Celebrating Historical Mystery Day with Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike Series

September 29th is Historical Mystery Day! 

Launched in 2021 by author Sara Rosett, this day celebrates a blend of history and detective work, allowing readers to visit the past while solving mysteries. I typically read contemporary cozies, but lately, I've been reading a series that fits perfectly into today's celebration: Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series.

Set in the 1930s, Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike series offers period detail, sharp wit, and gripping mystery. The series follows Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, two students at Deepdean School for Girls, as they navigate their daily school lives while solving murders on the side. The duo's detective skills, combined with their unique personalities, draw readers in - both middle-grade and young adult readers as well as adults (clearly!).

In Murder Most Unladylike (Murder is Bad Manners in the USA), the first book in the series, Hazel discovers the body of her science teacher—but when the body mysteriously disappears, Hazel and Daisy have to investigate on their own. This premise sets the tone for the rest of the series, where Stevens expertly weaves mystery elements with historical authenticity. The setting—an English boarding school in the 1930s—adds an extra layer of intrigue, as it's the golden age of detective fiction.

The second book, Arsenic for Tea (UK)/Poison is Not Polite (USA), takes place at Daisy's estate during a spring school break, bringing the murder and the suspects much closer to home, which is uncomfortable for everyone involved. The third book, First Class Murder (both UK and USA it seems), is set on the Orient Express when Hazel's father treats her and Daisy on a trip around Europe during the summer school break. I love that the setting is different in each book, though many of the same characters appear.

(Sadly, my library only has these three, so until I invest in the whole series, I can only talk about these.)

Robin Stevens's work is a fantastic example of how historical mysteries can appeal to younger audiences while still maintaining the genre's core elements. Much like the adult classics of Agatha Christie, Stevens' series mixes clever sleuthing, red herrings, and intricate plots, all set within a well-researched historical backdrop. Each book in the series immerses readers in 1930s England, where social class, gender roles, and the limits imposed on young girls are all explored realistically.

Along with a cup of tea and my favorite cozy reading spot, finishing the third book in the Murder Most Unladylike series is how I'm honoring the spirit of the day. If you've never read the series, Historical Mystery Day is the perfect excuse to start! Please recommend some other historical mystery novels in the comments - I'd love to read more!

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

Lyla’s post-doctoral research is going nowhere, she’s pretty sure her contract won’t get renewed, and things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor, are hanging by a thread. So, when Nico gets the chance to join a new reality TV show called The Perfect Couple, Lyla auditions with him.

Fast forward and suddenly she’s on Ever After Island for the show. They’re competing against four other couples for a big cash prize, but paradise quickly turns into a nightmare. A huge storm cuts them off from the mainland and their already-limited supplies quickly dwindle.

I’ve had a hit-or-miss relationship with Ruth Ware’s books, but the premise of this one hooked me right away because I can’t resist a good reality show plot. I just wish the whole competition had lasted longer! Everything went wrong so fast that it stopped feeling like a reality show and started feeling like a typical suspense thriller. I feel like playing up the reality show aspect could have created more confusing motives because you don't know if people are just acting "good" for the camera or what they may be hiding.

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Lucy and Savvy were the kind of girls everyone envied. However one night, Lucy is found covered in Savvy’s blood and the whole town thinks she's a killer. Years later, Lucy’s rebuilt her life in LA, far away from all that small-town gossip. She can’t remember a thing about that night, but she’s moved on. Or at least, she thought she had—until a true crime podcast, Listen for the Lie, decides to dig into Savvy’s murder for its new season. The host wants answers and Lucy returns to the town she’s avoided like the plague. She’s determined to find out what really happened, even if that means facing the possibility she could be the one who did it. I flew through this story in a day—it had me hooked from start to finish. I don’t even listen to podcasts anymore (I used to be obsessed), but the way this story uses that format is so compelling. Tintera nailed it.

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond

Happy Cozy Mystery Day! Aka Agatha Christie's Birthday!

(I should have actually reviewed a Christie novel today, but I'm still celebrating with a cozy mystery review - and I'm reading another cozy right now!)

Death in Castle Dark by Veronica Bond

Nora Blake thought she'd scored the ideal gig when she signed on with a murder-mystery troupe at the quirky yet mesmerizing Castle Shadows. Living in a fairy-tale-like castle, performing thrilling shows, and hanging out with a fun group of actors (plus a few cuddly kittens) all seemed like a dream come true, especially with free room and board thrown in.

But the magic of Castle Shadows hides something dark. During one of their early performances, what’s supposed to be a staged murder turns horrifyingly real when one of the cast members doesn’t get back up. He’s been murdered for real. Now, Nora’s caught in a chilling mystery off-stage, trying to figure out who among her fellow actors has gone from pretending to be a villain to actually becoming one—while making sure she’s not the next target.

I got this book recommendation from the Cozy Mystery Book Club (though I read it too late to participate). It’s the first book in a cozy mystery series (A Dinner and a Murder Mystery Series) but sadly there are only two books so far! I love the setting of a castle used for murder mystery dinners because it’s already engaging and spooky - then add in a real murder, and I’m hooked!

Walk Me to the Corner by Anneli Furmark

Walk Me to the Corner by Anneli Furmark

I'm in a novel workshop where five of us are writing young adult novels, workshopping them a chapter at a time. As often happens when you get writers together, the book recommendations fly faster than I can write them down!

One of the writers is revising a graphic novel. Interestingly, she only has the text, as she's not an artist. Still, the story and the way she laid it out is so visual - I can definitely imagine how amazing this would look as a finished book!

I mentioned that it made me think of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and Fun Home (and others) by Alison Bechdel, and she mentioned Walk Me to the Corner.

I requested it from the library without reading what it was about. Sometimes I like a hint of what's to come, especially with suspense books, cozy mysteries, and thrillers. But sometimes I like going in with no expectations - especially if someone personally recommended a book.

This book was really sparse; I found this appealing in a way because the reader can overlay their own emotions. Even with images, it was difficult to understand what each character was feeling deep down, which made me feel a bit disconnected from the story, though it was an interesting premise.

First Law of Holes by Meg Pokrass

First Law of Holes by Meg Pokrass

In First Law of Holes, Meg Pokrass showcases her flash fiction, micro fiction, and prose poems that feel like brief, almost voyeuristic peeks into the lives of strangers. Reading these stories seems like looking through apartment windows, catching small yet powerful moments in the characters’ worlds.

Read the full review here.