Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: New Children's Book Picks June 2019 - Post One

Taran Matharu - The Chosen: Book 1 (Contender) - Published by Hodder Children's Books (4 Jun. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1444938937 - Hardback - Age: 11+

In a world far from our own, where enemies come in many forms, the ultimate battle for survival is about to begin ... An epic new trilogy from the bestselling author of the Summoner series.

CADE CARTER IS LOST

Convicted of a crime he didn't commit, Cade is facing a year in reform school when he finds himself suddenly transported to another realm.

BUT THIS NEW WORLD IS NO ESCAPE

Populated by bloodthirsty prehistoric creatures and fierce warriors, Cade's surroundings are full of danger. Along with his fellow students, Cade is forced to become a contender in a deadly game of the highest stakes, controlled by invisible overlords.

Who are these brutal rulers, and why did they choose Cade? Before he can find answers, Cade must get ready to fight ...

BECAUSE IN THIS GAME, FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

Julia Green - The House of Light - Published by OUP Oxford (6 Jun. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0192771568 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Bonnie is scavenging on a beach when she finds a battered old rowboat. And under the boat, a bare-footed boy-cold, hungry, and in need of help.

The authorities have already been troubling Bonnie and Granda for breaking rules, but how can she leave this boy when he has no-one? 

Bonnie does her best to keep the boy hidden from the border guards, but as their suspicions grow, she wonders if it's time to escape the life she's always known. Under cover of darkness, they set sail to the 'house of light' in search of a new beginning, and a sense of hope.

David Solomons - My Cousin Is a Time Traveller (My Brother is a Superhero) - Published by Nosy Crow Ltd (27 Jun. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0857639929 - Paperback - Age: 8

Luke is surprised to learn that his cousin is a time traveller. He s even more surprised when she tells him that the machines are becoming intelligent and he must help her stop them taking over the world. It couldn't come at a worse time Zack has decided to give up his superpowers and live life as a normal teenage nerd. So Luke must swallow his irritation and rise to the challenge yet again ...

My Cousin is a Time Traveller is the fifth installment of Luke's laugh-out-loud adventures. From the author of My Brother Is a Superhero, winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the British Book Industry Awards Children's Book of the Year.

Alex Milway - Hotel Flamingo: Holiday Heatwave - Published by Piccadilly Press (13 Jun. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1848128057 - Paperback - Age:5+

An enchanting four-book series featuring the adventures of Anna and her array of animal friends
The temperature is rising, which can only mean one thing: it's summer! Bookings are up at Hotel Flamingo and the hotel is getting busy. Anna is excited to receive word from King Penguin royalty asking to holiday in their Royal Suite. But there's a lot to get done, and it's not easy to manage the needs of the penguins when there's a heatwave on and a huge ice shortage. Help! Can Anna get Hotel Flamingo back to its usual shining self and have happy guests all round?

Sarah Todd Taylor - Max the Detective Cat: The Phantom Portrait - Interview (Q&A) - Nosy Crow

Hello, everybody. Today, on Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books I have a lovely interview with Sarah Todd Taylor, author of Max The Detective Cat series. The Phantom Portrait is the second book to be published by Nosy Crow. Max is ready again to solve another case! The book is armed with humour and charm as he faces a case with some ghostly goings-on. If you are not familiar with the series, then please read my review of the first book HERE. Whilst the interview below should give you a brilliant insight into the author and her books. I hope you all enjoy a good start to the week.

Max the Detective Cat: The Phantom Portrait is the second book in the series, tell us a little about it and where it fits into the series?

In the first book, Max was finding a new home in The Theatre Royal and ‘finding his paws’ as a detective on his first case. He is a bit more confident in this one, but still has some of his old worries about whether he will be forgotten by his new family. The theatre company are invited to spend a week in a castle in the middle of the country, performing a new play on Halloween night to celebrate the birthday of Lord Fawley’s daughter, Arabella. The company soon find their rehearsals disrupted by ghostly goings on and talk of hauntings in the castle. But Max suspects that someone is playing tricks on the Fawley castle and that the peculiar happenings have more to do with old family jewels than old family curses. I loved being able to bring out Max and Oscar’s friendship more in this one. Instead of just having chats on the roof of the theatre, Oscar is right there in the middle of the action, helping Max solve the case. 

How do you select the names of your characters?

For some characters, the names came easily. I knew that I wanted to call Miss Julier after a good friend who I based the character on, and Oscar, Sylvia and Agnes just sprang to mind, but sometimes it can be so hard. I try to think about what my characters are like and then find names that sound a little like the adjectives that I might use to describe them. So Sylvia sounds light and silvery just like the sparkly character she is. I had a very specific reason for calling giving one character in The Disappearing Diva the surname ‘Spinel’. It’s a tiny hidden mystery in the book and I often wonder if any readers have worked it out....

What’s the most difficult thing about writing animal-based characters?

At the beginning of writing the Max books, I decided that I wanted Max to be ‘all cat’ so he doesn’t get to do anything a real cat couldn’t, including talk. That means that finding a way for him to communicate the solution to the humans so that the villain can be brought to justice can be a real challenge. It helps keep the books much more action based, though, which makes them lots of fun to write. 

The other challenge is doors - life would be much simpler for cats if us humans hadn’t invented doors. I am forever having to find inventive ways for Max and Oscar to creep into places they shouldn’t be. 

Let’s talk about writing! How do you want your readers to react when they read the first and last pages of your book?

At the start I want them to be intrigued and to know that this story is for them, that it will be fun. If a reader has been kind enough to pick my book up, I want to pay that back with a good read that they’ll enjoy. At the end, I hope they put the book down feeling satisfied that the mystery has been solved without feeling cheated. It’s so frustrating when a mystery lets you down by being solved too easily. I would never have the humans solve it ‘for’ Max and I don’t think my readers would be happy if I did. I hope they feel happy for Max and Oscar too. I’m very fond of both of them and hope that my readers are too. 

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Eek! I started writing books when I was a teenager. I wrote three books about a rather hapless king who was always coming up with terrible ideas that he thought were wonderful. As well as those I’ve got one finished and two half-finished books and a bundle of projects that never quite got off the first page. They all feed into the process, though. Nothing in the work we create is ever wasted. Bits of it will find their way into other projects, or into the way we view what we are working on. It all helps. 

The first two books have been illustrated by Nicola Kinnear. What's the process like between you both? What do you think the readers gain from the illustrations inside the books?

Nicola is amazing. When I see her illustrations it feels as though she has been looking at all the characters I can see in my head. I adore how she draws and the energy she gets into all the scenes. The illustrations add massively to the books. I love an illustrated book. They are so special and it feels very unfair that we don’t get to have illustrations in our books when we are grown ups. With Max, because it is set in the past, I think it’s doubly helpful to give that visual context for the reader. Nicola helps to show what the world Max lives in looks like, which helps them to understand the story better. 

Do you have anything else you would like to add?

Just a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has read Max. I love hearing from readers and it’s an absolute honour and a joy to be allowed to create stories that go into bookshops and libraries and to work with amazing people like Nicola and everyone at Nosy Crow.

Sarah Todd Taylor is a children’s writer living in beautiful mid-Wales. Her first book, Arthur and Me, won the Firefly Children’s Book Competition 2014. She loves cats, puzzles and the theatre, three things that made their way into my Max the Detective Cat series which is published by Nosy Crow.  For more information check out her website here: https://sarahtoddtaylor.com or Twitter: @scraphamster 

Tom Nicoll (Author), David O'Connell (Illustrator) - Boyband of the Apocalypse: Washed Up - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books (Book Review)

Just when Sam thinks life has returned to normal he’s bundled into a black van by agents of the Apocalypse Intelligence Agency who send him off the remote jungle island of Fin del Mundo to appear on a celebrity reality TV game show. One of Sam’s rival ‘celebrity’ contestants is none other than evil music mogul Nigel Cruul, who the A.I.A. suspect is planning to bring back the Horsewomen of the Apocalypse. Luckily his best friend Milo and kick-ass sister Lexi are starring in the show too. But they’ll have to survive everything from alligator-infested swamps to public vote offs, if they’re to save the world once more.

There is a large tower of swaying books to be read in Mr Ripley's corner at the moment. However, this book caught my eye purely from the book cover alone, which has been wonderfully designed by David O'Connell. It's a fantastically inviting book image that might suggest what's on offer to the reader once you start to delve inside. The illustrations inside creatively complement and enhance the brilliant story. The book has been published by Stripes Publishing and will be available on 3rd of May 2018. It is really aimed at ages 8-11 but older readers, like myself, should not be dissuaded from reading this. 

