What do you think?
Rate this book
Poppy Fields Mystery #2
Dead Funny
This book is second in a brand-new series of murder mysteries. "Miss Marple" for the younger reader! When ageing starlet Baby Sugarcandy is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in her Hollywood mansion, it is assumed she tripped. However, an autopsy reveals she was dead before she fell...When a number of strange deaths follow, Poppy Fields decides to investigate.
128 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2009
9 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Tanya Landman
88 books91 followersCarnegie Medal winning Tanya Landman is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 25, 2015
This second book in the Poppy Fields series of murder mysteries for younger readers didn't grab me as much as the first ('Monday's Are Murder'). I think this may have been because the set-up seemed more than a little preposterous and that most of the new American characters were slightly irritating (with the exception of Lieutenant Weinburger; I quite liked him).
The book wasn't all bad though. I really liked the fact that the author avoided the 'child protagonist was right all along if only the stupid adults would listen to her' trope and the story never drags, moving along at a fair old pace.
I would recommend this book to children between eight and thirteen, provided they're not the sort to be disturbed by some reasonably graphic murders (graphic for a children's book anyway; we're not talking Clive Barker level graphic or anything).
Despite only giving this book three stars, I'd still read the next book in the series. I just hope Poppy's back in her native U.K. In the next one. She didn't fit in too well in the Hollywood hills, in my opinion. What do I know, though? I do realise I'm about thirty years too old to be part of the book's target audience! :-)
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray.
The book wasn't all bad though. I really liked the fact that the author avoided the 'child protagonist was right all along if only the stupid adults would listen to her' trope and the story never drags, moving along at a fair old pace.
I would recommend this book to children between eight and thirteen, provided they're not the sort to be disturbed by some reasonably graphic murders (graphic for a children's book anyway; we're not talking Clive Barker level graphic or anything).
Despite only giving this book three stars, I'd still read the next book in the series. I just hope Poppy's back in her native U.K. In the next one. She didn't fit in too well in the Hollywood hills, in my opinion. What do I know, though? I do realise I'm about thirty years too old to be part of the book's target audience! :-)
Buddy read with Sunshine Seaspray.
January 15, 2013
This book was really exiting, I love murder mysteries! I couldn't stop reading it.
Poppy Fields, Graham and Poppies mum are invited to America to see a rich famous lady called baby sugarcandy but they notice that something is terribly wrong... As they just got settled in the bodies started dropping and Poppy was forced to investigate.
Poppy Fields, Graham and Poppies mum are invited to America to see a rich famous lady called baby sugarcandy but they notice that something is terribly wrong... As they just got settled in the bodies started dropping and Poppy was forced to investigate.
June 30, 2018
This second book is more improbable and the story takes place in America. Poppy goes with her mom, who is to design a garden for a rich artist.
Although in the course of the book it becomes again obvious who the killer is, the story is entertaining.
Although in the course of the book it becomes again obvious who the killer is, the story is entertaining.
January 13, 2021
This is a relatively fast-paced whodunnit involving a murdered ex-celebrity and the protagonist - supposedly a young child, who inadvertently gets caught up in the entire affair. While I liked how events unfolded quickly and drama was never lacking, way too many things just didn't make sense, and I was unable to buy into the story.
Warning: spoilers ahead...
=========== SPOILERS START ===========
Firstly, how and why are the occupants of a house in which a murder has just taken place still allowed to live there and freely roam about while investigations are ongoing?! Wouldn't they have contaminated the crime scene? And why aren't they even being treated like suspects in the first place, when they were the ones who found the body and reported it?
