Book: Dead Man's Cove
Author: Lauren St John
Release Date (UK): 5th August 2010
Genre: Children's/Mystery
Target Audience: 10+
Review:
The highly acclaimed author of the famous White Giraffe series, Lauren St John, appears to be set to take over the minds of the young once again, through her thrilling new novel, Dead Man's Cove. The book follows eleven-year-old Laura Marlin, an inquisitive girl who longs for a life of adventure, and whose main ambition is to become a world-class detective, following in the footsteps of the fictional Sherlock Holmes. The fast-paced and exiting narrative quickly brings the orphaned Laura to her uncle, a kind yet mysterious man living in the heart of Cornwall. As Laura begins to settle in to the small village, many mysteries seem to come from nowhere, delighting her to no end. Who is the boy working at the local shop, and why is he silent? Why do his parents appear to be so well liked in the community even though they appear to hate their own son? And why does her uncle never seem to be home at all? Every question needs an answer.... and Laura Marlin is here to find them!
Laura, as an eleven-year-old girl, is seen to be a very believable character. Even the best, most sociable characters have small enemies, and Laura is no exception. Her nemesis in school life comes in the form of Kevin Rutledge, a bully in her class. However, as the novel progresses, she realises that she has much bigger fish to fry. Through this, St John manages to show how, while an altogether extraordinary girl, Laura is a normal schoolgirl by day, and the reader is able to relate to her. Lauren St John has a knack of being able to see exactly how a young girl in today's society would see the world, and uses this brilliantly throughout the novel. The book is suitable for anybody aged eleven upwards, as it is a story that is sure to never get old and will be passed on through generations.
I found that the book was brilliant and impossible to put down. Laura was an incredibly likeable character, even from the beginning, establishing an immediate bond between book and reader. There was never a dull moment, and Lauren St John captures the eeriness and mystery of the story magnificently. Having never read any of her work before, I am determined to find the rest to see if they can live up to the fantastic standard of Dead Man's Cove. In a world obsessed with vampire tales, is Lauren St John set to bring back the nation’s love for a good old detective story? Judging by this book, it seems definite!
Verdict: Fantastic! A book that adults and children alike will be eagerly waiting to sink their teeth in to!
Thank you to Orion Books for the book to review.
