The Mourning Necklace

Kate Foster

‘They said I would swing for the crime and I did.
I wear the rope-bruise like a necklace...’

ANY reader who has enjoyed a pint or two at Maggie Dickson’s pub in the middle of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket may not know the dark and mysterious story of the woman who was hanged only a stone’s throw away for murdering her newborn baby... but survived her own execution.

Inspired by this infamous real-life case, The Mourning Necklace is the new and unforgettable historical novel from the Women's Prize for Fiction-longlisted Kate Foster (pictured below), author of The Maiden and The King’s Witches which impressed critics and wowed readers with their powerful storytelling and feminist themes.

Foster’s mission is to give a voice to history’s forgotten women and their very real, lived experiences, and as she tells us in her author’s note, ‘sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.’ In fact, there can be few stranger stories than this true tale of the legendary ‘Half-Hangit Maggie,’ the unmarried Scottish fisherwoman who left her home in Fisherrow in 1724 and travelled to Kelso where she gave birth to a baby and allegedly abandoned it on the banks of the River Tweed.

Sentenced to hang for child murder, 22-year-old Maggie survived death on the gallows by some trick of fate... and it is her life before, during and after her hanging that Foster imagines in this coruscating novel which explores emotive issues like women’s reproductive rights, working conditions, and poverty which are as relevant today as they were three hundred years ago.

‘Human life is cheap. They die on street corners, in rags, an empty bottle rolling around beside them. They die of poxes and plagues and starvation and hangings. They die in childbirth. Or shortly thereafter. Whispers of the afterlife are sometimes the only hope we have.’

The working class world of Scotland’s 18th century fishing community is tough and unforgiving, and in a village tavern on the outskirts of Edinburgh, the family of Maggie Dickson gather to drown their sorrows on the day of her hanging. Her mother, father and sister Joan mourn her death but cannot help but feel relieved that she is gone. Shame haunts them and passers-by avert their eyes from the cheap-looking coffin on its rickety cart.

Despite protesting her innocence, Maggie was hanged for the murder of her newborn child. But as her family pray that her soul rests in peace, a figure appears at the door of the pub. It’s Maggie. Miraculously she is still ‘living and breathing.’ Bruised and dazed, she has ‘defied the Grim Reaper’ but Maggie has little time for her family’s questions with her future survival now in the balance.

Whether she bribed the hangman or has been touched by God matters little now. With her neck slashed and bearing a rope burn that she fears will be a scar that marks her out for life, all that matters to Maggie – who claims her baby was born prematurely – is proving her innocence before the city sheriffs order that she hang for a second time.

Written in the first person voice of Maggie to give the story extra emotional power, tension and authenticity, The Mourning Necklace is Foster’s best novel yet... a blistering and beautifully crafted portrait of an ordinary young woman from a working class background who is sentenced to death under rules made and enforced by men.

Employing an extraordinarily insightful and elegant prose which belies the viscerally cruel darkness of Maggie’s story, Foster transports readers to 18th century Scotland where we discover the pivotal events, family pressures and complex relationships that have led to the arrest and sentencing of the young mother.

By blending authentic social history with what is known about Maggie and her grinding life as a fisherwoman, Foster shows us how the close, and sometimes abrasive, companionship of the hardworking wives and mothers provided solace, determination and a shared resilience in a world in which women had few rights and were given little education.

Loss, hardship, bullying, poverty, and even smuggling, all have a part to play in Maggie’s life and we share her pain and fear, and feel her vulnerability, in an age when women were little more than the property of their husbands and had no say over their own bodies.

But by surviving a hanging against all the odds, Maggie also acts as a beacon of hope and strength, and a reminder that women from all corners of the past have a story to tell that speaks loudly to those who face intimidation and injustice today. A timely and terrific tale...
(Pan, paperback, £9.99) 

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Werewolf thrills, dragon magic and a treasure hunt

Get ready for fun, fantasy and werewolf frights in a thrilling adventure from a superstar writer and illustrator, escape into a mysterious realm where hope has wings, meet two children battling to find a much-treasured window, and discover why everything you thought about birds is wrong in an exciting new selection 

Age 8 plus
The Last Wolf
Rob Biddulph

JUST picture it… a thrilling werewolf adventure full of lies, betrayals, dread and danger, all brought to life by over one hundred spectacular illustrations! Superstar DrawWithRob author and illustrator Rob Biddulph – fresh from his much-loved Peanut Jones series – returns with the first book of a thrilling duology that will have youngsters howling with delight! The Last Wolf kicks off the Moonhaven Chronicles with a gripping fast-paced, spine-tingling mystery romp packed with full moons, werewolves and atmospherics so deep, dark and daring that youngsters will be turning the pages with the speed of a lightning strike.

Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth call themselves the Moonlighters. They live for full-moon adventures on curfew night… the night when they dodge the Nighthawks and enjoy roaming the empty streets of Moonhaven, a place trapped in fear of werewolf attacks. But when a rare werewolf attack rocks the town, the friends become prime suspects. With the Nighthawks closing in on anyone who was out after dark, they are forced to run – setting off a chain of rumours, secrets and betrayals. As suspicion spreads and the children become caught in tangled web of buried lies and hidden agendas, friendships are tested… and the truth may be more dangerous than any of them imagined. Biddulph’s dazzling verbal and visual reimagining of the werewolf legends – told in short, all-action chapters – is the perfect recipe for even the most reluctant readers who like their adventures to come with plenty of eye-catching pictures. So what are you waiting for? Get on down to Moonhaven and share in the fun, the fantasy… and the frights!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Where the Dragon Waits
Tom Moorhouse

SIT back, make yourself comfortable, and enjoy escaping to a mysterious realm where hope has wings! Author, ecologist and freelance conservation scientist Tom Moorhouse sets his prodigious imagination to work (and inspires youngsters to do the same!) with an enchanting and endearing fantasy adventure full of magic, mystery… and dragons. After his dad’s boat crashes, Ed finds himself all alone on a strange beach. But then he meets a girl – headstrong Steff – who doesn't know where they are, either. As Ed and Steff explore a new realm full of mystery, they discover its deep and dark lore. They meet deadly butterflies, a pack of wolves with a secret and an armoured pangolin called Astolpho who reveals the only way home involves a dragon who lives at the top of an impossibly tall, rocky spire. Ed and Steff are drawn through legend and peril as they battle to unlock the truth about the dragon, themselves and their chances of ever returning home. The traditional fantasy elements, so beloved by young readers, mingle deliciously with Moorhouse’s unique brand of humour and exciting originality in this page-turning, heartfelt and ultimately uplifting story. A breathtaking book destined to win hearts and send young imaginations soaring!
(David Fickling Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Treasure Seekers
Cathy Faulkner

A COMMUNITY still raw from the traumas of the 1914-18 war and a deadly flu spreading from house to house… can two youngsters work together to save their village before time runs out? Longlisted in 2024 for the Carnegie Medal for Writing for her debut verse novel, Digging for Victory, Cathy Faulkner returns with another powerful and evocative story exploring themes of friendship and loss, of preserving the past and knowing when to let go. It’s November 1918 in the village of Aldwick. Stanley is convinced that the hundreds of years old stained-glass window in the church that Martha’s late grandfather removed for safekeeping during the war is the protection the village needs to solve all its problems, including his mother’s sickness. But Martha refuses to help him search for the window panels, wanting to keep her beloved grandfather’s secrets safe. When Stanley becomes ill as well, Martha realises she must act to help him and she begins her search for the panels, even as her father struggles with his own inner turmoil in the aftermath of the war. As the people who are most important to them suffer, Martha and Stanley step up their search. Can all the panels be found before it’s too late and can hope ever be restored? Employing the same verse format that wowed readers and critics with her first novel, and using her own interest in making stained glass windows as the backdrop to the story, Faulkner once again impresses with the elegance, insight and dramatic intensity of her writing.
(Firefly Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Everything You Know About Birds is Wrong!
Dr Nick Crumpton and Gavin Scott

IF you thought that birds are defenceless, that they all eat seeds, and that the world doesn’t need them, then you’d better think again! Bird fans will quickly become bird experts with this informative, inventive and entertaining exploration of the bird world which proves that any suggestion that birds are boring and not very smart is totally WRONG! Forget what you thought was true because zoologist Dr Nick Crumpton is here to help readers dig out the real facts about birds. From incredible feats of flight to super-powerful senses, discover how everything you think you know about birds is actually untrue in this in-depth, ingenious book. Discover why seagulls are not really mean, why there’s actually no such thing as a ‘seagull,’ why we’re wrong to think that nests are round and made of twigs, and that it’s wrong to think that although birds are everywhere, they are not at risk. With a fascinating, friendly, easy-to-understand text by Crumpton, Gavin Scott’s richly detailed and colourful artwork on every page, and twenty-nine spreads that puncture myths about birds, spotlight biodiversity and encourage children to see the wonder of the animals around them, this hardback gift book comes complete with a stunningly tactile cover and is ideal for all young nature lovers.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £14.99)

Age 7 plus
Insectarium
Emily Carter and Dave Goulson

CREEPY-CRAWL your way into the Junior Edition of Insectarium, part of the brilliant Welcome to the Museum series, and explore the fascinating world of insects! Simply step inside the pages of this fact-packed book to enjoy the experience of a museum from the comfort of your own home. This stunning tour – created in collaboration with the Royal Entomological Society – showcases an incredible collection of insects of every shape and colour from around the world, enabling readers to wander through curated exhibits on every page, all accompanied by an informative text. In this eye-catching visit, packed with amazing pictures and facts, we discover that insects are essential for life as we know it.

There are at least one million species of insects, together making up over 80 per cent of all living species on Earth. Around 10,000 new species of insects are discovered every year. Learn about the secret world thriving right underneath your feet, discover how insects evolved into what they are today, how they work together and how they defend themselves. Walk the galleries to meet shimmering butterflies, jewel-like beetles, glowing fireflies and enormous stick insects in this beautifully illustrated guide to the insects that inhabit almost every corner of the globe. Learn why these small creatures have such a huge impact on the world around us and why we should be protecting them. Intricately detailed artwork by award-winning British illustrator and fashion designer Emily Carter combines with an expert text by award-winning author and University of Sussex professor David Goulson. A must-have for all budding entomologists and nature lovers.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Don't Do It, Doug!
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

WE all know that little voice in your head… the one that says ‘Do NOT do that thing.’ Doug the hamster knows it but he ignores it… every single time! From shaking fizzy pop (uh-oh) to pressing oh-so-tempting red buttons and pulling forbidden levers, Doug just can’t help himself. Don’t do it, Doug! Will he ever learn to control himself? Little ones will adore sharing lovable Doug’s madcap misfortunes in this brilliantly funny picture from author Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrator Duncan Beedie, the top creative team behind Hank Goes Honk. With subtle messages about the rewards of friendship and the unfortunate consequences of over-impulsive behaviour, brought to glorious life by Beedie’s vibrantly colourful and playful artwork, Don't Do It, Doug! is guaranteed to be a favourite read with both mischievous tots and (only occasionally!) mischievous grown-ups.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Welcoming the Lunar New Year
Lara Lee and Natelle Quek

GET ready to celebrate Lunar New Year, a festival of new beginnings, in this delightful heartfelt picture book from Australian chef and food writer Lara Lee, and Malaysian-born illustrator Natelle Quek, who now lives in England. Ren and his family are preparing for the New Year celebrations… cooking a feast and tidying up. But when Ren accidentally rips apart his mum’s dragon costume for the New Year parade, he has to ask his neighbours for help. As they provide him with the materials he needs to fix the dragon, he learns all about Lunar New Year traditions around the world and soon they are all celebrating together with a festive feast. Illustrated in Quek’s rich palette of colours, Lee’s story incorporates a gentle message about the values of the celebration. And give this year’s celebrations for the Year of the Fire Horse on February 17 an extra bite with the book’s recipe for tasty Chinese peanut cookies, and a lesson in Lunar New Year dragon craft. The perfect way to welcome a year full of happiness!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Awesomely Adventurous Librarians
Donna David and Victoria Stebleva

BOOKS, books, books! A visit to the library is always a treat and we all know that librarians are superheroes, but does anyone know what they really do when the library lights go out and the readers have gone home? Discover the answer and much more in author Donna David and illustrator Victoria Stebleva’s delightfully imaginative picture book which explores the idea that there is a book for everyone through a fun-filled adventure. In Sleepy Creek Library, living and breathing stories have to be retrieved from the Land of Books. It’s there that Rida loves helping her Grandad. She makes a list of all the readers’ requests and passes it to Grandad to retrieve them. But when Arun asks for a book so adventurous that no one has ever been able to catch it, Grandad says he can’t help. Can Rida secretly journey to the Land of Books and find the story herself? This action-packed adventure is perfect for inspiring a new generation of book-lovers. David’s original and creative spin on the theme of libraries and storytelling becomes a vibrant and atmospheric storybook-style adventure filled with Stebleva’s colourful landscape of birds, trees, flowers and whimsical figures. A story with a happy ending for little bookworms!
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Rock and Roll
Ruby Amy Thompson

HERE'S a brilliant new debut picture book that will rock and roll its way into your heart! Ruby Amy Thompson, who spent almost a decade working in entertainment and comedy television before going back to school to study illustration, delivers fun in the round with the tale of a super-strong lump of rock and a super-soft bread roll which find they have more common than they could ever have imagined. Rock and Roll are very different. Rock is strong and Roll is soft. Rock hates attention while Roll loves it. But hang on… maybe Rock can really roll, and Roll can really rock! With two unforgettable characters taking centre stage, Thompson’s bold and joyful artwork, big laughs, and a brilliantly playful layout in which Rock and Roll always appear on opposite pages whilst still being linked through shared experiences, there could be no better way to celebrate all the weird and wonderful things that bring us together!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
I Am Strong Just Being Me
Laura Dockrill and Kip Alizadeh

DOES being strong mean you will always win a fight? Award-winning author Laura Dockrill and illustrator and visual artist Kip Alizadeh bring young readers a stunning and lyrical exploration of strength and its many guises in this poetic and powerful picture book.‘Is strong brave and fearless? Does it always win a fight? Does strong have a shouty voice? Is it always right?’ These are some of the questions that the inquisitive Bean asks Nanna one day while in the garden. From the power of silence to the strength of an embrace, this uplifting picture book offers an alternative to the stereotypes around strength, and encourages all children that they can be strong in their own way. With Alizadeh’s colourful and evocative illustrations adding extra power to an uplifting text celebrating the natural world as well as inspiring reflection, I Am Strong Just Being Me is the perfect book to help young readers challenge stereotypes and believe in their own inner strength.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Isla and the Sky
Greg Stobbs

MEET a little girl who loves the sky… and all its many multi-coloured moods! Author and illustrator Greg Stobbs – whose picture book Cloud Boy captured the hearts of both children and parents – returns with another joyful and empathetic tale celebrating feelings. With his busy, bold, painterly illustrations and a text full of empathy and creativity, Stobbs works his magic on a girl called Isla who finds inspiration for her artwork by looking upwards. Sky is vast, bright, and blue… but sometimes she is dark and thunderous, her raindrops reflecting the town below. Isla loves all Sky’s moods and tries to capture the variety in her paintings. When Sky rains or clouds over, however, all the other townspeople grumble and moan. Sky decides she should just try to be happy all the time so people aren’t cross with her. But this is harder than it looks and soon the world below – and Isla’s paintings – start to suffer. Can Isla convince big, bold Sky to let all her feelings and colours show? And what happens to Sky when she is on the brink of bursting? Stobbs’ inspirational and atmospheric story is given added emotional potency from his captivating illustrations, a visual feast of colour and sensory delights which inform and inspire little ones to understand and accept their own mood swings and feelings.
(Oxford University Press, paperback, £7.99)

The Swell

Kat Gordon

ICELANDIC mythology, a shipwreck on a storm-battered shore, and two generations of women fighting against a society with patriarchy ingrained its soul are the alluring ingredients of a stunning novel from exciting storyteller Kat Gordon.

The Swell, a moving, atmospheric and feisty feminist tale of life amidst the icy splendours, towering volcanoes and all-enveloping darkness of Iceland, was inspired by the author’s childhood immersion in the story of Beowulf, the Old English epic poem set in Scandinavia during the 6^th century, and from her own years of living in, and loving, this famously cold, dark and rugged island.

Weaving enticingly across two timelines separated by sixty-five years, and starring two courageous women living very different lives but facing the same challenges and desire for female empowerment, Gordon’s (pictured below) spellbinding tale of sisterhood, survival and resistance has a haunting, heartbreaking and page-turning mystery at its heart. It’s autumn of 1910 in a remote corner of Iceland where sisters Freyja and Gudrún live with their widower father, Papi, a taciturn fisherman of few words who is suspicious of all things new, sees bad omens everywhere, and regards his daughters as keepers of their house and tenant farm despite Gudrún’s longing to join his fishing trips.

But change is afoot one stormy night when the two sisters rescue a mysterious and charismatic young Dane called Tomas from a shipwreck near their home. Much the same age as Freyja and Gudrún, Tomas is strong, carefree and loves to sing.

Even though their father suspects he might be a Danish spy sent to undermine Iceland’s fight for independence, Tomas is allowed to stay on at their home to help with the haymaking and work for his lodgings.

Freyja, who says she was drawn out to the sea by a sense of impending disaster on the night of the shipwreck, feels a special tenderness towards the stranger who landed on their shore, but soon her older sister Gudrún begins to fear that another man – a man who is strictly out of bounds – is the one who has truly stolen Freyja’s heart. Sixty-five years later in Reykjavik, a young and ambitious 18-year-old girl called Sigga is spending time with her beloved grandmother, her Amma, who came to the city many years ago from a remote Icelandic peninsula. Sigga has always ‘half-lived’ at her Amma’s house where they bake together, chop wood and delight in thrilling stories from Icelandic folklore.

Sigga’s mother expects that her daughter will follow tradition and marry and have children but a new generation of young women like Sigga want to live, learn and see the world. Sigga will be heading to a prize-giving in London later in the year after winning a story-writing competition and before then, she is helping to organise  a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ rally in Reykjavik involving over 15,000 women and calling for equal rights.

But when Sigga and her Amma learn a body has been discovered on a mountainside near Reykjavik, perfectly preserved in ice, the teenager is determined to discover why the news has so disturbed and distressed her grandmother…  

Written in a sweeping, sensual and almost cinematic prose which transports readers into the drama, dangers and majestic beauty of both the raw landscape of rural Iceland and the tamed modernity of downtown Reykjavik, Gordon imaginatively blends the country’s breathtaking and often brutal folklore with 20^th century women’s struggle against a culture of male domination and oppression.

The ties of family and female relationships loom large as the restrictions and frustrations faced by Freyja and Gúdrun are mirrored in the life of Sigga sixty-five years into the future where women are still fighting to do work seen as the sole province of men, to own their own property, and be recognised as equals in a male-dominated society.

For Freyja and Gúdrun, living in a place of wild isolation in early 20^th century Iceland, they must battle the demands of a patriarchal society as well as the perilous extremes of the Icelandic weather. And despite her city life in the later decades of the century, Sigga too faces a constant fight against society’s – and her own family’s – expectations and pressures. And as the suspense ramps up and the two timelines converge, the shocking truth is teased out, wrongs are righted, and a generational enigma is solved.

It’s a haunting, soul-searching, and yet ultimately hopeful, story in which the mingling of history, mystery, mythology and modernity reveals what appears to be an endless and timeless struggle for female equality. Ice-packed, breathtakingly imagined, and hauntingly beautiful, The Swell is the perfect match for those long winter nights…   
(Manilla Press, paperback, £9.99)

Killing in the Shadows

Kate Ellis

TOP TV presenter, actress and friend to the rich and famous, Lexi Verity would seem to have it all but, now in her late forties, she is wise enough to know that success can attract attention of the unwanted and dangerous kind.

And when Lexi is found dead in the indoor swimming pool at her luxury home and hideaway in a quiet North Yorkshire village, the murder of well-known celebrity places extra pressure on local police chief DI Joe Plantagenet whose task is to find her killer.

The amazing million-copy bestselling author Kate Ellis (pictured below), whose output has included the cerebral black detective Wesley Peterson series and the Albert Lincoln trilogy, has made both herself and her police heroes not just a ‘force’ to be reckoned with, but something of a crime writing sensation.

Killing in the Shadows is Liverpool-born author Ellis’s (staggering!) thirty-eighth novel and the sixth book in the DI Joe Plantagenet crime series which is set against the backdrop of a city called Eborby, creatively modelled on the atmospheric city of York with its ancient walls, narrow snickleways, magnificent Minster and a rich and eventful history.

And as York is also reputed to be the most haunted city in England, Ellis has added a thread of tantalising supernatural to these gritty police dramas as well as her trademark memorable characters and mysteries with plenty of twists and turns.

Leading the Yorkshire team is a pair of perfectly matched chalk-and-cheese detectives… DI Joe Plantagenet, a thoughtful Liverpudlian who gave up the priesthood for love only for his wife to tragically die shortly after their wedding, and down-to-earth DCI Emily Thwaite who successfully combines being a mother of three with her full-on police career.

Since being targeted by a creepy stalker who, thankfully, is now safely behind bars, the beautiful old Georgian rectory in the quaint Yorkshire village of Eaglethorpe – bought for Lexi by her wealthy antiques dealer husband Lord (Milo) Pilton – has become her sanctuary. Away from prying eyes and camera flashes, the house is her refuge, the place where she feels safe and where her neighbours know that Lexi guards her privacy with an increased ferocity. But when her husband leaves on a business trip to New York and her housekeeper Margaret goes out one September day, Lexi’s swim in her pool becomes the last moments of her life.

The murder of such a well-known celebrity is front-page news and the pressure on Eborby CID to find the killer is quickly ramped up to top level. As Joe and Emily launch into their investigation and unravel the finer details of Lexi’s last few days, they discover various motives for her murder and a growing list of possible suspects, including a man who called at the house and claimed to be a psychic. But as the police team widen their inquiry, they discover events in Lexi’s distant past that would horrify the public if the facts were ever revealed. And sinister secrets are also disturbing the residents of the nearby city of Eborby… Joe must decide which lead to follow and act fast if they are stop the murderer striking again.

