Max Helsing and the Beast of Bone Creek: Book 2: by the author of Wolf King

Max Helsing: Monster Hunter #2

by Curtis Jobling

Percy Jackson meets Dracula in this action-packed monster hunting series! With the perfect combination of humour and heroism, Max Helsing will keep readers aged nine and up on the edge of their seats.

Max Helsing's camping trip to Bone Creek was never going to be a quiet holiday, but even he is caught by surprise at how quickly things get out of control.

Trouble starts brewing when a slew of mysterious murders have Bigfoot hunters lining up, guns at the ready. What's more, Max's nemesis, Abel Archer, is in town and itching to be the one to take the beast down.

But the appearance of dire wolves and vampires complicate matters - who is really responsible for the murders? With the help of his friends, it's up to Max to find the culprit before the wrong suspect ends up as a trophy on a monster hunter's wall!

Genres: Middle Grade, Horror, Fantasy

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2017

About the author

Curtis Jobling is an author and illustrator based in the UK. Working in publishing and animation he is possibly most (in)famously known as the designer of the BAFTA winning "Bob The Builder", as well as creator of CBeebies "Raa Raa the Noisy Lion" and CBBC's "Frankenstein’s Cat". Early work in animation included model and puppet painting on Wallace & Gromit’s "A Close Shave" and Tim Burton’s "Mars Attacks!" He’s also the creator/director/producer of Nickelodeon’s "Curious Cow" interstitials, a series of animated shorts featuring the varied and hilarious deaths of a bewildered bovine.

As a published author and illustrator of children’s books, Curtis’s works include Dinosaurs After Dark (with Jonathan Emmett), Skeleton in the Closet (with Alice Schertle), My Daddy, Cheeky Monkey and perhaps his most notorious character Frankenstein’s Cat, now an animated series in its own right commissioned by the BBC and sold to broadcasters worldwide.

The Wereworld series of novels were first published by Penguin in the UK in January 2011, with "Rise of the Wolf", the first in the fantasy horror, shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize. Penguin/Viking first published the debut novel in September 2011.

Reviews

[Niya]

I really loved this book. I mean I have read the other ones but this one is good. I love how max kept the family job open. Max was trying stay out of trouble so when his class go on a camping trip max was happy about it because he wanted to leave the stress behind them when he got there, he found out about the beast of bone creek I just loved how that come out like max though he was going to have a great camping trip then boom there is a monster at that point all max wanted was a good camping trip he just wanted to have fun with his friends and take a break but the beast of bone creek had to come but the way Syd helped max find it shows she a friend that he can trust and that’s always going to be there for him. max been hunting ever since he was a young boy so you can tell he need a break from all the blood and monsters that he killed so when that men told them to go back home plus all the people going missing max and Syd knew they had to help I also love the way they made sure that they were both okay with all this going on this book is amazing and I love how the author used the narrative format and the way the author make the story was put in place like I really love this book I think this my top five book I read that I liked I'm going to read the other books because I want to learn more about the Helsing family and there history because this book is just so great and I love it like the way Syd and max was there for each other.

[Les McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book because the author lives close to us and felt I needed a taste of his style to be able to 'sell' him to the children I work with.
I'll be honest, paranormal, American teen, really not my thing. However, in my humble opinion it is written well and delivers on adventure and gore! Characters are developed enough so that you care/hate/empathise with them. The setting was beautifully and thoroughly described.
Just because it's not my chosen genre it doesn't mean that I don't appreciate how it delivers for its intended audience. I think those with a thirst for adventure, vampires, Sasquatch, faeries and of course monster hunters will doubtless enjoy this series.

[M.D. Khamil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, it's book talk time. NON-SPOILER REVIEW!
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MH: The Beast of Bone Creek By Curtis Jobling - ⭐️⭐️.5 (2.5/5 stars)
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I hated the first book so much. But the sequel shows a little bit improvements in terms of writing style. The story telling was very easy to follow and the twist caught me off guard but it was not good enough. I still think the story drags a lot. There was nothing much happen not until 80% the story ended. The rest of the story was just about him camping, whining, unnecessary flashback and blah blah blah. 😑😑😑
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Also I'm still not happy with the main protagonist Max. He is such a cry baby, a helpless young boy who was supposed to be the great great great great descendant of the amazing Van Helsing! He got no fighting skills, he didn't know how to protect himself, he always got his butt saved, clumsy and a terrible distraction as a bait! I despise it a lot when authors / book publishers lies with the blurb on their book cover just to get more sale. The book cover is beautiful but the story is just horrendous. That's where the 0.5 star came from. We pay your books with real money, so tell us the truth and appreciate our hard earned money to support you with respect! 😔😔😔
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I'm being honest with my review. And I can be mean with the review if I want to. Take this rant review as your positive ideas to improve yourself. I'm telling this to every authors out there. It's a pity, the author seems like a very nice person, but the book just no. I write my reviews with honesty and NEVER EVER sugar coating them just to make you feel better and happy in a safe zone. Please take note. 🙏🏻

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3.5
Fun but more gory than the first one. The journal entries really add to the "ambiance"! The range and creativity of creatures was well done. This entry brings ethical questions about what kind of live and let live policy is appropriate for a monster hunter. A colleague/competitor that we've seen before turns up and acts as a good foil for Max in bringing his values into focus. There is also some surprising family history that Max learns that rocks his world a bit. Good look at bullies, both kid and adult. Syd is a really nice example of a strong, smart young woman as well. I would definitely read more of this series.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - not quite as good as the first, but still entertaining.

[Tia Garrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thriller for kids. An interesting read for sure.

[706Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very wacky and different kind of monster hunter story. However, it was a little slow and confusing.

[Jdtolbert2003yahoo.com · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the characters in this book. Fun, exciting and a surprise twist at the end make you want to come back for more.

[Marlana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of supernatural mysteries Max Helsing and the Beast of Bone Creek doesn't disappoint. More action packed than its predecessor you'll be left guessing until the very last moment about what exactly is out there in Bone Creek.

While the supernatural isn't a subject I usually enjoy Jobling's Max Helsing series is starting to grow on me.

Jobling seems to have found his stride. I look forward to the next novel in the series.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Curtis Jobling's Wereworld series and this new monster hunter series is equally as good, but for a slightly younger audience. Teen Max Helsing comes from a long line of monster hunters but he is not as bloodthirsty as some of his ancestors and prefers to sort problems peaceably and protect monsters when he can. In this story he goes off on a school field trip to cabins in the middle of a dark, dense forest - of course everything will be jolly good fun, no hint of danger there, right?! As usual trouble follows Max on his vacation and he bumps into many mystical creatures who make the forest their home. There's suspense, a hint of romance to come and an epic bloodthirsty fight to satisfy young gore lovers. Max makes an excellent, flawed, apprentice hero and I love his sarcasm and the fact that he's still learning and has to rely on his family and friends to help him out of some of the dangerous situations he finds himself in. An enthralling, exciting page turner for younger horror fans.

[M.D. Khamil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was boring. This sequel to the first book is actually good. It has a great plot. What I dislike the most is that Max Helsing is a weak character. All he did was just running away. He always had helped, and win by luck. I was hoping that Max eventhough a 13 year old boy, he had some epic combat skills to fight monsters, with special modern weapons to hunt these monsters. Hopefully in the next book Max is a better strong main protagonist. I can't help thinking that Max is a weakling and could have been a side character. Even Syd is a much better character than Max!!!!!!