THE SECRET DMS FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW.

A giveaway win, my thanks to authors Stephanie and Jessica for this signed, limited edition, author illustrated, hard back copy of ......

THE SECRET DMS FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW by J. HAIGHT and S. ROBINSON.

Fairday Morrow is less than happy about moving to the quiet, country town of Ashpot, not to mention, utterly cheerless at the prospect of living in the crumbling, creepy old manor known as Begonia House.
Nevertheless, that's exactly where she's headed.

Strange music coming from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a secret room, where and ancient mirror, a brass key, and a strange picture of a red-haired lady are the first in a series of clues that will take Fairday and her friends in the Detective Mystery Squad, more commonly known as the DMS, on an amazing adventure that will challenge them in ways they never thought possible.

As the investigation gears up, it becomes plainly obvious to Fairday that the danger is deadly serious. With a little help, which is found in some very odd places, the twisting tale begins to unfurl. Will the DMS be able to piece together the puzzle before it's too late?

..... Inner front cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Chapter 1): Fairday Morrow couldn't help but agree with Dorothy.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 20): The old house clanged and groaned restlessly, as the howling wind wrestled the old willow tree in the bright moonlight outside her bedroom window. It's twisted limbs banged into one another, casting monstrous shadows all along the walls.

MY THOUGHTS: Aimed at American middle grade readers (10 to 13 year olds), as an older, a much older reader I was surprised by just how much I found myself enjoying The Secret DMS (Detective Mystery Squad) Files of (11 year old) Fairday Morrow.

Creatively and intelligently written I found myself instantly engaged in the adventures of Fairday, Lizzy and, latest recruit, Marcus 'Brocket the Rocket'.

Delighted that the authors had such a strong and entertaining female lead in Fairday as opposed to the more typical (perhaps expected) male, though I liked all of the characters I especially liked her spirit and wonderful sense of adventure.

A wonderfully suspenseful novel, this was a real page turner of a read that whilst being totally modern had a somewhat old fashioned feel about it in that it took me back to my younger days when books were eerily scary without being overly violent or frightening ..... in other words, story telling at its best.

Looking forward to reading more of the exploits of Fairday and friends, I think this first book would make a wonderful movie.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: Definitely one for the shelves.