The charms of North Yorkshire – whether that’s the historic city or the rolling countryside – provide a stunning backdrop to this complex, thrilling mystery which includes excellent police procedural, immaculate research, stand-out characters, and the sort of good old-fashioned investigative work that marks out Ellis’s crime novels.

Perhaps one of the most striking and addictive elements of the Joe Plantagenet series is the addition of some spine-tingling, paranormal atmospherics… a ghostly, gothic vibe that haunts the plotlines and rings so true among the ancient streets and alleyways of the city. And Killing in the Shadows throws up a perplexing, multi-layered case for our dynamic detective duo as Joe, the caring and intellectual loner, and Emily, whose marriage has been though some rocky times, have to dig deep into the hidden corners of Lexi’s life to track down the murderer from an intriguing list of suspects.

Always adept at keeping the pages turning and her readers on their toes, Ellis resists the temptation to overload her mysteries with clues and instead drops small nuggets of information into the plot, barely rippling the surface of our consciousness and allowing the final showdown to pack a surprising punch.

So whether you’ve read the series so far, or are discovering the wonderfully satisfying DI Joe Plantagenet novels for the first time, prepare to enjoy a truly tasty crime-reading treat.
(Constable, hardback, £22)

Death in a Domino

Roland Pertwee

By guest reviewer Nicholas Litchfield,
editor of the Lowestoft Chronicle

A POWERFUL newspaper magnate’s dictatorial grip and clandestine scandals trigger murder at an elite dinner party in Death in a Domino, an intense post-war crime novel steeped in social intrigue, simmering resentments, and polished façades that conceal deeper desires and betrayals.

First published in 1932 by the London-based publisher William Heinemann as It Means Mischief, and in the US that same year as Death in a Domino, Roland Pertwee’s standalone mystery returns to print after more than ninety years lost to obscurity.

Brighton-born Roland Pertwee, father of the late Dr Who actor Jon Pertwee, was once a struggling painter but found his true calling as a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. His psychologically acute scripts and brisk dialogue helped define British stage and screen from the 1920s through the 1950s. Interference, the play he co-wrote with Harold Dearden, ran for six months in London’s West End before opening to favourable Broadway reviews in 1927, paving the way for a prolific career at Warner Brothers and a steady run of popular novels.

In Death in a Domino, Pertwee (pictured left) employs his flair for suspense and emotional insight, crafting characters and settings with a sharp, cinematic touch. Set in 1930s London, the novel introduces Lord Studholme, a ruthless newspaper magnate and morally ambiguous patriarch whose chilling influence shapes everyone around him. 

His daughters, Joan Holland, with her ‘boyish, willow-supple figure’ and gleaming gold hair, and Petal Studholme, a ‘calmer, grander beauty’ with a ‘purposefulness’ of nature, are drawn with subtle contrasts in strength and vulnerability.

Joan’s troubled past romance with Howard Mander, a disreputable and financially struggling man, continues to haunt her. Ever the manipulator, Lord Studholme, acquires Joan’s intimate letters to Mander as a tool for control, boasting, ‘When I want anything, I’ll go to any pains to get it.’

Meanwhile, Petal’s love for Guy Kennion, Lord Studholme’s rough-edged yet loyal secretary, further strains family bonds. Guy’s growing resentment of Lord Studholme’s authoritarian rule leads to a bitter ultimatum from the patriarch himself: ‘My daughter doesn’t marry a secretary,’ a condition that threatens to sever love from power and privilege.

The mounting tension comes to a head when the Studholmes host a glittering yet uneasy dinner party. Among the guests are the imperious Princess Amelia of Corsova, the flamboyant and controversial author Adrian Chiddiatt, Major-General Sir George Piddinghoe, and the aloof Commissioner Holland. What starts as a parlour amusement – a ‘murder game’ in black domino cloaks devised by Chiddiatt – turns to horror when Lord Studholme is found shot dead in the library, stunning his guests and shattering the thin veneer of civility.

Chief Inspector Ramage quickly determines that Studholme was shot twice, discounting suicide and setting a genuine murder mystery in motion. As the dinner party guests become suspects, their façades begin to crumble… Joan reels from shock, Petal strives to steady the family, and Guy Kennion straddles uneasy ground between loyalty and suspicion. Hints of a struggle, cryptic clues, including a brooch, a key, and drag marks in the carpet, layer the case with uncertainty and hint at deeper intrigue beneath the obvious motives.

Pertwee’s skilful weaving of sharp dialogue, atmospheric setting, and psychological acuity elevates the novel beyond a simple whodunit. The relationships – Joan’s secrets and shame, Petal’s longing for autonomy, Guy’s uneasy conscience – intertwine with the circumstances of the crime, transforming the mystery into a drama of power, betrayal and the destructive cost of secrets kept too long. As Ramage’s investigation unfolds, loyalties fracture and the truth grows ever more elusive. The cast’s frailties, ambitions and histories come under scrutiny as each character navigates suspicion, guilt and the desire for self-preservation. Throughout it all, Pertwee maintains an exquisite tension, blending dark comedy, psychological vulnerability and ever-present social critique.

Death in a Domino builds towards a climax that refuses easy answers. Even as the machinery of justice lurches into motion, the nature of innocence and guilt – and who bears responsibility – remains ambiguous, echoing beyond the final page. Elegantly written, psychologically astute, and bracingly modern, Pertwee’s mystery lingers as a study in how secrets shape destinies and how, in the end, not all truths demand to be told.
(Stark House Press, paperback, £11.95)

⬛Nicholas Litchfield is an English-born author and journalist who lives in Western New York. He established the Lowestoft Chronicle, a quarterly online magazine, in 2009. It publishes short stories, flash fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, interviews and artwork.(lowestoftchronicle.com)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A dying world, creating comics and a golden monkey

Meet a boy who was born to save a world that is fast fading out of existence, discover a brilliant guide to making your own cool and colourful comics, journey to the Himalayas and join the hunt for a golden monkey’s hidden home, and saddle up for the jumps in a thrilling pony adventure as a super selection of new children’s books hits the shelves

Age 9 plus
Quill and the Last Generation
C.M. Lewis and Marina Vidal

AS the world fades and no more children are born, only one boy can save it… but first, he must defeat the King of Darkness. As January chills continue to bite, escape into the first gripping book of an epic new fantasy adventure series from award-winning Welsh novelist and screenwriter Caryl Lewis who is writing middle-grade fantasy for the first time as C. M. Lewis. Inspired by Welsh mythology and infused with folklore and magic, Quill and the Last Generation is a true thrill ride full of danger, action and daring deeds, and featuring dragons, shapeshifters and a brave boy who has become the Last Generation’s Hero. A world without children is a world dying for a hero. No babies have been born for twelve years and no one knows why. Quill, a shy, ordinary, twelve-year-old boy, doesn’t know the first thing about being a hero but that changes the moment a mysterious young shapeshifting girl, in the form of a raven, opens his eyes to a world bursting with urgent magic and breathtaking danger. Quill must prepare for dragons that guard the deepest secrets, a monstrous hound hunting lost souls and a waterhorse of deadly beauty. Everyone believes Quill is the last generation's only hope. But to save everyone, he must be ready to quash self-doubt, face the King of Darkness in battle, and claim the Light of the World before time runs out. And first he needs to find the courage to fight... With themes of friendship, growing up, resilience and valuing kindness, this enthralling tale of mythology and fantasy – filled with the illustrations of Marina Vidal – explores what it takes to grow up into a man, and what it means to be a hero and a leader. A tale of ancient and modern perfectly tailored for a new generation of readers. 
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Create Your Own Comics
Ned Hartley and Alex Lopez

DO you love comics? Well here’s a big, bold book that reckons to be the only guide you’ll ever need to making your very own cool and colourful comics! Written by Ned Hartley whose stories appear in the Beano comic every week, Create Your Own Comics is packed with story ideas, drawing tips, creative prompts and loads of fun suggestions to start you off on your way to becoming a comic master. And this isn’t just page after page of blank comic pages… it’s a comprehensive guide to what makes comics work, with templates to help you find your way and hints for getting the best out of your own story ideas. Learn the basics of common comic elements and how to use them, including panels, speech bubbles, splash pages and sound effects. Find out how to create comics in different styles and genres, from funny to scary and superheroes to monsters. Learn how to draw unique characters of your own and show their emotions (surprise, anger and laughter) through your drawing. And once you feel you’re a comic master, practise your new skills by using the story generator tools to get your imagination pumping and come up with unique stories of your very own. The next generation of comic masters never had it so good!
(Buster Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
The Golden Monkey Mystery
Piu Dasgupta

AFTER the success of her Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlisted novel, Secrets of the Snakestone, exciting author Piu Dasgupta returns with a thrilling follow-up adventure set in the rich and luscious jungles of 19^th century India. With its gothic vibes and starring an ambitious young girl on a dangerous mission to prove her worth to be a medical student, this tale of a lost monkey, a cursed jewel and a race against time is an amazing, all-action winner. Roma Moreau is determined that she will become the first woman to study at Bengal Medical College, no matter what her father or classmates say. So when she stumbles upon a rare golden monkey, she vows to return it to its hidden home in the Himalayas and discover the location of its habitat to prove her mettle. Armed with nothing but a mysterious map, she sets off but the path is riddled with peril… ruthless bandits, prowling beasts, and the sinister power of the Snakestone, a jewel that stalks her dreams. To make matters worse, Roma is forced to travel with Max and Arabella, two pampered children who seem more trouble than help. Only the map offers a chance of success, but with every step, pursuers of the Snakestone draw closer. Can Roma unlock the map’s secret before the jungle swallows them whole? Brimming with danger, daring, bandits and snakes, Roma’s battle to outwit ruthless enemies and sinister creatures is a rip-roaring ride from her audacious start to the golden monkey’s mysterious hidden home in the hills of Darjeeling. Perfect for fantasy fans and lovers of nature in the wild…
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie’s Dream
Olivia Tuffin

INSPIRED by her own ponies and their funny antics, farmer’s wife and pony lover Olivia Tuffin brings us a gripping new action adventure in a heartfelt series about a girl, her family and their horses. So saddle up and join horse-mad Lottie as she faces old rivalries, new friends and a fresh start… as well as battling to rebuild her connection with her pony Patch, getting them to the championships and moving one step closer to her dream. Lottie works hard to heal her bond with Patch, desperate to learn how to hear him. But ever since the Rhinefields Show when he galloped off, Patch has been detached and afraid... Meanwhile, Lottie’s friendship with Felix is over and she feels betrayed. But when he texts her out of the blue, she realises how much she has missed him. Could she trust him again, and why does he need her help? As more secrets emerge, Lottie and Felix try to make sense of a photograph he found and the old connection between their two families. With local horse grazing landmark, Wild Hill, up for sale, there’s still so much to overcome. Lottie knows that without Wild Hill, there will be no more time with Patch. And without Patch, there is no dream. With unexpected twists, a story filled with realism and jeopardy, and adorable ponies aplenty, young horse fans will be galloping through the drama and racing to the finishing line!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Sandy Fin: Mystery of the Phantom Diver
Martin Stewart and Santy Gutiérrez

DIVE into the second smashing, splashing Sandy Fin deep sea adventure from the top team of children’s author Martin Stewart and illustrator Santy Gutiérrez. Ideal for youngsters moving on to junior fiction, these eco-themed books are packed with sea-washed action, mystery, laugh-out-loud fun, and heroes and villains in all shapes and forms. Ocean explorer Sandy Fin, the silver-scaled diver of the deep and puzzler of puzzles, and his best friend Lily are enjoying life by the sea after saving Portwhistle and its marine life from Albo Start’s aquapark. But suddenly, odd things are starting to happen… an escaped convict is on the loose, curious mounds of sand appear on the beach and, strangest of all, are reported sightings of the Phantom Diver… a figure of Portwhistle legend, long believed to be a figment of the most inventive imagination! Highly suspicious and armed with a compass that points to the truth, Sandy and Lily dive, snoop and climb their way through the mystery towards the Phantom Diver’s true identity. Stewart’s own imagination moves into overdrive for this wonderfully madcap journey to the dark depths of the ocean as our seafaring young heroes make waves on their new marine mission. Brought to life by Gutiérrez’s vibrant illustrations, this series is certainly making a splash!
(Zephyr, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Animagicals: Mia’s Tiger
Paula Harrison and Erwin Madrid

FIND your animal… and know your destiny! A new year has begun and it’s time to join a school where children can change into animals. Mia’s Tiger is the first book of Animagicals, a thrilling new magical fantasy series from Paula Harrison, author of the bestselling Kitty books, and illustrator Erwin Madrid. Animagicals are children born with the power to change into an animal. They can change into any animal and they need help controlling their ability until they find their true form… the animal they are destined to be. Will they fly like an eagle, leap like a leopard or skulk like a fox? And now you can meet these amazing animagicals at Wild Haven, a school set up to protect and train animagicals in a magical forest hidden from the ordinary world. Mia can hardly believe it when she discovers she is an animagical. She’s so pleased to join the magical school where she will be helped to control her gift… especially as she can’t stop turning into a mouse. Will that be her true form forever, or is there something more exciting in store? Mia can’t wait to find out! Adventure awaits all youngsters who love animals, nature and discovering their wild side!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Map of Me
Nicola Davies and Olga Shtonda

MAPPING out your new home, your old home, and even the world of your future home, becomes a moving story in a beautifully imagined and created picture book from Children’s Laureate of Wales Nicola Davies. The Map of Me – filled with the richly detailed and exquisite illustrations of Ukrainian illustrator Olga Shtonda – gently explores change, connection, and imagining a better world. When a young girl moves to a new country, her mum helps her draw a map to understand her unfamiliar surroundings. They draw the new neighbourhood, new friends and the special places the girl has found but important things from the past are missing like Grandma and Joe-Dog. So the girl makes the map bigger to include them. Soon the girl’s friends are inspired to add their own stories and the distances between them all seem to shrink. Yet when misfortune strikes and the girl’s world is shown to be less fixed than she thought, how will she learn to navigate change? Offering hope and comfort in unfamiliar places, The Map of Me helps children navigate big emotions while celebrating different experiences and reminding them of the power they hold to shape the world. The book also links to the author’s laureateship project, Maps of Today, Maps of Tomorrow, which invites children to explore their home patch by creating personal maps of how things are now… and how they could be in the future. Mapping a better world…
(Templar Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band
Giles Andreae and Nick East

MUSIC maestro, please! Youngsters will be tapping their toes and moving to the beat when they join in the musical counting fun of an ever-growing animal band. The Big-Time Boogie-Woogie Animal Band comes from the creative minds of top author and illustrator team Giles Andreae and Nick East. When a music-loving dog meets a fox with a fiddle, they decide to start a Boogie-Woogie Animal Band! Before long, the pair are joined by a lion with a lute, a tiger with a tuba, and a piano-playing penguin. As more friends join them, the band keeps getting bigger and bigger and BIGGER! But there’s one band member still missing. Who could it be? Grown-ups will be counting on this jiggling, wiggling, rhyming celebration of music and rhythm to open up the world of music (and counting!) to a new generation of toe-tapping youngsters.
(Orchard Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Our Dreams
Fátima Ordinola

‘Our dreams arrive with the falling of night,
They take us to the most wonderful places.’ 

