Review: Kat Wolfe Investigates by Lauren St John

I recently posted my review of Lauren St John's Kat Wolfe Investgates on my library's Facebook page:

KAT WOLFE INVESTIGATES, the first in a new series from Lauren St John, won CrimeFest’s, Best Crime Novel for Children (8-12) last year. And I loved it too.

After an unpleasant incident in their London home, Kat's mum, a veterinary surgeon, and Kat relocate to a slightly mysterious job in an idyllic Dorset sea-side town called Bluebell Bay. One of the conditions is that they take on the previous owner's cat, which is no ordinary British Domestic Shorthair... Plus Dr Wolfe has to be able to treat monkeys at the local sanctuary.

As it's the school holidays Kat is soon running her own small business – pet sitter for hire, and meets a temporarily housebound American girl of her own age (12) who has been thrown and badly injured by the very horse that Kat is to look after. Kat also offers to look after a parrot whose Paraguayan owner is returning home for a while. This latter job is what instigates an involving adventure with international implications.

This is a very rich book, with quite a complicated storyline. I don't want to say anything more about the plot but it is I think, quite an unusual story for this age group. Kat is a great animal-whisperer and not surprisingly her and her mum are vegan. She has a good heart and those around her respond to it. This book beams with good messages, has an exciting story and is quite funny as well.

Review: Kentucky Thriller by Lauren St John

Kentucky Thriller by Lauren St John (July 2013, Orion Childrens, ISBN: 1444006479)

Eleven-year-old Laura Marlin is back in her third adventure Kentucky Thriller which not surprisingly is set mainly in Kentucky. Laura, her best friend Tariq and her guardian Uncle Calvin are setting off on a picnic not far from their St Ives (Cornwall) home when they nearly collide with a horse box abandoned after a crash. They are shocked to discover that there is a horse inside - thankfully unhurt - and the situation seems very fishy. There is a delay but eventually they find that the horse is a valuable thoroughbred stolen from the US and the owner is so overjoyed that he offers them a two-week holiday with his family at their horse farm as they prepare for the huge race that is the Kentucky Derby.

Laura has to leave her beloved dog Skye and uncle behind but is accompanied by Tariq. No sooner have they arrived then strange things happen. Both the children have life-threatening experiences at the hands (feet?) of horses. It seems someone doesn't want then around but who and why? After a rocky start they make friends with their hosts' grand-daughter (whom I hope will reappear in a later book) and set to work to solve the many mysteries surrounding them.

Kentucky Thriller is my favourite so far of the series I think. Though it has an exotic setting the crime is a classic one involving betrayal, skullduggery and greed. I love that Laura is an environmentalist and a vegetarian - though the author does not labour the points - and that the series covers important themes in an accessible way. Tariq has a much welcomed larger role than in the previous two books. The fourth book, Rendezvous in Russia is published 1 August 2013.

Read my reviews of the previous two books here.

Review: Kidnap in the Caribbean by Lauren St John

Kidnap in the Caribbean by Lauren St John (July 2011, Orion Childrens ISBN 1444000217)

Review: Kidnap in the Caribbean is the sequel to the award-winning Dead Man's Cove and both feature the plucky and forthright eleven-year-old Laura Marlin, an orphan recently taken in by a long-lost uncle who lives in St Ives, Cornwall. Laura's uncle is an ex-detective and the talent seems to run in the family.

This time round, the story isn't set in St Ives but much further afield when Laura wins the holiday of a lifetime when she buys a raffle ticket from a street vendor. An all-expenses paid cruise to Antigua in the Caribbean, a holiday villa there and return flights. Her uncle is not keen at first but soon has a surprising change of heart. Laura's best friend Tariq and her 3-legged husky Skye are at the docks to see the pair off but events conspire and Tariq and Skye find themselves trapped aboard the ship. Luckily Laura's room has twin beds. With her uncle incapacitated on the journey Laura and Tariq entertain themselves - and there's lots to do. They, reluctantly at first, add another boy to their circle - Jimmy who is a bit of a pest- but they will be glad they did.

A few strange events occur on-board the ship but that's nothing to when Laura's uncle disappears and when the boat docks in Antigua, Laura and Tariq have to use their wits and rely on the kindness of strangers to get Laura's uncle back and keep themselves out of the clutches of the villains.

Kidnap in the Caribbean is an exciting adventure with two resourceful young leads (and a very intelligent dog!). Tariq is coming out of his shell but is still a quiet character. Part of the story is set on the island of Montserrat and I was pleased to learn more about the island and its volcano. There is an underlying environmental theme to the plot and there are notes at the back informing the reader about the state of the oceans and some of its inhabitants. Anything that makes the reader think about the state of the planet, is fine by me.

This is a entertaining series starring an independent and intelligent girl who is given free reign by her trusting guardian and makes good use of it.

Sadly the next book's not out until August 2012.

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.