The Secret Detectives
Paperback Published on: 03/06/2021
Price: £7.99
Bookseller Reviews
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A Thoroughly Brilliant Book
This is magnificent. I raced through this is twenty-four hours and can't stop giddily recommending it to everyone I come into contact with.
The year is 1... READ MORE
Thoroughly enjoyable!
The most disappointing thing about reading this was finding out it was a standalone and not the start to a new series!
I finished it absolutely desperate... READ MORE
A brilliantly original detective story for young readers
In this new and exciting middle-grade mystery, Ella Risbridger takes us to a time and place full of complications – India under British rule. Though most o... READ MORE
Amazing detective novel
This is perfect for fans of Robins Stevens! With strong echoes of The Secret Garden, this story is about a girl that is forced to take a long voyage from h... READ MORE
Synopsis
When Isobel Petty is orphaned, she finds herself being taken away from her home in India and sent to live with a distant uncle in England. On board the S.S. Mariana, she witnesses a shocking act - somebody being thrown overboard in the middle in the night. But when the ship's captain insists that nobody is missing, Isobel and her two new reluctant friends must solve two mysteries - the identities of both the murderer and the victim - before they reach England and the culprit has the chance to escape.
Inspired by The Secret Garden and the golden age of crime writing, The Secret Detectives is a gripping, beautifully historical mystery, from an incredible new voice in children's fiction - perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Katherine Rundell.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd
- ISBN: 9781788006002
- Number of pages: 336
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 mm
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allA twisty mystery, a brilliant autistic protagonist, and a reckoning with colonialism
This is hands down one of my favourite books of the year for several reasons - a great twisty mystery, a brilliant cast of characters, especially Isobel, a... READ MORE
A great murder mystery for 8-12 yr olds
Set aboard a ship travelling from colonial India to the UK, The Secret Detectives centres on three children from very different backgrounds who become frie... READ MORE
“If she died,” said Isobel, “why can’t I say died?”
A sentiment that I wholly understand. I am not one for people or animals ‘passing’. They die.
From page 11 I realised that I was beginning to like Isobel. ... READ MORE
A gripping murder mystery
The Secret Detectives is a wonderful book that will sweep you away across the ocean and transport you back in time.
When 11 year old Isobel Petty is orphan... READ MORE
Entertaining
The Secret Detectives is an entertaining mystery novel with an intriguing setting.
Isobel Petty is an orphan on her way from India to England to live with... READ MORE
This assured debut will hold much appeal to fans of the ever-expanding murder mystery genre for readers aged nine and over.
Taking inspiration from The Secret Garden and its main protagonist Mary Lennox, The Secret Detectives tells an exciting story about Mary’s, or in this case... READ MORE
Pre Secret Garden
Ever wanted to know what happened before the events of The Secret Garden? Wonder no more ... this book fills in the details.
This book follows Isobel on ... READ MORE
An atmospheric and adventurous mystery
Inspired by Mary Lennox of ‘The Secret Garden’, Isobel Petty is a similarly sallow and unpleasant orphan, sent home from India after the death of her paren... READ MORE
Great read!!
I continue with my inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett reads with this beauty! This made my historical fiction, detective mystery loving heart so happy as ... READ MORE
A period murder mystery to be solved
The Secret Detectives is set on the SS Mariana and follows the journey of Isobel Petty who is orphaned and has to travel to England ( under the control of ... READ MORE
Great read!
It has been a long time since I have read a detective novel and so I was really happy to receive an e-arc copy of this book from NetGalley. I was really in... READ MORE
Murder on the Nile meets Emil and the Detectives
A fabulous story of sleuthing and friendship set on a mail ship from India to Britain - Murder on the Nile meets Emil and the Detectives. I loved the perio... READ MORE
Brilliant!
Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy.
This book is a prequal to The Secret Garden and it is a brilliant young detective novel.
Perfect fo... READ MORE
A rollicking mystery and great characters, in this soul-sibling to The Secret Garden
This is hands down one of my favourite books of the year for several reasons - a great twisty mystery, a brilliant cast of characters, especially Isobel, a... READ MORE