The Secret Detectives is a charming middle-grade murder mystery, inspired by The Secret Garden and golden-age crime fiction.

The detective work may be a little muddled, but the central crime makes for an engaging mystery. Risbridger's writing is spirited and self-assured. 'Petty, Lettie and Khan' are a fantastic trio, each vivid characters in their own right, and I enjoyed watching their friendship develop. There are some real heart-felt moments of connection and understanding amongst the heists and surprises, as Risbridger sensitively explores themes of family, friendship and colonialism.

Pairing classic children's literature with crime fiction makes for a winning combination; The Secret Detectives is a promising debut.

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 parents. But on the voyage back to England, Isobel witnesses a murder and is swept up in a dangerous and baffling mystery. The first problem is that there appears to be no victim, Isobel didn’t see the face of the victim and no one has been reported missing. The second problem is Isobel’s co-investigators: Letitia is pretty and spoiled and used to getting her way in everything, Sameer Khan is determined to be Sherlock when this is clearly Isobel’s role. But together the unlikely friends must work out who is missing and why they were murdered. The pacing in the middle of the book is a little slow and they mainly seem to be having lunch over and over again rather than making any progress on the case, and when the investigation gets going at the end, I found it a little confusing. But the awkward relationship dynamics between the three children is wonderfully realised. An atmospheric and adventurous mystery.

A lovely flowing story very reminiscent of The Secret Garden and with similarities to A Little Princess.
Isobel is a free spirit who, having lost her whole family, is traveling on board ship to England. She is accompanied by a well to do woman with her own daughter, Letitia, a similar age to Isobel.
Isobel is convinced there is a mystery to solve on board and will go to any lengths to do so. She is unconcerned with conforming to the standards that Letitia's mother expects from children in her care and runs amok on the ship.
Isobel is a charming wild child that will have you rooting for her from the start.
Brilliantly written with great appeal to children of middle grade age, I feel sure this book will make as great a mark on many children as The Secret Garden had done over the years.

The Secret Detectives is a historical mystery, set on a ship, sailing from India. When orphan Isobel sets sail on the S.S. Marianna, the last thing she expects is to make new friends... or to solve a murder! Thrust into a world she doesn’t understand, Isobel must catch the murderer before the ship docks. On the way, she will uncover dark secrets, dangerous lies and unlikely allies.

Whilst elements of The Secret Detective appealed to me - the unpredictability, the commentary on social and gender norms of the time and the blossoming friendships, I did find it rather difficult to get through. Parts of it felt unnecessarily drawn out and I didn’t particularly warm to the characters. I’m sure it will be enjoyed by many, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

A life-changing journey on a 19th century ship bound for England, leaving behind everything you’ve ever known, witnessing a murder on a dark night… The Secret Detectives is a gripping Middle Grade mystery with hints of Nancy Drew and The Secret Garden intertwined in its gripping plot.

Eleven-year-old Isobel Petty is alone in the world. On her way to England from India to live with her uncle, she is under the care of Mrs Colonel Hartington-Davis onboard the Marianna. It seems that Isobel can do nothing right. She is untidy, unloved and unacceptable. With no one else, she is forced into a friendship with Letitia Hartington-Davis and Sameer Khan, an unusual boy she meets on the ship.

When the children are the only witnesses of a late night, cold-blooded murder, they band together to use all of their detective and journalism skills to try to solve the case. They must observe everyone, keep secrets from the adults and discover just who has something to hide. They soon discover that everyone has a secret and nothing is as it seems. With motives, suspects, and mysterious notes to consider, it doesn’t take long for the trio to get in over their heads. Only teamwork and trust will see them through.

This is a story of identity and value. Whether English, Indian, servant or master, the children explore the importance of a person’s place in the world, consider whether anyone can choose who they are and challenge the judgements made by those who believe they are in power or better than others. The passenger list for the ship is a microcosm of society at the time: adults, children, women, men, the elderly, servants, masters, people from different countries… Who deserves respect? Who is important? Who should be heard?

This exciting mystery has so many layers to discuss. Children will be swept away in the story as they work with Isobel, Sam and Letitia to discover the truth while questioning the systemic racism of the British government and people living in India at the time. Teachers will find numerous opportunities to discuss how views have changed (or not changed) as well as details about geography, history and literature to develop children’s knowledge.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story for so many reasons but I especially loved the confidence of each of the three main characters. So sure of themselves in their own ways, they are ready to take on the world and stand up for what they believe to be right no matter what.

Thank you to Nosy Crow for this engaging mystery and thought-provoking story!