#MG Review: Quill and the Last Generation by C.M. Lewis

Illustration by Maria Vidal, Publication date 29 January 2026, Macmillan Children’s,
ISBN: 978-1035060610

Quill and the Last Generation is a beautifully crafted, middle-grade, fantasy adventure, based on the Celtic myth of Arawn and Hafgan, the two giants who battle each year to change the seasons. Author, CM Lewis, weaves a tale which totally enraptured me. The characters, setting and pacing capture the reader’s full attention, with moments of high octane drama sprinkled through a thoughtful, other-wordly adventure. There are sufficient dragons, shape-shifters, warriors, and sword skills to satisfy those children who love some battlefield action in their fantasy adventures. However, what really set this story apart, for me, were the quiet, reflective passages where you see the growth of each of the young characters, which provided authentic personalities and balanced out the action.

The main protagonist, Quill, is a 12-year-old boy, who lives with his father and mother, but has always felt like an outsider in his small harbour town. He has one close friend, Jona, but is teased by the other children because his father is so overprotective of him. Quill and Jona, along with their school peers, are the last generation of children to have been born and they have never known summer as the world went cold the year they were born. Quill seems to have a strange power over birds, which are drawn to him wherever he goes. When a very persistent crow, suddenly turns into a warrior-like girl named Deryn, Quill learns something of his true destiny and sets sail (a particularly special sail, crafted by his father) for the underworld.

Quill has many missions ahead of him, not the least of which is to rescue the Light of the World before it is extinguished. He has allies in the form of his shape-shifting friends, a small band of loyal soldiers and a magical water-horse, but he has many skills to master and time is running out. When the going gets tough, Macsen, his mentor, shows him the courage that is required to continue fighting for what feels right in his heart, even when the battle already feels lost. When the appointed full-moon arrives, Quill must face Arawn in the Valley of Fates, to try to restore warmth and light to both the underworld and the overworld. Will his love for his new-found friends, Finn, Deryn, Eos and Erin, as well as those he has left behind in the overworld, be sufficient motivation for this peace-loving boy to fight his opponent? Can Quill find a secret strength to add to the sword and sail with which he is armed?

This is a truly majestic middle-grade novel and I will predict now that it will appear on literary prize shortlists for 2026 publications. CM Lewis is an outstanding writer and presents a perfect combination of action and emotion in a novel of approximately 250 pages. I read the book as an advanced electronic copy, which contained some unfinished illustrations (by Maria Vidal) in an anime style, and also a gorgeous map at the start. I highly recommend Quill and the Last Generation to school librarians at both primary and secondary schools, as well as parents/carers for children aged 9 years and above.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalley for granting me access to the e-ARC in advance of publication on 29 January 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#TheWriteReads Blog Tour: Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy

Cover art by Laura Tolton, published by The Silver Key, 29 January 2026, ISBN: 978-1918324013

Lianna and the Hombit is a delightful fantasy novel for middle grade readers. It gave me vibes of some of the classic stories that I enjoyed as a child; The Little Princess and The Secret Garden in particular. Lianna is a 13-year-old orphan, who has been sent to live with her uncle, Judge Sambru in the bleak, cold, harbour town of Lowdar, a long sea voyage away from her former home in the balmy land of Robunda. Her first experience of her new environment is to find herself robbed of her dear Papa’s pocket watch, her most precious possession since his sudden death.

It is clear upon her arrival at the judge’s grand house that her appearance is unexpected and unwelcome. She is accommodated in a small, unheated, attic room, her only consolation being a small glass-like bird which emerges from her empty fireplace. Not only can the creature talk, she soon learns that it is a Hombit, sent to use its magical powers on a mission so secret that it does not yet know what it has been tasked to do. The developing friendship and deep bond of trust and mutual reliance between Lianna and the Hombit sits at the heart of this novel and provides the spark to drive Lianna through her trials.

She has many mysteries to unravel and faces them with courage and determination, whether she’s investigating the contents of her uncle’s library for clues to the family’s history, or diving into a ferocious sea to rescue a woman in distress. Lianna is desperate to unravel the secrets of her late father’s flight from Lowdar; the intriguing reports of jewel thefts from clients of the Sambru family’s business and the disappearance of her uncle’s fiancee, all of which appear to be linked in some way. Most pressingly, has her arrival in her father’s home town somehow caused the living rocks to awaken, and can she save herself and the town from a terrible fate?

I found this story to be thoroughly engaging, building in tension to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. I think that middle grade readers will empathise with Lianna and be enchanted by the Hombit, as they accompany them through their many challenges. The author brilliantly builds the forbidding atmosphere of the town, from the earliest pages I felt a real sense of menace from the harbour town, its inhabitants, and its surrounding seascape. I highly recommend it to primary school librarians and parents/caregivers for children aged 9 years and above who love to immerse themselves in mystery adventures with a spark of magic.

About the Author:
Valinora Troy is a children’s fantasy and horror writer from Ireland. She has a MA in Creative Writing, specialising in writing for children and young adults. She has acted as a panellist for the CYBILS awards in the middle grade speculative fiction category and served
as a Reading Ambassador for Louth Libraries. Her short stories for adults have appeared in numerous publications. She is the author of The Lucky Diamond trilogy, a middle grade children’s fantasy adventure series. In 2023 she was short-listed for the Staróg Prize. When not writing, she loves visiting schools and libraries to talk to children about books and writing.

You can find out more about Valinora’s books, as well as resources for schools, and sign up
to her newsletter on her website: Valinora Troy – Children’s Fantasy Writer

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Valinora Troy for sending me a copy of Lianna and the Hombit in paperback format in exchange for my honest opinion, and to #TheWriteReads for organising the blog tour and providing images. Do check out the other blogposts on the promotional tour.

#MG Review: Escape from the Child Snatchers by Sufiya Ahmed

Cover illustration by Elisa Paganelli, published by Andersen Press, 29 January 2026, ISBN: 978-1839136511

Escape from the Child Snatchers is a fast-paced, historical adventure which takes young readers on a journey from Bombay to London with the protagonists Humza and his best friend Ranj. Author, Sufiya Ahmed, is adept at weaving historical facts into a thoroughly engrossing adventure which entertains the intended young readership, whilst enlightening them about historical injustices.

The story takes place in 1865 and begins in Bombay which is under British control. Humza’s older brother, Dani, has been missing since he began working as a lascar on a trade ship travelling to England several years earlier. Humza is determined to make the voyage himself, search for his brother and bring him home. His friend Ranj is eager to join him, as he sees London as the place to make his fortune. The two boys stowaway on a cargo ship and after a long and perilous voyage, they arrive at the East India Docks in London, where they soon learn that danger awaits. They almost instantly fall into the clutches of a notorious child snatcher, with only the quick thinking of a local innkeeper’s daughter, Daisy, saving them from harm. However, the criminal gang do not give up on their prey, and as Humza and Ranj take to the London streets to seek information about Dani, they are pursued by the henchmen of Basil Brookes.

A heart-pounding sequence of events sees the boys caught up in Basil Brookes’ cruel money making scheme where he exhibits Indian children for the entertainment of wealthy patrons in his London home. Shockingly, the author’s note at the end of the story makes clear that there are documented cases of this taking place in the eighteenth century. Being a middle grade adventure, there is a satisfying conclusion which will appeal to the natural sense of justice of primary school children. The story is told in less than 200 pages, with short chapters and a pacy narrative, making it perfect as an independent read for children aged 8 to 12 years. I would highly recommend it for school library and classroom collections.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Jade at Andersen Press for sending me a copy of Escape from the Child Snatchers ahead of publication on 29 January 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Jane Austen’s 250th Birthday: Children’s Books Inspired by the Great Author

I will be forever grateful to my secondary school English teacher who introduced me to the works of Jane Austen through an analysis of Mr Collins’ proposal to Elizabeth Bennet; it sparked a life-long love of Austen’s novels, some of which I have read multiple times since that first reading of Pride & Prejudice at age 14. I am always overjoyed when I find books written for children, which might spark their interest in further exploring her works, at a later age when they can access her sparkling wit and social commentary. Therefore, on the date which marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, I want to present a short round-up of middle grade books that I’ve discovered over the past few years.

Firstly, because it is appropriately seasonal, The Christmas Wish-tastrophe by Cariad Lloyd, published in hardback in 2024 (and published in paperback in 2025 under the new title of Lydia Marmalade and the Christmas Wish). This book is magical, funny and charming and contains many references to Pride and Prejudice, it is illustrated by Ma Pe. It is eminently suitable for independent readers aged 8 years and above, and I would also imagine would be a delight for adult fans of Jane Austen to share with children in the classroom or at home. You can find my review here.

Next two excellent, historical, detective mystery novels written by Julia Golding, which feature the young Jane Austen using her razor-sharp observational skills to unravel mysterious occurrences. These stories are perfect for middle grade readers aged 9 years plus who are fans of historical mysteries by authors such as Katherine Woodfine, Robin Stevens and Sufiya Ahmed. You can click on the links to read my reviews for Jane Austen Investigates The Abbey Mystery and Jane Austen Investigates The Burglar’s Ball.

Finally, the publisher Hachette Children’s Books commissioned some top-rated children’s authors to retell the original Jane Austen novels in language accessible for middle grade readers, in the Awesomely Austen series. My absolute favourite is Katherine Woodfine’s version of Pride and Prejudice, which is beautifully illustrated by Églantine Ceulemans. This book brings all the wit and vivacity of the original to life for a young audience, includes many of the key lines from the original, and additionally contains endnotes providing some period detail and a short biography of Jane Austen. I would have loved this at age 10, and I love it still at considerably older! Also available in the Awesomely Austen series are:

Jane Austen’s Emma rewritten by Katy Birchall

Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility rewritten by Joanna Nadin

Jane Austen’s Persuasion rewritten by Narinder Dhami

Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park rewritten by Ayisha Malik

Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey rewritten by Steven Butler

Each book in the series is illustrated by Églantine Ceulemans.

#MG Christmas Books: Operation Nativity by Jenny Pearson, illustrated by Katie Kear

Cover image by Katie Kear, published by Usborne, 9 November 2023,
ISBN: 978-1801315111

Jenny Pearson has built a reputation in the middle grade books market for her talent of creating stories which combine laugh-out-loud humour with genuine heartfelt emotion and this Christmas story is a wonderful demonstration of her skill. Readers are likely to chuckle through the majority of this warm-hearted story of a traditional Nativity play, and then find their eyes welling up at certain moments, the content of which I will not disclose as I don’t want to spoil the story for those who have not read it yet.

The story is recounted in the first person voice of 11-year-old Oscar, who, with his 5-year-old sister Molly, and Mum and Dad, have been commanded to spend Christmas at the stately home of Dad’s parents, aka Lord and Lady Cuthbert-Anderson. Mum has always tried her best to avoid Christmas with the in-laws, mainly because Grandmother, Araminta (Minty) directs a very ambitious Nativity play in the village church and insists that all the family take starring roles in the production. This year however, Mum has run out of excuses and there is word that Grandfather is sick, so the family make the trek from the Midlands to Chipping Bottom in Hampshire to join Dad’s extended family for the holiday.

On the first night at Barlington Hall, Oscar sees a bright flash in the sky followed by the sound of a crash. He and Molly go out to the fields to investigate and are hugely surprised by the discovery of a discombobulated Angel Gabriel. It turns out that he overdid his “announcing” role 2000-odd years ago, and has somehow transported Mary, Joseph, a donkey, Balthazar and a shepherd called Steve, forward in time and to a destination rather far from Bethlehem. What’s more, he has lost his companions en route to Hampshire and now needs to enlist the help of Oscar and Molly to save Christmas! The story that follows combines Araminta’s efforts to ensure that the 100th anniversary production of the Chipping Bottom Nativity is the best ever performance, with Oscar and Molly’s quest to round up the participants from the original Nativity so that they can be transported back to Bethlehem. The resulting crossed-wires, subterfuge and mix-ups are very funny indeed.

This tale has a lovely underlying theme of a family drawing closer together; the bonding that occurs over the course of the story is beautifully constructed. I really loved the multi-generational links as well as the sibling relationships and the very moving depiction of the love built up over a long marriage between the grandparents. I think that Operation Nativity would be an ideal book for adults and children to read together, it is also perfect for independent readers aged 9+. There are delightful greyscale illustrations by Katie Kear throughout the book and she has also decorated the chapter titles (which are puns on Christmas carols and songs) with baubles, lights and greenery.

This book was my own purchase and I would recommend it to everyone building a collection of Christmas stories for children.

#MG Christmas Review: The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings, illustrated by Alex T Smith

Cover image by Alex T Smith, published by Harper Collins, October 2023, ISBN: 978-0008496081.

