Lessons in Death (Murder Academy)

Published on 31 May 2026 at 17:33

Lessons in Death (Murder Academy)

🕵️‍♀️🎭🧩🏫

by Sophie McKenzie

★★★★

At a glance

Things I loved:

✍🏼 Author: Sophie McKenzie

📅 Release Date: 11th September 2025

📚 Book type: Chapter, 240 pages

🌟 Reader level: Growing (9+

🕵️‍♀️ Murder mystery, but school-based

🎭 Drama club setting

👯 Great friendship group

🧩 Clues throughout

⚡ Fast-paced and engaging

🎯 Not too many characters

👀 Twists without being confusing

✅ Age-appropriate (8+)

Dive Deeper

My Thoughts...

I picked up Lessons in Murder by Sophie McKenzie after loving her books when I was younger; they were some of my absolute favourites in primary school. I’m also a huge fan of a good murder mystery, so this felt like the perfect combination.

The story follows Georgia, who has just been cast in her school production, when she stumbles across her drama teacher’s body in the school library after hours. But when she returns with help, the body has disappeared - and by the next day, Mr Truckle is simply “off sick.” Clearly, something isn’t right. Determined to get to the bottom of it, Georgia teams up with her best friend Billy, new girl (and potential rival) Wren, and the brilliantly clever Romeo to uncover the truth.

This is a really engaging, school-based mystery with a strong cast of characters. There are just enough people to keep things interesting without it becoming confusing, which I think works really well for younger readers. I especially liked how clues are subtly dropped throughout - if you’re paying attention, you might even work out the culprit before Georgia and her friends do.

The vocabulary is fairly simple but used effectively, making it much more accessible than some of the more complex murder mysteries out there. It’s easy to read without losing any of the tension or intrigue.

🌟I’d definitely recommend this to readers aged 9+. There’s no gore, no bad language, and nothing inappropriate—just a fun, fast-paced mystery that keeps you guessing.🌟

Blurb

It’s a week into the summer term, the last day of April, and murder is the last thing on my mind . . .

Life at Mayfield Academy seems normal enough – that is until Georgia discovers the drama teacher, dead, in the school library. Then, when she goes back to look for him, having gone for help, his body has vanished.

Georgia knows what she saw, but only her best friend Billy believes her.

Determined to find out what has gone on, Georgia and Billy hunt for evidence with new girl, Wren. But with friendship dynamics also at play there’s a lot more at stake than dead bodies. And it’s not long before it becomes clear that someone is prepared to go to any lengths to stop their investigation . . .