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Molly Thompson #1
The Ghouls of Howlfair
The scariest legends are about to come true!
Molly Thompson has lots of questions. Questions like, is her Aunt Carol an undead fiend who drinks the blood of the living? Is she secretly lurking in the attic? And is Molly's friend Lowry a descendant of a long line of Kroglin werewolves?
Serious young historian Molly suspects that the creepy legends about her tourist town of Howlfair are starting to come true. But when her mother bans her from doing any further research, bookworm Molly and her friends - Lowry and guardian-cat Gabriel - become covert monster-hunters to keep Howlfair safe. It seems that someone is secretly trying to summon Howlfair's mythical monsters, and with the election of a new town mayor looming, everything – and everyone – is becoming increasingly suspicious...
Molly Thompson has lots of questions. Questions like, is her Aunt Carol an undead fiend who drinks the blood of the living? Is she secretly lurking in the attic? And is Molly's friend Lowry a descendant of a long line of Kroglin werewolves?
Serious young historian Molly suspects that the creepy legends about her tourist town of Howlfair are starting to come true. But when her mother bans her from doing any further research, bookworm Molly and her friends - Lowry and guardian-cat Gabriel - become covert monster-hunters to keep Howlfair safe. It seems that someone is secretly trying to summon Howlfair's mythical monsters, and with the election of a new town mayor looming, everything – and everyone – is becoming increasingly suspicious...
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
7 people are currently reading
1014 people want to read
About the author
Nick Tomlinson
4 books39 followersNick Tomlinson is a former English, Drama and Special Needs teacher, academic learning mentor, singing waiter and admin clerk. He has performed in a sell-out show at the Edinburgh Fringe, accidentally camped on a military target range in West Africa, and managed to pass his karate black belt grading despite choking on his gum shield. A lifelong bookworm, Nick has been writing stories since he was five. His adult novel, Saint Valentine, was published by Transworld in 2004. Nick lives in Herefordshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 25, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Molly Thompson lives at the Excelsior Guesthouse with her mum, the owner. Molly is a very inquisitive young girl who loves to investigate all the going on in the village she lives in, Howlfair. From trying to find out whether her Aunt is a vampire, to solving the case on whether her best friend Lowry is a descendant of Werewolves destined to change as the Blue Moon arrives.
Her mum is not very happy with her investigating the residents in the village and after Molly destroys some family heirlooms her mother bans her from doing any more investigating and removes her library card and tells her to take back all of her books. However, when one of the guests suddenly dies and Molly finds a note which states within it ‘The Ghouls are Coming for me’, Molly knows that she can’t leave this mystery alone.
With her secret mission underway, she stumbles upon an ancient legend about a manor house, a previous owner and the way to summon monsters and a link between the man currently running for Mayor whose policy is that he is going to make Howlfair scary again. Is Molly on the right track? Is someone summoning ghouls? And can she stop them before more people are injured or frightened to death?
What an amazing book ‘The Ghouls of Howlfair’ is. Molly is such a brilliant protagonist, she is feisty, caring, and determined to out the truth about everything in her hometown. She does have some help though from her best friend Lowry who lets her hide her investigation stuff at her house. She also has her Gran who is in the hospital on her side and her beloved cat Gabriel too.
The book is so good, the plot is exciting and the writing just flows and makes you want to keep on reading. There is an adventure in each chapter which makes this book so hard to put down.
The book is humorous and mysterious and whilst not scary, it is a great introduction to books featuring potential ghouls, ghosts and monsters and is just perfect for this time of year. I do hope that we see more of Molly in the future as I believe she has some more investigations to be getting on with.
Molly Thompson lives at the Excelsior Guesthouse with her mum, the owner. Molly is a very inquisitive young girl who loves to investigate all the going on in the village she lives in, Howlfair. From trying to find out whether her Aunt is a vampire, to solving the case on whether her best friend Lowry is a descendant of Werewolves destined to change as the Blue Moon arrives.
Her mum is not very happy with her investigating the residents in the village and after Molly destroys some family heirlooms her mother bans her from doing any more investigating and removes her library card and tells her to take back all of her books. However, when one of the guests suddenly dies and Molly finds a note which states within it ‘The Ghouls are Coming for me’, Molly knows that she can’t leave this mystery alone.
With her secret mission underway, she stumbles upon an ancient legend about a manor house, a previous owner and the way to summon monsters and a link between the man currently running for Mayor whose policy is that he is going to make Howlfair scary again. Is Molly on the right track? Is someone summoning ghouls? And can she stop them before more people are injured or frightened to death?
What an amazing book ‘The Ghouls of Howlfair’ is. Molly is such a brilliant protagonist, she is feisty, caring, and determined to out the truth about everything in her hometown. She does have some help though from her best friend Lowry who lets her hide her investigation stuff at her house. She also has her Gran who is in the hospital on her side and her beloved cat Gabriel too.
The book is so good, the plot is exciting and the writing just flows and makes you want to keep on reading. There is an adventure in each chapter which makes this book so hard to put down.
The book is humorous and mysterious and whilst not scary, it is a great introduction to books featuring potential ghouls, ghosts and monsters and is just perfect for this time of year. I do hope that we see more of Molly in the future as I believe she has some more investigations to be getting on with.
October 7, 2019
What a fun read!!!
Our main character, Molly, reminds me a lot of Nancy Drew.
The Ghouls of Howlfair is a must read this autumn. It kept me curious from the very first page. And I really adore Molly, how strong and fierce she is. I adore Molly and that last part though... I love!
The other characters are also interesting, they are not boring. Hence, I am so interested to know more about the other characters too (Felicity and Lowry, and Carl). Like I would love to know them deeper. It's a vibrant book. There's always something happening. It feels like there's always surprise waiting for you in every page. It's funny, it's full of energy, it's fun, mysterious, spooky, creepy, yet touching and sweet. Nick Tomlinson did an amazing job writing this one, and I can't wait for more!!
Our main character, Molly, reminds me a lot of Nancy Drew.
The Ghouls of Howlfair is a must read this autumn. It kept me curious from the very first page. And I really adore Molly, how strong and fierce she is. I adore Molly and that last part though... I love!
The other characters are also interesting, they are not boring. Hence, I am so interested to know more about the other characters too (Felicity and Lowry, and Carl). Like I would love to know them deeper. It's a vibrant book. There's always something happening. It feels like there's always surprise waiting for you in every page. It's funny, it's full of energy, it's fun, mysterious, spooky, creepy, yet touching and sweet. Nick Tomlinson did an amazing job writing this one, and I can't wait for more!!
May 3, 2019
I can't recommend The Ghouls of Howlfair highly enough. This spooky mystery is brilliantly written, VERY funny and has the BEST female protagonist I have come across is an age - in fact, I would gladly follow Molly Thompson to the Gates of Hell and back! - and, I'll wager, so will you!
Certainly the one to watch as far as debut mid-grade is concerned. Thank you to Walker Books for giving me the chance to read the proof. I raced through it. Utterly brilliant!
To be published later this year... be sure you get it!
Certainly the one to watch as far as debut mid-grade is concerned. Thank you to Walker Books for giving me the chance to read the proof. I raced through it. Utterly brilliant!
To be published later this year... be sure you get it!
October 29, 2020
Trigger warning: grief
I really liked this story! It's perfect for the spooky season! There are also heavier topics like grief, bullying, even though it's middle grade and spooky. Molly is such an awesome and strong character who just does her own thing. Highly recommend it, even for adults!
I really liked this story! It's perfect for the spooky season! There are also heavier topics like grief, bullying, even though it's middle grade and spooky. Molly is such an awesome and strong character who just does her own thing. Highly recommend it, even for adults!
June 28, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
August 21, 2019
This is a spooky read combined with a Nancy Drew kind of vibe. I can see so much of Nancy Drew in Molly, they both have a parent who doesn't allow them to continue investigating when they love to do it so much and they just can't resist uncovering yet another mystery after another. Their world just revolves around it.
I really wasn't expecting for this kind of book to turn out to be just like this. What I mean by that is that this book is a middle grade book yet it contains so much more than that that it has actually made me unable to put the book down. The haunting and horror aspect in this story was seriously amazing and I am certain that other readers who read or will read this book will agree to what I say.
The pace of the story was just nice, it was like a breeze yet everything was entangled together as one that it made the entire process smooth sailing. The ending says so much and it made me wonder about what exactly might happen next. I need to know what will happen next because its kind of like a sudden plot twist but it can also be stopped right there. Actually, when I think back about it, its actually a great way to end this story. It shows that there are many possibilities after this story ends. How it shall be continued depends on readers' own imagination.
This book has friendships that would do absolutely anything for each other, trust, mystery, a lot of ghouls and all that horror elements but it was also relaying a message that one could go to such lengths in order to protect what they care about most. This is a great story and should definitely be the talk of the town or more specifically, the talk of the entire bookish community!
I really wasn't expecting for this kind of book to turn out to be just like this. What I mean by that is that this book is a middle grade book yet it contains so much more than that that it has actually made me unable to put the book down. The haunting and horror aspect in this story was seriously amazing and I am certain that other readers who read or will read this book will agree to what I say.
