Publication Date: 31 August 2023

The Blurb

Belle-on-Sea is getting ready for the Night of the Hungry Ghosts, the spookiest time of the year. Mr Vanderpuff’s bake will be the centrepiece of the whole parade, but he needs a new creation and he’s totally stumped. To make matters worse, salty old seadog, Captain Lufty, and his Hat Rat, Barry, have warned that something is coming to Belle-on-Sea. Something terrible.

When a ghost train is seen rattling into town, and people start to go missing – first the librarian, then the Mayor – Bridget and Tom begin tracking the train’s tracks, delighted to be in the thick of another mystery.
Then the unthinkable happens: the ghost train takes Mr Vanderpuff! Someone – or something – is out to destroy Belle-on-Sea. But they’ve forgotten one important detail. This is Bridget’s town.

Bridget must save the missing people from their perilous prisons, rescue the parade, and come up with an idea for Mr Vanderpuff’s Hungry Ghosts bake, before it’s too late.

The Review

Before you read on, have you read Bridget Vanderpuff And The Baked Escape? No? Well, you could read this as a stand alone, but reading the first book first will help you understand all of the ingredients that make this book so moreishly good!

Once again, Martin merges mystery with a dash of adventure and a pinch of paranormal to create a story that will have you craving more.

This time, we all get to spend far longer with Tom, who was so cruelly ripped from Bridget’s world in book one. Both children are settling into their new lives and families, and neither are willing to let anything put that at risk. We see once again the love the children have for each other – the friends that become family – and how well they use their skills to look out for each other.

I loved getting to know more members of Belle-On-Sea’s community and their insistence on their two-weekly festivals to bring everyone together. The child in me would have loved to explore Bomberton Hall, while adult me would be more than happy to provide holiday cover for Miss Paige at the library!

With its eclectic characters and enchanting setting, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking an enthralling escape into a world where dastardly deeds are derailed by everyday courage in a testament to the power of community, resourcefulness, and determination to protect the people and places we call home.

As someone who loves a sweet treat, the recipe from Masterchef: The Professionals winner, Gary Maclean, at the end is a must, and I loved the chance to read an excerpt from Bridget’s favourite mystery stories – Leopold Stirling.

And finally, brilliantly, there is more to come in Bridget Vanderpuff And The Great Airship Robbery! Yes!

Great for fans of:

• The Orphans Of St Halibuts by Sophie Wills and David Tazzyman
• The Magician’s Daughter by Caryl Lewis

Huge thanks to Zepher Books for sending me a copy, and to Courtney for inviting me to take part in the blog tour. Do make sure you check out all of the other stops.