Demelza and the Spectre Detectors

Demelza and the Spectre Detectors is an exciting and spooky middle grade adventure about Demelza Clock, a junior scientist with many madcap inventions under her belt who discovers she is a Spectre Detector: she can summon ghosts. This kicks off a well plotted mystery with more than a few twists to the tale, and a cast of well rounded characters who you want to spend more time with. The setting of Little Penhallow is timeless (no modern technology) without being old fashioned, and gives the story an otherworldly feel. Holly Rivers' writing is suitably spooky and witty (I enjoyed looking out for the supporting characters' names...), and also unexpectedly moving. I would recommend this book to children aged 9+ who enjoy mysteries and ghost stories. It could also be useful in the classroom for creative writing to show how to plan and write twists. It would also be a good starting point for discussions about death and moving on. I look forward to reading more of Demelza's adventures! 336 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Alice Fanning, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+

It was on a late night forage into the greenhouse that Demelza first discovered that her beloved Grandma Maeve was a Spectre Detector - summoning up the spectres of the deceased for grieving families to get those last precious moments to say goodbye. Demelza's previous life of inventing the wild and wacky that she hoped would one day make her famous, and getting in to trouble at school from the rather pedantic head of Stricton Academy, as well as avoiding the evil attentions of the Smythe twins and their shot-put champion throwing side-kick, was soon thrown into utter turmoil as she was introduced to this new and rather interesting double life that her grandma lived. Little did she know that the secret that they held so dear would lead them into danger and only Demelza (with a little help from her friends) could do anything about it. Holly Rivers creates an exciting adventure filled with characters that you will laugh with, hiss at and cheer for as they follow a trail that leaves the reader twisting and turning with its tremendous plot. A highly engaging tale that opens readers aged eight years and upwards to the joy of defining clear characters, plot twists, problems and resolutions as well as covering themes of family, love, friendship, bullying, daring to be different, believing in yourself, strength of character and the essence of good morals. 336 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Donna Burkert, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+