When orphaned Laura Marlin moves from a children's home to live with her uncle in Cornwall, she longs for a life of excitement just like the characters in her favourite detective novels.
A real life adventure is on hand as she is deposited at her uncle's spooky house . . . Why does her uncle, Calvin Redfern, forbid her to go to Dead Man's Cove? What's the truth about Tariq, the silent Indian boy who lives with the flamboyant Mukthars? Who is J? Who has left the message in a bottle for Laura to discover? Mysteries abound and who better to solve them than Laura Marlin, ace detective?
Accompanied by her trusty companion, Skye, a three-legged husky, the dog she's always wanted, Laura's adventures begin in this first captivating mystery, winner of the 2011 Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.
Read by Kate O'Sullivan
(P)2004 Orion Publishing Group.Ltd
The fourth colourful and action-packed Victorian detective novel about the exploits of agent Mary Quinn.
Mary Quinn and James Easton have set up as private detectives and are also unofficially engaged to be married. But when the Agency asks Mary to take on a special final case, she can't resist, and agrees. Convicted fraudster Henry Thorold (from book one, A Spy in the House) is dying in prison. His daughter, Angelica, is coming to see him one last time. Mary's brief is to monitor these visits in case Mrs Thorold, last heard of as a fugitive in France, decides to pay him one last visit. But Mrs Thorold's return would place James in grave personal danger. Thanks to the complications of love and family loyalties, the stakes for everyone involved are higher than ever.
E.D. Baker pulls out all the stops in this brilliant version of a classic tale. It's a little known fact that Sleeping Beauty's younger sister, Annie, is the one who must save the day and rescue her from the evil curse. Annie is impervious to ALL magic - good and bad - and is the only one left awake when her sister pricks that finger. She sets off through the kingdom to find her sister's true love, the only person who can wake her and reverse the spell. Annie is joined by a handsome prince in disguise as she tackles Hansel and Gretel (and their witch), and many other fabulously familiar fairytale characters.
Full of Baker's trademark humour, plot twists, and with a funny and strong female lead, this will charm fans of The Frog Princess, and bring in many new ones.
Less-proficient readers will take a giant step towards confidence as they rush through these cliffhanging chapter books and discover with surprise that they have finished a full-size suspense novel.
Mysteries abound, especially in two castles...Elodie journeys to the town of Two Castles to become a mansioner-an actress-but the master of the troupe turns her away. The only one who will take Elodie in is Meenore, a dragon who happens to be a brilliant detective. To crack Meenore's newest case, Elodie goes undercover on a dangerous mission within an ogre's castle. There, disguised as a kitchen maid, Elodie plays the role of a lifetime, pitted against a foe intent on murder.
The fourth DragonChild adventure. Tia is determined to retrieve the DragonQueen's six stolen Jewels of Power from the High Witches. She has the emerald that lets her speak to animals, the opal that lets her change shape and the topaz that controls the weather. Now she goes after the magical sapphire that allows teleportation. But that means facing the terrifying High Witch Skadi and her strange land filled with statues that watch...and move...and attack. Can Tia and her DragonBrother Finn retrieve the fourth jewel?
Oakleaf Bearers is the fourth thrilling book in John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series – over eight million sold worldwide.
Evanlyn has been taken captive by a mysterious horseman. Will's attempts to rescue her lead him into the territory of a fearsome new enemy.
Now, he must unite with old rivals to vanquish this greater threat. But can the fragile truce survive the battle?
Perfect for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series and Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series.