Murder Sucks is the first in a series of hilarious mysteries starring Chiana Ryan, an almost-13-year-old wannabe crime writer. When a former babysitter discovers a dead body squashing the pansies in her garden, then loses it again, Chiana decides to solve the mystery. That way, she can write a “happening-now” true crime story and enter it in a $500-to-the-winner crime-writing competition.

Of course, being a learner PI, Chiana needs assistants. First, she enlists Tayla, her best friend in the world. What does it matter that Tayla’s a bit on the squeamish side and screams at the sight of blood or a hairy but harmless spider? She’s cool, blue-eyed and when she smiles, people tell her stuff–always an advantage when questioning suspects.

And then there’s Jack, who, although skinnier than a goalpost, eats sandwiches plastered with baked beans, peanut butter, raspberry jam, sliced pickles, pineapple and tomato sauce. And that’s just for breakfast. Add to the mix Leroy, Chiana’s lazy cookie-obsessed bulldog, and Sarah, the smug stepsister from Hell, and the crime-fighting team is ready to rock.

Murder Sucks is a fun-filled adventure of zany clues and fishy red herrings all pointing away from whodunit. Like the suspicious pink handkerchief with the letter K embroidered in the corner. Or the bent old man in a grey cardigan and baggy trousers who tells Chiana all about the two aliens who landed their space-mobile on the church roof. Or what about the disappearing body that turns up two days later in the garden shed?

Aimed at children from 9 to 14, the first in the Chiana Ryan Mystery series will have you on the edge of your seat, then falling off your chair laughing, from start to finish.

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