By Ella Risbridger (author) Part of the The Secret Detectives Mysteries series
"Gripping history and classic mystery on the high seas "
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June 2021 Debut of the Month
Inspired by The Secret Garden and the stylistic elegance of the golden age of children’s literature, Ella Risbridger’s The Secret Detectives radiates historic charisma and the allure of engaging self-determining characters. What’s more, it’s a rip-roaring adventure that’s guaranteed to charm the socks off fans of Robin Stevens and Katherine Rundell, while keeping them on the very edge of their seats.
In a classic set-up, after finding herself orphaned, eleven-year-old Isobel Petty is plucked from her home outside Calcutta to live in England with a distant uncle. Pondering her future, Isobel declares, “England sounded very cold and unpleasant, and her uncle, worse” - not the best of starts.
Life aboard the S.S. Marianna, in the charge of Mrs Colonel Hartington-Davis, is an irritation, not least due to her charge’s exasperating daughter, Letitia. “If you’re not a native and you’re not English, what are you?” she demands of Isobel. Then, while despairing of having to spend three long weeks at sea, Isobel witnesses someone being thrown overboard.
When the captain insists no one is missing, Isobel sets about solving a double mystery - the identity of the culprit, and their victim.
Isobel’s wit and determination are immensely appealing (as is her straight-thinking, straight-talking aspect), and I especially loved the ebb and flow dynamics between Isobel and her fellow (initially reluctant) co-investigators. In short, this is a perfectly-pitched history mystery, possibly best enjoyed by torchlight with a stack of fortifying ginger biscuits to hand.
The LoveReading LitFest invited Ella to the festival to talk about The Secret Detectives, her excting debut inspired by The Secret Garden.
The digitally native, all year round, online literature and books festival, with new content released every week is a free-for-all-users festival.
What are you waiting for? Check out a preview of the event here and sign up to become a member.
The body seemed to fall for a long time. There was no splash, or if there was it was lost in the waves. Isobel was frozen to the spot for a moment - and then her common sense caught up with her, and she stepped back quickly into the shadows.
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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. Marianna, 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 perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Katherine Rundell.
A thoroughly entertaining mystery and a heartening story of friendship. I loved it. - Katherine Woodfine, author of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow
Ella Risbridger is a writer from London. Her debut, Midnight Chicken (& Other Recipes Worth Living For) , was published by Bloomsbury in January 2019 and won praise from Nigella Lawson, Nigel Slater and Diana Henry. It was named a Book Of The Year 2019 by half a dozen publications, including The Times, The Daily Mail, and The Observer.
Ella is also the editor of the anthology Set Me On Fire: A Poem For Every Feeling , published by Transworld in November 2019. She’s written for The Guardian, The Observer, Prospect, Grazia, and some other places too. For three years she had a column at The Pool and a beauty column in The i. The Secret Detectives was her debut children’s book.
Follow Ella on Instagram @elllarisbridger
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The body seemed to fall for a long time. There was no splash, or if there was it was lost in the waves.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Secret Detectives and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Secret Detectives features in the following genres: Interviews with Authors and Illustrators, Recommendations, Debuts of the Month, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Historical Fiction, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Crime & Mystery, Adventure Stories, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Secret Detectives was written by Ella Risbridger and published by Nosy Crow Ltd
The Secret Detectives has 332 pages
Yes it is part of The Secret Detectives Mysteries series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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