Alison Weatherby Books

Death before detention is Alison Weatherby’s second murder mystery novel and the first aimed at a younger tween market. Set in a rural Irish Catholic boarding school, Mae, founding member of The Common Criminals Club, documents the incidents of the murders they uncover while trying to solve the case and save their school alongside her fellow club members Shonda, Beck and Aoife.

With the first murder reported to the Garda, Mae cannot believe that Sister Mary-Margaret is acting like it never happened but very soon, things take an even more bizarre and terrifying turn…

Written in the first person, Death before Detention is a gentle introduction into the murder mystery genre. Are there murders? Yes. Does the reader (and the main character) struggle to know who to trust. Yes – but then isn’t that the thrill of every good mystery novel?

Light hearted and entertaining, playing on the juxtaposition of tweens stuck in that first age of wanting to be treated as a grown up, but conversely wanting a hug from their mum (too young to realise that this battle continues throughout your life!) readers will see themselves in each of the characters. The storyline lends itself to talking about what makes us different or the same and moral dilemmas, with themes of gender identity also covered.

Readers will find themselves fully invested in solving the mystery and saving the school and a good job too as the next one in the series is due to follow in early 2027.