No Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2011

An announcement has just been made that there will be no Booktrust Teenage Prize in 2011. From their website:

As you will be aware, the last few months have been particularly challenging for Booktrust. Our new funding settlement with the Department for Education has allowed us to protect the universal offer of the national bookgifting programmes, but it has nonetheless forced us to undertake a thorough review of all of the prizes and projects in the Booktrust portfolio.

As a result of this review, we have taken the difficult decision not to run the Booktrust Teenage Prize in Autumn 2011. This Prize is incredibly important, highlighting and celebrating the best books for teens, as well as being very dear to Booktrust. We have not taken this decision lightly and we strongly intend to bring back the Prize with a bang in the very near future.

Review: Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins

Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins (March 2011, Simon & Schuster Children's, ISBN: 1847387233)

Notes: Review contains spoilers for the previous book, Hex Hall.

Review: Hex Hall was one of my favourite books in 2010. Could the sequel, Raising Demons, be as good? Yes, thankfully it could and was.

We catch up with heroine Sophie Mercer a few months after the traumatic events in Hex Hall, almost at the end of the school year. Sophie's had a lot to take onboard, such as being a demon and the heir-apparent to the leadership of the Council of Prodigium and that her boyfriend, Archer Cross, is a demon hunter working for her sworn enemy, The Eye. That's plenty to be going on with and then she's informed that she's actually betrothed to Cal, the groundskeeper with the (literally) healing hands. Her father, the current head of the Council thinks it best that Sophie, her best friend Jenna and Cal spend the summer vacation at the Council HQ in England where he can try to dissuade her from voluntarily having her powers removed. However, though the HQ is a palatial stately home, a pair of demons, Daisy and Nick, make her life uncomfortable. Plus not only is she getting to know her dad, she has to learn to control her powers, and there's the issue of her former boyfriend who seems to pop up at the least expected moments and then there's the fact that she has her own personal ghost. Not a restful summer holiday, that's for sure.

Raising Demons was such fun, I loved it. Sophie is one of my favourite heroines: she's funny, kind, loyal and tries to do the right thing and with her magic can kick-ass! I snorted out loud at this reference to a popular series!: "Did you want to watch me sleep or something? Because if that's the case, this engagement is so broken." Her English dad's dialogue is also (intentionally) a hoot with his very formal speech with Sophie takes the mick out of. It was great to be able to see the mysterious dad and get to know and understand him better. As well as the witty remarks from Sophie there's the sparky romance with Archer who can spar with her on an equal basis. Hopefully their story will end better than Romeo and Juliet's. The big showdown at the end is a nail-biting affair and left on a huge, huge cliff-hanger. Rachel Hawkins writes on her blog that Sophie's story should be wrapped up in three books but I secretly hope that there'll be more...

The Face Behind - Cover Theme

I spotted this cover for China Lake (2008) yesterday as I was adding a review of another book by Meg Gardiner over on Euro Crime. Both books are published by Hodder.

Library Loot (2.2 & 2.3) & review copies

Library

Angel Kiss by Laura Jane Cassidy
Jacki King is fifteen and adjusting to her new life in a small village. She’s missing Dublin but she’s making new friends: artistic Colin, feisty Emily – and Nick, gorgeous yet unavailable.

But no sooner is Jacki settled than the torturous headaches and nightmares begin – followed by strange visions, voices and signs…

Jacki refuses to believe that something paranormal is happening. But then she discovers the unsolved murder that occurred in the village years before . . .

The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan (I still haven't read #2, so no blurb for fear of spoilers :))


The Twilight Saga: the official illustrated guide by Stephenie Meyer (one to dip into it)

Review

Kill All Enemies by Melvin Burgess (Puffin, 1 Sep)
Everyone says fourteen-year-old BILLIE is nothing but trouble. A fighter. A danger to her family and friends.

But her care worker sees someone different.

Her classmate ROB is big, strong; he can take care of himself and his brother.

But his violent stepdad sees someone to humiliate.

And CHRIS is struggling at school; he just doesn't want to be there.

But his dad sees a useless no-hoper.

Billie, Rob and Chris each have a story to tell. But there are two sides to every story, and the question is . . . who do you believe?

