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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
I loved this book and its whole series they are incredibly wonderful murder mysteries that are gripping and both entertaining. I love the characters too and Daisy's and Hazel's relationship
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Although this book is officially a ‘children’s’ book, I do believe that any age can read it – I enjoy it as much now as I did five years ago, when I first read the series. In some ways, I feel like I understood and enjoyed the book more now that I am older than Daisy and Hazel in the series. When I first read the book, I was younger than Daisy and Hazel, but now that I am older than them, I can understand the story from both the ‘shrimps’ and the ‘big girls” perspectives.
Firstly, I love how this book is packed with suspense all the way through, from when Hazel first discovers the body to the scene in the cloakroom and the confrontation at the end of the book. Despite me knowing how the book will end, and the full solution to the murder of Miss Bell, I was still gripped all the way through, and I still suspected each suspect throughout. As I have read this book more than once, I could draw new connections throughout the book, which I haven’t been able to before. Although this is a very complex mystery, I still managed to guess the murderer very early on into the book the first time I read it (not that I expected it to become true – it was a wild guess, and to be honest, I was very shocked when the girls found it to be true!). Now, by re-reading the book, I do question how Daisy and Hazel didn’t add up the clues around the murderer quicker, as they did behave what I believe to be suspiciously after Miss Bell’s murder.
I know that this isn’t part of the plot, but I do think that the cover deserves a lot of attention. I love how it is so simple, yet so effective – the title with sillouhettes of important parts of the book. I do love it how any book in this series is always easy to spot in a bookstore! It was always so much fun walking into a bookstore, knowing that the next Murder Most Unladylike novel was out, and trying to spot the bright cover.
I do also love how we as readers are introduced to Deepdean in a way that makes us feel like we have always been a part of the school – not long after starting the book, I felt like I was familiar with all the girls, ‘shrimps’ and ‘big girls’ mentioned, which is really nice, especially progressing through the series when characters are relevant in more than one of the books. The map of Deepdean at the front of the book also helps me to visualise the route Daisy and Hazel take when they sneak around the school to detect.
Now that I have read most of the books in this series, I can see how Robin Stevens has dropped clues to what will happen in future books. For example, Hazel’s family dynamics are mentioned (which is very important in A Spoonful of Murder) and the Cheng family, who are very significant in Mistletoe and Murder (review coming at Christmas).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book – I loved how it was packed with suspense all the way through, even when Daisy and Hazel are writing down the first suspect list and grabbing motives out of thin air.
I would recommend this book to any mystery fans of any age – although murder is a big theme of this book, the actual murder itself is not described graphically, the girls make sense of it in their heads, as opposed to the murderer describing the murder.
Although this book is officially a ‘children’s’ book, I do believe that any age can read it – I enjoy it as much now as I did five years ago, when I first read the series. In some ways, I feel like I understood and enjoyed the book more now that I am older than Daisy and Hazel in the series. When I first read the book, I was younger than Daisy and Hazel, but now that I am older than them, I can understand the story from both the ‘shrimps’ and the ‘big girls” perspectives.
Firstly, I love how this book is packed with suspense all the way through, from when Hazel first discovers the body to the scene in the cloakroom and the confrontation at the end of the book. Despite me knowing how the book will end, and the full solution to the murder of Miss Bell, I was still gripped all the way through, and I still suspected each suspect throughout. As I have read this book more than once, I could draw new connections throughout the book, which I haven’t been able to before. Although this is a very complex mystery, I still managed to guess the murderer very early on into the book the first time I read it (not that I expected it to become true – it was a wild guess, and to be honest, I was very shocked when the girls found it to be true!). Now, by re-reading the book, I do question how Daisy and Hazel didn’t add up the clues around the murderer quicker, as they did behave what I believe to be suspiciously after Miss Bell’s murder.
I know that this isn’t part of the plot, but I do think that the cover deserves a lot of attention. I love how it is so simple, yet so effective – the title with sillouhettes of important parts of the book. I do love it how any book in this series is always easy to spot in a bookstore! It was always so much fun walking into a bookstore, knowing that the next Murder Most Unladylike novel was out, and trying to spot the bright cover.
I do also love how we as readers are introduced to Deepdean in a way that makes us feel like we have always been a part of the school – not long after starting the book, I felt like I was familiar with all the girls, ‘shrimps’ and ‘big girls’ mentioned, which is really nice, especially progressing through the series when characters are relevant in more than one of the books. The map of Deepdean at the front of the book also helps me to visualise the route Daisy and Hazel take when they sneak around the school to detect.
Now that I have read most of the books in this series, I can see how Robin Stevens has dropped clues to what will happen in future books. For example, Hazel’s family dynamics are mentioned (which is very important in A Spoonful of Murder) and the Cheng family, who are very significant in Mistletoe and Murder (review coming at Christmas).
Overall, I really enjoyed this book – I loved how it was packed with suspense all the way through, even when Daisy and Hazel are writing down the first suspect list and grabbing motives out of thin air.
I would recommend this book to any mystery fans of any age – although murder is a big theme of this book, the actual murder itself is not described graphically, the girls make sense of it in their heads, as opposed to the murderer describing the murder.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
First in a series which was bought for a relative but I decided to read first. The characters are will described and the murder mystery is dealt with in a delightful way with enough mystery to keep the reader intrigued and hoping to solve the case before the two young detectives of the story. A lovely introduction into the series.
This is a very good book for those enjoy murder mysteries, but it wasn't my cup of tea.
This was an unusual, but quite enjoyable book. I bought it in the recommendation of one of my students, and thought it would appeal to the Friday Barnes crowd. I think it will, although the subject matter is significantly darker. The mystery was well done and engaging, the description of 1930s boarding school life detailed. It felt strange to be reading an Enid Blyton/C.S. Lewis style "jolly good show, tea and crumpets" book, yet knowing it was written only recently. I did think Daisy and Hazel's relationship was a little toxic, and I hope it improves over the myriad books that already exist in the series!
me vs relating to both hazel and daisy even tho theyre the complete opposite of each other
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The main character is Asian and it is set in the 1930’s. I thought this was reminiscent of Enid Blyton novels that were updated for the modern time. So I guessed The murderer I I still didn’t guess the motive the ending was very satisfying and there are no left loose ends to follow. The dynamic between two main characters are is interesting and realistic. I would recommend this to anyone who just wants a fun little read which still touches on grown-up topics in a digestible wait for a young child.