The Mystery of Wickworth Manor

The Mystery of Wickworth Manor by Elen Caldecott
Paperback at £5.99

When Paige Owens, on first arriving for a week at Wickworth Manor with her friends, first meets a rather unhappy lonely boy, Curtis Okafor, she thinks him too posh and serious for her. However, soon the pair become friends and find themselves on the trail of a ghost, secret tunnels and hidden treasure.

If it sounds too Blytonesque, it has some fresh ideas on display. It deals with bullying and unusual friendships and racism in a subtle way and the writing makes all the characters come alive. It would be nice to think that  Paige and Curtis have more than one outing together. A good, funny adventure story with a generous helping of thoughtful realism.

Book News 44

Our latest Book News is now in the shop containing our thoughts on The Iron Will of Shoeshine Cats by Hesh Kestin, Gods of Gotham by Lindsaye Faye, Geekhood by Andy Robb and The Mystery of Wickworth Manor by Elen Caldecott.

There's news of our next book signing - a double with Christopher Jory's Lost in Flames and Derek J Taylor's A Horse in the Bathroom.

A first for us is the inclusion of a piece of poetry. Local poet, cartoonist and character, John Curtis, has a new book of poems out called On White Horse Hill which contains many insightful poems on the Cotswold Landscape. I confess to not being particularly enthusiastic about poetry but I really enjoy John's work.

If you'd like to meet John, he is often in the shop on Tuesday and Friday mornings at about 11am. We wonder if enough people would be interested in a poetry reading by John, perhaps one evening at a cafe in Moreton-in-Marsh? Please let us know.