Murder Is Bad Manners

Murder Is Bad Manners follows two students at an English boarding school in 1934 - Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong. When Hazel discovers the body of their science teacher in the gymnasium, she and Daisy form the Wells & Wong Detective Society to investigate the death. The girls pursue their investigation while navigating the strict rules and routines of Deepdean School for Girls. They must solve the mystery through secret meetings, coded messages, and careful observation of their teachers and fellow students, all while keeping up with their studies and avoiding detection by the school staff. The story captures both the confined world of a 1930s boarding school and the complex friendship between Daisy, a confident English girl, and Hazel, a thoughtful student from Hong Kong. The narrative focuses on their detection methods and the obstacles they face as young amateur sleuths. This middle-grade mystery explores themes of friendship, prejudice, and justice while paying homage to classic detective fiction. The boarding school setting serves as both a backdrop for murder and a microcosm of British society during the interwar period.

Readers describe this as a cozy mystery that captures the spirit of classic detective stories while adding humor and modern sensibilities. Many connect it to Agatha Christie's works but note it's more accessible for young readers. Likes: - Strong friendship between Daisy and Hazel - 1930s boarding school setting details - Complex mystery plot that doesn't talk down to young readers - Representation of Hazel as a Hong Kong Chinese character - Case notes and maps included in the book Dislikes: - Some find Daisy too bossy and unlikeable - Period-accurate but uncomfortable racial attitudes - Several readers note the pacing is slow in the first third Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (19,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (500+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 Multiple reviewers mention reading it with their children and appreciating the discussion opportunities about prejudice and friendship dynamics. Parents note the book handles dark themes appropriately for the age group.

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🔍 Author Robin Stevens wrote this book under the original UK title "Murder Most Unladylike" at age 25, while working in a children's publishing house 📚 The series was inspired by Stevens' own experiences at Cheltenham Ladies' College, though her school days were considerably less murderous 🌏 The Detective Society books have been translated into multiple languages and published in over 15 countries worldwide 🎭 The main character Daisy Wells was named after Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby, while Hazel Wong represents one of the first East Asian protagonists in a major middle-grade mystery series 🏫 Stevens deliberately set the series in 1934 to capture the "golden age" of detective fiction, drawing inspiration from Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers