Robin Stevens

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. Two days 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). The fabulously festive fifth mystery from the bestselling, award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike.

A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery

Mistletoe and Murder

fira

mighty dragon 

their friendship keeps improving overtime and i love to see it

Hazel and Daisy trade mistletoe for a murder investigation and set out to save the day (Christmas Day that is!) in this fabulously festive fifth novel of the Wells & Wong Mystery series. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas holidays in snowy Cambridge. Hazel is looking forward to a calm vacation among the beautiful spires, cozy libraries, and inviting tea-rooms. But there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College and two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident—until the Detective Society looks a little closer, and realizes 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 if they’re going to find the killer before Christmas dinner.

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Another outstanding Wells and Wong mystery. This time the girls are at Cambridge visiting Daisy's brother Bertie and finally meeting George, the other member of their friend Alexander's detective agency. Preparations for a British Christmas are sprinkled with murder, university life, and plot twists galore. Perfect read for a long Sunday afternoon and I am so looking forward to the next one!

Rose Stanley

Believeathon, Book the Fifth
Prompt: The temperature drops, it's cold in our town/Grab a hot chocolate, let the snow fall down (Read a book with winter vibes) (This story takes place at Christmas!)

Christmas, Cambridge and crime-solving capers...what could be better?
(We get to meet Alex's friend George in this one too)
(Also there is a short story with Kitty, Beans and Lavinia at the end and, as previously stated, Beans must be protected at all costs)

The fabulously festive fifth mystery from the bestselling, award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike. Nancy Drew meets the Chalet School in this clever crime novel set in the 1930s. Robin Stevens' period detail, strong characters and meticulous plotting come together in a satisfying story (Scotsman) Festive, fun and full of mystery (Country Life) ----- It's Christmas, the snow is falling in Cambridge where the detective duo Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the festive period. But Hazel's hopes of relaxing amongst the beautiful spires, cosy libraries and inviting tea-rooms are dashed by the danger lurking in the dark stairwells of Maudlin College. Two days 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). A superb puzzle . . . Splendidly seasonal (Metro) Fabulous (The Times)

Giulia Pianta

2021 ‘tis the damn season readathon
  

Album: Evermore
Song: No Body No Crime
Prompt: Read a mystery

So so so so so so good! Absolutely amazing, I adored this book!
First of all, Cambridge as a setting was perfect! I have been there before and I think the atmosphere was so beautiful. Especially during Christmas, with the snow and all the people getting presents and the parties, it felt lavish and super cosy.

I also was so happy to see the two Detective Societies merge and cooperate. While Daisy and Hazel did most of the work, I think it’s great that George and Alexander were there too and they could all investigate together.

Until the very end the mystery was so gripping and left me clueless. I realised who the culprit was only when Daisy and Hazel did too.
I liked the addition of the climbers, I never heard of anything like that at Cambridge so it was cool to learn about it.

I think this series is so strong, I liked all instalments so far and I can’t wait to dig in the next!

Nia C

"Here d'you want a magnifying glass?" asked George, taking one out of his pocket.
"Oh, no thank you. A lady always carries her own," said Daisy, pulling out her own tiny one. 

Mistletoe and Murder is deceptive — you think it's just going to be two young girls in 1930s England solving a murder during Christmas-time but Stevens is sharp. The book tackles heavy themes such as immigration, feeling-out-of-place in your own country, racism in UK (still an ongoing thing, if the recent elections are anything to go by), the inherent sexism and misogyny (did you know that women could study all the same courses and be ten times smarter than men but they still couldn't take a degree at Cambridge??!!) and more. All of this is done skillfully — make no mistake, the book is not kind to racist/sexist behaviour and it doesn't allow white people or the British colonial mindset to feel even remotely okay, everything is called out. It doesn't even do performative allyship, the kind that allows white people to feel nice that they did it. It's strong and loud and it's amazing. 

As usual, Hazel and Daisy were awesome. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Junior Pinkertons! George and Alex were really lovely as well. And dare I say, I detect aro-ace Daisy and was that a hint that Bertie isn't straight? I don't want to assume but the representation would be nice.

Mistletoe and Murder A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery

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