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The Trapdoor Mysteries #1
The Trapdoor Mysteries: A Sticky Situation
The first book in The Trapdoor Mysteries, a series about Tally, a code-breaking, animal-loving servant girl and her best friend, a squirrel named Squill, who solve mysteries with the help of a secret library...
Ten-year-old Tally is a servant girl at Mollett Manor. She sleeps in the scullery sink, and spends her days scrubbing, polishing and ironing (when she's not secretly reading books). Then Tally and her squirrel friend, Squill, find a secret library hidden under the manor - a magical library where the books come to life! When Mollett Manor is burgled, can Tally use the knowledge she finds in the books to catch the criminals? Can they even help her solve the mystery of her missing mother?
140 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2016
7 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2023
bayıldım! çocukluğuma döndüm sanki. görkemli bir köşk, yalnız bir kahraman, sadık bir evcil hayvan, çözülmesi gereken bir suç, saklanması gereken gizli tüneller ve sihir! eğer küçükken bunu okusaydım Tally'i o kadar benimserdim ki. Tally'nin iki yaşındayken annesinin kaybolması, malikanenin huysuz hizmetçisi tarafından bulunması ve bundan sonraki hayatında bu köşkte bir hizmetçi olarak yaşaması, mutfak lavobosunun içinde uyuması! o kadar sade ama o kadar eğlenceli bir metindi ki. çizimleri ayrıca çok sevdim. ah o gizemli kütüphane.. kitapların üzerindeki örümcek ağları, kitap raflarının sarmal şekilde olması, kitaplar sesli bir şekilde okundukça metinlerin canlanması.. BİR ÇOCUK DAHA BAŞKA NE İSTER BİR KİTAPTAN! evet kısacası bayıldım. serinin devam kitaplarını da tek lokmada yutmayı planlıyorum. çocuk kitaplarıyla güvendeyim. nox.
February 17, 2018
This enchanting story, the first in Abie Longstaff's series of Trapdoor Mysteries, includes everything you could possibly ask for in a children’s book. There's a crime to solve, a lonely heroine, a loyal companion pet, code breaking, puzzles, magic, humour - even a trapdoor and the plot gets better and better as you get further into the story so that you just can't put it down.
Anybody who has tried to write a story, let alone a novel, will understand that the simple ones are the hardest to write. Abie Longstaff pulls perfect simplicity off with aplomb and her fun story is enhanced by James Brown's illustrations that have a traditional feel with a modern twist and are the perfect accompaniment to the story.
Anybody who has tried to write a story, let alone a novel, will understand that the simple ones are the hardest to write. Abie Longstaff pulls perfect simplicity off with aplomb and her fun story is enhanced by James Brown's illustrations that have a traditional feel with a modern twist and are the perfect accompaniment to the story.
June 30, 2018
Short & sweet magical mystery tale, with lots of interesting facts for younger readers to learn. Also secret libraries and a super cute helpful squirrel pal- it's a winner for me 😄🐿
March 7, 2020
A brilliant story; my 7 year old loved it and we both learned a lot about spiders!
December 29, 2025
very cute
November 18, 2024
Re-read 2024: The first two books in a magical mysterious fun series!
In these first two book we get to meet Tally, see her discover all the secrets the mansion she lives in holds (and there are a lot including many codes), and also solve to mysteries! In the first one things are being stolen from the house and in the second the new puppy from the lady of the house is stolen.. plus several others in the village nearby. In both books Tally goes on to investigate along with her very fluffy furry and cute friend, Squill! The mysteries are both wonderfully written and I loved seeing Tally use the resources she has to figure things out. And it was also wonderful to see her invent things from what she learned at the library + magic + with the help of an animal important to the story.
One of those resources is a place I would LOVE LOVE to go to as well, namely a hidden library filled with books old and new and tons of magic. I know I have said this many times before, but I seriously wanted to step in the books and be part of the library. Read some books! Discover new things!
Plus, there is also the mystery of what happened to Tally’s mom as she disappeared (off the cliff near the mansion) one day. We get some hints in the second book (plus a big twist) and I am very curious how that will play out in the next books.
Tally is a wonderful character, despite all she is forced to do and how much she does and the fact she sleeps in a sink (yes really), she stays strong, finds things to make her happy, and tries to have a good life. Learning all she can.
I have to give extra credit and points to Squill the squirrel who is adorable and a true friend. But I also want to mention the lord of the mansion who listens to Tally and also gives her new opportunities!
We also get footnotes with extra facts. I didn’t always read them, while I love them at the moment my ADHD is just a bit too much in overdrive and I would just lose thread of the story.
The baddies (the one who took in Tally) are very frustrating, but also very well written. They reminded me a lot of how Roald Dahl would write his baddies.
The only thing I wasn’t entirely a fan of was the rehashing in the second book. I get it, you want people who haven’t read the first book to know what is going on, but it got a bit much and I would have rather seen that recap at the beginning and then just a bit more story.
The illustrations dotted her and there are a fun addition!
I really had fun reading these books and I am glad that I cleaned up my shelves and discovered book 1 again and then discovered there were now 3 more books! I would recommend it to everyone looking for a magical mysterious read, it is perfect for Spooktober if you want something lighter.
Star rating, 4.5 stars for book #1
Star rating, 5 stars for book #2
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
===============
A sweet book about an orphan girl who is living as a servant at a giant mansion and suddenly all sorts of things happen and she is determined to find out what is going on! There is magic, hilarity, squirrels, hidden doors, secrets, libraries of awesomeness (can I please, please, PLEASE go to that place?). I didn't like the people who bossed around Tally. Though I have to say, in a way I liked them, as they were the perfect baddies. They reminded me of how Roald Dahl would write baddies/adults. Fun! The book also has illustrations, and they fit with the book so well! Guess I have to find out more about the illustrator. Plus I need more of this series!
In these first two book we get to meet Tally, see her discover all the secrets the mansion she lives in holds (and there are a lot including many codes), and also solve to mysteries! In the first one things are being stolen from the house and in the second the new puppy from the lady of the house is stolen.. plus several others in the village nearby. In both books Tally goes on to investigate along with her very fluffy furry and cute friend, Squill! The mysteries are both wonderfully written and I loved seeing Tally use the resources she has to figure things out. And it was also wonderful to see her invent things from what she learned at the library + magic + with the help of an animal important to the story.
One of those resources is a place I would LOVE LOVE to go to as well, namely a hidden library filled with books old and new and tons of magic. I know I have said this many times before, but I seriously wanted to step in the books and be part of the library. Read some books! Discover new things!
Plus, there is also the mystery of what happened to Tally’s mom as she disappeared (off the cliff near the mansion) one day. We get some hints in the second book (plus a big twist) and I am very curious how that will play out in the next books.
Tally is a wonderful character, despite all she is forced to do and how much she does and the fact she sleeps in a sink (yes really), she stays strong, finds things to make her happy, and tries to have a good life. Learning all she can.
I have to give extra credit and points to Squill the squirrel who is adorable and a true friend. But I also want to mention the lord of the mansion who listens to Tally and also gives her new opportunities!
We also get footnotes with extra facts. I didn’t always read them, while I love them at the moment my ADHD is just a bit too much in overdrive and I would just lose thread of the story.
The baddies (the one who took in Tally) are very frustrating, but also very well written. They reminded me a lot of how Roald Dahl would write his baddies.
The only thing I wasn’t entirely a fan of was the rehashing in the second book. I get it, you want people who haven’t read the first book to know what is going on, but it got a bit much and I would have rather seen that recap at the beginning and then just a bit more story.
The illustrations dotted her and there are a fun addition!
I really had fun reading these books and I am glad that I cleaned up my shelves and discovered book 1 again and then discovered there were now 3 more books! I would recommend it to everyone looking for a magical mysterious read, it is perfect for Spooktober if you want something lighter.
Star rating, 4.5 stars for book #1
Star rating, 5 stars for book #2
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
===============
A sweet book about an orphan girl who is living as a servant at a giant mansion and suddenly all sorts of things happen and she is determined to find out what is going on! There is magic, hilarity, squirrels, hidden doors, secrets, libraries of awesomeness (can I please, please, PLEASE go to that place?). I didn't like the people who bossed around Tally. Though I have to say, in a way I liked them, as they were the perfect baddies. They reminded me of how Roald Dahl would write baddies/adults. Fun! The book also has illustrations, and they fit with the book so well! Guess I have to find out more about the illustrator. Plus I need more of this series!
qr
January 21, 2020When Tally was two years old, her mother had mysteriously vanished. She was found by the grumpy housekeeper of an old manor and Tally has worked there as a maid ever since.
When burglars begin targeting the manor, Tally is determined to catch them. While she is trying to create a trap, Tally discovers a secret, magic underground library. The library holds the key to catching the burglars and Tally realises it may also hold the answers to her mother’s mysterious disappearance.
Strengths
The story is interesting and readers can definitely root for Tally. The mystery of her mother’s disappearance is well presented and would encourage readers to read the rest of the series to uncover what happened. The secret passageways in the manor and the magical library are intriguing—I just wish that they had been a greater focus of the story.
Weaknesses
The first couple of chapters feel a little disjointed and dump a lot of information on the reader.
It is difficult to understand who this book is aimed at. At first, I thought it was aimed at younger middle grade readers, since the story clearly sets up good and bad characters, Tally has an animal best friend and the chapters are short. However, the language used is fairly complex and the story explains concepts that are much more complicated than the average younger middle grade reader would understand, such as permutations and the taxonomy and anatomy of spiders.
Summary
The mystery and magical elements of the story will engage readers, but since I am not sure what age this book is intended for, I will not be purchasing a copy for my library.
When burglars begin targeting the manor, Tally is determined to catch them. While she is trying to create a trap, Tally discovers a secret, magic underground library. The library holds the key to catching the burglars and Tally realises it may also hold the answers to her mother’s mysterious disappearance.
Strengths
The story is interesting and readers can definitely root for Tally. The mystery of her mother’s disappearance is well presented and would encourage readers to read the rest of the series to uncover what happened. The secret passageways in the manor and the magical library are intriguing—I just wish that they had been a greater focus of the story.
Weaknesses
The first couple of chapters feel a little disjointed and dump a lot of information on the reader.
It is difficult to understand who this book is aimed at. At first, I thought it was aimed at younger middle grade readers, since the story clearly sets up good and bad characters, Tally has an animal best friend and the chapters are short. However, the language used is fairly complex and the story explains concepts that are much more complicated than the average younger middle grade reader would understand, such as permutations and the taxonomy and anatomy of spiders.
Summary
The mystery and magical elements of the story will engage readers, but since I am not sure what age this book is intended for, I will not be purchasing a copy for my library.
December 29, 2025
Cosy and atmospheric. Good pace and lovely characters 💜💙❤️ Will definitely be reading more.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews