Hello there! Saturday is here and working morning shift is no fun! I wake up thinking of nap time!
For Saturday Pages this week I have a wonderful middle grade book that the lovely Wendy from The Midnight Garden put on my radar when she did a cover reveal for the US version of the book on the blog. I read the summary, ordered the UK version since it's the one that's out now and started reading as soon as it arrived!
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't usually read that much MG (middle grade) but when I do, it usually wonderful and delightful stories that make me want to read more.
I first heard about this lil gem thanks to Wendy from The Midnight Garden, when they did a reveal of the US cover and title (Murder is Bad Manners) and when I read what this book was about, I knew wouldn't wait till 2015 for the US edition and upon checking TBD, I quickly grabbed the UK edition (my anglophilia might be showing, cause I think I like this cover and title even more than the US one).
If I had to describe this book in short, I'd say it's Harry Potter (sans magic) meets Miss Marple. We have girls in a boarding school and a murder mystery! I've always loved whonuits and English/British settings, so this one was a must have for me!
The year is 1934 and we're at Deepdean School for Girls, where Hazel and Daisy have formed an unlikely alliance, friendship and Detective Society. Unlikely cause Daisy is the perfect English girl, with a rich family and the girl everyone loves. Haze is from Hong Kong and therefore none of the things that Daisy is. 1934 means after the Big War and before WWII and so there's a certain mistrust of the different and coming from Russia and Germany and the Orient, even as they're still exerting colonial influence.
The setting of the book is fantastic, feels so realistic, and you immerse yourself so well in this world! We go through the story from Hazel's POV, which is helpful since none of us are English girls from the 1930's and we'd need some help to understand the intrincacies of a boarding school and the unspoken rules and hierarchies within.
Hazel finds the boy of one of the mistresses one night at the Gym and when she returns with help (Daisy and one of the older girls) the body has disappeared. That's when the Detective Society decides to take their first real case, Daisy completely enthusiastic, Hazel still in shock and more than a lil frightened.
Then starts the detecting, the alibi setting, the motives ascertaining and you keep on turning page after page to see what else Daisy will cook up, and what new clue one of leading ladies will discover. Both of them favour some of the suspects over another due to personal likes and dislikes, and it's quite a lesson both girls will have to learn, as well as a better way to work together.
All in all a most delightful read, including when the real villain being revealed and upon having guessed right a 5 am fist pump happened! I'm quite looking forward for more books in this series now. Very well deserved 4.5 stars.
View all my reviews
For Saturday Pages this week I have a wonderful middle grade book that the lovely Wendy from The Midnight Garden put on my radar when she did a cover reveal for the US version of the book on the blog. I read the summary, ordered the UK version since it's the one that's out now and started reading as soon as it arrived!
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin StevensMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I don't usually read that much MG (middle grade) but when I do, it usually wonderful and delightful stories that make me want to read more.
I first heard about this lil gem thanks to Wendy from The Midnight Garden, when they did a reveal of the US cover and title (Murder is Bad Manners) and when I read what this book was about, I knew wouldn't wait till 2015 for the US edition and upon checking TBD, I quickly grabbed the UK edition (my anglophilia might be showing, cause I think I like this cover and title even more than the US one).
If I had to describe this book in short, I'd say it's Harry Potter (sans magic) meets Miss Marple. We have girls in a boarding school and a murder mystery! I've always loved whonuits and English/British settings, so this one was a must have for me!
The year is 1934 and we're at Deepdean School for Girls, where Hazel and Daisy have formed an unlikely alliance, friendship and Detective Society. Unlikely cause Daisy is the perfect English girl, with a rich family and the girl everyone loves. Haze is from Hong Kong and therefore none of the things that Daisy is. 1934 means after the Big War and before WWII and so there's a certain mistrust of the different and coming from Russia and Germany and the Orient, even as they're still exerting colonial influence.
The setting of the book is fantastic, feels so realistic, and you immerse yourself so well in this world! We go through the story from Hazel's POV, which is helpful since none of us are English girls from the 1930's and we'd need some help to understand the intrincacies of a boarding school and the unspoken rules and hierarchies within.
Hazel finds the boy of one of the mistresses one night at the Gym and when she returns with help (Daisy and one of the older girls) the body has disappeared. That's when the Detective Society decides to take their first real case, Daisy completely enthusiastic, Hazel still in shock and more than a lil frightened.
Then starts the detecting, the alibi setting, the motives ascertaining and you keep on turning page after page to see what else Daisy will cook up, and what new clue one of leading ladies will discover. Both of them favour some of the suspects over another due to personal likes and dislikes, and it's quite a lesson both girls will have to learn, as well as a better way to work together.
All in all a most delightful read, including when the real villain being revealed and upon having guessed right a 5 am fist pump happened! I'm quite looking forward for more books in this series now. Very well deserved 4.5 stars.
View all my reviews
This sound so fun and I love the UK cover! I've been meaning to read more Middle Grade, so def adding this to my GR tbr. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, def add it, Renu! It was such a wonderful MG read!!
DeleteFun! I'd not heard of this book until I saw you were reading it...looks cute and will be added to my wishlist. So many wonderful MG books I've not read!
ReplyDeleteYou know I don't read that much MG but this one was just down my alley! I even have the sequel preordered! ;)
DeleteHa this sounds cute! I typically only read MG fantasy (KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES FTW) but I may have to check this one out! :D
ReplyDeleteThis was adorable and cute and delightful, Nikki! I hope you'll check it out!!
DeleteAw, YAY :D Awesome review Pili. It sounds like such a good book. <3 I'm glad you mostly loved it :) And ohh. I too love that cover, hih. So awesome. Thank you for sharing. <3 And sigh. MG books are the best, hih :D
ReplyDeleteThis was such a wonderful book, Carina! It's made me fall in love with MG books again!
DeleteI do hope you'll check this one out sweetie!
They pick really great reads at the Midnight Garden especially some charming, wonderful MG ones don't they? It sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed the book, I like the mystery aspect in this one!
ReplyDeleteI loved this one, Jeann! I'm so happy the ladies at the Midnight Garden talk about this one, cause otherwise I would have totally missed it!
DeleteI just want to let you know that right after I read your review, I bought this and The Westing Game from the Book Depository ;) WOOT!
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato Reviews
YESSS!! You must let me know what you think of then when you read them Faye!! =D
Delete