The Riddle of Trefflepugga Path

Matlock the Hare #1

by Phil Lovesey, Jacqui Lovesey (Illustrations)

'The path, Mr Hare, is alive. It controls your destiny. The only way to beat it is to solve the peffa-ancient riddle of Treffelpugga Path...' When Matlock the Hare's beloved home of Winchett Dale is threatened by the arrival of a mysterious stranger, the only way he can save the dale is by taking a perilous and twizzly journey along Trefflepugga Path - a journey that will test all his majickal abilities to the very limits. Join Matlock and a fregle of saztaculous majickal creatures, as he sets out along Trefflepugga Path in an adventure that will change his destiny forever, from the very first pid-pad he takes. And then perhaps, griffle yourself the question: just where would Trefflepugga Path take you...?

396 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2014

About the author

Award Winning short-story writer, author of four crime novels for HarperCollins - chronicler of the saztaculous and sometimes peffa-twizzly adventures of Matlock the Hare...

Reviews

[Tom Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rare and wonderful book. It was clearly a labour of love for the author and illustrator. It shows on every page. The story is enchanting, and exciting with many unexpected plot twists (not unlike a certain path, come to think of it) The world building is lush, and the cosmology is wonderfully complex. This is a book aimed at younger readers, (and i hope *many* young readers encounter it!) but I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.There are some keen insights and observations on the state of the world here too. The illustrations are a seamless part of the tale, and they are absolutely wonderful. If this does not become a classic, I shall be very surprised. It most certainly should. I will be getting the next in the series, and anything else these two come up with!

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book from the language to the characters and on to the whimsical nostalgia it evokes. If Matlock and his journey were ever made into an animated film, they'd have to resurrect Rankin/Bass to get it right. Definitely worth the read, and definitely something to add to a young reader's list.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply wonderful magical book. Full of amazing imaginative characters and a superb storyline that leave me totally engaged from start to finish. The writing is excellent and the illustrations are just beautiful. Deserves to become a classic.

[Jess Pagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in LOVE with this world and its characters! I have been lost in the magical Winchett Dale and Trefflepugga path, and didn't want to leave. Along with a thrilling splendid story, this book has wonderful illustrations and its own language, which I was worried about at the start but you don't get lost at any part. It is clever and a book you will open to escape to another world, not wanting to leave it.

[Nimue Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite reads in a long time. Beautiful, imaginative, playful, surprising, with powerful ideas and strong characters -pretty much everything I could want in a novel.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun magical world. As someone had pointed out in a review I read, the language is silly and meant to be--embrace that inner child of yours and enjoy!

I was surprised how dark parts of this book got, given the ridiculousness of so much of the world. The humor was great and had me "chickling". I adored the creatures.

The reason it did not get 5 stars is, when a conversation happened it could drag on far too long. I had to put the book down many times and not do a straight read through because it could be so slow-going at times (And I'm a LOTR's fan. Tolkien was not about fast-paced prose).

I liked it enough I wish to try the next book. I've seen mixed reviews for book 3, which worries me a bit.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this book. The made-up words are perfect.