This gets even more ridiculous as the bodies start to pile up - each time the police are notified, not only do they not treat whoever found the body as a suspect, but they still allow them to roam about the house freely. I would expect the entire grounds to be cordoned off at this point while police search for clues and evidence, but no, this never happens. Instead, the police even advise said people to stay within the grounds of the estate, in case the murderer is still out there and is coming for them too! I mean, come on, this doesn't make even the tiniest bit of sense. In real life, all of them would have been hauled off to the police station for questioning straightaway! And they would have been separated from one another from the very start, so they couldn't possibly collude on what to say, just in case they were responsible for the murders. But no. Instead, the entire group are left together, while one person at a time is brought to another room in the house for interrogation... while the rest of the group can hear what the questions are! I'm quite sure this isn't the way actual policemen are trained to do things.
Then we get to the culprit. Why wasn't he a suspect right after the 2nd murder was committed?! He definitely had the biggest motive of all.
And the guy framed for the murders. What motive did he have even?! What a long shot to even try to pin anything on him in the first place! Nothing about his involvement - right up to his supposed planned suicide - would have made an iota of sense.
The fact that the 2 most suspicious people (daughter & secretary) weren't immediately taken in for questioning - especially given the daughter's nonchalant attitude towards her mother's death - was already beyond ridiculous.
=========== SPOILERS END ===========
This story may have made for good reading in a world where the police don't operate like they do here on planet earth, and where murderers' actions aren't governed by simple logic.
Warning: spoilers ahead...
=========== SPOILERS START ===========
Firstly, how and why are the occupants of a house in which a murder has just taken place still allowed to live there and freely roam about while investigations are ongoing?! Wouldn't they have contaminated the crime scene? And why aren't they even being treated like suspects in the first place, when they were the ones who found the body and reported it?
This gets even more ridiculous as the bodies start to pile up - each time the police are notified, not only do they not treat whoever found the body as a suspect, but they still allow them to roam about the house freely. I would expect the entire grounds to be cordoned off at this point while police search for clues and evidence, but no, this never happens. Instead, the police even advise said people to stay within the grounds of the estate, in case the murderer is still out there and is coming for them too! I mean, come on, this doesn't make even the tiniest bit of sense. In real life, all of them would have been hauled off to the police station for questioning straightaway! And they would have been separated from one another from the very start, so they couldn't possibly collude on what to say, just in case they were responsible for the murders. But no. Instead, the entire group are left together, while one person at a time is brought to another room in the house for interrogation... while the rest of the group can hear what the questions are! I'm quite sure this isn't the way actual policemen are trained to do things.
Then we get to the culprit. Why wasn't he a suspect right after the 2nd murder was committed?! He definitely had the biggest motive of all.
And the guy framed for the murders. What motive did he have even?! What a long shot to even try to pin anything on him in the first place! Nothing about his involvement - right up to his supposed planned suicide - would have made an iota of sense.
The fact that the 2 most suspicious people (daughter & secretary) weren't immediately taken in for questioning - especially given the daughter's nonchalant attitude towards her mother's death - was already beyond ridiculous.
=========== SPOILERS END ===========
This story may have made for good reading in a world where the police don't operate like they do here on planet earth, and where murderers' actions aren't governed by simple logic.
July 24, 2023
I’d read the debut of this series a little under a year ago and so I was intrigued by the prospect of the sequel.
We are met again with Poppy Fields, but this time she is travelling to the USA, where her mum is going to be the gardener for the famous celebrity baby sugar candy.
The plot was good, but I often had the impression this book was written by a teenager as some of the similes are unnecessary, and the conclusion was a little complicated, and could be better put together.
However, the dramatic and twisty elements lift it up and so I would give it a firm three stars.
We are met again with Poppy Fields, but this time she is travelling to the USA, where her mum is going to be the gardener for the famous celebrity baby sugar candy.
The plot was good, but I often had the impression this book was written by a teenager as some of the similes are unnecessary, and the conclusion was a little complicated, and could be better put together.
However, the dramatic and twisty elements lift it up and so I would give it a firm three stars.
April 22, 2015
I thought that when I picked up "Dead Funny" by Tanya Landman that I was going to read a book about murder that was slightly amusing - I was right. I found the main character, Poppy Fields, very interesting. At the beginning of the novel (it is written from her point of view), she states that she is a master at not being seen and she says how she likes to observe humans - I didn't find this characteristic of hers very interesting at all however later on in the story when people start dropping like flies I found it very interesting how she used her gift of observation to examine people more closely and see things normal people wouldn't. "Dead Funny" is definitely written for children because the humour was a little weird to me but a sort of funny at the same time. If you like the sound of a lighter, more kid-friendly take on a mystery novel then this book is exactly what you need. Baby Sugar Candy's mansion was my favourite setting in the whole book (although I didn't have much choice since majority of the book was set there) because it was very well described and it was also the place where most the action and discoveries took place. To summarise, I am glad that the cover caught my eye in the first place and I will probably end up picking up number three in the series off the shelf at some point.
July 31, 2015
This book is second in this series of murder mysteries written for younger readers. Poppy Fields is a "Miss Marple" character who seems to find herself at the centre of murder investigations wherever she goes. Poppy’s mum is asked to complete a garden for an ageing starlet called Baby Sugarcandy. Originally English, the woman now lives in California. Poppy and her friend Graham are invited to come along too but right from the time they land in Los Angeles, they feel that they are being watched. They will all stay in the guest house at the mansion but arriving at their destination they find Baby Sugarcandy dead at the bottom of the stairs. It is assumed she tripped but Poppy insists that the police check further and her suspicions are proved correct when the autopsy reveals she was dead before she fell. More deaths follow and Poppy and Graham are in the thick of it again.
The books is a quick read, short and suspenseful. It captures the imagination and moves along at a good pace with a satisfying ending.
The books is a quick read, short and suspenseful. It captures the imagination and moves along at a good pace with a satisfying ending.
October 8, 2011
i thought it was a good book in the way that it kept interested the whole way through the.i always kept reading because i really wanted to find out who the murderer is?????????????at the start i thought it wasde daughter but then she died so i dint know and then i kept an interest in the
book
book
February 5, 2014
This book was amazing!! It had suspense and it was very thrilling. Though the book was very short, it was packed with full - on entertainment! I give it a 4/5 stars! Better read this if you love Mystery/Murder stories!
August 27, 2013
Brilliant book for kids. 8 year old loved it - will be reading more
February 6, 2015
good also funny also but enjoyed a lot
August 7, 2015
DESCRIPTION: A book about some children who solve murders.
AGE GROUP: 9-13
RATING OUT OF TEN: 10/10
AGE GROUP: 9-13
RATING OUT OF TEN: 10/10
August 5, 2016
Funny and dark, but some stuff doesn't add up for a kid who's solving a crime mystery.
Currently reading
February 15, 2017never read want to read
June 23, 2018
I rate it 4 because in a way it creeps me out. But it is fun to read.
May 20, 2022
So good!
* Poppy, her mother, and her friend Graham are off to California to visit a celebrity called Baby Sugarcandy, who wants Poppy's mother to design an English Country Garden for her.
* Unfortunately when they get there, Baby is dead! Her assistant says it must be an accident, but Poppy thinks it's murder and calls the sops.
* Poppy is right, and an investigation is started. It looks like Baby's ex-husband Len might be the culprit, but things aren't adding up for Poppy, and she starts her own investigation, which seems to point to someone else!
- I loved this, fast-paced, held my attention well, I couldn't guess who done it, the clues were there but it wasn't easy to join the dots. So good!
* Poppy, her mother, and her friend Graham are off to California to visit a celebrity called Baby Sugarcandy, who wants Poppy's mother to design an English Country Garden for her.
* Unfortunately when they get there, Baby is dead! Her assistant says it must be an accident, but Poppy thinks it's murder and calls the sops.
* Poppy is right, and an investigation is started. It looks like Baby's ex-husband Len might be the culprit, but things aren't adding up for Poppy, and she starts her own investigation, which seems to point to someone else!
- I loved this, fast-paced, held my attention well, I couldn't guess who done it, the clues were there but it wasn't easy to join the dots. So good!
October 3, 2023
Overall Rating 4/5 stars
🔹️Genre: adventure/mystery
🔹️Age Range: 9-12
🔹️Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔹️Setting:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔹️Characters Journey:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔹️Entertainment Level:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
When ageing starlet Baby Sugarcandy is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in her Hollywood mansion, it is assumed she tripped. However, an autopsy reveals she was dead before she fell... When a number of strange deaths follow, Poppy Fields and best friend Graham decide to investigate.
I have to admit this book was a nice surprise. I enjoyed the way the investigation was pieced together. In some places, when certain clues were made clear, I found myself going,'Oh yeah, I missed that'. I will be reading others in the series. Short and sweet, in my opinion Columbo for kids.
🔹️Genre: adventure/mystery
🔹️Age Range: 9-12
🔹️Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔹️Setting:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔹️Characters Journey:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔹️Entertainment Level:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis
When ageing starlet Baby Sugarcandy is found dead at the bottom of the stairs in her Hollywood mansion, it is assumed she tripped. However, an autopsy reveals she was dead before she fell... When a number of strange deaths follow, Poppy Fields and best friend Graham decide to investigate.
I have to admit this book was a nice surprise. I enjoyed the way the investigation was pieced together. In some places, when certain clues were made clear, I found myself going,'Oh yeah, I missed that'. I will be reading others in the series. Short and sweet, in my opinion Columbo for kids.
February 13, 2020
This book is interesting and fun to read. I like all of the twists and turns in the story and the mystery is really interesting. I like all of the characters and how they all seem quite believable. I liked the setting and I think it really helped to make the story fit together. I like how there is death but it isn’t too dark. I really like Graham as a character. The overall story is funny and interesting, it would recommend it to a lot of people.
July 18, 2024
I’m sorry, can we talk about how good of a friend Graham is? I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone who hasn’t read it, but damn. That boy is crazy — and brilliant. Him and Poppy are honestly great characters, although I do like Graham a little more. As for the plot of the book, the killer was really predictable which is why this isn’t getting 5 stars, but other than that, Dead Funny was extremely enjoyable and interesting. I think I liked it even more than Mondays Are Murder, to be honest.
Read
June 10, 2020VERY GOOD!
December 31, 2020
Loved it!
March 29, 2021
Good
Good book
Bb bb bb bb bb b bbbbb hh nn bb bb bb hhds hj hh h hh j
Good book
Bb bb bb bb bb b bbbbb hh nn bb bb bb hhds hj hh h hh j
November 14, 2021
پنج ستاره برای داستان ، قلم خوبش و پایان خفنش
واقعا با این حجم کتاب پایان خوب در اوردن سخته!ولی نویسنده به خوبی از پسش بر امده
با اینکه دو جلد ازش خوندم ولی تا اینجای کار برام مجموعه ی جذابی بوده
واقعا با این حجم کتاب پایان خوب در اوردن سخته!ولی نویسنده به خوبی از پسش بر امده
با اینکه دو جلد ازش خوندم ولی تا اینجای کار برام مجموعه ی جذابی بوده
January 5, 2020
This was a short and fun children's mystery book. Poppy Fields goes to LA with her mum, a horticulturalist, and her friend Graham, to design Baby Sugarcandy's (an old Hollywood singer starlet) garden. As soon as they arrive, things start to go awry. Like, very awry. Everyone pretty much dies. Poppy and Graham are on the case! Fun, easy and recommended for kids aged 8+. And for lovers of Punch and Judy.
November 15, 2013
This book is extremely full of enjoyable suspence , poppy feilds was dying to go to america but when she reached there in one house people get themselves killed in weird ways then she and graham dicided to investigate .... the murderer was so very unexpected ... dont forget to check this out ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews