Sunday 20 December 2020

Murder with your Mince pie, anyone?

 

 'Mistletoe and Murder' by Robin Stevens; a festive Murder Mystery book review & A Sunday Selfie!

Erin the cat; Addicted to Mice & Mystery!


With that dreaded season of goodwill nearly upon us, we bring you our last book review of the year.
 
Why dreaded I hear you ask? 
 
Well, if you've ever heard the UMM (Upper Much-Mousing) carol singers, then you'd know why! And if the singing weren't enough, there is the annual "Great UMM Bake-Off." For those not familiar with the event, chefs from across UMM, who would, for the sake of public health and safety, be banned from entering a kitchen let alone actually cooking anything, are let loose to prepare a festive meal. To avoid cheating, anyone who has any skill, or can open a tin of beans, is automatically disqualified from taking part. 
 
The prizegiving takes place at the UMM Charity Christmas meal for those in need (and those who have no breakable teeth, or taste buds) and is generally well attended. OK, the presence of so many paramedics is unusual. Still, the flashing lights on the ambulances do add some cheer to the event. 
 
Afterwards, there is the annual Inter Village no-holds-barred ice-hockey match. Now for aficionados, there is one significant difference. The traditional puck is replaced by a selection of overbaked seasonal fare: mince pies, slices of Yule log, and Christmas puds. Mrs H tells me that they did once use turkey wings, but the aerodynamics of burnt wings were not conducive to the game staying on the rink! The winners are the team that can leave the pitch without limping or severe injury! If you plan to attend this culinary match, face masks and body armour, of the steel kind, are an absolute MUST! 
 


OK, so enough of the local goings on in Upper Much-Mousing, here's the book review. . . .

 

These last few weeks we have been reading book five in the Murder Most Unladylike series, titled: Mistletoe and Murder.

 

What's it all about?

 

The setting.

It is a few days before Christmas 1935. Hazel and Daisy have managed to wangle their festive holidays staying in Cambridge with Daisy's brother, Bertie, who is studying at Maudlin College. Aged 14, the girls are looking forward to having an 'adult-free' time enjoying the delights of the city, cream teas and cake.  

 

To add to the excitement Alexander, who the girls met on the Orient Express (See book 3 – A First Class Murder) is also staying at another college nearby. He has come with fellow Junior Pinkerton, George, and his brother Harold. Both Alexander and George are, of course, co-chair members of a rival detective society to that of the girls.

 

The Plot:

The girls learn that in Maudlin College, a male-only college, two of Bertie's fellow students Donald Melling & Charles 'Chummy' Melling are to throw a big party. It's their coming of age, and it happens to be Christmas day. Now it seems that Donald is always having nasty accidents, as well as being the butt of jokes played by his brother, Chummy. Nothing unusual there you may say, sort of brotherly acts of mischief, and you would ordinarily be right. BUT, On their birthday, Donald, who is ten minutes older than Chummy, will inherit a vast fortune. He plans to spend it on a dubious-sounding diamond mine somewhere, a fact that rankles Chummy no end. Tempers between the two are always flaring, and all seem to agree that Chummy should be the one to inherit. After all, he is the more likeable, more outward going, right?

 

But for our two sleuths, and the Pinkertons, the accidents happening to Donald can mean only one undeniable thing, someone is trying to bump Donald off. All fingers and facts point to Chummy.

 

Now how would you go about solving and preventing a crime that hasn't happened? Well, the two societies come up with a plan that will hopefully not only save Donald but decide whether the girls or the boys are the best detectives. The bet is that the first society to solve the crime-to-be and expose the villain will win. The winner gets the credit, and the loser has to publically proclaim that they are not the best detectives in town…….

 


The scene is set, and the action starts in this latest adventure, but suddenly, and somewhat unexpectedly, and also inconveniently, someone else is murdered!!!

 

To add to the adventure, the girls have been hamstrung: girls are not allowed to be in the college, in fact, the College Master has barred them.

 

Will there be blood spilt between the rival detective Societies? Will Daisy and Hazel fall out again? Will, there be romance this time around, and if so, who has their eyes on whom, and do they notice?

Will you ever be able to look at Mice Pies, Mistletoe and Port in the same way ever again?

All this and much much more will be revealed!

 

Alas, I can not say more. From here on in, the story is full of clues, and has more ups and downs – many literal, than you could shake a Latin textbook at. Needless to say, to get to the end, the detectives have to outwit each other the university students and suspects, and the police. Not forgetting Daisy's intimidating Great Aunt Eustacia, who is a Cambridge mathematics don, and some rather irritated University staff, who may have something to do with the crime/s. And all this as the clock ticks down to Christmas Day!


What did we think?

We really enjoyed this book. . . . OK, that is an understatement, it was brilliant! The plot, like the student lodgings in which the crimes and a lot of the action take place, have more ups downs and sideways moves than a snakes and ladders board, and clearly just as dangerous.

 

Intelligent, complex and fun, and a step up from the last adventure. This book ably reflects the time and gives a feel for the season and location – albeit in a localised way. The story does also reflect the time as far as the treatment and attitude towards women students is concerned, as well as the way non-English students were viewed. The subjects are well handled though and show the authors adeptness at writing for middle-grade and older readers alike.

 

Who should read this book?

