The trouble is, Violet is being pursued by a strange hook-handed man. She’s sure that the nervous Herbert is the only person who can help her find her parents. Inside, young Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder for the hotel, has an unexpected visitor: Violet Parma, a fearless girl around his age who lost her parents at the hotel when she was a baby. It’s winter in the town of Eerie-on-Sea, where the mist is thick and the salt spray is rattling the windows of the Grand Nautilus Hotel. This is loaded with underlying themes of trust and self-belief and both Herbie and Violet are just thoroughly likeable characters, even as they act in not quite so likeable ways.“Fans of Lemony Snicket or Pseudonymous Bosch will find their next adventure here.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) This is essentially a fun read despite the odious villains and young readers from around 10 years upwards will thoroughly enjoy their expedition to Eerie-on-Sea. With regular notes of humour the pair manages to baffle their way through and against their unpleasant (to say the least) opponents in their mission to not only rescue the Malamander’s fabled egg but to uncover the truth about Violet’s parents. Herbie and Violet are not entirely sure of each other but as the narrative continues they become a formidable team facing strange and powerful opposition but also bolstered by surprising allies. No one knows what happened to Violet’s parents who mysteriously disappeared from the hotel twelve years previously but it seems that their absence has something to do with the legendary myth of the Malamander – a fearsome sea monster with a hidden secret. And rise he does, with gusto as he connects with Violet Parma who is the pursuant of the frightening Boat Hook Man. But Herbie is adept and not one to be easily daunted – well, actually perhaps he is – but he can rise to the occasion. Herbert Lemon is the Lost-and-Founder at said hotel but when a strange girl arrives in his Lost-and-Foundry closely pursued by a scary individual with a boat hook hand he is completely perplexed and at a loss.

Two orphans are brought together in the Grand Nautilus Hotel in a slightly odd town known as Eerie-on-Sea.

Ok, so I’m a bit slow getting to this one (cue: moving house etc) but it is one not to be missed.

Herbert lemon malamander