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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
the twist is a bit underwhelming but overall good book
Murder Most Unladylike was a surprising read of 2016 because I really didn't expect to have liked this book! The book is set in 1934, with two main protagonists: Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, two girls who are attending boarding school in Deepdean School for Girls. Based on appearances alone, Daisy is the perfect English rose who is popular, intelligent and pretty. And in any other YA novel, Daisy would likely be the narrator of this story. However, in Robin Stevens' world, Hazel Wong is instead the perspective we read from!
It's a little strange to like a mystery-thriller so much because of the protagonist involved (given that such stories are usually driven by the mystery rather than the characters involved). Yet, I found a lot to like in Hazel. Hazel is an unlikely heroine in a mystery thriller because she's quiet, awkward and rather plain in her own opinion. She's also quite insecure, believing that Daisy is the brains of the operation. Unlike Daisy who hides who she is by taking on a different persona in public, Hazel prefers to live in the shadows. I actually really adored Hazel as a MC because she's really a breath of fresh air in YA, given her insecurities and imperfections. Yet she's actually really street-smart and picks up on details that Daisy ignores.
Another reason why I enjoyed Hazel so much is because she's a POC MC! It's mentioned that Hazel is one of the few POC in her school, having a Anglophile father who has sent her from Hong Kong to attend boarding school. I loved the fact that our narrator is a POC, who is so incredibly rare in YA that it's quite irritating actually. The only other novel that I can recall having a POC narrator that I've come across recently is Nicola Yoon's [b:Everything, Everything|30004351|Everything, Everything|Nicola Yoon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462160672s/30004351.jpg|26540216] and how sad is that? More representation is needed in YA, different heritages and cultures need to be recognised and represented.
Aside from the wonderful main characters, I also found the central mystery to be engrossing. When Hazel finds their Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym, she freaks out and is completely unprepared by Daisy's determination to figure out the killer's identity. The official announcement is that Miss Bell has resigned and left the school. But the girls believe differently and take on the case as the first major case of the Wells and Wong Detective Society. As the two girls delve into the mystery, they realise that there are multiple suspects in the form of their various teachers: Miss Bell was not a popular member of the staff, she had recently been scorned in love and was a contender in the race to become the vice-head of their school. Who would want Miss Bell dead? The answer comes from a truly unlikely source.
Murder Most Unladylike is an enjoyable read, with a lovely narrator and a mystery that's more complex than I would've expected. Strongly recommended!
It's a little strange to like a mystery-thriller so much because of the protagonist involved (given that such stories are usually driven by the mystery rather than the characters involved). Yet, I found a lot to like in Hazel. Hazel is an unlikely heroine in a mystery thriller because she's quiet, awkward and rather plain in her own opinion. She's also quite insecure, believing that Daisy is the brains of the operation. Unlike Daisy who hides who she is by taking on a different persona in public, Hazel prefers to live in the shadows. I actually really adored Hazel as a MC because she's really a breath of fresh air in YA, given her insecurities and imperfections. Yet she's actually really street-smart and picks up on details that Daisy ignores.
Another reason why I enjoyed Hazel so much is because she's a POC MC! It's mentioned that Hazel is one of the few POC in her school, having a Anglophile father who has sent her from Hong Kong to attend boarding school. I loved the fact that our narrator is a POC, who is so incredibly rare in YA that it's quite irritating actually. The only other novel that I can recall having a POC narrator that I've come across recently is Nicola Yoon's [b:Everything, Everything|30004351|Everything, Everything|Nicola Yoon|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462160672s/30004351.jpg|26540216] and how sad is that? More representation is needed in YA, different heritages and cultures need to be recognised and represented.
Aside from the wonderful main characters, I also found the central mystery to be engrossing. When Hazel finds their Science Mistress, Miss Bell, lying dead in the Gym, she freaks out and is completely unprepared by Daisy's determination to figure out the killer's identity. The official announcement is that Miss Bell has resigned and left the school. But the girls believe differently and take on the case as the first major case of the Wells and Wong Detective Society. As the two girls delve into the mystery, they realise that there are multiple suspects in the form of their various teachers: Miss Bell was not a popular member of the staff, she had recently been scorned in love and was a contender in the race to become the vice-head of their school. Who would want Miss Bell dead? The answer comes from a truly unlikely source.
Murder Most Unladylike is an enjoyable read, with a lovely narrator and a mystery that's more complex than I would've expected. Strongly recommended!
First of all: great title, very catchy.
I like that the main character isn't White; Hazel being from Hong Kong is mentioned at appropriate times in the story and I think her background adds something to her character.
I didn't love Daisy. Not that I hated her or anything, but she was a bit too quirky/perfect for me, even with her flaws. Sometimes the protagonist gets a bit annoyed with her, but Daisy'll bat her eyelids and all is forgiven, way too easily. I was missing some real conflict there. I really wanted Hazel to stand up for herself against Daisy!!
I'm not sure if this was a good mystery. I read it before bed, I often fell asleep after a few pages so finishing it took forever. I did enjoy it, but I wasn't especially blown away by it.
Although, if I were to come across the sequel somewhere... I would like to read it... but I wouldn't go out of my way to find it. There are so many detective stories out there and MMU isn't super special or memorable - although atmittedly, it can be nice sometimes to read a book like that!
I like that the main character isn't White; Hazel being from Hong Kong is mentioned at appropriate times in the story and I think her background adds something to her character.
I didn't love Daisy. Not that I hated her or anything, but she was a bit too quirky/perfect for me, even with her flaws. Sometimes the protagonist gets a bit annoyed with her, but Daisy'll bat her eyelids and all is forgiven, way too easily. I was missing some real conflict there. I really wanted Hazel to stand up for herself against Daisy!!
I'm not sure if this was a good mystery. I read it before bed, I often fell asleep after a few pages so finishing it took forever. I did enjoy it, but I wasn't especially blown away by it.
Although, if I were to come across the sequel somewhere... I would like to read it... but I wouldn't go out of my way to find it. There are so many detective stories out there and MMU isn't super special or memorable - although atmittedly, it can be nice sometimes to read a book like that!
Well this was thoroughly delightful, a well written and entertaining murder mystery with great characterisation. Just such good fun.
medium-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:
Yes
*Read for OWLS 2020*
Okay... so this got drastically better as the book went on. At the beginning of this book, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but now, I think that I quite liked it.
The ending was unpredictable for me. I didn’t guess who the killer was. I had lots of theories, none of which were right. It was so fun to keep guessing along with the story.
I really liked the mystery aspects of the book. They were super fun and well thought out. However, the characters were not my favourite. They did show development throughout the story, but I did not like them all that much (especially at the beginning).
However, I am excited to read the next one.
Okay... so this got drastically better as the book went on. At the beginning of this book, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but now, I think that I quite liked it.
The ending was unpredictable for me. I didn’t guess who the killer was. I had lots of theories, none of which were right. It was so fun to keep guessing along with the story.
I really liked the mystery aspects of the book. They were super fun and well thought out. However, the characters were not my favourite. They did show development throughout the story, but I did not like them all that much (especially at the beginning).
However, I am excited to read the next one.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A light easy murder mystery read. I thought this book was very youthful and I enjoyed the random bits of comedy sprinkled throughout.