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Agent Zaiba Investigates #2
The Poison Plot
Determined to be the world’s greatest detective, Zaiba is always on the lookout for a crime to solve! Zaiba can’t wait for the school summer fair where she’s going to run a detective trail to help train other potential agents! But when the head teacher is poisoned during the highly competitive cake competition, Zaiba’s own skills are put to the test. With a whole host of suspects and a busy crime scene, Zaiba needs to stay focused if she’s going to get to the bottom of the cake catastrophe... The second book in a fun, fresh and exciting detective series, for fans of Robin Stevens, Katherine Woodfine, HIGH RISE MYSTERY and NANCY DREW.
256 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 17, 2020
It’s the thirtieth Beckley School Summer Fete and Zaiba, our adorable British Pakistani main character, is in charge of the treasure trail. Of course Zaiba, being a detective in training, has transformed it into a detective trail.
Zaiba is proud of the work she and Poppy, her best friend, have put into making the detective trail perfect, although she’s eager for the opportunity to solve another crime.
With plenty of people acting suspicious there are no shortage of suspects. Readers will enjoy sorting out the red herrings from the clues and trying to solve the case before Zaiba and the rest of the Snow Leopards do.
As you explore the school grounds with Zaiba both before and after the crime, you’ll come across plenty of clues, or are they? For starters, there’s environmentally friendly glitter, gardening that would make Morticia Addams proud, adults behaving badly and treasonous book vandalism.
And the person with a penchant for poison is …
I loved Daniela Sosa’s illustrations in the first book and continued to enjoy them here. The bunting above the chapter headings was an appropriate choice. I particularly liked the inclusion of some of Ali’s photos towards the end of the book, as he’d been taking plenty of photos throughout the day for the school newspaper.
I enjoyed hearing more about Eden Lockett’s books. Eden, a detective-turned-author, is Zaiba’s favourite author. I always get sucked in by the idea of fictional books within a book and usually wish they were real. The one I’m most interested in reading from this book is The Clown’s Clue. Revenge under the Big Top sounds like so much fun!
My only niggle was feeling like the person who committed the crime
Fun extras at the end of the story include some fictional book within a book love (an extract from an Eden Lockett book), tips for creating your own detective trail and advice from Zaiba’s ammi.
I’d recommend reading this series in order as there are a couple of spoilery bits about Zaiba’s first investigation scattered throughout this one.
The next mystery for the UK branch of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency to solve features a haunted house and I am definitely showing up for that investigation!
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
There were twists and turns, riddles and mysteries to crack - plus a list of likely suspects.Her father, Hassan, and younger brother, Ali, are keen to win the baking competition. Zaiba’s stepmother, Jessica, is going to be busy face painting, putting her artistic flair to good use.
Zaiba is proud of the work she and Poppy, her best friend, have put into making the detective trail perfect, although she’s eager for the opportunity to solve another crime.
“A crime will arrive when you least expect it”Amidst the festivities there is indeed a crime taking place. Someone has been poisoned! Fortunately, the UK branch of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency are ready to find the clues, narrow down the suspects and solve this crime.
With plenty of people acting suspicious there are no shortage of suspects. Readers will enjoy sorting out the red herrings from the clues and trying to solve the case before Zaiba and the rest of the Snow Leopards do.
As you explore the school grounds with Zaiba both before and after the crime, you’ll come across plenty of clues, or are they? For starters, there’s environmentally friendly glitter, gardening that would make Morticia Addams proud, adults behaving badly and treasonous book vandalism.
And the person with a penchant for poison is …
I loved Daniela Sosa’s illustrations in the first book and continued to enjoy them here. The bunting above the chapter headings was an appropriate choice. I particularly liked the inclusion of some of Ali’s photos towards the end of the book, as he’d been taking plenty of photos throughout the day for the school newspaper.
I enjoyed hearing more about Eden Lockett’s books. Eden, a detective-turned-author, is Zaiba’s favourite author. I always get sucked in by the idea of fictional books within a book and usually wish they were real. The one I’m most interested in reading from this book is The Clown’s Clue. Revenge under the Big Top sounds like so much fun!
My only niggle was feeling like the person who committed the crime
Fun extras at the end of the story include some fictional book within a book love (an extract from an Eden Lockett book), tips for creating your own detective trail and advice from Zaiba’s ammi.
If plan A doesn’t work, there’s a whole alphabet worth of letters left to try!I was thrilled to see Mariam, Zaiba’s least favourite cousin, at the fete. I’m still keen to get to know her better. I’m also greedy for more page time with Ali. During future investigations I hope I get to learn more about Zaiba’s ammi and hang out with Aunt Fouzia.
I’d recommend reading this series in order as there are a couple of spoilery bits about Zaiba’s first investigation scattered throughout this one.
The next mystery for the UK branch of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency to solve features a haunted house and I am definitely showing up for that investigation!
“Why wouldn’t anyone want to be a detective?”Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stripes Publishing, an imprint of Little Tiger Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
March 14, 2021
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, this series is so much fun! I love Zaiba so much, she is creative and intelligent and kind. And Poppy and Ali are excellent additions to the team. Daniela Sosa’s illustrations are genuinely beautiful and really help to bring the book to life.
This time our mystery is set at a school fete, where Zaiba and co have created a mystery trail (I want to take part in that so much!), and where someone has poisoned a cupcake! The mystery itself is so well played out, and the clues seem very realistic for something Zaiba could piece together but also aren't too simple. There is also a good use of the mystery trail while solving and catching the poisoner, which is a particularly nice touch. The Eden Lockett books are a fun addition too - continuing to give Zaiba ideas of how to proceed with her crime-solving.
Definitely worth reading the first book before this, as there are little spoilers throughout.
The ending is a little unrealistic due to the response of it all, but that's pretty minor compared to the utter enjoyment of the book.
4 stars.
Honestly, this series is so much fun! I love Zaiba so much, she is creative and intelligent and kind. And Poppy and Ali are excellent additions to the team. Daniela Sosa’s illustrations are genuinely beautiful and really help to bring the book to life.
This time our mystery is set at a school fete, where Zaiba and co have created a mystery trail (I want to take part in that so much!), and where someone has poisoned a cupcake! The mystery itself is so well played out, and the clues seem very realistic for something Zaiba could piece together but also aren't too simple. There is also a good use of the mystery trail while solving and catching the poisoner, which is a particularly nice touch. The Eden Lockett books are a fun addition too - continuing to give Zaiba ideas of how to proceed with her crime-solving.
Definitely worth reading the first book before this, as there are little spoilers throughout.
The ending is a little unrealistic due to the response of it all, but that's pretty minor compared to the utter enjoyment of the book.
4 stars.
July 7, 2020
Review can also be read here: https://kerrybaptiste.co.uk/blog/agen...
This book was received via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The Poison Plot is the second book in the series ‘Agent Zaiba Investigates’. As the title suggests, this is a middle-grade detective story, following Zaiba, her brother Ali and her best friend Poppy as they take on the role of detective.
The first book had them facing a diamond thief and in their next case, they are hunting for a poisoner at the school fete!
During a baking contest, the new headteacher of Zaiba’s school is taken ill after biting into one of the creations. Poison! But who is responsible? And will Zaiba’s first Detective Trail go to plan?
Zaiba and friends are a delight to read about. Zaiba in particular is a wonderful protagonist. She is passionate and determined and really intelligent. Her dream is to be a detective just like her Aunt and her mother (who died mysteriously before the story began). This is something that everyone around her accepts and supports - her Aunt places her as head of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency UK Branch and parents are happy for her to put her investigative skills to work. It’s such a pleasure to read a story where a young girl’s ambition is nurtured and encouraged from day 1.
Annabelle Sami writes mystery incredibly well. This story is a well plotted small town drama. The red herrings are well placed and the side plots are twisted well into the main investigation. The aspects that make it a children’s book, for an adult, are incredibly sweet, funny and introduces ideas of how to explore without anything getting too heavy for the target audience. This is a difficult line to tread but Sami does a brilliant job.
The whimsy and the thrill of finding out the truth is brilliant here. This is shown in the detective trail participants and how eager they are to play those roles. I honestly believe that a child reading this would easily be sucked into the world, just like I was, and would be inspired by the detective genius of Zaiba and the rest of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency UK Branch.
I especially like the details of Zaiba writing all the suspects down in her notebook and how they all work together to find the answers. The details of things that children just would have no idea about amused me, like the question of what exactly a school governor does (as someone who works in a school, I should really know the answer to this) and the level of dramatics that Zaiba and Poppy are willing to go to in their detective trail.
The art work by Daniela Sosa adds to the story. Beautifully created and depicting the clues, key events and our favourite protagonists. It really is a shame that we don’t keep illustrating books as the target audience gets older.
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot is a brilliant sequel in this mystery series. A pleasure to read with engaging characters and an enjoyable plot. For an adult, it is wholesome fun that I can easily devour in a day because I am so engaged. I am eager to read the third installment (The Haunted House??? Yes please! I need it in my life!) and any other works that Sami wants to put out into the world!
I am there for it all.
This book was received via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The Poison Plot is the second book in the series ‘Agent Zaiba Investigates’. As the title suggests, this is a middle-grade detective story, following Zaiba, her brother Ali and her best friend Poppy as they take on the role of detective.
The first book had them facing a diamond thief and in their next case, they are hunting for a poisoner at the school fete!
During a baking contest, the new headteacher of Zaiba’s school is taken ill after biting into one of the creations. Poison! But who is responsible? And will Zaiba’s first Detective Trail go to plan?
Zaiba and friends are a delight to read about. Zaiba in particular is a wonderful protagonist. She is passionate and determined and really intelligent. Her dream is to be a detective just like her Aunt and her mother (who died mysteriously before the story began). This is something that everyone around her accepts and supports - her Aunt places her as head of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency UK Branch and parents are happy for her to put her investigative skills to work. It’s such a pleasure to read a story where a young girl’s ambition is nurtured and encouraged from day 1.
Annabelle Sami writes mystery incredibly well. This story is a well plotted small town drama. The red herrings are well placed and the side plots are twisted well into the main investigation. The aspects that make it a children’s book, for an adult, are incredibly sweet, funny and introduces ideas of how to explore without anything getting too heavy for the target audience. This is a difficult line to tread but Sami does a brilliant job.
The whimsy and the thrill of finding out the truth is brilliant here. This is shown in the detective trail participants and how eager they are to play those roles. I honestly believe that a child reading this would easily be sucked into the world, just like I was, and would be inspired by the detective genius of Zaiba and the rest of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency UK Branch.
I especially like the details of Zaiba writing all the suspects down in her notebook and how they all work together to find the answers. The details of things that children just would have no idea about amused me, like the question of what exactly a school governor does (as someone who works in a school, I should really know the answer to this) and the level of dramatics that Zaiba and Poppy are willing to go to in their detective trail.
The art work by Daniela Sosa adds to the story. Beautifully created and depicting the clues, key events and our favourite protagonists. It really is a shame that we don’t keep illustrating books as the target audience gets older.
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot is a brilliant sequel in this mystery series. A pleasure to read with engaging characters and an enjoyable plot. For an adult, it is wholesome fun that I can easily devour in a day because I am so engaged. I am eager to read the third installment (The Haunted House??? Yes please! I need it in my life!) and any other works that Sami wants to put out into the world!
I am there for it all.
July 19, 2020
ARC REVIEW: Agent Zaiba Investigates The Poison Plot
I'd like to thank Little Tiger London for sending me an ARC of this book to review. This review is my honest opinion.
Since getting into book blogging I have noticed that middle grade books seem to be looked over, and there is NO NEED FOR THIS TRAVESTY! I am going to be honest though, I am about as guilty as anyone else who didnt think about picking up middle grade books. However!! After being recommended Agent Zaiba Investigate The Missing Diamonds by a school pupil, I was so happy to see another Agent Zaiba book being added to the series.
A huge thank you to Little Tiger London for providing me with an ARC of this book to review.
What is it about?
She’s back with her friend (insert name) and brother Ali to investigate what odd happenings have been occuring at the school fair. Zaiba is a young girl who just loves investigating odd occurrences and with the support of the best detective in Pakistan (her aunt) she uses skills learned in book 1 to find out who exactly has poisoned one of the teachers during the very competitive cake competition!
What I loved…
This book has all the comforts of a middle grade book (ages 7-11) with a little nostalgia thorwn in for good measure! I LOVE this book for so many reasons:
It has a young Pakistani protagonist who is quick witted and is just lovable!
It has such great rep for separated families – Zaiba has a step mum who is shown in such a positive light! I’m so pleased that writers have moved away from the ‘evil step parent’ trope… it’s boring, it’s out dated and quite frankly there are many step parents who love all their children equally regardless of if they are biologically theirs or not.
There is a feeling of reading Tintin style mysteries when I read this – there are clues all the way through which keep the reader interested and can also play the role of trying to solve the mystery them selves!
I especially love the exclusive extract based on the book Zaiba reads in the story – The Flower Show Felony By Eden Lockett. This along with Ammi’s advice on how to be a great detective, code breakers and a cake recipe make this book not just a book for younger readers but helps to bring the story alive!
Things I want more of…
This book was a great read and filled with fantastic vocabulary which will expand on children’s learning. However I did find at times the pacing for me was a little slow. I was hoping to have gotten straight into the poison plot and looking for clues. With this in mind, I must reiterate that this is a middle grade book and it is aimed at children – taking this into consideration I could see how each of the characters is introduced and how they move the plot along. Its just as an adult reading this I found it a little slow in the beginning.
4/5 stars – a great extended reading book that is entertaining and brings the story to life!
Agent Zaiba Investigates the Poison Plot will be published on Thursday 23rd July 2020.
I'd like to thank Little Tiger London for sending me an ARC of this book to review. This review is my honest opinion.
Since getting into book blogging I have noticed that middle grade books seem to be looked over, and there is NO NEED FOR THIS TRAVESTY! I am going to be honest though, I am about as guilty as anyone else who didnt think about picking up middle grade books. However!! After being recommended Agent Zaiba Investigate The Missing Diamonds by a school pupil, I was so happy to see another Agent Zaiba book being added to the series.
A huge thank you to Little Tiger London for providing me with an ARC of this book to review.
What is it about?
She’s back with her friend (insert name) and brother Ali to investigate what odd happenings have been occuring at the school fair. Zaiba is a young girl who just loves investigating odd occurrences and with the support of the best detective in Pakistan (her aunt) she uses skills learned in book 1 to find out who exactly has poisoned one of the teachers during the very competitive cake competition!
What I loved…
This book has all the comforts of a middle grade book (ages 7-11) with a little nostalgia thorwn in for good measure! I LOVE this book for so many reasons:
It has a young Pakistani protagonist who is quick witted and is just lovable!
It has such great rep for separated families – Zaiba has a step mum who is shown in such a positive light! I’m so pleased that writers have moved away from the ‘evil step parent’ trope… it’s boring, it’s out dated and quite frankly there are many step parents who love all their children equally regardless of if they are biologically theirs or not.
There is a feeling of reading Tintin style mysteries when I read this – there are clues all the way through which keep the reader interested and can also play the role of trying to solve the mystery them selves!
I especially love the exclusive extract based on the book Zaiba reads in the story – The Flower Show Felony By Eden Lockett. This along with Ammi’s advice on how to be a great detective, code breakers and a cake recipe make this book not just a book for younger readers but helps to bring the story alive!
Things I want more of…
This book was a great read and filled with fantastic vocabulary which will expand on children’s learning. However I did find at times the pacing for me was a little slow. I was hoping to have gotten straight into the poison plot and looking for clues. With this in mind, I must reiterate that this is a middle grade book and it is aimed at children – taking this into consideration I could see how each of the characters is introduced and how they move the plot along. Its just as an adult reading this I found it a little slow in the beginning.
4/5 stars – a great extended reading book that is entertaining and brings the story to life!
Agent Zaiba Investigates the Poison Plot will be published on Thursday 23rd July 2020.
April 23, 2021
I love this series so much! This is exactly the type of book I would have loved to read when I was a kid because all I had was Secret Seven and while I loved them, to see Zaiba who is Pakistani and wears salwar kameez and is fully immersed in her culture would have been incredible to be able to read.
Zaiba is a wonderful character, she is smart and passionate and dedicated to finding the truth. She has a wonderful relationship with her family and a great female friendship. I also related to her mixed complicated feelings towards her cousin who doesn’t always get along with them but maybe there is something more to how she behaves with them and Zaiba slowly sees that.
It was so wonderful to see parents who are involved in the story and a part of the kids lives. So often the parents are absent in stories but we also need to see healthy relationships in books and this series does that. The way both Zaiba and Ali interact with their dad shows how close they are and that their step mum is a wonderful parent to them too. It was also great to see that it was the dad and son who took part in the baking content especially as in Asian culture there is often this stigma around boys cooking so to see it celebrated was so wonderful.
This book is set at Zaiba’s school and it brought back memories of the school summer fair that would happen when I was at school. It was great to see a book set in an environment that is so familiar to kids and adults alike and that Zaiba was in charge of the scavenger hunt which she put so much effort into. I loved how we see so many parents involved in the kids lives at the school.
We see Zaiba investigate the poisoning and we see how she immediately wants to find out what has happened. She is brave and smart and determined. I love how passionate she is about what she loves doing and how she is so driven. I loved seeing how she is inspired by her aunt who is a role model for her to become a detective. It’s so great to see that Zaiba had someone like her aunt to look up to.
I just really love these books and how incredible they are at making me feel so seen and truly wish I had them when I was younger. If you know any kids please give these books to them because honestly everyone deserves to see themselves in books.
Zaiba is a wonderful character, she is smart and passionate and dedicated to finding the truth. She has a wonderful relationship with her family and a great female friendship. I also related to her mixed complicated feelings towards her cousin who doesn’t always get along with them but maybe there is something more to how she behaves with them and Zaiba slowly sees that.
It was so wonderful to see parents who are involved in the story and a part of the kids lives. So often the parents are absent in stories but we also need to see healthy relationships in books and this series does that. The way both Zaiba and Ali interact with their dad shows how close they are and that their step mum is a wonderful parent to them too. It was also great to see that it was the dad and son who took part in the baking content especially as in Asian culture there is often this stigma around boys cooking so to see it celebrated was so wonderful.
This book is set at Zaiba’s school and it brought back memories of the school summer fair that would happen when I was at school. It was great to see a book set in an environment that is so familiar to kids and adults alike and that Zaiba was in charge of the scavenger hunt which she put so much effort into. I loved how we see so many parents involved in the kids lives at the school.
We see Zaiba investigate the poisoning and we see how she immediately wants to find out what has happened. She is brave and smart and determined. I love how passionate she is about what she loves doing and how she is so driven. I loved seeing how she is inspired by her aunt who is a role model for her to become a detective. It’s so great to see that Zaiba had someone like her aunt to look up to.
I just really love these books and how incredible they are at making me feel so seen and truly wish I had them when I was younger. If you know any kids please give these books to them because honestly everyone deserves to see themselves in books.
August 5, 2020
3.5 stars rounded upto 4 stars! Thank you to Netgalley and Little Tiger Books for the eARC.
A slightly more detailed review can be read at: https://www.facebook.com/855005157962...
Zaiba has always wanted to be a detective, like her Aunt Fouzia and her mum (who disappeared while on a mission and died when Zaiba was just a year old). Her younger brother Ali and best friend Poppy love investigating too, and together, they are ready to solve any mystery!
So when the newly appointed Head of the school chokes and keels over while judging the parent-child baking competition, in what appears to be a case of poisoning, agents Zaiba, Poppy and Ali spring into action. They know they have a very small window of time to go over the crime scene and investigate the case before the self-important police chief gets there and keeps them out. Will the children (including the baking competition finalists’ kids Mariam and Gabrielle) get to the root of the poisoning, prove their parents’ innocence and catch the would-be killer?
Things I liked about the book were Zaiba’s confidence, her clarity and surety about her non-traditional career choice, her preparedness for solving the case (she is very well read in crime and investigation) and how she is inclusive and does not look down on the relatively inexperienced detectives who have joined the case to help. I also liked how non-white people were seen as and accepted as an integral part of a small village community in the UK. What I found a little difficult to digest was the very simplistic nature of what is supposed to be an investigation of attempted murder, a serious crime. While the kids do show a lot of determination and resourcefulness and crack the case, there is no atmosphere building, no tension created. At first, I thought I understood why this was so- the book is evidently meant for a young audience (8-10 years) and hence cannot be too scary or tense. But then I remembered the master who introduced me to the mystery genre when I was 9 years old- all rise for Enid Blyton- and realised that atmosphere can be gently, deliciously thrilling too. And that is why this book gets a 3.5 stars from me.
A slightly more detailed review can be read at: https://www.facebook.com/855005157962...
Zaiba has always wanted to be a detective, like her Aunt Fouzia and her mum (who disappeared while on a mission and died when Zaiba was just a year old). Her younger brother Ali and best friend Poppy love investigating too, and together, they are ready to solve any mystery!
So when the newly appointed Head of the school chokes and keels over while judging the parent-child baking competition, in what appears to be a case of poisoning, agents Zaiba, Poppy and Ali spring into action. They know they have a very small window of time to go over the crime scene and investigate the case before the self-important police chief gets there and keeps them out. Will the children (including the baking competition finalists’ kids Mariam and Gabrielle) get to the root of the poisoning, prove their parents’ innocence and catch the would-be killer?
Things I liked about the book were Zaiba’s confidence, her clarity and surety about her non-traditional career choice, her preparedness for solving the case (she is very well read in crime and investigation) and how she is inclusive and does not look down on the relatively inexperienced detectives who have joined the case to help. I also liked how non-white people were seen as and accepted as an integral part of a small village community in the UK. What I found a little difficult to digest was the very simplistic nature of what is supposed to be an investigation of attempted murder, a serious crime. While the kids do show a lot of determination and resourcefulness and crack the case, there is no atmosphere building, no tension created. At first, I thought I understood why this was so- the book is evidently meant for a young audience (8-10 years) and hence cannot be too scary or tense. But then I remembered the master who introduced me to the mystery genre when I was 9 years old- all rise for Enid Blyton- and realised that atmosphere can be gently, deliciously thrilling too. And that is why this book gets a 3.5 stars from me.
July 11, 2020
I had a grin on my face the entire time I was reading this book because oh my gosh was this the kind of book I would have LOVED as a kid! I was always really into detective stories, so I just know that little bookworm Fatima would have been so excited to read a detective story with a main character who's British-Pakistani. I haven't read very many middle-grade books since I was the target age myself, and the ones I have read have been (predictably) very white. I thought the representation was done really well in this book, with Urdu words and references to South Asian foods sprinkled throughout. Honestly, I think I'm way too excited about the existence of a fun children's book with a South Asian main character to provide a properly coherent review, but I'm so, SO glad that South Asian kids get to grow up with books like this and have fun, smart characters like Zaiba to look up to. I actually haven't read the first book in this series but I definitely will, and I will certainly be recommending it to anyone I know with middle-grade aged kids!
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2020
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was excited to read this one. I wasn’t disappointed.
It was so much fun to come back to Zaiba and her pals. This time around, a teacher is poisoned during a baking competition, and the Snow Leopard Detective Agency - UK Branch is determined to solve the case before the police arrive! The plot is great, the characterisation is great, the setting comes through well, I just enjoyed myself so much. I particularly liked the developing relationship between Mariam, Zaiba, and Poppy. Oh, and the illustrations were delightful this time around too.
If you fancy a fun detective romp, carried out by a bunch of intelligent and appealing children, then this is the book for you. I’m hoping there will be many more in the series.
I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.
It was so much fun to come back to Zaiba and her pals. This time around, a teacher is poisoned during a baking competition, and the Snow Leopard Detective Agency - UK Branch is determined to solve the case before the police arrive! The plot is great, the characterisation is great, the setting comes through well, I just enjoyed myself so much. I particularly liked the developing relationship between Mariam, Zaiba, and Poppy. Oh, and the illustrations were delightful this time around too.
If you fancy a fun detective romp, carried out by a bunch of intelligent and appealing children, then this is the book for you. I’m hoping there will be many more in the series.
I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.
July 24, 2020
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a review copy.
Cosy crime for kids! Love it!
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot is the second in the series which follows the exploits of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency - UK branch. In this instalment Zaiba, Ali and Poppy investigate the case of the mysterious poisoning of the headteacher during the baking competition at the school summer fete. With lots of suspicious characters and strange goings on will our intrepid team of detectives get to the bottom of the mystery before the police turn up to make a mess of things?
Full of great characters and red herrings to keep the reader guessing along the way, Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot is highly recommended for 8+.
Cosy crime for kids! Love it!
Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot is the second in the series which follows the exploits of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency - UK branch. In this instalment Zaiba, Ali and Poppy investigate the case of the mysterious poisoning of the headteacher during the baking competition at the school summer fete. With lots of suspicious characters and strange goings on will our intrepid team of detectives get to the bottom of the mystery before the police turn up to make a mess of things?
Full of great characters and red herrings to keep the reader guessing along the way, Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot is highly recommended for 8+.
July 13, 2020
If you enjoy murder mystery scavenger hunts, cake baking competitions, and *gasp* poison! You should definitely pick this up! You'll find really smart kids that solve puzzles, sneaky adults that underestimate kids, acts of jealousy and passion, and amazing teamwork and friendships in this wonderful middle grade mystery!
(full review to come on blog)
(full review to come on blog)
July 23, 2020
The second Agent Zaiba investigation has as much verve and excitement as the first in the series.
My full review can be read here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...
My full review can be read here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...
December 26, 2021
I like how this is set in a completely different setting too last time showing Zaiba skill.
I like how much detail Zaiba has put in to her detective trail. I also like how supportive she is to her dad and Ali for the bake off.
I like that Zaiba is the leader of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency uk.
I like how the story takes a twist as they hear a scream and think it is a murder. However it is the head teacher choking after eating a cupcake this gets Zaiba, Ali and Poppy thinking was it an allergic reaction or was it poisoned.
I like the plan of using that they lost a camera to get close to the head teacher's office to listern. I like how Sam,Zaiba older cousin is in this book. I like that Zaiba hears that her head teacher has been poisoned.
The roomers of posion spread quickly and this made Zaiba more responsible to found out what happened.
I like how Zaiba had to tell the children who are doing the trail that she can't be died in the trail because of the investigation.
I like that Gabriel and Marian want to join the deceive agency as they want to prove their parents are innocent. I like how Zaiba has allowed them to join to get more knowledge.
I like that the team have got ideas of suspects and these now need to be proven.
When trying to investigate the science room they hear an argument starting and when trying to exit they realise the door is lock,once they realised the door isn't locked but jammed.This gives them more evidence as the thing jamming the door was pages of Unicat and the person who had access to them was Marco who was the one arguing with Rehem.
When Zaiba is near the argument she sees Thomas trying to break it up however he is pushed by Marco and Miss Grey rush to help him which reveals that they were in love.
I like that Zaiba was able to to find out that the Lady Major had swapped cakes with the head teacher. This makes it easier to find the suspect as they remember Rehem left before the bake off and Zaiba realised why. The petal had posion on. Zaiba was able to confirm the suspect and it was Rehem who added the posion so he could win the competition.
Once the investigation had been solved they were able to restart the bake off final and Zaiba got to see her dad and brother win. After that Zaiba, Poppy and Marian enjoyed the rest of the day and Zaiba got a surprise call from her auntie who said she was so proud of her.
I like how much detail Zaiba has put in to her detective trail. I also like how supportive she is to her dad and Ali for the bake off.
I like that Zaiba is the leader of the Snow Leopard Detective Agency uk.
I like how the story takes a twist as they hear a scream and think it is a murder. However it is the head teacher choking after eating a cupcake this gets Zaiba, Ali and Poppy thinking was it an allergic reaction or was it poisoned.
I like the plan of using that they lost a camera to get close to the head teacher's office to listern. I like how Sam,Zaiba older cousin is in this book. I like that Zaiba hears that her head teacher has been poisoned.
The roomers of posion spread quickly and this made Zaiba more responsible to found out what happened.
I like how Zaiba had to tell the children who are doing the trail that she can't be died in the trail because of the investigation.
I like that Gabriel and Marian want to join the deceive agency as they want to prove their parents are innocent. I like how Zaiba has allowed them to join to get more knowledge.
I like that the team have got ideas of suspects and these now need to be proven.
When trying to investigate the science room they hear an argument starting and when trying to exit they realise the door is lock,once they realised the door isn't locked but jammed.This gives them more evidence as the thing jamming the door was pages of Unicat and the person who had access to them was Marco who was the one arguing with Rehem.
When Zaiba is near the argument she sees Thomas trying to break it up however he is pushed by Marco and Miss Grey rush to help him which reveals that they were in love.
I like that Zaiba was able to to find out that the Lady Major had swapped cakes with the head teacher. This makes it easier to find the suspect as they remember Rehem left before the bake off and Zaiba realised why. The petal had posion on. Zaiba was able to confirm the suspect and it was Rehem who added the posion so he could win the competition.
Once the investigation had been solved they were able to restart the bake off final and Zaiba got to see her dad and brother win. After that Zaiba, Poppy and Marian enjoyed the rest of the day and Zaiba got a surprise call from her auntie who said she was so proud of her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
In this instalment I did find the mystery to be a little rushed, I think because the book itself is quite short and the crime doesn’t occur until you’re a good way through it. This is pretty much the only negative thing I have to say (I also think the mystery could have been a little more complex), but as the book is a mystery at its core, I had to dock stars accordingly.
Apart from that, everything I loved about the first book was present here, and I really enjoyed my time reading it. One highlight was again the setting - this time a country school fair. It was utterly charming and a really classic backdrop for the mystery. Another great aspect was the emphasis on teamwork. In order to solve the mystery quickly, Zaiba has to enlist the help of people outside of Ali and Poppy (such as Mariam!), which means she has to figure out how to delegate, how to encourage different types of people, and how to teach others about detecting. I loved the development of Zaiba and Mariam’s relationship that came about through this.
All in all, I’m looking forward to picking up the next book in the series!
Rep: British-Pakistani MC
Apart from that, everything I loved about the first book was present here, and I really enjoyed my time reading it. One highlight was again the setting - this time a country school fair. It was utterly charming and a really classic backdrop for the mystery. Another great aspect was the emphasis on teamwork. In order to solve the mystery quickly, Zaiba has to enlist the help of people outside of Ali and Poppy (such as Mariam!), which means she has to figure out how to delegate, how to encourage different types of people, and how to teach others about detecting. I loved the development of Zaiba and Mariam’s relationship that came about through this.
All in all, I’m looking forward to picking up the next book in the series!
Rep: British-Pakistani MC
August 13, 2021
This series is so much fun! And the audiobook is nicely done.
March 31, 2022
I’m really enjoying this series. Just opens up a whole new culture and some fantastic little mysteries.
January 26, 2021
My beloved agents are back, Zaiba is leading another investigation, where her dad and little brother Ali are potential suspects! We have some new characters added this time, that are quite sneaky and have their secret agendas.
The plot of this book is quite interesting and has some really surprising twists and turns. I really liked the parent-child relationships analysed in this book. How parents influence their children without even realising it, I think it is quite an interesting topic. The investigation has its intriguing nuances, but this time the author could not hide the culprit, it was very obvious who it was.
The whole book was set in the school fete, with a very cheery atmosphere, that I thoroughly enjoyed. 🙂 The writing style of this novel is entertaining and easy to read, like in the previous book. The chapters have medium length, but the great illustrations make this book a quite entertaining read. The ending, as I mentioned before was quite predictable. Like in the first book, this book also has great material for young agents, that I think will be useful and fun. 🙂
So, to conclude, it is a great novel with beloved and new characters as well as a plot that has some surprises, and life lessons to teach. This book can be read as stand-alone, but if you read the first part and missed the crew, do give this part a go, it is a very enjoyable read indeed.
The plot of this book is quite interesting and has some really surprising twists and turns. I really liked the parent-child relationships analysed in this book. How parents influence their children without even realising it, I think it is quite an interesting topic. The investigation has its intriguing nuances, but this time the author could not hide the culprit, it was very obvious who it was.
The whole book was set in the school fete, with a very cheery atmosphere, that I thoroughly enjoyed. 🙂 The writing style of this novel is entertaining and easy to read, like in the previous book. The chapters have medium length, but the great illustrations make this book a quite entertaining read. The ending, as I mentioned before was quite predictable. Like in the first book, this book also has great material for young agents, that I think will be useful and fun. 🙂
So, to conclude, it is a great novel with beloved and new characters as well as a plot that has some surprises, and life lessons to teach. This book can be read as stand-alone, but if you read the first part and missed the crew, do give this part a go, it is a very enjoyable read indeed.
February 28, 2021
I was lucky to be approved by Netgalley the second book in the Agent Zaiba investigates. This time Zaiba, her friend Poppy and younger brother Ali find themselves investigating a poison plot at their School Fete. I was not disappointed by this second book in fact it made me love the series even more that I decided to purchase the book and read it physically. I love the inclusiveness of the book , the messages it gives to readers and again the full illustrations help the story along. I can't wait for the next book in this wonderful series and yes it will be bought so for this reason I have to give this 4 stars.
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