The Ministry of Unladylike Activity

It’s 1940 and Britain is at war with Germany. A secret government department is training spies but how do two not-quite-11-year-olds get themselves recruited?

Firstly, they have to believe they are up to the job. Secondly, they have to run away from where they are supposed to be and have an excellent plan to get to where the spying needs to be done. Thirdly, they have to really, really want the war to end.

Luckily, May and Eric fulfil all these criteria and have installed themselves at Elysium Hall, home to the wealthy Verey family, to find out who is selling secrets to the Nazis.

But before they can unmask the spy, someone is murdered; can they be detectives as well as spy-catchers? 

The problem with many adults is that they underestimate children and that’s definitely the case in this spy/detective story. Being ignored by the grown-ups allows May and Eric to collect evidence unnoticed but there is still enough jeopardy to produce a few nail-biting moments.

With plenty of clues scattered throughout this gripping mystery, there are lots of opportunities for readers to use their own powers of deduction.

Sure to be a hit with young murder mystery fans.