COSY up and drift off into the magical world of dreams with this soothing, lyrical and lovingly created picture book from Fátima Ordinola, an exceptionally talented author, graphic designer and illustrator who was born in Peru. From cuddling pandas to snuggling polar bears, and lazy tigers to soft, woolly sheep, Our Dreams gently captures the restful bedtime moments shared between parent and child through the lens of the animal kingdom. Ordinola explores the magic and joy of dreaming through reassuring words and soft watercolour artwork, offering comfort, calm and love as your little one drifts off to sleep. Sweet dreams guaranteed at every bedtime!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Every Lifetime After

Jennifer Ross

CAN a human soul live on to love again after the physical body dies? This is the intriguing and timeless question posed in an emotionally charged and enthralling novel from an author best known for her lush historical romances set in some of the world’s most exotic locations.  

Jenny Ashcroft, whose books include The Echoes of Love, Beneath a Burning Sky and Island in the East, writes here under the pseudonym of Jennifer Ross (pictured below) to bring readers an epic, time-slip love story with a unique twist which will break your heart and then put it back together.

Set across two timelines – an RAF station in wartime North Yorkshire and the glamorous film set of a Hollywood movie in 1989 – Every Lifetime After is a gripping mystery which draws together the lives of two women in two different eras who find themselves in each other’s stories. Packed with passion, heartbreak, nail-biting suspense, and the joys and tragedies of human life, and with a mesmerising thread of the supernatural, Ross’s enchanting page-turner explores the tantalising possibilities of afterlife and rebirth.

It’s 1943, the depths of the Second World War, and Iris Winterton is working with the WAAF as a radio operative at windswept RAF Doverley in North Yorkshire. Twenty-four Lancaster Bombers are lined up on a moonless night to set out on a Pathfinder mission which will prepare the way for yet another raid over occupied Europe.

Amongst the crews is Squadron Leader Robbie Grayson, the man Iris has loved since they were children together in the schoolroom. Robbie is piloting the plane that bears the nickname Mabel’s Fury and Iris never told him the secret that she has been harbouring for weeks… this time he’s not going to come back, and she will be the reason why.

Fast forward to 1989 and we meet 34-year-old Claudia Baxter who is searching for her past. Born on the Doverley estate, Claudia left the area when she was only four and is now an A-list film star, but she is suffocating in the faux-glamour of Hollywood and desperate for an escape.

Claudia’s new project is starring as a woman called Iris Winterton in an epic romance, The Bomber Boys, an adaptation of a bestselling book imagining what really befell the vanished crew of a Lancaster Bomber which disappeared into the darkness of a night in 1943 when it was tantalisingly close to the end of its tour of duty. And it’s not only her career that is putting pressure on Claudia… her real-life boyfriend and Hollywood heart-throb Nick Turner is playing opposite her as missing pilot Robbie Grayson at a time when she is still wrapped up in the grief of a recent miscarriage and mourning the loss of trust between them.

But when she arrives at Doverley for the start of filming, Claudia is astonished and unsettled to find herself slipping not just into the story of the film but back in time and into the life of Iris, Robbie’s mysterious girlfriend who similarly disappeared without a trace, leaving not even a death certificate.

Pulled together by the past and the future, Claudia and Iris begin to unravel the threads of their connection. But in doing so, will they discover a secret bigger than they could ever imagine… and maybe even complete their story? The intertwined lives of Iris and Claudia lie at the heart of this sweeping, almost hypnotic, time-defying story which unfolds against two evocative backdrops and embarks on a multi-layered journey between two love affairs, one in the past and one in the present. 

Cleverly plotted, beautifully written, and tingling with tension, Ross’s tender and empathetic novel harnesses the women’s parallel worlds and perfectly pairs the fears, uncertainties and dangers of wartime with the stresses, strains and often overwhelming demands of a high-profile Hollywood film set.

Every Lifetime After is a truly romantic feast which champions the seductive premise of a love story for all time and takes us on an unmissable emotional rollercoaster ride through the rigours of wartime and the pretensions of stardom and movie-making as two lost souls hope to find each other in lifetimes yet to come. Breathtakingly delicious!
(HQ, hardback, £16.99)

A Dangerous Train of Thought

Faith Martin

FOR author and ghost hunter Arbuthnot ‘Arbie’ Swift, the invitation to a lavish weekend party at a manor house near the coast in Yorkshire is the chance to do a spot of fishing, indulge in a bit of cricket, and play a few games of billiards.

For his old friend and self-appointed ‘literary assistant,’ Miss Valerie (Val) Coulton-James, it’s a chance to dig out some much-needed material for Arbie’s next ghost-hunting book. What neither of them expected was to be thrust into the middle of yet another murder investigation…

Welcome to the third gripping Golden Age murder mystery from million-copy bestseller Faith Martin (pictured below) in a sparkling cosy crime series based in 1920s Oxfordshire which stars lovable gentleman ghost hunter Arbie and feisty vicar’s daughter Val, and is thrilling an army of devoted fans. For over 30 years, Martin has wowed us with her raft of classy books, writing under four different pen names and publishing over fifty novels. Feted for her smart and sassy DI Hillary Greene police series set in and around Oxford, and again using the dreaming spires of her home town for the brilliant Ryder and Loveday crime series, this seasoned author can’t put a foot wrong when it comes to enthralling and clever whodunits.

It’s spring of 1926 and Sir Bayard Cherville and his much younger wife, Lady Sybil, are hosting a sumptuous weekend party at their home, the imposing Cleeves Lea Manor which lies only six miles from the Yorkshire coast.

Sir Bayard, who likes to keep his beautiful wife under his watchful eye, is feeling rather smug and is particularly relishing the weekend ahead because he has a surprise planned… a surprise which he knows is not going to suit all the invited guests.

Among those attending are Sybil’s best friend from schooldays, Betty Rowe, from Woodstock, near Oxford, accompanied by her daughter Bernie who is longing for a weekend of fun. Widowed many years ago and still mourning the death of her son a year ago, Betty is fully aware that Sybil likes to get her own way.

Also on the guest list is Agnes Warren from Harrogate who is dubbed an ‘old maid’ even though she is only aged forty-seven and who ingratiated herself with Bayard by once bringing along the son of a Duke. Agnes is fully aware that she is socially awkward and nervous in company but on this visit, she is harbouring a delicious secret… a secret ‘beyond her wildest dreams.’

Meanwhile, another guest, Bill Endicott from York, a handsome young chancer who is enjoying the fact that his ‘scapegoat existence’ is currently ‘coming up roses’ knows that sometimes you have to do things which force you to ‘grit your teeth and grin and bear it.’ And then there’s the self-made and very wealthy Roger Potts-Gibbon and his wife Daphne, a gentle, genteel woman who loves her garden, her dogs and her husband (in that order).

Last but not least are Arbie and Val… invited because Lady Sybil is an avid reader of Arbie’s books and is eager to show him off to her distinguished guests. Arbie’s task is to investigate rumours of a local ‘ghost train spitting fire’ for the third instalment of his Gentleman’s Guide to Ghost-hunting but when the guests start dying, Arbie instead finds himself embroiled in a murder investigation and a house full of secrets. With time fast running out, will he and Val be able to uncover the truth?

There is so much to love about this dazzling new date with Arbie and Val, Martin’s detective duo extraordinaire, who bring with them murder most foul, a fine line in humour, red herrings galore, ingenious plotting, an exquisitely drawn cast of captivating characters, and – without the help of modern technology – some wonderfully entertaining, good old-fashioned sleuthing.

The tall, Valkyrie-like splendour of beautiful, down-to-earth Val, and the laidback, happy-go-lucky charm of Arbie, are making them the new dream team of cosy crime fiction while delivering the sort of clever, complex detective work made famous by the likes of Agatha Christie and the other big names of the Golden Age.

Add on an alluring hint of some ghostly goings-on, an enchanting North Yorkshire backdrop, Martin’s trademark razor-sharp and intensely humane character portraits, and a mountain of intriguing clues to process, and you have the kind of top-notch country house murder mystery that encourages you to think as well as to enjoy.
(HQ, hardback, £16.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A murderous twist, robot power and a magic school

Enjoy a deadly twist on Louisa May Alcott’s 19^th century classic book Little Women, meet a bunch of scientists who can turn humans into robots that will never die, join a schoolboy on his first day at magic school and discover how a school trip to a Viking museum takes a weird turn in an eclectic selection of new children’s books

Age 12 plus
Beth is Dead
Katie Bernet

THE four famous March sisters – stars of Louisa May Alcott’s 19^th century classic book Little Women – are not quite as sweet as they have always seemed in a fabulous contemporary murder mystery retelling from US author and award-winning creative director Katie Bernet. In a gripping, twisting and turning spin on the universally loved story – in which Beth March has been found murdered after a New Year’s Eve party and all her sisters are now suspects – readers discover that the sisters aren’t the only ones with a story to tell. When Beth is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer. Suspects abound. There’s the neighbour, Theodore Laurence, who has feelings for not one but two of the girls, Meg’s manipulative best friend, Amy’s flirtatious mentor, and Beth’s heartbroken first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives that each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable. Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt… money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister… but her boyfriend might, and she will protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published Little Women, a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. It seems that Beth could have been killed by anyone… Beth is Dead is a bold, daring and ambitious murder mystery take on a worldwide classic, featuring familiar characters in a thoroughly up-to-date setting, exploring the complications of sister relationships, and brimming with suspense, betrayal and electrifying plot twists. With a tragedy that threatens to rip apart the March family, Beth’s first-person account told through revealing flashbacks, and the parallel unfolding of Meg, Jo and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation, it really would be a crime to miss it all!
(Scholastic, paperback, £8.99)

Age 11 plus
New You For Ever
Steve Cole and Chris King

CAN scientists turn humans into robots that will never die? In his frighteningly prescient and gripping new novel, internationally bestselling and award-winning author Steve Cole empowers youngsters to explore some of the many conundrums facing our contemporary world. Atmospherically illustrated by Chris King, published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and particularly suitable for readers aged 11 plus with a reading age of eight, New You For Ever is a scorching dystopian thriller which asks difficult questions about our planet’s direction of travel and comes up with some thought-provoking answers. The year is 2070, and the New You Foundation claim to have found the ultimate answer to the climate crisis. They want human beings to upload their memories and personalities into a Pleeka, a replica of their body that can live forever without needing food, using the Earth’s resources or creating waste. Millions are taking up the offer at an even younger age but are New You’s promises too good to be true?

A chance meeting with eco-influencer Tera Helstrom leads trainee journalist Anders Jones to the sinister truth behind the New You Foundation’s expensive marketing campaigns, but is it already too late for those who have made the choice to turn to Pleeka? Anders must risk everything to expose New You… Pitched perfectly for the 11 plus age group, and taking in topics such as humanity, creativity, AI and abuse of corporate power, New You For Ever is a true chiller-thriller sci-fi for young teens, empowering them to explore and question the main pitfalls facing the future world.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Royal Institute of Magic: The Shadowseeker
Victor Kloss

COULD the first day of magic school be Ben Greenwood’s last? Immerse yourself in the second adventure of the extraordinarily entertaining Royal Institute of Magic fantasy series from born storyteller Victor Kloss who sadly died in 2016 aged 46 while writing the sixth and final book which was later completed with the help of his wife Tara and brother Darren. Two years after his parents mysteriously vanished without a trace, Ben Greenwood has discovered the Royal Institute of Magic and a hidden new world full of mind-blowing magic and fantastical creatures. The five departments of the Institute are Spellswords, Wardens, Traders, Scholars and Diplomats and, as an apprentice, Ben must master them all to become a full member. He has no idea what to expect when he begins his apprenticeship but he quickly realises his family history is going to make life difficult. On his very first day, a Shadowseeker – a mysterious and dangerous dark elf – surfaces, and Ben suspects the dark elves might be trying to capture him again in an effort to flush out his parents. When Ben renews his own search for his parents, he soon discovers they are closing in on a piece of Queen Elizabeth’s legendary armour – the only weapon strong enough to defeat the dark elf king once and for all – but it is guarded by something even more deadly than a Shadowseeker. 

A race against time follows, with Ben desperate to warn his parents they are walking into a death-trap, while somehow completing the first level of his apprenticeship and securing his place at the Royal Institute of Magic. Kloss lived in a small town in West Sussex where he built websites by day and by night, wrote stories full of fast-paced action and prodigious imagination for children who love secrets, danger and magic.  So if you thought that magic isn’t real, you’re going to get the surprise of your life on this thrill ride into an amazing world of mystery!
(Vinci Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 8 plus
Imagination Island: Race to Rumble Ruin
Mel Taylor-Bessent and Alessandro D’Urso

DO YOU have what it takes to win the Race? Head back to the magical island where anything you imagine comes to life! Mel Taylor-Bessent, author of the much-loved The Christmas Carrolls, sets her creative powers loose on the third book of a thrilling illustrated and collectable fantasy action adventure series packed with the illustrations of Alessandro D’Urso. With friendship, humour, incredible world-building, and a colourful cast of characters who must complete a series of challenges to win very special Races, there is fun all the way on this new wild and wacky ride to Imagination Island. Ten-year-old Luca was once afraid of everything, but now he and his team-mates – all Protectors of Imagination Island  – have conquered two maps in the fabled Imagination Island, where anything they imagine comes to life. Now they have three more challenges to face in this THIRD leg of the Race! They must crack jokes in Laughter Lagoon, ride giant space hoppers along Silly String Street, and finally, join in a game of Sneak ’n ’ Seek in a crumbling Roman-style coliseum where, if you are found, you are turned to stone. Will Luca overcome his fears, will Om find the courage to speak for the first time, and who will lose and leave the Race… FOREVER? Young imaginations are guaranteed to run riot in Taylor-Bessent’s brilliantly inventive new adventure brought to vivid life by D’Urso’s vibrant illustrations. So hold on tight and get ready for magic, mayhem and daring challenges as you meet unforgettable whale gameshow host, Tallulah Beluga, and a pearl-obsessed flamingo. You won’t stop reading until the race is won!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
The Accidental Vikings
Karen McCombie and Anneli Bray

A SCHOOL trip to the Viking Museum takes a weird turn in a fun (and cleverly educational!) adventure from Karen McCombie, bestselling author of over 90 books for children, and illustrator Anneli Bray. Alfie and Kat are excited about their school trip to the Viking Museum where they will be learning about life in Viking Britain. But what they didn’t expect was to be whisked back to a Viking village when they get separated from the rest of their group. Life-size Viking models around them start to come to life and at first Kat is sure they are being pranked for a TV game show. Trying to be sensible, she urges Alfie to play along, and they take part in Viking village life… cooking, weaving and even digging a toilet pit. But will they ever be able to find their way back home? Inspired by visiting the brilliant Jorvik Museum in York, McCombie’s all-action and highly imaginative time-slip romp – an exciting follow-up to The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch – speaks volumes to children about unlikely friendships and the long history of diversity in Britain. With its strong curriculum links, and the clever balance of fascinating facts about Viking culture with McCombie’s rich and engrossing storytelling, The Accidental Vikings is published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and ideal for use in the classroom.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
There are Mammals Everywhere
Camilla de la Bedoyere and Britta Teckentrup

PACK your rucksack and get ready to track down some amazing mammals of all shapes and sizes. There are Mammals Everywhere is the fifth title in a series of non-fiction books illustrated by bestselling artist Britta Teckentrup and teaches where in the world different sorts of mammals can be found, and the weird and wonderful things about them. Written by Camilla de la Bedoyere, who has an academic background in zoology, and vibrantly illustrated by Teckentrup, this beautiful book introduces young readers to fascinating facts about mammals and their habitats. See mammals climbing through canopies, scuttling through undergrowth, and even travelling underground! Follow a pride of lions across the savannah, spot a polar bear hidden in the Arctic snow and swing through the treetops with a family of gibbons. The combination of science and art provides an enchanting educational experience for curious minds while the exciting search-and-find feature invites youngsters to actively engage with the content, making learning about mammals an adventure. Drama, surprises and fascinating facts on every page!
(Big Picture Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Boss of the Underworld:
Shirley vs the Huge Beast
Tor Freeman

HOW did a kid end up being the boss of the Underworld? It’s a kind of weird story and comes from the eclectic, electric imagination of award-winning author and illustrator Tor Freeman who goes above, beyond and a long way below in the second hilarious book in a fast-paced, funny, full-colour and accessible graphic novel series. Discover the fun and laughter for yourself as we meet up again with Shirley and find her falling down a hole into the Under-Underworld while following her giant cockroach companion George. Shirley never suspected she would end up there and she certainly never expected to be immediately crowned queen of the Under-Underworld. With Peels, a banana-skin royalist, Shirley travels across the junkyard of this new world to rescue George and confront the Huge Beast which has been terrorising the land. Fizzing with charm, energy and the silliest comedy this side of the Under-Underworld, this is one Boss that youngsters will be happy to obey!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Sadie Jones and the Ball
Sally Nicholls and Ashley King

FAIRY tale heroes come in all shapes and sizes… and feisty, big-hearted kitchen maid Sadie Jones is definitely on the small side! Enjoy dancing to the tune of a delightful and dazzling twist on everyone’s favourite story of Cinderella in an enchanting new adventure from author Sally Nicholls and illustrator Ashley King. Everyone knows the story of Cinderella and how she and Prince Charming danced the night away at the ball. But what happened to all the other girls who were invited? Sadie Jones, the smallest kitchen maid in the palace, is furious when everyone else is left standing around with no one to dance with while Prince Charming and Cinderella have a wonderful time. Sadie is determined that no one should be left out so when Cinderella disappears and Prince Charming flounces off in a huff, it’s up to Sadie to save the day! Published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, this frothy frolic is perfect for all little fairy tale fans who want to join in the fun of what REALLY happened at Prince Charming’s ball!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
So This Is Love: Disney Colouring Book

CELEBRATE love in all its forms with over 80 gorgeous images to colour! Bring your favourite Disney characters to life as you colour in an array of heartfelt scenes featuring the different kinds of love… romantic love, family love, friendship and more. From Cinderella, Prince Charming and Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Simba, Mufasa and Lilo and Stitch, this cute selection of images is an inclusive celebration of love in all its forms. With intricate patterns, scenes of perfect partners and BFF fun, this book will entertain young colouring and Disney fans for hours.
(Studio Press, paperback, £10.99)

Age 3 plus
A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns
Jenni Desmond

FIND out everything there is to know about unicorns in this ethereally beautiful picture book from award-winning author and illustrator Jenni Desmond. Filled with fun, magic and soaring imagination, A Believer’s Guide to Unicorns reveals everything unicorn lovers need to know about their favourite mystical creatures. Unicorns live high up in the clouds, and though some readers may have never spotted one, there are plenty of magical clues that let true believers know they’re there. From bouncing on the clouds to make it snow, to zooming across the night sky like shooting stars, or whipping up a magical party storm, unicorns have lots of fun… and plenty of cheeky ways to say hello from high above! Cleverly created and designed, with a stunning palette of artwork, and an exquisitely imagined world of unicorns, this is destined to be a favourite book at bedtime!
(Hodder Children's Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Goldilocs
Ella McLeod and Rochelle Falconer

WRITER, performer, spoken word poet and actress Ella McLeod and talented illustrator Rochelle Falconer cast a magic spell with Goldilocs, an empowering new twist on a classic story! This colourful picture book will inspire young girls everywhere with its fun story and vibrant artwork. There are just three things that a girl who lives in Fairytale Land can be... First off, there’s a Witch but she should brew potions and Goldilocs would much rather make porridge. Then there’s an Evil Queen but she always wants more power, and as for a Princess waiting for a prince, that just sounds BORING! When Goldilocs tries to be the things she’s told a girl should be, she finds that none of them quite fit. But when she meets some bears who aren’t as scary as they seem, Goldilocs learns that being herself is what matters most. Packed with rhythm and rhyme, McLeod’s retelling breathes new life into a familiar tale while Falconer’s charming and cheeky illustrations will delight little readers.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 2 plus
Wrapping Things
Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper

AUTHOR and illustrator team Linda Burgess and Hilary Jean Tapper have the chaos and cosiness of family life all wrapped up in this delightfully imagined picture book story about the arrival of a new baby. Rosie likes to wrap things up… her crayons, her toys, her kitten, a parcel for Granny, some baking, and some flowers. Rosie herself is wrapped up in a towel after her bath, her mother wraps up warm when she goes out in the cold, dark night, and Granny, who has come to stay, wraps up Rosie in her bed when she’s too upset to sleep by herself. It’s all been strange and disconcerting for Rosie but finally she meets the family’s brand new baby… all wrapped up in a cuddly blanket! The imaginative world of little Rosie takes centre stage in Burgess’s endearing and relatable story which is brought to life by Tapper’s adorable illustrations. A picture book classic in the making!
(Allen & Unwin Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus
Love
Sophie Cashell and Axel Scheffler

WITH love, we can do anything! Author Sophie Cashell and Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler warm the hearts of readers young and old with this joyful picture book about love and kindness. ‘Love is a feeling that wraps you up tight, Like a hug when you're lonely or a light in the night. Love is a feeling that comes from the heart. It's easy to share it, come on – let’s start!’ With its warm text and playful animal characters, Love shows that sharing love and kindness is easy and fun… and makes our world a better place. Cashell’s beautiful, rhyming verse and Scheffler’s endearing animal characters are perfect for sharing messages of kindness, and a donation from every copy of Love sold goes to Three Peas, a charity which supports refugees who have had to flee their homes.
(Alison Green Books, board book, £7.99)