About the Book
Boisterous Uncle Bill comes to town, bringing trouble with
him in the form of a brutal mercenary tracking a diamond smuggler. With their ESP and deduction skills, Mae and
Isla find themselves caught up in an international terrorist plot involving
their parents' workplace, risking a nuclear catastrophe that could destroy them
all. Can they work out the purpose of a peculiar device they found before it's
too late?
Meet the Donaldson girls - primary schoolers and detectives.
Mae, clever and very, very proper. Isla, a wild, artistic soul most at home
wandering the fells of England's beautiful Lake District. They are united by an
uncanny ability to share their thoughts.
About the Author :
Author Biography:
Warren Cabral practised law in Bermuda for 30 years before taking up his
pen as author of fiction for adults and children. Even before his second career as a writer, he
had written short stories, plays, pantomimes and the books for two musicals. He was the winner of The Royal Gazette prize
for one of his short stories. His most recent theatrical work was On the Line,
staged at The Tea House Theatre in London.
The Lakeland Mysteries, of which The Fire on Slate Fell is the first
book, is Warren's first venture into children's fiction.
Illustrator Biography: Corryn Webb is a Welsh freelance illustrator
and designer based in the rugged mountains beside the North Wales coast in the
UK. Living with her husband, children and rescue dogs. With her vivid
imagination and eye for detail, Corryn has been lauded for her beautiful
award-winning pieces bursting to the rim with creativity. She is fascinated by
the beauty, magic, and mythology of the natural landscape of Wales, which
regularly inspires her art. When she's
not working, you can find her tending her indoor jungle, reading or making,
whether that be model making or embroidery she loves to create. Corryn's
passionate about creating unique and eye-catching illustrations for children's
books. Creating new characters, embarking on adventures with old friends,
exploring magical kingdoms and sparking the imagination of small and big humans
are her raison d'etre.
Review :
"This book is amazing and
it's now one of my favourite books because of all the descriptions and
mystery." Belle Kelly, 8, Young Writer.
"A thrilling read about two intelligent sisters trying to solve a
puzzling mystery. An unexpected twist in the story makes it exciting and fun.
The next book is already on my to-read list!"
Charlotte Goldwyn, School Student, aged 11, London
'A well-told story about two special sisters who help to solve an
utterly original mystery. Set in the beauty of the Lakes, this cleverly
crafted adventure is both fast paced and fun. A wonderfully enjoyable read. I
can't wait for the next book in the series'. Janet Lewis, Retired, Scotland.
"Great fun and gripping, I read it at pace wanting to find out was
going to happen next. The characters are engaging and the family
touches including the sibling positive/negative interaction bring a wry smile
of recognition. It turns out that the children are smarter than the adults.
A joy to read." David Thomas, Father of three.
"With vivid and evocative descriptions echoing another era, The Wolf
of Ennerdale is an engaging story. It reminds me of Nancy Drew mysteries but
with broader world implications, from diamond mining to cutting-edge
technology. The two sisters are wonderfully real and their ability to
communicate through their thoughts sparks the imagination. Marvellous descriptions
make this story stand out from run of the mill children's fare; however,
dealing with topical issues such as blood diamonds would make this a good
read for the older child." M. Bredin, Emmy nominated Executive Producer best known for her children's
series "True and the Rainbow Kingdom" and co-creating "Pickwick Pack" on
Disney.
"I thoroughly enjoyed this clever mystery. The characters are
vividly drawn and almost leap off the page, while the fast-moving plot makes
it a real page-turner. It can be enjoyed by adults as much as by younger
readers." Steven Hankey, English teacher, Sydney, Australia
"Can't remember when I last read an adventure book for non-adults.
Can't remember when I turned the pages so fast. Mae and Issy are my new
heroes." John Nicolson, 59, Father of three, Berlin.
"A beautifully written and richly layered tale of suspense and
adventure, set in the heart of the Lake District with a setting as vivid as
its characters. Immersive, thrilling and utterly compelling." Luis Abbou Planisi, Author, Brighton, England.
"JUST finished reading this wonderful book in one sitting! I
could NOT put it down! I thoroughly enjoyed every single page!
And I LOVE it! It is so lively and well-paced - the plot was intriguing and thought-inducing,
the technical aspects were explained clearly and rivetingly, and it
flowed briskly from incident to incident. I believe these are the reasons it
was so engaging and such a page-turner!" Rebecca Brady, Editor, author, mother of two, Bermuda
"Completely entertaining read that held my interest throughout. I
enjoyed the captivating characters especially the cheeky and precocious
youngsters who were particularly amusing playing detective. Great fun
book for young and old." Danni Roberto, Bibliophile, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Canada.
"A thrilling adventure, the story is well-written and engaging. Fast
paced, one is pulled into the atmosphere of this story from the very start.
It is exciting, the "good" characters make it against all odds and there's a
happy ending. A very enjoyable read suitable from age 9 up." Yola Ciechanowska, Teacher, mother of four, France.
"A rip-roaring adventure with an ingenious plot and enigmatic
characters, the story swiftly draws us in to the lives of the empirical Mae
and her artistic sister Isla. Evocatively set against the Cumbrian landscape,
the author gives us a touchingly humorous portrait of children both
fascinated and frustrated by the adult world, yet determined to unravel the
secrets of those around them. A thoroughly enjoyable read in which
nothing is as it seems!" Elizabeth Holman, Mother of 6, Switzerland.
