Keep Your Friends Close

When Chloe Roberts is cheated out of being Head Girl at Morton Academy by her supposed best friend, Nikhita Patel, everything changes. No longer assured the benefits which this position brings and having been dumped by her boyfriend, she finds herself clinging to her position in the school’s secret society, Jewel and Bone. Then Chloe stumbles upon the ‘Book of Crime and Punishment’, the misdeeds committed by Morton students recorded along with a fitting punishment, and suddenly it seems as if certain marked entries match up with the deaths of members of Jewel and Bone. And it looks as if Chloe is next…

Pacy and tense, ‘Keep Your Friends Close’ is a compelling, ‘can’t put it down until finished’ read!

Hardworking and competitive, Chloe has her sights set on the bright future offered by being a member of Jewel and Bone and being Head Girl of Morton Academy. Having spent the previous year on course for the top spot, she is devastated when one of the girls in her friendship circle deprives her of this by cheating. Pushed to the fringes of the group and finding herself sharing a room with girls who are not part of the ‘elite’, Chloe realises how unpleasant Nikhita can be and, to her horror, is forced to acknowledge that she (Chloe) has also behaved badly towards others. Knowing that her only course of action now is to work harder than ever to secure the future she longs for, she tries to adapt to her new life at school, making friends with her new room mates.

Readers are kept guessing as Chloe strives to unpick the mystery. As the tension mounts and sinister event follows sinister event, her nerves are stretched to breaking point, leading to a twisted ending. The story poses many questions about power and privilege and how far people are prepared to go gain and keep these, offering plenty to think about.

Set in 1999, the book is set at Morton Academy which some readers will recognise as the setting for ‘Win, Lose, Kill, Die’. ‘Keep Your Friends Close’ works perfectly well as a stand alone, although true fans will enjoy recognising some details.

A thoroughly enjoyable read!

Keep Your Friends Close

Cynthia Murphy

Penguin ISBN: 978-0241712788

The Merry Christmas Murders

Brooke is not keen to start her new school. Even with Buoy, her emotional support dog, the experience threatens to be overwhelming. However, having met members of the Neurokind Club, she is willing to try, only to be faced with a murder on her first day. As the body count mounts, Brooke and her new friends turn detective and use their unique set of skills to track down the culprit.

As the festive season approaches, ‘The Merry Christmas Murders’ is sure to be a welcome addition to many stockings! Not only does the story present a very satisfying mystery to solve, but there are puzzles hidden throughout the book for readers to solve- or not!- along the way.

The Neurokind Club is a special group for neuridivergent pupils, set up Miss Asha, the school’s SENCO, who is an autistic ADHD-er. Four children- Robyn, Kellan, Nisha and Mikey- with a range of needs attend the club, enabling readers to understand and empathise the different ways in which the world can be a challenging, and sometime incomprehensible, place for neurodivergent children (and adults) and offering an insight into some the strategies they might use/ need to help them cope.

As the story progresses, the Neurokind Club become a real team, each bringing different skills to help solve the murder. As with any friendships, they experience ups and downs, but ultimately, as Brooke says, ‘We're like fairy lights, you see. Every one of the bulbs needs to be working for the lights to shine.’ This lovely image perfectly illustrates how true teams work- one of the many reasons this book would work so well as a class story! There is plenty to discuss and much to enjoy and children and teachers will enjoy trying to identify the murderer before Brooke and her team!

Throughout the story, there are pages where readers are encouraged to pause and list their suspects, reflecting on the clues and then narrowing it down to their top three suspects. There are plenty of twists, red herrings and clues peppered throughout, offering a challenging and satisfying mystery. I suspect -and hope- we will be hearing more from Brooke and her friends as they solve more cases in the future!

The Merry Christmas Murders

Alexandra Benedict

Simon and Schuster ISBN: 978- 1398540873

Murder at Christmas

Grace is delighted when she arrives in Bath to spend Christmas with her mum and younger brother, Billy. Although her dad won’t be with them, they will be staying at the hotel owned by their mum’s twin sister, Aunt Mollie. But when a body is found on the stairs and their mum disappears, Grace and Billy start to worry that everything is not as it seems. Together with their new friends, Doug and Olive, they start to hunt for clues, determined to find their mum and solve the murder in time for Christmas.

You can always rely on Fleur Hitchcock for a well-written, compelling adventure and ‘Murder at Christmas’ is no exception! Perfectly pitched for young readers and offering plenty of twists and turns, this festively themed mystery is every bit as enjoyable as her other books.

There is a wonderful warmth to this story! It is a joy to read about such a loving, close-knit family, including siblings who are so fond of one another. Instantly likeable, Grace is a very relatable character who, finding herself plunged into a mystery, tries to balance looking after her little brother with coping with their mother’s disappearance. She shows herself to be resourceful and determined despite feeling the odd twinge of self-doubt. Billy is also a well developed character and, although she goes missing part way through, Mum is also a real presence in the story instead of a ‘token’ grown-up’.

The action is brilliantly plotted with plenty of red herrings, twists, double dealing and a very satisfying conclusion. Those who know Bath will really enjoy recognising the familiar features and locations of that beautiful city which all adds a sense of realism to the story.

This would make an excellent class story for UKS2 with plenty to discuss and enjoy, encouraging children to predict and deduce as they spot clues and interpret the evidence. It is also the perfect story to recommend to those looking for something to challenge their thinking or for those who enjoy a thoroughly good adventure. Whatever the reason, ‘Murder at Christmas’ offers an excellent read for the coming festive season!

Murder at Christmas

Fleur Hitchcock

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1805132240

You can read my review of ‘Murder at Snowfall’ here, ‘Murder at Wintertide’ here, ‘Waiting for Murder’ here and ‘Murder in Midwinter’ here and ‘Mouse Heart’ here

The Big Bad Wolf Murder

Playing ‘Tooth and Claw’ with her team means everything to Ruby Calvino. The youngest competitor in the championships, she is determined to prove her worth and defeat Alarick, the undefeated wolf. However, when Alarick drops dead in the middle of the game, Ruby finds herself accused of murder. Desperate to prove her innocence and find the real murderer, Ruby teams up with Fillan, a wolf-cub accused of being her accomplice, and together, they go on the run, pursued by the police…and a mysterious wolf who is determined to hunt them down.

A great lover of fairy tales, I am always a bit anxious when these tale are ‘re-imagined’; however, both in ‘The Beanstalk Murder’ and now in ‘The Big Bad Wolf Murder’, P G Bell has created brilliant stories, full of nods to the tales they draw on whilst being highly original and entertaining.

There is so much I love about this one that it is hard to know where to start! The Netherburg Reds- Roselyn , Akako (meaning ‘red’), Voss (meaning ‘fox’) and of course, Ruby, have all been named to remind the reader of Little Red Riding Hood in the original story as they try to escape the big, bad wolf, Alarick, in the game of ‘Tooth and Claw’. Other names have also been carefully chosen: reporters Charlotte Grimm and Wilhelm Jacobs named for the Brothers Grimm who collected the story in the 19th century; Fillan meaning ‘little wolf’; Marceline meaning’little warrior’; Hardulph meaning ‘brave wolf’ and so on. These little details all add to the brilliant development of the story, offering plenty to discuss and inspire.

Both Ruby and Fillan are excellent characters, very different personalities who come to understand each other very well and work together as a team. Fillan is far more nervous and reserved than Ruby, who tends to be impetuous and headstrong. The story also highlights how easily prejudice and stereotyping can shape how individuals are seen. Gentle Fillan longs to be a chef, something which Ruby finds funny, making the assumption that all wolves are raw meat eaters. Alarick played on the stereotypes which make wolves appear dangerous and bad for his role in the arena, perpetuating these ideas- but perhaps not considering the impact this would have on his fellow wolves.

‘The Big Bad Wolf Murder’ would make an excellent class story, offering plenty to discuss whilst the pacy plot and murder mystery would engage and excite. The opening alone would have even the liveliest class completely captivated and desperate for more!

Can’t wait for the next one!

The Big Bad Wolf Murder

P G Bell

Usborne ISBN: 978-1836040743

You can read my review of ‘The Beanstalk Murder’ here.

The Hive

Having picked this one up at FCBG Conference, I couldn’t wait to read it!

Feldspar awaits execution. As shield to an ascendant, a member of the Hive’s royal family, she should have died when her charge, Euphemie, was murdered, but she survived. Expecting no clemency, Feldspar is surprised when a member of the royal family, Niko, comes to her defence and starts investigating. They have three days to prove Feldspar’s innocence, three days to catch a killer- and in doing so, destroy everything she has been raised to believe.

‘The Hive’ is an excellent murder mystery, set in a dystopian society which bases its structure on that of a bee hive. At the top are the queens, the Apex or council made of of members of the royal family, and their children, ascendants, known by the position of their birth. Each ascendant has a shield, with whom they are bonded at birth. Shields are conditioned to protect their ascendant above all else- the death of an ascendant results in the death of their shield. So when Euphemie dies, Feldspar should have died as well. Her survival is seen as treason. This chilling society is well imagined and developed.

Feldspar is a compelling and complex character. Initially racked with guilt and grief over her survival and Euphemie’s death, her feelings gradually change as she learns more about her world and begins to question everything she has been brought up to believe. It is easy to empathise with her turbulent emotions, making her a very sympathetic character, challenging readers to reflect on her situation and the importance of individuals being allowed to choose for themselves, rather than live in restricted dictatorships.

The murder mystery is extremely well handled and as the days pass, the reader is kept guessing to the very end, with various false starts and red herrings along the way. My only quibble with this story is the ending. For me, everything ended very quickly so I hope that there will be another story set in this world, showing what happens to Feldspar and Niko next.

A gripping and pacy read!

The Hive

Anna February

Chicken House ISBN: 9781915947277

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Body Under the Piano

Aggie Morton lives in Torquay with her mother and grandmother. Although bright and imaginative, she is very shy, but one day, she meets a twelve-year-old Belgian immigrant, Hector Perot, forming a new friendship. When she finds a body under the piano at the Mermaid Dance Room where she goes for lessons, Aggie and Hector set about trying to solve the mystery and save Aggie’s dance teacher, Miss Marianne from being convicted of the crime.

Inspired by the life of Agatha Christie, ‘The Body Under the Piano’ is an excellent murder mystery, full of engaging characters, suspects, clues and red-herrings. For me, it was a one-sitting read- and I shall be catching up on the rest of the series as soon as possible!

Set in Torquay where Agatha Christie grew up, both the setting of the story and the character of Aggie draw on the life of the Queen of Crime whilst Hector Perot bears more than a passing resemblance to Poirot. Even Grannie Jane, who often refers to people and places she has known, has a hint of Miss Marple about her! For young readers, the book makes an excellent introduction to the murder mystery novel - and paves the way to the novels of Christie in future years! The author’s note at the end of the book adds detail and interest.

The plot is well-paced and engaging, keeping the reader guessing and guessing again as Aggie and Hector investigate. There is plenty of fun along the way as the crack the case. Out in paperback in April, this is a very enjoyable read!

Aggie Morton Mystery Queen: The Body Under the Piano

Marthe Jocelyn, illustrated by Isabelle Follath

Andersen Press ISBN: 978-1839136078

Mondays are Murder

After the death of her friend, Ivy, Kay thought she had left Longrove for good. However, when her parents go on a cruse to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary, she finds herself sent back there, ‘dumped’ on her Uncle Dara and her cousin, Nikki. Just as she thinks things can’t get any worse, she finds a letter on her bed, a letter telling her that there will be a thrill on Tuesday, a wreckage on Wednesday, treachery on Thursday, a fire on Friday, sabotage on Saturday, a stabbing on Sunday - and her murder on Monday.

From the first page, ‘Mondays are Murder’ is a gripping read, full of red herrings and twists which all build to a very satisfying conclusion.

As well as the death of Ivy, Longrove is also full of memories of her Aunt Sandra, Nikki’s mother, idolised by Kay for her ability to solve puzzles and the work she used to do as a detective. Whilst looking through some of her things, Kay and Nikki discover a notebook which suggests that Aunt Sandra was conducting her own investigation into Ivy’s death, adding another layer of intrigue and mystery to the story, intertwining with the girls’ determination to discover the identity of Monday and prevent Kay’s predicted murder.

Flashbacks to past events are interspersed through the action, affording readers a glimpse of the events which led to Ivy’s death and offering clues and misdirection along the way. The plot is skilfully constructed, combining murder mystery with thriller whilst exploring family dynamics, relationships and grief. Dark in places, the combination of compelling action, appealing characters and an atmospheric setting make this a compulsive read!

