Murder Is Bad Manners

I don't normally read middle-grade or YA fiction (well, okay, Harry Potter), but after hearing Robin Stevens interviewed on a podcast, I was intrigued by her Wells & Wong series.There's nothing about this book that isn't just as grown-up as an Agatha Christie mystery. Yes, there's no swearing, minimal gore, and only the barest hint of any characters gettin' busy, but the themes and complications are thought-provoking, and the mystery is just as twisty and inspired as anything targeted at grownups. Stevens sets this series at a girls' boarding school in 1930s England, and the narrator, Hazel Wong, has to deal with racism and colonialist attitudes (which can be excellent fodder for discussion with your child, if they're of the right age). But it never feels preachy or heavy. The characters are well-drawn, and I didn't solve the mystery before Wells & Wong did.This is a fantastic book whether you're a middle schooler or a grownup. If you're a fan of British Mysteries (whether classics like Christie or newer authors like Faith Martin) or even just a fan of Veronica Mars, you'll be both delighted and thrilled by this book. I've just purchased the second book—the stack of twenty tomes on my bedside table is just going to have to wait.

What a great beginning to an amazing series of books.i love this series and I’m definitely re reading this series again.

Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens has us solving a mystery in a boarding school for girls in the 1930s.Will Wells and Wong solve the case before the police are called?Daisy Wells and Hazel WongDaisy Wells and Hazel Wong are our self-appointed Sherlock Holmes and John Watson of Deepdean, the school they attend. The girls have their own Detective Agency. Up to this point, all they've solved are small cases that aren't anything like solving a murder mystery.Daisy is the Sherlock Holmes of the duo and has a father that is a Lord. She thinks that she can solve the case without looking for other clues on all the suspects once she gets it in her mind that she has found the right one. Daisy, to me, seems like she needs to be put into her place at times. She acts as if she is doing Hazel a favor just by being in her presence. Other than that, Daisy makes an excellent investigator as she has the right mind for it, even if she has a one-shot mind when she thinks she knows who did it.That leaves Hazel as our John Watson of the duo, and she is from Hong Kong. Everyone at the school treats her differently sometimes because of it, especially after everyone starts coming up with rumors about why certain people are disappearing from their lives at the school. Hazel isn't too worried about them since she is just trying to solve the case with Daisy. If it weren't for Hazel, there wouldn't be a case for them to solve anyways. Hazel also needs to grow a backbone when it comes to telling Daisy that she is wrong.Of these two sleuths, I must say that I like Hazel. It also doesn't help that Hazel is even more like Watson as she writes the story as John did with Sherlock's cases.The MysteryHazel Wong went to get her sweater from the gym where she left it last, only to stumble upon the body of her science teacher. She knew the teacher was dead and ran to find Daisy and one of their prefects, who thought they had lied, especially after seeing no dead body. So Daisy believes Hazel wouldn't lie about this and decides they must investigate who could have killed poor Miss Bell, the science teacher. That act opens up many things for these two girls. I loved how they embraced their roles as detectives and how it was shown across the pages. Ms. Stevens has done an excellent job of showcasing that even as eighth-grade girls, they are good detectives. I knew it had to be someone but I never, not even a little pinprick in the back of my brain, thought it was who it was.Four StarsMurder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens is the first book in what can only be a fantastic series from the one and only Ms. Stevens. All of the characters came through beautifully, and I felt terrible for Hazel when she had to deal with some of her dormmates. Overall, it was a great read, and I liked being sent through time to the 1930s to watch these two young girls solve their case. This is the first time I've read a book with a dead body in it for a middle grade read, but it works for this series.I am giving Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens four stars, and I'm recommending it to anyone who wants to pick up this series for themselves or a kid that they think would enjoy a terrific murder mystery at an English girl's boarding school back in the 1930s. All of these covers look fantastic.Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Murder is Bad Manners by Robin Stevens.Until the next time,Karen the BaronessIf you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

A great murder mystery for tweens and teens. (and grown ups too!) I was kept guessing until the end! While there are some grown up themes addressed (murder, scandals, jilted loves), Robin Stevens stay true to the youthful perspective of Hazel, and stays age appropriate. Suspense! Drama! Pranks! Definitely a fun book!

Fun and fast YA detective story set in a boarding school in the 1930s. Two main characters are quite entertaining.

3.5 stars.I knocked off one full star for the use of the word “Oriental” to describe humans from Asia. The word is correct for the time period of this book (1930’s). But the book was first published in 2014-2015. The polite terminology is Asian.Two middle grade students at a boarding school have started their own “Detective Agency”. Students Wells and Wong are best friends. Wells is a blonde haired, blue-eyed beauty. She is from a titled family and very self-assured. For the first third of this book, I wasn’t crazy about her as a character. She acted very entitled and self-centered.Wong is a middle-grader who was enrolled in the boarding school part-way through the school term. She is the daughter of a wealthy Asian family. Her father has always loved everything British and decorates their home to mimic English homes. He also insisted that his family and house staff learn the English language.Coming from Asia and moving to England in the 1930’s made Ms. Wong an oddity who isn’t readily accepted by her new schoolmates. However, Ms. Wells soon grows to appreciate how smart the new student is and they become best friends.This is the first in a series entitled A Murder Most Unladylike. It reminded my of old black and white movies I used to watch back in the 1960’s. I am looking forward to reading book two very soon.

My daughter enjoyed the book very much