The start of a thrilling new Second World War mystery series from the number-one-bestselling and multi-award-winning author of Murder Most Unladylike.

'Superb' Observer

'Meticulous and sharp' Guardian

'Engaging . . . You will make the journey with a spring in your step' The Times

'Robin Stevens is Agatha Christie for children' Katherine Rundell on the Murder Most Unladylike series

1940. Britain is at war, and a secret arm of the British government called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up spies.

Enter May Wong: courageous, stubborn, and desperate to help end the war so that she can go home to Hong Kong (and leave her annoying school, Deepdean, behind forever). May knows that she would make the perfect spy. After all, grown-ups always underestimate children like her.

When May and her friend Eric are turned away by the Ministry, they take matters into their own hands. Masquerading as evacuees, they travel to Elysium Hall, home to the wealthy Verey family - including snobby, dramatic Nuala. They suspect that one of the Vereys is passing information to Germany. If they can prove it, the Ministry will have to take them on.

But there are more secrets at Elysium Hall than May or Eric could ever have imagined.

And then someone is murdered...

'Spirited and fun . . . A must for young murder mystery fans' Bookseller

About the Author

Robin Stevens was born in California and grew up in an Oxford college, across the road from the house where Alice in Wonderland lived. She has been making up stories all her life.

When she was twelve, her father handed her a copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and she realised that she wanted to be either Hercule Poirot or Agatha Christie when she grew up. She spent her teenage years at Cheltenham Ladies' College, reading a lot of murder mysteries and hoping that she'd get the chance to do some detecting herself (she didn't). She went to university, where she studied crime fiction, and then she worked at a children's publisher.

Robin is now a full-time author and the creator of the internationally award-winning and bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series, starring Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong, and the brand-new Ministry of Unladylike Activity. She still hopes she might get the chance to do some detecting of her own one day. She lives in Oxford.

Reviews
As funny, clever, and warm as we've come to expect from Robin Stevens, The Ministry of Unladylike Activity is such a delight -- Louise O'Neill
Robin Stevens is Agatha Christie for children: her books have all the rich satisfactions, all the twists and pleasures and the enormous delights of instant mystery classics. I am always hungry for the next one -- Katherine Rundell on the Murder Most Unladylike series
Emotionally involving, enjoyably logical and engaging . . . The sense of place, time and voice are carefully created, and whether you solve the mystery before May, Eric and Nuala or not, you will make the 400-page journey - despite deaths on the way - with a spring in your step -- Nicolette Jones * Times *
A new crew of resourceful children takes the helm . . . Meticulous, lightly worn research and sharp character observation -- Imogen Russell-Williams * Guardian *
The author of the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series is returning to what she does best, which is creating a fictional world full of child detectives, period details, sumptuous settings and, yes, murder . . . Spirited and fun, this is a must for young murder mystery fans * Bookseller *
Expect excitement, intrigue, friendship and a puzzling mystery -- Week Junior
Much superb Agatha Christie-style whodunnitry * Observer *
This is an exciting book full of suspense . . . I give it 10/10! -- Lizzie, aged 8 * Nat Geo Kids *
Rip-roaring stuff * Daily Mail *
A fiendishly plotted, astutely observed novel that's equally perfect for avid Stevens fans and new readers. Absolutely thrilling! -- Louie Stowell



Book Information
ISBN 9780241429860
Author Robin Stevens
Format Hardback
Page Count 416
Imprint Puffin
Publisher Penguin Random House Children's UK
Weight(grams) 599g
Dimensions(mm) 222mm * 162mm * 37mm