Mondays are Murder

Ravena Guron

Usborne ISBN: 978-1805075707

Montgomery Bonbon: Mystery at the Manor

Bonnie Montgomery, and her alter-ego, Montgomery Bonbon, is back with a new case to solve. Having delivered a mysterious package to Adderstone Manor, she meets Fergus Croke, an ‘oddly charming’ villain, who introduces her to his gang of apprentice crooks, a wrought-iron cage full of monkeys and the contents of the package, the legendary Adderstone Diamond. But when Croke croaks it and the magnificent diamond goes missing, Bonbon is ready for action!

‘Mystery at the Manor’ is the third in this series of surreal mysteries, solved by the brilliantly bizarre Bonnie Montgomery whose fake moustache, beret and foreign accent disguise as the detective Montgomery Bonbon.

There is so much to enjoy in this story! The fact that Bonnie passes as the great detective by adding her flimsy disguise and that no one notices her jumbling of French and German phrases includes readers in the joke from the outset and willing her to succeed where the bumbling detectives are sure to fail. The text is full of wordplay and puns and the illustrations bring Bonnie’s antics to life brilliantly, adding much humour to the story. As Bonbon gets to work, there are plenty of clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing and trying to solve the mystery.

Dana, Bonnie’s friend, and Grampa Banks are also on hand to support her as she detects. Brilliant detective she might be, but in this story, Bonnie shows that she can be a very thoughtless friend, leaving Dana upset and causing a rift between them. However, without her friend’s help, Bonnie would have made a huge mistake and she willingly admits how much she values Dana’s help.

Whimsical and whacky, ‘Mystery at the Manor’ would make a great read for class story time or any time!

Montgomery Bonbon: Mystery at the Manor

Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrated by Claire Powell

Walker ISBN: 978-1529518290

The Beanstalk Murder

When a dead giant falls from the sky and crushes her village, Old Stump, trainee meadow-witch Anwen’s bad day suddenly becomes much worse. On examination, the body of the giant leads Anwen and her grandmother, Eira Sedge, to suspect he has been murdered. Anwen and a trainee sorceress, Cerys, take a message to the land above, via a beanstalk, where they find themselves tiny in a land of giants and determined to solve the crime!

‘The Beanstalk Murder’ is a fantastic read, combining a classic murder mystery with hints of a fairy tale favourite! Engaging characters and a twisty plot keep the reader guessing to the very end!

The relationship between Anwen and Cerys adds much to the story. Initially enemies, when the two girls find themselves thrown together in a land so completely alien to their own, they are forced into an uneasy truce. Cerys has been accepted at the Academy of High Magic whereas Anwen believes Cerys sabotaged her entrance exam. The two are at loggerheads with Cerys referring to Anwen, a Meadow Witch, as ‘ditch witch’ and Anwen causing a seagull to follow Cerys around and poo on her! As the girls spend time together, each learns more about the other, discovering the importance of looking beyond first impressions and working as a team. Anwen is impulsive and instinctive with a warm heart and insatiable curiosity and her skills as a Meadow Witch play a big part in solving the mystery, leading her to value what she has and what she is rather than envying Cerys.

The murder is so well constructed with clues and red-herrings skilfully threaded through the story, encouraging the reader to don their deerstalker alongside the girls to uncover those responsible. Their size in a giant world both helps and hinders their investigation, but nothing deters them in their quest. Although the giants of the Sky Kingdom and the humans below are alienated, the two sides develop a new understanding, seeing past their differences.

I really hope there will be more adventures set in this wonderful world!

The Beanstalk Murder

P G Bell

Usborne ISBN: 978-1805312536

Published 1st August 2024

You can read my review of ‘The Train to Impossible Places’ here, ‘The Great Brain Robbery’ here and ‘Delivery to the Lost City’ here.

Lie or Die

Feeling guilty for kissing her best friend Thea’s ex, Kass Kennedy is tricked into auditioning for a new reality TV show, Lie or Die, where contestants are pitted against each other as they try to discover who is a murderous agent and who is innocent. However, when players start dying, Kass realises that this is a fight for survival.

From the outset ‘Lie or Die’ is an absorbing read, exciting and gripping. Reluctant to appear before the camera but determined to show Thea that she is a real friend, Kass quickly finds herself caught up in the excitement of the game. She is an excellent protagonist, observant and quick-witted- and a loyal friend! The other characters are equally well considered, making an interesting mix for the Lie or Die game show where you can ‘trust no one’.

Combining the current fixation for reality television shows and a locked room mystery, the plot builds a claustrophobic feeling of tension as realisation dawns on the contestants that they are trapped in the ‘game’. As events unfold, there are little twists which make the reader reassess their burgeoning suspicions, constantly keeping them on their toes alongside the characters!

Dark and twisting, Lie or Die is a brilliant read!

Lie or Die A J Clack

Firefly Press ISBN: 978-1915444417

Published 7th March 2024

The Black Queen

Everyone loved Nova. And sometimes, love is exactly what gets you killed.

Nova Albright, the first Black homecoming queen at Lovett High, is dead. Murdered the night of her coronation, her body found the next morning in the old slave cemetery she spent her weekends rehabilitating.
Tinsley McArthur was supposed to be queen. Not only is she beautiful, wealthy, and white, it’s her legacy—her grandmother, her mother, and even her sister wore the crown before her. Everyone in Lovett knows Tinsley would do anything to carry on the McArthur tradition.
No one is more certain of that than Duchess Simmons, Nova’s best friend. Duchess’s father is the first Black police captain in Lovett. For Duchess, Nova’s crown was more than just a win for Nova. It was a win for all the Black kids. Now her best friend is dead, and her father won’t face the fact that the main suspect is right in front of him. Duchess is convinced that Tinsley killed Nova—and that Tinsley is privileged enough to think she can get away with it. But Duchess’s father seems to be doing what he always does: fall behind the blue line. Which means that the white girl is going to walk.
Duchess is determined to prove Tinsley’s guilt. And to do that, she’ll have to get close to her.
But Tinsley has an agenda, too.

Incredibly powerful and thought-provoking, ‘The Black Queen’ is so much more than a ‘murder mystery’, although it successfully fulfills this description. Told through the alternating viewpoints of Duchess, Nova’s best friend, and Tinsley, her arch rival, the plot moves at a compelling pace, with many shocks and surprises along the way.

I am (very obviously!) not the target audience for this so found some of the dialogue challenging, but this did little to detract from my enjoyment of the story. The blatant, institutional and pervasive racism is distressing and constantly challenges the reader’s perception of events both in the novel and in actuality. The sense of entitlement emanating from some characters due to their wealth and skin colour is appalling and the ‘background’ story in the news about a white family supposedly murdered by their Black gardener who is then jailed on very shaky evidence further highlights the inequalities and injustices which are a part of everyday life.

Duchess is a compelling character. Resourceful, loyal and intelligent, she is also quick tempered and impulsive, but reflective and able to acknowledge her mistakes. Tinsley is less likeable- certainly at first- bitchy and entitled, manipulative and thoughtless in her quest to be and have whatever she wants. Yet for all their wealth, her family is dysfunctional and unhappy, with layers of secrets and she is a product of this upbringing. Once challenged to look at and think about things differently, she starts to become a different person.

One for an older audience, ‘The Black Queen’ is a compelling, challenging read.

The Black Queen Jumata Emill

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702322945

A Game of Life or Death

Welcome to Zu Tech’s newest game, SHACKLE…

When sixteen-year-old Asha Kennedy discovers her older sister Maya's dead body in their home, her world falls apart. Desperate for answers, and to stay out of the hands of the social services she grew up in, Asha turns to her hacker friends for help.

Her search leads her to Zu Tech, the hit games studio where Maya was a lead coder. As Asha begins to unravel the riddle of her death, she realises that the only way to uncover the truth is from the inside.

Asha ghosts her old life and infiltrates a Zu Tech eSport tournament as they launch 'SHACKLE', the revolutionary Virtual Reality video game Maya was working on - and which hides a monstrous secret...

Apart from the murder mystery element, this is absolutely NOT the sort of book I would normally read- but I am so glad that I did! Asha is a complex character in a complex situation, determined to unravel the truth about what happened to her sister and the reader very quickly becomes caught up in her quest, willing her to not only solve the puzzle, but survive the experience and come out on top.

The book immerses the reader in the world of games and gamers, with reference and details which are sure to appeal to those familiar with the technology and inspirations behind much of the story. I have no knowledge of these things yet I was still engrossed by the story which surely speaks volumes about the strength of the plot rather than the context. The action moves quickly and the story is suitably full of twists, red herrings and puzzles, including (I hope!) the possibility of more to come in future books. Loved it!

A Game of Life or Death Triona Campbell

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702317880