The Feathered Book
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Everything with Words
Published:11th Sep '25
Should be back in stock very soon
Strong interest from the Observer and Telegraph. One of our key publications of the year.
Determined to be a detective, Monty the fox decides to solve the mystery of The Feathered Book. This priceless work of alchemy has disappeared in baffling circumstances - stolen from a locked and empty room in an underground library known as the labyrinth.
Monty the fox has a dream - but that's nothing new. Monty is brilliantly clever. But to the despair of his best friend, Nettle the rabbit, he just can't stick at anything. He's tried being an inventor, an aeronaut, and a magician; he's had a go at painting, writing, and exploring - and got bored of them all.
Now Monty is determined to be a detective. Despite the danger, he decides to solve the mystery of The Feathered Book. This priceless work of alchemy has disappeared in baffling circumstances - stolen from a locked and empty room in an underground library known as the labyrinth. What's more, the work is no ordinary book, for it is reputed to be cursed: many creatures have tried to steal it over the centuries, and all have perished in the attempt.
Leaving his own cosy home in the roots of an old oak tree, Monty sets off to investigate. Dragging cynical Nettle with him, he heads to the ginormous, red-leafed tree that houses the library. But as they sail across the Lake - a huge body of water dotted with wooded islands - they are swept up in a dangerous adventure, featuring pirates, mazes, boobytraps, kidnaps, boat chases and knife fights. Along the way, they meet the motley cast of characters who live on the Lake, from a rakish pirate otter to a kindly police badger, from a sinister and wealthy toad to a meek hedgehog astronomer.
But who stole The Feathered Book? Will Monty the fox manage to catch the thief? And how was the impossible crime committed in the first place?
' 'A captivating Wind In The Willows-esque mystery that oozes charm. Brilliantly illustrated.'
Kieran Larwood
'An elegant, cosy crime novel'
Nicolette Jones, author, journalist, Sunday Times Children's Book reviewer
'A gripping whodunnit mystery, in which animals become investigators when the Feathered Book, an exotic ancient tome that holds the secret of turning base metal into gold, is stolen from the underground library supervised by a grumpy old squirrel called Pecksniff. Led by Monty - a flighty fox, who happens to be a detective-fiction fan - a menagerie of creatures collaborate to discover clues and the perpetrator of the crime. Apart from the propulsive plot, there is word pleasure in abundance in this atmospheric debut..'
The Irish Times
'A dandy fox detective. A missing magical book. Alchemical secrets, and elusive evidence - this delivers an abundance of adventure and mystery. Elegantly written (the cadence of words is wonderful - perfectly attuned to atmosphere, pace and character), The Feathered Book is classy cosy crime for kids who want to be whisked away on mysterious adventures. Mention must also be made of Ewa Beniak- Haremska's illustrations - detailed, evocative, tangled depictions of character and nature that would look very much at home in a classic fairy tale.'
LoveReading4Kids Book of the Month
'The story of the incredible character that is Monty the Fox.'
My Shelves are Full
'Embrace the mystery of The Feathered Book! Lose yourself in the unknown, search for clues and absorb the magic. This story will have readers captivated from start to finish.'
Kate Heap Scope for Imagination
'Brilliantly paced, warm-hearted, and packed with personality, this is the kind of story that leaves you desperate to return to its world and characters for another cracking crime caper.'
Mrs Cleveland Books
'A fiendish mystery' Library Girl and Book Boy
ISBN: 9781911427476
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
304 pages