Mistletoe and Murder

Murder Most Unladylike #5

by Robin Stevens

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas hols in snowy Cambridge. Hazel has high hopes of its beautiful spires, cosy libraries and inviting tea-rooms - but there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College.

Two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident - until the Detective Society look a little closer, and realise a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage to find the killer (in time for Christmas Day, of course).

The fabulously festive fifth mystery from the bestselling, award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike.

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Christmas, Crime, Historical Fiction, Historical, Young Adult

354 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2016

About the author

Robin's books are: Murder Most Unladylike (Murder is Bad Manners in the USA), Arsenic for Tea (Poison is Not Polite in the USA), First Class Murder, Jolly Foul Play, Mistletoe and Murder, Cream Buns and Crime, A Spoonful of Murder, Death in the Spotlight and Top Marks for Murder. She is also the author of The Guggenheim Mystery, the sequel to Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery.

Robin was born in California and grew up in an Oxford college, across the road from the house where Alice in Wonderland lived. She has been making up stories all her life.

When she was twelve, her father handed her a copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and she realised that she wanted to be either Hercule Poirot or Agatha Christie when she grew up. When it occurred to her that she was never going to be able to grow her own spectacular walrus moustache, she decided that Agatha Christie was the more achieveable option.

She spent her teenage years at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, reading a lot of murder mysteries and hoping that she’d get the chance to do some detecting herself (she didn’t). She then went to university, where she studied crime fiction, and then worked at a children's publisher.

Robin lives in England with her husband and her pet bearded dragon, Watson.

Reviews

[Gavin Hetherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can watch my interview with author Robin Stevens on my YouTube channel here, where we talk spoiler-free about the series: https://youtu.be/NZBWsJBsgRs

There's nothing like a little murder to get you in the mood for Christmas! I always love a seasonal read, especially when it's in a series like Murder Most Unladylike. I loved the atmosphere of this one and it really did feel like winter through the writing style, and then add in the murder element (which was surprising), and we have ourselves a winner. Robin Stevens is still managing to keep this series fresh 5 books in!

[Maddie]

Yes, I read this book completely out of season, but did that take away from a fun murder? No.

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

#1) Murder Most Unladylike ★★★☆☆
#2) Arsenic for Tea ★★★★☆
#3) First Class Murder ★★★★☆
#4) Jolly Foul Play ★★★★☆
#6) A Spoonful of Murder ★★★★☆
#7) Death in the Spotlight ★★★★★
#8) Top Marks for Murder ★★★★★
#9) Death Sets Sail ★★★★★

➸ Trigger warnings for sexism, racism, classism, alcohol consumption, blood and injury depiction, dead bodies, emesis, death of parents in a car accident mentioned, murder and attempted murder, near drowning, death from a fall down the stairs, and death from poisoning.

▷ Representation: Hazel (mc) is Chinese; Daisy (mc) is a lesbian.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph

[✧ hayley (the sugar bowl) ✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚

will there ever be a book in this series i don’t give 5 stars—i don’t think so. this one was so so good and i read it in the spring but i’d love to read it again at christmas because this book is a perfect christmas time mystery.

i loved the setting and the festive-ness of it all and the mystery was a lot of fun as always—those moments when daisy and hazel finally are getting somewhere and the murder is revealed is what i live for ✨

anyways i loved this one so so much and now i have to purchase the rest of the series from the UK because this is the last book published in the US but i have to continue this series—blackwells here i come!!


୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series. The books are fun and enjoyable. And English vocabulary aren't difficult for non-English speakers. Scribd.com English text, and translation for Portuguese + audio in English from Google Translate.

Synopsys: "Hazel and Daisy trade mistletoe for a murder investigation and set out to save the day (Christmas Day that is!) in this fabulously festive fifth novel of the Wells & Wong Mystery series.

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas holidays in snowy Cambridge. Hazel is looking forward to a calm vacation among the beautiful spires, cozy libraries, and inviting tea-rooms.

But there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College and two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident—until the Detective Society looks a little closer, and realizes a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage if they’re going to find the killer before Christmas dinner."

[Daisy May Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long term readers of my reviews will know that I adore what Robin Stevens writes. The Wells and Wong series are that delightful thing: a series which continues to get better with every book published. And that's not easy; series are hard works. As are colons. And semi-colons. I am incoherent. These books make me scatty, because I love them and I can't write coherently about love, I don't think, not when it's like this. Not when it's so perfectly formed and delivered and utterly good.

To be precise: the fifth book in the series sees Daisy and Hazel visit Cambridge over Christmas. Shenanigans occur and, naturally, the girls become involved. But this time they're not alone; a rival detective agency is on the scene and challenging Wells and Wong's competence. Will they solve the case? Will their rivals take the glory? Will there be buns? (Of COURSE there will be buns).

The more I read of this series, the more I realise that we are privileged readers today. We get to witness series like this where the titles get better each and every time. And to say that involves a caveat that these were not poor books to begin with. There is not one of this series that I have not been prostrate with love for, that I have not rated five stars. But better is always possible, and Stevens is doing it. She's doing it so well and I am jealous of her skill and I love it and I adore it. Mistletoe and Murder has a complexity to it that both speaks back to the books which have been, but also looks forward to the books which are yet to come. Relationships, same-sex, mixed-sex; racism, conscious, unconscious; gender-bias, sexism; give these books to people who question the relevance of children's literature in contemporary society. Give them two copies because once they've read it, they will want to share it with the next person they've come across and realise that they can't let their copy go.

There's not much else to say here other than this series is wonderful and Mistletoe and Murder sparks with a delicious and beautiful complexity and I love it, I love what these books are, I love that they exist, that they are.

[Aleshanee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Sterne für den neuen Krimi mit den ganz speziellen Mädchen Hazel und Daisy, die dieses mal vor der winterlichen Kulisse von Cambridge ermitteln.

Dieses Mal gilt es, einen Mord nicht aufzuklären sondern zu verhindern - doch ob Hazel und Daisy das schaffen, indem sie in einen detektivischen Wettbewerb mit Alexander und George antreten? Es war wieder sehr spannend auch wenn der Mord erst später geschieht und die vielen Fährten in die Irre zu scheinen führen - dazu kamen kleine Sticheleien unter Freunden, ein Eintauchen in ein verschneites Cambridge in früherer Zeit und viele Rätsel, die es aufzuklären gilt!
Hazel ist wieder bezaubernd in ihrer feinfühligen Art und den ersten Schmetterlingen im Bauch, während Daisy in typischer "Holmes" Manier vor jeglichem Gefühl gefeit und trotzdem eine gute Freundin ist. Und auch die Freundschaft zu Alexander und George entwickelt sich überraschend ...
Wieder sehr gelungen!

[Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Hadas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lOVE Wells and Wong!

[Gerry · Rating 2 out of 5]

With Christmas fast approaching, the first Christmas advertisement spotted on television over a week ago and one of my neighbours having put up her large Christmas tree last weekend, I thought it time to dip into my store of Christmas books to read.

I chose 'Mistletoe and Murder' because I had read the first in the 'Murder Most Unladylike Mystery' series and had thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately this one was not quite up to the standard of 'Murder Most Unladylike' as it wandered along with a wishy-washy plot and insipid characters supporting Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong of The Detective Society. And with the action taking place on 23, 24 and 25 December I expected it to be a little more Christmassy. Even one of the main characters says, late in the book, 'It doesn't seem like Christmas.'

The two girls are spending Christmas in Cambridge with Daisy's great-aunt Eustacia, who is one of the dons at St Lucy's College. A series of accidents that look as though they might not be what they appear to be are what start The Detective Society investigating. But they have rivals in the boys of another amateur sleuthing society, The Junior Pinkertons, who also want the glory of sorting out what is going on.

The accidents happen to the younger of two brothers, Charles 'Chummy' Melling, whose older brother, Donald, is due to inherit a large sum of money on his coming of age on Christmas Day. And there is a certain amount of friction between the two brothers, so that seems to be one possible motive for inflicting injury, or worse, on his sibling.

But there are other suspects and Daisy and Hazel make a number of lists about who, how and why any number of people resident at Maudlin and St John's Colleges could have been involved - the lists are repeated a number of times and do become somewhat repetitive. There is much toing and froing between all the parties involved and plenty of chat but not much action, apart from the climbing of buildings that goes on in the background. It all seems to be going nowhere until Daisy and Hazel, having beaten The Junior Pinkerton's to the punch, discover exactly what has happened.

It is an okay read but the rather drawn out plot and the lack of excitement brings it down somewhat.

[Alwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistletoe and Murder is another in the series featuring Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells, teen detectives. It’s 1935, Hazel and Lucy are on holiday from boarding-school, visiting Daisy’s brother who’s studying in Cambridge, an excuse for extensive descriptions of hazy spires and snow-covered cobble streets. Needless to say, Daisy and Hazel are rapidly caught up in investigating a crime, murder to be precise, and in hot pursuit of their prime suspects. Robin Stevens’s pastiche of golden-age crime blended with features from classic boarding-school narratives can be clunky in places: the prose is frequently less than shining; and the decision to cater for readers who’ve missed earlier instalments slows down the early stages of the plot here, a bit heavy on the exposition in the first chapters. I also found the summaries of Daisy’s and Hazel’s notes on their progress slightly irritating; while Stevens’s depiction of 1930s’ Cambridge definitely falls into the kind of nostalgia, fantasy realms that make it so appealing as a tourist destination. But if readers can look past the flaws, then this is a fairly entertaining, undemanding seasonal read, which has a number of positive aspects.

An explicit influence here is Sayers’s Gaudy Night which Daisy happens to be reading, this segues into an exploration of wider issues around gender and identity, as well as a detailed consideration of life for women studying in this male-dominated environment: although there any similarities between Sayers and Stevens ends, this is far more incident-driven than her more mature work, and firmly aimed at a YA market. One of the other, and for me, particularly refreshing aspects of Stevens’s series is the way in which Hazel’s character works to expose some of the less palatable, problematic aspects of a great deal of golden age crime. Hazel foregrounds questions of representation versus invisibility and her character conveys a sense of what it might have been like to be on the receiving end of the kind of racism that’s either promoted or skated over in the vintage novels Stevens draws from – although Stevens’s approach isn’t always subtle. Overall for anyone who likes thoughtful school-inspired stories, vintage crime with festive trimmings and is looking for an escapist read – where I’m currently based, I seriously envy anyone who isn’t – then this is a more than decent option. 

Rating: 3.5

(One useful aspect of Stevens's extensive scene-setting is that it's possible for readers unfamiliar with the earlier instalments to jump in a this stage without missing anything significant.)

[Elwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wenn es draußen unerträglich heiß ist, gibt es doch nichts Besseres als einen weihnachtlichen Ausflug ins verschneite Cambridge. Da stört auch der ein oder andere Mord nicht ;-) Zumal wenn er wieder mit so viel Köpfchen von den beiden charmanten Detektivinnen gelöst wird. Diesmal in Zusammenarbeit mit einer anderen Detektei, die auch nochmal eine nette Abwechslung reinbringt. Eine wunderbare Wohlfühlreihe mit sympathischen Charakteren, interessanten Fällen und schönem Englandflair. Immer wieder ein Vergnügen!

Beim zweiten Lesedurchgang kurz vor Weihnachten entfaltet es nochmal eine ganz andere Atmosphäre. Sehr zu empfehlen!

[monty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me so happy! As my friend Chloe says 'like a perfect cup of tea' this book is so warm and comforting, i know its ages until christmas but it still makes me so festive! i have got to say this might be one of my favourites in the whole series! this is my second time reading it and i am sure i will read it many more times!

[poczytanko_]

4.25

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love all of the characters in this book and i genuinely can never tell where the plot of these books are going i love it

[Care · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A fun, Christmas themed murder mystery with heart. These are absolutely appropriate for a middle grade audience! They do deal with death and pain, but also friendship, love, and justice. They bring up racial prejudice, sexism, ageism, and other intolerances. Mature themes, but done at the perfect level for a younger audience. Definitely check out this series if you're looking for cozy mysteries solved by clever girls.

[Lotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5

[Judith van Wijk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to read a different kind of Christmas book, but I figured out who did it quite early on.

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

#SundayYAthon
5 Words:

[lilith_bookcase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si me gustan tanto estos libros no es solo por el misterio, sino por las perspectivas que nos muestran, tanto de género como de posición social o de racismo. Cómo por mucho dinero que tengas el color de tu piel basta para marcarte o que por ser mujer te subestimen hasta límites a veces insostenibles. En éste en concreto es donde (hasta el momento) han sido más patentes.
.
Una nueva aventura de mis detectives favoritas impecablemente desarrollada --e investigada-- hasta el final, como siempre 😻 Intriga de principio a fin, algunos giros inesperados y acción rápida que lo hacen "insoltable" 😋 Y un pequeño relato al final con un misterio extra 🤩
Detective Society for ever! 🔎

[wikula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Każda przygoda dziewczyn, o której czytam sprawia, że na mojej twarzy pojawia się uśmiech. Ta seria przynosi mi wiele ciepła i komfortu. Książki idealne na gorszy dzień! Są napisane bardzo przyjemnie i już od pierwszych stron jestem zaciekawiona, i tak było też tutaj. Uwielbiam pomysł na fabułę, klimat i moje cudowne bohaterki.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery and I loved it. Immediately drawn into the book from the get go, I warmed up to the main characters after never having encountered them before and quickly got a feel for the book and what it was about. The author brought me up to speed with the characters and I didn’t feel at too much of a disadvantage with this being my first read of this series.

The plot and story was compelling and kept me guessing all the way through! I didn’t guess who the murderer was and loved following the young detectives in their quest to find out whodunnit. I also loved the updates of the suspect lists throughout and found it was easier not to get too lost with all the suspects and where they were in solving the case.

Great little book and even included glossary of words, a guide to Cambridge and their lingo at the end of the book. I love a festive murder mystery and this one was brilliant!

[Katey Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

Always love Wells and Wong and this festive mystery caper set in the beautiful city of Cambridge was no exception. Robin Stevens writes characters so vividly that it feels as though you know them, and Daisy and Hazel now feel like friends. An empowering, feminist read with echoes of the Nancy Drew books I loved as a child. Perfect Christmas reading.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the working out of who the murderer was a bit chaotic and random tbh but overall I thought it was a really good Christmas read. I loved the way other stories were also happening at the same time like Hazel and Alexander. There was also more of an insight in to Hazel's life in Hong Kong in this book as she became more open about it and less embarrassed from the influence of George.

[Jessica (Jess Hearts Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Detective Society AT CHRISTMAS, seriously? What's not to love?

[Nina Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😁This series is amazing🌈🌠

[Belles Middle Grade Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cozy fun murder mystery vibes(that sounds so wrong lol)are back with this 1! This was so great. Another location, visiting a family member at college at the women’s & mens college in Cambridge. We also get to visit with 1 “colleague” from the Orient Express (Alexander), & are introduced to his detective partner (George). I loved George’s character so much. Not only has Daisy met her match in this male version basically of herself lol, I love what he did for Hazel..without even realizing it probably. Not being “English”(that’s how it is said in the book) like Hazel, he has a more confident, defiant, proud approach to it that’s she has in the past when treated differently just for being from another country. As an example, there’s a part where a racist bigot is unhappy/angry that there are basically 4 non-English people in his presence/at his school, & he stares(going to quote book now):”rather accusingly, as though it was unreasonable of us all to be alive, & so close to each other. I felt embarrassed, as though I had made a mistake without noticing it - like eating with the wrong fork, or wearing the wrong sort of hat. Then I saw George's chin tip up again, & remembered that I had made no mistake at all. It really is not rude to exist, whatever anyone else says.” That’s my girl Hazel! There are even more examples throughout where George helps Hazel on this journey of hers of loving who she is, & where she comes from. It’s something to be dang proud of, cause Hazel rocks. She proves the effect George has had on her, & how much she rocks yet again when even though there’s a Chinese boy there she knows from home that she doesn’t like that much, & is 1 of the suspects -but she knows because he’s not English, once he’s accused, if they accuse him, there’s no taking it back. He won’t be listened to properly, or be able to defend himself. This is also set at Christmas time, so there’s even more added atmosphere with the holiday & the snow on top of the usual already amazing atmosphere the author creates. I had no idea whodunnit, & kept going back & forth-none being who actually dunnit lol. Daisy & Hazel’s friendship is so on point in this 1. I was so proud of Daisy too! She finally gave Hazel credit for figuring out the big break in the case! Lol & when Hazel is afraid a boy she likes will laugh if he knew, & Daisy says, “‘Why ever should he laugh?' asked Daisy, her face surprised. ‘You're Hazel. You're the best person I know. Don't I keep telling you so?’” My heart! That’s a lot from Daisy. You come to understand that’s just her, she doesn’t understand people on a feelings level, or emotions like that. I’ve actually grown quite fond of her. Still having the best time! Highly recommend! As usual, I read the BEAUTIFUL UK edition with cover by Nina Tara, but I also have the BEAUTIFUL US edition with cover by Elizabeth Baddeley.💜



This also completed prompt 2(Double it up-2 books in the same series of by the same author. I finished book 4 Jolly Foul Play September 10th.)for Series September hosted by BooksandJams & Sarah’s Nightstand on YT.

[tswiftlover (cami) · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ 4.25 stars!!!
⁀➷🎄the writing in this book was SCRUMPTIOUS. literally no other way to put it. like compared to the other books, the writing in this BLEW ME AWAY. i adored seeing the detective society during christmas (def read this out of season BUT WHATEVAAA) and seeing alexander and george!! omg seeing them work together was incredible, and i loved how spooky the mystery felt this time?? like twist after twist!! the only reason i rated this down was that i found the reason for the crime to be a bit outlandish, but nonetheless it was still SO GOOD. AND HAZEL AND ALEXANDER??? i MELTED OMFG. they’re so so cute, not to mention she finally admitted to herself she’s IN LOVE W HIM?? they did touch on race this book, and i hope daisy grows more and recognizes her white privilege bc it was a bit difficult reading her perspective whenever hazel tried to argue abt the suspects… but in the end she did generally come around! i love these babies so much, i already don’t want it to end!!! onto a spoonful of murder!

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are spending the Christmas hols in snowy Cambridge. Hazel has high hopes of its beautiful spires, cosy libraries and inviting tea-rooms - but there is danger lurking in the dark stairwells of ancient Maudlin College.

Two days before Christmas, there is a terrible accident. At least, it appears to be an accident - until the Detective Society look a little closer, and realise a murder has taken place. Faced with several irritating grown-ups and fierce competition from a rival agency, they must use all their cunning and courage to find the killer (in time for Christmas Day, of course).


The perfect winter/Christmas read! However this book is also enjoyable at any time throughout the year.

[Monica Haak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oeh. Tof dat ze nu een strijd aangaan met anderen die de moord willen oplossen.

Recensie binnenkort op myperfectbooklife