After whisking through the opening chapters, I quickly worked out that this is the second book in the series. I had not read the previous book and, to be honest, it did not hinder my reading experience. Nevertheless, I would go back and read the first book. I really loved the fantastic blend of reality, crazy fantasy and playful humour that the book has in bucket and spade loads. The imaginative story is along the lines of the reality TV show, I'm A Celebrity Get Me out of Here, versus the final destruction of the world. This sounds crazy, I agree, however, any reluctant reader will soon be sucked in by this ingenious idea. 

I really loved this book. It offers the reader the chance to dream and float amidst the story, whilst settling in your own fantasy clothes, in your own comfortable reading armchair. You will laugh, giggle and be entertained by a host of crazy characters which you'll be able to relate to and maybe even vote for. There is a brilliant mission, for a group of young children, to save the planet from destruction. As you run through the story, the thread of tension and suspense unfolds whilst your heartbeat quickens ever more.

This is a great book that delivers a theme which is on-trend and full of twists and turns. It's an all-out action adventure which is set on a mysterious tropical island. Full of deadly tasks, the characters are in danger of it all ending quickly at any time. This is a great read to get your teeth stuck into. Are you ready for a public vote? This gets the thumbs up from me so give it a read....

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks April 2018 - US Post

Kwame Alexander - Rebound - Published by  HMH Books for Young Readers (April 2, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-0544868137

From the New York Times, bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes Rebound, a dynamic novel in verse and companion to his Newbery Award-winner, The Crossover, illustrated with striking graphic novel panels.

Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. In this prequel to Newbery Medal winner The Crossover, Chuck Bell takes center stage, as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to.   

A novel in verse with all the impact and rhythm readers have come to expect from Kwame Alexander, Rebound will go back in time to visit the childhood of Chuck "Da Man" Bell during one pivotal summer when young Charlie is sent to stay with his grandparents where he discovers basketball and learns more about his family's past.  

Erin Entrada Kelly - You Go First - Published by Greenwillow Books (April 10, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-0062414182

Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly’s You Go First is an engaging exploration of family, bullying, spelling, art, and the ever-complicated world of middle school friendships. Her perfectly pitched tween voice will resonate with fans of Kate DiCamillo’s Raymie Nightingale.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer are separated by more than a thousand miles. On the surface, their lives seem vastly different—Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while Ben is in the small town of Lanester, Louisiana. Charlotte wants to be a geologist and keeps a rock collection in her room. Ben is obsessed with Harry Potter, presidential history, and recycling. But the two have more in common than they think. They’re both highly gifted. They’re both experiencing family turmoil. And they both sit alone at lunch.

Over the course of a week, Charlotte and Ben—online friends connected only by a Scrabble game—will intersect in unexpected ways, as they struggle to navigate the turmoil of middle school. This engaging story about growing up and finding your place in the world by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Hello, Universe and the winner of the Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature will appeal to fans of Rebecca Stead and Rita Williams-Garcia.

Dave Eggers - The Lifters - Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers (April 24, 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1524764166

Journey to an underground world where adventure awaits and heroes are made in this middle-grade novel from the bestselling, Pulitzer-nominated author of The Monk of Mokhaand Her Right Foot.

When Gran and his family move to Carousel, he has no idea that the town is built atop a secret. Little does he suspect, as he walks his sister to school or casually eats a banana, that mysterious forces lurk mere inches beneath his feet, tearing up the earth like mini-hurricanes and causing the town to slowly but surely sink.

When Gran's friend, the difficult-to-impress Catalina Catalan, presses a silver handle into a hillside and opens a doorway to an underground, he knows that she is extraordinary and brave and that he will have no choice but to follow wherever she leads. With luck on their side, and some discarded hockey sticks for good measure, Gran and Catalina might just find a way to lift their town--and the known world--out of danger.

In The Lifters, critically acclaimed author Dave Eggers establishes himself as a storyteller who can entertain and inspire readers of any age.

Joshua Khan - Burning Magic (A Shadow Magic Novel) - Published by Disney-Hyperion (April 10, 2018) - ISBN-10: 1368008429

In Book 3 of a three-book series, when Lily, aka the "witch queen" and bat-rider extraordinaire Thorn travel to Sultanate of Fire, things go terribly wrong. Instead of celebrating a reunion with their old friend K'leef, they are thrust into royal murder, an epic quest, and a deadly battle for the throne.

While investigating the murder, Lily learns shocking truths about her life that could destroy all she has achieved. Yet, among the ruins of her old life, she has the opportunity to become someone greater . . . and more terrifying.

Thorn and the magnificent bat, Hades, join the timid K'leef and the idiotic Gabriel Solar in a quest to find a phoenix. These fire birds are the key to saving the sultanate, but they nest within the Shardlands. The boys must defeat not only the monsters of that magical wilderness but also rivals eager to claim the throne for themselves. Rivals that include a renegade from House Shadow . . .

Chilling surprises, ghostly encounters, and belly laughs are just some of the treats in store for readers of this burning-hot desert adventure.

Paul Magrs - The Heart of Mars (Lora Trilogy) Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Book Review (Firefly Press)

Have we come to the sad end of the sci-fi Lora trilogy by Paul Magrs?

It all started with "Lost on Mars" which is the first book in the trilogy. This was a brilliant read and became my favourite book of 2015. The second book in the series, "The Martian Girl" (2016), was, again, an excellent read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The final installment is "The Heart of Mars" and is absolutely amazing. This series really is one of my all-time personal favourites; it is a science-fiction delight that everyone should read. 

The Heart of Mars will be published across the galaxy on the 15th March 2018 by Firefly Press. NOTE: this book can be read on its own or on Mars. However, I personally would recommend that you start with the first book in the series.
If you've not read the previous books then grab all three and begin a reading adventure like no other. Unfortunately, they're not that easy to find so you may need to order them. Nevertheless, it will be worth the time and investment as they will leave you feeling like you've read something really special by one of the best authors around.  

I lost all sense of time as I followed Lora, Peter and, Toaster (a Servo-Furnishing machine) into the deadly swamplands full of mist and thick purple mud. The further they plunged into the adventure, the greater the sense of creeping eyes following and strange voices drifting through the air. It's a fantastic shuttle-ride of escapism as you follow Lora's epic mission to reunite her family in an all-out thrilling finale. 

A strange encounter with the Ancient Ones delivers a power-packed punch of fantasy and magic. You'll be slapped in the face with an air of mystery and so many unanswered questions. It's a brilliant story packed full of action, adventure and a fantastic host of characters, creatures and monsters. Yet, the simplicity of the story alongside the engaging narrative is cleverly built around a detailed fantasy world that seeps into the pores of the reader.

The author's vivid imagination in taking an idea and running with it, regardless, is breathtaking. It is incredible how he is able to write a Sci-Fi novel with such ease and poise. Even more remarkably, is that it will be loved by kids as much as by adults. It really does have his unique personality stamped onto every page, but this is what is to be expected from Paul Magrs. In my opinion, he is such an underrated author so start reading his books now. 

This book is a super extra-terrestrial romp through space and time. It is from the heart and is full of friendship danger as well as humour (I am Watt. Watt I am!). Definitely a book to devour and a series to savour. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Children's Book Pick For March 2018 - The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

The sequel to the New York Times bestselling The Wild Robot, by award-winning author Peter Brown

Shipwrecked on a remote, wild island, Robot Roz learned from the unwelcoming animal inhabitants and adapted to her surroundings--but can she survive the challenges of the civilized world and find her way home to Brightbill and the island?

At the end of The Wild Robot, Roz is badly damaged, and she’s taken away from the island, back to the robot factory where she was made. And I picked up from there as I turned my attention to The Wild Robot Escapes. I began by simply asking myself questions:

• What happens when Roz arrives at the robot factory?
• If her body is repaired will her computer brain be affected?
• Where does she go after being refurbished?

To contrast the wilderness of the first book, I wanted Roz to now experience as much of the civilized world as possible. I wanted her to experience cities and towns and rural areas. I wanted human characters and robot characters and domestic animal characters. And there would have to be futuristic technology: computers and machines and vehicles. As I thought about the future, I asked myself more questions:

• What will our world look like in 50 or 100 years? 
• How will technology change our lives? 
• How will our lives stay the same?

Although the story would have elements of science fiction and fantasy, I wanted it to seem as believable as possible, so I did plenty of research. I read books and listened to audiobooks and watched documentary films and went on research trips.

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Series: The Wild Robot (Book 2)
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (March 13, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316382043
• ISBN-13: 978-0316382045

Website: http://www.peterbrownstudio.com

Twitter: @itspeterbrown

The Wild Robot Book Trailer For Book One

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks - March 2018 - UK Post One

Danny Wallace (Author), Jamie Littler (Illustrator) - Hamish and the Baby BOOM! (Hamish 4) - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (8 Mar. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1471167829

Get ready for another hilarious adventure from bestselling author Danny Wallace brought to life with illustrations from Jamie Littler, perfect for fans of David Walliams, Roald Dahl, David Baddiel and David Solomons!

Beware the Babies ... they CRY ... they POO ... they ATTACK!
 
Hamish and the PDF have been left in charge of Starkley while his dad and the rest of the Belasko agents are off hunting down the universe's second-most dangerous villain - Axel Scarmarsh!
But nothing bad will happen while he's gone, right? WRONG!

Suddenly the babies of Starkley are on the rampage and causing chaos - but only  Hamish and his friends seem to be worried about the odd behaviour. 

What’s behind the baby uprising and can the mini-mutiny be stopped before EVERY BABY ON EARTH rises up?!

Natasha Farrant - The Children of Castle Rock - Published by Faber & Faber (1 Mar. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-0571323562

 

When Alice Mistlethwaite is shipped off to boarding school in Scotland it's nothing like she imagines. Run by the mysterious Major, there are no punishments and the students are more likely to be taught about body painting or extreme survival than maths or English!

Then Alice's dad goes missing and she must run away to find him. Can she persuade her new friends to help?

So begins an epic quest across wild Scottish highlands and islands, where friendships will be made and broken, lies will be untangled and the children will face danger and excitement at every turn.

Both hilarious and heartfelt, this is the classic adventure story brought bang up to date, and told in Natasha's inimitable voice.

Vashti Hardy  - Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure - Published by Scholastic (1 Mar. 2018) -  ISBN-13: 978-1407181707

Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. Not only that, but he has been accused of trying to steal fuel from his competitors before he died! The twins don't believe the news, and they answer an ad to help crew a new exploration attempt in the hope of learning the truth and salvaging their family's reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?

James Nicol - A Witch Alone (The Apprentice Witch)  - Published by Chicken House (1 Mar. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1910655979
During an eventful holiday in Kingsport, Arianwyn is recruited for an important mission: to retrieve the Book of Quiet Glyphs from its hiding place in the Great Wood. But as she returns home to Lull, feyling refugees gather outside the town walls and hex plagues the forest. As tensions lead to fall-outs with her friends, town squabbles and magical mishaps, Arianwyn faces a sobering truth: she alone can find the Book, and wield its secrets ...

Read Book Extract Here. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Middle-Grade Book Picks - February 2018 - UK Post Two

M. G. Leonard - Battle of the Beetles - Published by Chicken House Ltd (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1910002780

Darkus and his friends continue their unforgettable adventure in this final instalment of the Beetle trilogy. Arch-villainess Lucretia Cutter has a secret Biome hidden in the Amazon rainforest: can Darkus and his friends, human and beetle alike, find it before it's too late? If they can't stop Lucretia, she will release her hoard of giant Frankenstein beetles, and the planet will never be the same again ...

Robin Stevens - A Spoonful of Murder: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery - Published by Puffin (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-0141373782

When Hazel Wong's beloved grandfather passes away, Daisy Wells is all too happy to accompany her friend (and Detective Society Vice President) to Hazel's family estate in beautiful, bustling Hong Kong. 

But when they arrive they discover something they didn't expect: there's a new member of the Wong family. Daisy and Hazel think baby Teddy is enough to deal with, but as always the girls are never far from a mystery. Tragedy strikes very close to home, and this time Hazel isn't just the detective. She's been framed for murder! 

The girls must work together like never before, confronting dangerous gangs, mysterious suspects and sinister private detectives to solve the murder and clear Hazel's name - before it's too late . . .

Celine Kiernan -  Begone the Raggedy Witches - Published by Walker Books (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1406366020

A middle-grade fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge, Katherine Rundell and Sally Gardner. On the night that Aunty dies the Raggedy Witches come for Mup’s mam. Pale, cold, relentless, they will do anything to coax Mam back to Witches Borough. When they kidnap Mup’s dad, Mup and her mam must leave the mundane world to rescue him. But Mam is strange on this side of the border – striding, powerful, and distant. Even if they can save Dad, Mup is not sure anything will ever be the same again…

Mark Powers (Author), Tim Wesson (Illustrator) - Spy Toys: Undercover Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books (8 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1408870907

Toy Story meets James Bond in the third book in this incredible action-packed series! Can Dan the teddy bear who is too strong, Arabella the rag doll with the bad temper and Flax the tech genuis robot rabbit save the day once more?

When the world's most famous chocolate factory disappears, it is up to the Spy Toys to find out the truth - and fast! If the chocolate runs out, there could be riots from children everywhere! The Spy Toys are sent undercover into a school where they need to disguise themselves as regular pupils. Could this be their toughest challenge yet? They'll need all their wits about them to defeat this baddie. And one thing is for sure: these kids don't play nice!

Featuring hilarious illustrations from Tim Wesson throughout, this series is perfect for fans of Pamela Butchart and David Solomons' My Brother is a Superhero.

Andy Briggs - Inventory: Winter Storm (The Inventory) - Published by Scholastic Fiction (1 Feb. 2018) - ISBN-13: 978-1407162058

Biobot alert! The fight for power has a new target – your body! The dark forces who want to control the planet know no limits to their greed. And since they busted into the Inventory, they’ve gotten even deadlier! The Collector is back, on his evil quest to menace the world. Now he’s stolen Winter Storm – a swarm of powerful biobots! These tiny robots can infect and take over everyone you know and love. Oh – and you too, of course! No one will stand a chance. Our only hope is Dev. But after his freaky trip into the Black Zone, he daren’t even rely on himself. And in this new world of covert control, nobody else can be trusted…

• The storming finale to this bestselling all-action series

• Addictive sci-fi by the author of Hero.com and Tarzan

• For fans of Alex Rider, CHERUB or The Unicorne Files

• Gadgets, secrets, villains, danger and breakneck thrills!

Janine Beacham - Hounds and Hauntings: (Rose Raventhorpe Investigates Bk3) - Halloween Exclusive Chapter Preview

This is another fantastic series - Rose Raventhorpe Investigates: Hounds and Hauntings. It is the third thrilling story in Janine Beacham’s middle-grade detective series. With a gothic, Victorian theme, it will have readers guessing and wanting more until the very last page… 

It will be published on 11th January 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books has an exclusive sneaky peek at the first chapter of the book to get you into the mood for Halloween and hopefully whet your appetite to read this book when it finally gets published.    

The city of Yorke is in a panic. There's been a murder! Is an ancient ghost-hound called the Barghest on the loose?

ROSE RAVENTHORPE, her friend Orpheus and the secret society of butlers search for clues in the dark, eerie skitterways, on the mist-covered moors, and atop the ancient walls of the city. Rose believes that the villain is human, and she's determined to prove it.

There's no sweeping this crime under the carpet...

About the Author

A former journalist, Janine Beacham has written all her life. She has always loved fairy tales and fantasy, and as a child would make up games for her friends to play at school. Janine once entered a competition where the prize was a real-life butler – this partly inspired the secret society of butlers in the Rose Raventhorpe Investigates series. Janine lives in Western Australia with her family.

Black Cats and Butlers: Book 1 (Rose Raventhorpe Investigates)

When Rose Raventhorpe's beloved butler is found (gasp!) murdered in the hallway of her own house, she's determined to uncover the culprit. Especially since he's the third butler to die in a week! 

Rose's investigation leads her on a journey into a hidden world of grave robbers and duelling butlers, flamboyant magicians and the city's ancient feline guardians. 

Knives aren't just for cutting cucumber sandwiches, you know . . .

Rubies and Runaways: Book 2 (Rose Raventhorpe Investigates)

It's a bitterly cold winter in Yorke and Rose Raventhorpe and her butler Heddsworth are stuck with Rose's unpleasant cousin Herbert, and his equally horrible butler, Bixby. 

When an orphan boy named Orpheus interrupts the Cathedral's Mistletoe Service, saying that his sister has been kidnapped, Rose vows to help. Solving the mystery will be a lot better than accompanying ghastly Herbert! But the investigation is more complicated than Rose has anticipated and will lead her and her butler friends through fancy tea-rooms, horrible factories, secret underground passages and more... 

Fireplace pokers are much more dangerous than you might imagine . . .