Unfortunately I was unable to read and review this book due to a fault I had on my phone but I would like to thank the publishers for accepting my request x

This was the second instalment in the Violet Veil Mysteries Series and it was just as good as the first one! The writing was great as always! The mystery in itself was pretty solid and I loved how it ended so satisfactorily! Overall this was a great novel and I definitely want to read more in this series!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the free e-arc!

It's one of the best middle-grade mysteries I've ever read! Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens. I liked it so much that I followed the author on Twitter and decided to read all her books. It's so well-written!

Here are five reasons why you should read it:

1) Unpredictable plot! I started suspecting who the culprit was only after reading 62.6% of the book.
2) Fascinating mystery. I was so intrigued by this premise.
3) Super powers. Violet can communicate with ghosts!
4) Present parents. I've read so many middle-grade mysteries that were set in boarding schools that it was really fun to read a book about a girl who returns lives with her parents and can investigate only at daytime. Plus, Violet is an undertaker's daughter, which adds a nice touch.
5) Characters. Violet Veil is one of the most relatable heroines. She makes mistakes. She craves to impress her new friends. She thinks that she is always right. She is afraid of walking at street alone at night. She is determined to become a detective instead of following in the footsteps of her mother. Oliver, Anastos brothers, Lady Athena... there were so many interesting characters. Plus, Violet's dog, Bones, is adorable!

Moreover, the story takes place in Victorian times. Sometime after 1886... and I just love reading historical middle-grade mysteries. I think it's the first time I've seen the word "hoodwinked" in a book. Love it!

The fabulous second book in the series about Violet Veil and her friends. She wants to be a detective and is always on the lookout for cases to solve, and now has adults coming to ask for help. Bit can she solve the mystery of stolen jewelry and what about the strange happenings at the local theatre?

This is a Middle Grade Historical Fiction Mystery with Magical Realism, and this is the second book in the Violet Veil Mysteries series. I have read and reviewed the first book in this book series before reading this book, but I do not think you have to read the first book before picking up this book. This is a cute and fun Fast Pace Middle Grade Mystery with great characters. I love the characters in this book so much, and the main character, Violet is just everything I want a middle grade character to be. Bones, Violet's dog, helps her solve the cases she gets into, and I really love animals that becomes like a secondary main characters. I also really enjoyed that this book takes place in a historical time period. I think the time period made this book so much better. The mystery in this book was fun, and there was a small twist at the end. The twist was not super big, but it was good for a middle grade book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks) or author (Sophie Cleverly) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Another upbeat mystery from Cleverly, A CASE OF MISFORTUNE delights.

Cleverly once again delivers a fast-paced, cosy mystery adventure full of charming characters and shenanigans.

At the beginning of the story, determined heroine Violet has gained recognition for saving her father in the last book, and begins her own mystery-solving service. She is approached by Miss Li, a woman whose necklace has mysteriously reappeared in her home... when last she saw it, it was being buried with her father's grave, which is still undisturbed...

The mystery continues to build as more instances of amazement occur, all linked to a psychic called Lady Athena at the local theatre. There Violet befriends the children of the theatre's owners, Niko and Eleni. Only until Lady Athena predicts the death of her colleague does Violet suspect something more sinister, but the book never loses its hopeful whimsy and stays light-hearted despite its heavier turn.

What I actually liked more about this instalment of VIOLET is the tension between Violet and Oliver, the boy who 'came back from the dead' in the last book. There's a gentle conflict between the two of them, in that Oliver doesn't think Violet appreciates him, that bubbles to the surface at the end of the book. Violet's do first, think later, can-do attitude lands her in trouble more than once, but especially with Oliver, and it brings to attention a nice message of not taking anything or anyone for granted. With Bones the dog, the main characters make a dynamic unit, easy to love and follow.

WILL I READ ON? Yes!

I recently read this first book in this series and was pleased to get an advance digital copy for the second so that I could get straight on with the adventure.

Violet’s sense of determination certainly hasn’t faded and with her new business set up she is quickly tasked with a new mystery to solve. Miss Li and her reappearing necklace certainly fit that bill.

Oliver and Bones are in their rightful places at her side and I was delighted to meet two new young characters. The children of the theatre owners (Eleni and Niko). Reading of their first encounter filed me with a sense of joy for Violet who obviously missed the company of friends her own age. I also got the sense that Eleni was going to be just as strong minded and adventurous as Violet.

The story started of as a simple mystery - predictions by Lady Athena coming true under some what questionable circumstances but things soon took an even more dramatic turn when one of the theatres actors was murdered.

Re-energised after a small slump Violet goes back to investigating with her usual vigor but can she really uncover the truth?

There was a lot of tension in this book between Oliver and Violet. Violet is forced to learn some hard lessons about herself in order to put things right. It’s not easy to accept that you were wrong and Violet is no different to the rest of us.

I found this to be a very enjoyable read and hope there will soon be a book three.

Mysteries and detective stories are high up on my list of favourite genres to read, and when I saw this available to request on Net Galley I was thrilled, as the first title – A Case of Grave Danger – was a book I very much enjoyed reading. With its smart protagonist and feminist themes, it’s a story that I have been delighted to share in school and one which its younger readers have also enjoyed as it describes Violet’s first foray into solving the most serious of crimes.

After the success of her first outing, Violet is determined to establish herself as a private detective and with that in mind, has discreetly placed a card advertising her services in the window of her father’s undertaking business in the hopes of attracting a client. When a Miss Li calls to speak to her, Violet listens intently to a mysterious tale involving the burial of her visitor’s father and pledges to investigate.

As she looks into what seems to be an impossible occurrence following the late gentleman’s funeral, Violet’s enquiries take her to the Grecian Theatre, where medium Lady Athena is not only playing to spellbound crowds but genuinely seems to have the gift of second sight. When her predictions start to take a more sinister turn, will Violet and friend Oliver be in time to prevent a tragedy happening? And will they be able to solve the conundrum for which Violet has been hired?

Having gained in confidence in her unique way of finding clues, and ably assisted by new friend Oliver, here is a brand new case for Violet to solve, which – like so many literary crimes – appears at first glance to be unsolvable but which soon finds our heroine drawn into more than just a straightforward puzzle, and into a world where she will need to use all of her skills to unpick what is happening. Whereas in her first adventure, Violet had deeply personal reasons for working out what was going on, here she is doing it to prove that she can – not just to herself but to those around her, including her own parents whose idea of what is and what isn’t suitable for a young lady to do are very different from her own.

So many of our girls are still lacking in confidence to take on what are still seen by many adults as traditionally male roles, to a large extent – possibly – because that is what they are surrounded by at home. While in school we are keen not to assume gender stereotypes, great stories like this one are vital for younger readers to see that all sorts of opportunities are open to them and that if they really want to do something, they may have to stand their ground in order to do so, just as Violet does. As well as proving to be a determined heroine, Violet also has her many flaws and – again – it is so important for children to see that none of us is perfect and while we may aspire to great things, being true to ourselves and being good enough are achievements in their own right.

Whether or not you have read the book which precedes this one, this is the perfect new year gift to yourself to banish the post-holiday blues, available as it is on January 6th 2022. As always, my enormous thanks go to both publisher Harper Collins Children’s Books and to Net Galley for my advance virtual read.