lens, aiming to offer logical explanations for the strange phenomena people report. The author’s shift from podcast host to novelist is visible in Hotel Grand Finale, as the story leans into the idea that some mysteries can look funny or absurd on the surface while inviting careful inquiry. The narrative also critiques self-styled esoteric authorities and ceremonial or tarot-guided gurus who claim to unlock hidden truths.
Marketing materials for the book credit Valverde’s voice and wit, and the artwork reinforces the blend of humor and mystery that defines the tale. A strong sense of place anchors the story in Alicante, with scenes spilling into nearby Aigües and into the city’s historic squares and stately buildings where the hotel guards secrets that matter to the plot. Bar names with tongue in cheek reimaginings, such as Malacresta or Bajamira, highlight the playful tone. The novel is available now, and Valverde signals the next segment of the trilogy, continuing the arc sparked by the intrigue surrounding the mystery convention.
places
The setting centers on Alicante and its surroundings, with key scenes roaming through Aigües and other locales that give the story its distinctive atmosphere. The hotel holds core secrets, while everyday street life — lanes, plazas, and bars — adds texture and tension. The opening installment builds anticipation for the upcoming installments of the trilogy, expanding on the initial mystery convention and its consequences for the characters involved.
other books
Valverde previously released other works with the same publisher, including titles that explore sweeping, cinematic quests and moonlit enigmas. A recent edition broadens an earlier novel with new material, while a long-running mystery podcast continues to grow, with numerous episodes now available on major streaming platforms. The author’s broader body of work reflects a consistent interest in mixing humor with mystery and examining human behavior under odd or suspenseful circumstances.