Boarding school detectives Harriet Wong and Daisy Wells are spending the holidays at Daisy's home, Fallingford. Daisy's birthday is coming up, so her chic but rather dramatic mother is holding a big family tea party. Everyone in the family is coming, including the dashing but mysterious Uncle Felix. Daisy is expecting to be in the spotlight, but strange things are happening at Fallingford.
For a first, Uncle Felix isn't being jolly and Daisy and Harriet hear arguments about the supposed friend of Daisy's mother, Mr Curtis, which is breaking up the family. Also, their governess, Miss Alston, is behaving weirdly and the twosome can't help but wondering what her secrets are.
The big day arrives but the house falls into deep shock. A guest at the house falls terribly ill, dangerously ill and Daisy and Harriet think the invalid has been poisoned. They begin an investigation, picking up motives and alibis for all the residents in the house. Sometimes, they feel as if someone is close by, who knows exactly what they are doing. The clues suddenly point to a relative close to Daisy, but she is desperate to not continue. However, as all good detectives know, they can't stop without revealing the truth, however hard it may be...
I immensely enjoyed this book, as it is funny in places, but also mysterious and gripping. It has all the good qualities of a detective book, and I would recommend it for ages 9+
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