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn-Childs (Templar, 1 July)
When a mermaid has her first kiss, she 'bonds' for life with the person she kisses. For Lily, a mermaid princess living in secret on land, this means she has ended up accidentally bonded to her obnoxious neighbour, instead of to the boy of her dreams. So begins a tidal wave of relationship drama, as Lily discovers that happily-ever-after never goes as smoothly as you plan it to.

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Corgi Childrens, 7 July)
A spooky, electrifying love story.

Amy Goodnight's family are far from normal. She comes from a long line of witches, and grew up surrounded by benevolent spirits and kitchen spells. All fairly harmless, but Amy can't wait to get to college and escape the "family business".

But things take a darker turn when she and her sister Phin spend the summer looking after Aunt Hyacinth's ranch. Amy is visited by a midnight spectre who is clearly trying to send her a message. It seems that the discovery of an old grave on a neighbour's land has been the catalyst for an apparent ghost uprising.

Aided by local friends and Ben, the handsome cowboy who just can't take his eyes off Amy, the sisters investigate. And they soon find that there's something strange and dangerous going on, deep in the heart of Texas...

The Devil Walks by Anne Fine (Doubleday Childrens, 7 July)
'The devil walks . . . But the devil can make no headway if he has no help. We must invite him in . . .'

Raised in secrecy by a mother everyone thinks has gone mad, Daniel’s only link to his past is the intricately built model of the family home – High Gates. The dolls’ house is perfect in every detail.

As Daniel is reunited with the last remaining member of his family - his Uncle Severn, who bears an uncanny resemblance to a sinister wooden doll he has found hidden in the house - he begins to suspect that this vicious, haunted puppet of a figure has a chilling influence, bringing cruelty and spite in its wake.

Now Daniel's very life is at risk as his uncle is determined to get his hands on the figure . . .

The menace builds throughout in this deliciously creepy Gothic tale by award-winning author Anne Fine.

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison (Mira Ink, out now)
Can death be a fresh start? They say that before you die your life flashes before you re eyes. You think it's going to be the good stuff every kiss, every party. Don't count on it. I was Bridget Duke the uncontested ruler of the school. If keeping the wannabes in their place meant being a mean girl, then so be it! I never thought there d be a price to pay. Until the accident. Now, trapped between life and death, I'm seeing my world in a new light: through the eyes of five people whose existence I've made hell. And I've got one chance to make things right. If I don't, I may never wake up again...

Passion by Lauren Kate (audio book) - out now

Dark Touch: Betrayal by Amy Meredith (red Fox, out now)
A hot new boyfriend. Prom just round the corner. And not a demon in sight . . .

Things have never been better for Eve Evergold, Deepdene’s kick-ass witch.

But when things seem too good to be true, they usually are. An evil far greater than Eve has ever

known is at work in Deepdene – and it’s hell-bent on turning her closest friends against her.

This time, it looks like Eve is going to have to face her demons alone . . .

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott (Corgi Childrens, out now)
Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on 28 September 1330. Nearly seven hundred years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty and Nicholas Flamel lives. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects – the Book of Abraham the Mage. It’s the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. And that’s exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won’t know what’s happening until it’s too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it. Sometimes legends are true. And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

Children's Authors on Radio 2 Arts Show

I'm a bit behind with these and have listened to them in the wrong order but both of these are still downloadable from the Radio 2 Arts Show page or via iTunes:

As well as being interviewed, both authors read from their latest books.

Monday 13 June: War Horse author Michael Morpurgo on his new book for children (Little Manfred).











Friday 17 June: Vampirates author Justin Somper (talking about the final Vampirates book, Immortal War).

Publishing Deal - Rachel Renee Russell

Two new entries in the Dork Diaries series has been announced, though no details on titles. From Publishers Weekly:

On the heels of the recent release of Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries 3: Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star, Simon & Schuster’s Aladdin imprint has announced details about the publication of the fifth and sixth books in the series in summer 2013 and 2014.

In October, Aladdin will publish Dork Diaries 3 1/2: How to Dork Your Diary, which follows protagonist Nikki’s travails after she loses her diary.

Free Audio Book of Shiver

Like last year, Sync are offering two free audio books per week over the summer. You only get a week to download them but then they can be played at any time afterwards. This week's selection is:

Available June 23 - June 29:

SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater
Narrated by Jenna Lamia and David Ledoux
Published by Scholastic Audiobooks


ROMEO & JULIET by William Shakespeare
Narrated by a Full Cast
Published by AudioGO

I don't know if there are any geographical restrictions, I'm in the UK and am downloading Shiver ok. You have to download a small piece of software (Overdrive) before being allowed to download the mp3 files.

Download the books from here.

Carnegie Medal 2011 - Winner

The Carnegie Medal 2011 winner has been announced today and it was Patrick Ness's Monsters of Men. The five books in the running were:

BRESLIN, THERESA - PRISONER OF THE INQUISITION
Doubleday (Ages 12+) ISBN: 9781406310276

McCAUGHREAN GERALDINE - THE DEATH DEFYING PEPPER ROUX
Oxford Children's Books (Ages 10+) ISBN: 9780192756022

NESS, PATRICK - MONSTERS OF MEN
Walker (Ages 14+) ISBN: 9780385617031

ROSOFF, MEG - THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL
Puffin (Ages 12+) ISBN: 9780141383934

SEDGWICK, MARCUS - WHITE CROW (review)
Orion (Ages 12+) ISBN: 9781842551875

WALLACE, JASON - OUT OF SHADOWS
Andersen Press (Ages 14+) ISBN: 9781849390484

You can read more about each book at the official website

Review: Crusade by Linda Press Wulf

Crusade by Linda Press Wulf (January 2011, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, ISBN: 1408804840)

Notes: The following review is written by Amanda Gillies who reviews crime fiction on my Euro Crime website. You can read her crime reviews here and her YA reviews here.

Review: Set in the summer of 1212, and based on the Children's Crusade that took place that year, this is an enchanting tale of love, devotion and unquestioning faith. It is exquisitely written and brims over with the emotions of the two young people at its centre - starting with their joyful innocence that is slowly eroded but replaced with burning passion and belief based on bitter experience.

In brief, Georgette is mesmerized by the handsome young shepherd boy who comes riding triumphantly into her village. He is holding a golden crucifix and looking for youngsters to volunteer for his crusade. His cloak and golden curls only add to his air of mystery and godliness and many children do set out after him - Georgette included. They make their way southwards and, buoyed up by a blessing from the King himself, despite a stark lack of food, eventually reach a large abbey where young foundling Robert is being raised by the abbot. Robert also joins the crusade, moved by his steadfast faith and utter belief that this is what he is meant to do.

Both Georgette and Robert witness many events on their long journey that are a real test of everything they hold dear. They discover that many things, and people, are not always as they seem, and face death on more than once occasion. Their momentous journey is life-changing right from the start, but even more so once the two young people meet and discover they share the same hopes and dreams.

This is Linda Press Wulf's second book. The appeal of its beautiful style and timeless message means it should speak volumes to everyone who reads it. Very highly recommended.

Amanda Gillies

Waiting on Wednesday - Dark Angel

Dark Angel by Eden Maguire, author of the Beautiful Dead series (reviewed so far: Jonas and Arizona), is published by Hodder Children's Books on 4 August. A sequel, Twisted Heart, will be out in November.

Tania's heart belongs to Orlando. Nothing can rip them apart. Until the seduction begins in a flurry of glamour and magic, music and parties all orchestrated by the mysterious and mesmerising Zoran, an iconic rock star who has retired to a remote ranch in the nearby mountains. And there Tania meets the dark side. Can she resist temptation?





Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine.

Win 8 Children's Crime Fiction Books

To conclude this special focus on children's crime fiction, I have a brilliant competition with 8 books to giveaway thanks to Orion and Random House.

One lucky person will win:

Alex Carter - The Case of the Ruby Necklace & The Case of the Poisoned Pie
Caroline Lawrence - The Case of the Deadly Desperados & The Thieves of Ostia (#1 Roman Mysteries)
Helen Moss - The Mystery of the Whistling Caves & The Mystery of The Midnight Ghost
Marcus Sedgwick - Flood and Fang (#1 The Raven Mysteries)
Lauren St John - Dead Man's Cove

To enter, please fill in the form below. All entries will be deleted once the winner has supplied their address details. The prize will be sent out by the publishers.
One entry per person only please. To enter you must be over 13 and live in the UK. (You do not have to be a blog follower to enter but if you become a new follower I will be most happy!)
The competition will close at the end of the day on 30 June 2011.

Cover Reveal - Sister, Missing

Further to my previous post recommending Sophie McKenzie's books, details of the cover of Sister, Missing and the reissue of Girl, Missing, have just been released.


The cover for Sister, Missing in particular is like one of those optical illusions where you see a wrinkly face and a young girl's in the same picture!

A similar approach was taken with Kelley Armstrong's The Gathering, earlier this year:

Teenage Crime Fiction Recommendations

Following on from yesterday's younger crime fiction recommendations, here are some teenage crime novels that I've read and enjoyed over the last two years:

Beverley Birch's Rift. A fabulous mystery set in Africa with, unusually, a significant role for the police in the shape of Inspector Murothi.

CT Furlong's ARCTIC 6 series. So far I've read the first one, Killer Strangelets which is a thriller which takes a group of children of mixed ages all the way to CERN.

Julia Golding's Darcie Lock series. So far I've read the first one, Ringmaster in which Darcie Lock, finds out what her parents do for a living and she is recruited to MI6 to bring down an international bad-guy. The third book should be out next year.

Helen Grant's amazing debut, The Vanishing of Katarina Linden, a very atmospheric tale set in a small German town.

John Grisham's Theodore Boone series. I've read the first one, Theodore Boone which introduces the young lawyer, and look forward to the second one which is just out.

Gabrielle Lord's Conspiracy 365 series, a set of 12 books, one per month set in Australia, which has Cal Ormond running for his life and trying to decipher a cryptic inheritance. I've read 11 of these and will get round to the twelth soon. I believe it was written for more reluctant readers but is enjoyable for all abilities. Here's my review of January. If you can, do read them in order.

Sophie McKenzie's Girl, Missing and Blood Ties. Both of which have or will have sequels shortly. Sophie McKenzie is an incredibly popular author with library borrowers and these two titles are always in demand. Reviews of Girl Missing and Blood Ties.

I have many authors still to try, not least those running Crime Central: Anne Cassidy, Keren David, Linda Strachan and Gillian Philip.

More Mysteries for Children

Here are a few more suggestions for crime fiction aimed at pre-teens. As part of national crime-writing week, I've reviewed the first book in several new children's mystery series:

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St John
The Case of the Ruby Necklace by Alex Carter
The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence
Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman
The Mystery of the Whistling Caves by Helen Moss

and mentioned the sequels to those books. You can also read more about some of them in the Orion Star newsletter.

Another suggestion, that I haven't been able to get to in time is Small Change for Stuart by Lissa Evans:

As if being tiny and also having S.Horten as your name isn't bad enough, ten-year-old Stuart Horten is moved (by his very clever, but not very sensible parents) to Beeton, far away from all his friends. But in Beeton starts the strangest adventure of Stuart's life as he is swept up in a quest to find his uncle's old workshop - his famous magician, and also very short, uncle, that is...

The Book Zone has reviewed it and loved it!.



Then there are several series with links to Sherlock Holmes:

Author: Peter Abrahams
Series: Ingrid Levin-Hill (a big Sherlock Holmes fan), Echo Falls
1. Down the Rabbit Hole
2. Behind the Curtain
3. Into the Dark

Author: Andrew Lane
Series: Young Sherlock Holmes
1. The Death Cloud
2. Red Leech
3. Black Ice

Author: Tim Pigott-Smith
Series: The Baker Street Mysteries
1. The Dragon Tattoo
2. The Rose of Africa
3. The Shadow of Evil

Author: Anthony Read
Series: Baker Street Boys
1. The Case of the Disappearing Detective
2. The Case of the Captive Clairvoyant
3. The Case of the Ranjipur Ruby
4. The Case of the Limehouse Laundry
5. The Case of the Stolen Sparklers
6. The Case of the Haunted Horrors

And from my childhood:

"Carolyn Keene's" Nancy Drew continues to detect, most recently in the Sabotage Trilogy (2010/2011).

