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Murder for Two
An exciting and funny new murder mystery from new author Niyla Farook. Perfect for fans of HIGH RISE MYSTERY!
Separated when they were 6 months old, twins Ani and Riri couldn't be more different. Loud and adventurous Ani wants to be a sleuth when she grows up. Shy and quiet Riri prefers books to people, and just wants a safe, germ free job when she grows up. When they're forced to spend the summer together, Ani is convinced it's going to be another Great Twin War like the last time they tried family bonding. But this summer is different - there's a murder, and their dad is arrested as the prime suspect. Can they work together to protect their family and solve the mystery?
Separated when they were 6 months old, twins Ani and Riri couldn't be more different. Loud and adventurous Ani wants to be a sleuth when she grows up. Shy and quiet Riri prefers books to people, and just wants a safe, germ free job when she grows up. When they're forced to spend the summer together, Ani is convinced it's going to be another Great Twin War like the last time they tried family bonding. But this summer is different - there's a murder, and their dad is arrested as the prime suspect. Can they work together to protect their family and solve the mystery?
Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Niyla Farook
4 books6 followersNiyla Farook is a young writer of South Asian descent living in England. She works full-time at a hospital pharmacy whilst also volunteering for the United Nations when she's not writing. RIDA AND MADIYA is her debut book.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 2, 2025
Really fun mystery for kids, and I loved Ani and Riri and all the other characters. BUT I will say that the representation for ADHD, autism and OCD was not accurate. It just felt like name-dropping – apparently the main characters have these neurodivergencies, but you really couldn't tell from the way they behaved, spoke and thought. That's why I deducted two stars, because neurodivergence representation in books is super important and this wasn't well done.
August 24, 2025
Cute story. I liked the characters.
Unfortunately, this book had a forced-diversity-put-everywhere vibe to it, which made it seem a bit unnatural.
The other thing was that the autism, OCD, and ADHD of the sisters weren't written as disorders. As another reviewer has pointed out, they didn't really affect their everyday lives. It was more of a personality trait kind of thing. As in, the sister with ADHD was adventurous and such, and the one with autism and OCD was a tad shy and thought about germs sometimes.
So, enjoyable overall, but mainly for kids, and if you're looking for good neurodivergent rep, this probably isn't the book for you.
Unfortunately, this book had a forced-diversity-put-everywhere vibe to it, which made it seem a bit unnatural.
The other thing was that the autism, OCD, and ADHD of the sisters weren't written as disorders. As another reviewer has pointed out, they didn't really affect their everyday lives. It was more of a personality trait kind of thing. As in, the sister with ADHD was adventurous and such, and the one with autism and OCD was a tad shy and thought about germs sometimes.
So, enjoyable overall, but mainly for kids, and if you're looking for good neurodivergent rep, this probably isn't the book for you.
January 20, 2025
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and gifted a finished copy of the book by Piccadilly Press and Colored Pages Book Tours for a book tour**
CW: murder, blood, injury, fire, death of loved one, grief
--
Murder for Two follows two estranged twin sisters who reconnect over the summer break by trying to solve the murder of a local café/bookstore owner who was keeping more secrets than they knew and to also help save their father who has been wrongly named as the prime suspect.
It is a highly entertaining read, dual POV so we get to be in the mindset of both sisters as we watch them bond and overcome their differences in order to work together and there is a nice dose of desi drama-esque chaos in the mix too!
Admittedly you have to dispel believe a little much in the way you would in a middle grade fantasy book where 11 year olds are allowed to run around when there is a murderer on the loose. Not that there wasn’t appropriate parental involvement in this story because there definitely was but I’m putting it down to the small town magic that they were free to save the day from the “bad guy” with all their sleuthing shenanigans.
Farook really excels at writing wholesome and realistic sibling relationships and what was also particularly well done was the mental health and neurodivergent representation through both the girls.
Ani and Riri’s dedication to getting to the bottom of the case, especially since it involved their loved ones was endearing and you couldn’t help but want to cheer them on especially with Ani’s passion for mysteries and crime solving. The inclusion of her TUSC (Tariq Ultrasecret Supersleuth Centre) documents and notes was a nice additional detail that made the read all the more fun.
The supporting adult characters were an intriguing bunch and whilst some of them seemed a little too comfortable to overshare when opening up and talking to these 11 year old girls, it was really interesting to discover more about each and every one of them and their connection to the central mystery. It’s one that’ll definitely keep you guessing and it was very satisfying how everything came together by the end!
If you have any young mystery story lovers in your life then I’d highly recommend this title and I’ll be looking forward to Ani and Riri’s next adventure myself too!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and gifted a finished copy of the book by Piccadilly Press and Colored Pages Book Tours for a book tour**
CW: murder, blood, injury, fire, death of loved one, grief
--
Murder for Two follows two estranged twin sisters who reconnect over the summer break by trying to solve the murder of a local café/bookstore owner who was keeping more secrets than they knew and to also help save their father who has been wrongly named as the prime suspect.
