Touch and go

by Josephine Poole

Children's book ages 12 & up

156 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Jane Penelope Josephine Helyar known by her nom de plume Josephine Poole is the renowned author of several books for children and young adults. Her first book was published in 1961, and she has also written extensively for television. She lives in Somerset.

https://whistlesinthewind.wordpress.c...

Reviews

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

When her mother crashes the car on the way to a coastal vacation, young Emily ends up in the hospital. Nothing serious, just a bump on the head. A minor accident. While in the hospital she goes into the wrong room on the way back from the lav and happens to see an unknown man in an old woman's room. Just an embarrassing mistake for self-conscious girl. The next morning the woman is gone, dead -- not unexpected and with no sign of foul play. But the same man happens to turn up at the place where Emily is vacationing, and he seems to be watching her...

[Lora Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, atmospheric, very suspenseful story and I really enjoyed it. I positively zipped through the last half. I would say it's more for young teens than children. First published in 1976, I'm not sure today's teens would enjoy this book unless they like vintage stories.

I loved the setting... the county of Devon, England with its cliffs and winding paths down to the sea...

I didn't realize until I received my copy in the post (TV tie-in) that the author adapted it into a BBC TV special. Unfortunately I don't think it's available anywhere for streaming, not that I can find anyway.