What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder Most Unladylike #2
Arsenic for Tea
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.
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.
339 pages, Paperback
First published January 29, 2015
About the author
Robin Stevens
52 books2,100 followersRobin's books are: Murder Most Unladylike (Murder is Bad Manners in the USA), Arsenic for Tea (Poison is Not Polite in the USA), First Class Murder, Jolly Foul Play, Mistletoe and Murder, Cream Buns and Crime, A Spoonful of Murder, Death in the Spotlight and Top Marks for Murder. She is also the author of The Guggenheim Mystery, the sequel to Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery.
Robin was born in California and grew up in an Oxford college, across the road from the house where Alice in Wonderland lived. She has been making up stories all her life.
When she was twelve, her father handed her a copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and she realised that she wanted to be either Hercule Poirot or Agatha Christie when she grew up. When it occurred to her that she was never going to be able to grow her own spectacular walrus moustache, she decided that Agatha Christie was the more achieveable option.
She spent her teenage years at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, reading a lot of murder mysteries and hoping that she’d get the chance to do some detecting herself (she didn’t). She then went to university, where she studied crime fiction, and then worked at a children's publisher.
Robin lives in England with her husband and her pet bearded dragon, Watson.
Robin was born in California and grew up in an Oxford college, across the road from the house where Alice in Wonderland lived. She has been making up stories all her life.
When she was twelve, her father handed her a copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and she realised that she wanted to be either Hercule Poirot or Agatha Christie when she grew up. When it occurred to her that she was never going to be able to grow her own spectacular walrus moustache, she decided that Agatha Christie was the more achieveable option.
She spent her teenage years at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, reading a lot of murder mysteries and hoping that she’d get the chance to do some detecting herself (she didn’t). She then went to university, where she studied crime fiction, and then worked at a children's publisher.
Robin lives in England with her husband and her pet bearded dragon, Watson.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,059 reviews
December 12, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this - great fun, wonderfully written, with a really engaging story. I do love a good middle grade cosy mystery!
October 7, 2015
5 Words: Tea, mystery, murder, crime, detective.
I saw tea in the title and I knew I had to read it. And I'm so glad I did. Because this was awesome. And I have discovered that I have a huge soft spot for detective stories.
This story has a pretty timeless quality, and I couldn't quite place the era at first. And Daisy and Hazel are so awesome. They just work so well together, the friendship between them is really something special, and I loved how it was tested in this book. I was so invested after just a few pages.
This book is excellently written. You're just sucked right in to the girls' world, wondering whodunnit and hoping that all is not as it seems. It's like you become part of the family. And so I'm so glad it ended like it did.
I've started with book two and now I'm off to get book one and pre-order book three! It's really that good.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
I saw tea in the title and I knew I had to read it. And I'm so glad I did. Because this was awesome. And I have discovered that I have a huge soft spot for detective stories.
This story has a pretty timeless quality, and I couldn't quite place the era at first. And Daisy and Hazel are so awesome. They just work so well together, the friendship between them is really something special, and I loved how it was tested in this book. I was so invested after just a few pages.
This book is excellently written. You're just sucked right in to the girls' world, wondering whodunnit and hoping that all is not as it seems. It's like you become part of the family. And so I'm so glad it ended like it did.
I've started with book two and now I'm off to get book one and pre-order book three! It's really that good.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
August 15, 2021
You can watch my interview with author Robin Stevens on my YouTube channel here, where we talk spoiler-free about the series: https://youtu.be/NZBWsJBsgRs
The second book in the Murder Most Unladylike series manages to surpass the original book with a very intriguing tale of murder that hits very close to Daisy's home. I really enjoyed the second outing and getting out of the boarding school setting of the first book, but also to see Daisy and Hazel's friendship develop beyond some of the problematic parts of their friendship in the first book was really nice to see. I was very intrigued by the mystery and loved seeing Daisy and Hazel figure it all out.
The second book in the Murder Most Unladylike series manages to surpass the original book with a very intriguing tale of murder that hits very close to Daisy's home. I really enjoyed the second outing and getting out of the boarding school setting of the first book, but also to see Daisy and Hazel's friendship develop beyond some of the problematic parts of their friendship in the first book was really nice to see. I was very intrigued by the mystery and loved seeing Daisy and Hazel figure it all out.
December 14, 2022
#1) Murder Most Unladylike ★★★☆☆
#3) First Class Murder ★★★★☆
#4) Jolly Foul Play ★★★★☆
#5) Mistletoe and Murder ★★★★☆
#6) A Spoonful of Murder ★★★★☆
#7) Death in the Spotlight ★★★★★
#8) Top Marks for Murder ★★★★★
#9) Death Sets Sail ★★★★★
➸ Trigger warnings for .
▷ Representation: Hazel (mc) is Chinese; Daisy (mc) is a lesbian.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph
July 19, 2018
Just as incredible as the first, I am head-over-heels for this series!
May 3, 2017
First of all, I'm so excited that I picked up the sequel relatively soon after reading the first book, because I enjoyed Hazel and Daisy too much for their series to be something that just gathers dust on my shelves.
What I liked about this mystery was how it was much closer to home. Literally. The girls are staying over at Daisy's manor over Easter break and witness a poisoning, with Daisy's father being one of the most convincing culprits. Seeing the pair juggle with their integrity and moral compass was a great addition to the book.
As they would probably they, the mystery was jolly good, and I couldn't recommend these mysteries, for fans of all ages, more!
What I liked about this mystery was how it was much closer to home. Literally. The girls are staying over at Daisy's manor over Easter break and witness a poisoning, with Daisy's father being one of the most convincing culprits. Seeing the pair juggle with their integrity and moral compass was a great addition to the book.
As they would probably they, the mystery was jolly good, and I couldn't recommend these mysteries, for fans of all ages, more!
November 19, 2017
Ho amato questo capitolo ancora più del primo della saga. Mi è piaciuto molto ritrovare Hazel e Daisy e vederle interagire in un nuovo contesto (la casa di Daisy). Le protagoniste sono maturate molto e così le avventure (omicidi per gli amici) nelle quali si trovano coinvolte. Il romanzo si svolge in una casa vittoriana durante il compleanno di Daisy, quando, inspiegabilmente, uno degli ospiti muore. Hazel e Daisy dovranno ritornare operative con la loro Detective Society per risolvere il caso. Ho apprezzato tantissimo i richiami ad Agatha Christie che in questo capitolo si fanno ancora più presenti. Arsenic for tea vi terrà incollati alle pagine dalla prima all'ultima riga. Davvero consigliatissimo!!
January 19, 2015
I was a little in awe of Stevens' debut in this series, the rather glorious and as good as Christmas Murder Most Unladylike, and so when Arsenic For Tea came onto NetGalley, I did a tiny shriek of joy. And by tiny, I mean rather substantial.
Arsenic For Tea is a joy. A multi-layered sandwich cake of joy. There's really very little else to be said other than this book is gorgeous and it's something rather special.
It is the second in the Wells and Wong series; Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, schoolgirl detectives, are at Daisy's house for the holiday and as it's Daisy's birthday, the whole family and a couple of extras are invited along for a birthday tea of splendid proportions. However - it's a birthday party that somebody won't see the end of.
A closed house mystery; a party of people, all with their reasons for doing the deed, stuck in the house together due to bad weather. Somebody has something to confess - and it's down to the Detective Society to solve their second case before something very bad happens.
Glorious, really, a book where the stakes are high and the mystery wraps around them a little tighter with each step taken. Daisy and Hazel remain a delight (Hazel's little revealing one-liners are a joy), and the supporting cast remains ineffably perfect (Lord Hastings - Daisy's father, Felix and Miss Alston all provide particular highs).
Sometimes, with a second book in a series, there's always that risk of 'second book syndrome'. Will it be as good? Will you still like it as much as you did the first time round? Will the characters have grown or will it be a pale rehash of the first?
Arsenic For Tea feels stronger, somehow, and deeper too. It's glorious and worth cancelling everything for. Stevens feels like she's settled more into her groove and that groove is producing stylish, charming, witty and delightful stories. I am a fan of this series and a fan of her work and I think this is again a title that feels a little bit like Christmas.
Arsenic For Tea is a joy. A multi-layered sandwich cake of joy. There's really very little else to be said other than this book is gorgeous and it's something rather special.
It is the second in the Wells and Wong series; Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, schoolgirl detectives, are at Daisy's house for the holiday and as it's Daisy's birthday, the whole family and a couple of extras are invited along for a birthday tea of splendid proportions. However - it's a birthday party that somebody won't see the end of.
A closed house mystery; a party of people, all with their reasons for doing the deed, stuck in the house together due to bad weather. Somebody has something to confess - and it's down to the Detective Society to solve their second case before something very bad happens.
Glorious, really, a book where the stakes are high and the mystery wraps around them a little tighter with each step taken. Daisy and Hazel remain a delight (Hazel's little revealing one-liners are a joy), and the supporting cast remains ineffably perfect (Lord Hastings - Daisy's father, Felix and Miss Alston all provide particular highs).
Sometimes, with a second book in a series, there's always that risk of 'second book syndrome'. Will it be as good? Will you still like it as much as you did the first time round? Will the characters have grown or will it be a pale rehash of the first?
Arsenic For Tea feels stronger, somehow, and deeper too. It's glorious and worth cancelling everything for. Stevens feels like she's settled more into her groove and that groove is producing stylish, charming, witty and delightful stories. I am a fan of this series and a fan of her work and I think this is again a title that feels a little bit like Christmas.
August 10, 2021
I think it was wonderful and much better than the first book in the series. Scribd.com English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate.
Synopsys: "A tea party takes a poisonous turn leaving Daisy and Hazel with a new mystery to solve in this “first-rate whodunit, reminiscent of a game of Clue [that’s] terrific preparation for the works of Agatha Christie” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
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 about Daisy after all—and she is furious. But Daisy’s anger falls to the wayside when one of their guests falls seriously and mysteriously ill—and everything points to poison. It’s up to Daisy and Hazel to find out what’s really going on.
With wild storms preventing everyone 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 begins to act suspiciously, the Detective Society does everything they can to reveal the truth…no matter the consequences.
Previously published as Arsenic for Tea in the UK."
Synopsys: "A tea party takes a poisonous turn leaving Daisy and Hazel with a new mystery to solve in this “first-rate whodunit, reminiscent of a game of Clue [that’s] terrific preparation for the works of Agatha Christie” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
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 about Daisy after all—and she is furious. But Daisy’s anger falls to the wayside when one of their guests falls seriously and mysteriously ill—and everything points to poison. It’s up to Daisy and Hazel to find out what’s really going on.
With wild storms preventing everyone 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 begins to act suspiciously, the Detective Society does everything they can to reveal the truth…no matter the consequences.
Previously published as Arsenic for Tea in the UK."
April 7, 2018
Originally reviewed on Words in a Teacup
Once again we travel back to 1930s England, land of murders and bunbreaks, where schoolgirl detectives Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are spending the hols at Daisy's ancestral home. There's also some family members and friends staying over for Daisy's birthday party, and everyone knows what happens every time a group of Englishmen have a party in an isolated country house: someone's going to get offed. Predictably, Hazel isn't too pleased with having to deal with yet another murderer while Daisy is jumping at the change to solve the mystery before the adults... at least until she realizes that there's a very good chance that someone in her family is a killer.
So I was going to do a serious (aka boring) review as usual, but then this happened:
...Okay then. This is going to be easier for me since I only have muddled, incoherent thoughts about this book. Usually when I read there's a part of me that's dissecting the plot and the characters and filing everything away for later. In this case however my train of thoughts was more like HAZEL IS MY BABY! OH LOOK BUNBREAKS!!! IS THAT UNCLE FELIX??? YAY DAISY!! OH NO DON'T CRY!!!! LET'S SOLVE THE MURDER!!!!!! FRIENDSHIP!! WHO DID THE MURDER?????? YAY TEATIME AGAIN!
First books are a gamble because I don't know if I'm going to love or hate a series until I start it. But second books are the real test, especially when the bar has been set pretty high. "Murder Most Unladylike was pretty much perfect, how is it possible to top that?" I wondered as I perused the book's page on NetGalley.This is totally what I told Isa at that time, and not "oggjhfjfnmas[expletive] i'm gonna request it and then cry when they reject me because our blog is not popular".
It hadn't occurred to me at first that not all Wells & Wong books could be set at a boarding school. I do love boarding school books, but yeah, it'd get a bit implausible in the end if they just kept killing off the Science mistress every schoolyear like they did with DADA teachers in Harry Potter. So while I got the change of setting, and I loved Fallingford, also like Hazel I felt a bit homesick for the familiar background of the school from the previous book. Reading about Daisy's family was just like meeting someone you've heard a lot about. Especially Dashing Uncle Felix (yep I'm pretty sure that's his full name) whom I'd be dying to learn more about since Isa pointed out that he's the mysterious uncle who taught Daisy how to break into a car and told her that dead bodies are heavy.
Everything is very British, including the fact that Daisy's birthday party is a "children's tea party", whatever that means. From what I gathered, it means that there are children around and people serve themselves (shock!) instead of needing a butler to hand them the scones. Obviously it doesn't take long before one of the guests drops dead... no, wait, it does take a while because apparently arsenic doesn't work instantly like in the films. Anyway. Eventually one of the guests drops dead, which is very sad.
Who ruined the tea party?? Hazel would like to go back to a time and place when it was safe to have tea without having to wonder if it was poisoned. If she read more of Daisy's books she'd know that it's too late by now: if you solve a murder, you'll spend your life stumbling into dead bodies. Well-known cosmic law. Just look at Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher, it's a wonder there was anyone still alive in their village!
So Hazel and Daisy are investigating the crime, but (obviously) the house is isolated and (obviously) this means the murderer must be one of the guests. Usually, you know, who cares. The detectives are usually guests themselves, the reader has only just been introduced to those characters. HOWEVER! This time the moment when Daisy realizes "whooops is Mummy or Daddy a possible murderer?" is also the moment when I realized "whooops I'm too emotionally invested in those fictional characters". So I have my list of suspects, and I'm trying to guess the culprit as usual, but my thoughts are all skewed because I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE GUILTY, DAISY WILL BE SAD!
Safe to say, I didn't figure out the culprit before Hazel and Daisy solved the case. I guessed some things, and I might have put some of the pieces together if I stopped to think about it, but I couldn't stop because for the last few chapters I was glued to my kindle and crossing all my fingers that everything would end well. In between there were a lot of shenanigans that mostly I didn't mention because I didn't have suitable gifs on hand, I'll just say that my favourite scene was probably the one with Daisy under her bed. I think I liked Daisy a lot more in this book (which means I liked her lots and lots, since I already liked it a fair bit in MMU).
I miiight like MMU a little bit more because of the setting (boarding schools yay) but overall: THIS BOOK, I LIKE IT!
So, now that I'm done being excited about the awesomeness that was this book, FIRST CLASS MURDER (WELLS & WONG #3) IS GOING TO BE SET ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (DURING THE HOLS??) AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BEST SETTING EVER SO GO READ ARSENIC FOR TEA, AND IF YOU'VE READ IT THEN READ IT AGAIN. Or idk go back to Deepdean and the case of Lavinia's missing tie. Regular reviews will resume as soon as I stop flailing, in the meantime you can communicate with me through gifs of British actors and biscuits. Bye.
Once again we travel back to 1930s England, land of murders and bunbreaks, where schoolgirl detectives Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells are spending the hols at Daisy's ancestral home. There's also some family members and friends staying over for Daisy's birthday party, and everyone knows what happens every time a group of Englishmen have a party in an isolated country house: someone's going to get offed. Predictably, Hazel isn't too pleased with having to deal with yet another murderer while Daisy is jumping at the change to solve the mystery before the adults... at least until she realizes that there's a very good chance that someone in her family is a killer.
So I was going to do a serious (aka boring) review as usual, but then this happened:
...Okay then. This is going to be easier for me since I only have muddled, incoherent thoughts about this book. Usually when I read there's a part of me that's dissecting the plot and the characters and filing everything away for later. In this case however my train of thoughts was more like HAZEL IS MY BABY! OH LOOK BUNBREAKS!!! IS THAT UNCLE FELIX??? YAY DAISY!! OH NO DON'T CRY!!!! LET'S SOLVE THE MURDER!!!!!! FRIENDSHIP!! WHO DID THE MURDER?????? YAY TEATIME AGAIN!
An accurate representation of the reviewer reading the book.
First books are a gamble because I don't know if I'm going to love or hate a series until I start it. But second books are the real test, especially when the bar has been set pretty high. "Murder Most Unladylike was pretty much perfect, how is it possible to top that?" I wondered as I perused the book's page on NetGalley.
Reviewer's reaction on receiving an advance copy of the book.
It hadn't occurred to me at first that not all Wells & Wong books could be set at a boarding school. I do love boarding school books, but yeah, it'd get a bit implausible in the end if they just kept killing off the Science mistress every schoolyear like they did with DADA teachers in Harry Potter. So while I got the change of setting, and I loved Fallingford, also like Hazel I felt a bit homesick for the familiar background of the school from the previous book. Reading about Daisy's family was just like meeting someone you've heard a lot about. Especially Dashing Uncle Felix (yep I'm pretty sure that's his full name) whom I'd be dying to learn more about since Isa pointed out that he's the mysterious uncle who taught Daisy how to break into a car and told her that dead bodies are heavy.
In my mind Dashing Uncle Felix looks a lot like Rupert Everett with a monocle.
Everything is very British, including the fact that Daisy's birthday party is a "children's tea party", whatever that means. From what I gathered, it means that there are children around and people serve themselves (shock!) instead of needing a butler to hand them the scones. Obviously it doesn't take long before one of the guests drops dead... no, wait, it does take a while because apparently arsenic doesn't work instantly like in the films. Anyway. Eventually one of the guests drops dead, which is very sad.
All that wasted tea and cakes. A tragedy.
Who ruined the tea party?? Hazel would like to go back to a time and place when it was safe to have tea without having to wonder if it was poisoned. If she read more of Daisy's books she'd know that it's too late by now: if you solve a murder, you'll spend your life stumbling into dead bodies. Well-known cosmic law. Just look at Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher, it's a wonder there was anyone still alive in their village!
But let's have a cuppa anyway, poison's no excuse to miss tea.
So Hazel and Daisy are investigating the crime, but (obviously) the house is isolated and (obviously) this means the murderer must be one of the guests. Usually, you know, who cares. The detectives are usually guests themselves, the reader has only just been introduced to those characters. HOWEVER! This time the moment when Daisy realizes "whooops is Mummy or Daddy a possible murderer?" is also the moment when I realized "whooops I'm too emotionally invested in those fictional characters". So I have my list of suspects, and I'm trying to guess the culprit as usual, but my thoughts are all skewed because I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE GUILTY, DAISY WILL BE SAD!
I AM EMOTIONALLY COMPROMISED BECAUSE OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS!
Safe to say, I didn't figure out the culprit before Hazel and Daisy solved the case. I guessed some things, and I might have put some of the pieces together if I stopped to think about it, but I couldn't stop because for the last few chapters I was glued to my kindle and crossing all my fingers that everything would end well. In between there were a lot of shenanigans that mostly I didn't mention because I didn't have suitable gifs on hand, I'll just say that my favourite scene was probably the one with Daisy under her bed. I think I liked Daisy a lot more in this book (which means I liked her lots and lots, since I already liked it a fair bit in MMU).
I miiight like MMU a little bit more because of the setting (boarding schools yay) but overall: THIS BOOK, I LIKE IT!
So, now that I'm done being excited about the awesomeness that was this book, FIRST CLASS MURDER (WELLS & WONG #3) IS GOING TO BE SET ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (DURING THE HOLS??) AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE BEST SETTING EVER SO GO READ ARSENIC FOR TEA, AND IF YOU'VE READ IT THEN READ IT AGAIN. Or idk go back to Deepdean and the case of Lavinia's missing tie. Regular reviews will resume as soon as I stop flailing, in the meantime you can communicate with me through gifs of British actors and biscuits. Bye.
April 9, 2023
oh. my. gosh. I think this might be my new favorite book, like, ever?
this was so so so good, and I loved it even more than the first book which is rare for a sequel but man this was so cute and whimsical and fun and rich
I absolutely loved the clue-like feel of the setting and the characters all just feel like old friends at this point since I’m doing a reread and the end was shocking! also, the lady Hastings and mr. curtis scandal—I love love love love👌✨☕️ I mean, not for Daisy but like I just love the charm of it all and mr curtis is just ✨✨🥵
anyways moving on, this book just feels like coming home from a long day and plopping down on the couch drinking tea eating your favorite food getting under a blanket and just feeling at home ✨✨
(Also as I live in the US I read the US edition: Poison is not Polite as it was all that was available to me)
this was so so so good, and I loved it even more than the first book which is rare for a sequel but man this was so cute and whimsical and fun and rich
I absolutely loved the clue-like feel of the setting and the characters all just feel like old friends at this point since I’m doing a reread and the end was shocking! also, the lady Hastings and mr. curtis scandal—I love love love love👌✨☕️ I mean, not for Daisy but like I just love the charm of it all and mr curtis is just ✨✨🥵
anyways moving on, this book just feels like coming home from a long day and plopping down on the couch drinking tea eating your favorite food getting under a blanket and just feeling at home ✨✨
(Also as I live in the US I read the US edition: Poison is not Polite as it was all that was available to me)
Read
June 21, 2022I'm not sure what to rate this, mostly because I stayed up late finishing this and am very sleepy.
I find these books fun and sort of cozy. I feel like murder mysteries shouldn't be cozy, since people are dying and all, but this book is set in an English country house and there is lots of mention of food and rain and I live for that sort of thing.
I think the reveal of who did it felt.. less exciting than the first one and than what I had anticipated. The first was so surprising that I was really on the edge of my seat. Here, I felt like the killer was announced and I went back to read it twice just to make sure that I hadn't missed anything, since it seemed to be... over really fast? With this book, I felt like there was a lot of build up and the payoff wasn't really as high.
I also have to say the dynamic between Daisy and Hazel hasn't totally gotten better. I think the period racism is accurate and it was only mentioned once or twice, which is good, but I hate the way Daisy bosses Hazel around. She bosses everyone around, but it feels especially weird knowing Hazel is Asian and the only person of color around for miles. Hazel is always rushing to protect Daisy and her feelings, even though Daisy is constantly putting her down or being sarcastic, and I just don't really get the appeal of their friendship. It makes me feel really sad for Hazel, and I hope she grows up to be the badass detective she wants to be and has many more friends who treat her better.
But yeah, I'm going to read the next one.
I find these books fun and sort of cozy. I feel like murder mysteries shouldn't be cozy, since people are dying and all, but this book is set in an English country house and there is lots of mention of food and rain and I live for that sort of thing.
I think the reveal of who did it felt.. less exciting than the first one and than what I had anticipated. The first was so surprising that I was really on the edge of my seat. Here, I felt like the killer was announced and I went back to read it twice just to make sure that I hadn't missed anything, since it seemed to be... over really fast? With this book, I felt like there was a lot of build up and the payoff wasn't really as high.
I also have to say the dynamic between Daisy and Hazel hasn't totally gotten better. I think the period racism is accurate and it was only mentioned once or twice, which is good, but I hate the way Daisy bosses Hazel around. She bosses everyone around, but it feels especially weird knowing Hazel is Asian and the only person of color around for miles. Hazel is always rushing to protect Daisy and her feelings, even though Daisy is constantly putting her down or being sarcastic, and I just don't really get the appeal of their friendship. It makes me feel really sad for Hazel, and I hope she grows up to be the badass detective she wants to be and has many more friends who treat her better.
But yeah, I'm going to read the next one.
March 5, 2022
wow po prostu wow! nie spodziewałam się tak fajnej książki! mimo, że całość jest dość infantylna, to książka bardzo mi się podobała i moim zdaniem jest zdecydowanie lepsza od pierwszej części. momentami irytowało mnie zachowanie paru osób, ale dało się wytrzymać. końcówka - totalnie nieprzewidywalna, co chwile podejrzewałam kogoś innego także zdecydowanie na plus! na pewno sięgnę po kolejne tomy :)
July 20, 2022
3.5 ⭐
Bardzo przyjemna rozrywka
Bardzo przyjemna rozrywka
January 16, 2018
Arsenic for tea was one of the books I have been more excited to read in 2015 and I'm so pleased to report it did not disappoint at all.
There are several things I love about this book the the series it is part of. I love that the series evokes the same feelings I had when I was 10 years old and reading my Enid Blyton boarding school and mystery stories. The setting and the language is spot on with the style and my inner child adores it. I almost squealed with joy at the use of the word Brick to describe someone. The characterisation is spot on. I love Daisy and Hazel and seeing their friendship in these books. It is so nice to see a positive girl relationship. I loved all the secondary characters. The dashing Uncle Felix and larger than life Aunt Saskia. All the characters make the story, set almost 100 years ago, relevant to a modern age. I love the mystery element to this series. I love getting into the detective role myself and trying to work out whodunnit over the course of the book along with the girls of the detective society.
All in all a brilliant book and fabulous middle grade series that I adore. I cannot wait for book three.
There are several things I love about this book the the series it is part of. I love that the series evokes the same feelings I had when I was 10 years old and reading my Enid Blyton boarding school and mystery stories. The setting and the language is spot on with the style and my inner child adores it. I almost squealed with joy at the use of the word Brick to describe someone. The characterisation is spot on. I love Daisy and Hazel and seeing their friendship in these books. It is so nice to see a positive girl relationship. I loved all the secondary characters. The dashing Uncle Felix and larger than life Aunt Saskia. All the characters make the story, set almost 100 years ago, relevant to a modern age. I love the mystery element to this series. I love getting into the detective role myself and trying to work out whodunnit over the course of the book along with the girls of the detective society.
All in all a brilliant book and fabulous middle grade series that I adore. I cannot wait for book three.
February 21, 2018
Another wonderfully delightful murder mystery for Daisy and Hazel 'The Detective Society' to unravel.
Whilst attending Daisy's Birthday celebrations at her family's country home, the schoolgirls are back on the case after one of the attendees soon falls seriously ill.
These books really capture the 1930's setting, one aspect I found added to the story was how the author dealt with Hazel's Asian heritage during that period of history.
The fact that this scene was included goes some way of explaining why these books are loved by people of all ages, as Robin Stevens doesn't talk down to her readers.
The story flows from twist to turn whilst never being too complicated. It's very easy to devour, just like all the cakes mentioned in the story!
Whilst attending Daisy's Birthday celebrations at her family's country home, the schoolgirls are back on the case after one of the attendees soon falls seriously ill.
These books really capture the 1930's setting, one aspect I found added to the story was how the author dealt with Hazel's Asian heritage during that period of history.
The fact that this scene was included goes some way of explaining why these books are loved by people of all ages, as Robin Stevens doesn't talk down to her readers.
The story flows from twist to turn whilst never being too complicated. It's very easy to devour, just like all the cakes mentioned in the story!
July 24, 2022
OCENA: 4,5 ⭐️
February 8, 2015
The past is awful, only old people never realize it.
Facts I bet you didn't know about me:
1. Miss Marple and Dr John Watson bore me to the point of re-reading or retracing the steps that do NOT lead to horrific ends in them old Give Yourself Goosebumps I possess, and I don't even mind. (This is relevant. Sorta. Not really.)
2. Weddings/marriages/any hint of nuptials provoke an involuntary gag reflex in yours truly, unless we're talking Tim Burton + Helena Bonham Carter (or break up thereof ;_;), Ellen Degeneres + Portia De Rossi, or NPH + David Burtka. (Irrelevant without a whisper or shadow or fingerprint of a doubt but you just loooove knowing more about me, don't you?)
3. I'm not sure how to begin this review, or wasn't, having been on a hiatus for I don't remember how long. Ergo, the babble. Bear with me.
4. Turns out I like lists. Huh. They're make for easy-to-follow non-traditional narratives and oftentimes are less work. Cleaner, too.
Reasons to read Arsenic for Tea:
1. You love Flavia De Luce.
2. You hate Flavia De Luce and the incessant drivel on chemistry and compounds and ugh science. (Really? #Judging_you_hard)
3. You don't know Flavia De Luce. (Really? #Judging_you_harder.) BUT you love
ALL THAT AND MORE IS WITHIN YOUR REACH.
4. It is the story of two girl detectives in the 1940's England, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong. They aren't Sherlockian-smart and they depend a WHOLE LOT on luck, but they are determined little shits (and I say this with the most intense adoration for them) who gnaw bones to their very marrows. (Not literally, that's my cousin's piece of cake. Ugh.)
5. The Detective Society grows, a very dastardly man dies within Daisy's own manor and on her birthday. Somebody in the family has done the deed. Also, fart pillows and weird English treats.
6. GIRLSHIPS AHOY! I heart girl friendships and girl groups so hard, and I bet, you my imaginary audience of the moment who will become manifest when someone on the other side of the Internet chooses to read this particular, prolonged piece, do too.
7. True Detectives, Hazel and Daisy are. Detective-ing doesn't come naturally to most of us, and staying on the obscure path of impartial judgement and observation and constant vigilance can be hard when you;re not Mad-Eye Moody. Also, when someone in you family might just be the killer. Our ditagonists (is it still that when only one is narrating the story?) struggle, physically and mentally. Lessons from previous murders help and ergo, they are most awesome at it. With the appropriate amount of emotionality.
8. I love this aspect and I'm sure you'll appreciate it too, Robin Stevens is so adept at it: the book perfectly illustrates, even better than its predecessor, that when you look through those particular pair of lenses, everyone has dark secrets.
We all seem the killer when you expect to see it.
Most of our suspects seem more guilty, not less, the most we discover about them.
9. The mysteries aren't solved and lived vicariously through Sherlock's boastful monologues in Watson's diaries (or whatever). Solutions and revelations aren't out of reach, or fall down from heaven. All sorts of clues and evidences Daisy and Hazel uncover always lead the reader to the conclusion first, without being overt or obvious about it. It's all very realistic, for those currently living in 1940 England in a fading manor.
I, personally, never felt out of my depth and believe you me, I am not the kind of knife you'd prefer to butter your bread.
10. ARE YOU NOT DONE YET?
Well, the girls are all awfully clever. We've all been 14yo girls at some point in our lives - yes, even you Tony Stark, - and more like than not, we were nowhere near as awesome.
GO GO GO READ! THIS! SERIES!
The author just keeps getting better.
Thank you, Penguin Random House UK Children’s!
Facts I bet you didn't know about me:
1. Miss Marple and Dr John Watson bore me to the point of re-reading or retracing the steps that do NOT lead to horrific ends in them old Give Yourself Goosebumps I possess, and I don't even mind. (This is relevant. Sorta. Not really.)
2. Weddings/marriages/any hint of nuptials provoke an involuntary gag reflex in yours truly, unless we're talking Tim Burton + Helena Bonham Carter (or break up thereof ;_;), Ellen Degeneres + Portia De Rossi, or NPH + David Burtka. (Irrelevant without a whisper or shadow or fingerprint of a doubt but you just loooove knowing more about me, don't you?)
3. I'm not sure how to begin this review, or wasn't, having been on a hiatus for I don't remember how long. Ergo, the babble. Bear with me.
4. Turns out I like lists. Huh. They're make for easy-to-follow non-traditional narratives and oftentimes are less work. Cleaner, too.
Reasons to read Arsenic for Tea:
1. You love Flavia De Luce.
2. You hate Flavia De Luce and the incessant drivel on chemistry and compounds and ugh science. (Really? #Judging_you_hard)
3. You don't know Flavia De Luce. (Really? #Judging_you_harder.) BUT you love
a) mysteries when they aren't slow,
b) children narratives when they aren't immature,
c) family drama when it isn't melodramatic,
d) grown-ups when they/you are idiots but within parameters,
e) again mysteries when their solution and step-by-step procedure coulda been within your capabilities.
ALL THAT AND MORE IS WITHIN YOUR REACH.
4. It is the story of two girl detectives in the 1940's England, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong. They aren't Sherlockian-smart and they depend a WHOLE LOT on luck, but they are determined little shits (and I say this with the most intense adoration for them) who gnaw bones to their very marrows. (Not literally, that's my cousin's piece of cake. Ugh.)
5. The Detective Society grows, a very dastardly man dies within Daisy's own manor and on her birthday. Somebody in the family has done the deed. Also, fart pillows and weird English treats.
6. GIRLSHIPS AHOY! I heart girl friendships and girl groups so hard, and I bet, you my imaginary audience of the moment who will become manifest when someone on the other side of the Internet chooses to read this particular, prolonged piece, do too.
7. True Detectives, Hazel and Daisy are. Detective-ing doesn't come naturally to most of us, and staying on the obscure path of impartial judgement and observation and constant vigilance can be hard when you;re not Mad-Eye Moody. Also, when someone in you family might just be the killer. Our ditagonists (is it still that when only one is narrating the story?) struggle, physically and mentally. Lessons from previous murders help and ergo, they are most awesome at it. With the appropriate amount of emotionality.
8. I love this aspect and I'm sure you'll appreciate it too, Robin Stevens is so adept at it: the book perfectly illustrates, even better than its predecessor, that when you look through those particular pair of lenses, everyone has dark secrets.
We all seem the killer when you expect to see it.
Most of our suspects seem more guilty, not less, the most we discover about them.
9. The mysteries aren't solved and lived vicariously through Sherlock's boastful monologues in Watson's diaries (or whatever). Solutions and revelations aren't out of reach, or fall down from heaven. All sorts of clues and evidences Daisy and Hazel uncover always lead the reader to the conclusion first, without being overt or obvious about it. It's all very realistic, for those currently living in 1940 England in a fading manor.
I, personally, never felt out of my depth and believe you me, I am not the kind of knife you'd prefer to butter your bread.
10. ARE YOU NOT DONE YET?
Well, the girls are all awfully clever. We've all been 14yo girls at some point in our lives - yes, even you Tony Stark, - and more like than not, we were nowhere near as awesome.
GO GO GO READ! THIS! SERIES!
The author just keeps getting better.
Thank you, Penguin Random House UK Children’s!
March 10, 2020
Klassisches Whodunit in einem englischen Herrenhaus mit den klassischen Verdächtigen.
Jedoch wieder so charmant erzählt, dass man das Prasseln des Regens an die Fenster förmlich hören kann und sich ziemlich schnell dabei erwischt, wie man mit den beiden Detektivinnen durch die Gänge schleicht. Das Miträtseln hat durch die eingeschränkte Anzahl Personen tatsächlich noch mehr Spaß gemacht und es war interessant einen Einblick in Daisys Familie zu bekommen. Die britischen Eigenarten waren wieder herrlich, genauso stelle ich mir das Leben in so einem Herrenhaus vor. Perfekter Lesestoff für eine ausgedehnte süße Pause – meine neue Lieblingsmahlzeit des Tages. Allgemein sollte ich vielleicht warnen, dass der Appetit auf Tee und Gebäck während der Ermittlungen deutlich ansteigt ;-)
Jedoch wieder so charmant erzählt, dass man das Prasseln des Regens an die Fenster förmlich hören kann und sich ziemlich schnell dabei erwischt, wie man mit den beiden Detektivinnen durch die Gänge schleicht. Das Miträtseln hat durch die eingeschränkte Anzahl Personen tatsächlich noch mehr Spaß gemacht und es war interessant einen Einblick in Daisys Familie zu bekommen. Die britischen Eigenarten waren wieder herrlich, genauso stelle ich mir das Leben in so einem Herrenhaus vor. Perfekter Lesestoff für eine ausgedehnte süße Pause – meine neue Lieblingsmahlzeit des Tages. Allgemein sollte ich vielleicht warnen, dass der Appetit auf Tee und Gebäck während der Ermittlungen deutlich ansteigt ;-)
July 7, 2022
Bardzo comfort seria, cieszę się że dzisiaj zrobiłam reread 2 tomu
February 19, 2022
Very enjoyable murder mystery! And just as good as the first!
There are twists at every turn until it all comes together with a dramatic conclusion on who the murderer really was (and I would never have guessed it!)
There are twists at every turn until it all comes together with a dramatic conclusion on who the murderer really was (and I would never have guessed it!)
June 6, 2021
Just as fun as the first!! I love how dark and fun these are. :)
March 14, 2023
Jak na kryminał to mega bo ogólnie nie za bardzo przepadam. Są relacje między ludźmi czego mi brakowało w poprzedniej części. Spoko ale to nie do końca mój tym
4.5
4.5
April 1, 2021
"Одна з небагатьох подібностей між Фоллінґфордом і "Дипдином" — це переконання дорослих у тому, що давати дітям вільний час небезпечно. Думаю, вони переймаються, що ми можемо скоїти щось жахливе".
"Миш’як до чаю" мені сподобався значно більше за всіма пунктами. Хоча злочинець не виявився аж таким несподіваним, детектив у закритій кімнаті завжди тішить атмосферою напруження. Якщо "Аж ніяк не жіноче вбивство" одразу почалося зі злочину, то "Миш’як до чаю" за всіма правилами цієї формули до нього підводив. Нас познайомили з усіма причетними, накреслили стосунки між ними й закинули кілька гачків з наживкою, за які читач має чіплятися. І в цьому плюс: ти ще не знаєш, кого вб’ють, хоч і підозрюєш, і коли вбивство таки трапляється, розгублено хитаєш головою, бо мотив міг бути у всіх.
Кріііім дядька Фелікса. Дядько Фелікс крутий. Just because.
Повний відгук на моєму блозі.
May 8, 2018
I enjoyed this more than I did the first installment. In the first place, the traditional house-party murder is more "believable" than a boarding school murder. In the second place, a real wart gets what's coming to him, so nobody really feels bad about it. Shocked, yes, but not bad. The author enjoys playing with the trope that "people like us" wouldn't do such a thing, so even if it had to be one of us, let's hush it up, mustn't let the side down donchaknow. In the third place, the author had the sense to leave the "child's notebook in her handwriting" bit for the glossary of British terms at the end, so the informed reader can skip it. But if you do, you will miss her definition of kleptomania as a sickness only rich people get; they steal things they don't need, because they can't help it. Apparently there are no poor kleptomaniacs; it is assumed that if they steal something they actually want or need it, and therefore are deserving of arrest. How dare they be poor, anyway!
In this book Uncle Felix becomes a Peter Wimsey-ish character, and Daisy gets her very own library scene. The only things that rattled a bit were the business with the letter, which was absurd, and the moment when Daisy's father describes psychology as "new age mumbo jumbo." Ooops. New Age was a term coined in the late 1980s, not the 1930s. That's what happens when an author doesn't study the idiom of a period in depth before writing a period novel.
However, a rattling good read.
In this book Uncle Felix becomes a Peter Wimsey-ish character, and Daisy gets her very own library scene. The only things that rattled a bit were the business with the letter, which was absurd, and the moment when Daisy's father describes psychology as "new age mumbo jumbo." Ooops. New Age was a term coined in the late 1980s, not the 1930s. That's what happens when an author doesn't study the idiom of a period in depth before writing a period novel.
However, a rattling good read.
October 12, 2020
Second Wells and Wong Mystery
Again, Robin Stevens combines many of the usual tropes of the “Golden Age Murder Mystery”, namely a mansion in the 1930s as setting, with all the guests stuck due to vagaries of the weather, and of course all suspects of murder. And let’s not forget that essential map à la Cluedo.
This is a clever story, full of the requisite red herrings, twists and turns. Although written for middle-grade kids, the author never talks down to her audience, and anyone can enjoy it. Putting the crime plot to the side, the book is also about the relationship between the two main characters, Hazel and Daisy. I love the dynamics between these two intelligent girls, so different in character and yet perfectly complementary. They push each other in such a great way. In this instance, Daisy is confronted by several difficult situations, full of emotional and psychological repercussions, and I’m happy that Stevens didn’t just push them to the side. Her social behaviour becomes more understandable now that we can see her in her family. As for Hazel, I love her voice (narrator) and seeing her gaining in confidence, especially in order to help her friend :O)
Again, Robin Stevens combines many of the usual tropes of the “Golden Age Murder Mystery”, namely a mansion in the 1930s as setting, with all the guests stuck due to vagaries of the weather, and of course all suspects of murder. And let’s not forget that essential map à la Cluedo.
This is a clever story, full of the requisite red herrings, twists and turns. Although written for middle-grade kids, the author never talks down to her audience, and anyone can enjoy it. Putting the crime plot to the side, the book is also about the relationship between the two main characters, Hazel and Daisy. I love the dynamics between these two intelligent girls, so different in character and yet perfectly complementary. They push each other in such a great way. In this instance, Daisy is confronted by several difficult situations, full of emotional and psychological repercussions, and I’m happy that Stevens didn’t just push them to the side. Her social behaviour becomes more understandable now that we can see her in her family. As for Hazel, I love her voice (narrator) and seeing her gaining in confidence, especially in order to help her friend :O)
Read
January 31, 2015This was pretty cute.
It's not the greatest kids' book in the world and certain bits were a bit odd to me even though I was remaining aware that it is aimed towards children. Like how well the police officer got on with Daisy and Hazel and how much he believed them.
But overall it was pretty cute and I was pretty invested in finding out who had committed the murder. Plus it has the most adorable cover and title, let's face it.
It's not the greatest kids' book in the world and certain bits were a bit odd to me even though I was remaining aware that it is aimed towards children. Like how well the police officer got on with Daisy and Hazel and how much he believed them.
But overall it was pretty cute and I was pretty invested in finding out who had committed the murder. Plus it has the most adorable cover and title, let's face it.
May 11, 2023
Agatha Christie csak tudjátok, gyerekeknek. Körülbelül ezzel a szlogennel lehetne eladni Robin Stevens regényét. Bár már megtalálták a tökéletes szöveget, hiszen ezt a részt igazából az én soraimmal is reklámozza a Manó Könyvek, (ami nagy meglepetésként ért, amikor kinyitottam a kötetet és megláttam benne a blog nevét), ugyanis az előző részről írt ajánlómból szerepelt benne egy mondat. Márpedig én már akkor is elhatároztam, hogy bajnoka leszek az Úrilányok nem gyilkolnak sorozatnak és higgyétek el, hogy nagyon is jó lóra tesztek, ha velem tartotok.
Robin Stevens sorozatának második kötete is ugyanolyan okos, szellemes és szórakoztató volt, mint az előző. Nagyon frappáns a helyszínválasztás egy angol vidéki kastély, amivel egyszerre sok mindent tud bemutatni a szerző. Először is Daisy hátterét, a családja jelenlegi felépítését, azt is, hogy honnan jönnek és hogy miként éltek az ő köreibe tartozók így az 1930-as években. S mivel megint Hazel ugye az, aki igyekszik megmaradni a Watsoni szerepkörben és dokumentálja az eseményeket, mi is különlegesebb képet kaphatunk erről a világról. Hiszen a kínai származású lány még mindig csak igyekszik megbarátkozni az angol szokásokkal, viselkedési formákkal és bizony egészen kritikusan is tud fogalmazni azok leírása során. S hiába van maroknyi szereplő, behatárolható lehetőségek, jó detektívregényhez illően van rengeteg félrevezető szál, amelyeket szépen el kell varrni ahhoz, hogy a tettes személyére tényleg fény derüljön. Úgyhogy nem csak az amatőr ifjú nyomozók, de az olvasó is meg van dolgoztatva.
A nyomozás mellett továbbra is nagyon fontos a lányok kapcsolatának fejlődése ebben a könyvben. Daisy továbbra is határozott, elkényeztetett és briliáns, s mindennek tudatában is van, ugyanakkor ő az egyetlen talán a környezetében, aki tényleg nem foglalkozik Hazel származásával. Számára a másik lány azért nagyon fontos, mert okos és megbízható és kiválóan tudnak együtt dolgozni. Hazel bár jóval visszafogottabb és óvatosabb, mint Daisy szintén belát a felszín mögé: elismeri barátnője erősségeit, nem csak egy felszínes gazdag lánynak tartja.
Tehát Robin Stevens kiválóan elvégezte a feladatát: regénysorozat színvonala nem csökkent, izgalmas és furfangos, s tényleg lehet kapudrog a klasszikus detektívtörténetekhez. De nem csak gyerekeknek, hanem felnőtteknek is élvezetes kikapcsolódást tud nyújtania regény (egyik élő példa beszámolóját olvashattátok).
Részletesen: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/20...
Robin Stevens sorozatának második kötete is ugyanolyan okos, szellemes és szórakoztató volt, mint az előző. Nagyon frappáns a helyszínválasztás egy angol vidéki kastély, amivel egyszerre sok mindent tud bemutatni a szerző. Először is Daisy hátterét, a családja jelenlegi felépítését, azt is, hogy honnan jönnek és hogy miként éltek az ő köreibe tartozók így az 1930-as években. S mivel megint Hazel ugye az, aki igyekszik megmaradni a Watsoni szerepkörben és dokumentálja az eseményeket, mi is különlegesebb képet kaphatunk erről a világról. Hiszen a kínai származású lány még mindig csak igyekszik megbarátkozni az angol szokásokkal, viselkedési formákkal és bizony egészen kritikusan is tud fogalmazni azok leírása során. S hiába van maroknyi szereplő, behatárolható lehetőségek, jó detektívregényhez illően van rengeteg félrevezető szál, amelyeket szépen el kell varrni ahhoz, hogy a tettes személyére tényleg fény derüljön. Úgyhogy nem csak az amatőr ifjú nyomozók, de az olvasó is meg van dolgoztatva.
A nyomozás mellett továbbra is nagyon fontos a lányok kapcsolatának fejlődése ebben a könyvben. Daisy továbbra is határozott, elkényeztetett és briliáns, s mindennek tudatában is van, ugyanakkor ő az egyetlen talán a környezetében, aki tényleg nem foglalkozik Hazel származásával. Számára a másik lány azért nagyon fontos, mert okos és megbízható és kiválóan tudnak együtt dolgozni. Hazel bár jóval visszafogottabb és óvatosabb, mint Daisy szintén belát a felszín mögé: elismeri barátnője erősségeit, nem csak egy felszínes gazdag lánynak tartja.
Tehát Robin Stevens kiválóan elvégezte a feladatát: regénysorozat színvonala nem csökkent, izgalmas és furfangos, s tényleg lehet kapudrog a klasszikus detektívtörténetekhez. De nem csak gyerekeknek, hanem felnőtteknek is élvezetes kikapcsolódást tud nyújtania regény (egyik élő példa beszámolóját olvashattátok).
Részletesen: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/20...
April 16, 2023
3,5 - leuk tussendoortje!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,059 reviews