Claire Hatcher-Smith Books

Mizzy is a feisty, nearly 13-year-old girl who just happens to have Down Syndrome. She wants to be a marvellous detective, although her family think she’s more like her dad’s (Great) Aunt Jane, the village busybody. To date, she hasn’t solved a single mystery, although that might change when the holidays start. During the holidays, Mizzy stumbles upon Great Aunt Jane’s missing diaries. It transpires that somebody poisoned the old relative, and she didn’t just die in her sleep. What ensues is a comedy-style investigation to rule out relatives.

Mizzy reminded me of a young Miss Marple. Mizzy talks about how her Down Syndrome affects her (spelling, lack of direction), and this book could be used to teach empathy and awareness.

An interesting mystery that made me laugh out loud at times. I would recommend this book to fans of Melissa Savage, Enid Blyton and Lauren Child.