The Smugglers’ Secret is the second book in the Justice Jones series for junior readers, by British author, Elly Griffiths. In early 1937, Justice Jones returns to Highbury House with mixed feelings: It’s certainly not home, but she finds she did miss her friends at the school. After the exciting events of the previous term, Herbert Jones QC advises his daughter to try not to break too many rules.

There are two new staff at the school: the Matron, sinister-looking Maureen Robinson reminds Justice of a witch, while her friend Dorothy thinks she resembles the villain from a horror story; the Games Mistress, Margaret Heron, seems to have everyone, staff and students alike, charmed. But Justice is reserving her judgement: “My father says it’s the innocent-looking people you have to look out for.”

The Headmistress, Miss de Vere, has instituted a Good Citizenship Programme that will see the girls spending Wednesday afternoons with families needing help in the village. She also reiterates that the basement is out of bounds, immediately intriguing Justice.

Justice is surprised and delighted to find she is able to excel at a physical activity, cross-country running, but disappointed with her part in the school play. Her suspicions are quickly aroused when she sees the new Matron prowling around the House and the forbidden basement in gym shoes, late at night. What could she be up to?

When her assignment for the Good Citizenship Programme is Smugglers Lodge, Justice is only a little disconcerted by rumours of it being haunted by drowned sailors. Mr Arthur only required her to read newspapers, and his housekeeper is generous with hot chocolate and cakes.

As always, Justice diligently noted down her suspicions in a notebook she keeps hidden. Before long, in between lessons and extra running, Justice has met a wonderfully intelligent dog, is on the trail of a missing daughter and fascinated by tales of smugglers’ tunnels. And then there is a murder…

Justice is not persuaded with the police assessment of what happened. Her own investigations reveal some surprising facts about the victim, but Justice and her sidekick, Stella are certainly not expecting to be held at gunpoint and trying to escape the murderer in a smugglers’ tunnel.

These novels are inspired by her mother’s experiences at boarding school, and as usual, Griffiths evokes the era perfectly. Her plot twists will keep even older readers guessing, and she leaves plenty of scope for further adventures. She never talks down to her readers; this is entertaining historical crime fiction for all ages. The third instalment, A Ghost In The Garden, is eagerly awaited.