The Detention Detectives is a decent enough read with some real down-to-earth characters. I thought Lydia was brilliant. Everyone knows a Lydia of one description or another. Wants to know about anything and everything, always in the right or wrong place at the right time. Top-grade misbehaviour...Lis Jardine's first novel is a compelling addition to the new canon Imogen Russell-Williams, The Guardian But Plan A just isn't convincing his parents their move was a mistake! What he needs is something a bit more dramatic. . . Hanbridge High proves to be a much more exciting school than Jonno could have imagined-and he hadn’t been doing much imagining as all he wanted to do was stay in his hometown of Grensham with all his friends and not be uprooted to another part of the country. However, when he and Daniel-the class nerd and Star Trek addict-come across the body of Mr Baynton, their P.E. teacher, in the sports equipment store things take a far more dramatic turn. Enter Lydia, editor of the school newspaper and desperately looking for a scoop that will convince her peers that she truly is a star journalist. Misfits and murder meet in this brilliantly fun new mystery series by debut author Lis Jardine. A perfect next read for fans of The High-Rise Mysteries, Anisha, Accidental Detective and Murder Most Unladylike.

Debut author and school librarian Lis Jardine brings us a murder mystery with twists and turns galore. It is clear to see where her inspiration has come from, schools are rife with ideas for great books, which this one is. Invention is the key to a good murder mystery - invent a crime - then explore all the possibilities that could lead to clues to solving the mystery before it is too late. There are misheard conversations, people in the wrong place at the wrong time and even a few people in the right place at the right time. There are clues and, if you are reading closely, you will find them all but this is a classic whodunnit and finding the answer is not going to be easy! New boy Jonno hopes playing detective will convince his parents that moving to Hanbridge was a big mistake.Finding a dead body at my new school was a pretty rubbish way to start. But actually getting mixed up in the case? I was bound to get into deep, deep trouble for that! I thought the author did well with the police procedure side of the story. The officers did not appear to be that overbearing or condescending towards the kids. Although the pathologist Dr Hinton, made me smile with his colourful take on the dead body and what he would be doing it later. I didn't need to use the added footnotes, but they are excellent and inciteful, especially if you are of a young age and fail to recognise some of the older references. He's not alone; Star Trek superfan Daniel and snoopy school reporter Lydia have their own, secret reasons for wanting to solve the case...

He's not alone; Star Trek superfan Daniel and snoopy school reporter Lydia have their own, secret reasons for wanting to solve the case. . . Friendship, trust, courage and determination are at the heart of this extremely funny murder-mystery tale’ – BookTrust

I was bound to get into deep, deep trouble for that! When the wrong person is arrested for the crime, Jonno realises playing detective might just be the perfect Plan B. But the suspect list is long, and his classmates Daniel and Lydia also have reasons for wanting to solve the case. Jonno doesn't want any new friends. But he might need all the help he can get. About This Edition ISBN: Friendship, trust, courage and determination are at the heart of this extremely funny murder-mystery tale. Featuring a hugely entertaining cast of characters, the intriguing plot is full of twists and turns, and will keep readers guessing to the very end. BookTrust Friendship, trust, courage and determination are at the heart of this extremely funny murder-mystery tale' - BookTrust He soon becomes aware that he is not the only one with problems as Daniel’s mother is seriously ill and Daniel is her principal carer. He is assisted by Lois, Mr Baynton’s wife, who has been arrested as chief suspect for her husband’s murder. If Lois’s name isn’t cleared Daniel will lose her help and Social Services will intervene to have him fostered. Lydia’s life is also beset with troubles: she lives with her grandparents as her mother deserted her to live abroad and her domineering grandmother makes a prison of her life. Little by little, Jonno recognises that he is needed and the murder hunt changes the nature of the friendship between the trio from toleration to respect and, eventually, friendship.