View source for Diamonds and Daggers - The Marsh Road Mysteries by Elen Caldecott

{{infobox2
|title=Diamonds and Daggers - The Marsh Road Mysteries
|author=Elen Caldecott
|reviewer=Linda Lawlor
|genre=Confident Readers
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781408847527
|pages=230
|publisher=Bloomsbury
|date=February 2015
|aznuk=1408847523
|aznus=1408847523
|cover=1408847523
|website=http://www.elencaldecott.com
|summary=Piotr's father is so distraught when he's accused of stealing jewels from the famous actress Betty Massino that he decides to quit his job, pack up their home and move the family back to Poland. Can Minnie and Andrew help Piotr solve the mystery so he can stay in England – by Saturday? 
}}
Group of pre-teens get together to solve a mystery? Been there, done that. But don't be fooled. This book stands out from the crowd, even though it has to be said that many of those detective stories are really very good, for the way it incorporates utterly contemporary issues like economic migration, celebrity and prejudice, while remaining both funny and thrilling. 

Minnie, Piotr and Andrew have been friends since playgroup, tolerant of each other's little foibles (or, in Andrew's case, ''big'' foibles) and ready to do anything to help each other out. Their lives revolve around the hairdressing salon where Minnie's mum works, the theatre where Piotr's dad is in charge of security, and the vibrant, colourful market that stretches the length of Marsh Road. Like everyone else in the area they anticipate lots of drama and excitement as soon as they hear the famous Hollywood actress Betty Massino is to star in a play at the Theatre Grande, but nothing like the terrible catastrophe that occurs a bare few hours after her arrival. Her fabulous diamond necklace is stolen, and one of the back-stage crew insists they spotted Piotr's dad hurrying away from the scene of the crime. Mr Domek is well-known for being absolutely immovable when it comes to keeping precisely to the rules, and the three friends are certain he's innocent, but it soon turns out he wasn't actually where he should have been, at the stage door. So where was he? 

Ms Caldecott has a sure touch when it comes to describing the world of today's young people: just look at how much you learn about the three friends, the setting and the tone of the book before you even turn the first page. Matters like ethnic diversity and family structures are woven into the story in such a subtle way you probably won't even realise what you've been told, which is how it should be, and Minnie, Andrew and Piotr aren't mega-brilliant computer hackers or Mensa-level brainiacs: they could easily be found in your local playground or your classroom. It's no surprise that a book which so convincingly portrays everyday life has been chosen as one of the recommended titles for this year's Summer Reading Challenge. The adventures, while exciting, never really go beyond the kind of thing that could happen to any ordinary – albeit adventurous – person, although there is one scene with a baddie which will have those of a nervous disposition briefly chewing their fingernails. True, there are hints of evil in the book, but it's handled in a straightforward, down-to-earth way that it won't have you refusing to leave your bedroom without an armed escort. The police are neither complete nitwits nor vicious thugs as some authors portray them, and while they do appear to jump to conclusions a bit quickly, they can, on the whole, be trusted to pay attention to evidence  - even if it has been collected by children. The book is light-hearted, entertaining and engrossing, and the good news is that it's the first in a series, so Minnie, Piotr and Andrew will soon be back solving mysteries. 

Before this, we had [[Crowns and Codebreakers by Elen Caldecott]]

Elen Caldecott has cornered the market in gentle, funny books with a serious core and the occasional heart-in-the-mouth moment. If you enjoy this, you'll also love [[How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini by Elen Caldecott|How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini]], [[How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant by Elen Caldecott|How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant]] and [[Operation Eiffel Tower by Elen Caldecott|Operation Eiffel Tower]]. 

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