Danny Weston writes decidedly creepy thrillers, and this will certainly send shivers down the spine. The eponymous Mr Sparks is an ancient wooden ventriloquist’s dummy, who claims to be a real boy. He can certainly think and speak for himself, and his character is so cruel and ruthless that to some he seems to be an incarnation of the Devil himself. When twelve-year-old Owen finds himself in the position of puppet master he has no choice but to do what Mr Sparks tells him – but just maybe Owen’s honesty and compassion will keep him safe. Set just after the end of the First World War, this is a very chilling and effective supernatural adventure. ~ Andrea Reece
After his father goes missing in the Great War, Owen is abandoned to live with his cruel aunt, and wishes he could escape his life of drudgery in her small seaside guest house. There he meets a mysterious guest, who appears to make his ventriloquist's dummy speak, even in his sleep.
Soon Owen realises that the dummy, Mr Sparks, can really talk - and he's looking for a newer, younger puppet master. But Mr Sparks has a dark past...
Wonderfully twisty chiller that's sure to make you want to keep all of the lights on this Halloween Scotsman
Don't miss out on this one, totally creepy and completely brilliant Askews & Holts Library Service
Weston's writing is spookily enchanting Literary Loves Blog
Author
About Danny Weston
Danny Weston is the YA pen name for popular children and YA writer Philip Caveney. He was born in North Wales in 1951 and now lives in Edinburgh. His first novel, The Sins of Rachel Ellis was published in 1977 and he produced a series of adult thrillers over the following decades. His first novel for younger readers, Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools was released in 2007 and was published all around the world. Since then, he has concentrated on writing exclusively for younger readers.
Danny's debut novel The Piper won the Scottish Children’s Book Award in 2016 and in 2018, The Haunting of Jessop Rise was shortlisted for the Scottish Teenage Book prize and nominated for a Carnegie Medal.
