I was awarded a digital copy of this book from Netgalley which had blank pages I assume were pictures, so my review is based on how I imagine the published copy will be.
I like the way Janice Hallett uses different formats for her books and this was another example of this. I loved the storyline and the descriptions of Ava and Luke’s family life and their needing to mostly communicate by texting. And, could just imagine the Scout and Guide camp and the various activities and personalities.
A superb read.

I have been so looking forward to this release - and I'm so thrilled it lived up to my very high expectations. I loved every moment of this and I couldn't recommend it enough.

Janice Hallett, the queen of multi media fiction returns with her first junior fiction. This is as fun, exciting and enthralling as her adult fiction. An easy cross genre jump.

Luke finds an old box in the loft. It’s full of old diaries, newspaper clippings, record tapes etc. all telling a of a mystery involving a murder that took place decades ago.
Him and his sister Ava get very curious and are determined to figure it out.
As they work through the clues, start asking questions and realise that the murderer might still be out there and will not be happy that someone is investigating it. Will Luke and Ava solve the case before the murderer figure out it them?
The story is told by text messages between Luke and Ava in the present time. The mystery is revealed by letting us read the contents of the box as Luke takes pictures and send them to his sister.
It is cleverly constructed and interesting to see how the story evolves with each new clue revealed from the past. These are all written by several people at a scout camp where the incident happened. It’s part of the charm that it’s told from many points of view. This does however sometimes make the story a bit repetitive, but not so much as to detract to much from the overall plot and enjoyment.

I’m a big fan of Janice Hallett’s books for adults and I love the multi-media format of them so I was really excited to see she’s bringing out a children’s book next month.

A Box Full of Murders follows the same format as the adult books where you read along with the characters to try to solve a murder while reading a range of documents that hints at what has happened and drops clues along the way. The story centres on Ava and Luke - their parents have separated, each taking one child with them so when Luke finds a box of papers in the box in the loft, they communicate through text message to discuss what they are finding out. The documents in the box relate to a scout and guide camp in 1983 which was the last one taking place in a woods that have been sold for development. There are diary entries, incident reports and secret recordings to work through.

I thought it was really well done and definitely engaging for children. The 80s setting is great to read as an adult and Hallett has done a good job of explaining things to a younger audience (e.g when they find a Walkman, she takes the time to get Ava to explain to Luke what it is). She’s also not afraid of using challenging language which she defines in the same way - children could definitely pick up some new vocabulary from this book!

The clues were big enough for a child to pick up on but still give them a sense of having worked hard and solved it themselves. My only criticism was that there were a lot of characters that were hard to keep track of - you either need to read it in a few long bursts or find some way to keep track of them all! It does rely mainly on diary entries to find out what has happened and so you have to work out the voice of each character and what they have said/done before to really follow the story.

It’s definitely a unique middle grade book though and good to see this popular format being translated for a younger audience. Well worth picking up when it’s published next month!

I didn't realise this was a children's book when I requested it. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Hallett has kept her usual style of telling the story through newspaper clippings, text and transcripts but adapted it for a younger audience.

As clever as you would expect from Janice Hallett, who doesn’t present a mystery like other authors. She offers letters, newspaper clippings, emails and they are so well thought through. Her adult mysteries are incredibly popular for their distinct style.

In this case, her first children’s book, Ava and Luke are each living with one of their separated parents and Luke finds a box in the loft and shares the contents with Ava via text messages.

The box is from 1983 when a guide and scout camp is taking place. The land has been purchased for dubious reasons and this is the last camp. Due to this reason, the leaders have asked for each tent group to write about their time. The pair read though the camp diaries and are introduced to the campers and leaders, and also some mysterious strangers lurking in the forest and rumours of a ghost with an almighty shriek.

As they read and uncover clues, they can piece all the clues together in ways the actual guides and scouts could not. There were plenty of clues but the groups weren’t sharing their information with each other and so some things slipped under the radar.

When two bodies are discovered, things turn dangerous for the guides and scouts but we know to never underestimate children.

Ava and Luke are brilliant and get excited to share pages with each other in amidst their own family dramas.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and absolutely loved the ending!

Thank you to Net Galley for an E ARC of A Box Full Of Murders by Janice Hallett in exchange for an honest review.
We follow siblings Ava and Luke, who work together to solve a 40 year old mystery based on a box full of letters, police reports and diary entries they find in the loft. They communicate through text messages and the book contains a variety of mixed media which will intrigue middle grade readers. There are lots of references to the 80's which Ava and Luke also have to decipher! Unfortunately as this was a digital copy, the images could not be seen, which did detract from my enjoyment of the book.