Franklin W Dixon's Hardy Boys are still strutting their stuff as the "Undercover Brothers", last seen in 2008's Feeding Frenzy.

My favourite series though, Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators hasn't been picked up recently. I remember the excitement when I finally got hold of #1 in the series, The Secret of Terror Castle after I'd read so many of the later ones.

The New Enid Blyton?

Over the last five days, I've read and reviewed the first book in five new crime series for younger readers. So how do they compare with the popular Enid Blyton crime series? Let's compare them with the first in the Famous Five series, Five on a Treasure Island:

Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton
Number of children in the gang?: 4
Any Pets?: 1 dog
Setting?: Kirrin Bay/Island, Cornwall
Dead Bodies?: None*
Mobile Phones Used?: N/A
(*I haven't reread this but I don't think there are.)

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St John
Number of children in the gang?: 1
Any Pets?: 1 dog
Setting?: St Ives, Cornwall
Dead Bodies?: No
Mobile Phones Used?: Briefly but not integral to the plot.

The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence
Number of children in the gang?: 1
Any Pets?: No
Setting?: Virginia City, USA, 1860s
Dead Bodies?: Yes
Mobile Phones Used?: N/A.

The Case of the Ruby Necklace by Alex Carter
Number of children in the gang?: 4
Any Pets?: 1 gerbil
Setting?: London
Dead Bodies?: No
Mobile Phones Used?: Yes, a lot.

Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman
Number of children in the gang?: 2
Any Pets?: No
Setting?: Island off Scotland
Dead Bodies?: Yes
Mobile Phones Used?: No as no signal on the island.

The Mystery of the Whistling Caves by Helen Moss
Number of children in the gang?: 3
Any Pets?: 1 dog
Setting?: Castle Key (an island), Cornwall
Dead Bodies?: No
Mobile Phones Used?: Yes, but not integral to the plot.

In conclusion, The Case of the Deadly Desperados was great fun but doesn't fit into the Enid Blyton mould, and for me, The Case of the Ruby Necklace is quite like the Nancy Drew mysteries I used to read; Mondays are Murder is very Agatha Christie in its plot and has a people-watching sleuth; Dead Man's Cove is quite like Blyton in its setting and lack of parents but features a solitary detective (rather than four, or more(!)) so the winner of the new Enid Blyton tag, in this small sample, with its Cornwall-island-setting, its gang of three and a dog, has to be The Mystery of the Whistling Caves. I expect to see stickers on her books with "Helen Moss is the next Stieg Larsson Enid Blyton".

Review: The Mystery of the Whistling Caves by Helen Moss

Here's the fifth post in my week celebrating the young crime solver.


The Mystery of the Whistling Caves by Helen Moss (July 2011, Orion Childrens ISBN 1444003283)

Review: If you were brought up on Enid Blyton, as I was, then this cover alone should win you over. I've been dying to read this one since I heard about it and it was as much fun as I'd hoped.

The Mystery of the Whistling Caves is the first in the Adventure Island mysteries and is released along with book two, The Mystery of the Midnight Ghost, on 7 July.

Scott (13) and younger brother Jack (12) are sent to stay with and elderly relative, "Aunt" Kate, on the Cornish island of Castle Key. Initially upset about this, having had to leave city life and gadgets behind, they decide to explore and visit the castle. They learn that the castle's museum will soon be hosting a display of Saxon treasure. On their way back from the castle they meet Emily, who is a similar age to Jack, and her dog Drift and that's when things begin to look up for the boys.

She invites them on to her boat to see and hear the "whistling caves" at the base of the castle cliffs but she is surprised and a little upset to discover that the whistling has ceased. When they return to dry land they find that some of the treasure has been stolen from the museum. Emily, who has helped the police before, though they didn't appreciate it, invites the boys to help her and Drift solve the case.

The gang carry out the investigation in the traditional way of checking alibis as well as eavesdropping and spying until a revelation (appropriately in a church!) sets them on the right path but one that turns both frightening and dangerous.

This is a puzzling mystery with suspicion falling on first one person then the next and the author does a good job of keeping the reader in doubt as to who the thief is until late in the book. I loved Emily and Drift. Emily is a barefoot tomboy who has her own rowing boat and Drift is a talented dog who appears to have had extra training in being a spy, obeying commands such as "keep watch". The boys soon become enchanted with the island (and Emily to be fair, though not in a romantic way) and Jack is a bit of a cheeky lad with Scott being a rather more cautious character with his extra year.

I-phone carrying old sea dogs, elderly cycling cleaners with gambling addictions - there are plenty of unusual characters on Castle Key which should make for a great summer for the gang. There are six mysteries planned - to coincide with the boys' six weeks of holiday perhaps?- two out in July, two in August and two in September. I can't wait!

I must also add how much I've appreciated the illustrations used at the start of each chapter in this series and Orion's other books such as Lauren St John's Laura Marlin series and Caroline Lawrence's Western Mysteries.

Read an extract from The Mystery of the Whistling Caves on the Orion website.

Review: Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman

Here's the fourth post in my week celebrating the young crime solver.


Mondays are Murder by Tanya Landman (June 2009, Walker ISBN 1406314601)

Review: Mondays are Murder is the opening book in a now seven-book series featuring young detective Poppy Fields. Poppy and some other children are spending a week testing out a new outdoor activities centre on a remote island off the Scottish coast.

Poppy is glad that one of the kids is Graham a new boy at her school. He has a geeky, non-sporty reputation and is a mine of facts, especially about how dangerous certain outside activities are! Poppy's speciality is reading body language and soon has her fellow guests and hosts pegged.

Their chauffeur up to Scotland is Bruce, an Australian with severe facial scarring who will be their survival teacher. The other trainers include a husband and wife, who are not a happy couple and a water sports expert and a riding expert.

However on the first day of their "holiday", tragedy strikes and Bruce falls off a cliff into the sea below. And then, one by one the remaining adults begin to have suspicious, deadly accidents; the island becomes unreachable due to a storm and then the radio is damaged.

Together Poppy and Graham decide to get to the bottom of things. It seems like a ghost is killing people but ghosts don't exist, do they?

Mondays are Murder is quite a short book but the body count is high! The surprise in the solution to the mystery relies on you not having read one of Agatha Christie's most famous books, which I won't name so as not to give it away, and it's unlikely that the children reading this, will be aware of it. I first encountered this series last summer when a succession of children came up to the library counter to order it. I would imagine it's quite a scary read as the setting is quite spooky with the weather described keeping the island's occupiers trapped as the instructors are picked off one at a time. Not a lot is revealed about Poppy and Graham's background but perhaps they are more fleshed out in the later books.

The series is aimed at 9+ and you can sample the first few pages of Mondays are Murder here - it opens with a description of a murder, giving an idea of what's in store.

Review: The Case of the Ruby Necklace by Alex Carter

Here's the third post in my week celebrating the young crime solver.

The Case of the Ruby Necklace by Alex Carter (February 2011, Red Fox ISBN 1849411719)

Review: The Case of the Ruby Necklace is the first in the Mayfair Mysteries, released alongside The Case of the Poisoned Pie back in February. The series is so named as one of the four lead characters, Lauren, lives in the swanky London hotel Mayfair Park which is run by her mum and dad. Her best friends Jas, Mia and Becky spend their spare time there, where there is even an Olympic-sized pool in the basement.

The girls are very excited when they learn that famous US movie star Isabella Duval will be staying at the hotel to promote a new range of jewellery and she will be modelling the priceless "Cleopatra's necklace" at the launch.

Isabella is charming to the friends at first but during another visit she is rude. Why is Isabella so moody, who is her PR assistant Max and what is his interest in antiques?

The girls get themselves into some nail-biting scrapes before their keen observational skills save the day.

Despite the pink cover this was not as girly as I'd feared. I'm not sure how old the girls are - the book cover has suitable for 8+ on the back - there are a few references to fashion and make-up but not overdone (for my taste) and the girls have quite a bit of freedom. The friends are inventive and work well as a team with each girl having a different strength eg IT, acting. I think the solution to the mystery is credible to its target audience and I think they will love the glamour of the hotel setting. I don't see many boys picking it up though there are a couple of boys playing a small but critical role in this mystery. I enjoyed it and I'll be recommending it to the younger members of my reading group of 9-11 year-olds.

The girls will be back next year in The Case of the Suspicious Supermodel and The Case of the Haunted Hotel.

I haven't yet read The Case of the Poisoned Pie (though I'm planning to!) however a young lady falling squarely in the target audience, asastar at Book Angel Booktopia had this to say about it:

"I thought the Mayfair Mysteries were really exciting. I just could not seem to stop reading it even when Mum said it was time to go to sleep. I even read it as soon as I got up in the morning."

and there's no higher praise than not being able to stop reading something.

Review: The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

Here's the second post in my week celebrating the young crime solver.

The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence (June 2011, Orion Childrens ISBN 1444001698)

Review: Roman goddess Caroline Lawrence turns her hand to a new era and place: the Wild West of the 1860s. In this the first of the Western Mysteries the reader meets twelve-year-old PK Pinkerton. Part white, part Native-American and orphaned twice-over.

The book begins with PK stuck down a mine and not expecting to survive the day. PK's adventures are then chronicled from the murder of PK's foster parents and the flight to Virginia City, the home of silver mining, to escape the evil desperados who want something valuable from PK. PK meets many characters in Virginia City, including the reporter who became "Mark Twain", and not all of them are trustworthy. There are plenty of chase scenes and gunfights and along the way the reader gets to know more about PK's character and abilities, some useful, some handicapping before the final showdown.

What a fabulous idea this is having a young detective in the Wild West. I loved it. The action is non-stop and with almost every chapter ending on a cliff-hanger the pages just flew by. I loved learning about this time and setting, one which will be quite new to UK readers I imagine, touching on slavery, the US Civil War as well as mining. PK is an intriguing character and should have equal appeal to boys and girls.

I can't wait for the sequel to find out more about PK's new life and adventures.

Caroline Lawrence stopped by the blog last week to talk about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. You can read her recap of the whole blog tour on the Western Mysteries blog.

Review: Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St John

Here's the first post in my week celebrating the young crime solver.

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St John (March 2011, Orion Childrens ISBN 1444001485)

Review: I think the gorgeous cover gives away what you're getting in Dead Man's Cove: an old-fashioned adventure story. Dead Man's Cove is the first of the Laura Marlin books, the sequel Kidnap in the Caribbean being out in July.

Laura is an eleven-year-old orphan who, fuelled by reading 'Matt Walker' detective books and compelled by a non-stop curiosity, wants to be a detective when she grows up. She has stayed in several foster homes but always returns to Sylvan Meadows Children's Home until a miracle happens: a relative is discovered and her uncle, who lives in St Ives, wants to adopt her.

Initially quite wary of the stranger, who is her flesh-and-blood, she soon settles into St Ives and is given never-before seen freedom to wander the town and environs with the exception of one path, the one that leads to Dead Man's Cove.

Her uncle is rarely home and Laura is quite lonely so she tries to make friends with Tariq who works in the local grocery-shop, but who doesn't speak English and seems down-trodden by his parents. Eventually their friendship is broken but another friend, though not a human one, comes into her life and together they begin to investigate some of the mysteries that revolve around her home and uncle leading to a life-threatening final act involving Dead Man's Cove...

Dead Man's Cove which won the Blue Peter Book Award 2011, is a charming novel. Laura is a likeable lead character who is clever and inquisitive with a strong sense of justice and though she occasionally says something a bit nasty she soon realises and apologises. I felt so pleased that she's finally found somewhere to belong. I called this an old-fashioned adventure story however that's more due to the freedom Laura has and some of the classic tropes used: chloroform, messages in bottles, than the underlying crime that's being committed. I also enjoyed the beautiful St Ives setting and I wonder if there's now a Laura Marlin trail retracing her route to school where some significant story advances are made.

Dead Man's Cove is told in short-ish chapters each headed with one of illustrator David Dean's lovely and accurate drawings.

I'm really looking forward to the next book, Kidnap in the Caribbean.