Mary-Kate is anxious. Her archaeologist mum Professor Martin has been called to a site in a little village called Woolington. Usually Mary-Kate would stay with her Granny if her mum is away, but Granny is travelling on one of her bus trips.

Choosing carefully, Mary-Kate puts her special good luck items into her bag. The half empty chewing gum packet that was her fathers. Special handkerchiefs, new glitter pens and her strawberry smelling diary. Now she has on her sparkly red backpack and shoes to match. These things and remembering advice from her therapist get her through the stressful and unfamiliar train trip to Woolington.

The tiny town is strange. There is absolutely no-one about and bowls and buckets of milk sit outside the shops, cottages and the pub named the Hook & Wyrm where they are to be staying. Inside is the inn-keeper, hiding behind his counter and with a tremble in his voice. What is going on? wonders Mary-Kate, forgetting her anxiety.

The Prof (as Mary-Kate calls her mum) is off to check out the site that could be of national significance. A shopping centre is planned and about to be built on a well in the town square, but a small group of villagers (The Woolington Wyrm Watch Society) believe there is a creature living in the well and below their town.

Lord Woolington is the man behind the shopping centre, a man both Mary-Kate and the Prof instantly take a disliking to. What is the real reason behind the shopping centre?

The mystery behind this creature, whether imagination or myth, has Mary-Kate scribbling in her note-book, writing up questions and plans, and with Lord W’s daughter, Lady Arabella’s help, Mary-Kate is soon on the path of her first monster hunt. Never before has she felt so brave!

The girls encounter slime, discover a spy, and conduct an important interview. These are a few things needed to assemble a working theory. Once made, they decide to investigate what they have discovered. Venturing inside a possible lair of the Woolington Wyrm they encounter a dirt slide, slime and much more than they bargained for – even a life-threatening situation!

Can Mary-Kate discover the truth? Can they save Woolington? Is there really a creature below it? Mary-Kate not only investigates, but discovers a completely new, inquisitive and much-braver self.

Mystery, monsters, a new funny friend and a fat, lazy pony called Pickles, are all experienced by a new wee heroine – Mary-Kate Martin.

This in the 1st book in this series. (2nd episode is due out Nov 2022). Not sure about the cover, but have proven it is definitely not to be judged by.

Mary-Kate’s strategies of coping with the unusual are sweet and also come in handy in many practical ways. The more mystery she encounters the more her normal internal fears seem to shrink.

Scattered through the pages are pieces of advice from P.K Mayberry’s Complete Guide to Monsters of the Northern Hemisphere. Not sure where this book comes in, but the advice is usually relevant to what Mary-Kate is doing or the danger she is about to face. Illustrations are plentiful too.

This story rumbles along, slowly building in intensity as an up-and-coming, didn’t-know-she-was-meant-to-be, monster hunter, solves her first mystery.

Engaging read for young mystery lovers from a multi-award winning author.  

Author – Karen Foxlee

Illustrator – Freda Chui

Age – 7+

(2022, Allen & Unwin, Wyrm, Worm, Monster, Mystery, Secret, Lies, Monster Hunting, Clues, Investigation, Investigate, Theory, Proof, Archaeology, Archaeologist, Centuries old village, Over-development, Shopping Centre, Friendship, Revenge, Series, Environment, Adventure)