Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate's Portolano by Victoria Williamson

I think this might be my favourite of Victoria's books so far. It's definitely the most fun with high speed chases on the ocean, hideaways in an old astronomy tower, giant food cooked by the quirkiest chef I've ever heard of and an extremely mischievous monkey.

This is a wonderfully intriguing world of huge city ships and pirate vessels, on a globe completely covered by the sea. Though it does make me wonder if this could be in our future!

Kitti spends her days getting into trouble with her monkey Caboodle and best friend (and stowaway) Scally. But all she really wants is her family back, which seems alternately impossible and just in reach. She is constantly trying to find out what happened to her sister, and her father who went in search.

There is a very satisfying ending, but it is definitely seems open for a sequel. I'm hoping it will be soon!

Book Summary

A daring mission, a sister turned pirate and a sea full of secrets…

In a world of water where land is a legend, 11-year-old Kittiwake Stormhaven dreams of adventure aboard the Amazon Princess. When a vital mission takes the ship into dangerous waters, Kittiwake discovers shocking news - her long-lost sister, Petrel, is now a feared pirate queen.

Kittiwake must outsmart pirates, outmanoeuvre storms and face ghostly captains to save her ship, her mischievous monkey Caboodle and her friends. But in a high-stakes showdown, family loyalty collides with survival, and Kittiwake learns the ocean hides more secrets than she ever imagined.

Kittiwake Stormhaven is a fast-paced, sea-swept adventure filled with daring rescues, thrilling discoveries and the magic of friendship.

Author Bio

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author from Glasgow, Scotland, who loved reading books and writing adventure stories from an early age. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK.

Her previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, War of the Wind, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, Norah’s Ark, The Whistlers in the Dark, Feast of Ashes, and Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs. Her books have won the RED Book Award 2024, YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023 and the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, and have been short-listed and long-listed for numerous other awards. War of the Wind and Norah’s Ark were also both nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medals.

Victoria writes and edits Key Stage 2 books for the education company Twinkl. She spends the rest of her time writing novels and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops. Her latest novel, Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate’s Portolano, channels her love of pirates and swashbuckling adventure to create a steampunk world set on the seven seas, and is illustrated by the very talented James Brown.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website

I made The Perfect Storm cocktail to go with this book. Fill a glass with ice, add 60ml of spiced rum and a squeeze of lime juice, then top up with ginger beer.

Check out my posts on some of Victoria's previous books:

Eerie Exhibits

Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs

Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams

War of the Wind

The Entrepreneur's Almanack by Robin Bennett

Robin Bennett doesn't fail to amuse. While there weren't as many laughs as in The Good Snooze Guide of Great Britain, he's still managed to turn even a business book into something humorous and light. This time he's telling the story of his success, via quite a few setbacks and leaps of faith.

I particularly liked all the vitally useful dates for businesses such as 6th Feb National Work Naked Day, 9th June Donald Duck Day and 5th December International Ninja Day. I also now have my new favourite word - dipsomaniac 🍸 

Book Summary

This third in a series of short yearbooks celebrates the underrated art of entrepreneurship and a key aspect of the same: namely, success in business has more to do with intangibles than we care to admit.

The guesswork and the gut, divine providence, even dumb luck are all players and should be welcomed round the table, not ignored at the fringes.

The Entrepreneur’s Almanack is the cosmic crutch you never knew you needed in business, but shouldn’t be without.

Author Bio 

When Robin grew up he thought he wanted to be a cavalry officer until everyone else realised that putting him in charge of a tank was a very bad idea. He then became an assistant gravedigger in London. After that he had a career frantically starting businesses (everything from dog-sitting to cigars, tuition to translation)… until finally settling down to write improbable stories to keep his children from killing each other on long car journeys. Robin writes business books for adults, too.

I found the perfect cocktail for this book, the Bennett Cocktail! Who knew the author had his own cocktail 😁 45ml gin, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup and 2 dashes of orange bitters. Just shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

 David Barker Author Interview

PAX and the Secret Swarm

Today I have a very special post. As part of the blog tour for the third book in the Pax trilogy, I have a Q&A with David Barker himself! Read on for a bit about the book, and David's fascinating answers. Also check out my posts on the previous 2 books of the series: 

PAX and the Missing Head

PAX and the Forgotten Pincher

Book Summary

As New London edges closer to war, Pax must decide what he is prepared to sacrifice to achieve the impossible – a united kingdom.

Pax and his friends head back to Scholastic Parliament for their third and final year, their focus shifting to their plans for the future. Meanwhile, the mayor’s renewed plans in his fight against the Countryside Alliance demand even greater sacrifices from the citizens of New London.

Stumbling upon secrets that could change the fate of New London forever, Pax finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that threatens him, his friends, and everyone in the city. Can he bear to risk everything he holds dear for the thing he’s always wanted?

A high-stakes sci-fi thriller set in a fractured, futuristic London.

Interview

Where did you get your original inspiration for the character of Pax?

I think I came up with the idea for an isolated London and British civil war back when the Brexit vote was recent news and when Trump was threatening to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Then followed the idea of turning the Houses of Parliament (one of my all-time favourite buildings!) into a school. And that’s when the image of a young boy sneaking around at night with a tiny robot companion sprang to mind. Pax.

Did you have the plot for the whole trilogy set out from the start or did your characters surprise you by doing something you weren't expecting?

I had a very firm grasp of the plot to book one from the off and I knew the broad outlines of the plot for the other two books in the series. But there have certainly been some surprises along the way – including the mayor’s daughter, Megan’s role in the books and many of the sub-plots such as the Graphene Hawks. I’m being a bit vague on purpose to avoid spoilers.

It seems the environment and sustainability is a strong theme, with the vertical farms etc. Are you hoping readers will come away with a sense of wanting to help avoid this kind of future coming true?

For sure there are elements of climate change hinted at throughout the books, and even more so in my Gaia trilogy of thrillers setting during a world war for water. Of course, the whole idea of recycling old bits of tech equipment is an important part of Pax’s back story. I find it hard to write stories set in the future without incorporating these elements in them. I hope it helps readers to think about these issues without getting in the way of the story. If it manages to persuade a few people to change their habits for the better, that would be marvellous.

Please tell us about your next book or books.

I’ve just signed a two-book deal with Tiny Tree for a couple of standalone adventures. The first is a sci-fi story, based loosely on a retelling of Oliver Twist, set in a city on the Moon. It has the same dystopian feel as Pax, but with a very different setting and a very different set of problems for the hero to overcome. There will be heists and jet-pack races! The second story is a fantasy set on a planet where one half is permanently in daylight and the other is night. A young girl has to flee into darkness when her village is attacked. Guided by a strange glowing boy she has to find a mythical artefact that holds the key to rescuing her family. Think Noughts and Crosses with dragons.

And finally, what is your favourite cocktail?

I don’t drink cocktails often (sorry!) but one we’ve enjoyed recently is a Limoncello Spritz: 2 parts Limoncello, 3 parts Prosecco, 1 part soda water poured over ice. Delicious!

That Limoncello Spritz does sound delicious. And I love that Megan's character took on a life of it's own! My thanks for David for his great answers and I'm sure we're all looking forward to reading his new books when they are released. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

Gargoyles series by Tamsin Mori

I devoured these two books back to back. I loved the first and was very happy to have the second ready and waiting! Callen's journey is no easy one and he faces many set backs in his attempts to be a guardian, but he's so determined to prove himself. I loved the friendships he built up with the other kids and was intrigued by all the secrets his father had kept from him. 

Read on for a bit more about the books, plus a Gargoyle cocktail.

Guardians of the Source

A crumbling mansion 

A magical source 

A living gargoyle 

Callen's Dad has always been secretive of his past but when the family have to move into his childhood home, the last thing Callen expects is a boarded-up mansion covered in gargoyles. It's enormous, the doors are nailed shut, the gardens are overgrown... and long-forgotten magic is returning. When a disgruntled gargoyle wakes up in his presence, Callen must befriend Zariel and earn her trust before it's too late. A dark threat is growing in the shadows and only a Gargoyle Guardian can stop it. 

"Magic is neither good, nor bad - it simply multiplies the dreams you feed it. Be careful what you wish for..."

The Watcher

An inexperienced Guardian. A missing kelpie. A growing threat. Callen may have befriended a gargoyle, but he's yet to complete his training. When Oculus discover that Callen has been made a Guardian, they send a Watcher to assess his skills. Callen knows that if he fails, he risks losing both his gargoyle and his new home. But satisfying the Watcher is the least of his worries. With ghasts on the prowl, a missing kelpie to find, and blighted magic spreading beyond Gargoyles Rest, Callen's friendships, his courage, and his ingenuity will all be put to the test.

The Gargoyle No2 cocktail is an appropriate choice (though I have no idea what happened to the No1 version-maybe the watcher didn't approve!) Scrape the fruit of a passionfruit into a shaker and add 30ml gin and 30ml vodka. Add a dash of sugar syrup and ice. Shake and strain into a glass.

Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett & Ziggy Hanaor

Book Summary

Sometimes everything feels heavy and uncomfortable. My body, my family, my life… And the only thing that releases that weight is music…

Nel is 15 years old and life is a grind. GCSEs are exhausting, social pressures are relentless and parents and teachers are oblivious. Somehow Ludo, Nel’s handsome twin brother, seems untouched by it all, gliding effortlessly through life’s complications with a confidence and arrogance that only illuminates Nel’s insecurities. Her best friend, Kit and her playlist are pretty much the only things she’s got going for her right now.

When Ludo joins a band and Kit starts going out with the guitarist, it feels like even the tiny space Nel has carved out for herself is in peril.

But nothing is forever, and teenage life can turn on a dime. When Nel finds herself taking Ludo’s place in the band, she has to work out whether life outside the shadows is all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes you need to follow the music to find your way back to yourself.

At the start, I found it quite heartbreaking to see how Nelly's family and the other schoolkids treat her. Thank goodness for the kindred spirit in her aunt, it was great to see their relationship giving her a bit of a lifeline.

I couldn't really see why they all gave her so much of a hard time just because she tried to do something with her life and though it was ultimately positive and hopeful, Nelly let her brother off far too easily!

I liked the simple style of the illustrations, with just a couple of colours so it wasn't too extreme. The characters expressions were spot on, particularly Nelly's frustration!

I found this adaptation of an Aperol Spritz and liked it even more than the original. To make an Aperol Spritz Amplified, take a large wine glass and fill with ice. Add 2 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part blood orange soda. Personally I prefer slightly lower portion of Aperol so you can try with 1.5 parts and add a little extra prosecco.

Undercover Angel: Crash Landing by Lisa J. Allen

Phoebe is a great protagonist 💖💖💖 she's so funny though she has no idea! She's at the top of her class and so sure that her assignment will be a breeze but it's not as easy as she thought. Training isn't quite the same as real life and even with all the clues sent her way, she's still pretty oblivious to everything going on around her. Chloe is just adorable (whatever she is) and determined to be Phoebe's best friend. This book was fast-paced and lots of fun. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.

Book Summary

Trainee angel Phoebe Speedwell is determined to ace her first top-secret mission. But searching for a demon in a class full of annoying (and smelly) humans proves more challenging than she expected. When people start disappearing and she’s no closer to succeeding, Phoebe faces total failure.

With only her eccentric, cat-loving aunty and an emotional BFF for backup, Phoebe has to navigate the challenges of tween life, protect her secret identity, and ask herself – should she complete her assignment or will she make the ultimate sacrifice to save a friend?

Apologies to most people who might not have access to this lovely Greek liqueur.  But I'm writing this in Greece and had to try creating something with Mastiha. I call it a Greek Angel. Cut 4 wedges of lemon and muddle in a glass with a bunch of basil. Add 40ml Mastiha, give it a stir then fill the glass with ice. Top with tonic water.

The Invisibles by Susie Bower

Grace has no idea who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that she was found at the steps of the Skycorp building with no memory, and take to Mr smith's house where he just calls her 'Help'. Her two invisible friends do seem to know something but they are not telling! 

Similar to Grace, as the reader we are dropped into the story without knowing what is going on. I like how as the story progresses we discover what has happened just as Grace does. And what a magical world she is from, nothing like the Wasteland we find her in. The children all have different magical talents and no one ever has to grow up. I must admit I really like that idea! This is quite a fast-paced adventure which keeps you gripped, wanting to find out how it will all be resolved.

Book Summary

A magical kingdom. Four friends. One terrible mistake...

In the Land of Magic, four friends live a life filled with wonder. But there's one rule they must not never set foot on the Island of Darkness. So, when one child does the unthinkable, they must all pay a terrible price - exile to Wasteland, the bleak world where only grown-ups live.

For Grace, this fate is particularly cruel. She wakes up with no memory of her magical home, or how she ended up here - and the only clue to her past is guarded by two hostile and mysteriously invisible children.

As Grace uncovers the Invisibles' secrets, she must work out a way to return home, before Wasteland traps her forever...

I've made an Invisible Man cocktail to go with the book. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 60ml gin, 15ml brandy, 15m triple sec and a dash of orange juice. Give it a good stir then top with ginger ale.

Mix & Match 17

This cocktail sounded delicious and I had a craving for amaretto so it was obviously meant to be. To make a Bella Donna Daiquiri, add the following to a shaker with ice, shake well and pour into a coupe glass. 45ml dark rum, 45ml amaretto, 15ml lemon juice and 5ml sugar syrup.

Once you have your drink ready (and maybe a snack?) you can choose whichever book takes your fancy.

The Last Life of Lori Mills by Max Boucherat

Lori is finally allowed to stay home on her own while her mum goes to work and she is NOT planning to stick to the rules. A whole evening of Voxminer, her favourite game. But is it just a game?

This was soooo creepy! I wanted to run around locking all the doors and hide under the bedcovers. The most gripping book I've read in ages. So much so, that I somehow didn't realise that (spoiler alert) the chapters were counting down instead of up! I also almost missed my stop on the train.

I loved the different formatting of the pages and the fonts which really added to the feeling of getting lost in the game, it felt almost like being there myself.

School of Doom by Sarah Harrison

Eddie is not like the other children at school, not quite human? After one too many incidents, she is sent to 'Be The Worst' at the School of Doom.

I really enjoyed reading this. The characters were wonderful and warm and there was so much humour. Lots of hilarious antics and adventures. I would love to be able to eat as much as Eddie does, though I would draw the line at her nervous habit of eating her coat buttons or whatever else was to hand!

I'm really hoping this will be the start of a series as I want to read lots more about Eddie and her monstrous friends.

Tosh's Island by Linda Sargent, Joe Brady, Leo Marcell

Tosh's life seems to be pretty perfect from the outside, but she tries to hide just how much pain she is in. She doesn't want it to stop her having fun with her friends. Though it's sad to see her best friend branching out with others and she feels left behind. No wonder she leans more and more on her imagination.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel gave me Anne of Green Gables vibes, though if I'm honest I can't remember if I ever actually read that! It was such a wonderful story, Tosh just so lovely and pure. I was in tears multiple times through the story, sad, angry, happy... ALL the emotions.

Ettie and the Midnight Pool by Julia Green

Ettie has spent the last few years running around the forest and swimming in the lake near her grandmother's secluded house. But lately she's feeling restless, and despite the amount of freedom, she feels suffocated by her grandma.

Cora comes along and urges her to take more risks, though she's so mysterious and secretive, you don't know whether or not she's trustworthy. It even feels quite supernatural.

I really enjoyed the descriptions of the places, animals and plants throughout the book. However I would have liked a little more of a finished conclusion about Cora. I'm left with questions!

Wendington Jones and The Lost Legacy by Daniel Dockery

Wendington is finding life a bit boring after her travels to find the Tree of Life and can't stop hoping for another adventure. A allegedly dead Russian monk appearing in her garden piques her interest immediately, despite Rohan's warnings to leave things alone.

I felt the tone of this book was quite different to the first. It was a lot more adult and had more violence. I guess Wendington has grown up a lot after the events of the first book! It was also less polished so I didn't find it as easy to read which is a shame as I enjoyed the first book so much.

Corey Crumbly and the Lost Amulet by Donn Swaby

I'm going to sound like an old grandma now but Corey is such a lovely boy! He's so sweet and self-deprecating, I love how much he cares about his mum and his best friend. I also love the family dynamics at the start of the book, it reminded me a bit of visiting family abroad when I was little.

I found it really interesting to read about the Taino culture, which I knew nothing about before reading this book. Following Corey as he discovered things was a good way to learn more.

This is quite a fast paced book and I found myself racing through it, eager to find out what would happen at every stage. It really was an Indiana Jones style adventure, complete with hidden underground caves and supernatural elements.

Book Summary

All Corey Crumbly wants is to win the annual Classic Arcade Game Tournament in memory of his dad. However, during a family reunion on the island of Jamaica, he discovers a mysterious amulet off the coast’s coral reef and his mostly uneventful life is turned upside down.

Returning home to Queens, New York, Corey soon learns that his ancient artefact shields him from all physical harm – a power that comes in handy when dealing with school bullies. But there’s a flip side: the amulet is haunted… and in more ways than one.

Corey must not only outsmart a criminal mastermind bent on using the amulet’s power for his own selfish ends, but also battle an ancient supernatural force aided by the resurgence of a sinister cult… all while confronting unresolved guilt surrounding his father’s untimely death.

Corey Crumbly and the Lost Amulet is a gripping adventure tale about heritage, courage and the healing power of letting go.

I have created the Apple Crumbly cocktail, especially for this book. In a tall glass pour 40ml gold or dark rum and add 10ml gingerbread syrup. Give it a little stir to combine, then fill the glass with ice and top up with apple juice. Dessert in a glass!

Book Tag: I’ll Get Around To It Later

In the true spirit of the tag, as soon as I started it, I realised I had another to do first so this has taken me a bit longer than planned!

I was tagged by Sifa Elizabeth Reads, click here to read her post. The tag was originally created by Quote, Unquote and the graphic came from their post.

I'm tagging The Artsy Reader and Quirinus 

A classic book that you have been meaning to read forever but haven’t yet

I'm not 100% sure but I don't think I ever read Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I have this lovely copy with both books so I really should get to it soon.

A book on your shelf that you haven’t read yet

Where do I start??? Here's a picture of my shelf which is already 2 deep so you're only seeing half of the books. Plus I have a few in piles around the house which don't even fit on the shelf.

A book that you got recently that you haven’t read

Peregrine Quinn and the Mask of Chaos by Ash Bond, this is book two and I really enjoyed the first one. I am planning to read this one soon but my plans don't necessarily work out, as we can see!

A book that you’ve had forever but haven’t read

The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind by Jackson Ford

I bought this for my sister years ago and she really enjoyed it so I borrowed it back but still never got round to it!

A book a friend recommended that you haven’t read

There are sure to have been many over the years as my own TBR is so overflowing that recommendations usually fall on the wayside, but Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes is a recent one which does sound intriguing...

A book you’re procrastinating on

I love all Laura Wood's books, including The Agency for Scandal so I really don't know why I haven't read A Season for Scandal yet! It's always on my 'soon' pile and I bought it as soon as it was released so I have no excuse. I guess I just haven't been in the mood or other books have been more urgent. But I WILL read it soon... 

The next book on your TBR

I'm currently in the middle of a few different books but I plan to start Wendington Jones and The Lost Legacy by Daniel Dockery next. This is the second book in a series and I loved the first so I'm really looking forward to it.

Eerie Exhibits: Five Macabre Museum Tales by Victoria Williamson

I have to say, the book title is extremely apt. I'll certainly be looking at museum exhibits a little differently from now on! 

A boy is haunted by the screaming butterflies from his childhood. A little girl just wants her father's attention, but what will she find in the Egyptian section of the museum? A museum guard can't get the new painting out of his mind. A bear out for revenge. A shell whispers dark ideas.

My favourite was the second story. Poor Amy just wanted some cake on her birthday and she's had to be so much more mature than her 7 years. Who can blame her for getting distracted by the spooky sarcophagus? I liked how the story ended too, slightly mysterious but still very satisfying.

Have you ever had a spooky experience in a museum? Let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear about them.

Book Summary

Five unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

A room full of screaming butterflies.

An unsettling smile on the face of a carved sarcophagus.

A painting that draws its viewer into the disturbing past.

A stuffed bear that growls in the dead of night.

And a shell that whispers more sinister sounds than the sigh of the sea…

Dare you cross the threshold of the old Museum and view its eerie exhibits?

Author Bio

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author from Glasgow, Scotland, who has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary school science teacher in Cameroon, a teacher trainer in Malawi, and an

additional support needs teacher in the UK. Her many visits to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and

Museum from a young age inspired this set of short stories for adults based on the real and imaginary exhibits that captured her interest over the years, and led to her current studies of history and archaeology.

Victoria works part time writing books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels for children and adults, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops. When not writing or talking about books, she’s often to be found up to her knees in mud on an archaeological dig or tangled up in a ball of wool playing with a crochet hook.

I've chosen a Cairo Cocktail to go with my favourite of the stories. Shake the following with ice - 40ml vodka, 20ml blue curacao, 20ml almond syrup, 20ml lemon juice. Pour into a tall glass with ice and top with orange juice. I'll admit I was a bit dubious about the colour when I saw it was mixing blue curacao with orange juice but if you pour the juice slowly you can get a lovely marbled effect.

 

Mystery Solving Heroines

Today's post highlights three very different heroines, but they are all wonderful in their own ways.

I've made a Teaquila in honour of Vera's tea shop and the sheer amount of tea people in the old English times drank. 60ml cold black tea, 30ml tequila, 15ml honey vodka, 15ml sugar syrup, 15ml lemon juice, 2 dashes orange bitters. Shake and strain into a glass mug.

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Sutanto

 

I'll start with Vera because she has to be my favourite mystery-solving heroine. She's so funny, I really love her. I definitely want to be more like Vera, she doesn't let anything faze her!

I have been wanting to try this series for a while and though it probably would have helped to know who some of the characters are, it's not necessary to have read the previous book. I have now bought book 1 though and I'm really looking forward to it.

One of the best things was the friendship between Vera and her neighbour Winifred. I love their sniping which just shows how much they really care about each other. There was so much humour on every page, as well as empathy and emotion. One of very few 5 star reads so far this year!

Book Summary

Vera Wong is perfectly content as a teashop owner. She is definitely not seeking opportunities for amateur sleuthing. But what else is she to do when a distressed woman called Millie asks for her help?

Okay, perhaps Vera wheedled the story out of her. And maybe the case file for Millie’s missing friend Thomas didn’t exactly fall into her lap. Everyone knows a locked briefcase is just asking to be opened by someone handy with a hairpin.

Not even the aroma of chrysanthemum tea can stop Vera from catching the scent of this mystery. However dangerous it is, Vera intends to uncover the truth in the only way that this Chinese mother knows how: by spilling the tea.

Miss Caroline Bingley, Private Investigator by Kelly Gardiner and Sharmini Kumar

 

It took me a little longer to warm to Caroline but as I got to know her and she learned more about her own prejudices I liked her more and more. Its quite interesting to see her grow and realise how little she has actually seen of how other people live. She also has some humour, though it is a lot more straight-laced, but I love her verbal sparring with the gentlemen who clearly have no idea who they are dealing with!

I haven't read Pride and Prejudice so while I know of the main characters I'm not really familiar with anyone else. I don't think this really matters to the story but fans of Pride and Prejudice will enjoy meeting some old friends.

Book Summary

A missing maid. A murder most foul. A highly imprudent adventure.

Two years after the events of Pride and Prejudice, Miss Caroline Bingley is staying at her brother's country estate within an easy ride of Mr and Mrs Darcy's home, Pemberley, and wondering if there's more to life than playing cribbage and paying calls on country neighbours.

So when Georgiana Darcy's maid, Jayani, vanishes – and worse, Georgiana disappears in search of her – Caroline races to London to find them both, and quickly discovers a shocking, cold-blooded murder.

Soon Caroline and Georgiana are careering through the gritty, grimy underbelly of London assisted by Caroline's trusty manservant, Gordon, and demanding answers of shady characters, police magistrates and mysterious East India Company-men to discover the killer. Along the way they uncover the cost of Empire on India and its people… and Miss Bingley's incomparable powers of investigation.

As Caroline puts her superior new talents to work, she finds out exactly what an accomplished, independent woman with a sharp mind and a large fortune can achieve – even when pitted against secrets, scandal, and a murderer with no mercy.

A Game Most Foul by Alison Gervais

 

Jules is attending her dream summer writing seminar, but she finds being new to London is difficult and trying to hide her hearing loss doesn't help either. I liked how determined she was to investigate when one of her new classmates goes missing and she's also not going to let any other mystery go unsolved either!

Her friendship dynamic with Suruthi and Percy (who are about as different as two people can be) is lots of fun to read and Dreams of Antiquity, her great-aunt's antique shop, is wonderful as one of the main settings.

Of course, as a Sherlock  fan I was very eager to find out how he and Watson were going to be involved in the book, this was quite a selling point for me.

Book Summary

Attending the prestigious Ashford College’s writing seminar is a dream come true for Jules Montgomery, but the summer isn’t unfolding as she hoped. Navigating London with her gradual hearing loss is difficult, and hiding it from her classmates is a challenge. Even worse, she can’t seem to shake a case of writer’s block. When a fellow student goes missing, neither the police nor their teacher, Professor Watson, seem that concerned. Jules and her new friends Percy and Suruthi are determined to get to the bottom of the case and they’re not the strange man who frequents Jules’ aunt’s antique shop is eager to help—and his name is none other than Sherlock Holmes.

Now there are two mysteries to solve. What happened to their missing classmate? And how can it be that Watson and Holmes—two fictional characters from the Victorian era—are alive and well in the 21st century? The only way to find answers might lie in a quote from one of Watson’s old “You see, but you do not observe.” Jules may not be able to hear all that well, but without her hearing aids, she can certainly see more than the average person. And nothing about this is case is average.