Two school-girl detectives sleuth on the Orient Express. Lots of suspects & clues. An effervescent murder/locked room mystery & delightful heroines. My first read of Robin Stevens, and her others are now on my ‘to read’ list for a light, entertaining diversion. ( )

A children's murder mystery. Think Angela Brazil mixed with Poirot.It's set on the Orient Express which I think is a nod to Murder on the Orient Express. ( )

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong return for their third outing. Following on from their adventures at Daisy’s home during the early part of the summer holidays, Hazel’s father takes the two girls with him on a business trip on the Orient Express, thinking that he will be able to keep a close eye on them, and bring an end to what he sees as their unhealthy and inappropriate obsession with detection.

The story is set in the early 1930s, at a time of growing tensions between the various European powers, and includes passing references to the deteriorating situation in Germany. More significantly for the plot, it is set shortly after the publication of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, which the two girls have read with great excitement.

As the journey begins, the two girls find that their carriage has an intriguing mixture of fellow passengers, including an undercover policewoman whom they had encountered earlier in the summer at Daisy’s home, a renowned medium, a famous conjuror, a Russian countess and a wealthy heiress. Inevitably, therefore, before the train has passed too far along its route, a murder occurs with all the traits of a vintage locked room mystery. Fortunately, despite Mr Wong’s best efforts to deter them, the girls are on hand to investigate and solve the mystery … Sorry, perhaps I should have offered a spoiler alert before that last sentence. Still, too late now.

As with the previous books in the series, this is aimed at the Young Adult market, and probably primarily for girls in that age bracket. I have been reading the series along with my goddaughter, who has enjoyed them as much as I have. Robin Stevens writes clearly, and her plots are sound, although the undercurrent of humour is deftly managed. ( )

Well this is easily the best book of the series so far. The murder mystery was exciting and it's been too long since I've read Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express for me to remember exactly what happened. (Although to be fair I always forget endings, probably why I never really find all mysteries repetitive - I just can't remember) Whether or not it's an exact rewrite or not, I found it interesting and riveting.

Hazel is developed further as a person. She is now angry and offended by racist remarks and actions which is an improvement from the previous two books where she just brushed it off. I also don't particularly get why her and Daisy are friends half the time. They're not really all that nice to each other. They don't even seem to really like one another. Daisy was a bit less condescending and hateful towards Hazel, but Hazel seems to have taken over. I mean enjoy this gem.

Daisy narrowed her eyes at me. I think she was trying to decide if I was making a joke at her expense – and perhaps I was, a little. After all, it has been a very long time since I believed in the myth of Daisy Wells. Yes, she is President of the Detective Society, but I am its Vice-President, and if I do not take her down a peg or two from time to time, who will?

Stevens, Robin. A Murder Most Unladylike Collection: Books 1, 2 and 3 (Murder Most Unladylike Collections) . Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.

Yes sounds like a healthy relationship to me. And when Hazel first sees Alexander she doesn't really like him, the second Daisy says she's against him, Hazel loves him. As I've pointed out in my first two reviews this series has major flaws - but I find it riveting nonetheless and so will continue on with the rest of the series. ( )