Pub. Walker Books (2020)
Age Range - 9-12 years
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...
I'd heard nothing but good things about Malamander, and it didn't disappoint. A well-plotted, atmospheric adventure that perfectly captures the seaside town in which it's set. Herbie and Violet are fun, engaging characters, and their exploits are meticulously orchestrated. This is a writer on top of his game, masterfully balancing realism and magic in just the right measure, such that the extraordinary is outlandish but credible. I recommend it unreservedly!