This is an absolutely gorgeous book, heavy and glinting and choc-full of illustration and story.
Lucy Strange has written a ghostly mystery full of wonderful characters and humour and genuine ghosty thrill ... despite one of the child heroes being one of the ghosts. Pam Smy's wonderful illustrations on almost every spread, filling some spreads, properly play the story between words and images, again achieving atmosphere, character and humour. And the odd clue to spot!
Matilda has to play 'dead Edna', a ghost child brought to life during her Aunt's ghostly stage show, but then the two of them, along with Uncle Barnabus and Colin the parrot, get employed at a mysterious manor house where there seems to be at least one real haunting. There is. But there's also dastardly thievery afoot, and its up to Matilda and the ghost boy she befriends to bring the culprits to justice. Meanwhile, exactly what are her 'Aunt' and 'Uncle' up to?
Great fun, and offering the highest quality illustration and writing for middle grade readers. I'm very glad there are more stories about these two to come!
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