#Illustrated Fiction Review – Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case! by Laura Ellen Anderson

Cover art by Laura Ellen Anderson, published by Farshore, 7 May 2026, ISBN: 978-0008678906

Cuter than a basketful of kittens, this first story in a new series from Laura Ellen Anderson is an absolute treasure for readers aged 5 years and above!

Welcome to the planet Whiskery Paw, a cat-kingdom in a hidden corner of the galaxy, accessible only via a portal at the bottom of Tabitha Flair’s garden at number 25 Whiskery Way. Tabitha is in possession of a star-shaped key, which opens the door of her garden shed, taking her directly to Whiskery Paw and its friendly, feline inhabitants. Each Star Kitty has a shiny star on its tummy, its own unique role in the kingdom and the ability to talk. Tabitha visits the Star Kitties at the end of each school week, and on the Friday that we meet her, she is even more excited than usual because it just happens to be her birthday. Tabitha knows how much the Star Kitties love to celebrate special occasions and therefore anticipates some sort of special treatment from her feline friends. However, she arrives to find the inhabitants of Tabby Town in a state of panic because Queen Moggaline has gone missing. Her expected birthday party instantly turns into a search party, because who can possibly think of birthdays when a beloved monarch has disappeared?

Tabitha is introduced to Purrlock Holmes, a deer-stalker and checked-cape-wearing detective kitty, and accompanies the rather distracted sleuth around the town and surrounding forest, on the trail of the missing Queen. They meet a variety of the delightful Star Kitties during their investigations, but Tabitha cannot help feeling that something is amiss in Moggaline’s kingdom. What will she find at the end of the trail? Pre-order this book today, and all will be revealed when it is published on 7th May 2026!

Everything about this book is utterly charming, from the unique characters, to the gently humorous tale of kindness and friendship. There is an introduction here to some of the tropes of detective fiction, some beautiful word play and of course Laura Ellen Anderson’s signature style of elegantly appealing illustration. The size of the book is just right to be held by the little hands of its intended readership, there is a map and an illustrated guide to the main characters at the start, and the entire book is illustrated in two colours, turquoise and grey-scale, giving young emerging readers plenty of visual cues and pausing places to encourage their reading for pleasure. My proof copy does not contain all of the final illustrations, but those that are present indicate that this book will appeal hugely to Key Stage 1 and probably many Year 3 children. I will certainly be buying finished copies as gifts for young relatives, and I strongly urge school librarians and KS1 teachers to add Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case! to their collections. If like me, you have young relatives, this book would make a delightful gift.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Farshore Books and to publicist Amy Dobson for sending me a proof copy of Star Kitties: Detective Kitty is on the Case! ahead of publication on 7th May 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own. I am also deeply grateful to author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson for sending me a gorgeous Reviewer Kitty notecard. This did not influence my review, I am genuinely a huge fan of her books which I feel contain all the elements which make reading a pleasure for children.

You can find out more about Laura Ellen Anderson and her books at her website: landoflaura.co.uk

Reviews that I have written for other books by Laura Ellen Anderson can be found at the links below:

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Marnie Midnight and the Great Critter Contest

Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission

Rainbow Grey: Eye of the Storm

Rainbow Grey:: Battle for the Skies

#Illustrated Fiction review: Riley Wright is Always Wrong by Mel Taylor-Bessent, illustrated by Sr Sanchez

Cover illustrations by Sr Sanchez, published by Farshore, 21 May 2026, ISBN: 978-0008801670

The bright, bubble-gum pink of the cover is a fair indication of the bubbly, sweet, content contained within the latest book from the genius that is Mel Taylor-Bessent! I am always excited to read new titles by this author because I know that I’ll be diving into a story which is funny, warm-hearted and cheering. When it comes to encouraging children to read for pleasure, this author’s books need to be included in classroom, library and home collections.

