Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Alexandra Benedict is a British author known for her crime and mystery novels. She studied English at the University of Cambridge and later completed a Master’s degree in Creative Writing at the University of Sussex. Benedict has worked as a university lecturer and has also written for radio and television.
Her debut crime novel, The Christmas Murder Game, was published by Zaffre in 2021. The book is a festive-themed mystery set in a country house, featuring a series of puzzles and riddles for the characters to solve. Benedict followed this with The Christmas Puzzle Book in 2022, which contains a collection of mysteries, riddles, and puzzles inspired by her fiction.
In 2023, Benedict published Murder on the Christmas Express, also with Zaffre. This novel is set on a train during the Christmas period and features a locked-room style mystery. Her work has been noted for its intricate plotting and use of classic crime tropes.
Alexandra Benedict’s novel The Christmas Murder Game was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award in 2022.
Mystery stories for children and teens with titles by Julia Donaldson, Richard Osman, Marcus Rashford, Marissa Meyer, David Wiesner, Abiola Bello, Patrice Lawrence, Konnie Huq, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, and Maureen Johnson.
Christmas topic books with fiction and nonfiction suitable for children in EYFS, KS1 & KS2 including titles by Raymond Briggs, Fiona Watt, Dawn Casey, Kate Saunders Graham Oakley and Catherine Doyle.
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