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ravenn15's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Rlly fun quick mystery
bookishnatterxo's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
legacybeatle728's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
celestialwillow's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
ethan_harmon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
What-ho! No, they don't actually speak like this, thank goodness. But this is a period-set school story, that did feel like a Hogwarts/Blyton blend of sorts, though has neither magic nor 'spiffing' stereotypes of masters, mistresses or hockey players.
In the first of a series, a seemingly mismatched pair of third years start a detective agency at their boarding school. Daisy Wells is the curly haired popular but very observant 'leader', Hazel Wong a foreign-born 'Watson' who accidentally stumbles upon a murder one day in the school.
But was it murder? The body of the teacher is no longer there when she and Daisy return minutes later, but Miss Bell is missing... they begin to investigate their teachers and ascertain their alibis.
Someone is guilty - but who? And which of them will solve the mystery?
A refreshing setting and set of characters - they feel familiar but have a bit of gumption about them and depth. Hazel is our protagonist and you do feel empathy for her, the outsider (though subjected to only minor racism/prejudice), and Daisy shows her own character as the book continues, both come to be rounded girls you want to know better.
The plot is enjoyable, though structurally quite simple - the students use their friends and wiles to establish alibis for each teacher, crossing them off, and sometimes having to rethink their conclusions.
There is the usual twist to expect, and of course the essential 'whodunnit reveal' scene with everyone brought together as in a Christie novel for a final confrontation. The final solution is in keeping with the times, context and feels appropriate.
Sequels are already written, and I imagine a reader will want to move on from this to reading the series. It's a different sort of school story, nice to have a period setting for the age group, and a detective story with a difference that you can guess along with.
Would be enjoyed by ages 9-13.
In the first of a series, a seemingly mismatched pair of third years start a detective agency at their boarding school. Daisy Wells is the curly haired popular but very observant 'leader', Hazel Wong a foreign-born 'Watson' who accidentally stumbles upon a murder one day in the school.
But was it murder? The body of the teacher is no longer there when she and Daisy return minutes later, but Miss Bell is missing... they begin to investigate their teachers and ascertain their alibis.
Someone is guilty - but who? And which of them will solve the mystery?
A refreshing setting and set of characters - they feel familiar but have a bit of gumption about them and depth. Hazel is our protagonist and you do feel empathy for her, the outsider (though subjected to only minor racism/prejudice), and Daisy shows her own character as the book continues, both come to be rounded girls you want to know better.
The plot is enjoyable, though structurally quite simple - the students use their friends and wiles to establish alibis for each teacher, crossing them off, and sometimes having to rethink their conclusions.
There is the usual twist to expect, and of course the essential 'whodunnit reveal' scene with everyone brought together as in a Christie novel for a final confrontation. The final solution is in keeping with the times, context and feels appropriate.
Sequels are already written, and I imagine a reader will want to move on from this to reading the series. It's a different sort of school story, nice to have a period setting for the age group, and a detective story with a difference that you can guess along with.
Would be enjoyed by ages 9-13.
jessblibrarys's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
emsies's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
musicalizzy's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I really like this book but I do not know how Daisy can just lie like that and THE PLOT TWIST ARE JUST SO GOOD AND PLANNED
Reasons for no/it is complicated
Main flaws= when it comes to Daisy and some of the mistresses and ‘The One’ they can be, but it’s not a huge plot point
Cast= But only main thing is just that one person is from a different country and place than everyone else
Characters lovable= it is quite complicated becauseit is quite important for Daisy’s character at the end of the book but nothing other than that really
Reasons for no/it is complicated
Main flaws= when it comes to Daisy and some of the mistresses and ‘The One’ they can be, but it’s not a huge plot point
Cast= But only main thing is just that one person is from a different country and place than everyone else
Characters lovable= it is quite complicated because
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide
josworld96's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0