The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger: New for 2022, a mystery-filled detective story for children, perfect for fans of Robin Stevens!: Book 1

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This is a four-session Spelling Seed for the book The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J T Williams. On opening night as he entered the stage, a chandelier dropped from the ceiling but it was at this moment that Elizabeth Sancho saw Dido Belle, the first black girl her age that she has seen. The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger: New for 2022, a mystery-filled detective story for children, perfect for fans of Robin Stevens! It also emphasises rights for Black people, so I think it will be a good story to be shared during Black History Month.

The next day Lizzie set off for the Kenwood house, the residence of Belle, where she lived with her Uncle and Aunt.It was great to read a historical novel for children where the main characters aren't white and middle class and the mystery/detective aspect made it really pacey and engaging. Another large character is Lizzie’s father, Ignatius Sancho, who is actually the victim of the crime. The girls meet up and decide to track down this mysterious figure, becoming involved in the abolitionist movement and the unlawful seizure of Black people from the streets of London to be sent to the Caribbean as slaves. Overall, I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with relatable and likable characters.

The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries does what, in my view, great historical fiction should do- it tells a cracking story from the view of someone you might not find in the history books. All through the story, the reader also finds clues about African history, slavery and the situation of Black people in Georgian London. T. Williams, was extremely good at knowing when to describe what was happening and when to use dialogue. I really like books with genres based around mystery and adventure (and therefore detectives), so this book’s title really sparked my curiosity.There’s an absolute bumper crop of brilliant books out this summer, but my pick has to be the first in a brand new series, The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries by JT Williams (June, Farshore).