Picture a California-born storyteller who swapped sunny shores for Oxford’s cobbled streets, weaving murder mysteries that captivate young readers—meet Robin Stevens! Best known for her Murder Most Unladylike series, Stevens blends Agatha Christie’s cunning plots with the charm of English boarding schools, creating thrilling tales for kids who love a good whodunit.
With a knack for crafting clever, diverse characters like Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells, Stevens has become a beloved name in children’s literature. Her stories aren’t just about solving crimes—they’re about friendship, courage, and growing up. Ready to dive into her world of secrets and sleuthing? Let’s explore!
The Making of Robin Stevens
Born on January 15, 1988, in California, Robin Stevens moved to Oxford, England, at age three, growing up across from the house where Alice in Wonderland was born. Her father, a Master at Pembroke College, and her mother, an Ashmolean Museum employee, surrounded her with academia and art. At 12, her father handed her Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, sparking a lifelong love for mysteries. Stevens studied English at the University of Warwick and earned an MA in crime fiction from King’s College London, later working as a bookseller and editor before becoming a full-time author.
Robin Stevens’s Unforgettable Stories
Stevens’s Murder Most Unladylike series, launched in 2014, follows schoolgirl detectives Hazel Wong and Daisy Wells as they solve murders in 1930s England. The first book, Murder Most Unladylike, sees the duo uncover their science teacher’s killer, blending Christie-inspired twists with boarding school drama. Other hits include Arsenic for Tea, a stormy manor mystery, and First Class Murder, set on the Orient Express. Her newer series, The Ministry of Unladylike Activity, stars Hazel’s sister May Wong during World War II, offering fresh wartime intrigue.
Stevens’s style is a love letter to the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, with nods to Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Dorothy L. Sayers. Her plots are packed with red herrings and clever clues, but it’s her focus on friendship and diversity—especially through Hazel, a Chinese girl navigating a British school—that sets her apart. The series’ humor, heart, and historical flair make it a hit with readers aged 9 and up.
In addition to her series, Stevens penned The Guggenheim Mystery, a sequel to Siobhan Dowd’s The London Eye Mystery, and short stories like Once Upon a Crime. Her 2024 release, The Most Unladylike Puzzle Book, challenges fans with brain-teasing puzzles, proving her versatility.
Why Robin Stevens Matters
Stevens has redefined children’s mysteries, blending nostalgia with modern inclusivity. Her diverse characters, like Hazel and May Wong, reflect the multicultural world she knew at school, inspiring young readers to see themselves in stories. Winning the 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, her work has sold nearly 725,000 copies in the UK, sparking a middle-grade mystery trend. By co-founding Knights Of, a publisher focused on diversity, Stevens champions new voices, ensuring kids read stories by authors like them.
Her books don’t just entertain—they empower kids to think critically, solve problems, and value friendship. Stevens’s legacy is a generation of readers hooked on mysteries and hungry for inclusive tales.
About Robin Stevens
- Born: January 15, 1988, in California, USA
- Key Works: Murder Most Unladylike, Arsenic for Tea, The Ministry of Unladylike Activity>
- Awards: 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Younger Fiction
- Fun Fact: She owns a bearded dragon named Watson!
Snag Murder Most Unladylike and dive into Robin Stevens’s thrilling world of clues, courage, and clever detectives!