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Very pleased to be back with one of our favourite heroines this Halloween: Molly Thompson, the tenacious, curious and brave historian. I loved last year’s The Ghouls of Howlfair and this latest story is even better.
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Just the right amount of spooky to give you all the chills without inciting nightmares, this is a cracking, ghoulish adventure written in a witty, highly descriptive style, which makes it so easy for readers to jump right into Howlfair to experience the mystery by Molly’s side. It’s full of quirky, funny characters: I’m a big fan of Gabriel the cat, who’s as loyal and bold as his mistress, and also the arm-wrestling, energy-drink-swigging, fire-extinguisher-wielding Gran, who is a true legend for being kicked out of the local Neighbourhood Watch for recommending that they hunt criminals with spears (personally, I think she’s got a point…).
Layered between the scares and humour are themes of family, friendship, forgiveness and importantly, the extraordinary power of listening, which in our current, crazy world is particularly apt. I must also mention the atmospheric, creepy cover, which is a perfect match for the story. All in all – and to quote Lowry, one of Molly’s friends – the book is ‘the absolute vicar’s knickers’. Plus, I am absolutely stealing what has quickly become one of my favourite lines: ‘swift as a squandered Sunday’!
Molly Thompson and the Crypt of the Blue Moon
Author: Nick Tomlinson
Cover Art: Kim Geyer
Publisher: Walker Books
ISBN: 9781406386691
Paperback: 368 pages