Did I read a Janice Hallett book even though it was middle grade? Yes, yes I did.

Hallett always knocks this unique way out of the park everytime. This time she has created a murder mystery for children.

Luke and Ava Hunter got excited when they found a box of old letters, diary entries and drawings from the loft. They start to read the entries and work out things aren't correct from the Chalfont Camp in 1983. A mystery that happened a long time ago. They put all the pieces together.

I flew through the pages of this one due to the story being told in text messages by Ava and Luke and the diary entries.
I really enjoyed reading all the diary entries for the campers and all the old things mentioned that I knew like walkmans and digital watches. As always I love the mystery and puzzles from Janice Hallett. I'm looking forward to reading more in the future (as the ending hints at more).

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for gifting me a copy for my honest book review.

Hallett broke the mould with her unique style of mystery and crime solving novels utilising different forms of messaging app to build relationships and move the plot along. It’s perfect catnip reading for someone who likes to see themselves as a bit of a Miss Marple.
This time the author has turned her attention to a similar idea but for children. The plot unfolds as two separated siblings try and solve a cold case murder together when they discover an old box of documents in the attic of the family home. Each piece of “evidence” is sent between them via what’s app so the reader can see it and try to solve the mystery alongside child detectives Ava and Luke.
A brilliant idea and the fact that it’s pitched at children didn’t hamper this adult’s enjoyment of it.
It’s not a spoiler to say that the end of the book hints at the strong possibility of further adventures and I cannot wait.
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own unbiased opinion.

A Box Full of Monsters is a gripping middle-grade mystery that will keep young readers (and even adults) hooked from start to finish. Siblings Ava and Luke stumble upon a hidden notebook in their dad’s attic, filled with eerie letters, diary entries, and old newspaper clippings—all pointing to an unsolved murder from decades ago. As they piece together the clues, they realize the case isn’t as cold as they thought, and the truth might be more dangerous than they ever imagined.

Janice Hallett crafts a clever, multi-layered mystery that unfolds through found documents, making the storytelling immersive and interactive. The shifting perspectives and cryptic clues allow readers to play detective alongside Ava and Luke, piecing together the puzzle before the shocking reveal. The tension builds perfectly as the siblings get closer to the truth, and the possibility that the killer is still nearby adds a thrilling edge of danger.

Ava and Luke make for relatable and resourceful protagonists, balancing sibling dynamics with their shared determination to solve the mystery. The book’s pacing is excellent, blending suspense with just the right amount of creepiness for middle-grade audiences. Fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society or Greenglass House will love the mix of codes, secrets, and a race against time.

With its clever twists and spine-tingling atmosphere, A Box Full of Monsters is a must-read for young mystery lovers and an amazing example for a creative writing class.

Fantastic mystery story for children from this brilliant author. Even as an adult, I totally enjoyed the puzzle and loved the way it was written, including text messages and diary entries. I found Belinda's writing hard to understand though, so I skipped lots of it. I’m not sure if it was formatted incorrectly, or if it’s meant to show that she’s dyslexic.

If your little reader has had a Robin Stevens shaped hole in their reading, make sure Janice’s new book for 9-13 year olds is on your radar. Siblings Luke and Ava, missing each other while their parents are separated, unite over a box of papers in the attic, fully of diary entries, recordings and newspaper articles. They detail a camping event and a still unsolved murder mystery. Of course, the pair want to crack the case using logic and deduction (and you will too).

I'm not quite sure what I think of this. I've read a previous Janice Hallett book and really enjoyed it, so was excited to see she'd written for the middle grade age bracket. I'm not sure the it really worked and I'm not convinced it will hook the children in my class.

As Hallett's first dip into middle grade mysteries goes, A Box Full of Murders is a largely satisfying, deeply enjoyable bit of fun. There are plenty of Hallett's usual flourishes - mixed-media storytelling, dry humour, codes and clues hidden throughout - but now so that the whole family can play the great game. Keen on playing fair rather than dumbing the experience down, A Box Full of Murders acts as a mystery for younguns that respects their intelligence whilst being completely fair play, and leaves the door open for more adventures from Ava and Luke. What more could a reader want?

Janice Hallett does it again! I have long been a fan of her books, and this new angle, writing for a younger audience is an exciting addition to her oeuvre. I have already been recommending her writing to older students with a penchant for puzzle solving and I just know some of my younger pupils will love this book. Cleverly constructed, tautly plotted and hugely satisfying!

This is a fun Young adult mystery set in a split household so that the two young people involved need to send each other messages. As usual, Hallet uses a clever device to allow the reader to share the story.

The mystery itself is pretty easy to solve as expected for a young adult cozy mystery and it’s as fun as you would expect it be from this author.

One part I really did not like were the sections written by a child which I assume were meant to be phonetic. I couldn’t understand these sections at all and in the end had to skip them. This was very frustrating as obviously the last summarising part was written in this way. Phonetic writing needs to be done very carefully and I don’t think it was successful in this case.

All in all, a fun read and one I would recommend.

Janice Hallett returns with another masterfully constructed mystery, this time inviting readers to become sleuths themselves in A Box Full of Murders. Presented through found documents, letters, and recordings, this is a story that unfolds layer by tantalising layer.

When siblings Ava and Luke stumble upon a box of intriguing artefacts in their father’s attic, they find themselves drawn into a decades-old murder case that was never solved. The format is classic Hallett—ingenious, immersive, and full of twists you won't see coming. But what truly makes this one shine is the way she combines genuine suspense with a healthy dose of humour and nostalgia.

The references to the 1980s are pitch-perfect, and Ava and Luke’s baffled responses to things like cassette tapes and the wait for photo development add a lovely lightness to the darker undertones of the case. It’s this balance between tension and levity that makes the book such a compelling read.

As always, Hallett trusts her readers. You are not simply observing the mystery unfold—you are invited to solve it. With every note, clipping and conversation, you’re nudged closer to the truth. Or are you? In classic fashion, nothing is quite as it seems, and every assumption is worth questioning.

This is an absolute treat for fans of interactive storytelling, cold case mysteries and cleverly constructed narratives. A book to pore over, piece together, and then immediately recommend to friends so you can compare theories.

Highly recommended for lovers of crime fiction with a twist—and for anyone who enjoys a puzzle as much as a plot.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Book Review: A Box Full of Murders by Janice Hallett
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Janice Hallett, best known for her adult thrillers, ventures into middle-grade mystery with A Box Full of Murders, and she does not disappoint. This first children’s mystery from the bestselling author is a compelling and cleverly crafted tale that will keep young readers hooked from start to finish. Perfect for fans of Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens and The Skylark's War by Rhian Tracey, this book combines a gripping mystery with just the right amount of suspense and intrigue.

The story follows Ava and Luke, two inquisitive friends who stumble upon a box of old papers in the attic. Inside, they find a collection of letters, newspaper clippings, diary entries, and secret recordings—all pointing to a decades-old unsolved murder. As they dig deeper into the mystery, they realize that the killer might still be at large, and could be much closer than they ever expected.

What sets this book apart is its interactive, "you’re-a-detective-too" vibe. The story is told through the documents Ava and Luke uncover, allowing readers to experience the investigation firsthand and try to solve the case themselves. It’s a fantastic way to engage readers and get them thinking critically, piecing together the clues just like the characters in the story. It also makes for a great "whodunnit" read that will keep both young readers and adults on the edge of their seats.

Hallett's writing is sharp and witty, making the mystery both accessible and captivating for middle-grade audiences. The characters of Ava and Luke are well-rounded and relatable, and their dynamic adds an extra layer of charm to the story. The book does a great job balancing suspense with lighthearted moments, making it enjoyable without being too dark or intense for younger readers.

Final Thoughts:

A Box Full of Murders is a well-paced, thrilling mystery that will engage readers with its intricate plot and clever use of documents to unravel the story. Janice Hallett proves that her talent for crafting suspenseful narratives translates well to the middle-grade genre. It’s an exciting read for mystery lovers of all ages and a perfect choice for fans of interactive and puzzle-like stories. While there may be moments where the complexity of the mystery might be a bit much for younger readers, it’s a fantastic introduction to the genre and a must-read for budding detectives.

I love Janice Hallett’s adult mystery/crime novels and was intrigued to read this new story aimed at a younger market. The story is told in case-file format, found in an old attic, and text messages between the brother and sister who found it are interspersed with diaries, forms and other documents from the case. It’s an interesting way of presenting the evidence and gradually telling the story. The case relates to a crime committed during a summer camp in the 1980s and readers are invited to see if they can spot the clues and solve the mystery. I would say it’s unlikely to be suitable for under 10s due to dark themes and murder.