The pace of the story was just nice, it was like a breeze yet everything was entangled together as one that it made the entire process smooth sailing. The ending says so much and it made me wonder about what exactly might happen next. I need to know what will happen next because its kind of like a sudden plot twist but it can also be stopped right there. Actually, when I think back about it, its actually a great way to end this story. It shows that there are many possibilities after this story ends. How it shall be continued depends on readers' own imagination.
This book has friendships that would do absolutely anything for each other, trust, mystery, a lot of ghouls and all that horror elements but it was also relaying a message that one could go to such lengths in order to protect what they care about most. This is a great story and should definitely be the talk of the town or more specifically, the talk of the entire bookish community!
September 15, 2019
Howlfair was famous for its ghosts and ghouls and werewolves in the past. But now it looks like that the creeping legends will come true again.
Young Molly is driven by questions like "Is there an undead family member?" or "Is my friend Lowry a werewolf?" and so she is investigating the creepy history of Howlfair and find more and more indices, that ghouls are taking over the town ... Can she find a way to save her town? And whom can she trust in?
This book will be published soon. Get to your local bookstore, pick it up and go along with Molly and her friends. But be aware ... the creepiest things can come true at any moment.
I've enjoyed this creepy trip to Howlfair and also I hope that a sequel will sneaking around the corner soon.
Young Molly is driven by questions like "Is there an undead family member?" or "Is my friend Lowry a werewolf?" and so she is investigating the creepy history of Howlfair and find more and more indices, that ghouls are taking over the town ... Can she find a way to save her town? And whom can she trust in?
This book will be published soon. Get to your local bookstore, pick it up and go along with Molly and her friends. But be aware ... the creepiest things can come true at any moment.
I've enjoyed this creepy trip to Howlfair and also I hope that a sequel will sneaking around the corner soon.
October 4, 2020
A fun, spooky read that I devoured on a wet day in October!
Adventure, mystery, mayhem, monsters it's all here wrapped up in a perfect read.
I'd love to know more about Howlfair (I'm all for an origin or back story) so hope there'll be more to come!
Adventure, mystery, mayhem, monsters it's all here wrapped up in a perfect read.
I'd love to know more about Howlfair (I'm all for an origin or back story) so hope there'll be more to come!
September 18, 2019
Wow. Kudos, Nick Tomlinson. The Ghouls Of Howlfair was a fabulously spooky read from the start. So refreshing to see a bold, resourceful and empathetic female protagonist who isn't afraid to stand out! I devoured this book in nearly one sitting. Thank you, Walker Books, for the opportunity to take an early look! Nick has just made one heck of a splash onto the scene of spooky middle-grade fiction!
October 9, 2019
This story was delightful: memorable characters, funny situations and dialogue. It was suspenseful and perfectly paced. The main character is well-developed. Like many girls her age, she's full of courage, determination, and compassion, but she's got plenty of growing up to do, and that makes for some great scenes. Readers who enjoy strong (but not perfect) female characters, mystery, and humor, and who can handle a little bit of ghoulishness--talk of ghouls being summoned to torment and devour humans, descripton of said ghouls--such readers will indeed enjoy this book.
As for me, I'm hooked on this scrappy, curious, and compassionate little heroine. I can't wait to see what's next for her and Howlfair!
As for me, I'm hooked on this scrappy, curious, and compassionate little heroine. I can't wait to see what's next for her and Howlfair!
May 23, 2022
Finished on 23.may.2022
As Lawry said "Satan's Sock"
This was an experience.
A very decent -- okay-ish -- book.
For a town like howlfair that roams with ghouls it sure didn't feel spooky much.
Some of the themes like friendship, grief and family were just touched upon and cut halfway through, unfortunately.
Will definitely not going to read the sequel, because I didn't enjoy this one much and it fell flat for me.
As Lawry said "Satan's Sock"
This was an experience.
A very decent -- okay-ish -- book.
For a town like howlfair that roams with ghouls it sure didn't feel spooky much.
Some of the themes like friendship, grief and family were just touched upon and cut halfway through, unfortunately.
Will definitely not going to read the sequel, because I didn't enjoy this one much and it fell flat for me.
March 22, 2019
This is such a lovely middle grade book! I'm not massively into spooky books but this one won me over. It's so well written with super strong female characters, and covers topics such as friendship, grief and loss, mystery and fantasy. Would definitely appeal to YA readers too!
December 11, 2020
Ghost Squad + Fright Night + Scooby Doo
Molly Thompson might just be the most feared and despised person in Howlfair—all before she’s 13 years old!! She’s appointed herself as town researcher and in her quest for answers, she finds out dirt on people, usually inadvertently getting them in trouble. With her mum banning her from research, the upcoming mayoral election coming up and people getting hurt and dying, can Molly find out whether all the things the townspeople say about Loonchance Manor are true?
