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Murder Most Unladylike #4.5
The Case of the Deepdean Vampire
Of all the mysteries that Hazel and I have investigated, the Case of the Deepdean Vampire was one of the strangest. It was not a murder, which was a pity - but I did solve it very cleverly, and so I decided it ought to be written down, so that other people could read it and be impressed.
Camilla Badescu is in the fifth form, and has pale skin, dark hair and red lips. She comes from Romania (which is practically Transylvania). She doesn't eat at meals. And she seemed to have an unhealthy influence over another pupil, Amy Jessop. Now, I do not believe in vampires - I am the Honourable Daisy Wells, after all. But when I heard the rumour that Camilla was seen climbing head-first down a wall, I knew it was time to investigate...
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2016
About the author
Robin Stevens
76 books2,717 followersRobin'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, Top Marks for Murder, Death Sets Sail and Once Upon a Crime. She is also the author of the Ministry of Unladylike Activity series (The Ministry of Unladylike Activity, The Body in the Blitz and A Stocking Full of Spies) and The Guggenheim Mystery, the sequel to Siobhan Dowd's The London Eye Mystery. Almost the Whole Truth, her first adult book, will publish in 2027 from Viking in the UK and Crown in the US.
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 achievable 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 family.
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 achievable 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 family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 1, 2024
➳ 5 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
another lovely mini mystery!! this series is amazing and this was such a fun quick read!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
another lovely mini mystery!! this series is amazing and this was such a fun quick read!
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
January 5, 2017
Ten Second Synopsis:
Daisy recounts her triumphant solution to a case which, to all outward appearances, looks to have a supernatural twist.
Much like The Case of the Blue Violet, the other novella in this series, The Case of the Deepdean Vampire is a bite-sized snack of a mystery, narrated by Daisy, rather than Hazel, who is the narrator of the full length novels. In this particular novella, Daisy recounts her triumphant solving of a case that has the Deepdean girls all of a dither: is Camilla really a vampire? And if not, how can one explain the, frankly, supernatural behaviour that she has been exhibiting of late? Of course Daisy, being a natural skeptic, manages to confound any latent whisperings of vampirism by performing some quite spectacular physical feats and making the links that others have failed to notice.
I have to say that I didn't find this one quite as engaging as a short story as the Blue Violet, simply because the premise was hinged on a supernatural phenomenon and readers of this series will know that supernatural happenings are not an accepted part of the deal. From that standpoint then, the mystery could only have a perfectly ordinary explanation and when it came it wasn't quite as exciting or tricky as I was hoping it might be. I felt a little as if there hadn't been enough clues left out for canny readers to solve this one themselves, so wasn't quite as invested in the reveal as I may have otherwise been.
So while not the most gripping of the girls' adventures so far, this is still a fun interlude between books for fans of Daisy and Hazel and the Detective Society.
Daisy recounts her triumphant solution to a case which, to all outward appearances, looks to have a supernatural twist.
Much like The Case of the Blue Violet, the other novella in this series, The Case of the Deepdean Vampire is a bite-sized snack of a mystery, narrated by Daisy, rather than Hazel, who is the narrator of the full length novels. In this particular novella, Daisy recounts her triumphant solving of a case that has the Deepdean girls all of a dither: is Camilla really a vampire? And if not, how can one explain the, frankly, supernatural behaviour that she has been exhibiting of late? Of course Daisy, being a natural skeptic, manages to confound any latent whisperings of vampirism by performing some quite spectacular physical feats and making the links that others have failed to notice.
I have to say that I didn't find this one quite as engaging as a short story as the Blue Violet, simply because the premise was hinged on a supernatural phenomenon and readers of this series will know that supernatural happenings are not an accepted part of the deal. From that standpoint then, the mystery could only have a perfectly ordinary explanation and when it came it wasn't quite as exciting or tricky as I was hoping it might be. I felt a little as if there hadn't been enough clues left out for canny readers to solve this one themselves, so wasn't quite as invested in the reveal as I may have otherwise been.
So while not the most gripping of the girls' adventures so far, this is still a fun interlude between books for fans of Daisy and Hazel and the Detective Society.
November 17, 2023
Encore une fois un plaisir de découvrir un peu plus le POV de Daisy via ces nouvelles. Etre dans sa tête nous aide à mieux cerner le personnage. Sinon, j'ai adorée cette petite enquête ambiance Halloween. C'est dommage que ce soit si cours par contre.
July 19, 2016
Oh this was delicious! As is the very generous extract from the next book. I'm so...pleased with Robin Stevens. And grateful too. She really does get it right every single time.
July 30, 2016
I like these tiffins, even though Daisy's confidence borders on sociopathy. And I love the homage to Carmilla!
September 11, 2016
I love these little short stories from
Daisy's POV! It's made me even more eager for Mistletoe and Murder next month.
Daisy's POV! It's made me even more eager for Mistletoe and Murder next month.
October 22, 2018
2/3 Non mi ha detto nulla di che. Forse mi aspettavo troppo da questa storia
December 15, 2022
This was included in the collection Cream Buns and Crime so I'm reviewing the ones that are listed on Goodreads separately, separately. And then presumably I shall review the overall collection, since it includes essays that do not appear here.
As expected, a short, fun treat. I enjoy the kindness in her writing ... as I get older, I want to read more about nice people doing nice things (dear God, I'm even currently reading Pollyanna at the moment and I love it). Daisy and Hazel, while having their moments (for instance, Daisy is usually disappointed when a crime isn't murder) are at heart deeply decent people, and the way Daisy brings this mystery to its conclusion was particularly touching.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
As expected, a short, fun treat. I enjoy the kindness in her writing ... as I get older, I want to read more about nice people doing nice things (dear God, I'm even currently reading Pollyanna at the moment and I love it). Daisy and Hazel, while having their moments (for instance, Daisy is usually disappointed when a crime isn't murder) are at heart deeply decent people, and the way Daisy brings this mystery to its conclusion was particularly touching.
(Note: I'm a writer, so I suffer when I offer fewer than five stars. But these aren't ratings of quality, they're a subjective account of how much I liked the book: 5* = an unalloyed pleasure from start to finish, 4* = enjoyed it, 3* = readable but not thrilling, 2* = disappointing, and 1* = hated it.)
December 19, 2019
Yawn.
I do not care for Daisy as narrator. She's too prissy, too conceited, too darn up herself. The story was okay...ish...until the wrap.
One saving grace, it was mercifully short and I couldn't sleep anyway. Mindless entertainment, but not very entertaining. Short fiction is not Stevens' strong suit, apparently. I only read it because it has been referenced in other books in the series.
A resounding Meh.
Meeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhh.
I do not care for Daisy as narrator. She's too prissy, too conceited, too darn up herself. The story was okay...ish...until the wrap.
One saving grace, it was mercifully short and I couldn't sleep anyway. Mindless entertainment, but not very entertaining. Short fiction is not Stevens' strong suit, apparently. I only read it because it has been referenced in other books in the series.
A resounding Meh.
Meeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhh.
October 31, 2018
A strong short story from the Wells & Wong gals, although almost a little too short in my opinion. Things were a little less mysterious than I've found from the main books themselves, lacking some of the twists, turns and humour. Nonetheless, it was nice to hear it from Daisy's perspective over Hazel's, and that maybe entices me to touch in on the other short stories from the series...
March 18, 2022
" ... Le loro menti sono terribilmente pigre, giocano sempre brutti scherzi. Ma comunque c'è una ragione dietro a tutto e mi chiedevo quale fosse la spiegazione di questa storia. ... "
Un racconto veramente delizioso, in cui bisogna necessariamente andare oltre l'apparenza per trovare la verità e la nostra Daisy è come sempre insuperabile!
Un racconto veramente delizioso, in cui bisogna necessariamente andare oltre l'apparenza per trovare la verità e la nostra Daisy è come sempre insuperabile!
January 3, 2025
Stevens Magic #6
Wells & Wong Mini Mystery #2
The second of the shorter yarns about the girl detectives sees a more lurid sounding title, with a really great little yarn, that Daisy Wells narrates instead of the usual Hazel Wong in the longer form tales. It also fits perfectly in the continuity between books 4 and 5 and tells you that as well.
All things we like!
Wells & Wong Mini Mystery #2
The second of the shorter yarns about the girl detectives sees a more lurid sounding title, with a really great little yarn, that Daisy Wells narrates instead of the usual Hazel Wong in the longer form tales. It also fits perfectly in the continuity between books 4 and 5 and tells you that as well.
All things we like!
October 25, 2020
This mini mystery was even better than the last! It was the perfect book for Halloween and I read it in one sitting, in about 15 minutes(it WAS 33 pages). I can't wait to read what happens at Christmas in the next book, but until then, I'm just gonna marvel over how awesome this book is!
January 15, 2018
Reading as part of the collection but let's add it on here, as read shall we.
November 24, 2018
Highly entertaining novella. I recommend it to all fans of the series.
January 18, 2019
Amazing plot
May 27, 2019
Short but very sweet.
March 2, 2020
Wells and Wong meet Dracula - what's not to love? And a great solution to the mystery, too. I didn't guess it this time (please don't take my Detective Society badge away).
June 16, 2020
This book is amazing
This book is absolutely amazing because at the end it is not what you would think at all so that's why it is so good
This book is absolutely amazing because at the end it is not what you would think at all so that's why it is so good
September 14, 2020
I thought there was a vampire at one point ;-;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2020
Good short story describing a non-murder case taken up by the schoolgirl detectives, narrated by Daisy in all her (annoyingly somewhat deserved) arrogance.
December 9, 2020
3.7 stars. Another cute mini-mystery. Love the spooky Halloween-type setting.
January 22, 2021
5 stars
May 2, 2021
Clever short story
Read
May 14, 2022I didn't like the ending because no, thank you, after that you can stay the fuck away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
Book #3 for Beccas 48-Hour Bookoplathon
September 18, 2022
It's a little kids book perfect for little ones
July 11, 2023
It was really interesting, looking forward to many mini books of this series!
December 1, 2023
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews