Malamander (An Eerie-on-Sea Mystery)

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A quirky, creepy fantasy set in Eerie-on-Sea finds a colorful cast of characters in hot pursuit of a sea monster thought to convey a surprising gift. Malamander is in many ways the culmination of an ongoing project to turn beachcoming into books. It’s a project I didn’t even know I was pursuing until I was joined on my lonely foreshore walks by a boy called Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, and his curious friend Violet Parma. And with them came Lady Kraken, Mrs Fossil, Dr Thalassi, and all the quirky residents of a mysterious town called Eerie-on-Sea. And behind us all, lurking in the mists, keeping pace with us in the shallows just beyond view, we were followed by a creature out of legend – the unctuous and creeping malamander itself. Herbert Lemon is Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel in the town of Eerie-On-Sea. One night, his sleep is interrupted by Violet Parma climbing in his basement window — a girl in trouble who needs to hide, and has a mystery to solve. And who better to do so, she thinks, than a Lost-and-Founder?

Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger… Full of unforgettable characters and brimming with maritime mystery, Malamander is a masterclass in original story-telling. Taylor's magical touch makes you believe in the impossible. - Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island This creepy, quirky debut trilogy opener—think H.P. Lovecraft crossed with John Bellairs—is dank, misty fun. Twelve-year-old Herbert Lemon lives and works in the Grand Nautilus Hotel in the strange and frequently foggy seaside town of Eerie-on-Sea. The hotel’s ‘lost and founder’, he’s tasked with cataloguing lost things and trying to find their owners. But his newest ‘lost’ item is rather different: an enigmatic girl called Violet Parma. Herbert is thrown into a quirky adventure of vivid characters and strange incidents — a sinister writer, lost luggage, a prophesying mermonkey, missing parents, a ghostly, vengeful Captain, fish and chips, and the local legend of the Malamander: a vicious sea creature guarding a treasure that grants the owner their deepest wishes.In Malamander, Thomas Taylor casts a spell over his readers as he welcomes us into the mysterious mist-covered town of Eerie-on-Sea, where magic infuses the air, monster legends haunt the shore, and secrets lurk in the shadows. Filled with humor, adventure, and wonderful strangeness, this book is a treat. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma's parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger... About This Edition ISBN:

A wonderfully imaginative and atmospheric adventure, rich in myth and legend, and with a delicious gothic edge. . . . Malamander confirms [Taylor] as a ferociously talented writer. . . . This really is one that deserves all the buzz. Thomas Taylor was born in Norfolk, England in 1973, but grew up in Wales. He attended Norwich Art School in 1991, before going on to specialise in illustration at Anglia University in Cambridge, graduating in 1995. After dabbling in Theatre design he decided to concentrate on children’s books because he prefers the colours. I can see this book being a big hit this year as there is so much happening throughout and the plot and the characters are exceptionally enjoyable to spend your time with. It is also the first in a planned series so I now can’t wait to see what adventures Violet and Herbert get up to in the next two books. Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy – especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma’s parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger… They’re not the only ones interested in the legend — Sebastian Eels, a shifty writer and authority on the myth is prepared to do anything to get the treasure, including disappearing young girls and boys. Herbie’s employer, the crippled Lady Kraken, who sits in her tower room of the hotel and watches the town through her cameraluna (powered by the moon), wants the treasure to restore her family.

Thomas Taylor Press Reviews

Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy - especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments