Dead Yard: Deep Trouble

By Author / Illustrator

PJ Killburn, illus Markia Jenai

Genre

Horror

Age range(s)

Publisher

Little Tiger

ISBN

9781788957922

Format

Paperback

Published

03-09-2026

Synopsis

Jermaine is determined to put the events of his great-great uncle Carl's Dead Yard behind him. No more supernatural shenanigans! But that's easier said that done, and soon Jermaine is hearing a voice calling out to him from the water. Then several kids in his class disappear into the Thames and return with zombie-like personalities and, to top it off, there are snakes bursting out of the school sinks.

Jermaine and his friends reluctantly admit there must be a new spooky threat in town. Could it be another monster from Caribbean legend, and does Jermaine have what it takes to stop it?

The second in a spook-tastic new series, perfect for fans of Goosebumps, Hide and Seeker and Dread Wood.

Also in the series: Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom (book 1)

Download Extract

Reviews

Sam

Dead Yard: Deep Trouble is the second spooktacular book in this great series by PJ Killburn. However, it's also a fab read as a standalone, as a recap of the first book is very cleverly interwoven in the first few pages of this book.

Jermaine is excited to find out that he has been accepted onto a film school summer programme and is determined for his next video to be as good as his previous. When three children from Jermaine's school vanish on the sand flats of the river Thames, his first thoughts are about capturing the events surrounding the children's disappearance on camera.

However, Jermaine and his good friends Assad and Annette soon begin to think that this may be related to the chaos of the previous Easter. Spooky shenanigans are afoot and only Jermaine can stop them, but first he needs to decide whether submitting another spook-tastic film is more important than keeping his friends and family safe!

Dead Yard: Deep Trouble is a brilliant, short supernatural read inspired by Caribbean mythology. Its likable young characters will provide a great opportunity for readers to have fun with the use of Jamaican patois dialogue, while the super illustrations throughout the book will also hold their attention.

I have really enjoyed this series so far and I am sure it will make a brilliant class read. It will also make a popular independent read for less confident KS2 readers.

208 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher