Children’s / Teenage fiction: Thrillers / suspense

Book SynopsisA gripping thriller for readers who like danger and mystery and chills and spills from the comfort of their sofas... Unputdownable.The Times and Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week."Much more Junior Line of Duty than Junior Miss Marple" - The Sunday Times"Just the right level of intrigue and jeopardy" - The TimesWhen Lucas and Ruby find an abandoned trunk covered in snow, Lucas says there's bound to be a body inside. Ruby laughs but what if he's right? Nervously she starts to open it, and immediately wishes she hadn't. From that moment on, they're drawn into a thrilling mystery, one that they have to solve before the falling snow smothers all trace of wrongdoing...

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Angus Book Award, THE EDGE is crackly with tension. How will this mother and son escape their abuser and start a new life? We've got to go. Now. It's early morning and Danny's mother is at his bedside, urging him to get up. They're on the run from Chris, his mother's boyfriend, a violent man who beats them both up, and won't let them go. Chris pursues Danny and his mother from London to the north, where they take refuge with Danny's grandparents. But even there, nothing is safe. Danny is conspicuous as the only mixed-race boy in their small community, and with the ever-present threat of discovery, he has to learn how to live continually on the edge. A tense and chilling story with terrific drama, THE EDGE shows the depth of character and the understanding of the predicaments of children today that gives Alan Gibbons his special quality.Trade Review"This is a fast and compelling 'must read' that is disturbing in ways that is bound to make teenagers confront important issues like racism and endemic violence. I can't recommend it highly enough." Books for Keeps "...a brilliant thriller for 11 to 16 year olds. ...Indeed it is as if he takes such potential cliches and wrings them dry of easy answers before putting pen to paper... Gibbons' confident use of punchy snapshots focusing on each character's movements and preoccupations makes gripping reading. He is committed to writing books boys will read - and here he gives them something in which to sink their emotional, intellectual and creative teeth." -- Lindsey Fraser Sunday Herald, 7 July 2002 "[Alan Gibbons'] latest book, a tense piece of social realism, is his best yet. The writing grabs you from the first page and entwines you into the lives of the characters." The Herald "The characters are brilliantly drawn, particularly Chris; his self-righteousness, so closely linked with the urge to lash out, is chilling." Mail on Sunday "...an excellent, challenging, rough-tough read" -- Michael Rosen Socialist Review, September 2002 "a very well-written, hard-hitting novel told from many different viewpoints which give a well rounded picture and add excitement to the reader's involvement. It is well paced to a breathtaking climax. An excellent read." Primary Times, September 2002 'A prolific writer with a strong sense of social justice, Alan Gibbons is pacey and thorough. The Edge demonstrates skills honed throughout his career and shows a writer in a confident and committed mode...A brilliantly convincing thriller devoid of flabby cliches or stereotype.' -- Lindsey Fraser The Guardian, 24 September 2002 "...a tense and deepling story that encompasses racism and manipulative violence." Books for Keeps "...a fast moving, tense, emotional story which is a real page turner." Carousel, Autumn/Winter 2002 "My friend gave me this book for my birthday and I couldn't put it down...Each chapter is told by a different character so it really builds up the tension. It had me right on the edge of my seat!" -- Tammy from Bude (reader review) Mizz, 13 November 2002 "The story is fast paced and holds the readers attention...Many readers will be quickly drawn into the story and be absorbed by its pace and excitement" School Librarian, Autumn 2002 "Gibbons is passionate about making literature accessible to young people of all backgrounds and abilities. The Edge is a nail-biting thriller...touching and real and powerfully memorable. Alan Gibbons uses short, mini-chapters to tell his story and the effect is electric." -- Lindsey Fraser Booktrusted News (Booktrust), Winter 2002 "This book is brilliant with an excellently thought out plot, characterisation and a progressing storyline...This book certainly tingles and lingers" -- Oliver Daniels (Year 7), Somerset Books for Keeps

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Book SynopsisWhat's up with the weird gang at school? One student's about to find out. Sam's always been a little scared of gorgeous Lisa's gang, but when she invites him to come and hang out with them he's delighted. But soon he finds out that they have a dark secret …and that he will have to go through some big changes to join them. Supernatural thriller.

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Book SynopsisRoss Bentley is a skateboarding slacker, who has hardly any real friends, communicates with his father by grunting and hates his job in the local supermarket. Ross also has the gift of telekinesis but has always kept it hidden, even from those closest to him. That all changes when he learns of The Million Dollar Gift, a contest in which the organisers have challenged anyone to prove they have a superhuman skill. Any applicant who is successful will receive one million dollars prize money. Ross can't let this opportunity go by and enters the contest. He stuns the organisers by passing every test and wins the prize money. All does not go according to plan though; Ross's identity was supposed to be kept secret but when his test videos are leaked onto the internet he becomes a sensation. Within twenty four hours the entire world knows his name and what he can do. But fame is not all he has to deal with. He has attracted the attentions of others who have the gift, and not all of them are happy about his arrival on the scene.Trade Reviewan explosive page-turner … a must for every teenage boy who wants captivating adventure from beginning to end -- Mad About Booksstrong action thriller … had me glued from start to finish -- YAYeahYeah.comreally enjoyed the clever world-building … Somers does a great job of explaining the 'gifts' to his readers -- YAYeahYeah.com'a fast-paced thriller for ages 12+' -- yellowbrickreads.com blog'young teens will love the book's modern feel, with its awareness of current technologies and social media, exciting streamlined prose and explosive action sequences' -- yellowbrickreads.com blog'a wonderfully assured debut from a talented author' -- yellowbrickreads.com blog'readers will quickly be drawn into the exciting world of Ross Bentley and his Million Dollar Gift. I for one am looking forward to reading the next instalment''many teenage boys will enjoy the story with its focus on the paranormal, the exciting fights and the thriller element' -- SLA Magazine'very humorous, action packed, thrilling and very intriguing' -- http://newenglishirl.blogspot.ie/2013/02/the-million-dollar-gift-book-reviews-by.html?utm_source=dlv'fast-paced and very interesting and makes the reader continuously eager to turn to the next page!' -- http://newenglishirl.blogspot.ie/2013/02/the-million-dollar-gift-book-reviews-by.html?utm_source=dlva gripping story ... a fast-paced thriller -- Books Ireland'tantalizing' -- Inis'a young man’s journey from childhood into the exciting, often daunting world of adulthood' -- Inis'a modern day Catcher in the Rye' -- Inis'lovely!' -- Sarah Webb'11+ boys will lap it up! Really loved seeing the history of all the different gifts' -- Claire Hennessey'5/5. I cannot wait for the sequel!' -- Lilypad Library'a must-read for lovers of adventure, the supernatural, romance, crime and teen novels!' -- Lilypad Library'an absolutely brilliant book, really easy to read and will keep you hooked' -- Lilypad LibraryIan Somers has created brilliant characters and a captivating plot ... his writing will draw you in and keep you hooked. This book is electric! -- Lilypad LibraryPerfect for Anthony Horowitz fans. A gripping thriller. -- Irish Independent'looking forward to book 2, which I suppose says it all!' -- bookbabblers.co.uk'fast-paced read, with plenty of action, mystery and well-thought out background' -- bookbabblers.co.uk'a breath of fresh air for teenage boys' -- Woman’s Way'fast-paced, riveting and insightful ... highly recommended gripping read' -- Fallenstarstories.blogspot.'an adrenaline rush to the very end' -- CBI's Recommended Reads 2012

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Book SynopsisThe first in a fast-paced, funny series featuring The Stig: Top Gear's legendary racing driver.Sam Wheeler may be the new boy in Bunsfold, but he's got a feeling that all is not well either in the town or at Bunsfold High - and he's not just talking about the maths teacher with the unfortunate flatulence. A local boy, Buster Mustang, has recently gone missing, and no one seems to care - they're all too busy playing the highly addictive video game Xenon or getting the town ready for its very first TT race. Both are the brainchild of mysterious local billionaire PT Cruiser. Besides global domination, PT Cruiser wants nothing more than to destroy his nemesis The Stig once and for all - and his TT race is just what he needs to tempt him on to the big stage again ...Sam sets out with his new friends Minnie Cooper and Ford Harrison to uncover the truth behind all the strange goings-on in Bunsfold - but danger has a habit of showing up wherever they do, and soon all that stands between our heroes and disaster is ... a taciturn man in a white suit.Perfect for fans of ALEX RIDER and CHERUBTrade ReviewThe Stig works surprisingly well as the action star of this fast-paced and funny children's book * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisBunsfold, Surrey, and the nights are drawing in. And something wicked this way comes. A thick fog descends on the town and refuses to disperse. Is a malign spectre really afoot in the town? Or just mass paranoia? The junior Top Gear gang - Sam, Buster, Cabriola and Ford - have a theory. Four hundred years ago to the week, the God-fearing and righteous villagers of Bunsfolde burnt a sinister crone who lived deep in the woods - and she appears to be making a return. But are the sightings simply publicity ruses engineered by the Cruiser Corps? Or has the ghost of the old crone really risen to seek revenge on the descendants of her village persecutors? What greater scheme does PT Cruiser have up his sleeve? The junior Top Gear gang investigate - with the help of one very special white-suited chap stepping in just when he is needed - to race, and to save humanity ...

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Book Synopsis ‘There are a dozen soldiers hiding in that maze. All hunting you. All looking to kill you.’ To the outside world Ember Hill is an ordinary girl, but Ember has a deadly secret. A dragon hiding in human form, she is destined to fight the shadowy Order of St. George, a powerful society of dragonslayers. St. George soldier Garret is determined to kill Ember and her kind. Until her bravery makes him question all he’s been taught about dragons. Now a war is coming and Garret and Ember must choose their sides – fight to save their bond or fulfil their fate and destroy one another. ‘The first in a new series, Talon leaves readers perfectly balanced between satisfaction and anticipation’ – BookPage ‘Kagawa knows just how to end a first volume for maximum cliff-hanger drama’ – Booklist ‘A strong, promising start to the Talon Saga’ – Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis Deserter Traitor ROGUE. Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant. Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George. A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war? ‘The first in a new series, Talon leaves readers perfectly balanced between satisfaction and anticipation’ – BookPage ‘Kagawa knows just how to end a first volume for maximum cliff-hanger drama’ – Booklist ‘A strong, promising start to the Talon Saga’ – Publishers Weekly The Talon Saga 1.Talon – out now 2.Rogue – 7th May 2015 3. Soldier – May 2016 4. Legion – November 2016

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Book Synopsis‘An utter delight.’ Claire Legrand, New York Times bestselling author of Furyborn Name your price and claim your throne. On the quest to find her missing mother, prim and proper Enne Salta became reluctant allies with Levi Glaisyer, the city’s most famous con man. Saving his life in the Shadow Game forced Enne to assume the identity of Seance, a mysterious underworld figure. Now, with the Chancellor of the Republic dead and bounties on both their heads, she and Levi must play a dangerous game of crime and politics…with the very fate of New Reynes at stake. Thirsting for his freedom and the chance to build an empire, Levi enters an unlikely partnership with Vianca Augustine’s estranged son. Meanwhile, Enne remains trapped by the mafia donna’s binding oath, playing the roles of both darling lady and cunning street lord, unsure which side of herself reflects the truth. As Enne and Levi walk a path of unimaginable wealth and opportunity, new relationships and deadly secrets could quickly lead them into ruin. And when unforeseen players enter the game, they must each make an impossible choice: To sacrifice everything they’ve earned in order to survive… Or die as legends.

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Book Synopsis Return to the City of Sin, where the final game is about to begin… and winning will demand the ultimate sacrifice. Only days after a corrupt election and brutal street war, one last bloodthirsty game has begun. The players? The twenty-two most powerful, notorious people in New Reynes. After realizing they have no choice but to play, Enne Scordata and Levi Glaisyer are desperate to forge new alliances and bargain for their safety. But while Levi offers false smiles and an even falser peace to the city’s politicians, Enne must face a world where her true Mizer identity has been revealed… and any misstep could turn deadly. Meanwhile, a far more dangerous opponent has appeared on the board, one plucked right from the most gruesome legends of New Reynes. As the game takes its final, vicious turn, Levi and Enne must decide once and for all whether to be partners or enemies. Because in a game for survival, there are only losers… And monsters.

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Book SynopsisYour home was the one place you felt safe. Now it's your prison. You were invisible. Now your every move is monitored by masked strangers. You looked after your mum, your best friend. Now you barely know her. Everything can change in thirteen hours.

