Robin Stevens's Blog, page 68

August update

Greetings! I hope you’re all having exceedingly enjoyable Augusts. I’m having a wonderful, if busy time, I wanted to stop by to give you a brief update on what’s coming up for me and Wells & Wong.

A wonderful mystery display at Waterstones Ipswich – photo by Gemma Cooper

I’m working away on the books, and the good news is that Arsenic for Tea is very close to Being Entirely Done. It’ll be a book before you even know it.

On the topic of books that already exist, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been reviewing Murder Most Unladylike on Amazon, Goodreads and your blogs lately – I genuinely love every single one, and am so grateful that you’ve taken the time to do it. I want to especially mention the brilliant review on The Book Zone, because it says something that I firmly believe:

Although the book is set in a girls’ boarding school, with nary a young male character in sight, I still think this book has great appeal to boys who like traditional, British-set mystery stories.

Hooray! Yes, the book is about girls, but I wrote it for people, and there’s no reason why a boy shouldn’t enjoy it exactly as much as a girl. That’s the joy of reading – you can use a book to step into anyone’s shoes.

That said, I do happen to be a girl, and I do heart books, and so I’m very pleased to announce that I’m about to begin a guest blogger spot on Girls Heart Books. I’m very excited, and I can’t wait to get started! Keep an eye out for my first effort, coming in September.

In other nice September news, the wonderful Nosy Crow Book Group has picked Murder Most Unladylike as one of its titles for September. It’s going to be paired with The Glass Bird Girl by Esme Kerr, which is a fantastic choice – I’ve just finished reading it, and it’s a completely wonderful, imaginative and elegantly-written contemporary boarding school mystery. It’s a great twist on the boarding school story genre, and I’m delighted to be sitting alongside it. I hope as many of you as possible will join in the book group discussion – as a nosy author, I can’t wait to hear what you think of both books!

And finally, if anyone is in the Ely area next Sunday, 17th August, I will be stopping by Toppings Books Ely to sign some stock. It won’t be a formal signing in any way, but I will be there at about 2:30pm, and if you do happen to be around I’d love to say hello!

It’s Time to Get Acquainted With Arsenic for Tea!

Salutations! I am now back from my holiday, and thinking seriously about beginning to write Wells & Wong Book 3. This is very odd, since in the actual real world Wells & Wong Book 2, which will be called Arsenic for Tea, isn’t out yet. This is the problem with being a writer of a series – your brain’s constantly a book ahead of itself. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to properly introduce you to the next book in the Wells & Wong series, Arsenic for Tea.

First of all, it has a beautiful cover (please see above). Second, it has an official synopsis:

Schoolgirl detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are at Daisy’s home, Fallingford, for the holidays. Daisy’s glamorous mother is throwing a tea party for Daisy’s birthday, and the whole family is invited, from eccentric Aunt Saskia to dashing Uncle Felix. But it soon becomes clear that this party isn’t really about Daisy at all. Naturally, Daisy is furious.

Then one of their party falls seriously, mysteriously ill – and everything points to poison.

With wild storms preventing anyone from leaving, or the police from arriving, Fallingford suddenly feels like a very dangerous place to be. Not a single person present is what they seem – and everyone has a secret or two. And when someone very close to Daisy looks suspicious, the Detective Society must do everything they can to reveal the truth . . . no matter the consequences.

And third, it has a plot. Actually, it has an entire 60,000 word draft – but I’m not going to let you see that. I’m also not going to tell you whodunit. But I do have a few hints about some of the things you’ll find within its pages when you open it next year.

In Arsenic for Tea you will find…

Daisy’s house. Which is extremely posh, and full of exciting things like stuffed owls.
Daisy’s family – made up of her brother, her parents, her aunt and her uncle Felix. Yes, that’s the mysterious Uncle Felix readers of Murder Most Unladylike will already have heard of.
Two dogs.
A butler.
An annoying ukulele (played by an annoying brother).
A very silly nickname or two.
A tea-time spread, with chocolate cake, jam tarts, ham, cream buns … and poison.
Several bunbreaks.
Some daring midnight missions.
A maze.
A dreadful thunderstorm.
And one very, very nasty visitor…

Now, Arsenic for Tea won’t be out until January 2015. Which, I know, is a fairly long time. So if you need some reading material to keep you occupied, may I make some suggestions? The following is a list of the books that I had in mind when I was writing Arsenic for Tea. Country house murders, mad English families and Delicious Death…

 

A Surfeit of Lampreys by Ngaio Marsh

The Lampreys are crime fiction’s battiest, poshest, most delightful family. They’re desperate for money… and then their nasty uncle is murdered. They’re the only suspects – but did they do it? I love this book so much that I spent a large part of my teenage years half-pretending that I was the Robin Gray in this book.

 

Clouds of Witness by Dorothy Sayers

A brilliantly snooty and charming country house murder mystery that, again, is all about family. Mr Denis Cathcart is murdered at the Wimseys’ country residence. He was the fiance of detective Lord Peter Wimsey’s sister – and the prime suspect is Wimsey’s older brother. True story: I wrote my MA dissertation on this book, and it was the most fun anyone has ever had with academia.

 

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie

Death at tea time – how could I not include this? When I first read this aged 12 I was beyond fascinated by the fish-paste sandwiches that the victim eats. I had never experienced such a flavour, and couldn’t believe that it was a real thing. The 1930s were truly a different world.

 

The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

The one that started it all – this is the original detective novel, and it still reads brilliantly 150 years later. It’s set in a country house so posh that no one can believe that any of its residents (apart from the servants) could have committed the crime. Spoiler: that isn’t true…

 

The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford

I love the Radletts utterly. Utterly. They’re the fictional family I most wish I was a part of – and there’s more than a little of Uncle Matthew in Daisy’s father Lord Hastings. Note that this isn’t a murder mystery, but it’s still an excellent book.

 

 

Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

A beautiful and incredibly haunting murder mystery that, at first, doesn’t seem like a murder mystery at all – it’s the story of a man who uses his weird resemblance to a missing boy to defraud the boy’s family out of his inheritance. But Tey twists the concept wonderfully, turning the fraudster Brat into a lovely character and making you fall for the aristocratic Ashbys as hard as he does. But are the Ashbys as wonderful as they seem?

 

Death and the Dancing Footman by Ngaio Marsh

Another excellent posh-people-trapped-in-country-house murder mystery. Can posh copper Roderick Alleyn discover their secrets and work out the murderer? Of course, but it’s a more than usually enjoyable ride.

 

 

Strong Poison by Dorothy Sayers

One of the best poisoning mysteries out there – and featuring arsenic. Lovely Lord Peter finds himself falling for the suspect in the case, the girlfriend of the murdered man, and he rides to her aid heroically (but still logically, of course. He is a detective).

 

A Murder is Announced by Agatha Christie

More a village detective novel than a country house detective novel, but this wonderful Christie features the most memorable cake (for me) in crime fiction – the massive chocolate Delicious Death. Daisy’s chocolate cake at her birthday tea is a very affectionate homage to it.

 

You can find this complete list in rather more graphically beautiful form at my Independent Bookshop page – and if this has made you interested in Arsenic for Tea, I’m delighted to say that you can now pre-order it at Amazon, Blackwell’s and Waterstones, and add it to your bookshelf at Goodreads. January 2015′s not so far away really…

And now, I really should get on and write Book 3.

Weekly round-up: one launch, two reviews and three bookshop visits!

It’s been another wonderful week for Murder Most Unladylike! Last Friday I went on a mini bookshop tour of south London with the wonderful Mo O’Hara (she of Zombie Goldfish fame). We visited Village Books Dulwich and Tales on Moon Lane (both of which are very much worth a visit, if you are in the area. And if you’re not in the area, they’re worth the trip), and I signed lots of Murder Most Unladylikes.

Mo and me at Village Books Dulwich – photo by Hazel.

Signing at Tales on Moon Lane – with help from Hugless Douglas!

Zombies and Murder at Village Books! Photo by Hazel.

On Saturday, I visited the wonderful (and very supportive) Blackwell’s Bookshop Oxford.

The book in Blackwell’s Oxford. Photo by theprettybook.

Blackwell’s were kind enough to let me hold a launch for Murder Most Unladylike in their Norrington Room – and since I began the book while I was working in the store, in 2011, it was an incredibly special event for me. I baked a cake, and did a reading, and had an absolutely brilliant evening. Thank you again to everyone who came!

M is for murder (and cake)

With a table of books at my Oxford launch – photo by Rebecca Waiting.

Reading at my Oxford launch. Photo by Rebecca Waiting.

