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Quick answer: If you love Robin Stevens's Murder Most Unladylike books, read Enola Holmes, Truly Devious, The Westing Game and Flavia de Luce. All feature clever young sleuths, boarding-school or village settings and puzzles that reward careful reading.
Robin Stevens's Wells and Wong mysteries follow Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, two schoolgirls in the 1930s who set up a detective society at their boarding school and solve murders. The books are witty, atmospheric and sharply observed. The books below offer similar young detectives, classic settings and fair-play puzzles for middle-grade and teen readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murder Most Unladylike | Robin Stevens | Ages 9-13 | the series start |
| Arsenic for Tea | Robin Stevens | Ages 9-13 | country-house murder |
| Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess | Nancy Springer | Ages 10-14 | Sherlock's sister |
| Truly Devious | Maureen Johnson | Ages 13+ | school mystery |
| The London Eye Mystery | Siobhan Dowd | Ages 9-13 | unusual detective |
| The Westing Game | Ellen Raskin | Ages 10-14 | puzzle classic |
| Chasing Vermeer | Blue Balliett | Ages 9-13 | art and puzzles |
| Greenglass House | Kate Milford | Ages 10-14 | snowed-in mystery |
| The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie | Alan Bradley | Adult | precocious sleuth |
| Murder on the Orient Express | Agatha Christie | Adult | the classic |
| A Murder Is Announced | Agatha Christie | Adult | village puzzle |
| The Secret of the Old Clock | Carolyn Keene | Ages 8-12 | girl detective |
| Malory Towers: First Term | Enid Blyton | Ages 8-12 | boarding school |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | Ages 9-13 | puzzles and teamwork |
| Five on a Treasure Island | Enid Blyton | Ages 7-11 | classic adventure |
1. Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
Daisy and Hazel investigate the death of a teacher at Deepdean School. The best place to begin.
Best for: the series start.
2. Arsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens
The girls visit Daisy's family home, where a birthday party turns deadly. A cosy Christie-style puzzle.
Best for: country-house murder.
3. Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer
Enola, the much younger sister of Sherlock Holmes, runs away to find her missing mother. Clever and fast.
Best for: Sherlock's sister.
4. Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson
A student at an elite academy investigates a decades-old kidnapping. Twisty and atmospheric.
Best for: school mystery.
5. The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
A boy with Asperger's helps solve the disappearance of his cousin from the London Eye. Sharp and original.
Best for: unusual detective.
6. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
Sixteen heirs compete to solve a millionaire's death. Clever, funny and still fresh.
Best for: puzzle classic.
7. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Two sixth graders try to find a stolen painting. A love letter to art and codes.
Best for: art and puzzles.
8. Greenglass House by Kate Milford
A boy at an inn full of odd guests solves a theft. Cosy and complex.
Best for: snowed-in mystery.
9. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley
Eleven-year-old Flavia de Luce investigates a death in 1950 England. Witty and charming, with a chemistry-loving heroine.
Best for: precocious sleuth.
10. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot investigates a murder on a snowbound train. The most famous of the classic puzzles.
Best for: the classic.
11. A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie
Miss Marple investigates a murder advertised in the local paper. A model of the village mystery.
Best for: village puzzle.
12. The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene
Nancy Drew's first case, involving a missing will. A classic girl detective.
Best for: girl detective.
13. Malory Towers: First Term by Enid Blyton
Darrell Rivers starts at her new school and makes friends. A warm boarding-school companion.
Best for: boarding school.
14. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted children are recruited for a secret mission. Smart, adventurous and warm.
Best for: puzzles and teamwork.
15. Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton
The first Famous Five book, in which the children find a wreck and a hidden treasure. Cosy and quick.
Best for: classic adventure.
How to Choose
For more of the series read Murder Most Unladylike and Arsenic for Tea in order. For other young sleuths pick Enola Holmes, Truly Devious or The London Eye Mystery. For puzzle lovers choose The Westing Game or Chasing Vermeer. For the classic adult roots read Agatha Christie. Older readers may enjoy Flavia de Luce. Most are short, so they suit readers who like to guess the culprit before the end. Stevens's books are narrated by Hazel, who writes her notes in the style of a Watson, so readers who enjoy Sherlock Holmes will notice the nods. Fans of the Wells and Wong style may also enjoy period details, so books set in 1930s England, such as Agatha Christie's novels, give extra pleasure. Younger readers can start with Murder Most Unladylike and keep a notebook of clues, as Hazel does. Libraries usually have the whole series, and the audiobooks are narrated with a lively English charm.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Murder Most Unladylike?
The first of the Wells and Wong mysteries, set at an English boarding school in the 1930s.
Who wrote it?
Robin Stevens.
What age is it for?
Roughly ages 9 to 13.
How many books are there?
Many. Check current listings for the latest count.
Are they scary?
There are murders, but they are handled gently.
Do I need to read in order?
It helps, since characters and relationships develop.
Is there a TV version?
Check current listings for any adaptation.
What should I read next?
Try Enola Holmes or The Westing Game.
Is Robin Stevens writing new books?
Check current listings for the latest Wells and Wong titles and spin-offs.