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mellymc's review
5.0
Wonderful to read something from Daisy's perspective, another success for the Detective Society
pewterwolf's review
3.0
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf as part of Murder Month 2016
Daisy Wells, President of the Detective Society, writes this tale where one of the Big Girls in their school - Deepdean School for Girls - asked Daisy and Vice-President of the Detective Society, Hazel Wong, to help over a very puzzling romantic mystery. Which should be easy - Daisy and Hazel have solved three murders, after all...
I have to admit that this is quite short and is a filler for the series (this takes place between the third and fourth books in the series, [b:First Class Murder|23479358|First Class Murder (Wells and Wong, #3)|Robin Stevens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1431348060s/23479358.jpg|43070356] and [b:Jolly Foul Play|27030027|Jolly Foul Play (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, #4)|Robin Stevens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444385191s/27030027.jpg|47073078]). So fans of the series will like this a lot as it's a quick teaser to fill the time between books.
What fans will like about this short is that, while the mystery is gentle and perfect for younger readers (and after all the very adult-heavy crime I have been reading - this was hugely refreshing!), but this tale is told from Daisy's point of view, and her voice is hugely different from Hazel, who writes the novels. She's much lighter compared to Hazel, less serious and is more impulsive. I can see what Robin Stevens wrote this short over mysterious love letters from Daisy's point of view, rather than Hazel's, who is more suited for the seriousness of murder. Daisy's voice would be far too jarring.
This is probably a good taster for new fans who want to try and see if they like this series. And this is very much a fan story.
However, if you are an older reader, you might find this far too light and fluffy. But you might want to check out the series as this does tackle murder and the plots are fiendishly clever. I have two to read and I can't wait to get start.
Daisy Wells, President of the Detective Society, writes this tale where one of the Big Girls in their school - Deepdean School for Girls - asked Daisy and Vice-President of the Detective Society, Hazel Wong, to help over a very puzzling romantic mystery. Which should be easy - Daisy and Hazel have solved three murders, after all...
I have to admit that this is quite short and is a filler for the series (this takes place between the third and fourth books in the series, [b:First Class Murder|23479358|First Class Murder (Wells and Wong, #3)|Robin Stevens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1431348060s/23479358.jpg|43070356] and [b:Jolly Foul Play|27030027|Jolly Foul Play (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, #4)|Robin Stevens|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1444385191s/27030027.jpg|47073078]). So fans of the series will like this a lot as it's a quick teaser to fill the time between books.
What fans will like about this short is that, while the mystery is gentle and perfect for younger readers (and after all the very adult-heavy crime I have been reading - this was hugely refreshing!), but this tale is told from Daisy's point of view, and her voice is hugely different from Hazel, who writes the novels. She's much lighter compared to Hazel, less serious and is more impulsive. I can see what Robin Stevens wrote this short over mysterious love letters from Daisy's point of view, rather than Hazel's, who is more suited for the seriousness of murder. Daisy's voice would be far too jarring.
This is probably a good taster for new fans who want to try and see if they like this series. And this is very much a fan story.
However, if you are an older reader, you might find this far too light and fluffy. But you might want to check out the series as this does tackle murder and the plots are fiendishly clever. I have two to read and I can't wait to get start.
bioistry's review
4.0
I absolutely love the [b:A Murder Most Unladylike Collection #1-8|44567721|A Murder Most Unladylike Collection #1-8|Robin Stevens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553248292l/44567721._SX50_.jpg|69170315] series and this 26 page short story was a great addition. It is told from Daisy's perspective and just gives us a better idea of Hazel and Daisy's lives at Deapdean School for Girls. Overall, this is a fun quick-read that think all lovers of the [b:A Murder Most Unladylike Collection #1-8|44567721|A Murder Most Unladylike Collection #1-8|Robin Stevens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553248292l/44567721._SX50_.jpg|69170315] series should read.
Happy reading x
Happy reading x
caryscate's review
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ashleylm's review
4.0
Short and sweet. Some reviewers are bandying about the word 'novella,' but I am sure this does not qualify. It is 100% short story and can be read in a single sitting before you finish your drink.
I'm reading the collection Cream Buns and Crime right now (I don't know how else to acquire these individual stories) but since this is listed separately, I'll review both the story, and then later the collection as a whole.
Stevens's Unladylike series is one of those wonderful treats for a reader, where you know if you enjoyed it before, you'll enjoy it still. It's not going to ever take some unlikely swerve into L.A. gangland where the characters swear too much and you start feeling uncomfortable (which is why it's remarkable I like the Harry Bosch series so much, despite everything), no, her stories are steeped in people being decent (for the most part), passing the sugar dish, and solving the occasional mystery.
But, importantly, she isn't simply light and fluffy. She doesn't write mysteries with lots of pink on the cover, and food, and an animal, and a jokey title like "Pork Pie Pandemonium" ... I can't stand them. For the most part, I mean, I'm not even going to try once I glimpse a cover like that, so there could be exceptions. They're likely too cosy. Not Stevens, she's just calm and comfortable and classic.
This being a short story, it's not quite as resonant as some of her longer work, but it's a sweet story fleshing out the career of my two favourite detectives, and a lovely thing to read before bedtime last night.
(Note: I'm a writer myself, so suffer pangs of guilt every time I offer less than five stars. These aren't ratings of quality, just my subjective account of how much I liked them: 5* = one of my all-time favourites, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
I'm reading the collection Cream Buns and Crime right now (I don't know how else to acquire these individual stories) but since this is listed separately, I'll review both the story, and then later the collection as a whole.
Stevens's Unladylike series is one of those wonderful treats for a reader, where you know if you enjoyed it before, you'll enjoy it still. It's not going to ever take some unlikely swerve into L.A. gangland where the characters swear too much and you start feeling uncomfortable (which is why it's remarkable I like the Harry Bosch series so much, despite everything), no, her stories are steeped in people being decent (for the most part), passing the sugar dish, and solving the occasional mystery.
But, importantly, she isn't simply light and fluffy. She doesn't write mysteries with lots of pink on the cover, and food, and an animal, and a jokey title like "Pork Pie Pandemonium" ... I can't stand them. For the most part, I mean, I'm not even going to try once I glimpse a cover like that, so there could be exceptions. They're likely too cosy. Not Stevens, she's just calm and comfortable and classic.
This being a short story, it's not quite as resonant as some of her longer work, but it's a sweet story fleshing out the career of my two favourite detectives, and a lovely thing to read before bedtime last night.
(Note: I'm a writer myself, so suffer pangs of guilt every time I offer less than five stars. These aren't ratings of quality, just my subjective account of how much I liked them: 5* = one of my all-time favourites, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
darkchocolate's review
3.0
It is always hard to rate a short in-between series book. The writing of this one is as good as the main books but the new case had no twist for me so that decreased general perception and hence my rating.
lau_evs's review
3.0
This is a mini story set in the world of Hazel and Daisy of Murder Most Unladylike fame. The fact that I'm itching to read Jolly Foul Play which publishes next month means that I downloaded this from the kindle store as soon as I realised it existed. For the first time we are hearing from Daisy instead of Hazel as to how the mystery of the moment was solved. The only downside to this book was it's length. I know it was meant to be short, but it doesn't stop me from wanting more!
verityw's review
3.0
I love Wells and Wong and this is a fun short story. I think because I'm a grown-up and this is shorter, I had the solution figured out straight away, but it was still great to have a story in Daisy's voice rather than Hazels. I'm looking forward to book 4 in the series.
cidnel's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5