I ADORED this!! Nick has done a FANTABULOUS job of making this a dark and macabre spooky MG (my favorite)!! He has such a way with words and I would have read this in one sitting if I could have! He does an outstanding job with character and world building. He has something for all MG readers: spooky, mystery, monsters, friendship, life lessons, humor, family, fantasy..I especially liked that he put Molly’s (and others’) flaws on display to acknowledge we all have them, and that’s okay.
I will definitely be reading my copy of Molly Thompson and the Crypt of the Blue Moon in January!! Can’t wait!!
Buy this for yourself or for someone looking for a phenomenal MG mystery. If you’re twisted, get it for someone who says there are no such things as monsters!
Molly Thompson might just be the most feared and despised person in Howlfair—all before she’s 13 years old!! She’s appointed herself as town researcher and in her quest for answers, she finds out dirt on people, usually inadvertently getting them in trouble. With her mum banning her from research, the upcoming mayoral election coming up and people getting hurt and dying, can Molly find out whether all the things the townspeople say about Loonchance Manor are true?
I ADORED this!! Nick has done a FANTABULOUS job of making this a dark and macabre spooky MG (my favorite)!! He has such a way with words and I would have read this in one sitting if I could have! He does an outstanding job with character and world building. He has something for all MG readers: spooky, mystery, monsters, friendship, life lessons, humor, family, fantasy..I especially liked that he put Molly’s (and others’) flaws on display to acknowledge we all have them, and that’s okay.
I will definitely be reading my copy of Molly Thompson and the Crypt of the Blue Moon in January!! Can’t wait!!
Buy this for yourself or for someone looking for a phenomenal MG mystery. If you’re twisted, get it for someone who says there are no such things as monsters!
November 20, 2019
It’s official - Molly Thompson is the new Harry Potter.
I devoured this book in a single day - was unable to put this spine-tingling, gut-wrenching, laugh-out-loud-inducing story down. Much like our gutsy Molly’s experience with the Ghouls that plague Howlfair, when you open the mouth of this book, you find yourself being sucked further and further into a dark world that renders you scared witless but desperate to find out more. Strikes the balance between scary and funny absolutely perfectly - just when you feel like the intensity is too much, Molly’s hilarious sidekick, Lowry, interjects with her quick wit, sarcasm, malapropisms and, even funnier, her continued intentional mispronunciations that never fail to wind Molly up!
With its rich and beautifully developed descriptions of Howlfair and the characters whose feet wander its moonlit streets and peer from its amber glowing windows, we are invited right into Howlfair where we live out Molly’s frustration and determination and unravel ancient and unthinkably frightening legends with her.
Something’s amiss and Molly is determined to find out exactly what that something is.
The last book I read that made me feel like this was “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” a whole 22 years ago, and now my children get to feel that same excitement through a fresh and wonderfully written book. With its short chapters and fast pace, every time your child picks up this book they will find new developments keeping them interested and fascinated. This really is something special.
I devoured this book in a single day - was unable to put this spine-tingling, gut-wrenching, laugh-out-loud-inducing story down. Much like our gutsy Molly’s experience with the Ghouls that plague Howlfair, when you open the mouth of this book, you find yourself being sucked further and further into a dark world that renders you scared witless but desperate to find out more. Strikes the balance between scary and funny absolutely perfectly - just when you feel like the intensity is too much, Molly’s hilarious sidekick, Lowry, interjects with her quick wit, sarcasm, malapropisms and, even funnier, her continued intentional mispronunciations that never fail to wind Molly up!
With its rich and beautifully developed descriptions of Howlfair and the characters whose feet wander its moonlit streets and peer from its amber glowing windows, we are invited right into Howlfair where we live out Molly’s frustration and determination and unravel ancient and unthinkably frightening legends with her.
Something’s amiss and Molly is determined to find out exactly what that something is.
The last book I read that made me feel like this was “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” a whole 22 years ago, and now my children get to feel that same excitement through a fresh and wonderfully written book. With its short chapters and fast pace, every time your child picks up this book they will find new developments keeping them interested and fascinated. This really is something special.
November 19, 2020
Wow! What a fun adventure! I’m shook by some of the twists and turns. Oh man, that ending! I need more!
November 5, 2019
Well this was delightfully spooky! This is the perfect Halloween or shivery winter night read for those of us who like our ghoulish hauntings with a dash of fun.
The Ghouls of Howlfair is the sort of Middle Grade book that’s a treat for both adults and young readers alike.
As you join Molly Thompson on her mission to investigate every resident of her small town (whether they want to be investigated or not - mostly not!) you’ll encounter a gaggle of quirky characters — any one of whom could be haunted OR haunting her darling hometown.
Not to fear, because Molly is on the case, and when someone decides to “Make Howlfair Scary Again” Molly will be there to stop them (unless of course she gets possessed by the demon or attacked by a werewolf first, in which case she will not, in fact, save the town. But she does have a cat and a devoted friend who makes dreadful cakes, knows an awful lot about flags, and is sometimes given lunches by the ghost of a romance-novelist, so obviously those things will be in her favour).
Will certainly be reading this every Halloween!
The Ghouls of Howlfair is the sort of Middle Grade book that’s a treat for both adults and young readers alike.
As you join Molly Thompson on her mission to investigate every resident of her small town (whether they want to be investigated or not - mostly not!) you’ll encounter a gaggle of quirky characters — any one of whom could be haunted OR haunting her darling hometown.
Not to fear, because Molly is on the case, and when someone decides to “Make Howlfair Scary Again” Molly will be there to stop them (unless of course she gets possessed by the demon or attacked by a werewolf first, in which case she will not, in fact, save the town. But she does have a cat and a devoted friend who makes dreadful cakes, knows an awful lot about flags, and is sometimes given lunches by the ghost of a romance-novelist, so obviously those things will be in her favour).
Will certainly be reading this every Halloween!
October 11, 2019
Did you like, or do you still like, shows like Scooby Doo? The idea of solving mysteries? Spooky stories? If so, then I definitely recommend Ghouls of Howlfair. Follow the adventures of Historian Molly Thompson, as she investigates the spooky legends of her hometown of Howlfair only to have everything turn a bit Buffy (that's my way of hinting at the plot without spoiling it :D).
Well written - as well as spooky it's also genuinely funny, and what looks like could be the start of a very interesting series.
Well written - as well as spooky it's also genuinely funny, and what looks like could be the start of a very interesting series.
November 23, 2019
First off, I LOVE Molly, the main character of this story. As a fan of funny, spooky stories, The Ghouls of Howlfair is a prime example of how to do it right. I went through this book quickly, since it's such a fast-paced read. For me, it had the feel of a modern Nancy Drew, which brought me back to childhood since I was such a Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys fan.
There's a haunted history, modern mystery, and plenty of guessing and laughs along the way.
Sign me up for more Molly and Lowry, who by the way, just may or may not be a werewolf.
I highly recommend, and look forward to more from this author.
There's a haunted history, modern mystery, and plenty of guessing and laughs along the way.
Sign me up for more Molly and Lowry, who by the way, just may or may not be a werewolf.
I highly recommend, and look forward to more from this author.
October 24, 2020
From the first page, this book grabbed me and would not let go. Molly is such a brilliantly painted character; clever, funny, inquisitive, determined, brave and with an very keen eye. Her sense of responsibility for others and for discovering the truth shine through at all times, even when she is at her most vulnerable. Set in a town made real through rich description and full of local colour and quirky residents, the reader can sense the atmosphere and settles in quickly to the surrounds of Howlfair. The ghouls and monsters at the heart of the tale are placed with such texture that we believe in their reality. In some cases, we even feel a bit of sympathy for their fate, particularly when we view them against the real baddie of the story. As each creepy event builds on the last, you are pulled through the story with perfect pacing, chills up the spine and dark-ish humour that will leave you chuckling aloud. The Ghouls of Howlfair invites the readers' curiosity, imagination and encourages a bit of belief in what seems impossible. An, intriguing, heartwarming story of friendship, community, family and ghouls; it totally captivates.
November 26, 2019
The Ghouls of Howlfair is so good!
Really creepy, atmospheric and dark, with fantastic characters, but what really makes it stand out is
Nick Tomlinson's use of language, twisting words and making them mean what he wants them to. There's a beautiful, lyrical quality to the writing, with adjectives being used in ways you just wouldn't expect them to be used, which contributes to the definite sense of unease throughout the book, the feeling that things just aren't right or normal. It really works very well, and the prose flows easily. It's never jarring, just unsettling and interesting.
The characters are great, Molly is a fantastic protagonist, and I loved how her clumsiness was portrayed, and I really want another book to explore more of Lowry's werewolf theories. That was a really intriguing little subplot.
The feeling of peril is very real, the villains are suitably horrifying and the book as a whole is very satisfying, though it definitely left me wanting more! There are so many little details threaded through about this strange town that I just want to explore it more and more!
Really creepy, atmospheric and dark, with fantastic characters, but what really makes it stand out is
Nick Tomlinson's use of language, twisting words and making them mean what he wants them to. There's a beautiful, lyrical quality to the writing, with adjectives being used in ways you just wouldn't expect them to be used, which contributes to the definite sense of unease throughout the book, the feeling that things just aren't right or normal. It really works very well, and the prose flows easily. It's never jarring, just unsettling and interesting.
The characters are great, Molly is a fantastic protagonist, and I loved how her clumsiness was portrayed, and I really want another book to explore more of Lowry's werewolf theories. That was a really intriguing little subplot.
The feeling of peril is very real, the villains are suitably horrifying and the book as a whole is very satisfying, though it definitely left me wanting more! There are so many little details threaded through about this strange town that I just want to explore it more and more!
April 10, 2020
I absolutely adored this book! It was spooky, funny, & a great mystery read-which I’m very into lately. Again, another amazing MG cat too that I LOVED! Lol The way it ended it felt like there will be more books....hopefully a lot more!😃 I also liked the way grief was handled in this book. It’s not the point of the story, but it’s there & I lost someone close to me 2 years ago, & I really loved that aspect in this book & the way the author handled it. Also, there are no chapter #’s...but titles, I would call them, & I loved that. It was such a unique detail, & I appreciate those things. I highly recommend this book.🖤
November 25, 2019
This is such a perfect MG book for those kids who like a creepy read! It’s spooky but funny and the combination makes it spectacular! The tenacity of Molly is inspiring as she works to find the evidence to support what she knows is the answer to a mystery that could doom her entire town. The theme of friendship is nicely woven through as well. And Gabriel the cat—well, he’s my favorite. 🖤
October 29, 2019
Wow, this book is such a good read and so much more tense and thrilling than I thought it would be! ‘The Ghouls of Howlfair’ has a lovely front cover illustration with the title made of shiny reflective silver (which may not be clear in the piture above). the story is a good one, Molly Thompson lives in Howlfair, a town that’s filled with lots of stories and history about strange and ghostly happenings. Being the best investigator in town, Molly’s managed to unearth many secrets about Howlfair’s past and its residents (which doesn’t always go down well with those who are involved), and she doesn’t want to stop but when her mum puts a ban on her investigations, Molly reluctantly agrees…that is, until some strange and ghoulish sightings, and her best friend’s insistance that she has a werewolf in her family, force her to start investigating again, against her mum’s wishes.
This story is brilliant and as I read more of this book I really got into it. The tale is exciting, filled with some great and eerie moments and is also funny throughout. I have to admit though that when I started reading this it did take me a few chapters to really get into it and that’s due to the very different and interesting descriptive language. The descriptions in this book are easy to read but they are so different from most books I read that it took my brain a few pages to adjust to them, they are however so brilliant, evocative and they really work well in bringing the action to life. An example of the description would be that a coven of clouds was debating on whether to smite the town with rain, it just sounds so different yet completely immerses you in the atmosphere in a completely new way! And the rest of the descriptions are equally different and it makes for a brilliant and refreshing read, considering that so many books rely on the same descriptive words again and again.
The story is easy to get into right away and I love Molly’s accident-prone character as well as Lowry and the cat Gabriel. The story mainly follows Molly but sometimes switches to other characters for a short time, when certain scenes happen, which gives the whole book a feeling like you’re watching a movie. I love how silly the residents are of the guesthouse and the funny humour throughout the book, including the way Lowry ends up mis-pronouncing (or using completely different words altogether) for the things Molly talks about, it just adds an air of silliness to the story and makes it an even more entertaining read.
The ending of the story and the build up to it is so good! I didn’t know what was going to happen and the dramatic scenes towards the end really had me gripped and on the edge of my seat. I got quite emotional as well, especially considering what was happening in those final scenes and the involvement of all the characters including the cat just made it all the more tense. I really enjoyed how this book ended, it was a very satisfying ending, even that very last scene, and I felt such excitement and a whole range of emotions that I love to feel with the ending of a good book that was so gripping. That last scary scene might be a bit overwhelming for very young readers, or those who might not be so used to such eerie and creepy stories, however, having loved all things ghostly and creepy since I was very young, I just loved it!
This is such a fun, eerie, funny, gripping and brilliant read that I’d recommend it to anyone interested in something with a creepy vibe as well as some good humour. If, like me, the different style of descriptions aren’t something you’re used to I’d still recommend sticking with it for a few chapters (the chapters are short), the book really is that brilliant, and a perfect one for children to read for both Halloween and all year round! I think some teens and adults will really enjoy this too!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
This story is brilliant and as I read more of this book I really got into it. The tale is exciting, filled with some great and eerie moments and is also funny throughout. I have to admit though that when I started reading this it did take me a few chapters to really get into it and that’s due to the very different and interesting descriptive language. The descriptions in this book are easy to read but they are so different from most books I read that it took my brain a few pages to adjust to them, they are however so brilliant, evocative and they really work well in bringing the action to life. An example of the description would be that a coven of clouds was debating on whether to smite the town with rain, it just sounds so different yet completely immerses you in the atmosphere in a completely new way! And the rest of the descriptions are equally different and it makes for a brilliant and refreshing read, considering that so many books rely on the same descriptive words again and again.
The story is easy to get into right away and I love Molly’s accident-prone character as well as Lowry and the cat Gabriel. The story mainly follows Molly but sometimes switches to other characters for a short time, when certain scenes happen, which gives the whole book a feeling like you’re watching a movie. I love how silly the residents are of the guesthouse and the funny humour throughout the book, including the way Lowry ends up mis-pronouncing (or using completely different words altogether) for the things Molly talks about, it just adds an air of silliness to the story and makes it an even more entertaining read.
The ending of the story and the build up to it is so good! I didn’t know what was going to happen and the dramatic scenes towards the end really had me gripped and on the edge of my seat. I got quite emotional as well, especially considering what was happening in those final scenes and the involvement of all the characters including the cat just made it all the more tense. I really enjoyed how this book ended, it was a very satisfying ending, even that very last scene, and I felt such excitement and a whole range of emotions that I love to feel with the ending of a good book that was so gripping. That last scary scene might be a bit overwhelming for very young readers, or those who might not be so used to such eerie and creepy stories, however, having loved all things ghostly and creepy since I was very young, I just loved it!
This is such a fun, eerie, funny, gripping and brilliant read that I’d recommend it to anyone interested in something with a creepy vibe as well as some good humour. If, like me, the different style of descriptions aren’t something you’re used to I’d still recommend sticking with it for a few chapters (the chapters are short), the book really is that brilliant, and a perfect one for children to read for both Halloween and all year round! I think some teens and adults will really enjoy this too!
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy for review.
January 22, 2021
Fun from start to finish. This book has a strong “Coraline” vibe. Howlfair pops both in terms of its characters and the setting. You’ll want to visit. Reminded me a lot of Salem, Mass. Molly Thompson is a delight, but you’ll find yourself begging her to stop looking into things. Her curiosity is boundless and well motivated and she never comes off as the nosy kid that, whoops, finds themselves in a heap of trouble. Everything connects back to her life. You’ll adore her.
I did wish that the consequences of Molly failing were more vivid. I never got a sense of the full scope of what would happen to the world if she was unsuccessful. But the mystery and foreshadowing of impending doom and that tingling sensation of something wicked this way is coming more than made up for it.
Much like Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride, you’re going to want to get right back in line for the next trip.
I did wish that the consequences of Molly failing were more vivid. I never got a sense of the full scope of what would happen to the world if she was unsuccessful. But the mystery and foreshadowing of impending doom and that tingling sensation of something wicked this way is coming more than made up for it.
Much like Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride, you’re going to want to get right back in line for the next trip.
February 20, 2023
rating: 3 stars
the first 50 pages were interesting as well as the eerie portrayal of the city and the secrets it holds. but it took me months to finish this book because it was so underwhelming in so many ways.
this was especially because i had issues with the main character who didn't treat her best friend very nicely and even though she is so young and has to deal with the loss of a parent, i don't think it made her more empathetic.
the plot was interesting, the dark mood dissipated quickly and at the end i was just waiting to finally reach the last page.
i love middle grade books, but this deserved more development.
the cover is a gem, though.
October 13, 2019
Perfect for Octobers and year round chills this has flavours of Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Veronica Mars with an early series Supernatural ghoulish twist.
This book is intensely brilliant, it’s pitched perfectly at the edge of that ‘heart in the throat’ chilling thrills for the young reader but holds the readers hand enough with strong characters being brave to stop it becoming frightening.
Just enough though as there are some intense haunting scenes that very sensitive souls may have nightmares involving blue eyed ghouls, moths and grotty pubs!!
Whilst I love Lowry with her mispronouncing boon-cranks, giggling over naughty pixies and believing she is descended from werewolves, it’s Molly that is such an engaging and wonderful character with her precocious intelligence, tenacious investigating yet vulnerable and open minded nature to the possibility of things beyond rational thought.
This book has a fantastic quality of being a tale full of warmth and mystery yet equally being deliciously creepy a must read!
This book is intensely brilliant, it’s pitched perfectly at the edge of that ‘heart in the throat’ chilling thrills for the young reader but holds the readers hand enough with strong characters being brave to stop it becoming frightening.
Just enough though as there are some intense haunting scenes that very sensitive souls may have nightmares involving blue eyed ghouls, moths and grotty pubs!!
Whilst I love Lowry with her mispronouncing boon-cranks, giggling over naughty pixies and believing she is descended from werewolves, it’s Molly that is such an engaging and wonderful character with her precocious intelligence, tenacious investigating yet vulnerable and open minded nature to the possibility of things beyond rational thought.
This book has a fantastic quality of being a tale full of warmth and mystery yet equally being deliciously creepy a must read!
November 1, 2019
Open this book – if you dare – and be prepared for the most PERFECT ghoulish tale! It had me completely engrossed from the opening: overflowing with eerie happenings and brimming with laugh-out-loud moments and hilarious incidents!
12-year-old Molly Thompson is Howlfair’s local intrepid historian; she has an insatiable curiosity about the town’s ghoulish past and is determined to investigate any unearthly occurrences. And boy, are there sinister happenings galore in this wonderfully enjoyable spooktastic mystery. But there are also moments of sheer comedic genius which are priceless! These are a perfect foil to some of the more deliciously dark deeds which create just the right amount of edge-of-your-seat tension and scariness to make this perfect for younger readers.
Unfortunately for Molly, the adults of Howlsfair are not impressed with her sleuthing skills which have a tendency to unearth a few skeletons they’d rather keep firmly locked in the cupboard, so her mother bans her from making any further investigations. End of story! Of course not: Molly doesn’t let a little problem like town petitions and parental annoyance stop her from her mission to protect the citizens of Howlfair …
And that’s exactly what she needs to do when some rather gruesome discoveries are made, when some ghoulish visitors appear and when a mayoral election may not be all it seems.
Remember, secrets like to hide underneath fears.
Molly, along with help from her friends, is determined to find out more about Howlfair’s ghoulish past in order to solve the mystery of its present. Will she be able to save Howlfair from a spectral disaster? The plot is awesomely action-packed, incredibly inventive and spookily spectacular. I loved that the story is set during the summer holidays, when perhaps we might not expect dangers to be lurking … this makes it even creepier.
I adored Molly who is all sorts of brilliance! She is endearingly clumsy, quirky, determined and a bookworm whose favourite place is the library. Yes! She has two best friends, Lowry and Gabriel: one who thinks she might be a werewolf and one who is definitely a cat! Together, they make a great team who are supportive and protective of each other.
I loved the ode to libraries:
But it could transport you to anywhere you wanted to go if you stepped inside.
If you step inside this story – and you definitely should - you will be transported into the most fantastically inventive, fun-filled, spooky mystery that will fill you with all the delights that makes reading books such a joy!
Thank you to Toppsta and Walker Books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
12-year-old Molly Thompson is Howlfair’s local intrepid historian; she has an insatiable curiosity about the town’s ghoulish past and is determined to investigate any unearthly occurrences. And boy, are there sinister happenings galore in this wonderfully enjoyable spooktastic mystery. But there are also moments of sheer comedic genius which are priceless! These are a perfect foil to some of the more deliciously dark deeds which create just the right amount of edge-of-your-seat tension and scariness to make this perfect for younger readers.
Unfortunately for Molly, the adults of Howlsfair are not impressed with her sleuthing skills which have a tendency to unearth a few skeletons they’d rather keep firmly locked in the cupboard, so her mother bans her from making any further investigations. End of story! Of course not: Molly doesn’t let a little problem like town petitions and parental annoyance stop her from her mission to protect the citizens of Howlfair …
And that’s exactly what she needs to do when some rather gruesome discoveries are made, when some ghoulish visitors appear and when a mayoral election may not be all it seems.
Remember, secrets like to hide underneath fears.
Molly, along with help from her friends, is determined to find out more about Howlfair’s ghoulish past in order to solve the mystery of its present. Will she be able to save Howlfair from a spectral disaster? The plot is awesomely action-packed, incredibly inventive and spookily spectacular. I loved that the story is set during the summer holidays, when perhaps we might not expect dangers to be lurking … this makes it even creepier.
I adored Molly who is all sorts of brilliance! She is endearingly clumsy, quirky, determined and a bookworm whose favourite place is the library. Yes! She has two best friends, Lowry and Gabriel: one who thinks she might be a werewolf and one who is definitely a cat! Together, they make a great team who are supportive and protective of each other.
I loved the ode to libraries:
But it could transport you to anywhere you wanted to go if you stepped inside.
If you step inside this story – and you definitely should - you will be transported into the most fantastically inventive, fun-filled, spooky mystery that will fill you with all the delights that makes reading books such a joy!
Thank you to Toppsta and Walker Books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 2, 2020
This was a fun book! Adventures, investigation and ghouls - what’s more to want?!
This was a quick paced and really enjoyable read. I loved the world the author created and wanted to know more. A great read for all ages!
This was a quick paced and really enjoyable read. I loved the world the author created and wanted to know more. A great read for all ages!
March 8, 2020
It’s fast-paced, fun, spooky, mystery-fantasy read.
September 25, 2020
Fantastic. Eerie. Creepy. Likeable characters. Looking forward to the second instalment!
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