Siblings Ava and Luke discover a box marked "Top Secret" hidden in the loft. Inside the box are papers relating to murders that happened forty years ago during a local scout and guide camp. The papers claim that the murderer has never been caught, so Ava and Luke are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.
I'm a huge fan of Janice Hallett, the style of her books really appeals to me, and once you begin one, they are impossible to put down until you are finished. Hearing that the author had written a book for children, I knew I wouldn't rest until I'd read it. For other fans of the author wondering if they should give the book a go, I can heartily recommend it; all the things you expect from Janice Hallett are included. A Box Full Of Murders is aimed at the 8 to 12 age range, but don't let that put you off, there's something for everyone in the book.
The set-up is a little unusual. Ava, 11, and Luke, 10, are siblings who are living apart following their parents' recent separation. To stay in touch, the pair are sending messages back and forth. The discovery of the mysterious box in the loft ignites their interest. Determined to get to the bottom of the unsolved crime, they decide not to share what they've discovered with either parent.
Ava and Luke are very modern children; the vast majority of their interactions revolve around their phones. This is in contrast to the setting for the scout and guide camp which takes place in 1983, when mobile phones didn't exist. The contrast between the two groups of children is quite pronounced. Today's children are holed up in their bedrooms staring at screens and living on takeaway food, whereas those of forty years ago are camping out, climbing trees, wandering unaccompanied and eating whatever food is put in front of them. All of the children have just the right level of precociousness, innocence and lack of filter so that none of them come across as annoying.
As Ava and Luke uncover more and more documents, they delve deeper into the events of the past. It is funny when they have to look up things that are mentioned because they are now obsolete. I really enjoyed this nostalgic element of the story. One constant for both generations is the preservation of nature. Saving natural habitats and endangered species is a common issue today; the novel highlights that it is nothing new.
The exploits of the scouts and guides in 1983 reminded me of a much simpler time, and even reminded me of epic adventure stories such as The Famous Five. Janice Hallett has managed to convey the perfect level of mystery and danger so as not to frighten any children reading the book. The chopping and changing between different forms of media, avoiding chapters completely, means that interest is held, but it is easy to put the book down at any point.
Both sets of children manage to solve the crimes they are involved with, however there are still unanswered questions for Ava and Luke. How did the box end up in their loft? Why is their father denying all knowledge of the box? What is in all the other boxes in the loft? No doubt we'll find out more in the sequel!
Author Details
Janice Hallett is the author of five best-selling novels. Her debut, The Appeal, was awarded the CWA Debut Dagger of 2021 and was a Sunday Times’ Bestseller, Waterstones’ Thriller of the Month and Sunday Times’ Crime Book of the Month. Her second novel The Twyford Code was named Crime & Thriller Book of the Year in the British Book Awards 2023. It was also a Sunday Times’ Bestseller and a Financial Times book of the year. The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels was an instant Times and Sunday Times bestseller on its launch in January 2023 and a Richard & Judy Book Club pick.
The Christmas Appeal, a fast, fun and festive novella, was launched in October 2023. It was a Times and Sunday Times bestseller.
Her latest novel The Examiner, was an instant Times and Sunday Times bestseller on its launch and is out now.
Janice is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. As a playwright and screenwriter, she penned the feminist Shakespearean stage comedy NetherBard and co-wrote the feature film Retreat.
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