Riley Wright is Always Wrong is the first in a new series of highly illustrated, journal-style stories for children aged 7-9. The eponymous main character is instantly engaging, but she faces a big problem on her first day in a new primary school where she will be joining Year 4; her Dad is also starting at the new school…and he’s the new headteacher! Riley has already informed us that she’s awkward and accident-prone prior to the hilarious description of her less than elegant exit from Dad’s car in front of assorted parents and pupils. Not exactly the first impression that she was hoping to create! Fortunately for Riley, she is taken under the wing of classmate Emmie, who, on hearing Riley’s request to see the library, takes her to her ‘Secret Understairs Library’ hidden away in an old storage cupboard. The two girls instantly become friends, bonding over books, glittery notebooks and fancy pens. With a plot involving a school talent show, the unwanted attentions of mean girl Harper Thompson, and providing whole-hearted support for a slightly eccentric best friend, this is a story that leaves the reader smiling broadly and desperate for the next book in the series.

My proof copy of the book has a few lively illustrations by Sr Sanchez and indicates that the finished copy will be packed with his superb black and white artwork. The font is super-accessible and also contains some fun typographic effects, speech bubbles and doodles. The entire story is packed into 135 pages, making this a book that emerging independent readers can feel the enjoyment and satisfaction of being able to read alone. I predict that Riley Wright will become the new BFF of many young readers when the book is published in May 2026, and they will be looking forward to enjoying further escapades with this kind and funny character when book 2 is published in autumn 2026.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Dannie Price and to Farshore Books for sending me a proof copy of Riley Wright is Always Wrong ahead of publication on 21 May 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood – School Inspectors! by Farhana Islam, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh

Cover art by Simran Diamond Singh, published by Farshore, 15 January 2026, ISBN: 9780008640019

SATs, School Inspectors and a very large spider – a combination to make young readers scream with laughter!

I raced through this book with a huge smile on my face, so happy was I to be back in the brilliantly observed world of Mina Mahmood and her best friends, Reema and Mobeen. This is the second book narrated by Year 6 pupil Mina (you can read my review of the first at this link: The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood – School Trip!) but you can definitely read and enjoy it as a standalone. This is, without doubt, a book that encourages reading for pleasure. It is filled with hilarious mishaps, the font has been carefully chosen for ease of reading, there is playful use of typography, plenty of white space around the text and fun illustrations throughout by Simran Diamond Singh.

The story begins as Mina’s Year 6 class put down their pencils when time runs out on the final SATs paper. The stress is over and it’s time for the pupils and their hardworking teacher, Miss Khan, to relax and enjoy the post-exam party bonanza; disco, pizza, extra playtime, ice-cream van visit and a trip to Fisbo’s Circus! Just as these amazing rewards for all of their hard work are in sight, they are suddenly snatched away by the dreaded phone call! An ice-cold shiver runs through the adults in the school, frantic tidying and book-marking commence, and instead of a party, Mina, Reema and Mobeen are selected to take the “government spies” on a tour of the school. The fate of Year 6’s visit to the circus hangs on the outcome of the inspection. What could possibly go wrong? Well let’s just say that it really was not a great day for a pet tarantula to be present in school, and perhaps the Early Years classroom was not the best choice for first stop on the tour!

It is so apparent from the acutely accurate portrayal of school life (especially during inspection day) that the author, Farhana Islam, is a primary school teacher. Every scene rings with authenticity and the laugh-out-loud misunderstandings that occur throughout the school day will be familiar to child readers. The friendship between Mina, Mobeen and Reema is heart-warming and genuine. I think that the story will be hugely appealing to all children of 8 years and above who will identify with the setting and enjoy the humour. Additionally, it will be especially meaningful to children from a British Bangladeshi background who can see themselves positively represented by the three main protagonists and their teacher.

If you are a primary school librarian or responsible for a book collection in a Key Stage 2 classroom, or a parent/caregiver looking for a book to encourage an 8-year-old to read, I highly recommend The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood – School Inspectors!

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Rory at Farshore for sending me a copy of this book. It was my choice to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Christmas Anthology: The Very Merry Murder Club edited by Serena Patel & Robin Stevens

Cover image by Harry Woodgate, published by Farshore, 2021,
ISBN: 978-0755503681

The school Christmas holidays are a marvellous opportunity to curl up with a good book, and what better for fans of detective mysteries than an anthology of short stories from some of the finest contemporary authors of children’s fiction? Today I am giving a shoutout to a book which was published a few years ago now, but retains its ability to entertain and test the problem solving skills of middle grade readers.

The Very Merry Murder Club contains thirteen tales of mystery and/or murder, all set during the festive season. Of course, being a collection of short stories, many children will be inclined to seek out their favourite author(s) first and not necessarily read the stories in order. However, for those who do like to start at the very beginning, the first story, Shoe-Dunnit by Elle McNicoll, sets a perfectly snowy scene at a Scottish hotel, where the daughter of the hotel owners has to use her acute observation skills to solve the murder of a famous guest.

Other stories set in the snowy UK are It’s Snow Crime by Roopa Farooki, featuring her beloved mini-medic, twin investigators, Ali and Tulip; Scrabble and Murder by Nizrana Farook featuring a family stuck in a blizzard on the journey to visit their Grandmother for Christmas; Ice and Fire by Joanna Williams – an atmospheric historical fiction set during the London Frost Fair of December 1776. Silent Night by Serena Patel is a brilliant, wintery, child-oriented version of Rear Window. I think this is my favourite of all the stories. Arjun is stuck at home recovering from a tonsillectomy and spends his time observing the neighbours to deflect from the boredom. When he becomes convinced that he has witnessed a neighbour disposing of a dead body, he is determined to solve the mystery and takes dramatic action. No Piste for the Wicked by E.L. Norry takes the snowy action to a school ski trip in the Italian mountains, where one teacher begins behaving suspiciously and is found dead on the ski slope the following morning. Only Luca, with his vast experience of human behaviour, observed from the many homes in which he has been fostered, has the understanding to solve the mystery.

Not all of the mysteries feature murder. In The Beast of Bedleywood by Annabelle Sami, siblings Rumi and Tamsin solve two mysteries and gain a surprise extra present. The Christmas Heist by Abiola Bello, is a tale of skulduggery and rivalry between two dance troupes. Cool for Cats by Patrice Lawrence is a contemporary family mystery wrapped around a cat-sitting story. It Takes a Thief to Catch a Thief is a twisty heist story written by Maisie Chan, with a fun plot featuring the kidnap of a famous cat burglar which threatens to ruin the Christmas celebrations of her family! The Frostwilds by Dominique Valente is a fantasy story with a mythical quality, while The Ticking Funhouse by Benjamin Dean is a very creepy tale set in a neglected fun fair attraction. The collection concludes with The Coven at Christmas by Sharna Jackson, a mystery set in a remote community on the Cornish coast, which builds to a tense denouement.

This varied selection really does provide something for everyone, most of the stories are about 30 pages long, providing the perfect reading length, and exercise for the little grey cells, to enjoy between Christmas activities. I love the diverse representation of characters, families and settings which make this a wonderfully inclusive collection. Primary and secondary school libraries should definitely ensure that this is on offer in their Christmas collections, and it would make an excellent Christmas gift for children aged 9 to early teens.

This book was my own purchase.

#NNFN: Tina The Dog Who Changed the World by Niall Harbison

Cover image by Happy Doggo and Shutterstock, Published by Farshore,
6 November 2025, ISBN: 978-0008798864

Tina The Dog Who Changed the World is a book which I am sure will delight many readers aged 9-years-old and above; it is a new child-friendly publication of a book, which was previously published for adults, to celebrate during National Non-fiction November. It provides a wonderful example of how one person’s passion and activism can make big change, which is a great message for children who can sometimes feel helpless in the face of the many challenges that the world currently faces.

The book combines the story of Niall Harbison, an Irish street dog rescuer who lives in Thailand, with the short biographical tales of some of the remarkably resilient street dogs that he has saved through his “Happy Doggo Land” organisation. There are both colour and black and white photos of Niall and the dogs whose stories are featured. The details of the conditions that lead Niall and his team to their rescues are quite harrowing and heart-breaking; some of the dogs have been kept on very short chains for years, some have been starved, some injured and all suffer from skin conditions, parasites etc. However, many of the dogs make full recoveries once they have received veterinary treatment and then been nursed back to full health at Happy Doggo Land. Some of the canines are adopted by people from all corners of the world and many of their stories can be followed on various social media platforms. Even those dogs who sadly don’t make it are given the love, dignity and care that they need to die in peaceful circumstances. The story of Tina, a golden retriever, who was found in a condition where she was close to death and carefully nursed so that she enjoyed 6 months of happy life with Niall, captured the hearts of many when shared online. After Tina died, Niall began raising funds to build a veterinary hospital at Happy Doggo Land, in her name. By the end of this book, the plans for the dog hospital have been drawn up for free by a New York architect, and the foundations have been laid.

It would appear that Tina the golden retriever really has melted hearts around the world, and through donations to Niall’s charity the lives of many, many street dogs in Thailand will be changed for the better. This is an inspirational and hopeful book for all readers, but I imagine it will hold special appeal for all who have a pet pooch at home.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Hannah Penney and Farshore books for sending me a copy of Tina The Dog Who Changed the World. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin

Cover illustration by Artem Chebokha, published by Farshore, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-0008617189

The title of this latest book from Jamila Gavin is a line from the poem Tree and Sky by Siegfried Sassoon, and just like the war poets, the author conveys the futility of war in her poignant and eloquent story. My Soul, A Shining Tree is dedicated to an Indian gunner, Khudadad Khan, who received the Victoria Cross for bravery during WWI, and is based on his true story.

Jamila Gavin is such an extraordinarily talented storyteller, that she manages to weave the stories of multiple participants in the first world war, showing her readers a range of perspectives and the human cost of conflict, all contained in under 150 pages. The main setting is a small farm in the village of Gheluvet, near Ypres in Flanders. Lotte Becke is just turning 11 when the outbreak of war rips her family apart; first her father enlists and then her mother and uncle are killed as the family try to escape the German invasion of their land. Left with only her younger sister Els, and classmate Michel whom she had formerly bullied for being a Walloon, the children survive on walnuts from her treasured tree and whatever vegetables they can scavenge from the surrounding fields. Meanwhile the grandson of one of her mother’s friends is an underage cavalryman in the invading German army. Ernst has been destined for military life since his father began training him as a 3-year-old, he excelled at the military academy and enlisted with dreams of glory which were swiftly dispelled when he entered the battlefield. Thirdly we learn the story of Khudadad Khan, one of the 1.5 million Indian soldiers who fought for the British Empire during WWI. Despite maltreatment and broken promises, his bravery and dedication to the colonising empire were unwavering. On one incredible night, these disparate individuals come together under the canopy of the walnut tree to form a human connection which is heart-breakingly poignant.

The story does not hide the harsh realities of war, but is told in language that is appropriate for children at the top end of primary school through to secondary school. It powerfully encapsulates the impact of decisions made for political reasons, on human life and on the natural world, showing that true courage exists when our common humanity is recognised. I found it to be a deeply moving and enlightening book to read. At a time when war is again present in Europe, I think that My Soul, A Shining Tree is an essential and timely book to add to primary and secondary school library and classroom collections.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to the publicity team at Farshore/Harper Collins for sending me a review copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review, and all opinions are my own.

You can read my review for another of Jamila Gavin’s wartime novels, this one set during WWII, Never Forget You via this link.

#MG Review: Shadow Thieves by Peter Burns

Cover image by Vivienne To, published by Farshore, 5 June 2025,
ISBN: 978-0008667818

I simply cannot sing the praises of Shadow Thieves highly enough! This middle grade debut by acclaimed sports writer Peter Burns has all the elements that encourage youngsters to read for pleasure; an empathetic central character, masterful world building, a thrilling plot and wonderful writing which grips, entertains and delivers a thoroughly satisfying read. I know a number of individuals who became readers thanks to the Alex Rider, Young Bond, Gallagher Girls, Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series, and I would say that Shadow Thieves combines the best elements of these adventures in a brilliantly original milieu.

The story begins in an undefined historical period in an alternative version of London, which along with the rest of Europe and most of Africa and the Americas is ruled by the Grande Republic de France. The remainder of the world is split between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Japanese Empire. The main protagonist, Tom Morgan, is an orphan who lives with a group of homeless children in the offices of an abandoned warehouse on the bank of the Thames. They all scratch out a living on the streets, forever alert to the ‘snatchers’ who round up street kids to sell to the workhouses. When the authorities find their hideout, Tom is the only one of the group who escapes incarceration and is subsequently recruited by Hezekiah von Stuppe (known as the Corsair), Master of Guile House at Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts, or Thieves School. Tom quickly learns about the Shadow League which maintains the balance of power between the three ruling empires, and the four schools which train new recruits for the criminal professions; Thieves, Assassins, Politicos and Spies. After proving his worth to the Corsair, Tom is whisked away to the remote mountain town location of Beaufort’s where his new life begins to take shape.

The adventure is pacey, complex and perfectly plotted. The descriptions of school life, the unusual lessons (double accountancy swindles anyone?), the training missions and the House Challenge are likely to keep young readers enthralled. Background details are scattered through the narrative, forming a detailed picture of the world occupied by the story and making the fictional world entirely believable. I thought that the transformation in Tom’s life was developed really well. He has been taken out of dire poverty and moved into a world where extreme riches will be within his grasp, but he can’t stop thinking about his former friends who have been consigned to the misery of the workhouse. It is also very hard to know who to trust in a school full of thieves, and while some of his house-mates offer friendship, there is a cohort of pupils who believe that only children from ‘legacy’ families should be admitted as pupils. There are also moments of subtle humour, I loved this description from the departure of the Beaufort’s team as the whole school turns out to watch them set off for the Shadow Cup competition:

a band murdered a version of ‘Le Chant du Départ’, violins squeaking and scratching unpleasantly while the brass section meandered around the melody and the drummer hammered away to the beat of a different tune. p273-274

I am not going to describe any details of the plot because this is a book which needs to be enjoyed without any prior hints or clues. The chapters are generally quite short making this an ideal book for a classroom read-aloud, although a warning to adults: don’t expect to ever get-away with only reading one chapter! I am certain that confident readers in Year 6 will thoroughly enjoy reading Shadow Thieves independently and it will also be enjoyed by secondary school pupils. It is without doubt a book that should be on every school librarian’s wish list, and would be an excellent summer holiday present for adventure and mystery fans aged 10 and above. I cannot wait to find out what happens in book 2, due for publication in 2026.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Rory Codd and Farshore Books for sending me a copy of Shadow Thieves. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#IllustratedFiction Review: Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission by Laura Ellen Anderson

Cover image by Laura Ellen Anderson, published by Farshore,
08 May 2025, ISBN: 978-0008591403

The third title in this delightful series, Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission finds the three bug friends, Marnie Midnight, Floyd Flombiddium and Star Vonstrosity along with Marnie’s pet mutant seed Num-Num, setting off on their end of school year camping trip. All the pupils in Marnie’s class are wildly excited about the expedition to Thimbledown Meadow under the supervision of Mr Atlas, Marnie’s form tutor at Minibeast Academy. Marnie’s only worry is that Veronica Spottage and her gang of high maintenance butterflies might make mischief with their tricky antics.

After an enjoyable first day of outdoor activities the young bugs settle down for the night, Marnie and her friends snuggling up deep inside a drooping drizelda flower…but the next morning…disaster! They awake to find themselves inside a human home. Their flower has been picked and Marnie’s delicate wings become soaked as a young human fills a flower jug with water. Fortunately, the humans – Martha and her dad – are not ‘Swatters’ or ‘Screamers’, and Martha carefully encourages Marnie onto absorbent paper, places her on a sunny windowsill and provides her with sugar solution. Marnie is flabbergasted to discover that not all ‘Stompers’ want to squish bugs, as she had formerly believed. However, after finding her friends, the three young bugs need to embark on an epic adventure to escape the barriers created by a human living space, and evade the hunting instincts of McWhiskers the pet cat.

As with the previous two books, author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson blends deep research of insect behaviour into a charming, imaginative, funny adventure which is perfectly formulated to appeal to a readership of 6-9 years of age. The book contains illustrations on every page, whether full page, half page or beautiful insect-themed page borders, and the artwork is so elegant and expressive, really helping to project the personalities of the human and insect characters. I especially loved the ‘Easter egg’ nods to another of this author’s books in a picture of Martha’s bedroom on page 65. The large font and book length of approximately 240 pages, in addition to the wonderful plot, make this a perfect book for readers who are gaining confidence in reading independently.

