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A review by katykelly
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
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.