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!

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!

The Maid + The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose

The Maid and The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose are nice spins on cozy mysteries. Molly lives in a small apartment and loves to keep it clean. She also loves that aspect of her job and is satisfied with it, even though many people might not enjoy that type of work.

There's very little drama in Molly's life - or at least, what's there, like grieving her grandmother and crushing on a coworker, isn't dealt with in an emotional way as it might be in a more literary novel. The only drama is the murders that happen in the Regency Grand Hotel, where she works.

Of course, Molly is the one investigating both murders. That's the hallmark of a cozy mystery, along with other key characteristics that make this genre stand out.

Ironically, for me, the mysteries in these books weren't that compelling. In both reviews, I mention they were fairly slow reads for me. 

For The Maid, my review stated: "I like the premise of this book but it was really slow going. The ending, conversely, seemed rushed. Overall the story was great but I wish the pacing was more consistent."

For The Mystery Guest, I wrote: "Both this and its prequel, The Maid, read slow for me, but were enjoyable stories overall. Almost cozy mysteries since Molly seems so content with her job and space in life. As a ghostwriter by profession, the case in this one did interest me more. I’d definitely read more from the author."

Clearly, something about Molly's life kept me coming back. I like how cozy mysteries can feel like no-strings-attached reads. While I love getting attached to fictional characters, crying with them, and thinking of them long after I finish the book, sometimes it's nice to just... not have that level of attachment. So that's what made me read both of these books and what will push me to read more from this author/in this series.

What I liked most was how Molly was neurodivergent, most likely on the autism spectrum, but it was never explicitly stated. I like that the books aren't defined by having an autistic narrator. Plus, not knowing Molly's diagnosis, if she has one, feels more true to life.

If you like the niche of Molly being neurodivergent or the mysteries set in a hotel, you might like other cozy mysteries with diverse niches.

On the note of neurodivergence/autism/disabilities, I'll compile links and reviews to other books I've read that feature people with disabilities. Many are middle-grade and YA because my MLIS capstone project was collection development for a disabilities department. But there are adult novels out there, too, so I'll share a list Thursday.

Until then, please share your thoughts on The Maid and The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose in the comments!

Truly Devious YA Mystery Series

 

I read Maureen Johnson's Little Blue Envelopes books back when they came out, so I knew her name but didn't seek out more of her books until I had a hankerin' for some mysteries. I love any type of mystery, but was on a cozy mystery kick, and wanted to see if that was a genre within YA or not. Thankfully, it is - and Maureen Johnson is amazing at it!

I first read the Shades of London series, which made me want to re-visit England and also reminded me of how obsessed I was with Jack the Ripper as a teenager. Aka the perfect series for me! I usually love books that have intense character development so I can feel like I'm living another life for a bit, but cozy mysteries don't really do that. However, with Shades of London, it was so well-written that I felt like I knew the characters well enough as-is.

The same is true with Truly Devious. The first three books take place at a boarding school, which is already enchanting enough to a former public school student. The fourth is at a spooky summer camp and the fifth is in London for a study abroad program, so basically this series had everything I dreamed of as a teenager. 

Some things I loved about this series was how I never really knew who was the culprit - though I had a good guess in the fourth book, The Box in the Woods. But not knowing never made me feel like I was kept in the dark throughout the story, as it sometimes does in suspense novels (looking at you, unreliable narrator in The Girl on the Train). Also, I used to hate reading series if I didn’t read them back to back because I’d forget so much of the action in the previous book, but Maureen Johnson adds recap sentences throughout the beginning of the book to remind readers, without being too heavy-handed about it or devoting a whole chapter to a recap. I mean, I did read these back to back, perhaps with an adult novel in between, but there was still just enough recap to remind you of the previous book. But you can also read them as standalones without missing anything.

I can't recommend this series - and everything else I've read by Maureen Johnson - enough. I was especially delighted by Your Guide to Not Getting Murdered in a Quaint English Village, which cracked me up with each page. I gave it as a gift and also recommended my mother gift it to a friend who loves mysteries, so it's only natural that I recommend it to you, too!

Have you read any of Maureen Johnson's books? If I enjoyed these so much, do you have any similar recommendations for me?