We read with an open mind and to have fun. But we don't want to be spoonfed. This book, like the others, isn't patronising for the younger reader, and engaging for the older reader (in Mrs H's case, the ANCIENT reader!). So definitely suitable for ages 9 upwards (to ancient). We love the format of the book/adventure which has retained the first-person narrative (from Hazel). The book also includes a plan of the location and floor levels to the students' rooms. There are clues there if we can spot them, but if you fancy a ride, the story sails along like a punt on the River Cam, that flows through Cambridge.

 

Fancy having a read for Christmas? Then please do consider treating your thermal stockings to a copy. The audible version is just as good and could be winging its way into some readers virtual stocking in seconds. 

 

Want to buy a copy?

If you'd like a spot of crime with your cranberries or Murder with your Mince Pies, please do support your local bookshop first. 

 

If you would like something extra spiffing, Round Table Books, here in the UK, can offer special editions, signed copies and pre-orders. I believe they do ship internationally too. A link to Round Table Books special orders can be found HERE.

 

Round Table Books is "an Inclusion-led book shop" based at the heart of Brixton, London, UK. Its purpose, as shown on their website, is to highlight and celebrate underrepresented children's books, writers and illustrators, and draws from as wide a range as possible of UK and Irish publishing houses. Mrs H says, in an age when small or minority is often pushed to one side by the big, shops across the world like Round Table Books, should be encouraged by us all, so we can nurture great new diverse talent.

And now, my pre-UMM Bake off snoozie selfie – I'll be needing all my energy for the big match, mainly so I can avoid the flying pies!

 




Next time I will be reviewing Book 6 in the series.

OK, so that is it from us here at the Palace. We will return, injuries and indigestion permitting, sometime in January, when all the empty sweet papers have been swept up, and the leftover turkey (Mrs H's) has been confined to my tummy.

 

Till then, we wish you all a safe, happy, mince pie and pudding filled – with the occasional sherry or five – few weeks!

Till later.

Toodlepip and Purrs!

ERin

22 comments:

  1. Very nice snooze selfie, Erin!

    Now for the book... Christmas pudding we understand. The consistency is prfect! But mince paws? Oh Dear!

    Purrs,
    Tama and Genji

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Oh dear is the word. Personally I think someone mixed in cement, though maybe that's just me being to HARD on them, MOL!
      Purrs
      ERin

      Delete
  2. Erin, we love your snoozy selfie. That UMM Bake Off sounds like quite an amazing event, so a pre-event nap is definitely in order!

    Your review of Mistletoe and Murder totally makes us want to read it. When we are ready to do so, we will get it using your Amazon affiliate link.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. The UMM Bake Off is, well, unique, MOL
      We do hope you enjoy the series, there will be more to come, and from different authors, and not all the same.
      Purrs
      ERin

      Delete
  3. Erin! We have enjoyed reading the reviews for the books! We think we might try to get Mom to read them, (though she has been falling asleep as soon as she lays down to read since she retired)!|Erin, you look so beautiful as you review the book, but the second, where you indulge in your repose left me breathless! I do hope the pawpawrazzi did not disturb you!
    Your Marv (oh and Jo Jo, Kozmo, Cinnamon and Barb too)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are glad you enjoyed the review of so ably written work. Paparazzi, if it is mouse flavoured, or pepperoni, I'll get up for it, else I'll stop asleep! Ooops, sorry, Mrs H says that's pizza! No, Mrs H left me in peace for a bit then I had to get her up to do dictation. Lifes tough at the top . . . .
      Purrs
      ERin

      Delete
  4. Lovely selfies and that really sounds like a great book!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I liked the first book (even if Daisy is a bit irritating and wants to be right I love Hazel) This book I think I need to get soon.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great UMM Bake-Off does sound rather interesting, and the ice hockey is not for the faint hearted.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Princess, I hope you suit up with lots of padding if you plan to purrticpate in the hockey match in case you accidentally get beamed by a wayward stale Yule log. I wouldn't want you to have an injury anytime of the year, but especially on your birthday which is just around the corner. Long-distance kisses for you, the girl that puts a twinkle in my smile and flutters in my tummy. Purr purr purr.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Princess, I hope you where purrtective padding if you are planning to participate in that hockey match, just in case you get beamed by a wayward Yule log. I would hate for you to get an injury anytime of year, but especially on your birthday which is just around the corner. Long-distance kisses for you the girl who puts a twinkle in my eye and flutters in my belly.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I wish a lot of success for the books !

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ooooo! A Christmas murder mystery! How purrfect!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Another great book - and another fabulous review!

    ReplyDelete
  12. The book must be very interesting and I see you are as lazy as Rosie ! must be the season !

    ReplyDelete
  13. Now that sounds pretty darned interestin'. Bet it was a super good Christmas read. purrs

    ReplyDelete
  14. Erin, We think these books would make a great TV series.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ERin; we just wanted ta stop bye N say HI and hope all iz well with everee one ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a WONDERFUL book, for sure. You know me... I LOVE a good murder mystery. PURRS

    ReplyDelete
  17. You asked why Rosie doesn't eat chicken ! She never eats anything else then her Hill's fragile stomach kibbles since we adopted her when she was 3 months old ! Now she is 13 and has never eaten, meat, treats, catnip etc NOTHING !! she sniffs politely at what you present her and then turns around whith a disgusted face !

    ReplyDelete