A perfect book to read when the first frosts appear in the run up to Christmas, The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair took my breath away! It is a book which I bought several years ago after reading gushing reviews by many blogging friends, but as with many books which I actually buy myself, it kept on slipping down the TBR stack due to the number of books that I am sent by publishers.

There were many aspects of this middle grade novel that I enjoyed. Firstly, it is beautifully written in a style and rhythm that just compelled me to read one more chapter even when my eyes were drooping with tiredness. The historical setting of the London borough of Southwark during the Great Frost of 1683, had clearly been deeply researched, and provided a fascinating and authentic backdrop to a tale of mystery and magic. Layered into the fantasy plot was a sophisticated and subtle exploration of grief, mental health and the ability of females to manage their own livelihood during a period of history when women could be carted off to Bedlam to be treated like circus exhibits by the medical professionals of the day. As a librarian who works in an NHS library, I am always happy to find books which highlight both mental and physical health issues, because they can provide readers with the vocabulary to discuss their own health. One of the main protagonists in this book, Thomasina, loses her twin brother to an asthma attack in the first chapter, and also suffers from ‘the wheeze’ herself, and early treatments for this illness are described when Thomasina befriends Anne who is training as an apothecary. I loved this element of medical history running through the storyline.

After the death of Arthur, her twin, Thomasina lives a life wracked by a combination of guilt and grief. Her mother has taken to her bed and become a silent ghost in the house, while her father continues to run the family sweet making business but has lost all of his previous joy. Thomasina helps with the business and tries to take care of her mother, but life is harsh and lonely, until the Thames freezes over and the local merchants of Southwark decide to take their business out onto the ice. For Thomasina, the Frost Fair brings two opportunities. She meets Anne, who works in her uncle’s apothecary shop, and with whom she begins to create sweets with healing ingredients, the two girls building a firm friendship as they develop their business. Secondly, she is visited by a spectre who leads her to the Other Frost Fair, where she encounters the mysterious Father Winter, who offers her a deadly bargain. Will the offer to raise her brother from the dead prove too tempting to refuse? Will Thomasina’s friends, Anne and Henry, be able to save her from the fate of the Frost Folk? And can anything be done to save Thomasina’s mother from her deep melancholy? This glittering adventure will sweep readers through an ice-covered landscape to the answers.

The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair is a perfect book to snuggle up with during the winter months, and would make an ideal Christmas present for children aged 9+. I am kicking myself that I waited so long to pick it up from my bookshelf, my consolation being that there is a second book in the series ready for me to enjoy. This is definitely a book that I would place firmly in the ‘reading for pleasure’ category, and I should mention that throughout the book there are beautifully atmospheric illustrations by Alex T Smith. It is a frosty adventure to warm the heart.

#MG Christmas Fiction: A Stocking Full of Spies by Robin Stevens

Published by Puffin Books, 11 September 2025, ISBN: 978-0241429952

A Stocking Full of Spies is the third middle grade novel in The Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens. It is set during December 1941, with most of the action taking place at Bletchley Park, and for those readers like me who love to settle down with a cosy crime mystery during the Christmas season, it is a perfect seasonal entertainment.

As with all of her previous novels (I will include some links to my reviews at the end of this post), Robin Stevens combines meticulously researched historical detail with a brilliantly plotted murder mystery that makes the book almost impossible to put down. I have seen this author often described as the ‘Agatha Christie’ of the middle grade market, in my opinion, she has certainly heralded a golden age of MG cosy crime, and in this novel I detect the influence of Patricia Highsmith. I suspect that many young readers will smile in recognition later in their reading journeys when they read some of the adult golden age crime mysteries. This story is recounted through the diary entries and case notes of the three tween protagonists, May Wong, Fionnuala O’Malley and Eric Schlossbauer, who find themselves working a messengers at Bletchley Park as cover for their latest WOE mission. There has been a suspicious death at the Park and there are indications that Bertie Wells the older brother of Daisy Wells (from the Murder Most Unladylike series which predated this series) has been framed for murder. When a second death occurs and all clues point to Bertie, their mission to detect the real murderer becomes even more urgent.

