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The Haunting Of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes ill. Keith Robinson

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Sep 2020

A spooky mystery from a debut author, and the first book in a  new adventure series.

Aveline Jones loves reading ghost stories, so a dreary half-term becomes much more exciting when she discovers a spooky old book. Not only are the stories spine-tingling, but it once belonged to Primrose Penberthy, who vanished mysteriously, never to be seen again. Intrigued, Aveline decides to investigate Primrose’s disappearance. Now someone…or something, is stirring. And it is looking for Aveline. Turn on your torches, and join Aveline Jones in her first charmingly spooky mystery, from debut author Phil Hickes.

The book has a stand-out cover by Keith Robinson
Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithrobinson_illustration/

Waterstones
Amazon

Devil Darling Spy by Matt Killeen

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ACHUKA Book of the Day Wed 11 Mar 2020

A sequel to Matt Killeen’s debut espionage thriller, Orphan Monster Spy, which was shortlisted for both the Branford Boase Award and the Costa Children’s Book Award, whose judges summarised the book as “A compelling, darkly thrilling debut – tense, cinematic and brilliant.”

Sarah is used to spying in the champagne-fuelled parties of Nazi Berlin. But her new mission is infinitely more deadly – tracking a deadly virus across bullet-torn Africa, to uncover the monster who would use it to create fifty million corpses. Her enemies think she is a terrified little girl. But she is a warrior set to burn them all.

Waterstones

It Ends With You by S. K. Wright

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Everyone loves Eva. Beautiful, bright, fun, generous – she’s perfect. So when her body is found in a ditch in the local woods the only thing anyone wants to know is: Who could have done this?

It has to be Luke, her boyfriend. He has the motive, the means, the opportunity and he’s no stranger to the police. Even though the picture is incomplete, the pieces fit. But as time passes, stories change.

It Ends With You is clever and compulsive. It challenges preconceptions, makes you second-guess yourself with each chapter, and it holds an uncomfortable mirror up to the way societies and systems treat outsiders.

“The social commentary, though on point, never overwhelms the engaging, page-turning plot.” Irish Times

Waterstones

The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

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“Variously described as folklore, fantasy and mystery, The Wren Hunt wears its labels lightly, shedding one genre for another with a sort of slippery grace that initially confuses. But the story takes flight once Wren is ensconced in the judges’ territory, and the book settles into a deft equilibrium between thriller and myth. Watson’s writing has the sort of poise rarely found in a debut, moving the plot at a steady pace, shot through with moments of true beauty.” Kiran Millwood Hargrave, GUARDIAN Review

Waterstones

Deals: Bloomsbury Acquire A Debut YA Thriller

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Bloomsbury Children’s Books has bought world rights to a debut YA novel by Mary Watson and one other title ahead of Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

The Wren Hunt tells the story of two ancient powers fighting for survival and one girl, born of both, who will decide their fate.

The deal was brokered by editorial director Ellen Holgate and Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge & White.

Holgate said she was “reluctant” to pigeon-hole the genre because it was “so different from anything else out there”.

“The setting is contemporary, but with a deep, ancient magic thinly veiled from view – it sizzles with romance, betrayal, deceit, lies and magic,” she said. “The tension at the heart of The Wren Hunt makes it read like a thriller, but the high concept is backed up by exceptional writing.”

 

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/bloomsbury-childrens-snaps-wren-hun-ahead-bologna-514761

Hodder acquires YA urban thriller

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from The Bookseller:

Hodder Children’s Books has acquired Last Man Standing, a coming-of-age urban thriller, by debut author Patrice Lawrence.
 
In the story, 16-year-old Marlon has promised his widowed mum that he’ll be good, and nothing like his gang-leader brother, Andre. However, everything changes when his first date with Sonya ends in tragedy and Marlon enters Andre’s world of guns, knives and drug runs.
 
Emma Goldhawk, senior editor at Hodder, acquired the world rights, excluding the US and Canada, in a two-book deal from Caroline Sheldon at the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.

Hodder will publish Last Man Standing in spring 2016. A second standalone title will follow in 2017.

via Hodder acquires YA urban thriller | The Bookseller.