A Box Full of Murders

Written by Janice Hallet

Reviewed by Sandy Driessens

Ava’s and Luke’s parents have separated. Ava lives with Mum and Luke lives with Dad, but when Luke finds a Top Secret box in his dad’s attic, they start an adventure together, via SMS, to solve murders that were committed and mysteries that surround a children’s camp, in the hot summer of 1983.

They read through letters, diary entries and newspaper cuttings. They wonder, was their dad one of the children at the camp and is that why the box is in his attic? Was he or one of his friends involved in the murders? When they listen to secret recordings and Ava enlists the help of a journalist, who investigated the case, they realise that the murder mystery was never solved and that the killer is still out there.

Janice Hallet, former magazine editor and award-winning journalist has written a novel that requires the reader to comb through documents to discover what happened over twenty years ago.  The documents not only record the circumstances surrounding the event … it introduces the personalities of the children at the camp and highlights the differences and similarities in the language and lives of children in the 1980s compared to now.

The book starts with daring the reader to solve the crime. The format switches between Ava’s and Luke’s SMS conversations and the varied scout and guide diary entries, with drawings, camp timetables, Police reports and newspaper reports. These all use different fonts so that they separate the style of writing. Fortunately, Progress Reports are sprinkled through the book to help the reader keep their facts together throughout the investigation.

A Box Full of Murders is recommended for 9 – 13 years and though it involves a murder, it is written with the focus on gathering clues and recognizing and being sympathetic to different characters. It also deals with adjustment to a changed domestic situation and appreciation for the natural environment. It is a lot of reading, but speaks with a young voice and should engage a dedicated young reader.

Puffin  2025   

Janice Hallett