The deliciously creepy title and cover drew me to this one, and the creepy but funny illustrations inside sealed the deal. I just had to read it.

I wasn’t disappointed. Mallory Vayle has just lost her parents in a terrible accident. No one knows why the horses veered off the bridge taking her parent’s carriage with it, but now Mallory is alone. But not for long.

Her parents are still with her, now as ghosts. Mallory has always known of her ability to see ghosts, but she didn’t know about the long lost aunt that arrives at the cemetery. Aunt Lilith is her mum’s sister, and she too has a way with spirits. At least she claims to be psychic and makes a living out of it. Mallory however knows her aunt is stretching the truth… a lot.

Now living in a run down and gloomy castle with her aunt, Mallory isn’t sure what to do without her parents. Her thoughts and time are soon taken up with the discovery of a talking skull. She finds Maggoty Skull (once named Matthew) locked away. He is ever so grateful after being in the dark for eternity, and knows Mallory is something special.

So does something else in the castle, and this something is keen to make use of Mallory’s gifts.

The contrast of creepy with funny (and Maggoty is incredibly funny), makes Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull a great read. This is the first in a new series and the final pages left me wondering what will happen next?

Bat illustrations frollick through the pages, among dozens more pics portraying the story scenes. Some are even double page spreads, stepping up the creep factor.

This book can be read on its own, but I for one am looking forward to reading more about Mallory and her new friend Maggoty.

Author – Martin Howard

Illustrator – Pete Williamson

Age – 8+

See inside here

(2025, Nosy Crow, Spooky, Creepy, Funny, Humour, Talking Skull, Spirits, Ghosts, Curse, Necromancy, Psychic, Fake, Fraud, Family, Friend, Courage, Seance, Castle, Aunt, Series, Historical, Magic)