Why did you come to England?’ I asked. I was curious about this. Martita’s accent marked her out from the rest of the company – she was like me, a girl from another country trying desperately to find her place in England. Yes, darling, because no one wants to see an actress called plain old Marta Pao. That’s show business – you know that. Everyone knows where Spain is and, besides, when we put you in heels you have the build to be a Spanish beauty.’

I don’t believe you about Martita,’ I said once she had gone. ‘You aren’t just pretending to help. You really want to!’ Hazel, Daisy,’ said Inigo, ‘this tardy female is our Juliet, Miss Rose Tree. She comes to us fresh from her triumph in Happy Families last month at the Lyric, and this will be her first Shakespeare.’It was at breakfast on Monday morning, the eleventh of May, that we first heard of it. The maid, Bridget, had just brought in the toast and a pile of cryptic telegrams, neatly decoded in Bridget’s clear handwriting. In Uncle Felix and Aunt Lucy’s house, everyone seems to have an interesting and secretive life, and Bridget is an interesting and secretive maid who does far more than just the cooking and the cleaning. Oh!’ said Annie. ‘I suppose she isn’t. She always seems to appreciate me, though. Do you really think she’s so unpleasant?’ We shall be perfectly all right on our own!’ cried Daisy. ‘We can explore London properly at last. How exciting!’ Hazel Wong – Actress, playing the role of Potpan, and Vice-President and Secretary of the Detective Society

What’s here?’ she cried. ‘A cup, closed in my true love’s hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end … I will kiss thy lips!’ Come away!’ I said at last, because she was leaning further and further down. ‘I don’t want to have to get you out!’ Death in the Spotlight is sure to be a hit with KS3 readers who enjoy traditional murder mysteries with a historical, even nostalgic, setting. And as a bonus, the colourful and distinctive covers of this popular series combine to make a very attractive display. When Daisy and I first began investigating, it simply did not seem possible that someone like me could detect mysteries. But now I cannot imagine my life without Daisy Wells and the Detective Society, without strange events and awful danger and horrid, heart-pounding surprises. There is always a moment, deep in the midst of a case, when I think that I never want to detect another one. But all the same, if more than a few months go by without a murder, or a theft, or a kidnapping, I begin to feel as though something is missing.But this mystery properly began a few weeks ago, with Daisy’s Aunt Lucy and Uncle Felix. They are the reason why we are at the Rue, and it is funny to think that we were sent here to keep us out of detective trouble. The problem is, she’s been worked too hard,’ said Lysander, scowling. ‘She ought to be part of a union!’ While we wait for the policeman to stop marching about and decide what to do next, I will explain all the steps leading up to the moment when the Detective Society came upon their seventh murder mystery.