I have said previously that I am a huge fan of this series for the way that it reframes the narrative about insects, and I think that this title provides an excellent model of a young child taking action to care for the minibeasts that are so important to our environment. I highly recommend it to librarians and primary school teachers, and to parents and caregivers to share with your newly emerging young readers.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Liz Scott and Farshore Books for sending me a review copy of Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

You can read my reviews of the two previous Marnie Midnight adventures at the links below:

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Marnie Midnight and the Great Critter Contest

#PictureBook Review: Follow the Swallow by Julia Donaldson & Thomas Docherty

Cover art by Thomas Docherty, published by Farshore, 05 June 2025,
ISBN: 978-0008670320

This brand new edition of Julia Donaldson’s story Follow the Swallow, with illustrations by award-winning artist Thomas Docherty, will be published on 5th June 2025 by Farshore. It is a gorgeous picture book to share with young children, introducing them to the seasonal changes in nature that they can witness in their own home environments, through a fun story about friendship.

Apollo the swallow and Chack the blackbird meet in their first season after fledging, in a typical urban back garden. After showing each other their nests, Apollo tells Chack that he is practising to fly to Africa, while Chack tells Apollo that his tree will soon be covered with tasty orange berries. Neither bird believes the other, and the repeated line “I don’t believe you!” is one that little children will likely want to echo with repeated readings of the story. Of course Chack’s berries do turn orange, but too late for Apollo to see them because he has already joined his flock on their long migration. There then follows a hilarious sequence of animal-to-animal Chinese whispers when Chack tries to get a message to Apollo who is now enjoying the fruit flies in Africa.

This book contains more text than the rhyming books which we all know and love from this author, but still presents the story in short, rhythmic, humorous sentences which are perfect for children from babyhood onwards. The colourful pictures are bursting with life and do so much additional storytelling. The details of nature found in an average back garden will reward repeated engagement with the book and provide lots of prompts for adult-child conversation. Meanwhile the contrast between Apollo’s habitat in the UK and his habitat in Africa gives a wonderful insight into the topic of migration. There are so many careful little details that make this an appealing book for both adults and children; I especially loved the subtle hint at the berry tree species through the name of Chack’s mate.

I cannot recommend Follow the Swallow highly enough as a wonderful story to share with young children through the summer months – I am certainly looking forward to sharing it with some young relatives!

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sarah Sleath at Farshore Books for sending me a review copy of Follow the Swallow. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Serial Chillers – The Witch in the Woods by Jennifer Killick

Cover image by Ryan Hammond & Ricardo Bessa, publisher Farshore Books,
27 March 2025, ISBN: 978-0008720256

Jennifer Killick cements her position as the Queen of Middle Grade Horror with this first book in the new Serial Chillers series: The Witch in the Woods! The cleverness of the word play in the title gives you an insight of what awaits inside the covers: whip-smart dialogue, hugely engaging storylines and a presence in the woods that will send an Arctic blast down your spine!

Set in the small town of Hazard (there’s a fabulous map included), which has become a tourist attraction for those in search of the macabre, the story is recounted in the first person voice of 12-year-old Travis. This puts the reader right into the path of every jump scare and ghoulish experience; for a wimp like me this had to be a broad-daylight-hours-only reading experience! However, part of Jennifer Killick’s genius is her ability to mix heart-pounding drama with laugh-out-loud comedy, and the wise-cracking banter between Travis and his upbeat, lovable best friend Zayd, lightens even the darkest moments in the story. When the two boys are assigned to work on a class history project with golden-girl Seline, and the mayor’s daughter Danielle, they seem set up to fail. Travis clearly has some history with Danielle which has resulted in a strained relationship, and nobody but Seline really wants to investigate the history of town legend Blood-Eyed Mary. Forced to venture to the woods known locally as Mary’s Cauldron on a Friday evening, what begins as an evening of pranks swiftly descends into a fight for survival which will bring the four tweens into a close bond as they fight to escape their terrifying pursuer.

It becomes obvious that in a town which boasts the world’s largest sink hole, accountable for multiple disappearances over the years, there is human as well as geological danger lurking below the surface. Clues are unearthed pointing to the sinister historical activities of Danielle’s ancestors, the powerful Da Santos family, and I assume (and hope) that these will be explored further as the series develops. I am sure that I will not be alone in wishing to get my hands on book 2 The Monster in the Mines as soon as possible.

I know from. my school librarian and teacher friends that this author’s DreadWood series has been hugely popular with children aged 9/10 and above, so I highly recommend adding The Witch in the Woods to your library collections, it will fly off the shelves.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sarah Sleath at Farshore for sending me a review copy of Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.