Wells and Wong Mystery Books in Order

How to Read the Wells and Wong Mystery Series

Written by British-American author Robin Stevens, the Wells and Wong Mystery series (originally published in the UK as the Murder Most Unladylike series) has captured the hearts of readers worldwide. Set in the 1930s, the series follows two boarding school students—the bold, aristocratic Daisy Wells and the observant, introspective Hong Kong emigrant Hazel Wong—who form a secret Detective Society to solve baffling murders.

To fully appreciate the growth of the characters, the evolution of their friendship, and the overarching plotlines, the best way to read the series is in publication order. However, because Robin Stevens has also penned several critical companion handbooks, novellas, and mini-mysteries, integrating these short stories chronologically provides the ultimate, seamless reading experience.

The Ultimate Chronological Reading Path

If you want to read the main novels alongside the short stories and companion collections exactly where they fit in the Detective Society timeline, follow this recommended sequence:

1. Murder Most Unladylike (2014) – Published in the US as Murder is Bad Manners. This is where Daisy and Hazel first team up at Deepdean School for Girls to solve the murder of their science teacher. (Note: "The Case of Lavinia's Missing Tie" is a minor prequel story featured in Cream Buns and Crime, depicting the society's very first, trivial investigation before they cracked actual murders.)
2. Arsenic for Tea (2015) – Published in the US as Poison is Not Polite. The girls travel to Daisy’s family home, Fallingworth, for a birthday tea party that turns deadly.
3. First Class Murder (2015) – A glamorous trip on the Orient Express turns into a classic locked-room mystery.
4. The Case of the Blue Violet (Mini-Mystery #3.5) – Set between the third and fourth novels, this novella follows the girls trying to find a missing school prefect. Collected in Cream Buns and Crime.
5. The Case of the Uninvited Guest (Mini-Mystery) – Set during the wedding of Uncle Felix and Aunt Lucy. Collected in Once Upon a Crime.
6. Jolly Foul Play (2016) – Back at Deepdean School, a new Head Girl is appointed, leading to secrets, rivalries, and murder on Bonfire Night.
7. The Case of the Deepdean Vampire (Mini-Mystery #4.5) – Set immediately after the events of Jolly Foul Play, where the girls investigate rumors of a vampire in the school. Collected in Cream Buns and Crime.
8. Mistletoe and Murder (2016) – A snowy Christmas holiday in Cambridge is disrupted by a suspicious death.
9. Cream Buns and Crime (2017) – The first companion handbook. While it features detective tips, codes, and background trivia, it also contains essential short stories, making it a must-read after Book 5.
10. A Spoonful of Murder (2018) – Daisy and Hazel travel to Hong Kong, shifting the setting and introducing Hazel's family, including her younger sister May Wong.
11. The Case of the Missing Treasure (Mini-Mystery #6.5) – The girls must solve codes to catch a thief targeting London's museums. Collected in Once Upon a Crime.
12. Death in the Spotlight (2018) – The Detective Society goes undercover at a London theater, only for a murder to take place during a production.
13. Top Marks for Murder (2019) – Returning to Deepdean for a school anniversary, the girls find themselves investigating a crime close to home.
14. The Case of the Drowned Pearl (Mini-Mystery #8.5) – A coastal holiday mystery set between Books 8 and 9. Originally published for World Book Day, it is collected in Once Upon a Crime.
15. Death Sets Sail (2020) – The grand finale of the original Wells and Wong series, set against the backdrop of a cruise on the River Nile in Egypt.
16. Once Upon a Crime (2021) – This anthology brings together six crucial mini-mysteries that bridge the gaps between the main books and pave the way for the sequel series.

The Sequel Series: The Ministry of Unladylike Activity

Once you finish the main 10-book arc of Daisy and Hazel, the universe continues with a direct spin-off series set during World War II. It features Hazel's younger sister, May Wong, who runs away to London to become a spy and ends up embroiled in war-era mysteries. Read this series in the following order:

• The Ministry of Unladylike Activity (2022)
• The Body in the Blitz (2023)
• A Stocking Full of Spies (2025)

What to Know Before You Start

Stevens' series succeeds because it respects the intelligence of its audience. While it is marketed as middle-grade fiction, it does not shy away from the darker realities of murder or the social issues of the 1930s. The books are written from the perspective of Hazel Wong, whose viewpoint as an outsider in British society allows the narrative to address themes of racism, prejudice, and cultural identity with care and nuance. Furthermore, the evolving relationship between the main characters—from schoolgirl rivalry to deep, complex friendship—forms the emotional core of the series.

Are the Books Standalones?

While each book features a self-contained mystery with a clear resolution, reading them out of order is not recommended. The characters grow older, their family circumstances change, secondary characters recur, and the overarching plotlines (especially surrounding the mysterious Junior Pinkertons and character growth) build directly from one book to the next. Start with Murder Most Unladylike to get the full narrative impact.