'Sharply drawn... convincingly humorous and stroppy' - The Guardian

"Finding a dead body at my new school was a pretty rubbish way to start. But actually getting mixed up in the case? I was bound to get into deep, deep trouble for that!"

Murder comes to Hanbridge High, and three Year Seven misfits want to solve the crime:

New boy Jonno hopes playing detective will convince his parents that moving to Hanbridge was a big mistake.
School reporter Lydia thinks her news story will sweep everything else off the front page.
And young carer Daniel needs the police to arrest the right culprit - for his mum's sake.

They may not be friends, but they're about to become. . .The Detention Detectives.

'a fresh new take on the murder mystery genre' - The School Library Association

'Friendship, trust, courage and determination are at the heart of this extremely funny murder-mystery tale' - BookTrust

Misfits and murder meet in this brilliantly fun new mystery series by debut author Lis Jardine. A perfect next read for fans of Sharna Jackson's The High-Rise Mysteries, Fleur Hitchcock's Murder in Midwinter, and Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike.

About the Author

Lis Jardine grew up in various vicarages across London and the Black Country. She has been a lifelong reading addict and is rarely spotted in the wild without a book, usually a Golden Age murder mystery or a comic fantasy.
She currently lives in Cheshire with her husband and nearly-grown daughters, where she combines the two best jobs in the world: secondary school librarian and children's novelist.


Lis studied English Literature at the University of Warwick and completed the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. She has not won any prizes since a General Knowledge quiz at primary school.


In her spare time, Lis likes to watch TV, learn Norwegian (1300 day Duo streak!) and invent unlikely vegan sandwich recipes.
Follow Lis Jardine on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @LisJardine

Reviews
Top-grade misbehaviour...Lis Jardine's first novel is a compelling addition to the new canon -- Imogen Russell-Williams * The Guardian *
Friendship, trust, courage and determination are at the heart of this extremely funny murder-mystery tale. Featuring a hugely entertaining cast of characters, the intriguing plot is full of twists and turns, and will keep readers guessing to the very end. * BookTrust *
Lis Jardine is an exiting new voice in the canon of authors brilliantly sending young readers sleuthing. The Detention Detectives is cleverly plotted, the characters quirky but convincing, the action perfectly paced. * LoveReading4Kids *
The story is as funny as it is clever...The interweaving and strengthening of the bond between the three children gives emotional depth and veracity to the narrative. However, when the murder seems to be solved, there is one final twist at the end of the book which signals a further, hitherto unnoticed suspect-and, happily, the stage is firmly set for a sequel. * Books for Keeps *
This brilliant detective debut really is in a class of its own...plot twists and turns to keep your mini-investigators working their little grey cells right up until the end * Lucy Brandt, author of the Leonora Bolt series *
Clever, comical and clue-packed adventure in a sparkling new series from Lis Jardine...with an addictive, up-tempo prose and lively dialogue that children will recognise and love, Jardine's dazzling debut is brimming with skulduggery, secrets and some super entertaining sleuthing -- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Post *



Book Information
ISBN 9780241523384
Author Lis Jardine
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Puffin
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 245g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 21mm