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Anisha, Accidental Detective
Anisha, Accidental Detective
Anisha is all set to be a (reluctant) bridesmaid at Aunty Bindi’s wedding...until a secret ransom note arrives. Bindi’s groom has been kidnapped and will only be released IF THE WEDDING IS CALLED OFF! With best friend Milo, mischievous Granny Jas, a runaway lobster, a kitten-loving giant, and some super skills of logic and observation, it’s up to Anisha Mistry to find her uncle, before the big family wedding of the year becomes a big disaster.
240 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2020
12 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 18, 2021
What will you do when your uncle gets kidnapped RIGHT before the wedding?
I have been meaning to read this book for probably over a year now. Last week the libraries finally opened and during the time they were closed (5+ months) they added this book. I was so happy. I was just dancing. Thankfully, no one was around, haha.
In this book Anisha’s family gets ready to party as aunt Bindi is getting married. We see various preparations, tons of drama as aunt Bindi is quite the dramaqueen, but things really get exciting when Anisha finds a mysterious note in the mailbox. Her uncle has been kidnapped! And so begins Anisha’s first case and OMG, it was just so much fun to read. I had fun investigating along with Anisha and her friend Milo (and later also Anisha’s granny Jas) and figuring out the clues. Who would do this to aunt Bindi/the family? Why?
And it doesn’t just stay with a missing uncle, oh no, other things are happening as well! At times I just wanted to hug Anisha as things got quite stressful and she gets the blame for some of the things that happened. Which just made me furious. Just because she isn’t into a dress, doesn’t mean she would sabotage everything. Hello? Has she ever done something like that? From what I can see, no. So why would she do it now?
Next to exciting and musical and full of wedding, it was also quite humorous. Milo takes care of a lobster that was meant for curry. Granny Jas does some stuff. And there is more. I really liked that there was some humour added.
Who did it in the end? I knew it. And I would have definitely reacted way angrier than aunt Bindi and uncle Tony did and the others in the family. This is just not done. You don’t do that. Or any of the other things.
I liked most of the characters. Aunt Bindi was delightfully dramatic (maybe a tad too much), Anisha was a sweet girl who loved her family a lot, Milo was Milo, Granny Jas was definitely my favourite character, and the driver of Uncle Tony’s car was just such a fun character when we get to know him.
But will I be reading the next book? EHHHHHHHH, not sure. I mean, I am just so tired of the bully/nemesis trope and given that Anisha doesn’t just have ONE bully/nemesis, she’s got three, I am just not into that crap at this moment, or ever actually. It is a shame, as I would have loved to continue, but knowing this really put me off. I am just not looking forward to having a book with that.
I really love the art in this one.
I would recommend this book. It was quite interesting/fun to read and I like Anisha and her family and would have loved to be part of the wedding!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have been meaning to read this book for probably over a year now. Last week the libraries finally opened and during the time they were closed (5+ months) they added this book. I was so happy. I was just dancing. Thankfully, no one was around, haha.
In this book Anisha’s family gets ready to party as aunt Bindi is getting married. We see various preparations, tons of drama as aunt Bindi is quite the dramaqueen, but things really get exciting when Anisha finds a mysterious note in the mailbox. Her uncle has been kidnapped! And so begins Anisha’s first case and OMG, it was just so much fun to read. I had fun investigating along with Anisha and her friend Milo (and later also Anisha’s granny Jas) and figuring out the clues. Who would do this to aunt Bindi/the family? Why?
And it doesn’t just stay with a missing uncle, oh no, other things are happening as well! At times I just wanted to hug Anisha as things got quite stressful and she gets the blame for some of the things that happened. Which just made me furious. Just because she isn’t into a dress, doesn’t mean she would sabotage everything. Hello? Has she ever done something like that? From what I can see, no. So why would she do it now?
Next to exciting and musical and full of wedding, it was also quite humorous. Milo takes care of a lobster that was meant for curry. Granny Jas does some stuff. And there is more. I really liked that there was some humour added.
Who did it in the end? I knew it. And I would have definitely reacted way angrier than aunt Bindi and uncle Tony did and the others in the family. This is just not done. You don’t do that. Or any of the other things.
I liked most of the characters. Aunt Bindi was delightfully dramatic (maybe a tad too much), Anisha was a sweet girl who loved her family a lot, Milo was Milo, Granny Jas was definitely my favourite character, and the driver of Uncle Tony’s car was just such a fun character when we get to know him.
But will I be reading the next book? EHHHHHHHH, not sure. I mean, I am just so tired of the bully/nemesis trope and given that Anisha doesn’t just have ONE bully/nemesis, she’s got three, I am just not into that crap at this moment, or ever actually. It is a shame, as I would have loved to continue, but knowing this really put me off. I am just not looking forward to having a book with that.
I really love the art in this one.
I would recommend this book. It was quite interesting/fun to read and I like Anisha and her family and would have loved to be part of the wedding!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 3, 2021
Anisha Mistry is 10 and lives with her mum, dad, Granny Jas and Auntie
Bindi.
Though, Auntie Bindi is moving out once she gets married to Uncle Tony. But Bindi is super-dramatic and she can get wound up by the littlest things like when the flower delivery man turns up with with red carnations instead of pink ones.
But then Anisha finds a ransom note, pushed through the letter box, saying Uncle Tony has been kidnapped, and will only be freed if the wedding is cancelled! She has to keep it a secret otherwise it will be panic central.
With the help of Anisha's best friend, Milo Moon, and Granny Jas, she will be able to restore order before it's too late, won't she? It is all up to Anisha Accidental Detective!
This book is like no other I have read before, in a good way! It has family issues, as well as good detection parts to get you in the mood. The first chapter was a bit long for me, but I suppose that was just an introductory chapter.
Bindi.
Though, Auntie Bindi is moving out once she gets married to Uncle Tony. But Bindi is super-dramatic and she can get wound up by the littlest things like when the flower delivery man turns up with with red carnations instead of pink ones.
But then Anisha finds a ransom note, pushed through the letter box, saying Uncle Tony has been kidnapped, and will only be freed if the wedding is cancelled! She has to keep it a secret otherwise it will be panic central.
With the help of Anisha's best friend, Milo Moon, and Granny Jas, she will be able to restore order before it's too late, won't she? It is all up to Anisha Accidental Detective!
This book is like no other I have read before, in a good way! It has family issues, as well as good detection parts to get you in the mood. The first chapter was a bit long for me, but I suppose that was just an introductory chapter.
January 4, 2021
Никоя сватба не минава безпроблемно. Обикновено обаче перипетиите са „бели кахъри” от рода на внезапно отесняла рокля, фризьорката е болна, някой е забравил да вземе букета от цветарницата или пък не може да си спомни в кой джоб са скрити венчалните халки. Е, сватбата на леля Бинди обаче е под далеч по-голяма заплаха! Годеникът е отвлечен! (Разбира се, ако изобщо може да се вярва на бележката за откуп!) Но ето ти щастие в нещастиесто! Защото леля Бинди е леля не на кой да е, а на младата Аниша Мистри, която няма никакво намерение да остави случая неразрешен. „Аниша – детективка по случайност“ от Серина Пател и с илюстрации от Ема Маккан е нов детски роман от изд. „Кръг”, със силен криминален привкус и множество забавни приключения. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле”: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
March 9, 2021
Help ! My super dramatic Aunty Bindi is having a mega meltdown. 😂 This book is very funny and has some very interesting and crazy characters. The story is about a girl called Anisha and how she became a spy 🕵️♀️ by accident. I had lots of favourite characters in the story. I laughed so much while reading the book and there were so many Indian words in it which I knew and it made me feel cool cause I say them too.
I enjoyed the book so much that I got the second book immediately after I finished this one. Have a fun time reading this book. 😀
Chalo , see you in my next review 😃
I enjoyed the book so much that I got the second book immediately after I finished this one. Have a fun time reading this book. 😀
Chalo , see you in my next review 😃
February 23, 2025
I loved this book. It was so nice reading a book with an Indian protagonist and at that, someone from the same state as me. It was awesome seeing words I use day-to-day integrated into literature. The plot was brilliant too. Such a great read for anyone who likes a good detective novel.
October 16, 2020
Veru cute and funny! The story is entertaining and the illustrations are cool. Anisha and the shenanigans of her family and friends really made me laugh.
August 13, 2020
This book is going to be the first class read come September and I can’t wait for my pupils to hear it. What I love most is the blend of Western and Indian culture, it was so lovely to learn more about Indian (Hindu) weddings while also reading an exciting mystery story.
Anisha is a character I can’t wait to introduce to my class, she’s bright and funny and I can see her becoming a firm favourite. Milo as her best friend also offers such a lovely addition to the plot with his love of animals and compassion. Overall an excellent read - I will definitely be adding the sequel to my shelf soon.
Anisha is a character I can’t wait to introduce to my class, she’s bright and funny and I can see her becoming a firm favourite. Milo as her best friend also offers such a lovely addition to the plot with his love of animals and compassion. Overall an excellent read - I will definitely be adding the sequel to my shelf soon.
June 7, 2021
Hilarious and so fun! Loved it.
September 15, 2020
A fun detective story with lots of twists and turns that will keep children interested. Great clues along the way and characters that really engage you!
March 25, 2020
What I needed this weekend, as no doubt we all did, was a dazzling ray-of-sunshine book that would pierce the dark cloud of gloom gathering in the outside world.
What better book to choose than Serena Patel's debut YMG novel, Anisha, Accidental Detective - a mystery story filled with family chaos and funny, vibrant characters.
With a family wedding in full flow, quiet, scientific Anisha hopes that things will soon return to normal. But when she discovers that the groom has been kidnapped she has no choice but to solve the case before her Aunt finds out.
With the clock ticking and a whole list of suspicious suspects, Anisha enlists the help of her best friend, Milo. Milo may be more interested in saving lobsters than finding Uncle Tony but he's not about to let his friend down. Can the pair of them save the big day?
Serena has hit on a winning plot by combining a good old mystery with very relatable family dynamics. Okay, so not many grooms get kidnapped the day before the wedding but being part of a big, soon to be blended family has its issues. Serena deals with these beautifully, whilst keeping the mystery and intrigue the main priority.
The story moves at a fast pace but is kept light-hearted through delightful characters (Granny Jas, Aunty Bindi and Mustaf), firm friendship (Anisha and Milo) and the rather out-of-place pet (Larry the lobster). I loved how the main characters moved around the local town; from the house to the garden to the school and the theme park. This stopped any part of it from feeling static or from losing momentum and also kept me guessing. The illustrations by Kate McCann were completely charming (I particularly loved the wedding scene) and the mathematical equations were unique and great fun.
Ultimately though, I think the way Serena unpicks the tricky relationships in this book makes the tale shine. The tone is warm and caring and reminds us that individual hearts can be full of complex and varied emotions that need to be understood rather than condemned. The feistiness and joy of Granny Jas mixes humorously with the dramatics of Aunty Bindi and offsets the calmness of Anisha. Milo's love of animals is endearing and Mustaf is a wonderful gentle giant.
Overall, this is a nifty little mystery full of fantastic characters and rich in culture. It was absorbing and delightful to read and I can't believe I have to wait six months for a sequel!
Anisha, Accidental Detective: School's Cancelled is out in the summer.
What better book to choose than Serena Patel's debut YMG novel, Anisha, Accidental Detective - a mystery story filled with family chaos and funny, vibrant characters.
With a family wedding in full flow, quiet, scientific Anisha hopes that things will soon return to normal. But when she discovers that the groom has been kidnapped she has no choice but to solve the case before her Aunt finds out.
With the clock ticking and a whole list of suspicious suspects, Anisha enlists the help of her best friend, Milo. Milo may be more interested in saving lobsters than finding Uncle Tony but he's not about to let his friend down. Can the pair of them save the big day?
Serena has hit on a winning plot by combining a good old mystery with very relatable family dynamics. Okay, so not many grooms get kidnapped the day before the wedding but being part of a big, soon to be blended family has its issues. Serena deals with these beautifully, whilst keeping the mystery and intrigue the main priority.
The story moves at a fast pace but is kept light-hearted through delightful characters (Granny Jas, Aunty Bindi and Mustaf), firm friendship (Anisha and Milo) and the rather out-of-place pet (Larry the lobster). I loved how the main characters moved around the local town; from the house to the garden to the school and the theme park. This stopped any part of it from feeling static or from losing momentum and also kept me guessing. The illustrations by Kate McCann were completely charming (I particularly loved the wedding scene) and the mathematical equations were unique and great fun.
Ultimately though, I think the way Serena unpicks the tricky relationships in this book makes the tale shine. The tone is warm and caring and reminds us that individual hearts can be full of complex and varied emotions that need to be understood rather than condemned. The feistiness and joy of Granny Jas mixes humorously with the dramatics of Aunty Bindi and offsets the calmness of Anisha. Milo's love of animals is endearing and Mustaf is a wonderful gentle giant.
Overall, this is a nifty little mystery full of fantastic characters and rich in culture. It was absorbing and delightful to read and I can't believe I have to wait six months for a sequel!
Anisha, Accidental Detective: School's Cancelled is out in the summer.
June 14, 2024
This contemporary middle-grade book is about a down-to-earth bridesmaid who discovers the kidnapping of the groom on the eve of the wedding.
Anisha's house is a manic with the wedding preparation on the eve of her aunt's wedding day. No one notices the ransom note slipped through her letterbox, demanding that the wedding is called off. Anisha doesn't want to alarm the family, and embarks on a journey to rescue her future uncle-in-law.
This book is perfectly pitched for middle-grade readers. There's a lot of mayhem, and over-the-top characters. The illustrations bring the text to life. What I also enjoyed about it was how the author cleverly shows the assimilation of two cultures. Our protagonist uses words and expressions that are commonly heard in the UK. At the same time, they are holding a wedding that has elements of Indian tradition. I am not familiar with it, but the details sprinkled lightly throughout the book but gave me a good overview. A celebration of diversity.
Opening lines: "NO, NO, No, this is terrible! I said pink carnations. If I wanted red ones, I would have asked for RED ones!" yelled my Aunty Bindi.
Anisha's house is a manic with the wedding preparation on the eve of her aunt's wedding day. No one notices the ransom note slipped through her letterbox, demanding that the wedding is called off. Anisha doesn't want to alarm the family, and embarks on a journey to rescue her future uncle-in-law.
This book is perfectly pitched for middle-grade readers. There's a lot of mayhem, and over-the-top characters. The illustrations bring the text to life. What I also enjoyed about it was how the author cleverly shows the assimilation of two cultures. Our protagonist uses words and expressions that are commonly heard in the UK. At the same time, they are holding a wedding that has elements of Indian tradition. I am not familiar with it, but the details sprinkled lightly throughout the book but gave me a good overview. A celebration of diversity.
Opening lines: "NO, NO, No, this is terrible! I said pink carnations. If I wanted red ones, I would have asked for RED ones!" yelled my Aunty Bindi.
April 11, 2020
What a cracking debut! Anisha is a great character - thoughtful and tenacious. She’s the youngest member of an extremely colourful family! All the various cultural aspects of the wedding will be wonderfully familiar for those children from an Indian culture and fascinating for those who are not. The relationship between Anisha and her family (especially my favourite - Granny Jas!) and with her best friend Milo, are all portrayed in a way that’s totally believable and often hilarious. Humour for all ages is woven into each chapter and the question of who has kidnapped Uncle Tony will keep you wondering right up until the final chapters. The finale is very touching but with a twist that will see us spinning off towards the next adventure in the series. Serena’s writing is snappy and contemporary and is, I am sure, being lapped-up by children. With book 2 already written, I’m sure this series will be with us for a long time. Highly recommended.
February 10, 2020
🍭Anisha: Accidental Detective🍭
Anisha Mistry is all set to be a bridesmaid at her Aunty Bindi's wedding tomorrow...until she finds a note in her family's letterbox. Bindi's groom has been kidnapped and will only be released IF THE WEDDING IS CALLED OFF! With best friend Milo, a mischievous granny, a runaway lobster, a giant chauffeur, and some super sleuthing skills, it's up to Anisha Mistry to find her uncle and save THE big Indian Wedding of the year.
.
🍭Omg, this was funny and hilarious at points. The suspense was maintained, the book is beautifully illustrated, I am just in love with each and every page of the book.
It's so fun and fast paced, I just loved it. Each chapter is like a new journey, the way it's narrated and written is so so good. I will highly recommend it, it just made me happier.
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Rating: 4🌟
Anisha Mistry is all set to be a bridesmaid at her Aunty Bindi's wedding tomorrow...until she finds a note in her family's letterbox. Bindi's groom has been kidnapped and will only be released IF THE WEDDING IS CALLED OFF! With best friend Milo, a mischievous granny, a runaway lobster, a giant chauffeur, and some super sleuthing skills, it's up to Anisha Mistry to find her uncle and save THE big Indian Wedding of the year.
.
🍭Omg, this was funny and hilarious at points. The suspense was maintained, the book is beautifully illustrated, I am just in love with each and every page of the book.
It's so fun and fast paced, I just loved it. Each chapter is like a new journey, the way it's narrated and written is so so good. I will highly recommend it, it just made me happier.
.
Rating: 4🌟
March 27, 2020
This story was absolutely brilliant. I whizzed through the entire book. I didn't want it to end.
The story is about a girl called Anisha who becomes an investigator. Her drama queen Aunty Bindi is getting married in two days when a terrible, unexpected thing happens and the groom is kidnapped. It's up to Anisha and her best friend Milo to solve the mystery before chaos erupts in the wedding household.
With lots of mishaps and disasters along the way this book is brilliant. The illustrations are so funny. This is the first time a character looks like me. The descriptions remind me of my family and I also love samosas and gelabi! I can't wait to read more Anisha stories.
The story is about a girl called Anisha who becomes an investigator. Her drama queen Aunty Bindi is getting married in two days when a terrible, unexpected thing happens and the groom is kidnapped. It's up to Anisha and her best friend Milo to solve the mystery before chaos erupts in the wedding household.
With lots of mishaps and disasters along the way this book is brilliant. The illustrations are so funny. This is the first time a character looks like me. The descriptions remind me of my family and I also love samosas and gelabi! I can't wait to read more Anisha stories.
January 1, 2021
This was a very humorous book, which is great for LKS2. The writing style will attract Jeff Kinney fans. Readers will find this fun whilst absorbing knowledge of Indian wedding culture. They will also want to read until the end to find out who is responsible! My only disappointment was the introduction of Beena Bhaff during the wedding scene. Supposedly, Anisha’s arch rival, but not mentioned in detail until the end of the book? It felt like it was being set up for a sequel with lazy writing. I am sure children will not notice this, as otherwise it is a well written book.
July 11, 2021
This is a really good mystery and adventure. It’s light hearted but there’s enough going on hold the readers attention. Anisha and Milo are on a mission to find out who has kidnapped Uncle Tony in order to ruin the wedding. Who could it be and will they be able to save the day? A really lovely book that represents a diverse range of children but in a way that doesn’t make it the whole base of the story. I really like the facts added in and the explanations of different cultural and language elements. I would recommend this book for year 4 up.
October 22, 2022
Anisha Accidental detective (book one) is a spectacular book for Indian girls to read. It is very relatable and very mysterious. Others can also read the amazing book, however it is more relatable if you are an Indian. The book is about Anisha's aunty's to-be husband being kidnapped! She can't tell her family else there will be chaos. Read the book to find out how Anisha finds her aunty's to-be husband and who committed the crime...
April 20, 2023
Anisha’s Aunty Bindi was getting married and Anisha got a message that said they had kidnapped Uncle Tony and they need to cancel the wedding to get him back. Anisha and her best friend went to the Dracula’s Den theme park where they found Uncle Tony! The kidnapper put him in a coffin, but he was still alive. It turns out his twin kids were the kidnappers! Anisha brought him home and the wedding went ahead.
March 30, 2020
This is great. It’s full of colour, personality and mystery! I loved the illustrations through out and the interesting layout. Plus I love a book with a footnote to teach me things about other cultures. Yay for diverse characters and family backgrounds! If this is gonna be a series, I’m gonna be delighted!
April 7, 2020
Completely charming, funny and clever, this is the perfect book for younger detectives. (6+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
May 16, 2022
A really fun mystery for young readers.... packed full of jokes, friendship and lobsters! It's a fast-paced story about Anisha, who along with her best friend Milo, solve the mystery of who's kidnapped Uncle Tony before he gets married to Anisha's Auntie Bhindi. It's a lovely easy read, with some interesting detail about Indian families, food and culture. Great for readers aged 7-9!
August 12, 2020
A cute little story good for Years 3 and 4. Lovely illustrations and a great opportunity to read about a British-Indian wedding and learn some Hindi vocabulary. Funny, a little bit exciting, not at all scary and not too predictable.
August 29, 2020
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a delight from start to finish. I love the cultural elements of the story with the explanations as notes underneath. A perfect way to educate children on different cultures. This will be going on my list for class reads. I look forward to more in the series.
May 5, 2021
The characters really make this story. Anisha's voice is amazing and I loved her mix of gregarious book lover. The mystery wasn't difficult to work out but the journey there was fun and exciting. The illustrations are great too. Recommended for younger readers 7+
May 6, 2021
Fun, pacey chapter book with a relatable and lovable British-Indian family at its heart. Anisha is such a likable character and I think we can all identify with how much she loves her family in spite of and because of their idiosyncracies:)
July 18, 2020
A nice, easy read :) love that there are cultural references and explanations throughout. I think the children in school would love this book!
August 9, 2020
This was so good! Very funny and the mystery was just so entertaining.
September 3, 2020
Anisha's family are planning a wedding - what can go wrong?
Anisha intercepts a kidnapping note, can she work out who the villians are?
This would be a great read aloud story.
Anisha intercepts a kidnapping note, can she work out who the villians are?
This would be a great read aloud story.
December 21, 2020
My 10yo son read this, enjoyed it and wanted me to read it - so I did. A fun, slightly crazy read - not a tear jerker for once!
February 14, 2021
We read this as our class reader in year 3. Some great places to pause and leave them on a cliff hanger as we read along. The children seemed to enjoy this book and there is some fun humour too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews