The Book Case

Bookworm Daphne has been expelled from her old school after an ‘unfortunate incident’ when she gets an unexpected letter offering her a free place at St Rita’s School for Spirited Girls: a boarding school in the middle of nowhere.

There she meets Emily Lime, the terse yet intriguing pupil Assistant Librarian, and George, inexplicably the only boy at the school –  and immediately, strange things start happening. There’s been a bank robbery in town and a break-in at school, and the trio are determined to get to the bottom of it.

This sniggeringly funny, totally deadpan book is a joy to read. Loosely set in the 1930s, it’s a bit like reading a really well-written and funny Famous Five or Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. Emily Lime herself is a relentless, enigmatic and mysterious heroine, almost a girl Sherlock Holmes. She delivers some delicious one liners: ‘You were embarrassed about reading? Never do that again!’

Dave Shelton’s line drawings add extra spice to what is a really promising new series. Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens’ Wells and Wong books.