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The Doomsday Club: Detention can wait. Saving the world comes first!
A monstrous portal opens, forcing Jack and Conan into mortal danger as they investigate.
Conan swallowed hard. The creature stood taller than the archway, a silhouette of darkness against the spiral of light behind it … And it looked directly at him.
Jack and Conan's friendship is officially dead. Stuck in detention with Yash and Jerry after an all-out brawl in the toilet, it’s a terrible start to sixth class. And that’s before they witness a monstrous beast step out of a portal outside their school. When it wanders into the crumbling mansion across the road, where the sinister Mr Kilroe lives, the boys follow. They have to investigate, right?
Unlocking Mr Kilroe’s secrets is only the beginning. Because there’s more than one otherworldly horror hiding in that house and confronting it will put Jack and Conan in mortal danger – that’s if they don’t kill each other first!
Conan swallowed hard. The creature stood taller than the archway, a silhouette of darkness against the spiral of light behind it … And it looked directly at him.
Jack and Conan's friendship is officially dead. Stuck in detention with Yash and Jerry after an all-out brawl in the toilet, it’s a terrible start to sixth class. And that’s before they witness a monstrous beast step out of a portal outside their school. When it wanders into the crumbling mansion across the road, where the sinister Mr Kilroe lives, the boys follow. They have to investigate, right?
Unlocking Mr Kilroe’s secrets is only the beginning. Because there’s more than one otherworldly horror hiding in that house and confronting it will put Jack and Conan in mortal danger – that’s if they don’t kill each other first!
- GenresFriendshipJuvenile
272 pages, Paperback
Published March 3, 2025
About the author
Kevin Moran
4 books3 followersKevin Moran is a best-selling children’s author and primary school teacher from Ireland. He was runner-up in the Staróg Prize for children’s
fiction in 2023. His debut novel, The Doomsday Club, won the Eilís Dillon Award at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2026. It was short-listed for the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year (Senior) 2025 and was runner-up in the Great Reads Award 2025. The Doomsday Club: Shape-Shifters was a best-selling World Book Day 2026 title.
When not writing, Kevin can often be found on the beach near his home in Dublin, being walked by his surprisingly strong golden retriever.
kevinmoranwrites.com
fiction in 2023. His debut novel, The Doomsday Club, won the Eilís Dillon Award at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2026. It was short-listed for the Irish Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year (Senior) 2025 and was runner-up in the Great Reads Award 2025. The Doomsday Club: Shape-Shifters was a best-selling World Book Day 2026 title.
When not writing, Kevin can often be found on the beach near his home in Dublin, being walked by his surprisingly strong golden retriever.
kevinmoranwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 27, 2025
Halloween began as the Celtic festival Samhain, a time when the veil between the living and the dead is said to be at its thinnest. As a lifelong lover of all things spooky, I've always found Halloween to be the time when the veil between the adult I've become and the child I once was is at its thinnest...and if that isn't magic, I don't know what is. The Doomsday Club by Kevin Moran is a book that, as a young Irish Halloween-head, I would have adored...and as a grown-up one, I loved just as much!
A ridiculously fun and spooky romp that takes place during Halloween in Dublin featuring four reluctant friends taking on an evil force straight out of Irish mythology. The action runs through some iconic Dublin locations (including Marsh’s Library where I was lucky enough to pick up my copy) and the Autumn vibes are strong - and cozy - throughout. Aimed at age 10+ but full of fun, feels, and frights for kids of all ages, The Doomsday Club is a perfect Halloween read that mixes Stranger Things and Hocus Pocus...with an Irish spin.
A ridiculously fun and spooky romp that takes place during Halloween in Dublin featuring four reluctant friends taking on an evil force straight out of Irish mythology. The action runs through some iconic Dublin locations (including Marsh’s Library where I was lucky enough to pick up my copy) and the Autumn vibes are strong - and cozy - throughout. Aimed at age 10+ but full of fun, feels, and frights for kids of all ages, The Doomsday Club is a perfect Halloween read that mixes Stranger Things and Hocus Pocus...with an Irish spin.
September 26, 2025
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
THE DOOMSDAY CLUB is a fun horror using creatures from Irish folklore.
This is perfect for fans of DREAD WOOD. It has four kids who aren't exactly friends stuck in a detention that leads to a horror scenario. There is plenty of humour and also heart as they learn to trust one another and become friends.
The heart of this book is Jack and Conan. They used to be friends but now are really not, and that's Jack's fault. He's drawn away and got involved with two tough boys, which means he's pretty mean to Conan and the others. Over the course of the book, he's forced to confront why he did this and realise who he would rather be hanging out with.
We also have monsters from Irish folklore to tackle. I liked how you thought initially one was the monster but then discover it's something else. It was a nice way of bringing two creatures into the tale but only having on villain for the book to focus on.
I really liked that Rucht speaks only Irish. It's a creature from Irish folklore - why would it speak English? It just makes so much sense and also allows from rather comedic moments as not all the boys speak Irish so are miming and trying to string together sentences from words they can barely remember.
I will certainly be reading the next instalment!
THE DOOMSDAY CLUB is a fun horror using creatures from Irish folklore.
This is perfect for fans of DREAD WOOD. It has four kids who aren't exactly friends stuck in a detention that leads to a horror scenario. There is plenty of humour and also heart as they learn to trust one another and become friends.
The heart of this book is Jack and Conan. They used to be friends but now are really not, and that's Jack's fault. He's drawn away and got involved with two tough boys, which means he's pretty mean to Conan and the others. Over the course of the book, he's forced to confront why he did this and realise who he would rather be hanging out with.
We also have monsters from Irish folklore to tackle. I liked how you thought initially one was the monster but then discover it's something else. It was a nice way of bringing two creatures into the tale but only having on villain for the book to focus on.
I really liked that Rucht speaks only Irish. It's a creature from Irish folklore - why would it speak English? It just makes so much sense and also allows from rather comedic moments as not all the boys speak Irish so are miming and trying to string together sentences from words they can barely remember.
I will certainly be reading the next instalment!
July 30, 2025
The Doomsday Club / Kevin Moran
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ Demon is a Greek word. It does not describe what I am. Spirit would be more accurate, if you're going to use foreign terms… ~
Well this was just a while out of fun.
4 unlikely friends, and I ise friends loosely, come together to take on supernatural deities? Yes please. The main story of this was really good to be fair, possession, fear, overcoming the odds? It had a lot for everyone. The big bad was formidable, and quite creepy at some points.
The subplot is where it grows though. It’s all about friendship, moving forward, especially the relationship with Jack and Conan. Two former besties, now wanting nothing to do with each other as they grow up. They are tested, and shows a particular period for boys growing up. It was done really well.
Finally, we should all have a Rucht in our lives. They were the best! Also Bernie? Not that I’m biased but I always enjoy a helpful librarian character who DGAFs 🤪
A great first outing, going to choose it for the children’s book club at work.
Picked up from the TBR Pile: Graiguenamanagh
Bought from: Easons, Clonmel - 30/03/25
Read: 29/07/25 - 30/07/25
Release Date: 03/03/25
ISBN: 9781788495264
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ Demon is a Greek word. It does not describe what I am. Spirit would be more accurate, if you're going to use foreign terms… ~
Well this was just a while out of fun.
4 unlikely friends, and I ise friends loosely, come together to take on supernatural deities? Yes please. The main story of this was really good to be fair, possession, fear, overcoming the odds? It had a lot for everyone. The big bad was formidable, and quite creepy at some points.
The subplot is where it grows though. It’s all about friendship, moving forward, especially the relationship with Jack and Conan. Two former besties, now wanting nothing to do with each other as they grow up. They are tested, and shows a particular period for boys growing up. It was done really well.
Finally, we should all have a Rucht in our lives. They were the best! Also Bernie? Not that I’m biased but I always enjoy a helpful librarian character who DGAFs 🤪
A great first outing, going to choose it for the children’s book club at work.
Picked up from the TBR Pile: Graiguenamanagh
Bought from: Easons, Clonmel - 30/03/25
Read: 29/07/25 - 30/07/25
Release Date: 03/03/25
ISBN: 9781788495264
July 16, 2025
A superb debut novel.
4 kids who aren't friends end up in detention, this detention brings them together as they spot out the window a portal and a monster.
Representation matters and here we have a goosebumpsesque story set in Dublin. It's so great to have place names in a book that children recognise. What I love is that there is a trusted adult who is brought into the story with them. Too often in books the adults are bystanders.
Another favourite aspect for me was how Kevin Moran weaved in the Irish language - so lovely to see Irish in a book.
I really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next book.
4 kids who aren't friends end up in detention, this detention brings them together as they spot out the window a portal and a monster.
Representation matters and here we have a goosebumpsesque story set in Dublin. It's so great to have place names in a book that children recognise. What I love is that there is a trusted adult who is brought into the story with them. Too often in books the adults are bystanders.
Another favourite aspect for me was how Kevin Moran weaved in the Irish language - so lovely to see Irish in a book.
I really enjoyed this and looking forward to the next book.
Read
February 7, 2025Disclaimer: I work for the publisher of this book (and yet my unbiased opinion stands!!)
This was such a treat of a book. Adventure, just a dash of horror, a splash of humour, a whole lot of folklore, and even more heart.
THE DOOMSDAY CLUB will be a wild ride for young and old readers alike, and will have you clutching the book unable to put it down at sometimes, giggling out loud at others, and also tugging at your heartstrings in just the right moments.
In my mind I have adopted all of these kids.
This was such a treat of a book. Adventure, just a dash of horror, a splash of humour, a whole lot of folklore, and even more heart.
THE DOOMSDAY CLUB will be a wild ride for young and old readers alike, and will have you clutching the book unable to put it down at sometimes, giggling out loud at others, and also tugging at your heartstrings in just the right moments.
In my mind I have adopted all of these kids.
May 30, 2025
This was so much fun! Full of action yet consistently funny. Loads of danger and a little bit of horror. I particularly liked the Dublin setting and the interweaving of Irish mythology.
My son is a tad above the recommended reading range, but I bet he'd enjoy it anyway since the boys' banter would be right up his street.
My son is a tad above the recommended reading range, but I bet he'd enjoy it anyway since the boys' banter would be right up his street.
March 3, 2026
Very entertaining especially with the accent on audio
March 25, 2025
Excellent supernatural adventure with four great main characters. Really enjoyed their dynamic and felt quite genuine.
Read
February 5, 2026It’s my book and I’ll rate it five stars if I want to
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews