Secret Agent Mummy: Book 1

This is the first in a new series for Steve Cole. The aptly named Niall Rivers gets more than he bargained for when he accompanies his mum on a house visit to collect items for the school fete. Amongst the peculiar items they collect from the house's strange owner, Niall discovers a shabtis that makes him feeling decidedly odd. He initially dismisses it but later discovers it will enable him to possess unusual powers. Niall realises that the house is being watched by a suspicious man, who looks to be disguised in bandages. Shortly after obtaining the shabtis there are a series of strange goings-on, including a pyramid, that only Niall can see, popping up in his neighbour's garden and some snooping baboons. His mum and younger sister, the Snitch, are unsympathetic to Niall's concerns over the pyramid's appearance in his garden. However, the pyramid can also be viewed by the bandaged man and he arrives at Niall's door asking questions. Niall learns that he is the suspect of the secret agent mummy or Sam as he calls him. However he quickly ends up helping Sam to catch the real villain: Azmal Sekra, the oldest wizard in the world, and learns more than he wants to about the secret land of Ka Ra and its creatures. I would suggest that this would be perfect for confident free readers in Year 3 and 4. They will love secret agent mummy and his humorous attempts to decipher the complexities of English vocabulary. There is also a rather pampered Egyptian talking cat; readers would be entertained by her demands, as well as the dog Mumbum, Sam's mechanical sidekick. I also like the funny illustrations that break up the body of text and make it more manageable for ambitious younger readers. Also included at the end of the story is a 'Mysteries of Ancient Egypt' section that might encourage children to undertake some independent research of their own. 227 pages / Ages 7-10 years

Suggested Reading Age 7+