Hare House by Sally Hinchcliffe
Hardback £14.99, Pan Macmillan
This enjoyably creepy modern-day Gothic thriller is full of unexpected twists and simmering tension.
A young woman arrives in Scotland, looking to escape the shadows of her past. Moving into a cottage on the remote estate of Hare House, she begins to explore her new home and its stunning surroundings. She strikes up a friendship with her landlord, Grant, and his troubled younger sister Cass, but her taciturn neighbour, Janet, makes her uneasy, as do local tales of witchcraft and strange customs involving clay dolls. As the snows of winter descend and she is drawn further into the world of Hare House, its history of grief and madness begins to emerge, interwoven with revelations about her own mysterious past.

‘Gripping supernatural / psychological suspense!’

Unsettled Ground, by Claire Fuller
Penguin £8.99
One of our FAVOURITE novels from 2021, now out in paperback , if there is anyone left we haven’t already thrust it upon!
‘Unsettled Ground’ is a beautifully-observed portrait of lives lived at the fringe of society, and what happens when those edges fray. The central characters, 51 year-old twins, Julius and Jeanie, have lived a sheltered rural existence with their mother, Dot, surviving hand-to-mouth on what they can earn from their garden produce and odd farming jobs. When Dot dies suddenly, the twins are forced to confront the outside world, and long-kept secrets begin to surface, casting doubt on family truths and shattering their precarious existence.

‘An absorbing and delicately-nuanced novel.’

Harley Hitch & the Missing Moon by Vashti Hardy
Paperback £6.99, Scholastic
The imagination of ‘Brightstorm’ author Vashti Hardy knows no bounds! In this, the second of Vashti’s illustrated chapter books for younger readers, our plucky, mechanically-minded heroine Harley Hitch accidentally makes the moon disappear! Harley is horrified to realise that Time is speeding up, wildlife is getting disorientated by the darker nighttime, the wind is getting stronger, and there’s no more tide. Harley, her robot dog Sprocket, and her best friend Cosmo must sort out the mess before it’s too late!

‘This fun story, full of ingenious inventions is perfect for sharing with 5/6 year olds, and 7/8 year olds will enjoy reading independently.’

The Caravan at the Edge of Doom 2: Foul Prophecy
Paperback £6.99 Harper Collins
By a strange coincidence, this book ALSO features a heroine called Harley! We can’t wait to read ‘Foul Prophecy’ by new Steyning resident, children’s writer Jim Beckett! His first book ‘Caravan at the Edge of Doom’ was a hilarious, madcap adventure, which followed 11-year-old Harley on a perilous quest through a caravan toilet portal into the Land of the Dead.
In ‘Foul Prophecy’ Harley is relieved to be back home in normality after her adventures in the Beyond... But things aren’t normal for long - a bunch of Restless Souls turn up at school, the Portal of Doom breaks, and what’s all this about a mysterious Prophecy? Expect monsters, madness and mayhem galore! Perfect for readers of 8-11 years.

‘Get in touch if you’d like an author visit from Jim at your school!’

The Rollercoaster Boy by Lisa Thompson
Paperback £6.99. Scholastic
Lisa Thompson writes relatable, middle-grade fiction with lashings of heart, humour and unforgettable characters! Her new novel ‘Rollercoaster Boy’ is packed with clues to crack and mysteries to solve, yet is also an empathetic portrayal of living with a bipolar parent.
Todd and Laurie’s dad is either on top of the world, taking them on fun adventures, or down in the depths and sleeping all the time. In the middle of the night, he bundles them into the car and drives them to the Paradise Hotel. Dad had painted a picture of a luxurious mansion surrounded by acres of land - a fairground, a swanky swimming pool, a grand ballroom, firework displays. The reality is…. a rundown dump - and the disappointment means Dad takes to his bed. Todd and Laurie soon meet Scout, the daughter of the owner, who tells them about the night many years ago when a famous novelist vanished from her room on the top floor, which was locked from the inside... Getting to the bottom of the mystery is the perfect holiday activity for this bunch of kids, left to their own devices!

A proper page-turning adventure for readers of 9+. ‘We are thrilled to be doing some school events with Lisa so look out for signed copies in mid-January.’