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Marsh Road Mysteries #1
Diamonds and Daggers
Meet Piotr, Minnie, Andrew, Flora and Sylvia - true friends and even better mystery-solvers!
Hollywood sensation, Betty Massino, has come to star in the theatre down the road and Piotr and his friends Andrew and Minnie couldn't be more excited! But when the famous actress's hugely expensive diamond necklace goes missing, Piotr's dad, a security guard at the theatre, is a prime suspect.
Soon, Piotr faces the very real threat of being sent 'home' to Poland. With the help of Sylvie and her twin sister Flora, can Piotr, Andrew and Minnie solve the crime or will they lose Piotr forever? The first in a fantastic new series filled with friendship, adventure and mystery!
Perfect for fans of Lauren St John, this is THE new mystery adventure series by Waterstones Book Prize shortlisted author Elen Caldecott.
Hollywood sensation, Betty Massino, has come to star in the theatre down the road and Piotr and his friends Andrew and Minnie couldn't be more excited! But when the famous actress's hugely expensive diamond necklace goes missing, Piotr's dad, a security guard at the theatre, is a prime suspect.
Soon, Piotr faces the very real threat of being sent 'home' to Poland. With the help of Sylvie and her twin sister Flora, can Piotr, Andrew and Minnie solve the crime or will they lose Piotr forever? The first in a fantastic new series filled with friendship, adventure and mystery!
Perfect for fans of Lauren St John, this is THE new mystery adventure series by Waterstones Book Prize shortlisted author Elen Caldecott.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2015
11 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
About the author
Elen Caldecott
63 books58 followersI love to write stories about ordinary children doing extraordinary things.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 19, 2015
3.5 Stars
Diamonds and Daggers is the first in Elen Caldecott’s new Marsh Road Mysteries. There are five children Piotr, Minnie, Andrew, Flora and Sylvia and each book will focus on one of them. This one is Piotr’s story and it is also how Piotr, Minnie and Andrew meet twins Flora and Sylvia.
It’s a good mystery and engaging read. Each character has a very distinct personality and I think readers will want to continue with the series – I do.
On another level Diamonds and Daggers deals with racism. Piotr’s father is the security guard at the theatre and made the suspect. He is sent home on questionable evidence. How easily Piotr’s father is dismissed by the theatre staff is saddening but not surprising.
I think the fun and adventure of the mystery is balanced very well with this. I hope the other Marsh Road Mysteries are just as good.
Diamonds and Daggers is the first in Elen Caldecott’s new Marsh Road Mysteries. There are five children Piotr, Minnie, Andrew, Flora and Sylvia and each book will focus on one of them. This one is Piotr’s story and it is also how Piotr, Minnie and Andrew meet twins Flora and Sylvia.
It’s a good mystery and engaging read. Each character has a very distinct personality and I think readers will want to continue with the series – I do.
On another level Diamonds and Daggers deals with racism. Piotr’s father is the security guard at the theatre and made the suspect. He is sent home on questionable evidence. How easily Piotr’s father is dismissed by the theatre staff is saddening but not surprising.
I think the fun and adventure of the mystery is balanced very well with this. I hope the other Marsh Road Mysteries are just as good.
March 18, 2018
I've read a few of the Marsh Road Mysteries before and I think they're just great - like the Secret Seven brought up to date. Each book can be read as a standalone. Diamonds and Daggers is the first in the series, so I was pleased to "meet" the characters properly. I really enjoy the background of each kid - in this episode, the focus is with Piotr, born in the UK to Polish parents, and it gently digs in to what it's like to be from an immigrant background; to belong and not belong at the same time. The mystery itself is of course the main focus and this is really nicely done. I think it'll be a great addition to our school library and would recommend it particularly for Y4 with appeal to both Y3 and Y5 too.
October 14, 2019
A fun mystery story for children who love Enid Blyton and Lauren St. John.
https://www.varshaseshan.com/diamonds...
https://www.varshaseshan.com/diamonds...
February 4, 2020
this okay but could be
April 8, 2018
This book is about Piotr, Minnie ,Sylvie ,Andrew and Flora and a diamond Neckless .
When an actress comes to their town theatre and loses a neckless Piotr's dad is the main suspect and if they do not find the real their Piotr's family have to move to Poland my favorite character is flora who is twin sisters with Sylvie I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars because it wasn't amazing but I still enjoyed it.
When an actress comes to their town theatre and loses a neckless Piotr's dad is the main suspect and if they do not find the real their Piotr's family have to move to Poland my favorite character is flora who is twin sisters with Sylvie I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars because it wasn't amazing but I still enjoyed it.
September 25, 2015
A new series - children solving mysteries - gives some likeable characters working as a team to stop their friend from having to go back to Poland with his family. After his dad (a theatre security guard) is accused of stealing a big star's diamond necklace, Piotr is told they are moving back to their family's home country.
It is up to him and his friends, and some new ones they make, to solve the mystery and find the real thief...
The usual conventions are followed - false leads, questioning, clues, stakeouts and of course, a big finish and unveiling of the real jewel thief.
I liked having the book set in a theatre, lots of opportunities to talk about theatre convention (the Gods, backstage wardrobe, rehearsals). It worked well. The children are spunky and individualised, the suspects all questioned with clues here and there to tempt the reader to make guesses as to the direction to point the finger.
A good conclusion too, and a good series of different mysteries to solve with the same characters will be welcomed by fans of the first.
I liked it. I listened to the audio version, which was only 4 discs long, so this is a fairly quick read for a competent 8-12 year old reader.
It is up to him and his friends, and some new ones they make, to solve the mystery and find the real thief...
The usual conventions are followed - false leads, questioning, clues, stakeouts and of course, a big finish and unveiling of the real jewel thief.
I liked having the book set in a theatre, lots of opportunities to talk about theatre convention (the Gods, backstage wardrobe, rehearsals). It worked well. The children are spunky and individualised, the suspects all questioned with clues here and there to tempt the reader to make guesses as to the direction to point the finger.
A good conclusion too, and a good series of different mysteries to solve with the same characters will be welcomed by fans of the first.
I liked it. I listened to the audio version, which was only 4 discs long, so this is a fairly quick read for a competent 8-12 year old reader.
April 12, 2015
From my daughter:
"I loved the book because it had mystery and still felt like real life like it was possible for what happens to happen to a person in this world.
It is now on my top ten favourite books list.
By Niva age 9"
I'm looking forward to reading it too!
"I loved the book because it had mystery and still felt like real life like it was possible for what happens to happen to a person in this world.
It is now on my top ten favourite books list.
By Niva age 9"
I'm looking forward to reading it too!
January 5, 2015
Very cute, typical middle-grade, a threat for young readers who haven't yet tackled Harry Potter and the likes...
May 5, 2015
A great little mystery middle grade read featuring some great characters who have the chance to solve a mystery to save one of their gang from moving back to Poland if the culprit isn't found!
Read
March 11, 2016good childrens book, will definitely use when teaching a lower ks2 class
August 6, 2017
Read this for work ... gave up ... too many books like this out there at the moment.
Well written though so worth a go for the right age group.
Well written though so worth a go for the right age group.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews