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A Girl Called Justice #1
Secretos en el internado
Missing maids, suspicious teachers and a snow storm to die for... For a fearless girl called Justice Jones, super-smart super-sleuth, it's just the start of a spine-tingling first term at Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. For fans of Robin Stevens, Katherine Woodfine and Enid Blyton. When Justice's mother dies, her father packs her off to Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. He's a barrister - specialising in murder trials - and he's just too busy to look after her alone. Having previously been home-schooled, the transition is a shock. Can it really be the case that blondes rule the corridors? Are all uniforms such a charming shade of brown? And do schools normally hide dangerous secrets about the murder of a chamber maid? Justice takes it upon herself to uncover the truth. (Mainly about the murder, but perhaps she can figure out her new nemesis - the angelic Rose - at the same time.) But when a storm cuts the school off from the real world, the body count starts to rise and Justice realises she'll need help from her new friends if she's going to find the killer before it's too late ...
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2019
59 people are currently reading
1946 people want to read
About the author
Elly Griffiths
74 books9,433 followersElly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton. Though not her first novel, The Crossing Places is her first crime novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
February 4, 2021
Starting a new school was always going to be daunting, but for Justice Jones, who had only ever been homeschooled by her Mum, Highbury House Boarding School for Daughters of Gentlefolk looked forbidding. With her Mum’s death from cancer a few months prior and her dad a busy QC, she knew she had to make the best of it. The first thing she heard – from the taxi driver – was of the recent death of a maid. Justice’s suspicious mind – from her father’s profession and her mother’s crime writing career – had her wondering at murder.
The rules were strict, the corridors freezing, the food disgusting, but when Justice made a new friend in Stella, she was happier. She knew the other girls in her dorm would be harder to get to know, especially Rose. Mystery and intrigue had Justice questioning everything and when a ferocious storm hit the isolated school, surrounding them with snow, blocking the entrances and paths, as well as bringing down the telephone lines, Justice knew they needed help. The discovery of a body was shocking – who was the culprit? It was obviously someone at the school….
A Girl Called Justice is #1 in the Justice Jones series by Elly Griffiths and it was light, fun and entertaining. Although I mistakenly read #2 first, all is easy to pick up and enjoy. Justice is a mature girl, older than her years because of her upbringing, and has a great determination to solve puzzles. Recommended for the youngsters in our lives.
The rules were strict, the corridors freezing, the food disgusting, but when Justice made a new friend in Stella, she was happier. She knew the other girls in her dorm would be harder to get to know, especially Rose. Mystery and intrigue had Justice questioning everything and when a ferocious storm hit the isolated school, surrounding them with snow, blocking the entrances and paths, as well as bringing down the telephone lines, Justice knew they needed help. The discovery of a body was shocking – who was the culprit? It was obviously someone at the school….
A Girl Called Justice is #1 in the Justice Jones series by Elly Griffiths and it was light, fun and entertaining. Although I mistakenly read #2 first, all is easy to pick up and enjoy. Justice is a mature girl, older than her years because of her upbringing, and has a great determination to solve puzzles. Recommended for the youngsters in our lives.
March 10, 2019
Author Elly Griffiths is, of course, an extremely successful crime writer for adults, so I was interested to read her first mystery aimed at children and my twelve year old daughter was happy to read and review this one with me.
Set in 1936, our main character is twelve year old Justice Jones, the daughter of Herbert Jones QC. Her mother, a mystery writer, had home schooled her, but is now dead, necessitating Justice’s going to school. Indeed, we first meet Justice on her way to Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk, which is set on the Romney Marshes.
Justice is always on the look-out for a mystery and Highbury House seems to have lots that need investigating. Both me, and my daughter, loved this book. My daughter is a huge fan of school books, from Malory Towers to Harry Potter, so the boarding school setting really appealed to her. This is a fun, crime novel, with a great sense of period and place. Neither of us can wait for the next in the series and I think Elly Griffiths will be as successful with this series, as she is with her adult mysteries – indeed, I think just as many adults, as younger readers, will enjoy this.
Set in 1936, our main character is twelve year old Justice Jones, the daughter of Herbert Jones QC. Her mother, a mystery writer, had home schooled her, but is now dead, necessitating Justice’s going to school. Indeed, we first meet Justice on her way to Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk, which is set on the Romney Marshes.
Justice is always on the look-out for a mystery and Highbury House seems to have lots that need investigating. Both me, and my daughter, loved this book. My daughter is a huge fan of school books, from Malory Towers to Harry Potter, so the boarding school setting really appealed to her. This is a fun, crime novel, with a great sense of period and place. Neither of us can wait for the next in the series and I think Elly Griffiths will be as successful with this series, as she is with her adult mysteries – indeed, I think just as many adults, as younger readers, will enjoy this.
January 5, 2021
Elly Griffiths is one of my favourite authors of adult fiction, but she really shows her versatility with this middle-grade book (now a series) about schoolgirl detective Justice Jones. It is a touching tribute to her late mother, that captures the era and atmosphere of a 1930s English boarding school so perfectly (or so I imagine!). I was captivated by it, swept back into the novels of my childhood. Justice Jones is a sure bet for tween readers who enjoy a good mystery solved by a clever and plucky young lady.
At 12 years of age, Justice Jones is attending school for the first time. She'd previously been very capably home-schooled by her crime-writer mother, but upon her mother's death just a month before, her father decided to send her to boarding school. Herbert Jones QC had chosen the small but highly regarded Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk for his beloved daughter. As Justice arrives at the school grounds for the first time, she finds out from the taxi driver that someone had died there just a week earlier, and when nobody at the school is prepared to talk about it, her imagination goes into overdrive. Over the ensuing weeks, as Justice is settling into not only her classes, but also her dormy and friendship groups, her mind is busy trying to solve the puzzle of the dead person. And then the body count begins to rise.
With midnight feasts, a labyrinthine gothic school building and lacrosse matches in the teeming rain, Griffiths creates a vivid picture of Justice's new world, and although there are some murders and a little dramatic tension, there's nothing that would disturb the average middle-grade reader. I loved it and will look forward to reading book #2 when it crosses my path.
At 12 years of age, Justice Jones is attending school for the first time. She'd previously been very capably home-schooled by her crime-writer mother, but upon her mother's death just a month before, her father decided to send her to boarding school. Herbert Jones QC had chosen the small but highly regarded Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk for his beloved daughter. As Justice arrives at the school grounds for the first time, she finds out from the taxi driver that someone had died there just a week earlier, and when nobody at the school is prepared to talk about it, her imagination goes into overdrive. Over the ensuing weeks, as Justice is settling into not only her classes, but also her dormy and friendship groups, her mind is busy trying to solve the puzzle of the dead person. And then the body count begins to rise.
With midnight feasts, a labyrinthine gothic school building and lacrosse matches in the teeming rain, Griffiths creates a vivid picture of Justice's new world, and although there are some murders and a little dramatic tension, there's nothing that would disturb the average middle-grade reader. I loved it and will look forward to reading book #2 when it crosses my path.
April 9, 2025
I read this as a buddy read with Hilary (& her daughter) over the same 3 days.
I really liked this children’s mystery. It was fun to try another Elly Griffith’s book. I love her Ruth Galloway series. I did end up liking a standalone book by her too. I wasn’t as wowed with the first book of her series that takes place in Brighton and like this book is also historical fiction.
I think I do prefer this author’s books that are set in the present time though. This one (and the Brighton book) didn’t have enough period details for me. At times I forgot that this was supposed to be taking place in the 1930s. An English child might know but a child in the U.S. might just think that what seemed foreign to our time might just be British.
I loved the floor plan map of the boarding school. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting. The described cold felt palpable and I wanted to read when in a warm room!
I loved the humor from the start. The humor is great!
I loved the characters. Justice is a wonderful new character. I appreciated everything about her and if I’d read this as a child I know I would have identified with her except I would have never felt that brave. The mystery/murder details seemed a little intense to me for a children’s mystery but maybe they’re fine. Normally I’d say this book is for readers age 8-12 but because of some of the happenings, particularly for sensitive children, I might recommend this for 10 or 11 and up. The reading level is fine for younger readers.
I thought that the mystery/mysteries were well crafted. The only thing about it that irked me is it was obvious that one glaring thing was supposed to be able to be guessed by readers before Justice figures it out and since Justice is interested & and involved and very bright, that didn’t seem completely realistic.
I loved how it was explained in the author’s note at the end of the book that the fictional boarding school in the book is based on a real boarding school her mother attended (and disliked) in the 1930s.
I’d love to read the rest of this series and I’ve adds the second book (to be published this May) but as I’m in the United States I don’t think I’ll get the opportunity to read more of the books in this series. I am looking forward to book 12 in the Ruth Galloway series but I’d love more of Justice too!
I really liked this children’s mystery. It was fun to try another Elly Griffith’s book. I love her Ruth Galloway series. I did end up liking a standalone book by her too. I wasn’t as wowed with the first book of her series that takes place in Brighton and like this book is also historical fiction.
I think I do prefer this author’s books that are set in the present time though. This one (and the Brighton book) didn’t have enough period details for me. At times I forgot that this was supposed to be taking place in the 1930s. An English child might know but a child in the U.S. might just think that what seemed foreign to our time might just be British.
I loved the floor plan map of the boarding school. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting. The described cold felt palpable and I wanted to read when in a warm room!
I loved the humor from the start. The humor is great!
I loved the characters. Justice is a wonderful new character. I appreciated everything about her and if I’d read this as a child I know I would have identified with her except I would have never felt that brave. The mystery/murder details seemed a little intense to me for a children’s mystery but maybe they’re fine. Normally I’d say this book is for readers age 8-12 but because of some of the happenings, particularly for sensitive children, I might recommend this for 10 or 11 and up. The reading level is fine for younger readers.
I thought that the mystery/mysteries were well crafted. The only thing about it that irked me is it was obvious that one glaring thing was supposed to be able to be guessed by readers before Justice figures it out and since Justice is interested & and involved and very bright, that didn’t seem completely realistic.
I loved how it was explained in the author’s note at the end of the book that the fictional boarding school in the book is based on a real boarding school her mother attended (and disliked) in the 1930s.
I’d love to read the rest of this series and I’ve adds the second book (to be published this May) but as I’m in the United States I don’t think I’ll get the opportunity to read more of the books in this series. I am looking forward to book 12 in the Ruth Galloway series but I’d love more of Justice too!
February 9, 2020
3.5 stars. This is an exciting mystery story set in a school for girls during the 1930s. After the death of her mother Justice is sent to a boarding school. Soon she begins to suspect something untoward is happening and sets out to discover the truth.
I read this in 3 sections over 3 days as a buddy read with Lisa Vegan also as a read aloud to my daughter. We both really enjoyed this story, looking for clues and trying to work out who the culprit was. The school setting was fun, the friendships and the not so friendly were fun to read about. This had a nice sense of humour in parts and we enjoyed the maps of the school and the descriptions of the buildings.
One downside was that apart from saying 'buck up' and one mention of a motor car there was practically nothing that told you this was in the 1930s. At least when they were talking to each other school girls would have used slang of the time or made some mention of something particular to that era. It would have set the scene and given added interest to the book.
This was a good adventure story and we will certainly try the sequel when it is published in May this year.
I read this in 3 sections over 3 days as a buddy read with Lisa Vegan also as a read aloud to my daughter. We both really enjoyed this story, looking for clues and trying to work out who the culprit was. The school setting was fun, the friendships and the not so friendly were fun to read about. This had a nice sense of humour in parts and we enjoyed the maps of the school and the descriptions of the buildings.
One downside was that apart from saying 'buck up' and one mention of a motor car there was practically nothing that told you this was in the 1930s. At least when they were talking to each other school girls would have used slang of the time or made some mention of something particular to that era. It would have set the scene and given added interest to the book.
This was a good adventure story and we will certainly try the sequel when it is published in May this year.
May 8, 2021
A Girl Called Justice is the first book in the Justice Jones series for junior readers, by British author, Elly Griffiths. At twelve years old, Justice Jones is going to school for the first time, and it’s a boarding school on the edge of Romney Marsh: Highbury House School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk.
On arrival, at the start of October, she describes it in her notebook: Dracula’s castle/a prison; potential for murders, high; conditions, squalid; food, inedible. Her father, Herbert Jones QC, has sent her here because he knows the Headmistress, Miss de Vere. Her mother schooled Justice at home until her death a month earlier, so she can’t just be left at home on her own.
But as soon as Justice hears of the young servant, Mary, who recently died, she is sure it was murder, and believes that if she solves the case, she can convince her father that she can come home. And of course, she is well qualified to solve the murder: she has studied her father’s criminal cases, and her mother, writing as Veronica Burton, was the author of the Leslie Light mysteries.
But boarding school is a new experience for her. Justice has to learn to navigate the building, the rules and the girls in her dormy. There is prep and order marks and tuck and early rising, locked gates, out of bounds and restrictions on what she may read, midnight feasts and ghost stories about the Haunted Tower.
Justice isn’t at all surprised when someone else dies, although she’s puzzled that it’s her No 1 suspect. There follow unsigned notes arranging midnight rendezvous, hidden staircases, blackmail, mistaken identity, and several more attempted murders occur, all while they are snowbound and cut off from the outside world. Through it all, Justice manages to make some friends and distract herself from missing her mum and dad.
In Justice, Elly Griffiths gives the reader a wonderfully quirky character: one whose inspiration is the protagonist of her mother’s novels, who recites her father’s cases when bored or needing to stay awake, who is clever and insightful and a little daring. Her mother’s influence is clear from her comments, both spoken and unsaid. She really is an utter delight.
Of her friend Stella’s faith in adults, she notes “She seemed incapable of believing that teachers could behave in surprising or underhand ways. Justice supposed that’s what eight years of school did for you.” And “Mum always used to say that normal school life had a way of numbing your critical faculties, and Justice began to see that this was true.”
Griffiths never talks down to her readers, and this series is bound to appeal to young readers, but that doesn’t preclude enjoyment by readers well beyond the target age group. It’s clear that Elly Griffiths has many more than one string to her bow. There are at least two further volumes in the series that will be eagerly awaited. Excellent historical crime fiction for the young (and young at heart).
On arrival, at the start of October, she describes it in her notebook: Dracula’s castle/a prison; potential for murders, high; conditions, squalid; food, inedible. Her father, Herbert Jones QC, has sent her here because he knows the Headmistress, Miss de Vere. Her mother schooled Justice at home until her death a month earlier, so she can’t just be left at home on her own.
But as soon as Justice hears of the young servant, Mary, who recently died, she is sure it was murder, and believes that if she solves the case, she can convince her father that she can come home. And of course, she is well qualified to solve the murder: she has studied her father’s criminal cases, and her mother, writing as Veronica Burton, was the author of the Leslie Light mysteries.
But boarding school is a new experience for her. Justice has to learn to navigate the building, the rules and the girls in her dormy. There is prep and order marks and tuck and early rising, locked gates, out of bounds and restrictions on what she may read, midnight feasts and ghost stories about the Haunted Tower.
Justice isn’t at all surprised when someone else dies, although she’s puzzled that it’s her No 1 suspect. There follow unsigned notes arranging midnight rendezvous, hidden staircases, blackmail, mistaken identity, and several more attempted murders occur, all while they are snowbound and cut off from the outside world. Through it all, Justice manages to make some friends and distract herself from missing her mum and dad.
In Justice, Elly Griffiths gives the reader a wonderfully quirky character: one whose inspiration is the protagonist of her mother’s novels, who recites her father’s cases when bored or needing to stay awake, who is clever and insightful and a little daring. Her mother’s influence is clear from her comments, both spoken and unsaid. She really is an utter delight.
Of her friend Stella’s faith in adults, she notes “She seemed incapable of believing that teachers could behave in surprising or underhand ways. Justice supposed that’s what eight years of school did for you.” And “Mum always used to say that normal school life had a way of numbing your critical faculties, and Justice began to see that this was true.”
Griffiths never talks down to her readers, and this series is bound to appeal to young readers, but that doesn’t preclude enjoyment by readers well beyond the target age group. It’s clear that Elly Griffiths has many more than one string to her bow. There are at least two further volumes in the series that will be eagerly awaited. Excellent historical crime fiction for the young (and young at heart).
February 8, 2023
3'5⭐ YOUTUBE / INSTAGRAM
Bueno, bueno, esta historia me ha hecho disfrutar un montón. Con su ambientación invernal me ha parecido ideal para esta época del año, y el internado en la Inglaterra de los años 30 (si no me equivoco), me ha hecho recordar a cuando leía Santa Clara y Torres de Malory de pequeña, así que ha tenido un alto componente nostálgico para mí.
La primera mitad del libro se centra sobre todo en presentarnos a la protagonista, Justina, y descubrimos junto a ella su nueva residencia: el internado al que la ha mandado su padre tras la muerte de su madre. En esta primera mitad se ven algunas pinceladas del misterio, pero no es realmente hasta la segunda mitad cuando cobra importancia y nos centramos en investigar ciertas muertes. Reconozco que el misterio me ha sorprendido, la resolución no es completamente evidente, a pesar de ser una historia middle-grade.
Justina es una chica lista y amante de las novelas de misterio que me ha caído muy bien y sobre la que estoy deseando seguir leyendo.
Bueno, bueno, esta historia me ha hecho disfrutar un montón. Con su ambientación invernal me ha parecido ideal para esta época del año, y el internado en la Inglaterra de los años 30 (si no me equivoco), me ha hecho recordar a cuando leía Santa Clara y Torres de Malory de pequeña, así que ha tenido un alto componente nostálgico para mí.
La primera mitad del libro se centra sobre todo en presentarnos a la protagonista, Justina, y descubrimos junto a ella su nueva residencia: el internado al que la ha mandado su padre tras la muerte de su madre. En esta primera mitad se ven algunas pinceladas del misterio, pero no es realmente hasta la segunda mitad cuando cobra importancia y nos centramos en investigar ciertas muertes. Reconozco que el misterio me ha sorprendido, la resolución no es completamente evidente, a pesar de ser una historia middle-grade.
Justina es una chica lista y amante de las novelas de misterio que me ha caído muy bien y sobre la que estoy deseando seguir leyendo.
January 1, 2020
Do you have an author that can do no wrong? Elly Griffiths is one of those for me—I just love her books! I was so excited when I found out she wrote a YA book and then equally bummed when I realized it wasn’t available in the U.S. Thankfully Book Depository to the rescue!
Of course, this was a great read—and would also be perfect for a young reader looking to get into mysteries! After the death of her mother, Justice’s barrister father sends her to the slightly ominous Highbury House Boarding School. At age 12, she’s only been schooled at home, so it’s a tough transition. Justice has a nose for murder and sleuthing—her mom wrote mystery novels—and upon her arrival, she quickly learns of a recent death at the school. She sets about to find out the truth, all the while trying to make new friends and learn the ropes at school.
This is a charming book, led by its wonderful protagonist (if you like Flavia de Luce, you’ll love Justice). It’s a great read for young readers, but features an intriguing mystery for us adults too. Proving, as always, Ms. Griffiths can do no wrong. 4+ stars.
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Of course, this was a great read—and would also be perfect for a young reader looking to get into mysteries! After the death of her mother, Justice’s barrister father sends her to the slightly ominous Highbury House Boarding School. At age 12, she’s only been schooled at home, so it’s a tough transition. Justice has a nose for murder and sleuthing—her mom wrote mystery novels—and upon her arrival, she quickly learns of a recent death at the school. She sets about to find out the truth, all the while trying to make new friends and learn the ropes at school.
This is a charming book, led by its wonderful protagonist (if you like Flavia de Luce, you’ll love Justice). It’s a great read for young readers, but features an intriguing mystery for us adults too. Proving, as always, Ms. Griffiths can do no wrong. 4+ stars.
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May 14, 2019
A very good first junior novel by Elly Griffiths. Its Enid Blyton but darker and bang up to date! Sure she's onto a winner.
May 30, 2020
Superb 1930s set girls boarding school mystery with a spunky protagonist aimed at 9-12yr
The first in a series of mysteries aimed at middle-grade readers, A Girl Called Justice introduces twelve-year-old Justice Jones and follows her arrival at exclusive Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk located on the Romney Marshes in 1936. Dispatched to the school just a month after the death of her mother, by whom she was previously home schooled, Justice’s father is the eminent Herbert Jones QC.
The forbidding gothic exterior of the school isn’t quite the welcome Justice would have liked but she is barely over the threshold before she hears of a suspicious death just the week before. Introduced to a whole new world of boarding school terminology with an occasional smattering of Latin, Justice first has to navigate the world of making friends, coping with a strict regimen and the unanimous adoration amongst her peers of head girl, Helena Bliss. Sensing something fishy from the off, her curiosity is further aroused by talk of a haunted tower, several unsigned notes and the question of exactly how her father knows the glamorous headmistress, Miss de Vere?
As Justice digs for clues, subtly probes witnesses and is guided by logic she soon uncovers more than she was prepared for and must rely on her wits to solve a mystery and simultaneously stay out of trouble The novel is written from the perspective of Justice and her character comes across vividly. Spirited and academically advanced she is wise beyond her years with a wry sense of humour and is a committed sleuth, a talent encouraged by reading her mother’s successful series of amateur detective novels and her father’s reports of murder trials.
Justice’s ‘dormies’ are a distinctive bunch and she navigates the cliquey nature and spitefulness of groups of girls eloquently, batting off the occasional snarky comment by the slightly psycho Rose by simply taking it at face value. Justice’s growing friendship with maid Dorothy, just three years her senior at age fifteen, also transcends the obvious class divide and has great potential for development.
Brilliantly good fun for lovers of Malory Towers, this is a first class and suitably complicated mystery that will engage young readers and amuse older ones alike. Maps, extracts from Justice’s journal and coded letters to her father add to a lively and entertaining story. I would perhaps have appreciated a greater sense of the period detail throughout the story but this is certainly a series that I will be following with interest and I have high hopes for our no-nonsense heroine, Justice Jones.
The first in a series of mysteries aimed at middle-grade readers, A Girl Called Justice introduces twelve-year-old Justice Jones and follows her arrival at exclusive Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk located on the Romney Marshes in 1936. Dispatched to the school just a month after the death of her mother, by whom she was previously home schooled, Justice’s father is the eminent Herbert Jones QC.
The forbidding gothic exterior of the school isn’t quite the welcome Justice would have liked but she is barely over the threshold before she hears of a suspicious death just the week before. Introduced to a whole new world of boarding school terminology with an occasional smattering of Latin, Justice first has to navigate the world of making friends, coping with a strict regimen and the unanimous adoration amongst her peers of head girl, Helena Bliss. Sensing something fishy from the off, her curiosity is further aroused by talk of a haunted tower, several unsigned notes and the question of exactly how her father knows the glamorous headmistress, Miss de Vere?
As Justice digs for clues, subtly probes witnesses and is guided by logic she soon uncovers more than she was prepared for and must rely on her wits to solve a mystery and simultaneously stay out of trouble The novel is written from the perspective of Justice and her character comes across vividly. Spirited and academically advanced she is wise beyond her years with a wry sense of humour and is a committed sleuth, a talent encouraged by reading her mother’s successful series of amateur detective novels and her father’s reports of murder trials.
Justice’s ‘dormies’ are a distinctive bunch and she navigates the cliquey nature and spitefulness of groups of girls eloquently, batting off the occasional snarky comment by the slightly psycho Rose by simply taking it at face value. Justice’s growing friendship with maid Dorothy, just three years her senior at age fifteen, also transcends the obvious class divide and has great potential for development.
Brilliantly good fun for lovers of Malory Towers, this is a first class and suitably complicated mystery that will engage young readers and amuse older ones alike. Maps, extracts from Justice’s journal and coded letters to her father add to a lively and entertaining story. I would perhaps have appreciated a greater sense of the period detail throughout the story but this is certainly a series that I will be following with interest and I have high hopes for our no-nonsense heroine, Justice Jones.
August 2, 2022
OMG I’m in LOVE with everything about this. My only complaint is I wish it was longer, & that’s only because I didn’t want it to end! Lol This checks like..pretty much ALL my boxes for a perfect mystery read: detective/sleuth style, historical fiction, humor, murder mystery, amazing atmospheric setting..add in boarding school(YES), amazing friendships..SUPERB writing, & an amazing cast of characters-let’s just say I was in heaven reading this. Justice is absolutely amazing. She was destined to be an amazing detective-her mom wrote mystery/detective style novels, & her dad is a lawyer..WHO SPECIALIZES IN MURDER TRIALS. Lol They also named her Justice for crying out loud. This IS her destiny. This sets off right away with the mystery & intrigue. Hooked from the start. Well paced mystery, perfectly sprinkled clues throughout, danger, suspense, & more..add in a snow storm where everyone is trapped at the boarding school, & we don’t know WHO to trust, & it’s a nail biting time. A perfect whodunnit story for sure. And when I say EACH & EVERY character is amazingly written, they ARE. Even the ones that annoy you to no end, it’s like you love to dislike them..but then there’s moments where you think you even kinda love their annoying selves too lol Brilliant. I know/remember each one. All so different, with identifiable traits & personalities. So atmospheric, & the author really brings the story to life in every way. The boarding school, & surrounding area, down to the food is described perfectly. I’m always impressed when authors have books at about 200 pages, but manage to pack everything needed & more into those pages, without it feeling like it needed more. So impressive. This author definitely accomplished that. Justice has my heart, such a great MC. Stella & Dorothy also have my heart. What AMAZING friends, the 1st friends other than 1 boy from home that Justice has ever had. Dorothy especially is my kind of girl, & her & Justice are kindred spirits for sure. I also adore Herbert, Justice’s dad. All the girls in her dormy are great fun..well, I wouldn’t call Rose “fun”, but ya kind of always need at least one Rose kind of character lol. HIGHLY recommend. I also loved reading in the back the author loosely based this on her mother & her time at boarding school..loved that deeper emotional connection for the author. BEAUTIFUL cover by Nan Lawson too.💜
September 15, 2019
Since I am a long-time fan of Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway mysteries, how could I resist reading her first mystery for children? As you can see, I couldn't, and I found a delightful story that many adults are bound to enjoy.
Justice's voice pulled me right into the story, which includes blueprints of the school, her journal entries, and secret messages. Griffths has created a good mystery to solve, and I have to admit that when the villain was revealed, I couldn't believe that I missed the clues that had been planted along the way.
A Girl Called Justice isn't all about the mystery, however. Readers watch Justice as she learns how to exist as part of a group, and they may even laugh in sympathy as she discovers she has no skill at athletics. In addition, the setting is superb; I think I was frozen solid the entire time I was reading it-- which brings up a question. Why on earth (in so many British-set books that I've read in my lifetime) do people insist that living in icy conditions will "toughen a person up"? Especially when most of the students being toughened up were suffering horrible colds. It makes no sense to me.
But no matter. I loved the setting, the mystery, and the character of Justice Jones. I wouldn't be at all surprised if I read the next book in the series as well!
Justice's voice pulled me right into the story, which includes blueprints of the school, her journal entries, and secret messages. Griffths has created a good mystery to solve, and I have to admit that when the villain was revealed, I couldn't believe that I missed the clues that had been planted along the way.
A Girl Called Justice isn't all about the mystery, however. Readers watch Justice as she learns how to exist as part of a group, and they may even laugh in sympathy as she discovers she has no skill at athletics. In addition, the setting is superb; I think I was frozen solid the entire time I was reading it-- which brings up a question. Why on earth (in so many British-set books that I've read in my lifetime) do people insist that living in icy conditions will "toughen a person up"? Especially when most of the students being toughened up were suffering horrible colds. It makes no sense to me.
But no matter. I loved the setting, the mystery, and the character of Justice Jones. I wouldn't be at all surprised if I read the next book in the series as well!
November 25, 2020
‘Of course I’m interested in your cases,’ said Justice. ‘I’m your daughter. And besides, I’m a girl called Justice. What else would I be interested in?’
April 18, 2020
Elly Griffiths has been a favorite author of mine for some years now, first with her Ruth Galloway series, then with her Stephens and Mesphisto (Magic Men) series, and recently with her stand-alones. Now she has entered her brilliant writing talents into a new children's series, Justice Jones. This first book, A Girl Called Justice, was wonderfully atmospheric and quite chilling, with even the temperatures inside the boarding school supporting the shivering mood. Twelve-year-old Justice Jones is a character readers will fall in love with at once, as she is a girl whose mother has recently died, accounting for her placement in the boarding school, but a girl who tries to make the best of her situation. She's no cry baby, our Justice. She's highly intelligent and resourceful, and having grown up with a mother who wrote mystery books, Justice is always on high alert for a mystery. She has certainly landed in the perfect atmosphere for a mystery at Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. The school is located on the edges of the Romney Marsh area of southeast England, a remote, isolated setting.
Justice Jones begins the school year at Highbury late into the first semester. Her mother has died and her father, who is a barrister, in fact a QC, works long hours and feels he can't be there to care for Justice, so the boarding school is the solution. As soon as Justice arrives, she learns that a maid has recently died at Highbury, and there are undertones of something being amiss, both with that death and ongoing activities. While Justice is learning to adjust to this new atmosphere of groups and rules and making friends, investigating a suspicious death is an anchor that Justice can grab hold of that keeps her on the familiar ground of her mother's Leslie Light mystery series and her father's murder cases.
Justice is a list maker, and as she explores the mystery surrounding the maid's death, she keeps a journal of clues and suspects and observations. The journal is in keeping with the time period of the book being 1936. There are, of course, no computers, no Google, and I like that Justice must dig for clues and do research from scratch, so to speak. Being of a brave nature, Justice also does some late night sleuthing after lights out, sneaking along the many corridors of the old mansion and trying to avoid the creaky spots on stairs. Throw in some secret messages and a haunted tower, and the suspense never loses its edge. When a snowstorm cuts the school off from the outside world, it's clear that the maid's death was murder and that a dangerous person is desperate to stay undetected. Justice isn't sure who she can trust, but she will have to confide in someone to solve the case and save lives.
One of Elly Griffiths' strengths as an author is her creation of great characters. Justice is already another favorite character for me. I've mentioned her intelligence, her bravery, and her resourcefulness, and her curiosity. She is also compassionate and has a charming sense of humor. I'm somewhat reminded of Flavia de Luce, but Justice seems better able to fit in and Justice's father is warmer and more in tune with his daughter's feelings and situation than Flavia's father is. I was pleased that Justice wasn't abandoned by her father. Justice's roommates are all from different backgrounds and have different personalities that I look forward to learning more about in subsequent books.
I am absolutely delighted with this new series by Elly Griffiths. It looks like another hit for her in a line of hits. I'm so glad that she's writing this series, as I can share it with my ten-year-old granddaughter, who has enjoyed other young sleuth series. I would recommend the series for ages 10-13, but I'm sure there will be plenty of adult fans, too.
Justice Jones begins the school year at Highbury late into the first semester. Her mother has died and her father, who is a barrister, in fact a QC, works long hours and feels he can't be there to care for Justice, so the boarding school is the solution. As soon as Justice arrives, she learns that a maid has recently died at Highbury, and there are undertones of something being amiss, both with that death and ongoing activities. While Justice is learning to adjust to this new atmosphere of groups and rules and making friends, investigating a suspicious death is an anchor that Justice can grab hold of that keeps her on the familiar ground of her mother's Leslie Light mystery series and her father's murder cases.
Justice is a list maker, and as she explores the mystery surrounding the maid's death, she keeps a journal of clues and suspects and observations. The journal is in keeping with the time period of the book being 1936. There are, of course, no computers, no Google, and I like that Justice must dig for clues and do research from scratch, so to speak. Being of a brave nature, Justice also does some late night sleuthing after lights out, sneaking along the many corridors of the old mansion and trying to avoid the creaky spots on stairs. Throw in some secret messages and a haunted tower, and the suspense never loses its edge. When a snowstorm cuts the school off from the outside world, it's clear that the maid's death was murder and that a dangerous person is desperate to stay undetected. Justice isn't sure who she can trust, but she will have to confide in someone to solve the case and save lives.
One of Elly Griffiths' strengths as an author is her creation of great characters. Justice is already another favorite character for me. I've mentioned her intelligence, her bravery, and her resourcefulness, and her curiosity. She is also compassionate and has a charming sense of humor. I'm somewhat reminded of Flavia de Luce, but Justice seems better able to fit in and Justice's father is warmer and more in tune with his daughter's feelings and situation than Flavia's father is. I was pleased that Justice wasn't abandoned by her father. Justice's roommates are all from different backgrounds and have different personalities that I look forward to learning more about in subsequent books.
I am absolutely delighted with this new series by Elly Griffiths. It looks like another hit for her in a line of hits. I'm so glad that she's writing this series, as I can share it with my ten-year-old granddaughter, who has enjoyed other young sleuth series. I would recommend the series for ages 10-13, but I'm sure there will be plenty of adult fans, too.
February 22, 2019
Elly Griffiths, author of the popular Norfolk-based crime series featuring Dr Ruth Galloway, tries her hand at children’s fiction in this first book in a new series about young sleuth Justice Jones. Set in the 1930s, it sees 12-year-old Justice, the daughter of a mystery writer and a QC, packed off to the unwelcoming Highbury House boarding school for girls, on the Romney Marshes, in the wake of her mother’s death. Having been previously home-schooled, at first Justice just wants to return home, but she soon finds herself investigating a series of suspicious deaths at the school, emulating Leslie Light, the hero of her late mother’s books. And, despite herself, she makes friends with some of the other pupils and one of the maids at Highbury. As with Griffiths’s adult novels, the story is an entertaining mystery with strong characters, shot through with humour and wry observations. Looking forward to the next in the series!
January 30, 2020
Yay!! I loved this!! 💜 might rate it even higher⭐ have to process the ending first but overall I'm so happy I picked this up!!
April 8, 2024
A mysterious boarding school in the middle of nowhere, a girl called Justice, and plenty of mystery and murder. Oh yes!
I came across this one in the library, yes, they are updating their not so big English collection, and of course I had to bring this with me. Murder/mystery in boarding school? Sign me up! And I did definitely enjoy myself, though I have to say something was missing.
Meet Justice, a girl who has to go to a boarding school when her mom dies (her mom gave her homeschooling (which is still such a foreign concept to me)) and it is going to be a change for her. Suddenly she has to get up at dawn, there are no daily baths, there is never a moment of quiet, and then there are the lessons. I was happy to see that Justice was a smart girl and that she quickly got used to the lessons and that she was excelling at them (especially Latin and maths). I love her name, and I love that her parents went for that. Though I guess maybe it is a bit annoying for Justice as no one believes it is her real name. 😛
Justice quickly learns of a mystery, a murder/death, and as the story continues we see that she is still figuring things out and that more things are happening that are just odd/strange. I loved her notebook and what she wrote down. I was actually kind of worried someone would discover it and confront her with what was inside. I was delighted that she made friends with a maid. That may sound weird, but given the time this takes place in and how the other girls act around the servants, this is pretty special. Plus, she also makes a friend in her dorm.
I also loved Justice’s dad. I am still not sure how I feel about him just dumping her at a spooky and lonely (given the location) boarding school, but afterwards we learn that he had his reasons for it. The reason why I liked him is because he takes his daughter seriously. She tells him about what is going on and he listens intently and even gives her a code to use in case of emergency. Go dad!
Things get even more mysterious and creepy when a snow storm threatens the school and a dead body is found. Cut off from the world and Justice has to use all her wits and smarts to find out more. I loved that she did this with Stella and Dorothy at times. I loved that she involved them, and I had so much fun finding the clues and seeing if I could figure out what had happened. I do have to say, I had no clue about the whodunnit. It came out of nowhere, but when we learn the why, I could just nod along. No, not agreeing about murder, that is just too much, but I can imagine why this person broke, why this person may have gone to this path.
We also read about the school and while I loved reading about the building, the lessons, the schedules, the food (Dead baby whut?), I found it horrible that the teachers treated the children like this. The teachers have all the best things, in the mean time the kids have to do with cold water, frozen windows, frozen toes, they have to stand outside, they have to go outside during storms to have games, it was ridiculous.
I am not too happy about yet another addition of mean girls to the boarding school genre. It is getting really eh to see it pop up every time. I get that in real life there are bullies, but can we please have some fiction without it? Rose was just annoying and I didn’t like her at all. Who the hell tosses balls at someone? Justice is not trying to break up your friendships, she just wants to be part of the school. She didn’t on purpose pick your dorm so to block your friend. Get off your high horse.
As I said in the intro, something was missing. I cannot put a finger on it, but there was a spark missing. The book was still fun, and I did enjoy seeing Justice go sleuthing… but it never really held my attention. I got distracted easily, I just couldn’t easily get in the story at times. It felt as if I was far away watching the story instead of, as I have with many books, right in the middle of it all.
But I will definitely read the next book in this series as I am curious what will happen next in Justice’s life. And to see if the spark is there in that book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I came across this one in the library, yes, they are updating their not so big English collection, and of course I had to bring this with me. Murder/mystery in boarding school? Sign me up! And I did definitely enjoy myself, though I have to say something was missing.
Meet Justice, a girl who has to go to a boarding school when her mom dies (her mom gave her homeschooling (which is still such a foreign concept to me)) and it is going to be a change for her. Suddenly she has to get up at dawn, there are no daily baths, there is never a moment of quiet, and then there are the lessons. I was happy to see that Justice was a smart girl and that she quickly got used to the lessons and that she was excelling at them (especially Latin and maths). I love her name, and I love that her parents went for that. Though I guess maybe it is a bit annoying for Justice as no one believes it is her real name. 😛
Justice quickly learns of a mystery, a murder/death, and as the story continues we see that she is still figuring things out and that more things are happening that are just odd/strange. I loved her notebook and what she wrote down. I was actually kind of worried someone would discover it and confront her with what was inside. I was delighted that she made friends with a maid. That may sound weird, but given the time this takes place in and how the other girls act around the servants, this is pretty special. Plus, she also makes a friend in her dorm.
I also loved Justice’s dad. I am still not sure how I feel about him just dumping her at a spooky and lonely (given the location) boarding school, but afterwards we learn that he had his reasons for it. The reason why I liked him is because he takes his daughter seriously. She tells him about what is going on and he listens intently and even gives her a code to use in case of emergency. Go dad!
Things get even more mysterious and creepy when a snow storm threatens the school and a dead body is found. Cut off from the world and Justice has to use all her wits and smarts to find out more. I loved that she did this with Stella and Dorothy at times. I loved that she involved them, and I had so much fun finding the clues and seeing if I could figure out what had happened. I do have to say, I had no clue about the whodunnit. It came out of nowhere, but when we learn the why, I could just nod along. No, not agreeing about murder, that is just too much, but I can imagine why this person broke, why this person may have gone to this path.
We also read about the school and while I loved reading about the building, the lessons, the schedules, the food (Dead baby whut?), I found it horrible that the teachers treated the children like this. The teachers have all the best things, in the mean time the kids have to do with cold water, frozen windows, frozen toes, they have to stand outside, they have to go outside during storms to have games, it was ridiculous.
I am not too happy about yet another addition of mean girls to the boarding school genre. It is getting really eh to see it pop up every time. I get that in real life there are bullies, but can we please have some fiction without it? Rose was just annoying and I didn’t like her at all. Who the hell tosses balls at someone? Justice is not trying to break up your friendships, she just wants to be part of the school. She didn’t on purpose pick your dorm so to block your friend. Get off your high horse.
As I said in the intro, something was missing. I cannot put a finger on it, but there was a spark missing. The book was still fun, and I did enjoy seeing Justice go sleuthing… but it never really held my attention. I got distracted easily, I just couldn’t easily get in the story at times. It felt as if I was far away watching the story instead of, as I have with many books, right in the middle of it all.
But I will definitely read the next book in this series as I am curious what will happen next in Justice’s life. And to see if the spark is there in that book.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 22, 2022
Nos trasladamos al año 1903 donde Justina, hija del abogado de la Reina, ha quedado huérfana de madre y deciden trasladarla a un internado de señoritas de alto prestigio, Highbury House. Pero ya sabemos que por aquella época por mucho prestigio que hubiera… todo era bastante tétrico, además las condiciones son bastante pésimas y las compañeras, no todas, dejan mucho que desear.
Ya en el viaje antes de llegar le dice el taxista que ha habido una muerte al lugar donde se dirige por lo que nuestra protagonista decidirá investigar que ha pasado ya que al traspasar la puerta de lo que será su nuevo hogar, se da cuenta que algo raro está ocurriendo.
Highbury House de día es algo misterioso pero por la noche es peor y es cuando Justina decide investigar la muerte de la joven criada del colegio, siempre acompañada de su cuaderno para ir tomando notas e irá formando una lista de sospechosos… pero… y si muriera alguien más?
Todo se va a ir complicando por momentos
La ambientación es exquisita y no da miedo, la autora ya ha escrito varios thrillers y ahora se ha adentrado en el mundo más juvenil y parece que lo hace por la puerta grande. Con mucho diálogo y pocas descripciones hace que la novela se lea de una manera muy amena para los más jóvenes.
Sin duda os recomiendo esta lectura, la hemos leído mi hijo y yo y la verdad es que nos ha encantado acompañar a Justina que a sus doce años con una inteligencia, ingenio, curiosidad sin igual nos ha hecho pasar muy buenos momentos y nos ha hecho pensar mucho.
Además aborda temas como la valentía, la amistad…
Ya en el viaje antes de llegar le dice el taxista que ha habido una muerte al lugar donde se dirige por lo que nuestra protagonista decidirá investigar que ha pasado ya que al traspasar la puerta de lo que será su nuevo hogar, se da cuenta que algo raro está ocurriendo.
Highbury House de día es algo misterioso pero por la noche es peor y es cuando Justina decide investigar la muerte de la joven criada del colegio, siempre acompañada de su cuaderno para ir tomando notas e irá formando una lista de sospechosos… pero… y si muriera alguien más?
Todo se va a ir complicando por momentos
La ambientación es exquisita y no da miedo, la autora ya ha escrito varios thrillers y ahora se ha adentrado en el mundo más juvenil y parece que lo hace por la puerta grande. Con mucho diálogo y pocas descripciones hace que la novela se lea de una manera muy amena para los más jóvenes.
Sin duda os recomiendo esta lectura, la hemos leído mi hijo y yo y la verdad es que nos ha encantado acompañar a Justina que a sus doce años con una inteligencia, ingenio, curiosidad sin igual nos ha hecho pasar muy buenos momentos y nos ha hecho pensar mucho.
Además aborda temas como la valentía, la amistad…
April 7, 2020
An excellent mystery story for all fans of my books! (8+)
*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!*
June 27, 2021
This is a great book👍I loved every page of it🤩❤It is super entertaining and when you start reading this book you just cant stop!😁💗
June 7, 2022
Reccommended by a colleague.
Absolutely brilliant it is so Elly Griffiths but written for children.
It is a must read for any Elly Griffiths fan or children's mystery.
I really loved it and look forward to reading the next book.
Absolutely brilliant it is so Elly Griffiths but written for children.
It is a must read for any Elly Griffiths fan or children's mystery.
I really loved it and look forward to reading the next book.
April 9, 2019
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
For some reason, I didn’t expect this to be set in the 1930s! The hints are all there, especially in the comparisons to other series, but i was still surprised. Once I got used to that (I have to admit to being a little excited for a modern day mg sleuthing book...), I really enjoyed it!
Justice is fab - her notes about the mysteries and naturally suspicious and analytical mind were just wonderful. As with the nature of it being middle grade and the time setting, I feel the why of the mystery was a little simplified, but I really liked the whodunnit element. And it played out well - the suspense was definitely high!
I wanted a little more backstory for justice and her mum, just cause I loved what we saw of their relationship! And I sort of want to read her mums books hehe.
All in all really good fun and an enjoyable mystery!
For some reason, I didn’t expect this to be set in the 1930s! The hints are all there, especially in the comparisons to other series, but i was still surprised. Once I got used to that (I have to admit to being a little excited for a modern day mg sleuthing book...), I really enjoyed it!
Justice is fab - her notes about the mysteries and naturally suspicious and analytical mind were just wonderful. As with the nature of it being middle grade and the time setting, I feel the why of the mystery was a little simplified, but I really liked the whodunnit element. And it played out well - the suspense was definitely high!
I wanted a little more backstory for justice and her mum, just cause I loved what we saw of their relationship! And I sort of want to read her mums books hehe.
All in all really good fun and an enjoyable mystery!
April 18, 2021
I finished this book really quickly (since it was middle grade) and it was actually really good! There was, of course, the stereotypical bully, horrible food, and midnight feasts, but that's what makes a good, fictional boarding school, and a good story!
Justice Jones had the quick, witty lines which she said under her breath/in her head which made me laugh and reminded me of some of Harry Potter's good lines! There wasn't a huge twist that I like in the book, at least not something that shocked me completely, however the clues and Justice's own thoughts can help you figure out the murderer yourself (something I don't think I'll ever be able to do).
(Maybe a mini spoiler coming up) Also, I'm glad the murder had happened before she arrived at the school, so she got straight onto the case.
I definitely recommend it, and will read the second book if I'm looking for a very good, easy read.
Justice Jones had the quick, witty lines which she said under her breath/in her head which made me laugh and reminded me of some of Harry Potter's good lines! There wasn't a huge twist that I like in the book, at least not something that shocked me completely, however the clues and Justice's own thoughts can help you figure out the murderer yourself (something I don't think I'll ever be able to do).
(Maybe a mini spoiler coming up) Also, I'm glad the murder had happened before she arrived at the school, so she got straight onto the case.
I definitely recommend it, and will read the second book if I'm looking for a very good, easy read.
July 18, 2025
I loved this! So glad my thesis topic led me to this book, it is exactly the kind of historical British boarding school + girls solving crimes novel that I've been craving, and the story does such a good job of incorporating all the typical elements of the subgenre while still feeling twisty and keeping you guessing. I just love being immersed in a good boarding school setting, and Highbury House getting snowed in of course adds to the atmosphere, but the tone of the book stays light enough through Justice's wonderfully refreshing self-confidence and sarcasm, and moments of friendship and schoolgirl shenanigans.
Reread in July 2025: I'm finally getting to the actual analysis-writing part of my thesis, so I spent the past week rereading the text and getting so much material from it. I'm excited to continue the series once I finish writing this bloody thesis.
Reread in July 2025: I'm finally getting to the actual analysis-writing part of my thesis, so I spent the past week rereading the text and getting so much material from it. I'm excited to continue the series once I finish writing this bloody thesis.
August 1, 2021
If this book had been around when I was younger it would have been one of my favorites. I can see myself rereading this and anxiously waiting for the other books in the series to come out. I still really enjoyed this book and thought that it hit all the right notes. Justice Jones is sent to a boarding school following the death of her mother. She soon learns that the school has a sinister past and soon she begin her own investigation into the death of a young maid. My only critique of the book was that I was not a huge fan of the reveal but other than that a great read. I highly recommend this for younger readers who I think will love it. I look forward to reading more in the series.
October 10, 2021
I savoured every page of this book - it was definitely a cosy mystery book AND it was also taking place in a boarding school AND it was in the 1930s AND the characters were really well-written...in other words, I enjoyed it all!
April 27, 2022
Jeg har tidligere læst krimier for voksne skrevet af Elly Griffiths, men dette er mit første bekendtskab med forfatteren som børnebogsforfatter. Serien er beregnet til børn i 10-12-årsalderen, men jeg vil mene, at børn og barnlige sjæle langt ud over denne alder vil kunne få glæde af denne nye serie.
Serien er smækfyldt med spænding og drama for alle aldre. Javist, serien er ikke videre avanceret, men det forhindrede mig ikke i, at få stor glæde af serien om Justice, der, efter sin mors død må starte på kostskolen Highbury House.
Justices far er forsvarsadvokat og moderen var krimiforfatter, så Justice er vokset op med kriminalitet i baghaven, om man så må sige. Man fornemmer tydeligt, at forfatterens normale målgruppe er mere voksne mennesker, men det fornægter sig ikke, at Griffiths har en fænomenal evne for at skrive både dramatisk og fængslende.
Ideen til bøgerne om pigen Justice fik Elly Griffiths fra sin egen mor, der var på kostskole som barn. Griffiths mor havde skrevet om en pige, der boede på kostskole. Det var disse notater Griffiths brugte som udgangspunkt til historierne om Justice og hendes kostskoleliv i den mere farlige ende af skalaen.
Justice ankommer til Highbury House kort efter hendes mors død. Justice er altid blevet undervist hjemme af moderen, men nu skal hun for første gang i sit liv gå i en rigtig fysisk skole. Alting på Highbury House er derfor nyt for den lille 12-årige pige.
Justice Jones er født med en detektivnerve og undrer sig, på ingen måde over de mysterier hun falder over, straks hun er ankommet på Kostskolen Highbury House. Allerede inden Justice ankom var der en pige, der døde på skolen.
Selvfølgelig er dødsfaldet ikke naturligt og vores heltinde skal nok få opklaret hvad der er sket med den unge pige. Noget naturligt dødsfald er det i hvert fald ikke. Dette dødsfald bliver ikke det eneste som Justice nærmest kaster sig over ganske frygtløst og uden skam.
Samtidig bliver læseren ført ind i denne kostskoleverden tilbage i 1930`erne. Justice har ikke tidligere haft særlig meget omgang med jævnaldrende, så denne første tid på kostskolen, skal også lære hende at begå sig blandt jævnaldrende børn og aflæse deres kropssprog.
Dette skoleophold er på flere måder en læringsproces i den unge piges nye liv. Samtidig må den unge pige indstille sig på, at denne nye verden, kan være et farligt sted at navigere i når man er en ung pige med nye venner i en helt ny og ukendt verden.
Hele serien om Justice Jones og hendes tid på kostskolen Highbury House har undertitlen ”Mit navn er Justice”. Dette 1. bind af serien har titlen ”Mordene på Highbury House”. Jeg er bestemt imponeret over Elly Griffiths evne til at fastholde læseren, i yderste spænding, uanset om læseren er helt ung eller man er i en langt mere moden alder.
Jeg er tæt på, at ville kalde forfatteren for plottwistets dronning. Forfatteren evner i tilgift, at skrive så læseren bliver fængslet af hendes fascinerende univers. Det gælder uanset om du er 10 eller 90 år. ”Mordene på Highbury House” får mine varmeste anbefalinger med på vejen, hvis du eller dit barn er til en krimi der fængsler læseren og har en fortællestil helt udover det sædvanlige.
Vurdering: 6/6 Roser.
Krimiormen.dk
Serien er smækfyldt med spænding og drama for alle aldre. Javist, serien er ikke videre avanceret, men det forhindrede mig ikke i, at få stor glæde af serien om Justice, der, efter sin mors død må starte på kostskolen Highbury House.
Justices far er forsvarsadvokat og moderen var krimiforfatter, så Justice er vokset op med kriminalitet i baghaven, om man så må sige. Man fornemmer tydeligt, at forfatterens normale målgruppe er mere voksne mennesker, men det fornægter sig ikke, at Griffiths har en fænomenal evne for at skrive både dramatisk og fængslende.
Ideen til bøgerne om pigen Justice fik Elly Griffiths fra sin egen mor, der var på kostskole som barn. Griffiths mor havde skrevet om en pige, der boede på kostskole. Det var disse notater Griffiths brugte som udgangspunkt til historierne om Justice og hendes kostskoleliv i den mere farlige ende af skalaen.
Justice ankommer til Highbury House kort efter hendes mors død. Justice er altid blevet undervist hjemme af moderen, men nu skal hun for første gang i sit liv gå i en rigtig fysisk skole. Alting på Highbury House er derfor nyt for den lille 12-årige pige.
Justice Jones er født med en detektivnerve og undrer sig, på ingen måde over de mysterier hun falder over, straks hun er ankommet på Kostskolen Highbury House. Allerede inden Justice ankom var der en pige, der døde på skolen.
Selvfølgelig er dødsfaldet ikke naturligt og vores heltinde skal nok få opklaret hvad der er sket med den unge pige. Noget naturligt dødsfald er det i hvert fald ikke. Dette dødsfald bliver ikke det eneste som Justice nærmest kaster sig over ganske frygtløst og uden skam.
Samtidig bliver læseren ført ind i denne kostskoleverden tilbage i 1930`erne. Justice har ikke tidligere haft særlig meget omgang med jævnaldrende, så denne første tid på kostskolen, skal også lære hende at begå sig blandt jævnaldrende børn og aflæse deres kropssprog.
Dette skoleophold er på flere måder en læringsproces i den unge piges nye liv. Samtidig må den unge pige indstille sig på, at denne nye verden, kan være et farligt sted at navigere i når man er en ung pige med nye venner i en helt ny og ukendt verden.
Hele serien om Justice Jones og hendes tid på kostskolen Highbury House har undertitlen ”Mit navn er Justice”. Dette 1. bind af serien har titlen ”Mordene på Highbury House”. Jeg er bestemt imponeret over Elly Griffiths evne til at fastholde læseren, i yderste spænding, uanset om læseren er helt ung eller man er i en langt mere moden alder.
Jeg er tæt på, at ville kalde forfatteren for plottwistets dronning. Forfatteren evner i tilgift, at skrive så læseren bliver fængslet af hendes fascinerende univers. Det gælder uanset om du er 10 eller 90 år. ”Mordene på Highbury House” får mine varmeste anbefalinger med på vejen, hvis du eller dit barn er til en krimi der fængsler læseren og har en fortællestil helt udover det sædvanlige.
Vurdering: 6/6 Roser.
Krimiormen.dk
July 12, 2020
Finished A Girl Called Justice by Elly Griffiths, I love her adult crime books and love MG books and mysteries so I had to read it! Aaaand it was really a dissapointment, so bland and boring! So basic, predictable and the characters was so flat and stereotypical. (The poor friend, rich awful girl, suspious character overlooked and the good person looked as a suspected ect) Nothing in this story did something good for it to stand out, one I will quickly forget. To few details that stands out and not enough conversations outside the mystery talk. It was realistic and believable in the descriptions of the surroundings and most of the actions unlike the main character, also it seemed as if there hadn't been a mystery that had conveniently dumped into her lap, then she was so keen to find one that she seemed ready to exaggerate or go to an exstreme lengde to find one and that made her not reliable or trustworthy. The way she researched, behaved etc. made her seem unrealistic, too adult and lacking something. Especially the very superficial grief over the mother's death seemed completely wrong and out of character especially if you considering their close ties and they were almost only the two of them together most of the time before she died. Only positive was that it was an easy read and the main character had a sweet dad. I felt it missed so much and could have been so much better, it needs to stand out more and be it's own and not feel like a bland history following a basic recipe. Do not recommend reading this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2019
I`ve been really excited for this book since I learnt about it, and while it didn`t quite meet my expectations I did still enjoy it. It follows the titular character Justice Jones as she starts at Highbury House boarding school and has to uncover the identity of a murderer when a snow storm cuts the school off from the rest of the world and the body count rises. I loved Justice as a character- she was super clever and so brave, and I particularly enjoyed the insights into her journal. I was also a huge fan of the boarding school setting as it felt very reminiscent of Malory Towers and St Clare`s, if a tad less jolly hockey sticks, and the creepy atmosphere was well done. However, the reason that I didn`t adore this as much as I`d hoped to was that the pacing of the mystery felt really rushed to me- it didn`t get properly into the investigation until roughly halfway through and at one point it felt like someone was dying every few pages as a result. I also felt that the reveal of the murderer came slightly out of left field. 4/5
July 8, 2025
Me entretuvo más de lo que esperaba. Este libro es como si Harry Potter fuera un thriller.
El libro trata sobre Justina (Justice), una niña inteligente y amante de las historias de suspenso/policíacas, quien tuvo su primera experiencia escolar en el internado Highbury House, luego de que su madre falleciera.
La primera parte del libro conocemos a Justina y a sus compañeras, pero el resto del libro te atrapa bastante. Toda la historia de asesinatos o "accidentes" que ocurren, te hace no querer soltar el libro. Sobretodo porque es una niña queriendo resolver un caso y ningún adulto cree en sus sospechas.
Justina, Stella y Dorothy se ganaron un lugar en mi corazoncito ♡
El libro trata sobre Justina (Justice), una niña inteligente y amante de las historias de suspenso/policíacas, quien tuvo su primera experiencia escolar en el internado Highbury House, luego de que su madre falleciera.
La primera parte del libro conocemos a Justina y a sus compañeras, pero el resto del libro te atrapa bastante. Toda la historia de asesinatos o "accidentes" que ocurren, te hace no querer soltar el libro. Sobretodo porque es una niña queriendo resolver un caso y ningún adulto cree en sus sospechas.
Justina, Stella y Dorothy se ganaron un lugar en mi corazoncito ♡
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