The Ministry of Unladylike Activity

Oct 5, 2024 8:33 PM

Author:Robin Stevens

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

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

'Superb' - Observer

'Absolutely thrilling' - Louie Stowell

1940. The world 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 . . .

Join May, Eric and Nuala in the first unputdownable book in a fast-paced, mysterious and adventurous new series from million-copy-bestseller, Robin Stevens.

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

I absolutely loved it - it's charming and witty and there's so much in terms of in-jokes and she really grabs hold of all the traditions of this type of story and runs with them. You've got bunbreak, squashed fly biscuits and dormitories . . . but at the same time as this thrilling murder mystery

—— Susie Day

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