My parents enjoy my launch. Photo by Carolyn Smalley.

This week, Booktrust was kind enough to mention Murder Most Unladylike in their Best Book Guide 2014. There are so many fantastic books in there – and lots of my personal favourites – so I’m honoured to be included.

The book was also reviewed in Teach Primary - it’s a lovely piece, and I’m thrilled to bits. And reader Poppy, 13, has posted a great and very thoughtful review on her blog. Definitely my review of the week!

And finally, I went into Cambridge yesterday and stopped into Heffers. Rather wonderfully, Murder Most Unladylike is in the window, along with the newest book by fellow local author Helen Moss. I love The Phoenix Code – an archaeological mystery about ancient Egypt, with awesome kid detectives: what’s not to like? – so I’m delighted to be sitting next to her. Thank you, Heffers!

Murder Most Unladylike and The Phoenix Code in the window of Heffers!

Before I go, just one small plea. If you’ve read Murder Most Unladylike, and enjoyed it, it would mean a lot to me if you took the time to post a review of it on Amazon.co.uk. This might seem like a small and slightly pointless thing to do, but it actually has a huge effect. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon notices it – and that really matters. Please don’t feel you have to, by any means – but if you do want to, you would make me a very happy author!

Teach Primary review

‘It’s far too easy to describe this story of murder and sleuthing in a 1930s girls’ boarding school as ‘Agatha Christie meets Enid Blyton’; yes, author Robin Stevens is clearly inspired by those writers, amongst others – but there’s a glorious alchemy at work here in the way she blends her influences, creating something that is simultaneously recognisable and totally original. The slightly claustrophobic atmosphere of Deepdean School for Girls is conveyed with authenticity; the tensions between her two young detectives are explored with intelligent sympathy; and although it’s fair to say there are stock characters throughout, the stereotypes are subtly challenged and twisted in the most affectionate and accomplished way. All in all, this is an immensely satisfying work; neatly planned, stylishly presented, and superbly readable.’

(Teach Primary Magazine)

The Times review

‘I loved Stevens’s tales of ‘pashes’, shrimps (the lower years) and the midnight weird food combination of chocolate cake and cow’s tongue (a match for Blyton’s feast combo of prawns and ginger cake). In fact, her plot is far pacier than a Malory Towers story. The conclusion is wonderfully far-fetched but satisfyingly unpredictable. I did not guess whodunit. Ripping good fun.’

(Alex O’Connell, The Times)

Murder is Bad Manners – meet my US cover!

As you may have seen, the UK edition of Murder Most Unladylike is out now – available to buy, in real bookshops, across the land! But fret not, US readers. I have not forgotten you. Your edition is on its way too, due to arrive in April 2015 – and I’m absolutely delighted to be able to finally let you know that it has a cover!

It was revealed exclusively on The Midnight Garden blog on Monday and it is gorgeous. Just gorgeous. I can’t even begin to compare it to the UK edition’s cover – it would be like asking me if I preferred apples or bears – but I do want to take every opportunity to talk about how much I love it. Its colours are so glorious, and the girls are perfect. When I first saw it, in fact, I couldn’t quite believe it – I felt as though the artist, Elizabeth, had reached into my head and pulled out my exact mental images of Daisy and Hazel.

The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that the US title is different to the UK’s. Please don’t worry – this is absolutely the same book, with the same story inside it (although in the American version, Daisy and Hazel are rather fond of cookies instead of biscuits). It was just felt that this slightly different title would work better for the US market. I think Murder is Bad Manners is a really fun alternative to the original – and since the word MURDER is still there, I feel that the spirit of Murder Most Unladylike has been maintained.

If you love what you see (who wouldn’t?) please do click through to that Midnight Garden cover reveal blog – there’s an interview with me about what it felt like to be an American girl at an English boarding school (hint: it was WEIRD), and also a fantastic giveaway of exclusive ARCs of the US edition. Anyone based in the US or Canada can enter – so what are you waiting for? Go!

MMU in the news!

That title is slightly misleading. Murder Most Unladylike has not been in the actual news. But it has had some absolutely wonderful mentions online and in print in the past week.

First, Murder Most Unladylike was featured in this week’s Saturday Times as its children’s book of the week.

The reviewer didn’t even guess whodunit (which is incredibly pleasing to me. I love how many people I’m foxing).

And reader Amy (one of the first people to actually read the book, way back when it was nothing more than a proof copy) has had her review published in Scotland’s Daily Record. Amy is a brilliant and very discerning young reviewer, and her opinion means a lot to me.

For extra fun, here’s Amy’s Golden Retriever Shimmer beautifully modelling the review as it appeared in the paper.

I feel so lucky to have had two such wonderful mentions in newspapers – it’s a sad fact that very few children’s books are given space in print media, so this is an amazing thing to happen.

Murder Most Unladylike has also been given some fantastic blogger reviews this week.

Liz Filleul reviews it on her blog storyspinnerliz.wordpress.com, saying:

This is an absolutely gorgeous book, from the cover, through the map of Deepdean School and cast of characters, to the mystery itself. It’s a genuine detective story, crammed with clues, red herrings and motives . . . The denouement is particularly gripping and I stayed up late to finish it, feeling at the end like I’d been playing a really enjoyable game of Cluedo.

And Cicely Wynne reviews it on ciclovesbooks.blogspot.com, with possibly my favourite piece of praise ever:

I just adored it, and I think it is impossible not to. If you don’t adore this, then you are just weird.

A huge thank you to everyone who’s take time to talk about Murder Most Unladylike – I’m so grateful for your words!

And now, I leave you with a picture that I particularly love, my friend Sarah reading Murder Most Unladylike in Cusco, Peru. Daisy and Hazel are travelling the world!

You are invited to the Oxford launch of Murder Most Unladylike!

If you happen to be in the Oxford area on Saturday the 28th of June, may I suggest that you attend my launch?

The wonderful people at Blackwell’s Oxford are letting me hold an event in their children’s department – free, and open to all! Come along to meet me, hear me read from Murder Most Unladylike, and partake in amusing activities such as a test to find out whether you are more like Hazel or Daisy. Bunbreak will be provided, as well as lashings of ginger beer.

Doors open at 7, and the password is (of course) bunbreak.

I hope I’ll see you there!

Oh, what a lovely launch!

On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to launch Murder Most Unladylike at Trafalgar Square Waterstones. Masterminded by the wonderful Sarah, the launch took place in the children’s department, and I do honestly think that it was one of the best evenings of my life. Stacey at theprettybooks was kind enough to be the official photographer for the evening, and below are a few of the best pictures.

The book, on shelves at last!

Me and my book!

And that cover wasn’t just on the books. Thanks to the graphic design skills of fellow Team Cooper member Julienne, the wine we drank was actually Murder Most Unladylike Merlot.

Book wine!

Delicious death

Don’t worry, it wasn’t poisoned. Probably.

And, of course, I couldn’t have launched Murder Most Unladylike without a bunbreak. Tiffin by me, cake by my friend Boadicea, books from Ruth Fitzgerald and buns from . . . er . . . Tesco’s.

Bunbreak!

Fun was had by all (I hope).

Greeting my awesome editor Nat

What a fantastic location!

Anna James and Isobel Russell Williams

Signing a book for Katy Cannon

More book signing

Book selfie with Edward Cox

MORE book signing!

With Caitlin Lomas

With blogger Daphne and her autograph book

Murder Most Unladylike is everywhere!

Actually, the best thing about this book is the map. Thank you, Nina Tara!

And then there were the speeches. My agent, Gemma, read from the book and gave an absolutely glorious and touching speech.

Gemma Cooper giving her speech

And then I said some words and made some weird faces. I think I might need to practice my public speaking. I also need to practice my signature – many apologies to those who got my early efforts, which look like a horrid dying spider.

It really was a brilliant event. I had so much fun, and I was so touched by all of the kind things people said and did. Some of my friends took time off work and traveled halfway across the country to be there, I was given so many thoughtful and lovely gifts, and my absolutely awesome agent even painted her nails to match the book cover. I’m a very happy author, and I want to thank each and every one of you who were there.

What a launch!

Murder Most Unladylike nails

Booktrust review

Agatha Christie meets Malory Towers in this 1930s-set mystery, which will delight fans of boarding school stories. Debut author Robin Stevens deftly blends plenty of old-fashioned ‘jolly hockey sticks’ spirit with a contemporary sensibility that will ensure this lively romp has plenty of appeal for young readers today. Neatly plotted with plenty of surprises and an especially endearing narrator in Hazel, this is a gloriously fun first outing for schoolgirl detective duo Wells and Wong.

(Katherine Woodfine, Booktrust)