In a nutshell: Harry Potter meets Agatha Christie in magical new mystery series | Young Lucy Goodly is not happy when she’s forced into employment as ‘boot girl’ for the mysterious Lord Grave. She misses her parents and cat, and there’s definitely something strange about Grave Hall. But Lucy is used to strange, after all she first encountered Lord Grave over a game of poker in which she was dealing magic cards. Meanwhile across the country children are being kidnapped – could there be a link to Grave Hall, and could Lucy use its magic, talking statues and all, to find out what’s going on? Full of memorable characters – the cross-dressing cook is a particular delight – and with a storyline that grips from the first page this magical whodunit will entrance readers. ~Andrea Reece
An archly funny, classic mystery adventure with a magic twist!Lucy Goodly is the new boot girl at Grave Hall, working for the cold, aloof Lord Grave. The other staff - Vonk the Butler, Mrs Crawley the cook and Violet the scullery maid - all seem friendly but Lucy soon notices that strange things are afoot in her new home - and not just Mrs Crawley's experimental anchovy omelettes. There are moving statues, magical books and Lord Grave has a secret. Meanwhile, all over the country, children are vanishing. Could the mystery of the missing children be linked to the strange goings-on? Lucy is determined to find out....
Justine Windsor is a debut author but has been shortlisted and won various new writers awards including the Times/Chicken House children's writers prize and the youwriteone.com Children's Book of the Year. She lives and works in London.
