Murder on a Midsummer Night

The first in a very welcome new series from an author who has really established herself as a master of the spooky mystery story. In true Barrington Stoke style it is short, fast paced, accessible and very readable indeed. It is the perfect introduction to the popular genre of detective fiction and would be just right for engaging a reluctant reader audience and would also be the optimum length for a class read aloud. 

Without a wasted word Strange has created an atmospheric setting, a cast of quirky and engaging characters and a really entertaining whodunit. Brother and sister Eliza and Bram are our main characters. Their parents work for Sir Percy at Mulberry Hall where he is hosting a glamorous fancy dress party on Midsummer Night and they are helping out, joined by Sir Percy’s nephew Krish, who is videoing the occasion. 

Mulberry Hall is famous for its maze and local legend says that the mysterious Crow King will appear in the centre of the maze at the stroke of midnight and Bram is determined to film him. But the evening takes a darker turn when the grumpy guest, who has managed to offend a lot of people, is found poisoned. 

The classic bumbling village policeman is baffled, and it is down to Eliza to explain how to work out motive, means and opportunity to find the killer, providing a lovely lesson for the reader on how detectives work, as clues are found and suspects are interviewed and eliminated until the crime is solved and we find out if a demon really did appear in the maze and what secrets the cellar holds. 

Hannah Peck’s lively illustrations really help bring these somewhat eccentric characters to life and I have no doubt readers will eagerly pick up the next and subsequent episodes to meet them again.