Robin Stevens's Blog, page 55

Mystery & Mayhem reviewed in the Sun

I woke up this morning to extremely exciting news – TWO of my books were reviewed in the Sun! The first was Jolly Foul Play, and the second was the mystery anthology I’m part of, Mystery & Mayhem!

Natasha Harding gave it four stars, and called it: ‘A wonderful anthology of 12 new crime stories … there is something to suit every taste’.

The full review is below. I’m so delighted to see the book covered like this – it feels like a win for the whole Crime Club!

Jolly Foul Play reviewed in the Sun

I woke up this morning to extremely exciting news – TWO of my books were reviewed in today’s Sun!

The first is Jolly Foul Play. Natasha Harding, the reviewer, gave it four stars, and said: ‘With enough twists to satisfy young readers, it’s an exciting story.’

I’m incredibly proud to see my book covered in one of the country’s biggest newspapers – thank you Natasha! You can read the full review below.

Jolly Foul Play reviewed in the Spectator

Jolly Foul Play just got a review in a rather unusual place – the Spectator magazine! It’s the oldest magazine in the UK – if Daisy’s father Lord Hastings read anything apart from the Boy’s Own Paper, I’m sure it would be this!

The whole article is here, and the excerpt about Jolly Foul Play is below:

Robin Stevens’s Jolly Foul Play (Puffin, £6.99) is the latest Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, set in the 1930s and involving two girl sleuths, one Home Counties, the other Hong Kong Chinese. It’s Agatha Christie for nine-year-olds with psychological insight from our Chinese heroine. Again, there’s a murder at Deepdean School — where no sensible parent should ever leave a child — and besides the usual bloodied hockey stick there’s a bit of lesbianism. Just saying. I’m told by my child reviewer that the plot is ‘realistic’. Golly!

The reviewer is quite correct about Deepdean, by the way. Goodness knows why they haven’t shut it down yet …

A very Mysterious launch!

Last night, Daunt’s in Cheapside were kind enough to host the launch of the crime anthology I’m part of, Mystery & Mayhem. It features 12 authors and 12 (absolutely brilliant) original crime short stories for ages 8-12 (and up), and yesterday we managed to gather a third of the Crime Club, their families and friends into one space for one very fun evening. Huge thanks to my partner in crime Katherine Woodfine, and Egmont’s Maggie Eckel, for helping with the preparation, and to fellow Crime Club members Helen Moss and Harriet Whitehorn for coming along and bringing delicious bunbreak supplies with them!

Below are a selection of pictures from the party (and the preparation – I made my favourite tiffin recipe, which went down very well!).

Tiffin making time!

A beautiful Mystery & Mayhem display at Daunt Cheapside!

Matching my dress and nails to the book!

With Helen Moss and crime fan (and author) Yu!

Harriet Whitehorn, Helen Moss, me and Katherine Woodfine with our book!

Have you got your hands on Mystery & Mayhem yet? If so, which are your favourite stories? And if not, are you excited to read it? Let me know in the comments below!

Junior Library Guild Selection for Poison is Not Polite!

I’m delighted to announce that Poison is Not Polite (the US edition of Arsenic for Tea) is a Junior Library Guild selection for Spring 2016, meaning that it will be appearing in JLG libraries across the USA.

This is a really exciting honour, and I’m so pleased that US readers will now have more access to the book. The JLG sent me a certificate and a (very shiny) pin to celebrate, and they’re both in pride of place in my office already.

If you spot a copy of Poison is Not Polite in your local library, let me know – and I hope you enjoy Hazel and Daisy’s second adventure!

Murder Most Unladylike Book 5 – preorder now!

Good news, Murder Most Unladylike fans! I sent the first draft of Murder Most Unladylike 5 to my editor a few weeks ago, and she’s just let me know that 1) she likes it and 2) she didn’t guess the murderer! I’m very relieved, and looking forward to working on edits over the next month or so.

We’ve set a firm date for its publication, too: it will be out in the UK and Ireland on 20th October 2016. Although we’re still finalising title and cover, I know that it will be red, because this is Hazel and Daisy’s first Christmas adventure!

From the Amazon description:

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas hols in snowy Cambridge. Hazel has high hopes of its beautiful spires, cosy libraries and inviting tea-rooms – but there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College.

Three nights before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident – until the Detective Society look a little closer, and realise a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage to find the killer (in time for Christmas Day, of course).

And although we don’t yet have a title (stay tuned for that reveal soon!), you can pre-order the book NOW!

This is a book that I’ve loved writing, and one that I can’t wait to share with you all. It may seem like a long way away now, but the time will fly. It’ll be October before you know it!

Poison is Not Polite reviewed in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Poison is Not Polite (the US edition of Arsenic for Tea) has had another lovely review in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books! They say …

‘When a suspicious death occurs at Daisy Wells’ family home over the Easter holiday break, the Wells & Wong Detective Society  … leaps back into action as young teen Daisy and best friend (and narrator) Hazel Wong endeavor to solve the murder of unpleasant houseguest Mr. Curtis. … Daisy’s relationships with the suspects make the groups’ detective work an emotionally charged effort, but careful deduction and perseverance serve the young detectives well in solving the crime. Stevens continues to satisfyingly scratch the English murder-mystery itch with this delightful second installment in the Wells & Wong series. … Hazel and Daisy are nuanced, three-dimensional characters, and their bickering but loyal friendship rings true. The mystery itself is solidly constructed, and the solution is both surprising and logical. Fans of the first book will find this just as rewarding, and kids on the cusp of embracing Agatha Christie will enjoy testing their deductive skills here as well. JH’

Thank you BCCB – it’s lovely to see Poison is Not Polite getting such a nice reception in the USA!

Jolly Foul Play – it’s competition time!

I’ve got some good news to start the week for all you UK bunbreak fans: my publishers Puffin have partnered with Caboodle (National Book Tokens) to offer a very special and very delicious prize.

Tea for two (author not included), as well as a signed set of all four Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries, is up for grabs – this is your chance to show your own Daisy (or Hazel) how much their friendship means to you! Six runners up will also win a signed set of the books.

So, what are you waiting for? The competition closes on 2nd June, but you can enter NOW!

Good luck, and may the bunbreak be ever in your favour.

Happy birthday, Poison is Not Polite!

My American book family just got a lot bigger!

Today’s the publication date of both the paperback of Murder is Bad Manners (the American edition of Murder Most Unladylike) and the gorgeous new hardback of Poison is Not Polite (Arsenic for Tea in the UK). I’m totally delighted that Daisy and Hazel’s second adventure is now available to US readers.

It’s been given two starred reviews, from Booklist and Kirkus, and if you live in the USA or Canada, I really hope you’ll enjoy it! If you happen to spot it in the wild, please send me a picture.

Happy detecting!

Mystery & Mayhem

As you may know, Daisy and Hazel’s fifth adventure will be published in October this year. It seems a long way off, but I’ve got good news to help you with the wait: I’ve written a short story for a mystery anthology that’s publishing in just a few weeks!

Mystery & Mayhem is a collaboration between twelve amazing authors, and I think it shows how brilliant British children’s crime writing is right now. Each of the stories is fantastic (and completely new), and there’s such a range of stories (historical, contemporary, funny, scary and exciting), that every crime fan should find something they love.

I’m proud to be a part of the anthology, alongside Clementine Beauvais, Elen Caldecott, Susie Day, Julia Golding, Frances Hardinge, Caroline Lawrence, Helen Moss, Sally Nicholls, Kate Pankhurst, Harriet Whitehorn and Katherine Woodfine, and I can’t wait for you to read it – and especially my story!

I’ve written something completely different to my Murder Most Unladylike books. It’s a contemporary mystery, starring a boy called Jamie who lives in a hotel with his father and his dog. One evening a guest arrives while he’s on his own, but when he wakes up the next morning … she’s vanished.

I hope that sounds exciting! If you’re interested, and you’d like to hear me and some of my fellow Crime Club members talk mystery and mayhem, I’ve already got three events confirmed.

On Monday 9th May at 7pm, Katherine Woodfine and I will be speaking at Waterstones Piccadilly.

On Friday 20th May at 4pm, Katherine Woodfine and I will be speaking at Dulwich Picture Gallery.

On Sunday 22nd May at 11:15am, Helen Moss and I will be speaking at Linton Book Festival.

Stay tuned for more – and I hope you have a very mysterious May!