Publication Date: 12 July 2018

Cover and interior illustrations by Tony Ross

It’s two weeks into the summer holidays, and Peter has called an emergency meeting of The Secret Seven. After returning from Scotland, he discovered an object in his bedroom – a skull with his name written inside! The gang quickly discover Jack’s little sister, Susie, was responsible for placing it in his room, but where did she get it from? As the Secret Seven investigate, they find that one mystery leads to another, and things get very dangerous indeed!

A charming new addition to the Secret Seven Stories (the first for 55 years), full of good old fashioned sleuthing, friendship and teamwork without a phone or games console in sight! Peter, Janet, Jack, Colin, George, Pam and Barbara are in fine hands with Pamela Butchart, who retains the original spirit of the stories, while her humour shines through in the children’s interactions. Plenty of giggles are interspersed between the investigating and the threat of being caught is never far away within the well placed plot.

For readers new to the series, the individual characters shine through; Peter is definitely in charge, Janet is the brains, Jack is still eating anything he can lay his hands on, and George needs to keep up! Pam and Barbara shine as the bubbly, outgoing sisters, and Colin, well he’s always there quietly in the background, as is Scamper who can still sniff anything out. And, Peter and Janet’s mum is still providing snacks to keep them going through their adventures.

My 8 year old self would definitely have found this worthy of the 5 mile cycle uphill to my local bookshop to spend 4 weeks pocket money on! Can’t wait to get my hands on a finished copy to share in school.

ebook proof courtesy of Hachette Children’s Group.