Murder Most Unladylike: what to read next

Robin Stevens’ compelling series has proven a huge hit for mystery fans. The adventures of aspiring detectives Daisy and Hazel combine nostalgic, boarding school sentiment with contemporary dialogue and humour – achieving child centred stories with all the plot twists and clue hunting you would expect from an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit.

We have carefully selected the following titles that Murder Most Unladylike readers will enjoy once they have finished the series. 

Mysteries from a similar era

The Ministry of Unladylike Activity is a more recent series by Robin Stevens, with all the wonderful layers of storytelling you would expect from such an accomplished mystery writer. It features spying, intrigue and plenty of suspense, and is set in Britain during World War 2. 

For a more irreverent and whacky school-based mystery, follow the antics of the brilliantly sarcastic Emily Lime as she solves the case of a missing painting in the second book of Dave Shelton’s series: Emily Lime, Librarian Detective: The Pencil Case. 

Rosie Raja: Churchill’s Spy by Sufiya Ahmed is an intriguing spy adventure set in Paris during World War 2. It is filled with tension, suspense and danger, and Rosie is an instantly likeable and relatable character. 

  • The Ministry of Unladylike Activity

    by Robin Stevens 

    2023 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Funny
    • Historical

    With plenty of opportunities for readers to evaluate the evidence, collect clues and use their own powers of deduction, this is a gripping, historical crime thriller perfect for young murder mystery fans.

  • Emily Lime, Librarian Detective: The Pencil Case

    by Dave Shelton 

    2020 9 to 14 years 

    • Funny

    Emily Lime and her hapless cohorts George and Daphne return in this madcap mystery – will they track down a priceless painting stolen from the art gallery? And why are there cows all over the playing field?

  • Rosie Raja: Churchill’s Spy

    by Sufiya Ahmed 

    2022 9 to 14 years 

    • Historical

    In war-torn France, who can Rosie trust? A pacy novel starring a brave Anglo-India heroine.

Contemporary mysteries

Sharna Jackson’s The Nine Night Mystery is a must read for fans of the genre. With a contemporary setting and cracking dialogue, it rattles along through intricate layers of mystery and deception to an exciting climax. 

The Super Sunny Murder Club is a collection of thrilling, standalone stories from a variety of renowned children’s writers. It is an excellent choice for mystery lovers to dip in and out of, and it provides an opportunity to sample the writing styles of some popular mystery/​thriller authors who might become future favourites. 

Set in modern times but harking back to the Golden Age of Steam in the 1930’s, Adventures on Trains: The Highland Falcon Thief combines Murder on the Orient Express-style intrigue with snappy, modern humour. 

  • The Nine Night Mystery

    by Sharna Jackson 

    2024 9 to 14 years 

    • Mystery
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Can Wesley and his friends find out why his neighbour died – in nine nights? A mystery full of twists and turns, with cracking dialogue. 

  • The Super Sunny Murder Club

    Various authors, illustrated by Harry Woodgate, edited by Serena Patel and Robin Stevens 

    2024 9 to 14 years 

    • Short stories

    A collection of exciting, action-packed mystery stories from 13 brilliant contemporary authors – all with a summer theme. A perfect summer holiday read. 

  • Adventures on Trains: The Highland Falcon Thief

    by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli 

    2020 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Travel

    Hal doesn’t want to join his uncle on the Highland Falcon as it makes its way to Scotland – but when he meets Lenny, a stowaway train enthusiast and the driver’s daughter, the two embark on a thrilling adventure to find missing jewels and identify the culprit. Ideal for independent readers who love a good old-fashioned mystery.

Mysteries with a fantasy twist

Another boarding school adventure, Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery, features cantankerous teachers, flamboyant friends and a perilous quest. However, there is one thing that differentiates it from other school-based mysteries… this adventure is on a miniature scale and all the characters are insects! 

A twist on a classic fairy tale, The Beanstalk Murder cleverly combines an intricate mystery with a sprinkling of magic. There is plenty of humour and action to keep readers engaged from the outset in this clever reimagining. 

The Girl of Ink and Stars is a beautifully written book set on an island. It tells the story of a cartographer’s daughter as she searches for her lost friend and discovers secrets about the fate of the land itself. While not a murder mystery, this book offers plenty of intrigue, map making and twists, nonetheless.

  • Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

    by Laura Ellen Anderson 

    2024 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Chapter books
    • Fantasy
    • Funny

    When young moth Marnie Midnight enrols at Minibeast Academy, she and her new friends, Floyd the bee and Star the ant, embark on a perilous lunar adventure. The first in an exciting new series, this imaginative, bug-sized tale is richly illustrated and full of humour.  

  • The Beanstalk Murder

    by P G Bell 

    2024 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy

    When a dead giant falls from the sky and squishes their village, two trainee witches find themselves caught up in the hunt for a killer in a land where their suspects could squash them with just a footstep. 

  • The Girl of Ink and Stars

    by Kiran Millwood Hargrave 

    2016 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Myths and legends

    When her closest friend disappears into the island’s Forgotten Territories, Isabella Riosse volunteers to guide the search. A stunning debut, full of myth, magic and mapmaking.

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