For fear of giving away spoilers, or ruining anyone’s enjoyment of the sophisticated plot, I will not discuss too many details here. There is a lovely map of Bletchley Park, created by Sophia Watts, at the front of the book, to help young readers track the locations as the action unfolds. I enjoyed the way that the local environment of the main mystery was placed in the wider geographical context of the Second World War, and the impact that world events had on different characters in the novel. This is literally the first time that I have read a book about WWII that mentions the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong (the home of May and Hazel Wong). I am hoping that my reading of the ending of the book means that a subsequent story might provide more insight into the war time experiences of Hong Kong residents.

At the end of the book there is an interesting essay by the author providing details about her inspiration for this novel and some analysis of the workforce at Bletchley Park through the lens of modern-day understanding of neurodiversity. I applaud the way that Robin Stevens always ensures that her books display kind understanding of minoritised groups and encourage inclusive behaviour. A Stocking Full of Spies is an essential book to add to primary and secondary school library collections, and one that I would recommend to any adults seeking to buy a book that youngsters aged 10+ will want to read for pleasure.

This book was my own purchase, not only do I have the sprayed edge edition, but I was also fortunate that Robin Stevens visited a local bookshop on her publication tour, so I was able to get a dedicated and signed copy to add to the ‘Bookshelves’ collection!

My roundup of the Murder Most Unladylike series can be found here.

My review of the final book in the MMU series, Death Sets Sail can be found here.

MG Fiction Review: The Feathered Book by Charlie Nutbrown, illustrated by Ewa Beniak-Haremska

Cover image by Holly Ovenden, published September 2025 by Everything With Words, ISBN:978-1911427476

The Feathered Book is a magnificent middle grade debut by author Charlie Nutbrown, with internal illustrations by Ewa Beniak-Haremska. I fear that my words will not be able to do justice to the genius of this book, so I will start by saying that it is one of the best books I have read this year, it deserves to be a future classic, and if I had to deliver an elevator pitch I would describe it as The Wind in the Willows meets The Name of the Rose.

Regular readers of my blog will know that I adore detective fiction, and as a professional librarian, I also love books which feature a library. So, imagine my delight in discovering that the opening chapter is titled ‘The Impossible Crime’ and that it begins with two cloaked figures moving quietly through a silent, dark library. I was hooked from page one, and as the story of the intricately planned theft of the ancient and dangerous ‘Feathered Book’ and the subsequent unconventional detective work unfolded, I was torn between racing to turn the pages and wanting to read slowly to fully appreciated the author’s beautiful writing. For alongside a wonderfully plotted detective novel, Charlie Nutbrown has also created a fully-formed natural location amongst the islands and waterways of The Lake, and a gloriously labyrinthine library with its own legendary backstory, both of which are described in vibrant detail. Some of the descriptions of the landscape left me breathless, and metaphorically reaching for the dictionary; this is a definitely a book which can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter their age.

The final layer, which makes this book whimsical for adult readers and likely to be hugely engaging for child readers is that all of the characters are anthropomorphised animals. Now I must admit that this would not usually be my personal favourite genre, but here, the characterisation is so deftly drawn and the characters and situations so entertaining, that I absolutely loved it. The head librarian, Pecksniff is a wonderfully crotchety ancient squirrel, while the assistant librarian, Ticklepenny is a self-effacing dormouse. Monty the Fox, a debonair creature who we learn is prone to changing his occupation on a regular basis, has decided that he wants to follow in the detecting footsteps of his fictional idol, Professor Meerschaum, and enlists his long-suffering but loyal best friend, Nettle the rabbit, as his ‘Watson”. Together, their instinctive and serendipitous style of clue-chasing, will take the reader on a chase around The Lake, featuring daring encounters with pirates, master criminals and avaricious collectors of stolen treasures. Every chapter heading is lavishly decorated with a pencil sketch of the oak tree library, and there are gorgeous illustrations of the main characters throughout the book. I certainly hope that Monty decides to continue his detective work, and that this is the start of a series!

I cannot recommend The Feathered Book highly enough to school librarians, or to parents, carers or relatives who want to put a book into the hands of middle grade readers that will make their imaginations take flight. Suggested reading age 9+ but I would have read this to my own children as a bedtime story probably from age 7.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publisher Everything With Words for sending me a copy of The Feathered Book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames by Jenny Moore

Cover image by David Dean, publisher – Maverick Books, 3 March 2026, ISBN: 978-1835110836

All the best stories and adventures start with a knock at the door…

So begins this witty, fantasy adventure which will sweep young readers away on a thrilling quest with Emba Oak and Odolf Bravebuckle when it is published in March 2026. It is a tale of dragons, magic and courage and I really enjoyed the authorial voice, which injected a playful humorous tone throughout the plot and occasionally dropped asides about story structure.

Emba and Odolf have both been taken under the wing of Winnifred (known as Fred), The Wise Hermit of Witchingford Wood and keeper of the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows an ancient book of prophecies. Their harmonious life is disrupted, first by a dragon which only Emba can see and then by the news that a dragon-obsessed villain, the hilariously named Necromalcolm, is hunting for a mysterious dragon girl. It would appear that Emba, with her scaled limbs and dragon-egg-beginnings, is his prey…and that Odolf, in trying to be helpful to a stranger in the woods, has given away her location! When Fred is kidnapped from their cave, the two young friends have no hesitation in setting off for the distant Gravethorn Castle on a rescue mission. Armed with a pointy stick, a scaring-off stone, a magical belt buckle and a talisman filled with revolting toenails, Emba will need all of her inner-fire and Odolf will need all of his hero-training, to face the perils ahead.

The adventure is hugely entertaining, written in short chapters with plentiful action and jokes; perfect for a readership aged 8 and above. According to the blurb on my proof copy, the story is in development as a live-action TV series; I hope this indicates that there will be further adventures in the series because I sense that this is a book that children will choose to read for pleasure.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Dannie Price and Maverick Books for sending me a proof copy of Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames ahead of publication in March 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: A Girl’s Guide to Spying by Holly Webb

Proof cover image, to be published by Rock the Boat on 12th February 2026, ISBN: 978-1836432128

I can offer no higher praise to a book than to say that once I started it, I just could not put it down! A Girl’s Guide to Spying has a thrilling plot, offers an insight into a fascinating aspect of WWI history, and is populated with characters that spring to life from the page. Author, Holly Webb, is already hugely popular with many young readers who enjoy her animal-themed stories, and I think that this middle-grade, spy novel will enthral her fans, young and old alike!

The novel is set in London during 1914, a time of enforced change and social upheaval for the population. Thirteen-year-old Phyllis Dean and her younger sister Annie are initially agape at the sight of a group of Girl Guides marching through their neighbourhood, with their shockingly short skirts and wide-brimmed hats. However, they are soon encouraged to join their local group where they become members of Rose Patrol, and are quickly engaged in games and activities which stretch their imaginations, intellects and team-working abilities. When the Guide Leader, Miss Lynley, recognises Phyl’s intellectual capabilities and recommends her for a messenger position at MO5, the new Military Operations department based at Watergate House, the young protagonist’s courage and problem-solving skills will be called into action!

The gripping plot which encompasses espionage, murder and a traitor at the heart of the British spy service, plays out against a backdrop of a working class family coping with everyday life during wartime. The portrayal of the Dean family is really authentic as they cope with running their grocer’s shop, dealing with the uncertainty of hearing that Phyl and Annie’s older brother has been injured in Belgium, and subsequently the shock of a son returning from war with physical and mental injuries. The contrasting personalities of Phyl and Annie are beautifully drawn, leading to some bickering and rivalry, but always coming back to close sisterly love and support. The strong undercurrent of different forms of sisterhood is skilfully woven throughout the novel. There is a subplot in which Mrs Dean shows her compassion for a fellow shop-keeper, courageously standing up to the anger of a mob to rescue a mother and child in distress. The mixing of different social classes adds another layer of interest to the historical context, Phyl and Annie find themselves interacting with titled individuals through Guides and Phyl’s work at MO5, and are surprised to find that their wealthy, upper class guide leader had been imprisoned for her suffragette activities before the war broke out.

Despite reading many books about the spy services during wartime, this is the first time I have encountered the recruitment of Girl Guides as messengers during WWI and I love the way that Holly Webb blended this historical fact into such a dramatic plot. I predict that A Girl’s Guide to Spying will be hugely popular when it is published in February 2026, and I certainly hope that there will be further Rose Patrol mysteries to enjoy. I can see it appealing to all fans of series where smart girls solve crimes such as Murder Most Unladylike, The Ministry of Unladylike Activities, The Taylor and Rose Mysteries and Ruby Redfort. If you are a primary or secondary school librarian, you need to add this to your pre-order list.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Rock the Boat and publicists Liz Scott and Dannie Price for sending me a proof copy of A Girl’s Guide to Spying ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.