A stunning debut . . . This is an exquisitely written book about identity and wordplay that's as warm, masterful and up-to-date as it is laugh-out-loud funny.
- Kitty Empire, Observer
Deliciously, quirkily Gothic
- Robin Stevens, New York Times Book Review
Murder most splendid in this ghoulish debut
- Emily Bearn, The Telegraph
Gothic mystery brimming with bonkers characters and boundless energy
Daily Mail
A fun read with diverse characters and an enticing setting.
- Alice Clifford, The Sun
A mystery that is as clever and impish as its heroine
Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
An absolutely delightful debut
Kirkus Reviews Starred Review
A witty confection of highly colourful characters
The Horn Book
A delightful pick for sharp readers enamoured of gothic sensibilities and clever prose
Shelf Awareness Starred Review
This witty, imaginative entry deserves a prominent space on the MG shelf.
PaperBound
Children's Winner of the 2023 Nero Book Awards
Discover the hilarious New York Times bestselling mystery adventure perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Lemony Snicket.
On the day they are born, each Swift is brought before the sacred Family Dictionary. They are given a name and a definition, and it is assumed they will grow up to match. Unfortunately, Shenanigan Swift has other ideas.
So what if her relatives all think she's destined to turn out as a troublemaker, just because of her name? Shenanigan knows she can be whatever she wants - pirate, explorer or even detective.
Which is lucky, really, because when one of the Family tries to murder Arch-Aunt Schadenfreude, someone has to work out whodunit.
With the help of her sisters and cousin, Shenanigan grudgingly takes on the case, but more murders, a hidden treasure and an awful lot of suspects make thing seriously complicated.
Can Shenanigan catch the killer before the whole household is picked off? And in a Family where definitions are so important, can she learn to define herself?
'A stunning debut . . . laugh-out-loud funny' - Observer
'Murder most splendid' - The Telegraph.