📚 This is Book 1 of 5 in The Maya Okoro Mysteries. Start here!
1. The Last Lesson → 2. The Hollowmere Hours → 3. The Wrong Girl → 4. The Night Shift → 5. Old Light
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The Last Lesson
The Maya Okoro Mysteries · Book 1 of 5
Ages 12+ · 208 pages · by Robin DeVries
A beloved teacher. Sixty-three steps. One student who won’t let it go.
⭐ Coming soon to Amazon (paperback and Kindle)
About the book
Miss Vance was the teacher everyone loved: the one who made history feel like a mystery, and who told her students to ask the questions nobody else would. Now she’s dead at the bottom of the bell tower’s sixty-three stone steps. A tragic accident, everyone says.
Fifteen-year-old Maya Okoro doesn’t believe it. Miss Vance never went down those stairs in the dark. With her two best friends, a whiteboard in a garage and one clue the police missed, Maya starts to dig, and finds a fifty-year-old fire, a boy hiding in the boiler room, a deputy head with something to lose, and money that has gone missing.
Then somebody leaves a note in her locker: STOP DIGGING. OR YOU’LL FALL TOO.
Why parents and teens love it
- Short, punchy chapters that end on cliffhangers
- A school setting every teen recognises
- Clues are fair: readers can solve it alongside Maya
- Friendship, courage and standing up for the truth
Book 2: The Hollowmere Hours →
😍 Why teens love The Last Lesson
- A detective their own age: Maya is fifteen, stubborn and brave, and she notices what the adults miss
- Cliffhanger chapters: short chapters that end on a hook, so “just one more” turns into finishing the book
- A puzzle they can solve: every clue is on the page, so readers can race Maya to the answer
- Real friendships: two best friends, a whiteboard in a garage and late-night theories
- A twist that lands: secrets reaching back fifty years to a fire at Blackwater Academy
⭐ Read it? Verified buyers can leave a review on the paperback or ebook page. See our review policy.
Who is The Last Lesson for?
The Last Lesson is a school murder mystery for readers aged 12 and up who love a puzzle, especially fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder-style investigations, Robin Stevens’ Murder Most Unladylike books, or anyone who has outgrown middle-grade mysteries and wants something with real twists.
Themes in the book
- Standing up for the truth when the adults around you would rather move on
- Friendship and loyalty: Maya’s two best friends, a whiteboard in a garage, and a promise to keep digging
- Grief for a much-loved teacher, handled gently and honestly
- Secrets from the past: a fifty-year-old fire at Blackwater Academy
Is The Last Lesson suitable for my child? A parent’s guide
A teacher is found dead at the start of the book and Maya investigates what happened. There is peril, suspense and a threatening note, but no graphic violence or sexual content. It suits confident readers of 12+ and works well for reluctant readers who like short, cliffhanger chapters.
- Age: 12+
- Series: The Maya Okoro Mysteries, Book 1 of 5
- Length: 208 pages (5 × 8 in paperback)
- Formats: paperback £8.99 · ebook £3.99
- Author: Robin DeVries
Frequently asked questions
What age is The Last Lesson suitable for?
The Last Lesson is written for readers aged 12 and up. A teacher’s death drives the mystery, but there is no graphic violence or sexual content, so it suits most 12–16 year olds and adults who enjoy YA mysteries.
Do I need to read the Maya Okoro Mysteries in order?
Yes, The Last Lesson is Book 1 and the best place to start. Each book has its own complete mystery, but Maya’s friendships and family life develop across the series.
Is The Last Lesson good for reluctant readers?
Yes. Short chapters that end on cliffhangers, a teenage detective readers root for, and a clear puzzle to solve make it a strong choice for teens who usually avoid books.
How much does The Last Lesson cost?
The paperback is £8.99, printed to order in the UK, with free UK delivery on orders over £25. The ebook is £3.99 and downloads instantly.