It is a highly entertaining read, dual POV so we get to be in the mindset of both sisters as we watch them bond and overcome their differences in order to work together and there is a nice dose of desi drama-esque chaos in the mix too!
Admittedly you have to dispel believe a little much in the way you would in a middle grade fantasy book where 11 year olds are allowed to run around when there is a murderer on the loose. Not that there wasn’t appropriate parental involvement in this story because there definitely was but I’m putting it down to the small town magic that they were free to save the day from the “bad guy” with all their sleuthing shenanigans.
Farook really excels at writing wholesome and realistic sibling relationships and what was also particularly well done was the mental health and neurodivergent representation through both the girls.
Ani and Riri’s dedication to getting to the bottom of the case, especially since it involved their loved ones was endearing and you couldn’t help but want to cheer them on especially with Ani’s passion for mysteries and crime solving. The inclusion of her TUSC (Tariq Ultrasecret Supersleuth Centre) documents and notes was a nice additional detail that made the read all the more fun.
The supporting adult characters were an intriguing bunch and whilst some of them seemed a little too comfortable to overshare when opening up and talking to these 11 year old girls, it was really interesting to discover more about each and every one of them and their connection to the central mystery. It’s one that’ll definitely keep you guessing and it was very satisfying how everything came together by the end!
If you have any young mystery story lovers in your life then I’d highly recommend this title and I’ll be looking forward to Ani and Riri’s next adventure myself too!
Final Rating – 4/5 Stars
January 17, 2025
“Remember what I told you about the Dolichogenidea Xenomorph wasps? They inject you and eat you from the inside out. Grief is like that. Unless you cover yourself with your words as a shield.” — Dr Chandra to Ani
GENRE: Cozy Murder Mystery (Middle Grade)
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.75/5 - rounded to 4 stars
FORMAT: Physical Arc
Would I recommend to others?: This is a light read for adults and a perfect read for the younger population! I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a book filled with unique concepts, strong twins and looking for diversity in MG.
Review: Let me start by saying that this book was light yet addressed quite a few topics that were heavy in a way that was appropriate for middle grade and younger population. Without spoiling the book too much, Farook delves into grief, the effect of divorce on a family and what POC and minorities go through.
“What about masses of immigrants who worked in his mills and were treated unfairly because of their skin colour and religion?”
We have Ani and Riri, who are twins and children of a divorce, which meant that they grew up in separate households; Riri with their mother and Ani with their father. Focusing on this solely, back home, this practise was quite common in my parent’s generation and if a divorce occurred, kids would be separated and some would go live with the mother and the rest with the father. Sometimes, kids even ended up with their grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins. This practise has now been stopped (at least where I’m from) and changed, which is quite a relief so that siblings can grow together.
In the book, you can see Ani and Riri struggle to form a relationship and notice the difference between them from the very beginning. In my opinion, their parents could have better handled the situation between them and their fights. If you have any siblings, you would know that fighting is completely normal and a rite of passage with your siblings.
“Without a doubt, me and Ani have lived opposite lives. I wonder how that’s shaped us into who we are today.” — Riri
However, everyone is only human and this book seems to be a redemption for the parents and Ani & Riri to fix their relationships. You do see the character growth in both sisters and watch how they learn to trust each other and be kind to each other. You watch them start to love each other and grow into that comfortable relationship you have with your siblings when you know that they love you.
“I think I need to rethink how I spoke to Riri. I’m still angry at her but I don’t want her to be crushed by my words.” — Ani after her and Riri have had an argument that resulted in exchange of harsh words.
“I reach for her hand. Mine is warm — hers is cold. They fit and it feels nice, like finding my long-lost puzzle piece and feeling complete.” — Riri
Murder for Two also delves into grief. Grief as two 11 year old looks different than what we thin of grief as adults. Reading it in this book was a refreshing view on how grief & sadness shapes Riri and Ani’s world.
“I bite the insides of my cheeks. Push away the sadness of losing her forever.” — Ani
“Life thought it had broken me down. Everyone thought I’d be done for, hopelessly demotivated. I don’t blame them. But actually I’m hopefully motivated.” — Ani
In the Acknowledgements, the author beautifully writes that … and I think this beautifully reflects grief. She writes this to her grandmother and as someone who recently lost my grandmother (who was like a second mother to me), I wholly agree with it. To grief someone you love is to place all the love you have for them, one that you can no longer express to them, and mourn their loss.
“Grief is truly the price of love — and I’m proud to grieve you forever.”
And finally, the third theme that I think was quite nicely done in the book is watching Riri and Ani understand that people are not simply bad or simply good. People are shades of grey, with some having more good than bad.
“Does one bad thing in your past make all the good things you’ve done since irrelevant?”
I quite enjoyed Murder for Two and I will be reading the sequel to see how Ani & Riri grow, to see what else happens with them and TUSC. I do think this book is perfect for its intended audience, which is young teenagers or MG audience. Whether you’d enjoy this book as an adult or not will highly depend on what you focus in the book. However, I’d recommend this book to all adults for the heart warming character growth, seeing two sisters reunite again and seeing the affect of grief and how it changes everyone, including younger teenagers or pre-teens.
Thank you to the Colored Pages Tours, Piccadilly Press and the author for providing me with a physical Arc in exchange for my honest opinion and reviews.
Check out my Review on Substack and subscribe if you enjoyed this for more: https://open.substack.com/pub/cozysab...
GENRE: Cozy Murder Mystery (Middle Grade)
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐.75/5 - rounded to 4 stars
FORMAT: Physical Arc
Would I recommend to others?: This is a light read for adults and a perfect read for the younger population! I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a book filled with unique concepts, strong twins and looking for diversity in MG.
Review: Let me start by saying that this book was light yet addressed quite a few topics that were heavy in a way that was appropriate for middle grade and younger population. Without spoiling the book too much, Farook delves into grief, the effect of divorce on a family and what POC and minorities go through.
“What about masses of immigrants who worked in his mills and were treated unfairly because of their skin colour and religion?”
We have Ani and Riri, who are twins and children of a divorce, which meant that they grew up in separate households; Riri with their mother and Ani with their father. Focusing on this solely, back home, this practise was quite common in my parent’s generation and if a divorce occurred, kids would be separated and some would go live with the mother and the rest with the father. Sometimes, kids even ended up with their grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins. This practise has now been stopped (at least where I’m from) and changed, which is quite a relief so that siblings can grow together.
In the book, you can see Ani and Riri struggle to form a relationship and notice the difference between them from the very beginning. In my opinion, their parents could have better handled the situation between them and their fights. If you have any siblings, you would know that fighting is completely normal and a rite of passage with your siblings.
“Without a doubt, me and Ani have lived opposite lives. I wonder how that’s shaped us into who we are today.” — Riri
However, everyone is only human and this book seems to be a redemption for the parents and Ani & Riri to fix their relationships. You do see the character growth in both sisters and watch how they learn to trust each other and be kind to each other. You watch them start to love each other and grow into that comfortable relationship you have with your siblings when you know that they love you.
“I think I need to rethink how I spoke to Riri. I’m still angry at her but I don’t want her to be crushed by my words.” — Ani after her and Riri have had an argument that resulted in exchange of harsh words.
“I reach for her hand. Mine is warm — hers is cold. They fit and it feels nice, like finding my long-lost puzzle piece and feeling complete.” — Riri
Murder for Two also delves into grief. Grief as two 11 year old looks different than what we thin of grief as adults. Reading it in this book was a refreshing view on how grief & sadness shapes Riri and Ani’s world.
“I bite the insides of my cheeks. Push away the sadness of losing her forever.” — Ani
“Life thought it had broken me down. Everyone thought I’d be done for, hopelessly demotivated. I don’t blame them. But actually I’m hopefully motivated.” — Ani
In the Acknowledgements, the author beautifully writes that … and I think this beautifully reflects grief. She writes this to her grandmother and as someone who recently lost my grandmother (who was like a second mother to me), I wholly agree with it. To grief someone you love is to place all the love you have for them, one that you can no longer express to them, and mourn their loss.
“Grief is truly the price of love — and I’m proud to grieve you forever.”
And finally, the third theme that I think was quite nicely done in the book is watching Riri and Ani understand that people are not simply bad or simply good. People are shades of grey, with some having more good than bad.
“Does one bad thing in your past make all the good things you’ve done since irrelevant?”
I quite enjoyed Murder for Two and I will be reading the sequel to see how Ani & Riri grow, to see what else happens with them and TUSC. I do think this book is perfect for its intended audience, which is young teenagers or MG audience. Whether you’d enjoy this book as an adult or not will highly depend on what you focus in the book. However, I’d recommend this book to all adults for the heart warming character growth, seeing two sisters reunite again and seeing the affect of grief and how it changes everyone, including younger teenagers or pre-teens.
Thank you to the Colored Pages Tours, Piccadilly Press and the author for providing me with a physical Arc in exchange for my honest opinion and reviews.
Check out my Review on Substack and subscribe if you enjoyed this for more: https://open.substack.com/pub/cozysab...
October 31, 2025
I don't know what I was expecting, but woah once the actual crimes started piling up and the sleuthing began, I was invested in Riri and Ani working out their differences, solving the case, and freeing their accused dad. At 336 pages, a full on murder, attempted murder, arson, thieving, and arrests all taking place, the book is definitely for older middle grade readers. The premise and dual points of view of 11 year old twins being reunited after 3 years apart by their divorced parents, getting to know how their OCD, ADHD, and autism factor in to their personalities, learning about TUSC, the town of Castlewick, and the side characters that will turn suspects, result in it taking the story a while to get going. But if you can get through it, and can suspend belief, the book is a fun mystery that takes on heavy topics, and crime, but somehow keeps it light and consumable by the intended audience. The twins are Muslim, one wears hijab, and there are Islamic references, but once the identity is established, it really doesn't play a role, or shape the characters' view of the world or approach to dealing with their grief, anxiety, and obstacles they face. There is mention of halal marshmallows and hijab, but they never say a quick dua or pray, and by the end is not really even shown to be a big part of their daily lives. I have no idea if the neurodivergent rep is accurate, but the tone and approach is very positive and normalizing. Parents may want to know that the book starts on the last day of school and the teacher is non binary, referred to as Mx Henderson with they/them/theirs pronouns. The character is mentioned a lot in the first nine pages, and then never again. Pronouns for other characters are listed on their profile cards. There is teasing of a girl having a crush on a boy, a few couples dating, a character being born out of wedlock, and a male character being in a relationship with someone named Toby that is mentioned a few times, but only on the final mention in the last few pages of the book, does it clarify that it is a boyfriend. The book seems to be intentionally diverse in ethnicities, religions, identity, and orientation, but the story is a murder mystery, and a family reconnecting, and the mentions in passing are not detailed, or overly explored. I mention all this for adults to determine what is best for their children.
SYNOPSIS:
Supersleuth Imani Tariq aka Ani lives in Castlewick with her father, Abderrazzak and spends time at Cafe Vivlio with Mrs. Kostas. The small town is Ani's stomping grounds for sleuthing and carrying out the cases her TUSC (Tariq Ultrasecret Supersleuth Centre) organization takes on. She knows everyone, and everyone knows her, and she is not looking forward to spending the summer with her "evil twin" visiting from California. Riri short for Noori, lives with her mom and is heading to the UK so her mom can set up a new office for her company, and the twins can reconnect after being apart for three years. There is a lot of animosity in the former family of four, but the girls slowly start to rely on each other when they find Mrs. Kostas' dead body in the secret garden, alibis not checking out, relationships coming to light and their dad being arrested for the murder.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I naively thought it would be a murder of a distant side character that the girls tried to solve, or maybe a trick and it looked like a murder, but ended up not being one, so I was really kind of shocked that in fact a murder occurred, that the girls found the body, and that the story of lies, deceit, art theft, secret identities, relationships, and webs of coincidences and manipulation was just getting started. The girls' voices are distinct, but as they pop around doing what they do, the reader is often just expected to go along with it an not over analyze. I kind of liked that the ending spelled it all out, like a good villain in cartoons the culprit gets their moment to detail and confess what they did, how they did it and why. In full disclosure though, with about 30 pages left in the book, I was genuinely still curious who the guilty person would be.
The book balances very real mirroring threads with absolutely bonkers ones. The girls get counseling for grief, talk about their OCD and ADHD. They also run circles around the police, unravel the plot through research, interviews, crime scene analysis and get the murderer to confess to only them.
The Islamic rep at the start really got me excited, but it stopped rather abruptly and there was no longer even any Assalamualaikums or walakumsalams after about the first 40 pages or so. The characters are of Pakistani decent, but I have never heard "hudafiz" as a farewell before, Allah hafiz and KhudaHafiz, yes, but never with an H. It appears a few times in the book, and even the internet, for whatever it is worth, says it is probably a mistake.
FLAGS: (Things parents might want to know the book contains):
Murder, attempted murder, assault, framing, deceit, lying, arson, teasing, close boy/girl friendships (Muslim characters), hetero and lgbtq+ relationships, romantic interests, child out of wedlock, jealousy, revenge, name calling, parents are divorced, therapy/counseling, ADHD, anxiety, grief, abandonment, loss, OCD, autism, unemployment.
SYNOPSIS:
Supersleuth Imani Tariq aka Ani lives in Castlewick with her father, Abderrazzak and spends time at Cafe Vivlio with Mrs. Kostas. The small town is Ani's stomping grounds for sleuthing and carrying out the cases her TUSC (Tariq Ultrasecret Supersleuth Centre) organization takes on. She knows everyone, and everyone knows her, and she is not looking forward to spending the summer with her "evil twin" visiting from California. Riri short for Noori, lives with her mom and is heading to the UK so her mom can set up a new office for her company, and the twins can reconnect after being apart for three years. There is a lot of animosity in the former family of four, but the girls slowly start to rely on each other when they find Mrs. Kostas' dead body in the secret garden, alibis not checking out, relationships coming to light and their dad being arrested for the murder.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I naively thought it would be a murder of a distant side character that the girls tried to solve, or maybe a trick and it looked like a murder, but ended up not being one, so I was really kind of shocked that in fact a murder occurred, that the girls found the body, and that the story of lies, deceit, art theft, secret identities, relationships, and webs of coincidences and manipulation was just getting started. The girls' voices are distinct, but as they pop around doing what they do, the reader is often just expected to go along with it an not over analyze. I kind of liked that the ending spelled it all out, like a good villain in cartoons the culprit gets their moment to detail and confess what they did, how they did it and why. In full disclosure though, with about 30 pages left in the book, I was genuinely still curious who the guilty person would be.
The book balances very real mirroring threads with absolutely bonkers ones. The girls get counseling for grief, talk about their OCD and ADHD. They also run circles around the police, unravel the plot through research, interviews, crime scene analysis and get the murderer to confess to only them.
The Islamic rep at the start really got me excited, but it stopped rather abruptly and there was no longer even any Assalamualaikums or walakumsalams after about the first 40 pages or so. The characters are of Pakistani decent, but I have never heard "hudafiz" as a farewell before, Allah hafiz and KhudaHafiz, yes, but never with an H. It appears a few times in the book, and even the internet, for whatever it is worth, says it is probably a mistake.
FLAGS: (Things parents might want to know the book contains):
Murder, attempted murder, assault, framing, deceit, lying, arson, teasing, close boy/girl friendships (Muslim characters), hetero and lgbtq+ relationships, romantic interests, child out of wedlock, jealousy, revenge, name calling, parents are divorced, therapy/counseling, ADHD, anxiety, grief, abandonment, loss, OCD, autism, unemployment.
December 23, 2024
2.5* rounded up to 3.
An okay effort from a newer author, this book features characters with both neuro- and ethnic- diversity.
I look out for books for my school library which will allow all my students to see themselves represented or expose them to other cultures and ways of experiencing the world. This book has main characters who are of South Asian heritage and are both neurodiverse (ADHD and autism), as well as a diverse cast of side characters.
Alongside the murder mystery, there are struggles for the characters at home. Ani lives with her dad in a fictional West Yorkshire town. Her parents divorced when she was a baby and her mum and twin sister, Riri, live in California. They have not spoken for three years but are coming to stay for the summer, for the mum's work. The mum staying in a hotel in Leeds and Riri staying in Ani's room.
I found it difficult to read this book because of the author's choice to give Ani a 'staccato POV.' I presume it was part of expressing her ADHD to the reader but I could not get used to it. I never settled into the book and, for me personally, it wasn't enjoyable to read. This was compounded when a fair few of the conversations between characters have them shrieking, shouting, screaming and yelling at each other.
Now, to the mystery. I was surprised that the victim was someone so well known and loved by the characters. Generally in MG books the victim is more of an acquaintance. I'm not sure this was a good thing as Ani and Riri were too emotionally connected to it. Especially when someone else they are close to becomes the main suspect.
Initially, it seemed like an intriguing mystery, but it quickly became quite convoluted and farcical. I thought it was quite easy to guess the identity of the murderer, which is maybe okay for a MG book. But the rest of it was just too unbelievable. I'm all for complicated plots for children's books but this seemed like just throwing in things for the sake of it. Likewise, the twins' investigation seemed to be unnecessarily complicated.
It wasn't just the mystery part which I found unbelievable. There were minor parts such as the 2 year old cafe with a revenue of £1 million. Which is run by the sole chef alone at times when the other staff call in sick. The police officer leaving an evidence file unattended with a child she knows wants to investigate the case. Divorced parents who, because their twins don't get along one summer, don't speak to the twin they don't live with for THREE years.
The major unrealistic parts were the actions of these 11 year olds.
But I am aware that I am not the intended audience of this book. Children may well read this book and be thrilled at what the characters get up to. I think that if I had been able to get past Ani's choppy POV it would have felt like quite a pacy book. There was a lot going on and that can help keep readers engaged.
It wasn't for me, but please don't let that put you off giving this a try.
An okay effort from a newer author, this book features characters with both neuro- and ethnic- diversity.
I look out for books for my school library which will allow all my students to see themselves represented or expose them to other cultures and ways of experiencing the world. This book has main characters who are of South Asian heritage and are both neurodiverse (ADHD and autism), as well as a diverse cast of side characters.
Alongside the murder mystery, there are struggles for the characters at home. Ani lives with her dad in a fictional West Yorkshire town. Her parents divorced when she was a baby and her mum and twin sister, Riri, live in California. They have not spoken for three years but are coming to stay for the summer, for the mum's work. The mum staying in a hotel in Leeds and Riri staying in Ani's room.
I found it difficult to read this book because of the author's choice to give Ani a 'staccato POV.' I presume it was part of expressing her ADHD to the reader but I could not get used to it. I never settled into the book and, for me personally, it wasn't enjoyable to read. This was compounded when a fair few of the conversations between characters have them shrieking, shouting, screaming and yelling at each other.
Now, to the mystery. I was surprised that the victim was someone so well known and loved by the characters. Generally in MG books the victim is more of an acquaintance. I'm not sure this was a good thing as Ani and Riri were too emotionally connected to it. Especially when someone else they are close to becomes the main suspect.
Initially, it seemed like an intriguing mystery, but it quickly became quite convoluted and farcical. I thought it was quite easy to guess the identity of the murderer, which is maybe okay for a MG book. But the rest of it was just too unbelievable. I'm all for complicated plots for children's books but this seemed like just throwing in things for the sake of it. Likewise, the twins' investigation seemed to be unnecessarily complicated.
It wasn't just the mystery part which I found unbelievable. There were minor parts such as the 2 year old cafe with a revenue of £1 million. Which is run by the sole chef alone at times when the other staff call in sick. The police officer leaving an evidence file unattended with a child she knows wants to investigate the case. Divorced parents who, because their twins don't get along one summer, don't speak to the twin they don't live with for THREE years.
The major unrealistic parts were the actions of these 11 year olds.
But I am aware that I am not the intended audience of this book. Children may well read this book and be thrilled at what the characters get up to. I think that if I had been able to get past Ani's choppy POV it would have felt like quite a pacy book. There was a lot going on and that can help keep readers engaged.
It wasn't for me, but please don't let that put you off giving this a try.
November 27, 2024
Eleven-year-old Ani Tariq has her future all planned out. Senior school is going to be a bit of a blip, but after that, she's going to be a supersleuth! She is already running TUSC (Tariq Ultrasecret Supersecret Centre) from her bedroom and is looking forward to spending the summer investigating whatever cases come her way. Or she was until her dad told her about her evil twin coming to stay for the holidays! Riri has lived all but the first six months of her life in California but now her mom is working in the UK for a while and she's looking forward to getting to know her sister and dad properly and hopefully more successfully than last time!
On the day one of the holidays, Ani takes Riri to her favourite place to meet her favourite person only to discover a dead body! Determined to find the killer, Ani leaps straight into her first major investigation, but when someone very close to her becomes the main suspect it's suddenly way more important she solve it. Can Ani and her apprentice, Riri, find out who is really the killer, or are they in danger themselves?
Niyla Farook's second title is the first cosy crime for kids book I've read and succeeds very well. Ani and Riri are great main protagonists, and their parents are involved just enough to keep it real. All their suspects happily allow themselves to be interviewed, they have a friend in the local police force, while red herrings and convenient friends with useful knowledge definitely help their case! I am a big cosy crime fan and thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The killer was a surprise, the victim’s back story was detailed and believable and all in all this was a brilliant introduction to the gentle art of cosy and will hopefully be the beginning of a popular new series.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bonnier Books UK/Piccadilly Press, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much.
On the day one of the holidays, Ani takes Riri to her favourite place to meet her favourite person only to discover a dead body! Determined to find the killer, Ani leaps straight into her first major investigation, but when someone very close to her becomes the main suspect it's suddenly way more important she solve it. Can Ani and her apprentice, Riri, find out who is really the killer, or are they in danger themselves?
Niyla Farook's second title is the first cosy crime for kids book I've read and succeeds very well. Ani and Riri are great main protagonists, and their parents are involved just enough to keep it real. All their suspects happily allow themselves to be interviewed, they have a friend in the local police force, while red herrings and convenient friends with useful knowledge definitely help their case! I am a big cosy crime fan and thoroughly enjoyed reading this. The killer was a surprise, the victim’s back story was detailed and believable and all in all this was a brilliant introduction to the gentle art of cosy and will hopefully be the beginning of a popular new series.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Bonnier Books UK/Piccadilly Press, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much.
January 19, 2025
Think of this book as Anne of Green Gables cute meets Scooby Doo Mysteries fun married with Parent Trap vibes and you have a book any preteen or early tween would love 💓
A YA Middle School Cozy Murder Mystery with neurodivergent twins that have been separated since infancy and reconnect one Break. With Parent Trap vibes this precocious pair seek to understand not just the world they are now forced the share but deal with learning to celebrate their own selves, their cultural heritage, and even parts of their religion all while solving a murder mystery. With one twin living in the US and the other in the UK, Riri and Ani need to learn so much about each other so fast and its not a quick or easy start!.
Told in dual POV, each twin has such a wonderfully infectious and unique voice that I just had to read through to see how they were going to solve the mystery and get to stay together. I'm not sure how much to reveal without giving away too much, so I will err on the side of auction because it is a Middle School Mystery, but this was a wonderfully written and fun read.
This is a book at 10, 11, or 12 I would have just fallen into. However, as me today - whose age I will not disclose 😂 - there was a lot of willing suspension of disbelief, but Farook's writing was immersive and exciting. The story shared a lot of depth that I think young teens would be engaged by and small lessons on understanding and compassion that they would benign from. If you have young ones, this would be a great book to share with them and one that would make you smile as they discuss it with you.
Thank you @coloredpagesbt @niylafarook & @piccadilly.press for sharing this #gifted ebook with me.
A YA Middle School Cozy Murder Mystery with neurodivergent twins that have been separated since infancy and reconnect one Break. With Parent Trap vibes this precocious pair seek to understand not just the world they are now forced the share but deal with learning to celebrate their own selves, their cultural heritage, and even parts of their religion all while solving a murder mystery. With one twin living in the US and the other in the UK, Riri and Ani need to learn so much about each other so fast and its not a quick or easy start!.
Told in dual POV, each twin has such a wonderfully infectious and unique voice that I just had to read through to see how they were going to solve the mystery and get to stay together. I'm not sure how much to reveal without giving away too much, so I will err on the side of auction because it is a Middle School Mystery, but this was a wonderfully written and fun read.
This is a book at 10, 11, or 12 I would have just fallen into. However, as me today - whose age I will not disclose 😂 - there was a lot of willing suspension of disbelief, but Farook's writing was immersive and exciting. The story shared a lot of depth that I think young teens would be engaged by and small lessons on understanding and compassion that they would benign from. If you have young ones, this would be a great book to share with them and one that would make you smile as they discuss it with you.
Thank you @coloredpagesbt @niylafarook & @piccadilly.press for sharing this #gifted ebook with me.
January 17, 2025
Murder for Two tells the captivating story of estranged twin sisters, Ani and Riri, reunited for a summer that takes an unexpected turn. When a beloved community figure is murdered, their lives are thrown into chaos as their father becomes a prime suspect.
Riri, the quiet and introspective twin, emerges as a standout character, her thoughtful nature and surprising knack for code-breaking driving the investigation. Ani, while initially appearing boisterous and perhaps a bit abrasive, ultimately complements Riri's strengths.
The novel boasts several strengths:
* Engaging narrative: The writing flows effortlessly, and the plot keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.
* Compelling characters: You become deeply invested in the lives and struggles of Ani and Riri, despite their initial differences.
* Important representation: The book shines in its diverse representation, showcasing characters from various racial and religious backgrounds, while also addressing important issues like mental health and disability awareness.
While the identity of the murderer might be somewhat predictable, their motive is a surprising twist that keeps the suspense alive.
Overall, Murder for Two is a wholesome and engaging read that will undoubtedly inspire a love of reading in younger generations. It's a story that entertains while also offering valuable insights into the complexities of the world around us.
Riri, the quiet and introspective twin, emerges as a standout character, her thoughtful nature and surprising knack for code-breaking driving the investigation. Ani, while initially appearing boisterous and perhaps a bit abrasive, ultimately complements Riri's strengths.
The novel boasts several strengths:
* Engaging narrative: The writing flows effortlessly, and the plot keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.
* Compelling characters: You become deeply invested in the lives and struggles of Ani and Riri, despite their initial differences.
* Important representation: The book shines in its diverse representation, showcasing characters from various racial and religious backgrounds, while also addressing important issues like mental health and disability awareness.
While the identity of the murderer might be somewhat predictable, their motive is a surprising twist that keeps the suspense alive.
Overall, Murder for Two is a wholesome and engaging read that will undoubtedly inspire a love of reading in younger generations. It's a story that entertains while also offering valuable insights into the complexities of the world around us.
March 26, 2025
There was so much to love about this book! I really enjoyed the dual POVs of the twins and how different they were from each other. Their POVs were written to reflect their characters, which was fabulous. It was lovely to see them grow closer and learn to appreciate each other throughout the story.
The story is also bursting with cultural diversity and neurodiversity, and touches on issues around bias and prejudice in a way that's very suitable for the age group.
The plot itself is exciting, with plenty of twists and turns, and again aimed perfectly at the intended audience. It's also very funny in places.
My ten-year-old daughter would definitely love this book and I will be passing it on to her.
The story is also bursting with cultural diversity and neurodiversity, and touches on issues around bias and prejudice in a way that's very suitable for the age group.
The plot itself is exciting, with plenty of twists and turns, and again aimed perfectly at the intended audience. It's also very funny in places.
My ten-year-old daughter would definitely love this book and I will be passing it on to her.
January 18, 2025
MURDER FOR TWO is finally out in the world! Here’s a list of some of the fun things it includes:
🔎Muslim rep and Pakistani main characters
🔎Desi family and Desi food
🔎Polar opposite twins who reunite
after years apart due to their parents divorce (THE PARENT TRAP vibes basically)
🔎Dual POV
🔎Diverse cast
🔎Humor and sarcasm
🔎Set in a small Yorkshire town
🔎Neurodivergent twins (ADHD, OCD and autism)
🔎Cosy murder mystery, aspiring sleuths, middle grade contemporary
🔎There’s a cafe-bookshop
🔎Dad gets falsely arrested for murder
I hope you enjoying reading!
There’ll be a sequel releasing in January 2026. 😊
🔎Muslim rep and Pakistani main characters
🔎Desi family and Desi food
🔎Polar opposite twins who reunite
after years apart due to their parents divorce (THE PARENT TRAP vibes basically)
🔎Dual POV
🔎Diverse cast
🔎Humor and sarcasm
🔎Set in a small Yorkshire town
🔎Neurodivergent twins (ADHD, OCD and autism)
🔎Cosy murder mystery, aspiring sleuths, middle grade contemporary
🔎There’s a cafe-bookshop
🔎Dad gets falsely arrested for murder
I hope you enjoying reading!
There’ll be a sequel releasing in January 2026. 😊
April 1, 2025
I was lucky enough to have received a copy for my primary school, and of course before I put it in the library I needed to read it first.
What I really liked is that the book is from the point of view of both the main characters and that we learnt everything that was going on at the same time as the characters did.
There are sensitive issues dealt with throughout the book and this is done in a gentle way . The book is so diverse and there are going to be so many children that will see themselves in this book.I am really looking forward to the next book.
What I really liked is that the book is from the point of view of both the main characters and that we learnt everything that was going on at the same time as the characters did.
There are sensitive issues dealt with throughout the book and this is done in a gentle way . The book is so diverse and there are going to be so many children that will see themselves in this book.I am really looking forward to the next book.
August 14, 2025
I really wanted to love this because 1) I think it was a debut? 2) It has such a cute premise and I love the idea of cozy murder mysteries for middle grade and 3) it promised sooo much diversity and representation.
Alas, it was... OK. The story was cute and engaging, but WILDY unbelievable and the plot was all over the place. Even its pacing felt off - everything truly important happened in the last twenty pages or so. On top of all that, ALL the ways this book included minorities and representation didn't go beyond name dropping. Very disappointing.
Alas, it was... OK. The story was cute and engaging, but WILDY unbelievable and the plot was all over the place. Even its pacing felt off - everything truly important happened in the last twenty pages or so. On top of all that, ALL the ways this book included minorities and representation didn't go beyond name dropping. Very disappointing.
March 7, 2025
INCLUDES SPOILERS
My review - I LOVED this book!! It incorporated so many diverse characteristics for the main characters, as both of them were Neurodiverse and were also Muslim, which I’m sure I’ve never read before. It was so surprising when I found out the murderer, as I was never expecting Mimi to have dunnit!! I absolutely loved the cafe/bookshop idea, and I love Mrs. Kostas/Dimas and her interesting and surprising background!! I cannot wait to see if there will be a sequel.
My review - I LOVED this book!! It incorporated so many diverse characteristics for the main characters, as both of them were Neurodiverse and were also Muslim, which I’m sure I’ve never read before. It was so surprising when I found out the murderer, as I was never expecting Mimi to have dunnit!! I absolutely loved the cafe/bookshop idea, and I love Mrs. Kostas/Dimas and her interesting and surprising background!! I cannot wait to see if there will be a sequel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2025
How I wish there had been books like this when I was teaching. So good to have Muslim characters portrayed in non stereotypical ways.
This was a good solid mystery with a unique crime fighting team - 2 young Muslim twin girls with very different perspectives and being brought up separately, leads to fiery interactions .
Set in Yorkshire, it has a true feel of the area and I really enjoyed this YA book
This was a good solid mystery with a unique crime fighting team - 2 young Muslim twin girls with very different perspectives and being brought up separately, leads to fiery interactions .
Set in Yorkshire, it has a true feel of the area and I really enjoyed this YA book
October 30, 2025
I loved this book so much and it is perfect for kids who are in to murder mystery’s. The twins (Ani and Riri) are so unique along with Riri’s OCD as well as autism and Ani’s autism. This book is not just exciting but thrilling at the same time! I recommend this book for kids because they will love it.
December 1, 2024
This is a great murder mystery for children (and adults) that's not too gory. There are twists and turns and I had no idea who committed it until just before it was solved. Fast paced and full of suspense, this was a real page turner.
January 9, 2026
I think it was a really good book but it's just very hard to get into for me as I felt like it was dragged out quite long.The murderer was unexpected though, because, well..... it makes more sense when you read it.
January 16, 2025
3.75
it was a fun little read
rtc
it was a fun little read
rtc
January 22, 2025
On a whole a good book. I enjoyed meeting the twins and seeing their relationship develop. A few moments that I felt dragged it out a bit. Best of all I didn’t figure the murderer!
May 31, 2025
The book was good but I didn’t get into it like how I usually do so I honestly give it a 5/10 would recommend it for 9-11 . Xx
October 7, 2025
I enjoyed this so much and found it fast paced and easy to read
December 18, 2025
Was alright
March 26, 2025
I liked it and think it's definitely a kids book (it's supposed to be) but still read it and enjoyed it
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