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Book SynopsisReal, compulsive and intense: Cat Clarke is the queen of emotional suspense. For fans of Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn, Megan Abbott and Jandy Nelson.SHE WAS LOST... When six-year-old Laurel Logan was abducted, the only witness was her younger sister, Faith. Faith's childhood was dominated by Laurel's disappearance - from her parents' broken marriage and the constant media attention to dealing with so-called friends who only ever wanted to talk about her sister. NOW SHE IS FOUND... Thirteen years later, a young woman is found in the garden of the Logans' old house, disorientated and clutching the teddy bear Laurel was last seen with. Laurel is home at last, safe and sound. Faith always dreamed of getting her sister back, without ever truly believing it would happen. But a disturbing series of events leaves Faith increasingly isolated and paranoid, and before long she begins to wonder if everything that's lost can be found again...Trade ReviewClarke excels at genuine page-turners with a heart of darkness and I read this in one greedy sitting. * The Bookseller *A satsifying and...all-too-credible thriller * Inis *Undoubtedly one of the most exciting and talented YA writers in Britain * Library Mice on Cat Clarke *I wholly, unabashedly and completely recommend this book * Inis Magazine on Cat Clarke *Clarke...succeeds brilliantly, thanks to the reality of the characters and the depth of the emotion * The Scotsman on Cat Clarke *Moving, thought provoking and utterly gripping from start to finish * Mizz on Cat Clarke *Blending coming-of-age elements with psychological suspense, Clarke carefully weaves a story in which the unnerving truth is slowly unveiled. As with the best thrillers, the truth is far from a straight line, and what readers believe changes with every turn of the page. In this fast-paced and darkly entertaining novel, Clarke's true success lies is in crafting a realistic and haunting story of two young women who redefine what it means to be sisters. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisI could hear Dennis talking to my ma. 'She was little,' he said. 'Little like me. But old. Older than you.' Those words gave me a cold shock. I could see Dennis imagining fairies, but old ones?When Bobby's mother moves the family into a rented house in the country, a neighbour tells him that a child was once murdered there. Bobby doesn't care. All he wants is to get back to Dublin and to resume his wild life there, stealing from the crowded shopping streets and racing stolen cars at night. But getting his old life back doesn't turn out to be so easy, and the longer he spends in the old cottage, the more convinced he becomes that something very strange is going on there. Was there really a murder? And if so, was it the one he has been told about?Trade ReviewA tale that interweaves contemporary teenage experience - strong language, bad habits and all - with Irish folklore and a murder mystery -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisMISSION: SurvivalLOCATION: The Indonesian jungleDANGERS: Lava flows; fearsome tigers; orang-utansYoung survival expert Beck Granger is supposed to be enjoying a holiday. But when a volcano erupts he is stranded and must flee from red-hot lava and molten rocks crashing out of the sky.If he is to stay alive, he must make his way acrossthe jungle to safety – travelling right through the heart of tiger territory . . .The fourth book in an explosive adventure series from real-life survival expert BEAR GRYLLS.

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Book SynopsisMission: SurvivalLocation : The Sahara DesertDangers : Diamond smugglers; heatstroke; scorpionsAfter being forced to parachute out of a smugglers’ plane, teenage adventurer Beck Granger is about to face his toughest survival challenge yet – the Sahara Desert. Blistering sun, shifting sand dunes, and no water for hundreds of miles . . .Can he survive the heat and make it out alive?Trade ReviewA very good read * The School Librarian *

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Book SynopsisJane is found, near death, in a rosebush - a victim of hit and run. But as she's convalescing she realizes that her friends' stories and her memories of what happened that night aren't adding up. And now the only thing she does know is that one of her friends isn't so friendly. One of them tried to kill her.Sometimes the truth is a very thorny thing. . .

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Book SynopsisJesse is on a school trip in New York when his subway carriage is rocked by an explosion. When he and three friends crawl out of the wreckage they discover a city in chaos. Streets are deserted. Buildings are in ruins. And the only other survivors are infected with a virus that turns them into horrifying predators. . .

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Book SynopsisIt was like a nightmare, but there was no waking up. When the night began, Nora had two best friends and a boyfriend she adored. When it ended, she had nothing but blood on her hands. Chris was dead. Adriane couldn't speak. And Max, Nora's sweet, smart, soft-spoken Prince Charming, was gone. He was also-according to the police, according to her parents, according to everyone-a murderer.Desperate to prove his innocence, Nora's determined to follow the trail of blood, no matter where it leads. But Chris's murder is just one piece in a puzzle that spans continents and centuries. Solving it may be the only way she can save her own life.

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Book SynopsisThe town of Oleander is postcard perfect. Until one day. The day the Devil came to Oleander. Whatever they called it, through the months to come - through the funerals and the dinners and the sidelong glances between formerly trusting neighbours - it was all anyone could talk about. It seemed safe to assume it was all anyone would ever talk about, just as it was assumed that Oleander had been changed for ever, and that, once buried, the bodies would stay in the ground.But then the storms came . . .

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Book Synopsis From acclaimed writer Dan Smith – author of My Friend the Enemy, Nisha's War and Big Game, now a major motion picture starring Samuel L. Jackson – comes BOY X, a thrilling, no-holds-barred action survival series. Praise for Dan Smith: 'Action, adventure, wolves, snow ... this story has EVERYTHING. I devoured it so quickly I need to read it again.' EMMA CARROLL on She Wolf 'This book grabbed me from page one … highly recommended' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY on My Friend the Enemy Kidnapped and drugged, Ash wakes up on a remote tropical island. His mum – a genetic scientist – has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. Where is he, and what’s he doing there? He sets out to cross the jungle to find out and rescue his mother. Soon he realizes he’s quicker and sharper than before. But there’s something else ... why are theanimals watching him, and how can he use the jungle to his advantage? A real-life survival adventure set on a jungle island. The start of a new no-holds-barred action survival series: Bear Grylls meets The Maze Runner. From the award-winning author of acclaimed WW2 adventure novels My Friend the Enemy and My Brother’s Secret. Dan Smith’s most recent project, Big Game, is the novelisation of the hit movie starring Samuel L. Jackson – sold so far in 23 territories worldwide.

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR FILM BY STEPHEN DALDRY AND RICHARD CURTISRaphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it.Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael's world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It's a bag of clues. It's a bag of hope. It's a bag that will change everything.Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives. Wanted by the police, it takes all their quick-thinking and fast-talking to stay ahead. As the net tightens, they uncover a dead man's mission to put right a terrible wrong.And now it's three street boys against the world...Trade ReviewOne of the most exciting and original novels of the year . . . It's a tight, thrilling story, told from various characters' perspectives and has a Slumdog, feel-good pulse beating through it. A genuine treasure find -- Sally Morris * Daily Mail *One of my favourite novels of 2010, now in paperback with a new cover look. Reminiscent of Slumdog Millionaire, three dumpsite boys take on the world in this gripping and intensely moving story . . . Harrowing, exhilarating, humbling and quite brilliant -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller *Outstanding, hotly anticipated thriller . . . an exceptionally satisfying plot -- Amanda Craig * The Times *Great stuff: taut, plausible and thought-provoking -- Toby Clements * Daily Telegraph *Trash is a thriller with moral weight and a complex structure . . . Without ever moralising, Mulligan raises issues of corruption, poverty, waste and excess in an exciting, but also grimly sad tale -- Suzi Feay * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisA novel of courage based on the experiences of John Harvey’s own father who served with the London Fire Brigade. 1940. Like most of his London contemporaries, 15 year-old Jack Riley is evacuated into the countryside to escape a city menaced by bombardment. But Jack manages to escape farm life and return to London where he joins his father, an auxiliary fireman with ‘Blue Watch’, and experiences the London Blitz at first hand as he works for the fire service as a bicycle messenger.

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Book SynopsisLie Kill Walk Away is the latest teen thriller from Matt Dickinson, author of The Everest Files and Mortal Chaos.LieI check the Range Rover dash. The keys are in there.The sirens are closing in. There’s a police helicopter coming over the hospital.KillI have to decide. Decide right now. I can keep out of trouble. Not get involved. Just run away through the park and go home and pretend none of this has happened.Or I can help Becca.Walk AwayI stare into her eyes. Those deep blue eyes. Just for a split second.I tell her, ‘get in the car’.Joe and Becca uncover a deadly secret. A lethal bioweapon is about to be unleashed. Millions will suffer a terrible death.Now they are being hunted down.And their problems have only just begun …Trade Review'Lie Kill Walk Away is an exciting, adventurous and captivating tale.'- Liz Robinson, Love Reading 4 Kids 'The story moves on at such a pace it is hard to put down.'– Children's Books Sunderland 'This is a thrilling, fast-paced read! The story is told from alternating viewpoints in very short, sharp chapters which keeps the action going. The tension mounts as the story hurtles towards its exciting conclusion.'– The Reading Zone

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Book SynopsisEnemies on all sides.Nathan doesn’t know who he can trust.It’s a race against time.Get Dad out of prison.Mend a broken family.And solve the mystery of the messenger bird.Set around the top-secret Second World War codebreaking site Bletchley Park, The Messenger Bird is the gripping children’s thriller from Ruth Eastham, award-winning author of The Memory Cage.Trade Review`Absolutely fascinating … completely thought provoking.’ (Books for Teens); `Pacy and engaging.’ (Book Trust); `Page-turning quality.’ (LoveReading4Kids).

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Book SynopsisWhen a playground scrap becomes a fight to the death, and an ancient curse is awakened, Jack, Skuli and Emma must uncover the arrowhead’s secrets – before a terrible evil is unleashed.Award-winning children’s author Ruth Eastham weaves twists, turns and adventures into the rollercoaster ride that is Arrowhead: aspects of Norse mythology, the importance of friendship and teamwork, race-against-the-clock tension, and terror as the world as you know it is turned upside down. Follow the three friends on their mission to save the world from an evil curse, as you are drawn into an emotional and thrilling journey – one not to be missed.Trade Review`Absolutely breathtaking - a dazzling and very scary novel.' (Kevin Crossley-Holland, Carnegie Medal winner.); `Well-paced ... clever ... The stakes feel extremely high.' (The Bookbag.)

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Book SynopsisRita Wong lives an ordinary life in Morecambe. That's until she pursues a dragon called Lester Thyme into Neon City where the streets are dark with magic. Lester and Rita become detectives for hire. Their first case seems to be about stolen swords, but they soon discover there are much darker forces at work and that there is no one they can trust in a race against times to stop a master criminal from taking over Neon City. A breakneck detective story set in a landscape studded with danger. A fast, spine-chilling thriller that makes you laugh out loud!Trade Review'A brilliant cast of fantastical characters' GET KIDS INTO BOOKS 'Hold on to your seat, believe in the powerful magic of the storytelling, and you will be rewarded with a tale full of danger, mystery, subterfuge and lots of humour as this amazing story leads Wong and Thyme and the reader into a world that is enticingly scary and full of mind-bending surprises.' SCHOOL READING LIST 'This breakneck page turner combines classic crime thrillers with plenty of laughs, secretive magic and fantastical characters.' LOVEREADING4KIDS BOOK OF THE MONTH 'A classic crime thriller with a twist. Full of funny, fantastical characters and a dark edge, children will love trying to solve the mystery along with Jade and her dragon friend, Lester Thyme.' SCOPE FOR IMAGINATION

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Book SynopsisDavid Walliams meets Goosebumps! When Alistair joins the Corny Scaredy-Cat Paranormal Investigation Squad, his whole life changes. Can Alistair and Saoirse solve the problem of the sword wielding ghosts? And can he stop Saorise's brother Billy ( who is only interested in bums and anything to do with toilets) from creating complete chaos?Trade Review'A gripping ghost-and-gag-packed paranormal mystery underpinned by themes of friendship and overcoming fears' LoveReading4Kids 'David Walliams meets Goosebumps' The Bookseller 'A brilliant story that entertains, empowers… and makes you laugh! The Lancashire Post 'The perfect mix of creepy and funny to keep the readers turning pages long into the night' Kate Heap Scope for Imagination ''Brilliantly funny' AssetreadingAdvocate

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Book SynopsisA Girl. A War. Who to Trust? Even your friends may betray you. In war everyone becomes a new person and some seem to shed their old skin entirely. Paris 1942, when Amelie Dreyfus hides in her mother's cupboard, it's a game; when she comes out it's a matter of life and death.Trade Review'A powerful wartime adventure.' THE BOOKSELLER 'A gripping, utterly convincing wartime spy story' LOVEREADING4KIDS 'Hide and Seek brings to vivid life the courage of young people who risked all in the French resistance in the Second World War.Young Amelie Dreyfus is playing hide and seek when the soldiers come for her Jewish family. A much more dangerous game of cat-and-mouse ensues as she half-starves, makes common cause with resistance operatives and eventually outperforms a whole cadre of British spies with her cunning and courage. Who can you trust, Scott-Elliot asks.' THE OBSERVER 'An epic, inspiring coming-of-age novel, which thrills from the opening pages and doesn't lose its grip' CHRIS SOUL

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Book SynopsisTWO WORLDS. ONE VILLAIN AND A RACE AGAINST TIME. Nicodemus Maladain has entered our world from Balthasar, intent on revenge. Can Toby and Tamurlaine, about to be crowned Queen of Balthasar, defeat him? Time is running out and Malladain holds the upper hand in a land of shadows where no one can be trusted.Trade ReviewOBSERVER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 ' Richard Lambert has won many plaudits, his excellent latest The Republic of Dreams returns to the double world of Shadow Town. Over in Balthasar, young queen-to-be Tamurlaine discovers a plot against her life. In our world, her friend Toby must stop the villainous Malladain from recruiting more young Dreamers to that nefarious end.' OBSERVER A thrillingly beautiful fantasy, both epic and intimate, where dreams carry us between worlds, where tree- wolves and half-angels walk at our side, and where the fate of a kingdom hinges on the bonds of family and friends. Deft, delicate, ceaselessly imaginative. Jonathan Stroud

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Book SynopsisOtto acts as a go-between in a city divided by war where no one can be trusted and everything and everyone is for sale. A tense and action packed adventure.Trade Review'A tense adventure' Sunday Times Book of the Week 'Mesmerising, immersive, fascinating, transporting.' Hilary McKay, author of The Skylarks' War 'Alive with atmosphere, action, dynamic dialogue, a gripping sense of Otto's dilemmas and drive, Sweet Skies is 100% engaging, and illuminating with it.' LoveReading4Kids 'Brilliant tale of a boy in post-war Berlin who dreams of being a pilot but is fighting to survive in a battle-weary city.' Books from Scotland. 'Robin Scott-Elliot is a master historical storyteller, and his writing gets better and better. Sweet Skies is a nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat adventure. Just Imagine 'Outstanding' TLS

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Book SynopsisOn her first day in Grave's Pass, Raven McKay spotted a pooka horses chasing goblins in a vacant lot, three banshees on a bus, a zombie in ripped jeans staring in the window of a phone shop, a bogeyman walking a labradoodle, a ghost on a ladder cleaning windows, a ghoul sipping coffee at an outdoor cafe. This is Dead Town- this is Raven's new home. But will Raven find her parents who have mysteriously disappeared? And who in Dead Town Can she trust? All her parents have left her is a suit case with a black butterfly and a cryptic note.Trade Review'COMPELLING' Times Best Summer Reads 2023. 'Readers age eleven and up will be enchanted' Literary Review. 'Delicious dark and gorgeously Gothic' Kieran Larwood. ' Brilliant and magical' Zillah Bethell 'Prepare to be thrilled, spooked and enthralled.' IRISH EXAMINER ' Infused with a lyricism and humour that recalls Neil Gaiman's work for young readers. The immediacy of the action keeps the pages turning in this crackerjack fantasy adventure.' IRISH TIMES 'In this startlingly original gothic ghost story, debut children's author Eibhlis Carcione pairs thrills and chills with empathy and emotion with such poetic precision and bold simplicity that I devoured this book in one memorable sitting.' Bluebird Reviews An Irish Independent Book of the Month.

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Book SynopsisThe unnamed Uruguayan protagonist has accidentally booked the wrong ticket on a train journey between France and Spain and, finds himself in the Spanish border town of Irun with eight hours to kill. He meets a Spanish girl and her friend who befriend him, but we fear her intentions are not good. An unseen twist in the plot reveals our protagonist is not who he seems. Narrated in a disturbing second person present tense that constantly questions the reader and with a rhythm marked by suspense and inspired by the author's own experience of booking the wrong ticket on a train journey.Trade Review'Hauntingly mysterious right to the end' Johanna McCalmont World Kid Lit; 'Spectacularly written, Ivanier's prose flows beautifully' Sabastian Vargas;Ivanier describes with admirable freshness, that relationship between teenagers not very aware of their feelings' La Republica;‘A worldwide first Young Adult novel from Uruguay to ever be published in English. Ivanier’s hauntingly crafted novella with its clever twists and turns reveals a dark story which is hinted at from the beginning and again later on with an overt reference to the boy’s favourite classic novel. The lyrical text, excellently translated by Claire Storey, builds the atmosphere and increases tension chapter by chapter. This is not a novel for the faint-hearted with its rather macabre climax, however, it is more than just a book defined in the horror genre; there are so many complex emotions mixing everyday normality and the power of love with something much darker and sinister’ Outside in World

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Book SynopsisA new mystery has rolled onto Penfurzy island and the Rebel Bicycle Club are ready to investigate! Nessa, Demelza and Captain Honkers set-off to explore a travelling fun-fair when things begin to get strange. With new friends and a new legend to uncover, the bestfriends do what they do best: SAVE THE DAY FROM A FATE WORSE THAN HOMEWORK. A mysterious adventure with twists, turns and gross-out caravan invaders guaranteed to make you laugh!Trade Review"A compelling headlong dash" - THE GUARDIAN; "Rich with comedy" - THE IRISH TIMES; "Wild, anarchic and playful" - SIMON SMITH; "The fantasy world we have been waiting for" - EOIN COLFER; "A story that is full of heart, as well as a huge amount of fun" - THE WEEK; "Mysterious and unputdownable" - THE RICK O'SHEA BOOK CLUB;

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Book Synopsis A deliciously spooky novel packed with illustrations - Stranger Things for younger readers! 'Wildly imaginative and totally terrifying' JEFF KINNEY, AUTHOR OF DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 'A haunted-house version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' BRIAN SELZNICK, AUTHOR OF THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET 'Overgrown with fantastic ideas' THE NEW YORK TIMES Nothing seems out of place in the town of Cowslip Grove. But kids have been going missing – excpet no one even realizes it, because no one remembers them. Not their friends. Not their teachers. Not even their families. But Levi and Kat do remember, and only they can see why everyone is in danger when night descends. Can they find the disappeared before evil swallows the town whole? A spellbinding, original and lavishly illustrated horror story for middle-grade readers Half-written, half-graphic novel, and all spooky mystery! Two unlikely friends face down their worst fears in order to stop their small town – and themselves – from disappearing

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Book SynopsisWhen Pearl discovers a newspaper clipping showing a picture of her dad holding the baby he found abandoned outside a hospital, it sets off a chain of events of betrayal, obsession, murder. And it all started with a lie. Perfect for fans of Cynthia Murphy and Holly Jackson.

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Book SynopsisWhen three teenagers track down a missing chihuahua to an abandoned theme park, they discover a corpse strangled by his own camera strap and find themselves caught up in a murder investigation. But everyone has an alibi.

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Book SynopsisThe Fatal Oath is the third book in the Oath series. Each book stands alone with separate main themes. 1957. Blackleigh is an elite public school for boys in Yorkshire where prejudice and seething hatreds are never far below the surface. Violence erupts against any Junior who the Seniors deem unfit. Jonathan Simon is 16, in his third year, and is self-conscious about being Jewish and having a birthmark on his cheek. He knows that: 1) The school code of conduct mandates no snitching, 2) The student Prefects, not the faculty, have absolute power to discipline and 3) Mr. Paul Wood, the temporary Headmaster, is weak and ineffectual. Jonathan meets Bobby Stuart, an American transfer student, who is also worried about being accepted. Their friendship binds them together as they soon run afoul three ruthless and ambitious Seniors in the House; Gabriel, Murray and Hausman – also known by their fanatic followers as ‘The Black Armbands’. As the pressure mounts, ambitions grow, friendships become closer and scheming increases. As for Jonathan, the year is only beginning…

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Book Synopsis15-year-old Roza thinks she's leaving Albania for better things in the UK. As she arrives, she realises her father has sold her to get out of debt. Adelina and Jozif Braka now consider Roza their property. They work her hard, beat and starve her, and refuse to let her go out. But she must tell people they are her parents. She runs to the police, but the Brakas produce a forged birth certificate. She is dismissed as attention-seeking and returned to them for punishment. She doesn't think life can get much worse. However, when she tries to escape, she's sent to a holding house full of other enslaved girls. This appears to be the first British YA novel to explore child trafficking. It should appeal to fans of Miriam Halahmy, Anne Cassidy, and Laurie Halse Anderson. 'A riveting read, well researched and very informative about a little known subject... powerful, gritty and engrossing... will attract both teen and adult readers. Essential, compelling, deeply moving.' - Miriam HalahmyTrade Review'Compulsively readable, harrowing yet hopeful, this YA debut shines a fierce light into the shadows of child trafficking.' THE GUARDIAN; 'A riveting read, well researched and very informative about a little-known subject... powerful, gritty and engrossing... will attract both teen and adult readers. Essential, compelling, deeply moving.' - MIRIAM HALAHMY, author of Hidden; 'SOLD deals with important issues within an exciting story. I was gripped from the first page and travelled with Roza on every step of her horrifying journey.' - CHERITH BALDRY (writes as ERIN HUNTER, Warrior Cats series); 'SOLD is a gripping adventure story about a very important real-world problem, told with conviction and plenty of hard-hitting detail. Roza's story is entirely believable.' - JANE JOHNSON, author and publisher;

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Book SynopsisWhatever happens, no matter what, DO NOT step into Asco Express because you might just end up leaving with more than you bargained for... When eleven-year-old Wesley stops by at a mysterious local shop to buy a drink, he does not realise the trouble he is getting himself into. CURSED by the fiendish Pharaoh AKAHTEN IX, Wesley and his friends, Marishana and Aiden, must solve the evil spell quickly or be trapped for all ETERNITY! Cursed Tales is a brand-new series bringing ancient scares to life. Readers BEWARE - this story will leave you wrapped up and wanting your mummy!Trade Review‘A spine-tingling, magical adventure!’ - Professor Alice Roberts; anatomist and biological anthropologist, author and broadcaster.

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